Jessica Alba Talks to Harper’s Bazaar About Taking Risks As a Mom and Business Woman

Jessica Alba has two very successful careers in her name; one as an actress with over 30 films and 17 television shows to her credit, and the other as a mogul running the multi-million dollar eco-friendly business, The Honest Company.  Alba was recently chosen by Harper’s Bazaar as one of their “Daring Women,” for her fearless drive and committment.

“After I turned 30, I became more daring as a woman,” Alba tells Harper’s Bazaar. “Having a successful company had a hand in that. I’ve set my priorities in a different place, with my children and my family. I dared to look at projects outside of Hollywood, and I’m so happy that I did.”

Since 2000, after being cast on the hit TV show Dark Angel, Alba’s career has taken off, and although she was on a ride most envy, in 2008, Alba put her acting ambitions on hold following the birth of her daughter Honor, 6 (She had second daughter Haven, 3, in 2011). “Even becoming a mother was risky,” she admits. “It meant cooling off from this business, which was all I had known my entire life. I had to peace-out at 28, completely shift my priorities, and not be apologetic and not care about the consequences.”

People naturally assume that because the 33-year-old already tasted success as an entertainer that starting a business would be easy, but like many start-up companies it was an uphill battle, with challenges like prospective partners and funding falling through.  She tells the magazine, “But I was reading Robin Gerber’s Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way, and I saw how she kept hitting dead ends but kept pushing on.  She didn’t give up—she tried again. That’s what I did until I finally made it.”

In less than three years The Honest Company is approaching the billion-dollar mark, with 300 employees at its Santa Monica headquarters. “The most daring thing I ever did was take a step back from my acting career and start this company,” the superstar shares.

If Alba is anything it’s an inspiration to other moms that to pursue your dream, no matter how challenging, no matter how daunting is one of the best examples you can give your kids.  We applaud Jessica Alba and see why Harper’s Bazaar chose this Mompreneur as one of their “Daring Women of the Year.”