Profiles in Confidence: Jessica Honegger

At Evereve, we believe in the power of confidence. Confidence not only in your sense of style but also confidence in yourself. We feel strongly that inner and outer confidence go hand-in-hand and we want to help give you the tools to develop both components of confidence. That is why we are thrilled to introduce a new series on our blog called Profiles in Confidence. Over the course of the next few months, we will be sharing the stories of women whose journeys to confidence have inspired us, and we hope that they will encourage you as well.

Our first guest is Jessica Honegger, the founder of Noonday Collection and the author of the new book, Imperfect Courage. Jessica began Noonday in 2010 while she was trying to raise funds to adopt her son from Rwanda. The desire to adopt lead to what is now one of the fastest growing privately held companies in America. They partner with over 29 artisan businesses in 12 countries and create opportunities for sustainable employment for over 4,400 artisans. Jessica sat down with Megan Tamte, our co-Founder and co-CEO, to share her personal experience with building confidence.

On Megan (left):  Allison Joy Cara Cardigan | Sanctuary Camo Chinos | Michael Stars Tank | Splendid Heels

On Jessica (right):  Free People Birds of a Feather Top | 7 For All Mankind Black Jeans | Kristen Cavallari Heels

You talk a lot about authenticity and the courage to be yourself. Where did you discover the confidence to truly be yourself? Can you take us on that journey?

I think we are all just longing for connection. We all want to be seen and be known, and you won’t really experience connection if you’re not willing to show up and be seen. For us, going on the adoption journey made life a little messy.  We were parenting in a non-traditional way. We were a non-traditional family.  That got us on this journey where you couldn’t hide. Once you have something that introduces vulnerability and mess into your life, it helps you come out of hiding to show up and be seen a little more. Once you do that you start experiencing that connection. That is what I really encourage other women to do. When you are constantly living into how you want others to perceive you, then you are never going to connect in the way you are longing to. At the end of the day, people want you. They want the messiness and the full story.

Knowing yourself and who you truly are can take time and self-reflection. How have you done that? 

It takes time alone and really being intentional about determining what my life value is. For me, writing my book helped me do that. It is putting your life on paper, your values on paper, your stories on paper.  The book writing process really helped crystallize and solidify my own personal mission. Noonday gave me a very crystal-clear mission. Our mission is we want to build a flourishing world, where children are cherished, women are empowered, people have dignified jobs, and we are all connected. That is the vision of my company and as a founder you kind of meld with your company. Writing the book made me find almost a meta mission that wasn’t only tied into my work at Noonday, and that has to do with catalyzing courage in other people to stand up and step into their stories.

Do you have any tools you have used to help you develop your confidence and understand your confidence?

Myself, my husband and my business partner have all done the Enneagram test. On a personal level, it has helped our marriage so much and allowed us to give each other grace. We are complete opposites on the Enneagram scale— he is a 1, and I am a 7— and knowing that is so helpful. I show up so differently for my business partner, and it has been so beneficial to know our personality types and how those work together. It has made me a lot more confidence in my relationships, and it gave me confidence in knowing that I am an enthusiast and that is who I am, and that is okay.

I also love Brene Brown. She has given us all so much confidence. I feel like I have almost walked her journey. She really speaks to the journey of being an entrepreneur and the vulnerability and courage that journey requires.

On Megan (left):  Allison Joy Cara Cardigan | Sanctuary Camo Chinos | Michael Stars Tank | Splendid Heels

On Jessica (right):  Free People Birds of a Feather Top | 7 For All Mankind Black Jeans | Kristen Cavallari Heels

Was there an epic moment that lead you to start the journey to founding Noonday?

Going broke. That was epic. It didn’t feel epic. It felt horrible, but that journey of desperation is where I say courage cornered me. And I am so glad. I don’t think that if I wasn’t in a really desperate situation and with a mission to adopt my son that Noonday would exist without that journey.

How do you learn from imperfection?

Mistakes and failure are part of the journey. That has been a hard reality for me to swallow.  I took a personality test a few years ago that showed that I would risk only if I felt like I was going to be successful. For me, being willing to fail at the things I am good at has taught me a lot about imperfection.

You have a great sense of style. Let’s talk a little bit about how you developed your sense of style and what do you do to make yourself feel confident in your style.

I would describe myself as eclectic bohemian with a bit of a classic preppy bent. For instance, I really love a stripe, but if I do a stripe which is a more classic look I will layer on a lot of jewelry. I like for there to always be a bit of an unexpected element to my look and individualized in how I dress.  Right now, I am loving my Beso tee from Evereve and the Rosario necklace we have released at Noonday.

What is one piece in your closet that gives you confidence?

Definitely height on my shoes! If I am going into an environment where I need a boost of confidence, you will find me in heels. I usually wear platform heels because stilettos are intense.  I love a thick, chunky, GIANT heel.

If you are looking for some shoes to give you a little lift, both in confidence and in your bum, check out the Sorel Chelsea bootie or the Sorel Lexie wedge.  Both have built in wedges, so you get that lift while still being comfortable.  Jessica swears by them and has worn them everywhere from gravel roads in Africa to Guatemalan villages to her local grocery store

What is the one beauty item use that gives you confidence?

Eyleash extensions, for sure. I work with several young women and for my birthday they gave me a gift certificate for eyelash extensions and now I am hooked. Honestly, the part that I love about it is that it forces me to rest and be in the moment. Your eyes are taped  shut, so I can’t be on the phone, I can’t be answering emails or scrolling social media so it gives me the opportunity to rest and be present with my thoughts for one hour.

What do you see as the biggest stumbling block women put in their way in their journey to developing confidence.

We harp on the negative things about ourselves. We wake up in the morning and think about how many negative thoughts we have by the time we have brushed our teeth. “I am already running late; I don’t have enough time; I am not going to get everything done today; My hair looks bad today; I have nothing to wear.” The litany of negative self-talk that a woman faces is something that we have all fought. These ways of thinking are literally hard wired into our brains, but the good thing is that brains are plastic and can be changed. It just takes a lot of intention and making sure that the positive voice speaks louder than the negative voice. I find that prayer and meditation are important tools I use refocus myself and remind myself that God is with me.