Cindy Eckert, 44


CEO

Thinking pink is a way of life for Cindy Whitehead. The spirited pharma-tech entrepreneur, known for her liberal use of the color pink and for the $1B sale of her female sexual health company, is laser-focused on helping female entrepreneurs flourish. In 2016, she founded The Pink Ceiling, an innovative incubator which looks to build female-lead brands into success stories. “For those who thought I couldn’t do it,” says Whitehead, “I’d say the same thing to them today that I said then….watch me.”

1. What made you choose this career path? What has been your greatest achievement?

Maybe entrepreneurship chose me? I most certainly didn’t fit in conventional corporate environments and was exasperated with the homogeneity and unwritten rules of how things get done. I recognized that ownership was my path to freedom; freedom to do things on my own terms, freedom to surround myself with other misfits who wanted to change how things get done and financial freedom.

"After building and selling two businesses, my greatest accomplishment is the ripple effect of ownership. I love watching the power that ownership has given to my employees to do their best work, to follow their passions and to pay it forward."

After building and selling two businesses, my greatest accomplishment is the ripple effect of ownership. I love watching the power that ownership has given to my employees to do their best work, to follow their passions and to pay it forward. That is the very basis of what I do today at The Pink Ceiling/Pinkubator--propel power through ownership. I’m going to help other female-focused businesses to have outcomes like mine and delight in watching each of their ripple effects.

2. What’s the biggest criticism/stereotype/judgement you’ve faced in your career?

I was told I was too Pink to be Boss. Now I have lipstick in that custom shade.

"I was told I was too Pink to be Boss. Now I have lipstick in that custom shade."

3. What was the hardest part of overcoming this negativity? Do you have an anecdote you can share?

If you were to introduce an audience to a pharmaceutical CEO who has built and sold two businesses, the last for $1B, do you think they’d ever expect me to walk onto stage? Never. Now picture that for every major career milestone of my life! Bottom line, I am unexpected; I am pink in a sea of gray and blue suits. The fact that I don’t fit ensures that I will be underestimated, and the fun is letting that reality fuel me. I learned a long time ago to not allow underestimation to fill me with self doubt, but rather to harness it for the element of surprise when I show up and kill with competence.

4. How did you #SWAAYthenarrative? What was the reaction by those who told you you “couldn’t” do it?

I went right toward it.

With stereotypes you have two choices; you can rail against them to prove they are incorrect or you can go directly toward them since it’s obviously the conversation we need to be having. I show up in blazing hot pink. Always. I like pink and no one is going to take that away from me. When people called my medication the “little pink pill” the only thing missing was the dismissive pat on the shoulder.

So, I went to FDA meetings in hot pink since it was the dismissiveness of women’s sexual health that needed discussing. Pink to me is about owning it as a woman - and all you uniquely have to offer. For those who thought I couldn’t do it, I’d say the same thing to them today that I said then….watch me.

5. What’s your number one piece of advice to women discouraged by preconceived notions and society’s limitations?

I feel strongly that society is full of “unwritten rules” that hold women back. If a ‘rule' exists for absolutely no good reason at all, break it. Let the injustice ignite you.


WRITTEN BY

Team STN