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Gracious Eloise is a platform that helps businesses build strong personal relationships with their customers in a trackable, scalable, and efficient way. Our patent-pending handwriting replication software creates a digital version of any handwriting that you can use to easily generate and send printed notes or personalized emails.

What has inspired your career path?
I think I would have to say my parents have inspired my career path. My parents are both very entrepreneurial and have both started multiple businesses since I was little. I watched my parents work really hard, make sacrifices and build things with their own two hands. My parents moved to New Jersey from London in 1975 with a dog, a couple hundred bucks and no place to live. My Mom put my Dad through Princeton University by starting a catering company and cooking for local well-to-do families. She went onto start her own psychotherapy practice when I was in middle school and then a successful interior design company. My Dad has always worked hard in finance and now runs his own hedge fund. I think watching my parents create is what gave me the courage to start my company.

I think having supportive parents is incredibly important when you are starting your own venture. The journey is full of highs and lows and you need to surround yourself with people who can relate and understand that rhythm. My parents have also always laughed a lot and made the journey look fun, even if at times it was really hard. I think it helps to not take yourself or life too seriously when starting a company.

What was the moment that changed everything?
I think I have had multiple moments that have changed things for me personally and professionally but I think the most amazing thing for me was last year when I came home from work and my husband had opened all the mail and inside each note he opened was a check for Gracious Eloise. I got home and opened the front door and in our front hall were tons of checks laid out on the floor all made out to Gracious Eloise. I remember looking at the floor laughing, then crying and then asking the question – Did I do that? It was one of those moments where a lot of hard work paid off, literally. I guess if he had pasted them on the ceiling instead that would have been even better That was a great day!

When did you sense you had the power to Break the Glass Ceiling?
It was not that long ago. I was at a Women 2.0 Founders Friday event last month and I remember listening to another entrepreneur say when you are pitching to investors or talking to a room you just have to act like a man. A man does not think about what people think of him, he just does it. He does not question himself or wonder if he is good enough or smart enough. Last night, I was the speaker at Founders Friday and I really gave it my all having come off a really tough week. I did not let the little voices in my head get the better of me. I proved to myself that even if you are not necessarily in what you think is the right space to be giving advice, if you push your untrue beliefs aside, and move into a confident space, you can do anything you put your mind to. For me, I have sometimes been my own biggest obstacle and I am not willing to do that anymore.
What is Gracious Eloise and what makes it special?

Gracious Eloise is making handwritten notes as easy as email for the millions of businesses and individuals who want to send handwritten communications but who do not have the time. We are special because we are combining technology and old school grace and manners and providing a platform that does not exist in the world today. Gracious Eloise is a company that believes that saying thank you and showing people you care, especially in the fast paced digital world we live in today is important.

How can BGC help you and Gracious Eloise?
I am relatively new to BGC but the Founder, Katherine Mossman has already given me so much. In the past couple of weeks she has opened up her network of influential people to me. I am so incredibly grateful for this. My hope is that by surrounding myself with supportive women who want to help me and vice versa, we can, as women, create great companies and change the world to be a better, more equal place for generations of women to come.

Silicon Alley 500 (aka SA500) is an annual recruiting event hosted by Next Jump. We bring together 50 of the best East Coast-founded technology companies to meet 500 select engineering students. In 2011, SA500 was held on the New York Stock Exchange floor on October 15.