25 Founders on How to Scale Your Business to 6 Figures—and Beyond

Growing your company’s revenue to six figures, and beyond, is an exciting milestone to celebrate. Beyond the financial stability that scaling provides, it’s also a sign that you may have product-market fit—you’re putting something in the world that truly impacts others and the hard-earned lessons gained along the way can be of service to others. 

So, how do you get to this point? Thankfully, learning from the founders who have paved the way already, can accelerate your journey, or even help you avoid pitfalls. From nailing down your messaging to building a strong community and honing in on your personal development, these entrepreneurs share advice that proves that hitting, and exceeding, your financial targets is absolutely within your reach.

If scaling your business to six figures and beyond is on your vision board for this year, or if you’ve done so already, but are committed to never stopping to learn, or grow—we challenge you to let a few of these tried and tested strategies work their magic for you. 

1. Christina Langdon—Founder of Christina Langdon High Performance Coaching & Consulting, helping CEOs, Founders, and high-achievers scale their business by scaling their minds.

My experience: The power of your mind is at the foundation for scaling any business. Scaling my business started with scaling my mindset and belief in myself as CEO. I built my CEO self-concept by deciding ahead of time who I wanted to become. When I launched my business, I wrote a job description for the CEO role for my six-figure business. I answered questions inside of the job description: what will I be thinking, how will my clients refer to me, how will I be spending my time, and who I will become as a six-figure CEO. When we get into comparison and despair and feel less confident, as every business owner on their way to six figures feels at some point, it’s most important to recognize that you are the biggest influencer in your life. When you recognize your influence over you, it's a game changer.

2. Lucy Bedewi—Founder of My Write Hand Woman, empowering women-owned ventures as they scale with strategic messaging and bold copy.

My experience: I scaled my business by transitioning from traditional project-based packages to a VIP Day model. I was able to free up hours of time, and pour those hours into content creation, networking, and client acquisition. If you're having a hard time getting to the six-figure mark, my advice would be to make sure your business model can support hitting that revenue mark without you having to work more than 20 hours a week. Those extra 10 to 20 hours can be used to make sure you have precious CEO time to scale into your sustainable business model.

3. Jessica Alderson—Co-Founder and CEO of So Syncd, a dating app that matches compatible personality types.

My experience: At So Syncd, we maintain a rigorous focus on our core metrics. Tracking key performance indicators on a daily basis enables us to understand the return on investment within each area of the business. With this knowledge, we can make informed decisions about how to allocate capital and resources to optimize the business for growth. Data-driven decision-making has been fundamental for us in scaling our business.

4. Melissa Lohrer—Founder of Waverly Ave Consulting, an independent, female-founded fractional business development partner and coach for agencies on the rise.

My experience: I built a six-figure business in the first six months of launching my business. When I launched, I had an ambitious revenue goal and a flexible schedule that would give me the opportunity to live the life I wanted. Then I determined how many clients I needed per month, quarter, and year. The hardest thing for founders is saying no to the wrong clients; the clients who don't want to pay you what you're worth or find value in your offer. Those clients take up your time and hold you back from reaching your goals.

5. Alice Kim—Founder and CEO of PerfectDD, a mission-driven sustainable clothing brand designed to fit and flatter DD+ cups, sizes 0-16.

My experience: Keep reiterating your message. Since you live and breathe your business, you may think your audience has heard your message before, but it’s always good to remind them. With so many distractions in our lives, statistics show that less than 10 percent of your followers on Instagram see your post/story on any given day. If you send emails, check your open and click rates. If people didn’t open your email, try changing the subject line and resend. They signed up for a reason; now it’s your job to engage and show them value. If they opened your email but didn’t click, try changing the image or phrase your message in a different way. It’s important to check metrics for every output produced. Reiterate what worked and ditch what didn’t.

6. Meredith Fennessy—Founder of Le Chéile, where boutique creative studio and agency founders regain creative freedom and grow profitable businesses.

My experience: Network, network, network. Continue to grow your community and make meaningful connections for others. Direct referrals are your best friend.

7. Sara Miller—Founder of Student Organ Donation Advocates (SODA), supporting passionate student organ donation advocates who share the life-saving power of organ donation.

My experience: From the very beginning of scaling SODA, we prioritized finding aligned partners—other organizations who shared the same goals as us but had different strengths. By valuing and collaborating with these partners, we were able to form meaningful and lasting relationships that have resulted in revenue, generated leads, and created visibility. My advice for others is to ask yourself who is doing complementary work and to reach out to learn more about what they're doing and to ask to collaborate!

8. Selena Soo—Founder of Selena Soo, a publicity and marketing expert helping coaches, consultants, and creatives reach millions with their message.

My experience: If you want to scale your business, scale your visibility. In other words, instead of connecting with one person at a time, share your message with many people at once. You can do this through podcast interviews, writing articles for online publications, or speaking on stages. There are an infinite number of ways to scale your reach. The most important thing is to just get started!

9. Claudia Richman—Co-Founder of Starling Training, offering cohort-based, virtual, synchronous training designed to sharpen the skills that build productive, supportive relationships.

My experience: Focusing on emotional intelligence has been the key to breaking the six-figure barrier for Starling Training. By keeping the people part of business front and center, we’ve built connections with like-minded leaders who understand that growing their people will ultimately grow their bottom line. Our training introduces concepts that often aren’t taught or measured and give people a safe space to experiment and learn, which ultimately results in deeper business relationships with high return on investment.

10. Hannah Nieves—Founder and CEO of HN Haus, a community and social club for women in business, helping six- and seven-figure founders magnify their influence and amplify their reach.

