The Career Story of Raquel Bouris from who is elijah
In the dynamic world of entrepreneurship, the journey of Raquel Bouris, the founder of who is elijah, stands as a testament to the power of observation, practical learning, and the courage to leap into the unknown.
Growing up in an environment where business was the daily language, Raquel's childhood was anything but ordinary. Her parents, both business owners, unwittingly enrolled her in the most practical business school from a tender age, where she learned the intricacies of running a business firsthand. This unique upbringing shaped not only her character but also her career trajectory, leading her to establish a unique niche in the fragrance industry with who is elijah.
From her early aspirations of being a lawyer to her stint in various industries, including early childhood education and the corporate world, Raquel's journey is a mosaic of diverse experiences. Her story is one of transformation, from a young girl with a penchant for argument to a visionary entrepreneur who turned a casual compliment on a fragrance into a thriving business. In this candid interview, Raquel Bouris shares insights into her life, her career path, and the invaluable lessons learned along the way, offering inspiration and guidance to those who dare to dream and do. It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Where did you grow up and how did your experience shape the person you are, and the career that you are in today?
I had a pretty normal childhood. My parents are both business owners, so for as long as I can remember, I observed the ups and down of owning a business, and also the hard work and dedication you have to have to successfully run your own business. It was business school from a very young age!
When you were a young girl what did you want to be when you grew up?
I went through a stage where I wanted to be a lawyer (my dad always said my arguing skills would make me a successful lawyer) I also wanted to work with children.
Where did you go to High School and how was that experience for you?
I went to Port hacking High School in the Sutherland Shire. I didn’t love school to be honest, I got to year 9 or 10 and just wanted to leave so I could go and work. So I finished year 10 and off I went!
Did your high school play an important role in helping you choose your further education and future career?
I would like to say yes.. but no, I think school is good for necessities such as English & maths etc. but what the high school curriculum is missing is real life knowledge and skill teaching. Like, understating tax, how to start a business, investing, buying property, how politics work – these are the skills that we should be learning in the final years of school.
Did you complete any internships or work experience placements in high school? Tell us about that experience.
No, but I had a job from the age of 14! I worked at a hairdressing salon, washing hair & sweeping the floor – I also worked at Boost Juice during my school years – I would work after school and weekends. I loved the independence I felt and had earning my own money from a young age.
Did you go to College, University, Tafe or another equivalent? Take us through the courses that you studied and why you chose them?
Aside from obtaining a Diploma in Children Services, I never felt I wanted to study. I have always been a practical learner and never really knew what I wanted to do until I founded who is elijah.
Tell us about your career journey so far. Who you have worked for, and explain any highlights?
When I left school I worked in Early Childhood Education for roughly 3 years. At the end of this time, I knew I wanted to work in the corporate world. I worked as a PA at ModelCo briefly at the age of 20, I learnt so much there that I still carry with me each day at who is elijah. I then had a stint in the property & real estate world, but I didn’t love it. I then found my dream job as an Executive Assistant at a luxury hotel group. I worked here for three years and it was during this time that I created who is elijah! I learnt a tremendous amount of high level, executive business skills – I reported to the CEO, CFO and two other directors for the company. I basically worked across all areas of the business and it was better than going to business school. The transferable skills I grew here have helped me build the business I have now.
How did you get into the job that you are in now?
My ultimate dream job, who is elijah! I went to Coachella in 2017 with my best friends. One of my friends brought along a friend and she just smelt amazing. I tracked down the oil fragrance she was wearing and started wearing it back home around Sydney. I then had people approaching me in public asking to know what fragrance I was wearing – I was a little tipsy one night and had a light build idea to create a fragrance. It took about 12 months of research and finding a perfumer here in Sydney, but I stuck with it and launched HIS|HER in 2018.
What is the hardest part of your current job?
Keeping up with the growth we are experiencing can be difficult at times, managing inventory and freight has been a big challenge the past two years, but we have implemented Salesforce and built a system that has helped tremendously with the structure of the business.
What does a day a typical business day look like for you in your current job?
My emails are the first thing I check in the morning. Because we operate across the USA, my workday sometimes has to start at 5am so I can communicate with our international partners and suppliers. I work in my office everyday – I am across all departments and often find myself assisting in the warehouse! We hand fill all of our products and it is very time consuming! The rest of my day is spent managing our wholesale partners and I am responsible for our social media! I work very closely with my Co-Brand Manager and we focus on PR activities almost daily together.
Who has been your hero, or greatest inspiration growing up and why?
I learnt lot from my parents growing up, they instilled in me how important it is to have strong work ethic, and the value of money. My husband is my daily inspiration he is very business smart and has helped me immensely whilst building who is elijah.
What advice would you give girls who are interested in your career?
You can do it all! I often get asked how I have kids and also a business, but you can always make it work. Having a good support system around me definitely helps, but I also don’t rely completely on others. Research and understand the why and how to your business idea, but also don’t put off your business idea to wait for perfect. I have changed my packaging four times since launching four years ago – depending on the business or product, sometimes it is best to start and perfect as you move along.