The hardest part of taking a big leap like founding a business is often taking the first step. Alli Webb’s advice? “Just start … because you’re never really going to be ready.”

Webb, the founder of Drybar and author of “The Messy Truth,” says that while entrepreneurs should prepare as much as possible, there’s no perfect plan. Founders should expect to learn as they go and face many challenges. For Drybar, those involved blow driers short-circuiting or salons without hot water.

But what about when the hill seems too steep to climb? “Just keep going,” advises Webb. When Drybar faced shortages of stylists, Webb would fill in to make sure her shops didn’t have to turn clients away.

Webb was interviewed at the 2024 Women in Retail Leadership Summit, held April 29-May 1 in Amelia Island, FL, by Chelsea Grayson, former CEO and board member of American Apparel, True Religion, and Spark Networks.

Women in Retail Leadership Circle members can watch Webb’s full keynote here as well as all session recordings from the 2024 Women in Retail Leadership Summit here.