The Shark Tank Offer She Refused... And Why It Made Her Stronger | Ben Thinking Podcast Ep. 149

Ben sits down with Abingdon Mullin, pilot and founder of Abingdon Co., for a conversation about building what doesn’t exist and growing a brand with conviction in a male-dominated industry.They discuss launching a watch company at 23 after realizing pilot watches weren’t made for women, navigating overseas manufacturing, turning down Kevin O’Leary’s Shark Tank advice, and reinventing her brand during COVID. From owning 94% of her company to creating a watchmaking tech program in Las Vegas, this episode is about craftsmanship, responsibility, and playing the long game.Connect with Abingdon Co.:Website: https://abingdonco.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theabingdonco/?hl=en

🕒 Timestamps:

2:00 — Becoming a pilot at 22

15:45 — Early growing pains

24:30 — Kevin O’Leary’s offer and saying no

31:00 — Choosing between flying and running the company

45:30 — Owning 94% and scaling intentionally

52:00 — The watchmaker shortage: 10 retire, 1 replaces

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