Meet Sabrina Whitten | Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sabrina Whitten and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sabrina, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ll take it back to the beginning…

As a young girl, I’ve been obsessed with making money so I could shop til I drop. I loved luxurious things, getting dressed and being glammed up.

I remember planning activities and adventures with friends and I’d always say let me check my schedule – as if I had things to do and meetings to juggle. I’d even say things like, I should call my pilot so we can take the PJ. Now that part I haven’t made it to quite yet; however, I definitely have to check my schedule before making plans.

In my mind, this obsession with scheduling and creating this dream could only be accomplished by being a doctor or owning a business.

Fast forward, I started university setting out to begin my pre-med endeavors. That wasn’t “my thing”. I switched to Journalism/PR my junior year. I interned for a PR agency and it was amazing to work under this woman led business. But it was this air to her that resonated with me. I wanted it. I’d study her when she’d come in. She meant business and in a nutshell showed me you have to be knowledgeable and love what you do. You have to put the hours in and be innovative, think quick and solve problems.

Long story short, I graduated moved back home to the Bay Area/SF, started working a government job. It was at this turning point, I knew being in an office, behind a computer screen was not for me. I needed to be moving, creating and socializing.

I started working P/T as a residential cleaner. It began making me more money than my F/T government position. I had a child and my financial stability crumbled, but the cleaning positioned me to spend more time with my child and support us financially. I was then able to finally pursue my education into cosmetology. And from there, I am now a business owner of a commercial cleaning company and a hair brand.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am the founder of two businesses in separate fields. However, the overall building of these brands are similar.

I believe I’m at running businesses is due to my ability to stay calm and be pleasant during the most stressful situations. I have this gift to hyper focus during stressful times and push out some of my best works. I understand others may also have these skills, but they don’t deliver them in the same fashion as I do especially with my blend of experiences in life, childhood experiences and being at university, even down to the opportunities that seem to find me in the perfect times.

I have a strong sense of vision and I possess the ability to delegate without making people feel offended, defensive and closed off.

What excites me the most about about my businesses is the potential for vast growth. I’ve been learning to genuinely enjoy the process.

The process is engrossing. Once you figure where you want to go, then you can work on how you’re going to get there. Ultimately, what helps is writing the business plan. The process is where life challenges you and pushes you. The things you learn during the process are what makes you. Like learning what paperwork you need, how to organize for taxes, how to strategize, etc.

Honestly, the process isn’t easy. Sometimes you go through these times where it feels like opportunities are falling from the sky, then the world evolves and you are reconsidering if entrepreneurship is the right choice. But life forces you to adapt.

I came to a point where a cpa told me to go get back in the work force. I sat on her discouraging words for weeks, deeply saddened. I had applied to some jobs, but I made a decision I couldn’t let her decide my life. After all, don’t all businesses go through unfavorable times especially just starting out. That really made me push forward and continue on my journey. I mean, if I wasn’t pushing to grow my own company, I’d be back in the same boat as when I was a government employee at a desk, living a medicore life. I had come too far. I already had taken the leap of faith.

I trudged along, going to marketing seminars and studying YouTube university. Now I know exactly what it is I want to do with my commercial cleaning business, Wypt Cleen and with my hair brand, Folliquul.

I learned to never stop going, but keep believing with one foot in front of the other. Great things take time! I also learned to not let others dictate your life and your vision because of their limiting beliefs. I have this Chinese proverb hanging in my house, that I like to reference, “Those who say it cannot be done, should not interrupt the person doing it.”

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, I live in Oakland, Calif. If my best friend was visiting we’d definitely be going out to eat! I love food. I’d take her to a bunch of different bars and lounges, this I have never tried before. Then the experience would be new for the both of us. We can start with a smoothie in the morning from Juice Appeal in Berkeley, near Cal campus. It invloves amazing people watching.

Next, we could either go to a fire view, like Panoramic Way. It’s so cute, a little bench sits near the top and a trail lays just beneath so we could take a quick hike.

We could follow that up with a cute breakfast/brunch spot either in Berkeley or make our way to Oakland. Where we could follow up brunch, with a sun nap at Lake Merritt. Do more people watching. Head home, shower stay in or plan to go to a movie, a comedy/music/spoken word show or a cute trendy bar with the neon lights.

I’d also definitely be showing them around San Francisco, golden gate park has so much to offer from horseback riding, archery, electric bike riding, botanical gardens and museums. Walnut Creek has cute strolling, patio eating and shopping. The Bay Area also has sporting events so depending on the time of year, we could go to a Warriors’ game at Chase Center in SF. Some other activities could include a night of bowling or karaoke. Karaoke is always a great time! We could go to the gym if she’s down. Close to Berkeley, there’s a horse racing track, we could get dressed up and go.

We could even make a drive up to Napa, and enjoy a over night stay in Wine Country. We could go to a cute resort and get a day pass to hang out at a pool cabana and sip bubbles. We could indulge in a mud bath or spa treatments. Up the road in Yountville, Restoration Hardware boasts a beautiful dining experience.

The opportunities and adventures are abundant!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, I’d love to acknowledge my parents.

With their love and support I’ve been encouraged to follow my dreams, be great and make them proud.

The words, “You have a fine mind” and “Whatever the mind believes, it can achieve, with work and consistency”, live in my subconscious. My parents are excellent examples of that. Always put my BEST foot forward and to do things right the first time. Show up and show out. So with these words echoing in my mind along with my strong will and tenacity – the sky is the limit.

Now outside of them, I have attracted friends and colleagues that live by these ideals. But the first person that comes to mind is Jessica. She has been awe-inspiring. Not only is she my hair mentor, but also someone I consider a sister at this point. She has helped me grow in the hair industry. I started my cosmetology journey as an apprentice under her guidance. She believed in me from day one, repeatedly pushing me out of my comfort zone. Love her!

Website: wyptcleen.com (commercial cleaning), folliquul.com (hair)

Instagram: @folliquul (hair)

Facebook: facebook.com/wyptcleen