Kristin Cavallari has long shed the persona that made her famous. She got her start on the MTV series “Laguna Beach,” the soapy high school drama at the forefront of reality television back in the early 2000s. She was cast as the captivating villain, the girl who wouldn’t be messed with, and that character continued as she graduated to its sleeker spinoff, “The Hills.” Once these popular shows were over, Cavallari didn’t rest on the recognition or reputation they gave her. Instead, she reinvented herself as a savvy businesswoman, and someone with many more layers than a half-hour ensemble show could capture. 

After several years of working on jewelry and accessories lines as part of a team, Cavallari decided to strike out on her own with the launch of Uncommon James in 2017. Every part of this timeless jewelry line came from her direct insights, and was informed by years of interacting with women who had a lot of her same concerns.

She didn’t want to make jewelry for special occasions, sparkling with the type of fanfare usually reserved for a royal—or maybe just a very fancy dinner. Cavallari envisioned a line that would elevate everyday looks, and in so doing, feature the type of pieces that never go out of style.

As Uncommon James was getting off the ground, she also made a plan to return to reality TV as the star of Very Cavallari on the E! Network. This time, she would be at the center of balancing business and family, showing layers that made her more complex and endearing than ever before. Soon her show was a hit, her business was booming, and Cavallari was at the helm of a persona all her own. 

As her fans continue to get to know the real her, she is only becoming more comfortable in her position as a successful entrepreneur. Perhaps it’s the role she was always meant to play.

Uncommon James has grown into a multi-million-dollar business, complete with two brick-and-mortar stores in Nashville and Chicago. Take us back to the beginning!

I had a shoe line for five years, and I learned very quickly that I knew my customer. She liked all the same designs I really liked. But I found that I kept bumping up against a wall while working with an already well-established company. So I decided to launch Uncommon James and design jewelry, since I think accessories can make or break your outfit—all you really need are great basics with killer jewelry. I wanted to have complete creative freedom to do whatever I wanted. I also couldn't understand why fashion wasn't accessible to everyone, and why trends were only for high-end designers. I wanted to bridge that gap.  

You are a serial entrepreneur with multiple businesses, not to mention, you’re a three-time New York Times bestselling author. Entrepreneurship is all about taking calculated risks. What’s the most pivotal risk you’ve taken, and how did it change your path? 

Filming a reality show about the company—which included showing the growing pains—was a major risk. Broadcasting all of the mistakes we made as a start-up could’ve backfired. Luckily, the opposite happened and people felt really invested. But it was a vulnerable thing for me to show what we were really going through as a company and the challenges we faced. Filming “Very Cavallari” ended up being the best decision for Uncommon James because of the exposure it gave us. It helped catapult us to the next level almost overnight. 

2020 presented everybody around the globe with new, unprecedented challenges. How did you #FindNewRoads + switch gears towards your new version of success?

We looked at it as an opportunity to take a step back and reevaluate where we were at as a company. We shifted gears and put all of our time and energy into ecommerce, and switched up our organizational chart. I'm actually very thankful to have had that time to slow down and assess what was working and what wasn't. And in a lot of ways, working from home was great because it made everyone accountable: You were either doing your job, or you weren't. 

For those who haven’t started a business (or are about to), what advice do you have? 

Go for it! Follow your gut, but be very transparent about how much work you're willing to do. Start-up life isn't for the faint of heart. It's all encompassing and will push you to your limit. You have to be willing to sacrifice and kick ass, otherwise you will crumble. 

Going after what you deserve in life takes confidence and guts. Does confidence come naturally to you or did you have to learn it? What advice can you share for women on cultivating confidence and going after their dreams? 

I definitely had to learn it. And even when I was on “Laguna Beach” in high school, people thought I was really confident but I wasn't at all. You gotta fake it ‘til you make it! However, I have always gone after what I wanted. I learned at an early age that if I wanted something I had to make it happen, because no one was going to do it for me. I've always hated relying on other people, and I always had a strong work ethic. All of those attributes have enabled me to go after my dreams. 

But confidence came later in life when I figured out who I was—I think that it comes with age. Until you get to that place, purposely put yourself in uncomfortable situations so you can learn how to fake it ‘til you make it. It will come. I also learned at a young age not to listen to the noise. People react to you based on their own insecurities and fears, so don't let them project that on to you. No one can know exactly what's right for you because they've never walked a mile in your shoes. So, again, listen to your gut over anything else. 

How have you remained true and authentic to who you are and what advice can you share for women who are struggling with that? 

Yes, I think that's one of my strong suits: I’m unapologetically myself. I'm me, that's it. And that's what makes each of us unique. I don't know how to be anything other than myself, and I feel like a fraud when I try to bend away from who I am—it makes me extremely uncomfortable. This is something I’ve learned about myself over time, and it’s something I embrace. 

It’s easy to celebrate the wins, but how do you handle failure or when something hasn’t worked out for you?

I allow myself to be upset. I think that it’s important to express those feelings. But I don't wallow in them, I move on. I also really believe that everything happens for a reason, and that there's a lesson in everything. When you look at failures from that lens, it's easier to chalk it up to, "It wasn't meant to be."

If you could go back to the beginning of your career journey—with the knowledge you have now— what advice would you give yourself? 

To just enjoy the journey and to live in the moment. When I was younger, I always wanted to be at the next phase of my life. Now I've realized that the beautiful part of life is the journey. I want time to slow down now, and I've gotten to a place of wanting to experience everything life has to offer: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Life is about learning and growing and allowing yourself to feel everything.  

Fill in the blanks:

I turn bad days around by…
Kicking ass in the gym or calling a friend to vent.

The three qualities that got me to where I am today are…
I’m hardworking, authentic, and driven.

My perfect day begins with…
A good workout and coffee.

The craziest thing I’ve done for work is…
I’ve taken red-eye flights to be home for my family, even though sleep is the most important thing that I need—but it’s never more satisfying than cuddles from my kids.

If I wasn’t in my job now, I would be…
An interior decorator.