"An entrepreneur is striving to see through a vision that they’re passionate about because they know it can help people and improve others’ lives."
Aida Rejzovic is the proud founder of Sassy Organics – an all-natural, vegan, and organic eCommerce store, committed to helping others adopt a healthier and more considered lifestyle. After battling some serious health issues, Aida discovered the power of organic living. She started Sassy Organics to share the benefits with others and make shopping natural, eco, and organic products effortless.
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Thank you so much for giving us your time! Before we begin, could you introduce yourself to our readers and take us through what exactly your company does and what your vision is for its future?
Aida Rejzovic: My name is Aida Rejzovic and I am the proud founder of Sassy Organics. Sassy Organics is an all-natural, vegan and organic eCommerce store, committed to helping others adopt a healthier and more compassionate lifestyle. I started Sassy Organics in 2016 to share the benefits of organics with others. My vision is to grow Sassy Organics to be a leading site for natural, vegan, and eco-friendly products both here in Australia and overseas. I hope to continue making Sassy Organics a source of information and community for those leading a more considered lifestyle. And, as Sassy Organics grows, I aim to further support the causes and charities our community cares about, so Sassy Organics can truly embody its values of compassion and community.
NO child ever says I want to be a CEO/entrepreneur when I grow up. What did you want to be and how did you get where you are today?
Aida Rejzovic: My experience as a Bosnian refugee meant that my childhood, and teenage years, we’re a little different. Much of my youth was spent worrying about what was happening in the war back home and our loved ones – not to mention traveling to different refugee camps. But I was always motivated and knew I was a bit of a hustler. My first job was at age 14; I learned how to cut boys’ hair and made some pocket money that way. I also worked for an American company, sorting pigeon rings (strange I know!).
Before starting Sassy Organics in 2016, I had a career in criminology. It was my health challenges from 2012 that set me on the path to starting Sassy Organics. When I discovered how harmful the chemicals in conventional products can be for our health, I switched to organics. As my health issues improved, I became passionate about sharing the benefits with others. I soon realized that people needed a way to easily shop products that are natural, safe, and trusted without having to do all the research I was doing (and enjoyed). So, Sassy Organics was born!
Tell us something about yourself that others in your organization might be surprised to know.
Aida Rejzovic: A slightly funny one for this – but I love even numbers! Ideally, if it’s number-related it’s got to be even (although I have to make an exception for prices on products!). Most things I do are in even numbers, and this is especially true for sweet treats. Although it might be seen as rude when someone offers me a lolly or something I have to take two because having an odd number just doesn’t feel right! This is challenging when there’s a lot of sweet treats on offer because it means two become four and four becomes…well you get the point!
Many readers may wonder how to become an entrepreneur but what is an entrepreneur? How would you define it?
Aida Rejzovic: To me, an entrepreneur is someone who has a unique idea or vision that they’re willing to back. So, it’s about having a dream that you’re committed to and will work hard for because you believe in that dream and yourself. I’ll also add that being an entrepreneur, for me, is about having a drive to solve others’ problems and make the world better than you found it. So rather than being about having a vision for personal gain and profit, an entrepreneur is striving to see through a vision that they’re passionate about because they know it can help people and improve others’ lives.
What is the importance of having a supportive and inclusive culture?
Aida Rejzovic: A workplace that makes its staff feel they belong, are supported and that their contribution is valued is crucial for everyone’s wellbeing and the success of the business. Having a culture of support and inclusivity helps creativity thrive and creativity is so important if you want your business to continue evolving and getting better over time. Positive work culture is also essential for the mental health of your staff, and this is an important full stop. I believe CEOs and managers must make work a place that is both physically and mentally safe because most of us spend a great deal of time at work. And of course, when your staff feels supported and inclusive they are more likely to work effectively and to bring a commitment and passion to the job that will help take your business further.
How can a leader be disruptive in the post covid world?
Aida Rejzovic: I think the best way for a leader to continue being disruptive and making waves post-covid is to find the opportunities in the pandemic has presented. For example, the pandemic made online, virtual and digital even more important in living our daily lives. A leader is someone who’ll jump on this to find new ways they can improve the digital experience or add digital into their business structure to stand out from the crowd and continue being a thought-leader in their market.
If a 5-year-old asked you to describe your job, what would you tell them?
Aida Rejzovic: I would say my job is like running a physical store only through a website. I oversee ordering and maintaining stock; I pack all the parcels and take them to the post office; I have lots of meetings with people from different brands and services; I handle all business growth and development and I am in charge of customer service. Lastly, I work with my Marketing Assistant to oversee Sassy Organics’ communications and marketing outputs. I would tell them that my job is very busy and never really stops but that I love it!
Share with us one of the most difficult decisions you had to make for your company that benefited your employees or customers. What made this decision so difficult and what were the positive impacts?
Aida Rejzovic: It would have to be our decision to transition to plastic-free shipping. Having the Australia Post prepaid satchels was the most cost-effective and convenient option. But I wanted to transition to plastic-free shipping and do more for the environment. This was a lengthy process and there were lots of logistics and costs involved in setting up a system that ensured we could deliver to people no matter where they lived. While the cost of shipping became higher, it was the right thing to do. Our customers appreciate our commitment to plastic-free packaging and feel better about their purchases knowing they don’t create lots of waste. And, importantly, it was the best decision for the environment. As a result of our efforts, we’ve managed to divert hundreds of kgs of plastic from landfills.
Leaders are usually asked about their most useful qualities but let’s change things up a bit. What is your most useless talent?
Aida Rejzovic: When it comes to running Sassy Organics, my useless talent would have to be the fact that I am fluent in 3 other languages: Bosnian, German, and Czech. But seeing as we don’t have customers in those countries, this talent isn’t put to good use – but this could change in the future, who knows!
Thank you so much for your time but before we finish things off, we do have one more question. If you wrote a book about your life until today, what would the title be?
Aida Rejzovic: “Life, love and the pursuit of coffee”
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Aida Rejzovic for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Aida Rejzovic or her company, you can do it through her – Facebook
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