Your Inner Fat Girl was founded by Natalie Taste to highlight some of her favorite foods and beverages from around New Orleans. She became the go-to source for visitors and residents alike after establishing a big following. Natalie was able to get relationships with Buzzfeed, Tripadvisor, and the Marriot Bonvoy Bold as a result of this. Bombshell by Bleu spoke with this businesswoman about her brand and how she built it.
Below are highlights of the interview conducted between World’s Leaders and Natalie Taste:
Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace.
Outside the workplace, I am reserved until comfortable, goofy and genuine, unconsciously aggressive, passionate, soft spoken yet bold. I even have a hard side…I honestly consider myself a gangsta based on how I live by my code. I’m a light and pleasure to be around until I start drinking. I’m a good person with heart. That’s a good question, because it’s making me differentiate two or even confront myself inside the workplace. I’d say overwhelmed, insecure, creative, fulfilled, and free.
Describe your background and what did you do before you started/joined the company?
I graduated from LSU with an Apparel Merchandising degree & Business minor with ambitions of owning a boutique creative agency or climbing the ladder in a luxury fashion house. You can best believe I wanted to grow up to be Meryl Streep in the “Devil Wears Prada” even though that was a completely different line of work than what piqued my interest. After college the vision of working at Louis Vuitton headquarters became blurred. My first job was as a sales and marketing assistant for a real estate development company that had recently opened a few commercial businesses. One of the best times in my life and maybe the darkest. When that season ended, I wore the many hats that fell under the title of social media manager for a beauty brand. During my three years there, I became a woman and learned what I thought it took to run a product-based business from all levels. I loved it until I wanted more for myself. November 2021, I resigned from my job to take a chance on myself and Your Inner Fat Girl, LLC.
Tell us about the inception of the company. How did it all start?
Organically. Your Inner Fat Girl was originally a food blog where I documented my eating experiences and whatever else I felt at the time during college. After inconsistently blogging for a couple years, I made it a New Year’s goal to turn my passion (food) into profit which came in the form of brand merchandise. The moment I met that goal, it changed everything. YIFG then gave me the confidence I needed at that time and reassurance to know I could do whatever I want in this life. More importantly, I was able to see the reach of my platform once the orders started rolling in. I’m relieved to say it gave me a backbone to take my “little food page” seriously. My lack thereof didn’t allow me to see that I was a mogul in the making.
What has made you successful? What do you value?
I believe I’m successful because of the recognition from my parents, unconscious words of affirmation from my sister, love from my audience, reality checks from my friends, support from my peers, and the utmost respect from individuals I admire. I think I’m successful because I took L’s that sharpened me for greatness. I value time, relationships, memories, honesty, creativity, wellness, kindness, achievement, and hard work.
Which are the major services of the company and how do they the company to get ahead in the competition? What value-added services does the company provide?
As a food brand group company. You offer, Services, product and experiences.
What are the most important aspects of a company’s culture? What principles do you believe in and how do you build this culture?
I’d say the most important aspects of any company’s culture are the environment, communication style, opportunities for employee growth and development, and the understanding of the company’s values and vision. So many principles! I believe honesty is the best policy, iron sharpens iron, quality over quantity. I believe what you put in, you get out, all money isn’t good money and to make the money, not let it make you. I believe that a wise woman knows one thing and that is she knows nothing. I believe in treating people how you want to be treated, following your passion, and discomfort is a catalyst for growth. This culture is built by setting and upholding standards, effective communication, leading by example, nurturing your employees’ development, cultivating a motivating work environment, meaningful work and selflessness.
What is the significance of innovative ideas in the company?
Innovation in general is necessary for longevity within any company. Innovative ideas within Your Inner Fat Girl keeps us current, positions us to compete at high levels, differentiates us from other company’s and allows us to explore our creativity.
Give us your opinion on; do organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team processes?
I like to support facts. An organization is literally a body of people with a common goal. Yes, an individual could be the leader in place making the power moves, but the organization cannot survive on that alone. I think success is within teamwork and systems.
What are your responsibilities as the Founder/CEO/Managing Partner of the company? What is the happiest part of your daily routine?
I’m accountable for the overall presence, direction and operations of the company short term and long term. That looks like setting goals, tracking performance, managing ecommerce, creative direction, marketing, and providing exceptional customer service. The happiest part of my daily routine is manually writing the product inserts for orders…it allows me to connect with each customer in a sense.
What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
I’d advise him or her to not let their personality outside the position to hinder them from fully embodying the new position and being open to communicating in different ways to effectively reach a goal.