My experience: The first step is self-trust. You have to believe you can achieve six figures before any strategy and action is taken. To get to six figures you need a strong offer and clear positioning and messaging that directly speaks to your target audience. Once you can provide a transformation it's all about the client experience to help with retention, referrals, and repeat business.

11. Katie Ward—Owner of Katie Ward Photography, a full service photo studio that specializes in editorial, brand/advertising, and portrait photography.

My experience: As a solopreneur, the most important step to reaching a sustainable six-figure business was to have profitable pricing. Without sitting, doing the accounting, and understanding, annually, how much it costs to run my business, how often I want to be working, and how much I want to make, I would have burned out and closed my business years ago. By being profitable, I can fully show up for myself and for my clients who are trusting me to produce the highest quality of work.

12. Vivian Chen—Founder and CEO of Rise, a leading diversity recruiting platform for ambitious professionals. 

My experience: My business had almost no revenue coming out of Covid-19. I had a make-or-break moment where I gave myself one more quarter to give it a shot. During those months, I remember telling myself, "A business is an exchange of value for a product or service. So go prove that your business has value." And I became laser-focused on revenue. I firmly believed that if I didn't invest in myself and the tools I needed, why would others? So, I made a conscious decision to invest in software that truly leveled up my operations. It was a game-changer. For a solid three months, I ignored all emails except for those that were revenue-related. My efforts paid off and we broke even. Then, within a mere two quarters, we were profitable. My advice to fellow founders who are aspiring to achieve similar growth is to prioritize revenue-generating activities and have the courage to invest in themselves to support their goals.

13. Kimone Napier—Founder of Hire Breakthrough, dedicated to helping founders overcome hiring challenges and achieve breakthroughs.

My experience: To scale my business to six figures, I implemented a targeted marketing and lead generation strategy. By focusing on attracting and converting qualified leads, I was able to achieve consistent growth. My advice for other founders is to prioritize building strong client relationships, providing exceptional customer service, and staying adaptable to industry trends. Delegating tasks outside of your core strengths can also help free up time for high-impact activities that drive business growth.

14. Joanna Sapir—Founder of Joanna Sapir Presents, LLC, providing health and wellness practitioners with education and resources to build more resilient and sustainable businesses.

My experience: Don't be afraid to invest money in support for you and your business. This can look like coaching, consulting, or hiring help. It's so worth it to spend money on learning skills or receiving services that will directly help you make more money. The key is to make sure that investment provides you a great return.

15. Nirali Guzman—Founder and CEO of Casa Amarosa, a thoughtfully curated collection of home and lifestyle goods, with an unwavering commitment to sustainability and culturally progressive design.

My experience: To scale Casa Amarosa to six figures and beyond, we optimized our supply chain, building strong relationships with artisan communities for a steady supply of unique products. My advice to founders is to deeply understand your market and align your business model accordingly. Build a committed team and never compromise on product quality. Remember: scaling isn’t just about growth in size, but also in value delivered to your customers.

16. Sarah Lambert—Founder of The Rosewood Agency, a course creation agency for service providers who want to create passive income so they can have a greater impact and get their time back.

My experience: My own personal development has been absolutely crucial in building a multiple six-figure online business. I went all in on my business after having my first baby in 2019, and I had no idea how much it was going to force me to grow personally. It doesn't matter how great your strategy is, your business can only grow as quickly as you are. In order to create a six-figure business, focus more on who you're being, your emotional intelligence, and leadership, and less on hacking the social algorithms. You'll be blown away by what you're capable of creating.

17. Marnie Rabinovitch Consky—Founder and CEO of Thigh Society, a brand of size-inclusive, anti-chafing slip-short underwear designed to help women move through the world with comfort and confidence.

My experience: Hire out for key leadership positions earlier than it may feel like you need them. No founder can possibly do all things well at once, and no brand can scale without bringing on a strong leadership team of experts who bring high-level knowledge in their specific areas of expertise and experience. When I decided to go all-in on Thigh Society, I brought on a Chief Marketing Officer, a joint Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Our CFO/COO brought in an ability to nurture supplier relationships, forecast inventory, manage cash flow, and carve a path to maintaining profitability as we grow. Our CMO brought in a small but mighty team to ensure that, as a direct-to-consumer brand, we were investing in, experimenting with, and iterating on marketing strategies that drive growth. Spend the money. These people are worth the investment, and your future growth will thank you for it.

18. Fiona Nguyen—Founder of Balannx, a virtual CPA firm that provides CFO, tax, and accounting advisory for female founders.

My experience: Building a strong community is the key to success, contrary to the belief that the business is transactional. Once you build a strong community that roots for each other, you cultivate a stronger root for your business and it sustains your growth for a long time. Through working on nurturing relationships, I have been able to build a sustainable business. We could never grow our business without them. My advice for other entrepreneurs is to pay attention to that one client you have in front of you and do everything you can to help them. That is the root of your community.

19. Sally Joy Wolf—Founder and CEO of LightWorks, empowering executives and their teams to flourish through well-being advisory, keynotes, workshops, and coaching.

My experience: Even when I'm focused on growing, I'm still willing to say "no" when amazing opportunities don't feel quite right. My first six-figure client cold called me after seeing me in the guest slot on a popular LinkedIn Live. As excited as I was when invited, I declined the first two dates they offered me, both the week of July 4th, given it's such a big holiday week. When no other dates were available, I chose to wait until something better opened. Despite being a new entrepreneur, I believed I was worthy of a better date, and having the confidence to wait paid off.

20. Tsvetta Kaleynska—CEO of Rila Global Consulting, a boutique social listening agency located in New York City, studying consumers, brands, markets, and trends.

