Gail Lara is a Small Business Commissioner for the City of Los Angeles. She was also the founder of the Women’s Collaborative Mentoring Program and brought to the position more than twenty years of experience as a business owner and small-business development training. She holds twenty-five years of experience in retail buying, sales management, procurement, and advertising specialty. Commissioner Lara also worked as a business coach with Operation Hope and progressed their Launch + Grow for women entrepreneur’s program. Over her extensive career, she served more than 5,200 business owners to start or grow their company and connect to resources for funding and new business opportunities. Listen to her tips and advice while being a mom of three children, which includes raising a special needs child with high functioning Autism (Asperger’s) and was an instrumental leader in navigating the system to help improve school programs for youth with Special needs!
Ep 18 - Gail Lara-Women's Collaborative Mentoring Program
2:50 - Right out of college, moved to Hawaii, stayed there for 25 years, had her three children, and moved back to the mainland 23 years ago, and was in retail. She decided to start her own business bringing goods from Hawaii.
3:50 - Started the Women’s Collaborative Mentoring Program 10 years ago.
5:15 - Word of mouth is the best way to do things.
6:00 - Planning and scheduling Pau, Hana Friday’s, to them means finish work then go to the beach, watch the sunset and have dinner together. Kids get used to family traditions.
8:04 - Assigned each child a budget for a meal for the family each week. She would take them to the store to buy the items within budget. And if not, they would put it back.
9:22 - With high functioning autism, her son was in LAUSD and on so many programs that mixed them with the other children, it was a challenge.
10:07 - Autism is a big business, “do this for him”, “take this medicine,” etc. You try to do it all and you don’t even know what is working.
10:55 - It’s not about fixing him but understanding him. I needed to sit down with his teachers and caregivers and ask what one thing are you doing that’s working?
13:46 - we tend to want to hover and do it for them and fix things. They need to know how to do it themselves.
15:30 - Gail is my friend that started the entrepreneurial training program
16:25 - Tips for people starting Business -
- Work with the free resources out there (see link below) funded by the city.
- Work with all of them. You never know who’s desk it will reach that needs your services.
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- SBDC (for each city)
- Business Source Center (for each city)
- SBA – Small Business Administration (Federal program)
- Two most asked questions:
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- Where do you find a mentor.
- What are the steps?
- Checklist to get started.
19:10 – Not once source has the budget to handle it all, be part of all of them. 20:30 – Contracting; Women contractors, Women owned business, Black owned business certifications.
22:15 - Gail connected you with the free resources and helped get your business started.
23:13 – Women’s Collaborative Mentoring Program was put under the VEA and Launch and grow was under OPERATION HOPE. They were both transitioning when she retired so they are no longer. But her resources still exist.
25:54 – My middle daughter has a wellness center in Mammoth and Bishop, Her oldest daughter is doing elixirs and works for a corporate company. Her son has his own business.
27:00 – You need to speak your business every day, to everyone at every opportunity, nonstop and ask yourself; did I speak to 10 people today?
28:00 – Ariella was at her son’s school event as she was starting a group class. She was telling everyone at school about it.
28:50 - On average, people need to hear about you 7 times to get the sale.
29:21 – Be known for something.
30:00 – Speak to anyone and everyone you come in contact with.
32:56 – What does your morning routine look like? It starts with gratitude and a morning walk.
34:35 – Look at your Business Plan and ask yourself; how is my business going to look in five years? How am I going to make money this year? Today, tomorrow, next week, next month… did I make my goal?
35:25 - I can’t tell you how many entrepreneurs want to give it away to a charity. Get your business going first. Get yourself established, then you can think about the charities.
36:15 - Banks will lend when you have money. Businesses will grow if you have money, so save everything you can. When you want to grow your business then borrow it.
40:25 – Speak to 10 people about your business challenge!
Gail Lara -
Gail has also received many Business Awards and recognition including NLBWA, LABJ, SFVBJ, and for the past five years was recognized by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal as one of the Valley 200 most Influential Leaders. Gail serves on the planning committees for the City of L.A., Women’s Entrepreneur Day, and Small Business Summit.
Gail’s philanthropic side has always been one of service. She serves on such boards as the Special Needs Network, a program dedicated to helping children with Autism, and the North Valley Regional Chamber. Previously, she served as event chair for a domestic violence awareness program. Gail helped charter the “Speaking Your Business” Toastmasters club and serves as their past president.
Gail’s resources to start a business:
No cost or low-cost services offered in the Los Angeles area.
I encourage small businesses to register for services to help start, develop, or grow their business.
LA BUSINESS PORTAL –
Offers planning, starting, managing and growing a business.
Up to date resources to support your business goals.
https://business.lacity.org/plan
Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA)
Offers a guide to doing business with the city including contracts.
https://dcba.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/LACountySmallBusinessResourceGuide.pdf
Some Background on the hosts!
Ariella Vaccarino-
Once an opera singer, mother to 5 children, voice and piano teacher, creator of
Voice Lessons To Go, a line of voice lesson CDs/downloads that sell nationwide.
She is also the host of the podcasts:
The Talented Magical Mommies Club
and she has her own YouTube channel about singing:
www.youtube.com/VoiceLessonsToGo
Theresa Ofstad-
Is currently working a fulltime job while running a Basketball Club with her husband and teenage son. She is developing a business called Fuller Life, a resource for patients, seniors and their families. She is an area director with Toastmasters, a lifetime learner, leadership fanatic, and community connector.
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