Leadership Unplugged: Joni Rogers-Kante, CEO of SeneGence

This week’s “Leadership Unplugged” features Joni Rogers-Kante, Founder and CEO of SeneGence. Joni Rogers-Kante founded the company in 1999, and since then, she has been its Chief Executive Officer.

Could you tell us about your education?

After High School I started college but quickly saw that I would learn much more about the “real world of business’ working with my stepfather, an executive with Sav-On drug stores. Through this, I was exposed to all levels of managers and executives as part of the building crew expanding the chain of stores.  Also, this is where my love of cosmetics began (my favorite department).

What was your childhood dream?

I didn’t have a childhood dream, rather a childhood experience, given the assignment to learn as experiences unfolded and doors opened. I had a near death experience, and I heard and saw clearly that God had a plan for me with much to do that would reach around the world. Thus, I began a journey that has ultimately led to steward a cosmetic company that exists in service to others providing products and a career path that really work.

What were your past experiences before your current role?

I relocated from Oklahoma to California when I was in High School and that is when I began working for my stepfather. While at Savon, I realized corporate life and the climb to CEO type roles was not for me as I desired to marry, raise children, and be a hands-on mother, creating and designing our home life.

I was introduced to direct selling by a Mary Kay Consultant. The business model with a concept of success that required one to help others to succeed was breathtaking to me. I knew this was my calling. My stepfather was supportive of the channel and even gave me a loan for my first inventory investment. He always said, “You cannot sell from an empty cart”.

 What do you consider the main factor behind your career success?

The experience I had as a child formed my focused drive. I knew I existed solely to help build something bigger than myself that served others. Their successes would become my successes. All the twists, turns, and experiences in my life lead to the creation of SeneGence, the products, and the opportunity for women to live their lives in love and abundance, if they are willing to work for it.

What has been your most inspiring moment?

There have been so many, I cannot begin to pick just one. Everything from the birth of my sons to finding and amazing life and business partner in my husband, to watching thousands upon thousands of women create their own business and achieve their dreams.

Your hobbies?

Hobbies? This reminds of what I am often asked… “What do you do for pleasure?”  My truthful response? “My business IS MY PLEASURE!” However, I move from one fulfilling side project to the next in my spare time. Currently, I have a major focus on supporting my youngest son in his Senior year of High School as he is applying to colleges of his choice.  Also, we are relocating our SeneGence global headquarters to my hometown of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, a massive and exciting undertaking.

However, life balance is important. My husband, boys, and I are all certified scuba divers (my husband is a dive master) and we love to travel and explore in the great blue deep together.

How would you describe being a direct selling executive to an outsider?

You’ve got to be open-minded, versatile, and flexible! It’s exciting and never boring to work in a direct sales company! With tens of thousands of Distributors, an engaged staff, dynamically shifting public trends, and things that happen in the marketplace that are beyond the company’s control around the world (port strikes, war, area disasters, postal strikes, etc…) … almost anything can happen that requires turning on a dime. And it all matters as you must strive to avoid any type of negative impact the situation might impose upon your Distributors. No two days are ever the same. 😊

What is your biggest achievement in your current position?

I do not believe the biggest achievement has been achieved yet. I, and an army of hard-working individuals, am working every day to make our company better and better for our Distributors in this ever-changing economic environment.

And your biggest challenge in a direct selling company executive role?

Keeping up with the changes in the industry… from how products are sold, to how new distributors are sponsored and trained, to FDA & FTC rules, to understanding ever changing technologies and their usages, and responding to the needs of our highly educated Distributors and their well-informed customers.

What would be your best advice to those who are thinking of joining a direct sales company in a corporate position?

Learn, Listen, and Love.

• Learn about the channel before you begin to make changes. Each company in our channel has its own biorhythm so to speak. Each company is its own living force made of likeminded people ebbing and flowing with their own sensitivities and preferences. One fix does not serve all. Understand how the company ‘breaths’ before you recommend change.

• Listen to the Distributors and legacy corporate staff. Listen to their stories, how to’s and whys – from there implementation of new efficiencies can be tailored to suit that will best serve the chosen company and its distributors.

• Love the Field. They are you and your companies’ biggest assets. Remember, in today’s economies and with the ease of access to systems and technologies, you need them more than they need you.

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