A Brief History
Who is Patricia, you ask? Besides the obvious (the creator Successgirl), Patricia Neale Vuagniaux is a high school dropout, born into adversity within the tattered boundaries of South Central Los Angeles. Against the backdrop of poverty, welfare, teenage pregnancies, and gang violence, Patricia miraculously emerged unscathed, developing a never-ending determination and unquenchable thirst for a better life. It was this thirst that propelled Patricia towards her purpose, intrinsically tied to her entrepreneurial spirit and desire for the life well-lived.
Patricia developed her first business at the age of 22, enduring the inevitable bumps and bruises of a first venture, which grew and eventually employed over 50 people. From there, she launched smaller start-ups covering a broad range of businesses, from children’s apparel, wellness goods, and snowboards, to a retail store and finally coffee bars. From fabulous failures to brilliant successes, each business venture helped shaped Patricia into the savvy business woman she is today. In 2002, she was honored with the “Small Business: Businesswoman of the Year” certificate of recognition from California's State Legislature.
Patricia is California native-born and raised. She has made her home in Eagle Rock, California, alongside her Swiss-born husband, Gilbert. Patricia is a wife, a mother, and stepmother raising three children, Daniele, Sage, and Claire, as well as her two precocious dogs, Libby and Tobler. In addition to expanding the Successgirl brand, she loves overseeing her urban coffee bar Swork, located in the heart of Los Angeles's Eagle Rock neighborhood.