My experience: To scale my business to seven figures, I leveraged free online resources. First I started with free email-finding services to create a targeted client list by gathering their email addresses. This allowed me to focus on reaching out to the right people. For streamlined outreach, I relied on no-cost email sequencing email add-ons. These tools automated follow-ups and lead qualification, freeing up my time for other tasks. Consistently using these completely free resources, I generated leads, nurtured relationships, and closed huge deals. It was cost efficient and helped me own everything in-house, which resulted in remarkable results. My advice to other founders: explore free online resources. Utilize tools that identify potential clients, automate outreach, and manage leads effectively. Leverage these resources to save time and money while achieving significant growth. Stay focused and consistent, and adapt strategies based on results.

21. Ashley Rector—Founder of Quimby Digital, providing organic and paid social media services to revolutionary brands looking to stand out online.

My experience: If you want to scale, you need to learn how to delegate. The biggest mistake is thinking you’re an expert at everything and can do it all yourself. You will propel your growth three times by figuring out what you do poorly and hiring someone smarter than you to do it!

22. Sarah Loughry—Founder and CEO of Em Dash Blogging, an end-to-end solution for content.

My experience: Hire and outsource. I chose to hire my first employee months before paying myself. Obviously, I would have preferred to start seeing a personal income, but hiring help allowed me to focus on business development. This turned out to be pivotal in our growth. Not only was I able to scale more quickly but I also built a nest egg.

23. Lis Best—Founder and CEO of Girls Club Collective, an intentionally intimate personal and professional development community for change agents.

My experience: The No. 1 thing I did to scale my business to six figures was get crystal clear on who my dream clients are, what their challenges are, and what they want. I conduct what I call dream client interviews at least once a year to find out what people are craving, where they're going for connection, and what's feeling most sticky in their lives and careers. There is no substitute for getting on the phone with real, actual people. Making time to listen and craft my programs and offers around what real people are actually looking for right now is the biggest thing that helped me scale my business to and past the six-figure mark.

24. Amanda Aldinger—CEO of Antonym, a white glove copywriting and voice strategy studio that conspires with industry-defining beauty, food, and lifestyle brands.

My experience: Early on—when Antonym was a nameless vision—I invested in an expert brand-building process, yielding a clear strategy, name, visual identity, website, and the assets a luxury creative studio required to show up with professional panache. Most importantly, I refused to rush it, which has become a devoted practice for all Antonym's internal transformations. It's a more significant investment and more time upfront, but each project—from our original branding to a brand refresh four years later and the current overhaul of our entire ops system and process—has led to ascendant interior growth, a transformation of our services and client experience, and in turn, a steady, organic increase in revenue. Time-starved desperation rarely yields impactful results, and a rush toward growth you can't support is neither sustainable nor net profitable.

25. Natasha Miller—Founder and CEO of Entire Productions, creating bold experiences for corporate entities that drive guest engagement and brand evangelism.

My experience: Our system and processes enabled us to produce 777 events in one year with only two people in operations. We couldn't have done it if we didn't have the framework and foundation in place. I ran my business with a do-it-yourself mindset for years. It wasn't until I started seriously educating myself in solid business practices and learning from mentors and advisors that I skyrocketed our growth!

—Written by Gesche Haas

About the author: Gesche Haas is the Founder and CEO of Dreamers & Doers, an award-winning community that amplifies extraordinary women entrepreneurs and leaders through PR, authentic connections, and high-impact resources. Prior to founding Dreamers & Doers, Gesche held senior positions at venture-backed companies covering growth, strategy, finance, operations and business development. She also spent five years as an investor at a healthcare-focused hedge fund. Gesche is half German, half Chinese-Malaysian, and was born in Swaziland, Africa. She lives with her two kids, husband, dog and chickens, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

12 Questions You Should Ask to *Really* Nail Down Your Life Mission

Photo: Create & Cultivate

"What’s your overall goal?”

It's the first question I ask any entrepreneur, client, friend, (just about anyone) who is in the midst of a career transition or looking to start or grow a venture. I follow it up with, “Where do you see yourself in five years? 10 years? Life-wise.” The question is basic and BIG.

But answering that question, or at the very least attempting to answer that question, creates clarity; crystal clear or not, it's an important step in the right direction to figuring out Life with a capital "L." And guess what? Your business is part of that Life. So before nailing down a business mission, start with your life goals.  

You don’t have to have the destination 100% set (if you do, awesome) but you do need a map so that when you get lost or head down a path less traveled and find yourself in parts unknown (which, is inevitable and healthy) you have a map to consult—to help you redirect and continue on. 

Answer these 12 big life questions and you'll find that in the process you'll get further clarity on your business mission as well:

1. Visualize yourself in 10 years. What do you see for yourself? What/who do you see yourself surrounded with? What do you see yourself doing? 

2. What do you feel the most fearful of right now?

3. What are you willing to sacrifice to stay true to you? What are you okay saying “no” to?

4. What areas of your life are humming?

5. What areas of your life do you want to make changes in?

6. What do you wish you were doing more of that makes you happy?

7. What kinds of problems do you enjoy solving the most?

8. What about you makes you uniquely you?

9. What are your values?

10. Who are some other people in your life that you admire? Why? 

11. What are some commonalities in the people that you are drawn to?

12. What aspects of who you are do people find energizing?

Alison Gilbert is a business coach and consultant. She’s helped over a dozen owners and entrepreneurs grow profitable businesses quickly and efficiently, including such companies as Well+Good, Levo League, Maiyet, and Plum Alley. Prior to building her consultancy, she was hire number four and COO of food media company Tasting Table where she grew it into a forty person team reaching a readership of millions.  Visit her site and schedule a free consultation. 

