Edie Parker’s Brett Heyman Got Her Start at ELLE

In ELLE’s series Office Hours, we ask people in powerful positions to take us through their first jobs, worst jobs, and everything in between. Today, in honor of 4/20, we sit down with Brett Heyman, founder and creative director of Edie Parker. Sixteen years ago, Heyman quit her PR job at Gucci to start her own accessories brand. Seven years ago, she expanded into cannabis, launching Flower by Edie Parker. Today, it’s the largest woman-owned and operated cannabis brand in America. Below, Heyman walks us through her best advice, new daily mantra, and why she believes the feminine intuition is “infallible.”

My first job

My first internship was the summer after my freshman year of college at ELLE magazine. One Mrs. Nina Garcia was the fashion director and the coolest person in the whole world. I was obsessed with it, and I spent most of my waking hours in the fashion closet unpacking and packing garment bags. I’d always wanted to work in fashion, but I had no idea what that really meant, and that summer internship really cemented everything I did after that.

My worst job

I’ve been very lucky. I would say I’ve had pretty great jobs. I went to a communications school, so I would volunteer in the production trucks at broadcast sports events because I went to a Big Ten school. Working in the trucks as a woman in the ’90s was…less than ideal. Some of those hours were my least favorite times working, but in general, I would say I’ve been very lucky.

On being a woman in a male-dominated business

Honestly, I always look at that as opportunity. Especially in cannabis, it’s allowed us to break through a lot of noise—just knowing what women want and what women will react to and having a team of all women. We are literally 100 percent female. That’s not really by design. We would interview people, and the right person for the job was always a woman. I love it. Cannabis isn’t male-dominated—it’s dominated by cowboys, so it’s uniquely challenging, but I think every day it gets better and better.

The best advice I’ve ever received

Be nice to everybody—and I really mean that. Especially as I’ve gotten older, I just think it’s so important to put out kindness. Especially when people are working with you and working on something that’s your vision, and they’re coming to work, and they’re sacrificing, I just feel very appreciative all the time. And even with vendors, I just really think that’s very important.

My daily mantra

I literally started it three days ago. Every night before I go to bed, I say, “Something wonderful is going to happen tomorrow.” And every day when I wake up, I say, “Something wonderful is going to happen today.” I’m very into putting things into the universe now.

On the importance of trusting yourself

I believe so much in trusting yourself. And especially for women, I believe intuition is infallible. You should 1,000 percent go with your gut. It’s hard, and you have to be practical. When I started my business, I believed in my gut that I had something to say. But I had also worked for a while and saved a little money, so it’s that tension between trusting yourself and not being reckless. That’s just reality.

How I get out of a creative rut

Get outside. Go to a museum, go to a gallery, go to a vintage store. And have creative people around you. I don’t do all the creative stuff myself. When we started, I did. You need other people; you need other people to share ideas.

Advice for when shit hits the fan

Duck. No, that’s just part of life. If things were easy, everybody would do them. I’m very into making lists and repeating to myself, “the only way out is through.” Shit does hit the fan, and people do fuck up, and you fuck up, and you just have to put your head down and take the hit. Accept if you did something wrong and work through it. Get out of it. There’s no reason to freak out—there’s just getting through it and being pragmatic.

On maintaining a work-life balance

I feel like there are four pillars of a successful balance, and it’s self-care, relationships, family and children, and work. I think it’s impossible to do all of those things well all the time, but I think you can get three out of four. So, it’s just always moving the puzzle pieces around. Like this week is a really heavy work week, and I’m not going to work out as much. Or this week is a heavy family week—my kids are off school—I might have to do XYZ things. I think if you’re flexible and gentle with yourself and just know you can’t do everything perfectly all the time, you’ll be okay.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.