Woman in Business

Nina Pierson

At Woman in Business, you see the successful woman behind a brand, shop, or business, because she deserves a stage of one hundred square meters. Today we speak with Nina Pierson (31), founder and creative director of Bedrock and co-owner of SLA. Additionally, Nina is a driving force behind the petition to expand partner leave and is quite active on Instagram. In short, a businesswoman at heart.

Nina, what do you do and especially why?

‘I live and work from my ideals. Inspiring people to live more consciously in terms of personal and global well-being. Taking good care of ourselves and taking good care of the world. That is ultimately what makes us all happier. SLA is an experience that helps people eat healthier. Bedrock informs with insights.’

What time do you wake up and what do you do at the beginning of your day? What do you eat for breakfast, do you exercise, do you read your emails in bed?

‘Ideally, I wake up at 7:00 AM. My little girl sleeps until 8:00 AM, so I have an hour for myself to meditate. I prefer to make an elaborate breakfast in the morning like the spinach pancakes from Green Kitchen Stories or a beetroot/bean smoothie (sounds gross but is delicious!) so that I feel like we’ve all had a nutritious meal. We don’t have much time in the morning because Jop, Ella, and I all have to get ready for the day (and Ella still needs some help with that).’

Your very first job?

‘Wow, that was a long time ago. It must have been in a local pizza takeout behind the counter when I was 13. After that, I sold insurance door-to-door and my first real fun job was for Models at Work. That was really the starting point of my career. I met so many people then and learned so much.’

When was your last vacation and what is actually your vacation policy? How often do you go, do you go for long or short trips, and do you work on vacation?

‘I go on vacation quite often. My policy is to work hard and often take a break. Ideally, we go away with the family at least once a year for five weeks. Last year that was South Africa and we are now looking to go to Asia. My last vacation was with friends to Ibiza, my husband and child were at home then. We have also been away for many weekends due to a few weddings abroad, but I really want to enjoy my freedom when I’m on vacation.’

What do you do to clear your head?

‘Meditate, meditate, and meditate some more. In Bedrock – the book (available from September 13 in better bookstores and on bol.com) I have written an extensive exposition on this subject and why it is no longer just for hippies. On the contrary. Even Harvard University conducts research after research and every time the outcomes of meditation are positive. On Bedrock.nl you will find more than 40 free Dutch-language meditations to choose from.’

Have you ever fired someone? If so, how was that?

‘Yes, quite often. I don’t mind it so much because there is always a good reason that the person usually agrees with. I always try to do it constructively with compliments and tips for development.’

Have you ever faced prejudice in your work because you are a woman?

‘Yes, more often than I might be aware of. You never know what people think. I also come across as quite young and so I am often underestimated. I try to set it up so that it works in my favor, then it can only be a pleasant surprise. The advantage of being an entrepreneur and what I do for Bedrock now is that I can do my own thing. Then it matters less if other people have a prejudice.’

If you could give your starting self a tip, what would it be?

‘Relax! It will be fine. Always remember why you do what you do. You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone, follow your heart and try to say no a little more often.’

Do you prefer to work with men or women?

‘With both, although I surround myself more with women. I believe you really need both to achieve a good result.’

What kind of people do you prefer to have around you?

‘People who are better than me in different areas! I love it when I can give someone a lot of responsibility so that they can flourish and grow. I do this because I trust them. I love hard-working people who are not sick every second, but who are also honest when it becomes too much for them. People who are assertive and not afraid to ask questions. Quite a demanding package, haha. But what I have noticed is that I usually choose partners – it’s not about employees – who are extremely complementary to me. I am creative and flit around and they are steady and the best executors. A kind of yin and yang, therefore.’

And when you have an important meeting, what do you wear? What is your favorite from the collection?

That’s funny because, for example, during our book launch, I had no time to think about how I would look. And while it is of course very important. In practice, I often have too little time to think too much about which outfit I wear. If I stand in front of my closet for more than five minutes in the morning, I already find it annoying and a waste of my time. I prefer to wear jeans with a nice sweater or a suit (pants and blouse or jacket) for an important meeting. No bright lipstick and usually boots.’