For more than 15 years Barbara Kavovit has been a force to be reckoned with in the construction business and women’s how-to. In 1995, she founded and was chief executive of what grew to become one of the largest female owned renovation and construction management companies in New York City. “When I was younger, it never occurred to me that construction was a career path for women,” she says of her early foray into the building business.
To reinforce Barbara’s mission to empower women by making them comfortable in areas that were historically a mystery to them, every product came with a how-to booklet that laid out, in simple terms, how to use the tool or kit, as well as how to successfully complete a range of home improvement tasks. Loren’s World sat down with Barbara on empowering women, construction and her newest venture.
If there is one thing you can do all over again what would it be?
BK: Dream even bigger!I feel that there is truly no limit to the level of success anyone can achieve. Using opportunities surrounding you as a springboard to garner your goals creates so many amazing possibilities in life. All you need to do to accomplish this is have passion, focus, network, network, and work 24/7!!
LW: What’s a typical day like for you?
>BK: Well you won’t see my face next to the word “typical” in any dictionary.And that’s just the way I like it!However , there are things that are consistent in my life that are extremely important to me such as being home to make my 13 year old son, Zachary, dinner every night,Pilates, spinning. When you’re trying to build an empire some of the day I leave up for grabs, which is the way I like it!
LW: What is the scariest thing you’ve gone for, and how did you work through the fear?
BK: Well I was born and raised in the Bronx so being “scared” is really relative to me. Growing up there gave me fighter instincts and savvy street smarts that certainly came in handy in the business world. Also, thinking back to when I was 9 years old and taking a swimming course with the Red Cross and swimming against the current in the Long Island sound seemed very scary at the time. But I can remember my Mom standing on the shore screaming, “just keep swimming”! Using that “Forest Gump” experience as a young girl was instrumental in encouraging me to go it alone to China where I started developing and manufacturing my product ideas for the concept of “tools for women”.
LW:What is your secret for multi-tasking?
BK: My mind is always thinking 10 steps ahead so I tend to have loads of information streaming through my brain on any given day. Keeping notes on my iPad helps me compartmentalize my ideas, projects or my “mommy-do” list.It’s so much easier to multi task when your brain is clear!
LW: What gets you out of bed every morning?
BK: Being so thankful for what I have!These have been so many milestones in my life, both good and bad and I always try and learn from them and use these experiences to make me a better person. I always remember what my Mom said, to “just keep swimming” and that metaphor can be applied to so many things in my life. There’s not a morning that goes by that I don’t appreciate the day and paint/create pictures in my mind of how I would like the day to look.It gets me excited because I create all these new opportunities from my visions and dreams that comes with certain challenges that are very inspirational for me. Also, seeing young women entrepreneurs inspires me to keep striving to be a better person and Mom.
LW: Where did Barbara’s Way come from?
BK: After “breaking ground” in the male dominated world of construction, I then created the brand, Barbara K and manufactured 25 products that were distributed to the largest retailers in North America. From there I wanted to broaden my product base by not only giving people the necessary “tools” they needed to make their homes beautiful but information that would help them make their lives easier as well.I realized that women from all walks of life truly wanted to be empowered in their home and be self sufficient in all aspects of their life.
My true “eureka” moment came when I was watching an episode of “Sex in The City” and “Samantha” bought a new apartment and tried to hang up her new curtains after failing to entice her boyfriend to come over to hang them. She was unsuccessful and the curtains feel down on her head! I then said no woman should ever be in that “damsel in distress” position ever again!”Samantha’s situation inspired me to do what I’m doing today!
LW: Did you always have a passion for construction and design?
BK: I am passionate about being an entrepreneur and there is nothing more gratifying that taking your vision and turning it into a tangible reality. When I was 9 years old, growing up in the Bronx with my parents and sister, we lived in a small apartment. To give my sister and me more space in the bedroom we shared, my Dad decided to build us bunk beds.So one day he came home with the 2 by 4s and while I was busy playing “Barbie dolls” he asked me to help him hammer the nails into the wood. After 3 weeks of constant banging and screwing the wood into place, the bunk beds were finished. This is where my sister and I slept and I will never forget that feeling of accomplishment as a young girl and what it meant to “build” self esteem. That feeling carried me through some of the hardest times in my life and continues to do so today.
LW: You are in a male dominated industry, what were some of the challenges you faced when building
BK: Well I always say you have to be three times better than a man just to be created equal!
Then toss in running a business in a male dominated world, make it a highly impossible business to operate in NYC and most people would say (and did) that being young, a woman and in construction in NYC was grounds for sheer failure! Not to mention that I must be a little crazy too! Then throw in the customary challenges that always are faced by a new business and to some I was drowning in cement from the start!c
LW: You are also an author, host and producer how do you manage and how did you get this start?
BK: Joe Simpson (Jessica and Ashlee’s father) was my talent manager for media. We shot a pilot for E television called “Get your Grip” , I co hosted a cable show with Robert Verdi on the WE Network called SAVVY, shot a documentary for Canadian Lifetime television and shot an “I am American Business” campaign for CNBC. In addition I have authored two books, Room for Improvement and Invest in Your Nest. I am currently the AOL Home Improvement coach where I have a 10 video series running on things you can easily do to make your home more beautiful and comfortable.
LW: What is next for the Barbara’s way empire?
BK: To be the Martha Stewart of home improvement! I love being an inspiration, especially to young women of today who would like their spirit to be empowered. To be that woman that other women turn to that make them believe “You Can Do It” and that their home is perfect no matter how big or small and they too can live in comfort and style and be proud of their surroundings.
I am currently in talks with a major cable network for my own show and talking to publishers about my next book which are both very exciting!
LW: We love your tool box and think they are an amazing concept can we expect more things? Maybe your own section inside Home Depot?
BK: I would love an entire Barbara’s Way section in not only Home Depot but Macy’s too and call it Functional Fashion by Barbara K!I will always design products to inspire women to do it themselves and to have a greater sense of independence in their lives. It’s so important to be self sufficient and to have basic knowledge about your home. Feeling confident yet feminine. That is why tools that provide function as well as fashion (like purple tools in a cute bag) are such an important accessory for the home.
You can expect an entire line of beautiful ready to assemble furniture that is modern, sleek and colorful. Each selection will come with a video of me showing you how to assemble the furniture yourself. It’s like me being with you in your living room! also, very cool cleaning supplies such as mops and brooms. Cleaning in style is important too!
LW: Describe yourself in 3 words.
BK: A great swimmer!