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This story was originally published on April 22, 2019, and has since been updated.

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Sharing Finances? Here Are 5 Ways to Do It Right

Photo: Retha Ferguson for Pexels

In April of 1975, Judy Hendren Mello created the First Women’s Bank in Manhattan.

It was the first bank in the United States to be run by and operated for women, during a period where women were highly discriminated against by banks. (Fun fact: Betty Friedan had an account there.) Just one year prior, banks required single, widowed, or divorced women to bring a man to co-sign any credit application, regardless of their income.

Thankfully, much has changed since then, and more women are household breadwinners than ever before, as well as finding ways to to split costs with their partners. Given that wedding season is rapidly approaching, we figured there’s no better time to break down five different approaches to sharing finances that have worked well for couples.

The 2:1 Approach

This is a scenario in which you keep most of your finances separate, but have one joint account you both contribute to equally.

You can choose to contribute a dollar amount or a percentage of monthly earnings to that account. With one joint account, you are taking baby steps to trusting your significant other with your money. You get to see how they spend and if you’re comfortable giving them purchasing power with your hard earned cash.

Most often, couples who live together and are fairly evenly matched when it comes to income and debt favor this approach. That way the joint account is what you use for household purchases—everything from toilet paper to a new couch.

The Solo Dolo

Some couples keep all finances separate, and it works for them. If each of you are financially independent, have no desire to share finances and would rather split household expenses in a way that makes you the most comfortable, this is an easy option.

Sometimes that means splitting things 50-50. Sometimes that’s not the case. If it’s not, we suggest having a conversation, especially if one side of the equation makes a significant amount more. What you don’t want is to commit to a living or a financial situation where you feel taken advantage of, or where you resent how much the other person is making and contributing.

If you really like keeping everything solo, but your incomes are vastly disparate—we suggest the next approach to avoid future disagreements.

The Pick-and-Choose

This approach is best for couples who share everything, except comparable salaries. When you don’t want to let one person “handle it all” (which, is certainly another way to go), but rather want each party to contributing their “fair share,” each person picks certain bills and expenses.

These don’t have to be equal shares.

For instance, if you own a house together, one person pays the mortgage and the other fills the fridge. Or perhaps, one of you pays the rent and the other handles electric, gas, and the WiFi situation.

This works for both unmarried and married couples. The most important part of this arrangement, is that each person is getting a fair shake, not a shake down.

With the pick-and-choose, and all the above options, individual debts remain the responsibility of the indebted, however, this could (and often should) be considered when splitting up costs.

The Spend One, Save One

This is an interesting approach being taken by couples who have not yet made those major life purchases, but are working toward them.

They will live on one salary—typically the larger—and save the entirety of the rest. This is also a useful approach for couples who haven’t yet been able to put away that rainy day money or save for retirement. It typically involves living below your means, but is a smart investment to make in your future.  

The Merge It All

This is an approach most often used by married couples who combine their lives, finances and all, entirely. Most often, neither party is entering into the marriage with significant assets—like a house—as this is a purchase that will be made together. Or debts, like student loans, that need to pay off.

However, even within “merge it all” it isn’t uncommon for couples to share one joint account while keeping individual checking accounts. What you put into those individual accounts? It varies. Bonuses or checks from grandma and grandpa could be considered “fun” individual money. Cash that doesn’t have to go toward life expenses and allows each person to feel like they’ve got some disposable income.

This post was published on May 23, 2017, and has since been updated.

Why These Two Women Risked It All to Break into the Food Industry

The saying goes, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” Angela Sutherland and Evelyn Rusli are the epitome of the proverb. As the co-founders of Yumi, the homemade delivery baby food company, they’re challenging the standards of the “Big Baby Food” industry.

It was so important to Angela and Evelyn to fix the static baby food industry that they each left successful careers in other fields to start Yumi. Read on for their story.

Let’s start at the beginning. What whitespace did you see in the baby food market?

Angela: When I was pregnant with my first child, I did what a lot of new parents do — I went down the long, long rabbit hole of Google research. In that process, I came across studies on “The First 1000 Days,” a period of time identified by researchers and doctors as the most important in a person’s life for nutrition. I grew up in Michigan and was largely raised on the idea that adults are the ones who have to worry about their diet — that adults shouldn’t have the cupcakes because of their diet, but kids can eat anything they want because they have their whole life to worry about nutrition. It turns out the exact opposite is true.  

Later, when my daughter was ready to begin solid foods, I was completely shocked to realize just how deficient all of the store bought options were. The big baby food industry is dominated by products that are older than the babies eating them, high in fruit-based sugars, and low in nutrition! I was in disbelief that over the last 100 years, baby food has changed very little and was not giving kids what they need. I felt compelled to do something about it.

Describe the journey from when you first had the idea for Yumi to actually making it a reality.

Angela: As I was uncovering all this research, I was sharing it with my friends, including Evelyn who I’ve known for years. She was working for the Wall Street Journal at the time. As a journalist, she naturally started digging-in and read all the clinical studies I had collected. We went on a trip with my family to Arizona, and while our husbands were ATV-ing, we kept circling on this idea of building a new baby food company to solve all these gaps. Within a few weeks, we both gave our two weeks notice and decided “OK, we’re doing this.” At the time, I was the breadwinner in the family, so I spoke with my husband about it and explained that I would need to take a roughly 100% pay cut but it was for a really, really good cause. He was my biggest cheerleader from day one.

How did you each find the confidence to give up your previous ventures and pursue a new career?

