Female Disruptors: Jennifer Schlangen of EcoBeachie On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry
PATIENCE: Patience has been a work in progress for me as I am used to working quickly and expecting positive results immediately. My patience level has definitely improved without a doubt.
As a part of our series about women who are shaking things up in their industry, we had the pleasure of interviewing Jennifer Schlangen. Jennifer is the Founder and CEO of EcoBeachie™ a company that makes beach products, all of which contain ocean/estuary and other post-consumer grade plastic waste. Jennifer is originally from small-town, Canton, Illinois, but has resided along the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago for more than twenty years. Jennifer’s pioneering upcycled ocean plastic beach products, i.e. her most exciting product, the first and only Beach Sled, which launched on Kickstarter on February 14, 2023. Her motto: Let’s help clean up our planet/oceans of plastic waste…one product at a time.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
No, Thank YOU. My backstory is simple, really. I live literally steps from Lake Michigan and I am completely in love with the beach. And, like others, I have a ton of beach gear that make for fun, easy, and long beach days.
Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?
I would say that I am literally pioneering the concept of making beach products out of ocean plastic. I mean, there are a ton of food packaging manufacturers that make containers that contain ocean plastic however, there are only a handful of manufacturers that make actual products out of ocean plastic, none of which are beach products which seems like a no-brainer in my book. Not only that, but navigating the world of manufacturing has proved challenging but is certainly not a challenge I intend to abandon anytime soon.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I remember being on a call with a manufacturer once and when I was telling him about my company and my mission of tapping into ocean plastic as a way to help clean up our oceans, I apparently was not speaking clearly enough. Because, after speaking with this person for more than ten minutes, he asked, “Am I hearing you right? Are you saying that your company is called, “EcoBitchy?” lol. In that, I learned to be patient with myself and speak much more slowly, concisely and clearly.
We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?
I have three business coaches from S.C.O.R.E. who have been with me throughout the entire two years of this journey. I don’t know what I would do without them, honestly. Also, I highly recommend the S.C.O.R.E. organization as a whole.
In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?
In my opinion, if you go into anything with a positive outlook and intentions, it is likely that positivity will return. On the contrary, if you go into something with a negative attitude and/or intentions, you will likely not be received well and a negative outcome will ultimately be a result. Being positive and remaining positive creates good energy.
Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.
PATIENCE: Patience has been a work in progress for me as I am used to working quickly and expecting positive results immediately. My patience level has definitely improved without a doubt. TENACITY: Starting your own company requires tenacity, period. However, starting your own company and navigating into a world in which you are not familiar definitely requires a whole lot of tenacity…and even more determination. POSITIVITY: I have been told along the way to not only, “be patient,” but, “remain positive.” Honestly, all three of these terms play out in my daily life on a constant basis, both personally and professionally. In that the stories would be endless.
We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?
Right now, I am laser-focued on the Beach Sled Kickstarter campaign because I firmly believe that this product is a game-changer, not only in terms of the innovative nature relating to beach products but also as a vessel to get the word out about utilizing all of the plastic garbage that litters our planet. Hopefully, I can encourage/inspire others to do the same.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by ‘women disruptors’ that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?
That’s easy. Women are just not taken as seriously as their male counterparts, at least in my area of business, which is unfortunate all the way around.
Do you have a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us?
YES! Every single night when I crawl into bed, I listen to Get Sleepy. This podcast alone allows me to completely unwind, relax, and clear my mind of the never-ending task list that tends to weigh on me on the daliy.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
EcoBeachie™ I think I am doing it and am right where I am supposed to be.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. I have lived by this quote for my entire life, honestly and I appreciate having it echo within my mind along this journey.
How can our readers follow you online?
https://www.instagram.com/The_Original_EcoBeachie/
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
