Meet Nicole Emrani Green | Co-Founder & CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Emrani Green and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
Although I wish it were easier, I believe people underestimate the work it takes to build and run an app. I have to admit that I also though this myself when I first started Givingli. However, I soon realized how far from “simple” the journey of creating an app was. The best way to put it, every single part of every flow, functionality, and positioning in an app will not come together unless it’s created. This puts a tremendous amount of responsibility on app founders to not only build a great product, but also run the day to day of a full functioning business. However, if you’re building a product you feel extremely passionate about, it’s extremely worth it to see something you created come to life… and totally worth it.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I started Givingli, an app that brings a human approach to gifting. On Givingli, you can select a digital greeting designed by one of our independent artists partners, customize it with endless personalization tools, attach an optional gift, and send it all from your phone! What sets us apart from other gifting apps and platforms is our mission: To bring to bring people closer together through creativity snd authentic expression. We also focus on providing high value for all ends- go senders, receivers, artists, brands, and the environment (as a 100% digital and sustainable gifting option). It took a lot to get to where we are today and there were definitely many highs and lows along the way. However, the challenges are easier to overcome when you accept failure as a strength rather than a weakness. I’ve been lucky to learn early on that failure is the best thing that can happen to you. It only brings you closer to your goals, while teaching you valuable lessons along the way. If I could give one piece of advice to anyone currently building or looking to build their own company, it would be to not only embrace failure, but run towards it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My list is constantly changing, and with Covid, my habits and what makes me excited has definitely changed a lot. BUT I still love my go-to spots in LA and I’d love to share them. Early in the morning: stop by Palisades Village for some coffee at Alfred or Erewhon. Don’t be afraid to grab a few pastries from Sweet Laurel Bakery if you have a sweet tooth like I do! Mid-day: Malibu beach. I like to park near Malibu Farm, head to the beach and enjoy my coffee. Next, when you’re ready for lunch, you can head over to Malibu Farm or Nobu for a bite. Next: from there, you can easily head to the Malibu Country Mart. Walk around, stop by some shops, and hang by the courtyard with a Sunlife smoothie if you didn’t end up eating yet. In the evening: going to dinner is pretty much the only thing you can do now due to Covid restrictions. Because of this, I like to go to dinner somewhere with a great vibe. I love going to the Cara hotel, Republique, Bavel or Bestia for a great ambiance. Of course, there are a ton of more great spots to check out in LA but right now, those are my favorites.

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Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people and things that come to mind, but I have to give a huge shout out to Alex Banayan, author of the #1 international best seller, The Third Door. I listened to his audiobook (which I highly recommend because it’s done by the author himself) right at the early stages of building my company. The Third Door was truly pivotal in the start of my growth as a founder. The book navigates through Alex’s personal experiences of how he got to interview and connect with extremely inspirational people, including Bill Gates, Lady Gaga, Larry King, and many more. His book describes the concept of taking the “third door” to get to your desired destination. I’ve personally learned so much from what he had to share and believe it is a huge part to how I was able to connect with some of the most inspiring people I’ve met since I started my company.

Website: Givingli.com

Instagram: @nicolegoesgreen

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleemranigreen

Twitter: @nicgoesgreen

Image Credits
Cibelle Levi