Breegan Jane has always worked on her own terms. She was a model when other kids were stars of family scrapbooks, and a clothing store owner when peers were just getting started in college. Jane did go to art school, but considering that she spent a childhood steeped in creative pursuits, she was also comfortable teaching herself techniques at her own pace. That’s what brought her into interior design: Since she passed countless hours perfecting the window displays of her store, she thought she’d give the profession a try. This led to work for private clients across the world, until HGTV called and asked if she’d like to be a designer on the reboot of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
As Jane renovated spaces on and off television, she never stopped pursuing other passions. She runs a successful lifestyle blog and published a children’s book, Carbie, all about the lessons of determination she teaches her two young sons. She’s a seasoned talk show guest and podcast host, where audiences get a glimpse of her wit and wisdom, and she’s a steady contributor to many philanthropic organizations.
The one that’s closest to her heart, the international nonprofit World Vision, allows Breegan to foster the health and education of women and children in Kenya. Jane embraces the idea of building a layered career, so she isn’t that concerned about a singularly defining job title. To her, a job—any job—is about putting in the work.
You are the definition of a multihyphenate—an interior designer, lifestyle blogger, mom of two sons Kingsley and Kensington, social media influencer, frequent morning TV show guest, and author of a children’s book—so impressive! Take us back to the beginning!
Honestly, there wasn’t one moment for me. Much of it actually stemmed from my childhood passions. I was a young kid who stayed up until 2 AM painting, drawing, and exploring visual creativity. I attended art school, but I primarily taught myself and honed my design skills as I matured. I owned a clothing store at 19, and I realized after spending hours in the middle of the night working on window displays that design would be my career. More entrepreneurial opportunities presented themselves, and I embraced them. I’ve always been driven, but once I became a mom, that drive grew even stronger. My career skyrocketed from there.
We talk a lot about diversification of revenue at C&C. Why did you opt to diversify your revenue streams (was it a conscious decision?) and how has it helped your business get through tough times?
It was absolutely intentional, but it was a decision that was often met with negativity. My friends and family thought my brand was too spread out without a common goal. I was always told to “just pick one.” Pushing back on those opinions was very simple for me because what I chose to focus on—motherhood, interior design, lifestyle—felt authentic to me. It was the right decision, too. Now people want to know more about how my multi-faceted approach works. It has definitely helped me in tough times, because markets ebb and flow, and some aspects of my brand will continue to flourish when others go quiet. Not putting all of my eggs in one basket ensures more professional stability.
What is the biggest mistake entrepreneurs make with money early on?
I don’t think many new entrepreneurs understand how much they’ll really need to keep their businesses going. I learned from a trusted mentor early on that many new businesses suffer primarily from two things: too much growth at one time, or not enough funding. Those are actually the same problem. If you don’t have a base amount to execute your work properly, you’ll either lose clients or run out of finances. Always double your financial plan up front, and ask for help before you run out. Whatever you do, though, don’t give up.
You also make time to give back and you’ve been working with World Vision to raise funds for young girls in Africa. Can you tell us more about that and why giving back is so important to you?
One thing that drives me the most is the understanding that my opportunities aren’t afforded to others, namely women, only because of who they are. As such, women’s empowerment is a cause near to my heart. I’ve experienced not receiving my fair slice of pie because I’m a woman, and so I want to advocate for women who might also be treated differently because of our identity.
Female genital mutilation happens all over the world, even in the U.S. It also happens at an alarming rate throughout Kenya. I’ve worked with World Vision to stop this practice in that region. I work to create change and better women’s circumstances around the world, but I knew my work had to start with the amazing, extremely powerful and deserving girls in Kenya.
How are you making a difference and pushing your industry forward?
I hope I’m making a difference simply by showing up and being myself. I can only wish my experiences will make the journey easier for anyone coming behind me. I do what I love and love what I do, and I’m not afraid to challenge norms when I feel it’s necessary. I want anyone who sees my work to recognize that they can do it for themselves, too. I believe that if enough people decide to push boundaries for greater equality, things will change for the better.
Creating a business from scratch while you’re a mom of two isn’t easy, and you’ve likely learned a lot along the way. So, can you share some valuable mistakes you’ve made and how you turned them into opportunities?
There have been times when I tried to give instructions from afar when the people I requested things from needed a more hands-on approach. At other times, I’ve gone to the other end of the spectrum and been so hands-on that I lacked the energy and time to accomplish my own goals. Both decisions were mistakes. However, because of those experiences, I’ve learned to strike a balance between being hands-on and delegating wisely. I’m still very connected to everything I do, but I allow trusted team members to help with more aspects of my business. That gives me time to take up more projects and excel in more areas because my cup isn’t empty. Delegating responsibilities also gives me an opportunity to take on more of a mentorship role and help future leaders get more experience.
For those who haven’t started a business (or are about to), what advice do you have?
Believe in yourself, even on those days when everyone around you is doubting you and things don’t go as planned. Those are the hardest days to get through, but it doesn’t mean your business is a failure. If you give up, there’s a 100 percent chance you will fail. But if you can push past that moment, you give your business another chance and yourself another opportunity. What you believe about yourself will make or break your company.
2020 presented everybody around the globe with new, unprecedented challenges. How did you #FindNewRoads + switch gears towards your new version of success?
I always wanted to make myself more available to my audience, but I was so caught up moving from client to client before the pandemic. The time I spent in isolation allowed me to cultivate all of my relationships again. People were available to have conversations they were too busy to have before, so it was great to reconnect. Being at home allowed me to get back into research and idea planning, as well as develop new partnerships and design concepts.
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?
Confidence comes naturally to me, but that’s because I never fit in anywhere. I’ve always had to have confidence in myself. My parents and friends always considered that my superpower. I had a “different” name, and I was the only one of my close friends who was adopted. I was either going to internalize those things all my life or feel special about them. I chose to feel special.
It’s normal to feel apprehensive when you begin navigating uncharted territory. But if you think about the absolute worst thing that could happen, that’s usually enough to remind any woman that her fears, while perhaps very real, are usually unfounded. At the very least, they’re most likely not as mammoth as they appear to be. So go for it!
If you could go back to the beginning of your career journey—with the knowledge you have now— what advice would you give yourself?
If you go slower, it will happen faster. We all want to have extremely successful careers in a year. But we overestimate what we can achieve in one year and underestimate what we can achieve in five. Life experiences build on themselves and take time. Don’t be in such a rush to do it all. You have a lifetime to accomplish your dreams. And for each dream you accomplish, there will be an even bigger one right after it. Celebrate your wins, but remember to enjoy the ride.
Fill in the blanks:
The best career advice I always give is…
Find a job doing what you love.
To be successful, you need to be…
Proactive.
If there were more hours in the day, I would…
Sit on a beach.
Three qualities that got me to where I am today are…
I’m determined, compassionate, and resilient.
The change I’d like to see in my industry is…
More transparency.