Evelyn: It’s not easy to walk away from a career you’ve been building and nurturing for more than a decade. There are internal and external pressures to stay on that path. When I was 18 and decided to be a journalist, I had a PLAN, and that plan was going perfectly.  But accomplishing a plan you hatched at 18 doesn’t necessarily equal fulfillment. I felt myself increasingly drawn to entrepreneurship; I was enamored by its almost obsessive nature. Everyday, you apply your blood, sweat, and literal tears in the hope that you can change the world in a very particular way. I loved the mission of Yumi from day one.

Angela: Our backgrounds are sort of the perfect complement. I was the math major, she was the English major — she is the words to my numbers. Meanwhile, in my former life as a director of a private equity firm, I was very familiar with the nuts and bolts of operations and what it takes to build thriving, sustainable businesses. I enjoy nerding out on unit economics. Evelyn, meanwhile, is a natural storyteller. She pulls threads together and helps distill complex concepts into more digestible forms. We both saw Yumi as more than a product off the shelf. To succeed, Yumi would have to be a highly scalable business, but it would also have to be a movement, a movement that inspires other families to demand changes in Big Baby Food.

What’s a typical day in your lives like?

Evelyn: One of the amazing things about being an entrepreneur is just how fundamentally — often unpredictably — different each day is from the next. On one day, we could be in the test kitchens working with chefs and nutritionists to develop new recipes. On another day, we could be on the road meeting with potential partners, which includes everything from marketing to packaging to prospective investors. We try to create some boundaries within the chaos, and we both intentionally set aside time to think about big picture strategy and what’s coming around the corner.

One of the hardest things about building a startup is the constant context switching. It can be mentally and physically taxing. But let’s be real — it’s also a lot of fun.  

What is it like working together when you both have very different backgrounds/experiences?

Evelyn: We simply can’t stand each other, it’s really becoming a challenge. Obviously, I kid, she was literally the officiant at my wedding. I’m the godmother to her son. Her family is my family and vice versa. That said, we’re very different in terms of skills and how we approach problems, which certainly leads to arguments about decisions. However, that’s exactly why we wanted to be partners. You need someone who is going to challenge your ideas and push you to see a problem from a different angle. That friction is healthy for a startup.

Angela: For all our differences, I do think our partnership works because we are similar in the areas that matter. Our fundamental values are the same, which is why we’re so passionate about Yumi’s mission. We’re also crazy hard workers, perhaps to a fault. I’ve never doubted for a second that Evelyn isn’t doing everything she can to make this a success. We completely trust each other’s judgment.

Baby food is a contentious industry. How did you choose ingredients and suppliers? What about pricing?

Angela: For us, quality is everything. It is our #1 priority to give babies the highest quality ingredients, sourced from the best organic farms in the country. When you look at consumer trends and the preferences of the modern day parent, it’s clear that this generation has a very different attitude towards food than previous generations. Today’s parents have a much deeper understanding of food, and how it affects their health and wellness. They care about organic, they expect freshness, and they also look for brand transparency.

The legacy brands are out of touch. Last year, Consumer Reports revealed that grocery store baby food brands tested positive for an array of heavy metals. That same week, we put up a map online to show our customers how we pick our farms based on the government’s soil readings. We avoid areas that test high for heavy metals, and we avoid certain ingredients like brown rice, which often tests high for arsenic.

Our pricing reflects the multitude of differentiators that we offer to consumers: high quality ingredients, customized content, shipping straight to your doorstep, and sustainable packaging. As we scale, we will be able to pass along savings to our families, but our consistent growth month-over-month indicates that we’re already filling a huge demand in the market.

Looking back, what’s one thing you would have done differently when you first started out?

Evelyn: We’ve both grown so much from this process, but I think one thing we would have done differently in the beginning would be our approach to hiring. We would have hired more people out of the gate. We would have put more effort into recruiting. At the end of the day, success or failure is determined by the people you have on that bus.

Where do you see the baby food industry going in the future? How do you see it evolving?

Angela:  Hopefully, out of the dark ages. If the baby food industry is still dominated by two-year-old room temperature chicken stew in a jar, I’ll be shocked.

We’re trying to shed an intense light on the Big Baby Food industry. There’s simply no excuse for the low level of innovation, freshness or quality. Most baby foods, including some newcomers, are still laden with fruit-based sugars and are incredibly low in nutrition. We hope that by showcasing the importance of early childhood nutrition that we’ll not only elevate the dialogue on baby food today but will also push the entire industry to improve. Babies deserve it.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Evelyn: Someone once told me that “all businesses are inherently people-based.” In the same way that we apply the saying “It takes a village” when it comes to motherhood, I have seen that the same goes for businesses — they are nourished by people and our extended networks. Since starting Yumi, I’ve lost track of the number of times a friend has helped me work through a problem, provided valuable insights, or served as a resource in some way.   So many people have helped in the making of Yumi. These interactions are a constant reminder to stay humble and to not be afraid to ask for help.

What’s next for Yumi?

Angela: We’re so excited to launch a new line of snacks and finger foods this spring.  It has always been our mission to grow with our customer and to provide offerings for kids as they transition from babies to toddlers. In America, the number one veggie for a toddler is the french fry. That’s absurd. Families deserve healthier options across the 1,000 days. Whether it’s purees, snacks, finger foods, or beyond, we have a lot of work to do.

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6 Ways to Get Back on Business Track

June gloom brings more than cloudy, grayish weather. It’s also the year’s mid-way point, the pit stop on our journey to NYE that reminds us of those lofty goals we set on Jan 1. And that can make some of us as gloomy as the weather. In part because we’re looking at everything we’ve yet to accomplish, leaving us feeling like tail chasers. 

