REAL LIFE ROSIE

http://www.hauteshotgolf.com/

JJ Winters, Chief Executive Haute Shot

A 4th generation Idahoan, JJ graduated from Boise State University cum laude and holds a marketing business degree. Entrepreneurship started early for her, when she and her sister Julie started a successful Boise-based management company 8 years ago. JJ is a licensed private pilot who loves adventure, snowboarding, wakeboarding, fashion and – of course – golf. She is very proud of her 32 handicap.

Julie Suitter, Vice Executive Haute Shot

Julie is also a 4th generation Idahoan who holds a degree in Communications from Boise State University. She co-owns a management company with JJ. Julie is far more fashionable than her sister and loves to wake surf, workout, snowboard, do hot yoga and is a killer tournament poker player.

What inspires you? I’m inspired by the women in my family – from my great-grandmothers all the way to my mother – all are hard-working, independent, strong women who made their own ways in the world and each uniquely defined success.

Do you have a favorite quote? “Luck favors the prepared.”

What are the most pressing issues facing women today? Political interference.

What are the biggest keys to your success? Support – from friends, family and community.  Knowing whose advice to get and following that advice.

What are the biggest keys to the advancement or success of women? Education and empowerment. I’m thankful for my education from Boise State with regards to the ins and outs of running a business.  Everyone has great ideas and the power to implement them, but without a basic knowledge of business, it can derail pretty quickly.

Where did the inspiration for your business come from? Haute Shot Golf was the brainchild of two sisters from Boise who share a passion for golf, fresh-style and all things haute. Growing up in Idaho (and yes, on a potato farm), we were exposed to snowboarding in the Tetons, wakeboarding and wake skating on high mountain lakes, flying airplanes in the backcountry and golfing on mile-high courses. The only thing we have ever found in our life that could be improved on was the utter and complete lack of fashion.

Golf, in particular for girls, has been drowning in boring vanilla style khaki, black, white and pastel pinks. (Gag!) We kind of miss the good ol’ days of the 70’s when golf really WAS men in ugly pants walking. We long for the days of the full Cleveland look of the patent leather white belts and matching white shoes. Golf was one sport where you could ride the fence between tacky and tasteful and be accepted if you fell on either side every once in a while.

Thankfully, it’s a new day and a new generation. Golf is one of the fastest growing sports among the whipper-snappers and we get excited when we see the rookies on tour on TV sporting their neon and the ladies in the LPGA glamming it up a notch.

Lastly, in a sport dominated by dudes, we are proudly one of the only companies out there that are made for chicks, designed by chicks.

Where is your product sold (if applicable)? Online at www.hauteshotgolf.com as well as a few retail locations throughout Boise.

What advice do you have for a woman who is considering starting a business? Find people whom you can ask for advice and then TAKE IT.  Stick with people who support you and will give you an honest overview or opinion.  Then be prepared for the good and the bad.

What are the biggest hurdles you have faced in starting or growing your business? How did you overcome these? The biggest hurdles are mental.  Fear, intimidation and self doubt are by far the most looming obstacles.  Everything is within reach with a little hard work – we had to tell ourselves that the very worst thing that could happen is that it could fail.  That’s all!  I would rather have a life full of “Oh well’s than “What if’s.