Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzanne Sinatra.
Suzanne, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I created Private Packs (www.privatepacks.com) after a Brazilian wax at an upscale salon not only took off all of my pubic hair but all my skin down there too.
I was in excruciating pain. When I got home, I immediately went to the freezer, and I saw the frozen veggies, but I couldn’t bear putting a food group on my privates. She deserved better. I settled for a cold water bottle which was not ideal, but it worked. I searched online for a vaginal ice pack, and I couldn’t find anything. I can buy a pet rock, but I can’t find an ice pack for my who-ha???? Pee’d off; I decided to make a solution for myself. However, when I shared with my friends what happened to me and my idea, they started sharing with me their own vaginal pain stories and that they could have used something like this.
At that moment, I realized two things: First, I’m not the only one that needs a vagina therapy pack. Second, I’ve known some of my friends for over ten years, and we never shared our genital discomfort stories.
Last year, while I was preparing to launch Private Packs, I also worked full-time at an investment banking firm, and I found a lump in my left breast. I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. In eight weeks, I went from Wall St. to welfare. I was fighting for my life and after eight rounds of chemo, a mastectomy and 30+ cycles of radiation I’m happy to report that physically, mentally and emotionally healthy today, and we’re going to be launching this Spring.
Has it been a smooth road?
Aside from my declining health and financial downfall, being a startup founder creating a new solution that addresses genital health issues in the sexual wellness space which is still very much considered taboo is difficult. However, I knew what I signed up for, and I believe it’s important to stand firm in your vision and dreams. Don’t validate the naysayers, and have a core group of a ride or die friends/supporters. I have a #crew, and we support and love each other, and we also call each other out on our B.S.
Also, be excited by your inexperience. Before Private Packs, I was a Corporate Event Planner for 15 years. Creating a product, launching a startup and I didn’t know that much about my privates are all things I had to learn for the first time and it forced me to exit my comfort zone and learn something entirely new, and it taught me how to be curious and ask questions.
I was raised in strict Caribbean – East Indian Catholic household, and I was told that “children are meant to be seen and not heard,” and I carried that through to adulthood. I had to work hard to undo my “home training” and build a new motto for myself “I’m a woman, and you’re going to hear me.” Being a first-time entrepreneur forces you to get to know yourself inside out, personally and professionally.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Private Packs story. Tell us more about it.
I’m a woman that hurt her vajayjay, and from that injury, I have found my life’s mission to create products for people to comfort their privates discreetly and promote genital health self-care.
What I’m most proud of is strangers sharing with me their deeply personal stories once I tell them what I do for a living. People feel that I am a safe space for them to share VERY intimate details about their health. That says to me that I show up in the world as empathic and easy to talk to and I’m incredibly proud of myself to have that ability.
Private Packs is not just heat and cool therapy packs company. Our role is to change the dialogue about genital health & sexual wellness and show others that their not alone – we all have issues down there, and it doesn’t mean your dirty; it means you’re human. Additionally, we create products for body parts, not genders. Our first product is for the vulva, not females or women. Lastly, we have spoken to many, many vulva owners from different races, lifestyles, and backgrounds and we have designed every aspect of the product to give our customers a bespoke experience.
Opportunities for Women So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
I think it’s a great time to be a female founder of a SexTech company. The industry has been dominated by male-driven companies for years, and we’re finally taking the lead to not only design products, but we’re also educators, therapists and people are listening. In the words of Annie Lennox, Sisters Are Doin It For Themselves
It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
NPR – How I Built This Podcast
Robert Greene – 48 Laws of Power
App – DropBox Paper, Canva
Book – Best Self Journal and Weekly Pad
Contact Info:
- Address: 1912 Broadway, 21st Floor, NY NY 10010
- Website: www.privatepacks.com
- Phone: 917-202-4039
- Email: suzanne@privatepacks.com, letstalk@privatepacks.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/privatepacks
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/privatepacks
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