But let’s make this a coffee cup half full situation and get back on the grind. Here’s how to set yourself and your business goals right once more. 

REVIEW

Where’s that list you wrote? Whether scribbled on paper, the notes section in your phone, or stored in your memory bank, it’s time to review. Look at what you have accomplished and what you haven’t. Do a brutally honest assessment of where you are. Reflection is a fundamental skill set of successful people. This time put it to paper-- if it’s not already.

 "Reflection is a fundamental skill set of successful people."

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WHY WORDS ON PAPER? 

Two words: Accountability and commitment. Though many sites report the findings of the “1953 Harvard study” or the “1979 Yale study” both said to have found evidence correlating the act of writing down goals and the long-term performance of people, neither such study ever took place. However, putting your goals to paper does make you more accountable. For your mid-year review put your goals in two columns: A and B. In column A write down what you’ve already accomplished. In column B write down what you want to or have yet to accomplish. Notice if one column greatly outweighs the other. If the scales are tipped in favor of column B, consider creating a third column: C. Column C should be the space where you really hone in on what is realistic and important. Ask yourself if your goals have changed. Moving forward focus your efforts on C, instead of feeling overwhelmed by B.

WRITE DOWN THE HABITS YOU NEED TO NIX

Is there a side hustle you’ve been putting off because you’ve grown complacent/sucked into a Netflix hole? Have you stopped learning and listening and thereby found yourself in a creative rut/sucked into a Netflix hole? Chances are you’ve picked up a new bad habit or two in the last six months. They’re kind of like gophers that way-- always popping up in unexpected places. You don’t have to wait until New Year’s to reset. Use the start of summer (this coming Thursday, June 21st) to get the habits off your plate that are crowding out the other important and sustainable items.

CONSIDER USING A VACATION DAY OR TWO

This may feel counter-intuitive, but If you’ve been hitting it hard since the beginning of the year, that's counter productive. It could be time for a break. If you think of your brain like your computer, you know that you have to shut it down every now and again, otherwise it will start crashing. Endless spinning wheel of death where creativity ceases to flow and information exchange comes to a halt. You don’t have to hit professional rock bottom before you crawl back out. In 2014 42% of working Americans didn't take a single vacation day. Not one. In 2013 Americans collectively squandered 169 million vacation days. Yet this pattern is taking its toll on workers, proving to have a negative ripple effect on employee mental health, productivity, even the economy.

REACH OUT TO THAT *ONE PERSON*

This is an easy step to take, and yet we all know that the easiest step is often the hardest. There’s always that *one professional person* you keep meaning to reach out to, but never do. Maybe it’s a cold call or maybe you even have an introduction, but for some reason you can’t bring yourself to follow through. It may not be career changing-- for now-- but it could be the one domino that sets the others on a roll. As soon as you finish reading this, go write that email and send it off.

LET GO AND LET GO (FOR REAL, LET IT GO)

Have you heard that spring cleaning closet rule? That if you haven’t worn it (leopard print body con dress) in a year, it’s time to donate? Well, the same goes for your to-do goal list. If there is a goal that’s been lingering, weaving its way from one year to the next, without much progress, it's time to let it go. Holding onto something we can’t commit to takes up valuable space in our brains. Much like that one person, you know what the one goal is. We’re not telling you to give up on your dreams, but if you’re not working toward it, maybe it’s not your dream?

And remember: Sometimes yes, you have to look back in order to look forward, but once you have your sights set firmly ahead, hold eye contact with the future. It’s your best bet.

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Be a Business Wildflower: How to STAND OUT in Your Next Meeting

You’ve heard of FOMO— Fear of Missing Out, but what if you’re missing out in a meeting or at a company event because you’re a bit of a business wallflower? 

We’ve all seen and heard of wallflowers- standing alone on the back wall at the dance, getting picked last for sports teams or formal dates. And you may be thinking, ‘That’s totally not me…I’m queen of the social scene!’ But are you queen of the boardroom? Or do you get too shy to speak up when you’re face-to-face with a big client or the company CEO?

Don’t fret. It’s normal and it’s a part of growing yourself as a business woman. You’re a wildflower at heart; you just need a little water and the chance to bloom.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with our friends at Wildflowers Skincare to show you not only how to put your best face forward with some of their amazing products, but also how to make sure you’re seen, heard, and presenting yourself with the most girl boss confidence. 

MAKE AN IMPRESSION 

You’ve heard the saying a million times- ‘you only get one chance at a first impression.’ And while your first instinct may be to knock ‘em dead with the killer outfit you just bought (can we get an amen for suede being the ‘it’ fabric this season?), but it may leave your client or potential business partner turned off. Remember, you’re dressing to impress the client you want! The best thing you can do to make that leap from wallflower to wildflower is to follow classic business dress rules for your first meeting or two to gauge the situation. Start with a fresh face (Wildflowers Gentle Cleansing Powder is our go-to travel friendly formula) and apply natural looking makeup. Craving a little bit of bold? A classic red lip is a great way to add a little sass! Next, use basic wardrobe pieces to create a strong foundation for your outfit. A pencil skirt paired with a buttoned up white top and a cool statement necklace makes a feminine, but classic statement. Just can’t kick the urge to accessorize? Throw on a fun statement heel. It’ll up your confidence knowing you’re rocking your favorite shoes.

GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD

There are some overlapping techniques between public speaking and speaking up at a conference table. The first is that the person who cares the most— is you. 

