Natalie Dawson believes in people.
“I believe in the power of the entrepreneur and those who have ideas and see how they can make an impact on the world and change the way their clients do business by providing real solutions to problems,” she says.
And as the co-founder and president of Scottsdale-based management consulting firm Cardone Ventures, she helps business owners believe in themselves and their teams, which in turn leads to personal, professional, and financial success.
Dawson and her husband, Brandon, launched Cardone Ventures in 2019. In just five years, they’ve grown the company into a multimillion-dollar business with more than 330 employees. Focusing their services on small and mid-size companies with annual revenues of more than $1 million, they provide strategies and training in areas such as operations, marketing, finance, and recruitment.
“If we can equip business owners to take the right actions, we can change the world through how business owners run their organizations and how they lead people,” Dawson explains.
Her business acumen has garnered Dawson respect from corporate leaders around the country. But recently, she was surprised with an unexpected honor—one that not only recognizes her knowledge and business savviness but also her ability to thrive in a male-dominated industry while maintaining style, grace, and chicness.
Last year, Dawson was invited to join the prestigious Vogue 100. This exclusive community, formed by Vogue magazine, comprises “leaders, founders and activists who are recognized for their work as they rewrite the playbooks of fashion and beauty from the inside out,” the publication notes.
Vogue itself has been a leader in fashion and society, monitoring culture and spotting the difference between fads and enduring classics for more than a century. Each year, the magazine’s staff, including celebrated editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, hand-picks a select group of entrepreneurs, designers, changemakers, artists, musicians, beauty gurus, and others to become members of the curated group.
“Becoming part of the Vogue 100 was like a little sign from the powers that be that I’m on the right path,” Dawson says. “Many times throughout my career, I’ve felt a little isolated and the pressure of being in a male-dominated environment. I’m often celebrated for the things that make me more masculine—being able to make quick decisions and close the deal. But you’re not really given permission to be fashionable in business and to show up and have fun with fashion, and I definitely do that.
“While I’m like every other business owner who wakes up really early in the morning and answers a bunch of emails, I also like to pick out a fun outfit and be playful and expressive,” she continues. “So, to be recognized and appreciated for the things that make me a woman was a different type of acknowledgement. It made me stop and say, ‘It’s okay, I should be proud of the things that do make me a woman and make me unique.’”
Monthly events, such as luncheons, fashion shows, and corporate talks in Vogue’s Manhattan offices give Vogue 100 members the opportunity to connect, network, and bond over topics ranging from business and technology to fashion.
“It’s been a different world for me,” Dawson says. “But it’s a really cool way to be part of something that brings me outside of my comfort zone. It’s been a really great opportunity.”
She adds, “Being an entrepreneur and a business owner is tough, but you can persevere—and you should persevere—and you should not give up on your dreams. The more that message gets out there, the better it will be for everybody.”
You can learn more about Dawson’s approach to business—and life—and get her advice for success in her book Teamwork: How to Build a High-Performance Team or on her podcast Building Billions with Natalie Dawson.
“If we can equip business owners to take the right actions, we can change the world ...”
"Being an entrepreneur and a business owner is tough, but you can persevere—and you should persevere—and you should not give up on your dreams."