Meghan Markle has shared the pivotal business advice she received from her friend and mentor, Oprah Winfrey, that helped her launch her new lifestyle brand, As Ever. The Duchess of Sussex opened up about the game-changing advice in a recent episode of her Confessions of a Female Founder podcast.

“There are tons of things you can put your name on,” Markle recalled Winfrey telling her. Oprah’s words didn’t stop there, adding, “But for you and how you like to show up for people, once you figure out how to encapsulate your essence, then you’ll know.”

Meghan Markle received business advice from Oprah Winfrey before launching As Ever.
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The talk show host pointed out that there were “a ton of things” to which Markle could add her name.
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She told the Duchess of Sussex to wait for what “encapsulate[s her] essence.”
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Markle explained that she was initially “scared” to take her brand to a bigger scale, saying, “At the beginning, I just liked making jam. All I liked to do was just make jam and preserves.” Despite her initial fear, she began to share her creations with friends and family, which gave her the confidence to think bigger.

Markle gushed over this advice on her “Confessions of a Female Founder” podcast Tuesday. Netflix

She referred to Winfrey as a “mentor and friend” during the episode.
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She admitted, “Even then, I was in so much fear of failure or opinion that I wasn’t thinking big enough at first.” At first, she took small steps, applying for a cottage license to sell homemade jam at small farmer’s markets. But eventually, she had to ask herself, “Am I playing small because I want to play small or am I setting in motion playing small because I’m scared?”


At the time, Markle wasn’t “thinking big enough” about her business.
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She told listeners about starting “small” out of fear.
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Ultimately, Markle launched her lifestyle brand earlier this month in collaboration with Netflix. The streaming giant debuted her series With Love, Meghan in March, which was quickly renewed for a second season. She has also launched a podcast and a ShopMy account to promote her beauty and fashion items.

Markle subsequently “took a step back” and reconsidered her tactics.
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She dropped her first round of As Ever products earlier this month.
As Ever

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Meghan defended her busy work schedule after stepping back from her royal duties in 2020. “I need to work, and I love to work,” she said, emphasizing that she enjoys being productive in her new chapter of life.

Many of the items were featured on her March Netflix show, “With Love, Meghan.”
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In addition to her podcast, the “Suits” alum started a ShopMy page.
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The couple, who moved to Montecito, California, with their children Archie and Lilibet, continue to work on various projects in their post-royal life, with Oprah continuing to show support for the pair, calling Meghan her "neighbor friend."

Meghan Markle is a former American actress and philanthropist who became the Duchess of Sussex after marrying Prince Harry in 2018. In addition to her royal duties, she has become a prominent public figure, advocating for women’s rights and social justice. Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Meghan has focused on her personal projects, including her brand, media ventures, and philanthropic work.

Oprah Winfrey is a global media mogul, actress, and philanthropist. She is best known for hosting The Oprah Winfrey Show, which became the highest-rated talk show in American television history. Oprah has been a long-time friend and mentor to Meghan Markle, offering advice and support as the Duchess navigates her post-royal life. Oprah’s influence continues to inspire millions around the world.