"When I was a teenager, I had a sign in my room that read: “Well-behaved women seldom make history.” Back then, I thought this meant going out with my friends and having fun and coming home past curfew unnoticed (it never worked). Now, at the age of 27, this quote translates very differently for me. Now, I think of it as a reminder to not be afraid—to speak up and stand up for what is right, and work your ass off for what you want, no matter how hard it may seem.
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One woman who firmly agrees with this sentiment is Tristan Thibodeau. As a self-proclaimed rule-breaker, Thibodeau has made an entrepreneurial career out of rebelling against what society has deemed “the norm.” And through her latest venture, Wild Wmn Haus—a brand strategy and design agency—she has helped countless clients in the beauty and wellness spaces stand out and shake things up in their corner of the world.
To say Thibodeau knows a thing or two about being a working woman in today’s world would be putting it mildly. Which is why when I had the opportunity to interview her, I didn’t hold anything back—I asked her my most burning questions about creating and running a successful business alongside an all-female team, working exclusively with female and female-identifying clients, as well as her financial advice for women in business. And unsurprisingly, her answers did not disappoint.
No matter what your goals are—whether you’re looking to start an entrepreneurial venture, take over and run a successful company, or stand out and rebel in your career and life—Thibodeua’s advice can help. Keep scrolling to learn everything there is to know about Wild Wmn Haus and how Thibodeau built it from the ground up and into the massive success it is today, as well as her 3 pieces of financial advice for women in business.
About Wild Womn Haus
Wild Womn Haus is a brand and design agency that helps business owners in the beauty and wellness spaces stand out from the crowd and find their unique edge. And in case you were wondering, the name is not an accident. Thibodeau refers to herself as a “natural born disruptor” and cites this as the inspiration behind the agency’s name. “The name Wild Womn Haus is primarily an identity, a movement, and a state of being all in one,” she explained to me. She then went on to say that she wants her business to be a place for the bold and brazen female and female-identifying entrepreneurs of the world to come together and find common ground.
Additionally, Wild Womn Haus is a testament to the magic that can happen when women collaborate and work together. Thibodeau works alongside an all-female team, and together, they’ve brought the company to the forefront as a leading brand and design agency. This teamwork is what Thibodeau believes is truly behind the company’s success. “With every ‘brick’ that has been laid, I have had the many hands of women around me to thank,” she clarified. Likewise, she’s also had fellow female entrepreneurs step in and act as unofficial mentors when she’s needed it. “I owe these women a huge debt of gratitude for the massive success I’ve experienced,” Thibodeau told me.
Tristan Thibodeau’s financial advice for women in business
Wild Womn Haus doesn’t just talk the talk—the company walks the walk, too. Since launching to the public in February 2022, they’ve seen a 59% growth in their annual revenue, and a 500% increase in average earnings from brand and marketing projects. Aside from being a major win for the company, this massive financial boost has also given Wild Womn Haus the opportunity to invest more in their clients. Furthermore, the collaborative structure of the Wild Womn Haus has granted Thibodeau the chance to funnel money into the businesses of fellow female entrepreneurs without cutting into the company’s profit margins.
All in all, Thibodeau and Wild Womn Haus are on an upward trajectory, and neither are slowing down any time soon, which is why I needed to know Thibodeau’s 3 biggest pieces of financial advice for women in business. And, of course, I’m sharing them with you:
1. Not every problem or weak spot needs to be solved with money
Throwing around money often seems like the easiest, most logical solution to any bump in the road, but Thibodeau believes this can backfire when running a business. “There’s value in learning certain skills that may not come naturally to you,” she told me. She then went on to admit that while it certainly is faster to outsource everything and leverage your time, you could be missing out on an opportunity to expand your knowledge. As an entrepreneur, being knowledgeable in all areas of business is invaluable, and taking the time to problem solve is crucial.
2. Identify what your one true priority is
When you’re the one in charge, there will always be something else that needs to be done, but according to Thibodeau, even the most successful entrepreneurs are able to step off of that hamster wheel, refocus, and identify what their one true priority is—something that is so vital for making sound financial investments and getting the most value out of your time and energy.
To identify what your one true priority is, Thibodeau suggests first looking at the short and long-term ROI (return on investment). “At the end of the day, the majority of investments you make into your business will start with an educated guess,” Thibodeau told me. “But the more you can validate your investments with real data from previous investments, the more confident you will be in your decisions.” Furthermore, constantly asking yourself what will grow your business today and in the future can also help. “This will help you keep the big picture of what you’re trying to achieve in mind and provide context for what’s most important to your business as a whole,” Thibodeau explained to me.
3. Don’t be afraid to make investments that scare you
It can be scary to take that leap of faith and put your money into the unknown, but making investments in spite of that fear is so important. “Every single investment you make into your business comes with its own degree of risk,” Thibodeau explained. “However, business owners can make investment decisions more safely by learning to manage their emotional responses to panic, urgency, and scarcity.”
To effectively manage these emotions, Thibodeau recommends giving yourself the space to experience and process them. This will help you reach a state of objectivity where you can then make grounded, intentional financial decisions and feel less exposed while making them. Likewise, Thibodeau also believes that leaning into your inner boldness can help you make investments that scare you. Leaning into your inner boldness will teach you to trust yourself, your instincts, and your vision—things that are so vital for running a successful company.
When it comes down to it, it’s really about where the decisions are coming from. Investments that come from frenzied, emotional standpoints tend to be less sound and are often more about throwing money at something so you don’t have to think about it any longer (remember tip #1?). Furthermore, making decisions from this standpoint can also lead to less confidence in your relationship with money as a whole—which can be detrimental to your business. On the other hand, investments that come from a logical, grounded standpoint may be risky to some extent, but these risks will be manageable, safer than the former, and worth it in the long run.