We had the good fortune of connecting with Larissa Schot and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Larissa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve always felt a bit lost in life regarding what my calling was. During Covid, I was finishing up my last year of university. As any graduate would, I applied to many jobs. I was constantly rejected. I have always wanted to be my own boss, but I never followed through with it. So, I finally took the risk and chased my dream of owning my own business I noticed I would purchase a new candle every two weeks, so I thought, “Why not make my own luxury candles?” Candles soon became an avenue by which I found passion and drive to pursue my ambitions. I came up with the brand name (KĀ ÄS), pronounced chaos, reflecting my life’s journey. I created the brand to inspire anyone fearing rejection to follow their intuition and believe in themselves because it is up to you to become the person you want to be. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am passionate about finding my purpose. For some time, my professional endeavors seemed to be a loss. However, this business is exactly what I needed. With this business I can profoundly impact the world with a candle that accentuates confidence amidst chaos. My brand is built on a couple simple ideas – to work hard and be kind. The essential lessons I learned along the way boil down to chasing your destiny and realizing that destiny is closer than you think; To find your purpose, chase your passion. This business is that for me, chasing my passion to live my purpose. By setting this example, the (KĀ ÄS) community will know that they are valuable and their better future is always one step away. They can always find a better future.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In L.A., I would take them to Venice Beach. The atmosphere is vibrant and the culture is rich. For a mellow, secluded experience, I would take them to a small beach in Malibu. That is a better area to talk, unwind and enjoy the Cali coast. For dinner, I like to go to Elephante, a rooftop restaurant, that has a lovely energy and serves classic Italian cuisine.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a shoutout to my mom for always supporting me. She taught me not only how to be loving towards others but to always put my best effort forth. I also want to give a shoutout to my dad for challenging me to think outside the box. He taught me, even as a young kid, that opportunities won’t come to you if you don’t work for them. Lastly, I would like to a shoutout to a friend of mine who revealed to me that I was capable of so much more in life. This encouragement pushed me to take a risk and start the brand I’ve always desired to have.

Website: https://kaas-us.com

Instagram: @kaasofficial_

Other: Business Instagram: kaasofficial

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