We had the good fortune of connecting with REISCHEL SAWYER-COBB and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi REISCHEL, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The thought process was to create a Women Empowerment Organization that included a unique brand that exudes the power and ability to overcome every great obstacle with strength and resilience. To create an array of products and overall service delicately addresses the desire to grow the inner woman, while also uniquely enhancing the outer appearance. I come from a family of entrepreneurs, so starting my own business had always been a life’s goal for me. I already had the education, knowledge, and expertise to properly run a business, it was just a matter of finding my true purpose and incorporating that into a business that empowers and inspires women to seek, walk, and live in their true purpose.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have a great and very rewarding career of 24 years in the accounting profession as a Director of Accounting. I love what I do and how far I’ve come. My challenges came when I decided to finish college while working full time while being a wife and a mom. For 4 years I’d work from 8 to 5 then go to college from 6 to 9 in the evening. All while still doing what’s needed to be a wife and a mom. There were many nights that I didn’t sleep but 3 hours, but I was so determined to achieve my goal of earning a college degree. So, was it easy? Not all the time but I was confident that I could do it. It was my faith in God that kept me going and my favorite Bible scripture, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” My ultimate inspiration to succeed was that I had a child looking up to me as well as the fact that my parents invested so much into my education. I did experience guilt of being in school at night because it took away time with my son. After I graduated college, I dedicated most of my time into raising my son and being very involved with the many school, church and sports activities he was involved in. Once my son graduated high school I began to really think about and seek my true purpose. It was then that I realized my purpose in life is to empower and inspire young girls and other women to live in their purpose. The name of my brand, ICANDO, derives from my favorite scripture which has been the driving force in my life especially when challenges arise. My brand’s purpose is to build up the inner woman and to empower every young girl to be overcomers and future empowered successful women.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Los Angele County so there’s so many things to do. My favorite place to do brunch is at Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes. I’d definitely share that experience of eating and hanging out at that beautiful resort with my best friend. I’d also take her to my favorite comedy club, The Laugh Factory in Hollywood. Of course, I’d schedule a spa day at Sisley Spa Marina Del Rey or Burke Williams, I live for spa days with my girls. I love attending music concerts so that would definitely be on the itinerary. We’d definitely go to a Sip & Paint class. Throughout the week we would definitely dine at some of my favorite restaurants (I have a few) as well as get some shopping time in at my favorite stores, Nordstrom and Zara.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my beautiful courageous mother for loving, empowering, inspiring and encouraging me as a little girl letting me know I CAN DO anything I put my mind to if it’s in God’s will. She believed in me before I believed in myself. My mother leads by example and her strength is to be admired. She’s my shero! I’d also like to dedicate this shoutout to my sister-friend Redelia Fowler, who is the one who gave me that extra push that I needed, through her constant encouragement and mentorship, to go ahead and move forward with ICANDO. I also had two of the best grandmothers who were empowered strong women. They always supported and pushed me to be my best. I honestly had a village of strong and empowered women (too many to name) who came before me that impacted my entire life in such an extraordinary way. Any success that I gain, I stood on the shoulders of many to get there. It is my mission to be the shoulders for the generations after me to stand on.

Website: www.icando.biz

Instagram: @icando.biz

Facebook: www.facebook.com/IcanDo

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