You’ve seen the graphic. There are two bubbles— one stating “Where the magic happens,” and the other “Your comfort zone.” It shouldn’t come as a surprise that they don’t overlap. The first step to getting out of your comfort zone is the hardest one. Next time you’re in a meeting and you have an idea, write it down. 

Writing it down serves as a constant reminder any time you look down to take notes that you have a great idea for the topic at hand! Send a follow up email after the meeting, thanking everyone for their time and quietly sneak in your suggestion. This takes a little bit of the pressure off, so you can feel more comfortable to bring it up again, out loud, in your next meeting.

The first time you do it is the scariest, but 2016 is all about growth!

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, MAKES PERFECT

OK. There is no such thing as perfect, but there are vast improvements— the likes of which you will never see if you don’t work on it at home. You’re not going to wake up one day and be a clutch public speaker. And, contrary to what you may think, not even the very best public speakers were simply born with the knack. 

There are plenty of famous known introverts that have had very public careers— Steve Jobs and Sheryl Sandberg to name two. You might be thinking, what? How?! They’ve been able to get up in front of millions of viewers to give speeches on television and at conferences. It’s true, but it also goes to show that if you want something bad enough, nothing will hold you back. Practice every day until you feel like you’ve got the hang of it, then stand up in the boardroom and knock it out of the park!

FAILURE ALSO MAKES PERFECT 

You probably just read that title and thought “Um, what?!” But, hear us out. Every business woman you know has had a flop idea, been shut down in a business meeting by an unprofessional colleague, or has totally botched their presentation to a client. Failure is an important part of the process because it teaches you how to navigate those awkward and uncomfortable moments so you can come out on top next time! When these things happen, take a bit of a breather. Splash some water on your face or relax with a nice face mask (hint: the Wildflowers Detoxifying Clay Masque does the trick for us every time) and go over what happened.

"Failure also makes perfect." 

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How can you be better prepared? What steps can you take to diffuse a situation? How can you transform your idea to better fit your client’s needs? Then the next time you’re faced with potential setback, use what you’ve learned to kick butt and take names!

The transition from business wallflower to #beawildflower is a process, but it’s totally worth it when you’re becoming your best boss girl self. There’s enough success to go around, so practice your pitches, dress to impress, and don’t be afraid of failure. Every experience gets you one step closer taking over the world!

5 CEOs Who Look Exactly Like Their Companies

You know that old saying, dogs look like their owners. Well the same applies to companies and their founders. 

And why wouldn't they? These women live, eat, breathe their companies. It's only natural their brands would be natural extensions. The great news is, there is NO one "look" that says business owner anymore. You can look like anything and be anything. 

Jen Gotch, ban.do 

Jen Gotch, the front woman of the poppy and playful ban.do ("serious about fun,") is exactly what you'd expect.  With Starbucks collabs and a loyal following, she's tapped into fun in a whole new way. We can't even imagine what her suitcase looks like when she packs. 

Ariel Kaye, Parachute Home 

photo credit: Lianna Tarantin for Sakara Life  

Parachute sheets give you a reason to make your bed in the morning and an even better one to crawl into bed at night. They're unfussy but chic, just like the company's founder Ariel Kaye. “I launched Parachute online with the intention of bringing the brand offline at some point, too.” With the recently opened Parachute Hotel in Venice, CA, the company is providing another opportunity for the community to engage. There's also the new Portland location and the recently added baby line. It's all almost too dreamy to be true. 

Justina Blakeney, The Jungalow

Bold with color and mixing and matching patterns, the beautiful brain and founder behind the Jungalow brand is every bit live out loud as her co. Her environment is lush. Full of color, vibrant patterns and plants; it’s a design style that says no to minimalism. In a way, it’s a multi-hustle of its own.  And with a New York Times bestseller, The New Bohemians (which, she wrote and shot in less than three months), a Sunset Magazine cover, a booming design business and blog, a tot at home, five employees at her office space, and plenty more in the works, Justina has reached a point where she gets her gig. “Having a lot going on at one time really suits my personality,” she's told us.

Joy Cho, Oh Joy!

photo credit: Joy Cho for Glamour Mag. 

There's no way we could put this list together without the founder and creative director of the playful and inspiring Oh Joy! Launched in 2005 as a graphic design studio the color and design maven now has collabs with majors like Target, has authored three books, and consulted for hundreds of companies around the world.  

Ellen Bennett, Hedley & Bennett 

She revolutionized chef garb and she's often donned in bright, colors. But don't get her playful approach to her wardrobe confused with her aprons. These are badass aprons from a badass CEO. She didn't want mundane. She didn't want stale. So she did it her way and now Ellen and her #apronsquad are taking over kitchens everywhere. 

Arianna Schioldager is Editor-in-Chief at Create & Cultivate. You can follow her @ariannawrotethis. 

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An Honest Look Into the Brand That Is Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba has been acting since the age of 12 and when her needs as a modern parent and conscious consumer weren’t being met she set out to create a solution. Founder of The Honest Company— a lifestyle brand that started as an online subscription business featuring safe and effective baby, personal care, home care, vitamins and supplements cleaners (10+ products), the line is now sold in over 6,000 locations, including Target and Whole Foods. She also recently launched Honesty Beauty, a comprehensive collection of high-performance skincare and makeup products, backed by the company’s Honestly Free Guarantee that all products are made without questionable or potentially harmful ingredients. She’s on a mission and is the modern version of a multi-hyphenate.

Here are 5 of our favorite lessons from the amazing honestprenuer. 

1. WE CALL THEM MOTIV-HATERS 

If someone is throwing shade your way because they don’t think you’re experienced enough, or know what you’re doing, use it to your advantage. Listen to Jessica when she says: “It’s hard for people to take anyone seriously who’s never done this before. But that just gave me fire to move forward.” You get to choose whether being underestimated is an obstacle or a motivation. 

