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

Hi Stephanie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Starting your own business is a risk. and part of the game you always have to play. To be an entrepreneur you have to be comfortable with it. Most successful entrepreneurs have failed several times but we only know them for of their success. There is no reward without risk and is what creates the magic.

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 come from a family of immigrants. My parents are entrepreneurs who worked hard and rode the wave. They have been the ones who have guided me. I’m fortunate because my experience has gifted me with a strong business sense, as well as having a creative spirit. It requires confidence, determination, and discipline to be successful. Running your own business is a lifestyle and I started young. In my 20’s I opened a boutique that sold emerging designer collections in Nolita, NYC. With each venture that I’ve explored, there’s been an unfoldment and evolution of the next. With Dear Botanics, I’ve been able to explore my creative side the most, in a way that feels rooted in my true self. I began to study plant medicine when my designer store, evolved into a Pop-Up and Event space. This gave me the time to study subjects that interested me. At the time I didn’t know I would use this knowledge as the basis for my next endeavor. With newfound freedom and interests, I moved to the Catskills Mountains, which was a very different way of life for me being surrounded by nature. I began to do deep work, learning how to reseed a new-old way of being on this planet. Then the covid lockdown provided me the time and opportunity to use my experience and knowledge to form a collection of Botanical Beauty- Dear Botanics. I don’t know what the future will bring but I do know I feel at home in the world of natural beauty and I’m excited to keep learning and let it grow.

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.
The Mondrian Hotel- West Hollywood The Sunset – Malibu
Stella- Silverlake
Cholada- Topanga Beach
Genghis Cohen- Friends From NY Party
Sugar Fish- Down Town

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 dedicate my shout out to my teachers. My grandmother Loula, for teaching me the wisdom of our Greek lineage, and the healing traditions. My yoga teachers Elena Brower, Julie Dohrman, and Gitanjali for teaching me the importance of equanimity and the connection of mind, body, and spirt. And finally, my teacher Claudia Keel and Richard Mandelbaum at Arbor Vitae school for Traditional Herbalism, who instilled in me the power of plant medicine and how to connect science, intuition, and spirit in my practice.

Website: www.dearbotanics.com

Instagram: @dearbotanics

Facebook: @dearbotanics

Image Credits
Stephan Schacher- Head Shot Chris Clinton-Product Images

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