Lisa Messenger talks FRANKiE4 collaboration

Meet Lisa Messenger – best-selling author, speaker, businessperson, girl boss. She’s also the vibrant, game-changing founder and CEO of Collective Hub, an international multimedia business and lifestyle platform.

Lisa can now add ‘shoe designer’ to her impressive list of job titles, as we were recently lucky enough to collaborate with her on our latest sneaker style!

You head up the lifestyle/multimedia powerhouse, Collective Hub. You must have a busy schedule – what does a ‘normal’ day look like for you?

LM: Oh wow – well there is definitely no “normal day” for me. It depends on which aspect of my businesses I am running. Could be writing books, designing content, meeting with my various team members, attending events, doing speaking gigs, sitting and planning our next big moves, exercising, spending time with my partner and our dog Benny, cooking for family and friends and a myriad of other things. It’s a constant juggle but one of the things I love most about it is the variety. Never a dull moment!

What do you think is a must-have piece in every woman’s wardrobe?

LM: Well for me you’ll generally either find me in activewear or some form of “athleisure” and pretty much always in a pair of sneaks. It’s a rare occasion these days that I’ll don a pair of heels. I’m all about comfort and being able to move effortlessly through the day whatever kind of spontaneous adventure is thrown my way.

Designing shoes is our everyday thing. How did you find the process of bringing your shoe to life?

LM: I say – always turn to the experts. FRANKiE4 has been my go-to shoe brand since launch. It’s pretty much all I wear. I’m a creative. So I love a new challenge and this one was super fun.

Which is your favourite FRANKiE4 style?

LM: I live in my NATs!

‘Yeah Girl’ is the stand out slogan for our collab. What was your inspiration behind this?

LM: The idea was to do something a bit fun and tongue in cheek but with the underlying through of “yeah girl you got this” meaning “anything is possible”. I want people to wear these shoes and ground them in remembering to be fun and lighthearted with a little pop of colour, but at the same time being strong, grounded, powerful with an inner knowing that they can do whatever they want. There is a little bit of me in their shoe guiding them through the day.

We know you love dogs too. Tell us about you pup?

LM: Benny dog is my side kick. He pretty much goes everywhere with me. He turns ten next month so him and I have been pretty constant besties for a long time.

Who is a woman who inspires you?

LM: So many – people like Caroline that had the courage to start their own business. Anyone who has the courage to dream something really big and then have the bravery to just start. Those are the people I respect and admire the most.

What advice would you give someone who wanted to pursue their dreams?

LM: Know what you stand for – what’s your why. What lights you up and makes you want to jump out of bed? Chase that wholeheartedly.

Surround yourself with a great team. Know your weaknesses and hire them.

Fail fast. Fail often. Learn from your mistakes and iterate. Be authentic. Don’t worry about perfection. Just start.

Tell us about how you got started on your journey to becoming an entrepreneur?

LM: Oh, too long to answer here… I’ve written seven books in the past 5.5 years. For anyone reading this pick up a copy of Daring & Disruptive, Money & Mindfulness and Purpose. They are pretty much my well documented blueprints for becoming an entrepreneur. Everything I’ve written is in real time with every nitty gritty detail about what you want to know. And if you’re feeling really brave and want to know what not to do, pick up a copy of Risk & Resilience which details how I very nearly lost is all… don’t worry I’m out the other side to tell the tale with a zillion more lessons under my belt (or in my shoe as it were…)

What inspires you to keep doing the work you are doing?

LM: I vowed to be an entrepreneur for entrepreneurs, living my life out loud showing that anything is possible. This helps me to live my very best life and share the lessons learnt every day for others. This brings me the greatest sense of purpose and joy.

What are some bucket list goals you’d like to kick one day?

LM: I’ve kicked a fair few like spending so much time with Sir Richard Branson and sitting alongside him co-presenting on stage. Anna Wintour has flown me to the Conde Naste head office in NYC to meet with her. I’ve had coffee with John Cleese and shot Jamie Oliver for a cover. I created a mag that was in 37 countries within the first 18 months that went on to inspire millions around the world. Really my bucket list is just to keep using myself as a conduit to inspire millions around the globe – whatever that looks like. When you step into your purpose as I have, extraordinary opportunities present themselves every day. I’m very grateful.