Cofounder and president at Bossbabe, Danielle Canty
In just four years, BossBabe has become a multi-million dollar company and a leader in the digital landscape empowering women to launch and grow their businesses. Co-founders Danielle Canty and Natalie Ellis have cultivated a global community from their devout social media following, offering frameworks and programs for scaling and monetizing brands. Their top-rated podcast offers a more intimate look at female entrepreneurship, covering a range of topics related to financial growth insights, social media guidance, and candid conversations with successful entrepreneurs like Tony Robbins, Maria Menounos, and Mel Robbins.
In September 2021, sharing her business know-how reached a new level of personal for Danielle when BossBabe dedicated a podcast episode to the often-overlooked and taboo subject of legally protecting your business in marriage and divorce. The dissolution of her own marriage was the impetus behind the conversation she and Natalie had with Raiford Dalton Palmer, J.D., divorce lawyer and author of I Just Want This Done. “I didn’t have any peers going through it, so I felt really lonely. I wanted to open up a dialogue for women so they felt less alone,” she said.
While Danielle redlines and makes amendments to contracts regularly, she never thought to enact the same diligence with her marriage and to know the laws that affect each spouse. She said that she was naive in her 20s about what the contract of marriage looked like, and in owning a business, there could be battles around that even though her spouse hadn’t contributed to it. Had she known what she knows today, she would have done things very differently.
“No one gets married thinking it will end in divorce. However, in the event that it does dissolve, having a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement can help resolve how their ownership interest will be handled and avoid a costly fight over that equity later,” said Los Angeles-based business lawyer Nolen Heimann.
While it wasn’t a celeritous decision, the societal shame around the subject made it a necessary one for Danielle. “I didn’t want my personal brand to be about my divorce, but as a businesswoman and owner of BossBabe, I wanted to educate women on how to manage their wealth. It’s important that they understand the contract of marriage as it relates to their business. Depending on what state or country you are divorcing in, everything may become community property until the divorce is finalized,” she said. Encouraging women to take charge of their lives aligns with the company’s mission to give female entrepreneurs the necessary tools, resources, and support to succeed in both their business and personal affairs.
Here’s what Danielle learned about divorce, prenups, and matters affecting business and the heart.
Prenups Aren’t Just for the Rich and Famous
It may feel unromantic, but a marriage certificate is indeed a legally binding agreement. Just like any contract you sign, it should be read, researched, and considered before you sign on the dotted line. And stars are just like us when it comes to making a marriage official. You may not perform to sold-out arenas like Beyonce, but you and Queen Bey are both business owners who have their company and assets to consider before saying I do.
“Prenups and postnups are especially important to women who have worked hard to build a business or a reputation of value and want to make sure they retain that value, intact, regardless of what happens with their marriage,” said family lawyer Wendy Sharp.
Danielle isn’t advocating for everyone to have a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, but she does think you should be well informed before you decide. “It isn’t planning for failure, it is taking safety measures just like putting a seatbelt on in the car. You aren’t planning to crash the car, but if you were in a car accident, you’re going to be better protected. Do your research, have meetings, and speak to lawyers to find out if that is appropriate for you,” she said.
Don’t Shrink Away from Difficult Conversations
While having these conversations with your partner may feel awkward, a person who is mature and confident will respect, understand, and even appreciate your desire for transparency in a relationship. “Now that I am in my 30s, it’s so important for me to speak my truth….Talk to lawyers and talk to your partner and be clear about wants and needs, and what that safe landing means to you. Be upfront so you aren’t surprising them leading up to the wedding,” Danielle said.
Getting a Divorce is Not Failing
For Danielle, the decision to get a divorce was about being honest about the situation she was in. “I always want to be living my authentic truth, so a part of that was telling other people to release my own shame.”
She also believes the stigma lies in people being resistant to admitting when something fails. “I did end my marriage and that was a very unique position for me to be in because I don’t quit; I keep going. Building multiple businesses takes stamina and grit and determination to sustain. Ultimately, the marriage wasn’t right for us and that can feel shameful to speak about,” Danielle said.
Today, she sees that her narrative has shifted and that she didn’t fail at all. “I had amazing times and learned so much. Then that chapter of my book came to an end.”
The Importance of Support and Self-Care
Beyond the taxing legal steps involved in getting a divorce, uncoupling is often emotionally charged and can take a toll on one’s mental health and well-being. According to the Holmes-Rahe Stress Scale, divorce is the second highest stressor for people, second only to the death of a loved one. Danielle opened up about feeling overwhelmed and isolated during that time in her life. “On podcast days, we taped five back-to-back interviews with only a 30-minute breather in between each episode. I was going through so much that I found myself crying in my closet. If you are going through a divorce, you are not alone. You will have bad days but you’ll pick yourself up, carry on and take charge and control of your life again.”
Having a support system is critical. Whether that’s supportive friends and/or a therapist, your mental wellness should take precedence. “If couples decide to get a divorce, individual therapy is recommended to continue processing the variety of emotions that can come up surrounding grief and loss, and major transitions,” said licensed marriage and family therapist Erika Ober.
As BossBabe continues to focus on being the brand behind helping women transform their life visions into success stories, Danielle takes pride in learning how to support herself and believing in her own dreams. “I am excited to keep living them out and being open. I’ve let go of planning every next step and am focused on enjoying this part of my journey. Learning how to be in the moment has been a very important part of my personal growth”