Entrepreneur Plus - Short White
For Subscribers

What It's Like to Be Mentored by Gwyneth PaltrowThe actress and CEO chats with her mentee, the cofounder of Maisonette, about finding support as an entrepreneur.

ByStephanie Schomer

This story appears in theJuly 2019issue of狗万官方.Subscribe »

Courtesy of Goop

Gwyneth Paltrow has played many public roles -- most notably, of course, first as an actress and now as the creator ofGoop. Her lifestyle business and content platform launched in 2008 and has grown to a $250 million company by selling Paltrow-endorsed health-and-wellness products that shoppers swear by (even when the medical community cries foul). But here's a role she's less well-known for: Behind the scenes, she mentorsfemale entrepreneurs.Sylvana Ward Durrett is one of them. She's a formerVoguestaffer who for years produced the annual Costume Institute benefit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and then went on to cofound the children's e-commerce siteMaisonettein 2017. Today, Maisonette is a fast-growing business with more than $18 million in funding, and Ward Durrett often leans on Paltrow for advice. Here, the women chat about the value of mentorship, what it's like to be a woman running an early-stagestartup, and texting during board meetings.

Related:How Sheryl Sandberg Inspired These Fashion Founders to Ditch Their Corporate Jobs and Launch a Startup

How did you two first meet?

This is a subscriber-only article. Join Entrepreneur+today for access

Related Topics

Marketing

How to Build a Killer Marketing Function at Your Mature Company

A marketer's job is never done. Fending off challengers and keeping on top of the latest industry developments and releases is a good chunk of work, even for companies at the very top of their industry.

Business News

Chick-fil-A Will Pay $4.4 Million Lawsuit Settlement for 'Deceiving' Customers — Here's Who Is Eligible to Collect

Affected customers can receive compensation of $29.95 in cash or as a gift card.

Growing a Business

Every Durable Business Knows What It Takes to Withstand a Recession. Follow Their Lead With These 5 Pointers.

Building a durable business may seem like a daunting task, particularly during times of economic uncertainty. An important step in the process is taking the opportunity to learn from other successful, multi-generational businesses and identify the patterns that led to their success.

Green Entrepreneur

Amazon Expands Eco-friendly Electric Vehicle Fleet

Amazon has accomplished an impressive 260 million deliveries using the electric vans.

Life Hacks

The Science-Backed Case for Embracing Boredom in the Workplace

Research shows that for entrepreneurs, a dash of ennui can actually be an asset. Here's how to turn boredom into an engine for creativity.