Dr . Shellie Hipsky had the opportunity to sit down with Debbie Millar , the owner / CEO of ViVi , also referred to as the “ Queen of Bling ,” to learn about her mission of Women Helping Women .
Dr . Shellie : Can you fill us in on your journey to becoming the “ Queen of Bling ”?
Debbie : Well , it has been quite a journey , I will tell you that Shellie . I have been on this path and journey for a good part of my life . I ’ ve wanted to be in fashion ever since I was a five-year-old little girl . I have done several different careers in my professional life and had the opportunity to look at this business about two years ago to take it over from the founder .
Dr . Shellie : I know the name was “ Cookie Lee ,” and you have rebranded the company as “ ViVi .” What does “ ViVi ” mean ?
Debbie : “ ViVi ” stands for “ Vision , Inspiration , Value , and Independence .” After I bought the Cookie Lee jewelry company two years ago , we decided to change the name as part of the rebrand . I wanted to name the company to encompass where we are going rather than where we have been . I also wanted the name to honor the women who built the company over the past two and a half decades and are the driving force of the business today .
Dr . Shellie : Tell me more about the name and how it supports your company ’ s mission .
Debbie : ViVi ’ s mission is to embrace women and empower them to reach their full potential through selling a great product they can stand behind . ViVi represents an opportunity for every woman to harness and grow in the qualities of vision , inspiration , value , and independence in herself , her business , and in other women . We put it this way : Share our vision by inspiring other women and helping them to inspire others , provide great value with our product , teach them to find value in themselves and with each other , and create financial independence .
Dr . Shellie : Why did you feel that purchasing Cookie Lee was right for you ?
Debbie : What I loved about this company is that our
Debbie Millar , the “ Queen of Bling .”
values , Cookie ’ s and mine , were so in sync . Cookie Lee built this company off the kitchen table , into the trunk of her car , and into women ’ s homes . Her passion was women helping women . I share that passion , and mentoring women is my very favorite thing . I believe that , in life , we are given gifts , and it is our responsibility as women especially to identify those gifts , nurture those gifts and steward those gifts to others . One of my gifts that I have found is mentoring women , and I absolutely
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