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A lot of people aspire to be successful entrepreneurs, but very few are willing to do the work necessary to achieve it or are too afraid to take the risks needed to succeed. But not Joanna Danielle Olsen, the dedicated owner of Coyote Ugly Saloon and Olsen Venture Investments, LLC. Olsen, who is celebrating her 25th year as an entrepreneur and CEO, looks back with fondness at how she managed to navigate through life’s biggest challenges without losing sight of her vision as a business person. This year, she celebrates not just her success but also the little victories along the way that made her the resilient and unstoppable entrepreneur she is today.
Olsen finished her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Georgia. Straight out of college, she moved on to work for a top design firm based in Atlanta from 1997-1999. Drawn to the desire to start her entrepreneurial journey, Olsen launched her first company called Paradox, a successful fusion between art, fashion, and music. A year later, she was awarded the prestigious Glamour Woman of the Year for her exceptional achievements in business and philanthropy.
Shortly after her Glamour recognition, she partnered with Liliana Lovell to bring the Coyote Ugly Saloon to strategic locations: Tampa, Atlanta, and Panama City Beach. At that time, Lovell had a clear dream and vision of the kind of vibe she wanted for Coyote Ugly and partnering with Olsen helped her launch the bar into phenomenal heights. Dubbed the most famous bar on the planet, Coyote Ugly Saloon is all over the country today serving tequila and a one-of-a-kind entertainment that eventually caught the attention of producer Jerry Bruckheimer who created the 2000 film “Coyote Ugly.”
Bringing Coyote Ugly Saloon to where it is today was not always a walk in the park for Olsen. Just like all other businesses, despite their popularity, the bar also went through some tough times. “Through my life experience, resilience and 25 years of being an entrepreneur, I have learned to never give up no matter what obstacles come my way. Each city has brought its individual challenges that I have had to overcome,” Olsen shared.
As can be expected, Coyote Ugly was not spared when the pandemic forced businesses to shut down temporarily. “The biggest challenges for me have been the unexpected acts of God that I have to stay resilient through. From COVID-19 to staffing my bars and staying positive as a leader has been something I have embraced well,” Olsen narrated. “I have really established a great core management team that has grown with me since the beginning. They have been an integral part of my success. Navigating through obstacles of being an entrepreneur and business owner while staying relevant with the times along with staffing over 200 people jobs.”
As an entrepreneur, Olsen has shown great resilience and determination. Overall, she never fails to share her blessings, knowing that generosity is a key element in her prosperity. She actively supports worthy causes and advocacies, which include Heart Gallery of Tampa, Feeding Tampa Bay, Clothes to Kids, Thorn Ministries of Tampa, Anchorage Kids Foundation, My House, and Grace Lutheran.
Apart from supporting charities, Olsen is also very passionate about architecture and real estate. Aside from her Coyote Ugly, she also buys commercial and residential properties as investments.
Coyote Ugly is a widely successful brand due to Olsen’s commitment to it. In addition, Olsen added value to the brand by providing jobs to passionate and driven women who get to express themselves freely in their line of work. With Olsen at the helm, there is no doubt that Coyote Ugly will continue to expand across the world in the future.