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| Building A Brand With Fashion Model & Founder Pritika Swarup |
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| “There was never a question of not going to school because education is so important. I think that’s something that no one can take away from you,” Pritika Swarup, Fashion Model and Founder |
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| What does it take to build a beauty brand from the ground up while still walking the runways of Paris? Just ask Pritika Swarup. The international fashion model, Columbia grad, and now founder and CEO of Prakti Beauty, recently joined the How She Does It podcast to share her journey, from being scouted at Disney World to running her own skincare company. |
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Growing up in a family full of doctors, Swarup pictured herself on the same path – until fashion called. Within a year of being discovered, she had moved to New York, signed with a top agency and modeled for top brands like Ralph Lauren and Athleta. Still, she never wavered on one goal. “There was never a question of not going to school because education is so important," says Swarup. "I think that’s something that no one can take away from you: Having your own power, your knowledge.”
After two years of building her portfolio, Swarup enrolled at Columbia University to study economics. An internship lit a new spark. “I was getting to work with founders and just understanding what it’s like to start your own business… they were so passionate and then it kind of opened my eyes to like, maybe I could do this.”
In 2021, she launched Prakti Beauty with the help of her mentor and former Estée Lauder executive Daria Myers. The debut product, PritiPolish, went through countless iterations before launch, a reflection of her drive to make it “a little better, a little better,” every time. That perfectionism, Swarup admits, can slow the process, but ensures every detail meets her vision. |
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| This Week In Your Wallet |
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The key to climbing the career ladder might just be…pre-K. A new study found that parents who enrolled their kids in extended-day pre-K earned more than those who didn’t – and the pay gap persisted at least through their child’s fifth-grade year. “Parents whose children are not in extended-day coverage may end up working part time, juggling multiple jobs or not working at all,” study co-author John Eric Humphries, an assistant professor at Yale University in New Haven, tells The Wall Street Journal. “And previous academic research shows that one or two years without full-time work can put parents on different earnings and career trajectories.”
Cars, coffee and clothing. As The Washington Post reports, those are just three items set to get pricier following historic new tariffs, which went into effect late last week and pushed the average U.S. tariff rate to its highest level since the Great Depression. “Consumers are going to pay, starting with their morning coffee,” said Robert Blecker, an economics professor at American University, referring to the 50 percent tariff on coffee from Brazil. “Although it does seem a lot of firms have been eating some of the tariffs by shaving their profit margins and holding the line on prices, that can’t go on forever.” An estimate from the Yale Budget Lab shows tariffs are expected to cost households an average of $2,400 per year.
Who’s the boss? According to a Gallup poll, 55% of Americans don't have a preference for the gender of their boss – but among those who do, slightly more prefer a male. Ouch. So, why the sisterhood standoff? This week on HerMoney.com, sociologist and entrepreneur Anna Akbari, Ph.D., digs into what’s behind the female boss boycott. “We don’t hear about this phenomenon too often because women fear being judged by other women as 'bitchy’ women-haters if they dare speak the truth: that some women just aren’t that nice to each other,” writes Akbari. “But denial won’t change the current contentious state of the sisterhood and its ripple effects.” What can change it? Find out here. |
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| Things That Save You Money |
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Getting “scrappy” with your fridge and pantry could save you $1,000 a year. One expert suggests a simple “food waste plan” can help cut grocery costs by using scraps you’d normally toss. Think broccoli stem “fries,” which look surprisingly delish. |
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Ready to put down new roots? MakeMyMove.com is a database where you can search for over 100 communities across the U.S. offering incentives for people to move there – for example, concert tickets, gym memberships and, oh yeah, cash! |
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The ticket to scoring cheap airfare could be to search while everyone else is sleeping. Experts say booking between 3:00 AM and 5:00 AM could save you hundreds. |
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| Ask Jean |
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| Q: |
I am married and am trying to get a credit card in my name. We have a joint card, but I'd like to have one as a backup. When I entered my information, I was denied. The application asked for my mortgage amount and income, which seemed high given my income. Is there any way to appeal this, or what should I do next? |
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For this question, we tapped Lisa Gill, a credit expert with Consumer Reports. She breaks down why this happens, how to handle income reporting on applications and explains why it might make sense to ask for a cosigner to help build your credit. Here’s what Gill had to say:
First, congratulations on trying to establish some independent credit! It can certainly be a slow-going experience. Still, there are two immediate options worth considering, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: The next time you fill out a credit card application form, look for a section that asks about your combined income (or household income), and then take your income and your spouse's income and use that number instead of only your own.
If that doesn't work, or it's offered on your application, the second option may not make you feel very independent, but it's a good method to help build your credit: Ask your spouse or a family member if they would be willing to cosign your credit card application. If your application is accepted, and you use the card and pay off the balance on time for a year or so, you may have improved your credit to the point you can next ask your credit card company to release the cosigner from your account. |
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| Submit your questions to Jean here. |
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