2. CHANGE BRINGS OPPORTUNITY  

Continue to evolve as a brand and a person, it’s something the mom and business woman (and New York Times-bestselling author) knows well: “Every five years I feel like I’m a completely different person.” Most successful entrepreneurs have the ability to be fluid. It’s an attitude that helps them be the change agent from within their organization or business, and out into the world.

3. MANIFEST YOUR OWN SUCCESS 

If you want something done, you go out and do it yourself. Even before Honest, Jessica has always been a proponent of creating her career. “I always wanted to be a big action star, to be as relevant as men. I was very aggressive with the vision and manifesting it.” Jessica has told the story many times of how the company got its start. In 2008 she was pregnant with her first child, daughter Honor, looking to find a solution to what she (and many other frustrated parents) saw as a lack in the market. She couldn’t find one brand with all of the safe and effective products she wanted to bring into her home, so she created it. 

4. OVERCOMING DOUBT IS PART OF THE WORK 

A lot of entrepreneurs talk about blind faith, but even with that faith, their ideas, strategies, and beliefs are tested. And the more successful you become, the more challenges you will face. Belief in your strengths--and knowing your weaknesses--will bolster you when the going really gets tough. Jessica says, “I believed that there was a real opportunity for my idea, but I had to get over my own anxiety about not having the typical business trajectory or schooling and I had to stay focused on the end goal. If you are constantly looking to the left or to the right, you are never going to get to the finish line. Regardless of your obstacles, the challenges you overcame to get to the finish line are going to make you stronger. Find confidence in your journey and don't be held back by your obstacles. And don’t let your failures define you, they actually prepare you for the next step."

"If you are constantly looking to the left or to the right, you are never going to get to the finish line."

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5. WORK HARD, WORK SMART, WORK UNTIL... 

We’ve said it once, we’ll say it again. Time spent does not equal success, but successful people put the work in and aren’t afraid to commit to their dream heart and soul. Jessica says, "Don't be afraid to try it. You only have this one life to go out there and do what you can."

Arianna Schioldager is Create & Cultivate's editorial direction. You can find her on IG @ariannawrotethis and more about her on this site she never updates www.ariannawrotethis.com

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The Sneaky Pink Tax You Probably Don't Know You're Paying

Two years ago, my man and I moved in together. We’d taken it real slow, so when we were ready to cohabitate after four years, we’d already explored some of the less sexy territory of day-to-day domesticity.  I knew what was critical to me in the arrangement: equality. 

We would split resources down the middle – time, as well as money.  We’d contribute an equal amount of cash toward buying household items and an equal number of hours toward keeping our home looking like adults live there.  See, even though he makes more than I do, I wanted a down the middle split to ground the power dynamics that can surround money. I'm a modern woman, dammit! I was in for 50-50.

And then I realized:  you can’t do life 50-50. 

Because it costs more money to be a woman. 

"You can't do life 50-50. Because it costs more money to be a woman." 

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And no, not just because women are marketed to by the beauty and fashion industries more aggressively than men (though, that’s a real thing), and end up buying more shit that they arguably ‘don’t need’ because consumerism(!), and the unrelenting pressure put on women (by both men and other women alike) to always look pretty (though that’s also a real thing, even when it's very subtle). 

What I’m talking about is far less nuanced: ordinary day-to-day products and services cost more money if the paying customer has a uterus. I’m talking really basic, gender-neutral stuff like razors, deodorant, and dry cleaning. 

I first discovered this a couple of months into my new living situation.  I was up for errand duty, picking up a few things at CVS for the house and for myself.  Already beyond my cognitive load, I stood in front of about fifty deodorants (none of which seemed noticeably distinct) feeling annoyed that my usual choice was out of stock.  I looked over at the significantly smaller selection in the men’s area and noticed, in passing, that the men’s version of the same deodorant, which my partner uses, was cheaper than the women’s. 

I didn’t think too much of it. When you’re running on fumes, it’s easy to slide into ‘that’s just how things are’ complacency.  I grabbed a women’s deodorant, threw it in the cart, and that was that.

It wasn’t until a couple of months later when a video caught my eye and gave both shape and name to what I had passively noticed: The Pink Tax, or the fact that essentially identical products cost more if dressed in gender-specific packaging that targets women. 

So not only do women earn 79 cents on every dollar that men make, we are expected to spend more of our smaller earnings on the same basics that both men and women buy. In December 2015, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs published a study that found that, on average, women’s products cost 7 percent more than similar products for men.

It’s been documented for years, and I was only just now catching up.  

As pointed out by the New York Times, the French Feminist collective Georgette Sand has been showcasing this ‘phenomenon’ on Tumblr, with side-by-side images of the same product, but packaged for girls and boys. It’s striking to see.  Another article I found by the Washington Post cut right to the chase: Why you should always buy the men’s version of almost anything. 

Now deep in this wormhole, I wanted to observe the Pink Tax in the wild. And not so passively this time. 

I went back to the deodorant aisle at CVS to fact check my memory and corroborate my own story. The proof was in the price tag. 

Not only does the basic version of Degree deodorant cost twenty cents more if it’s for women ($3.79 vs. $3.59), but the brand comes on strong with SO MANY OTHER OPTIONS for women. Some range as high as $5.99. This means that if you happen to be deodorant shopping while in the mood to cultivate your womaness (which, is a glorious part of the female experience), the black dress on that ‘ultra clear’ option (a very tired symbol of femininity) might sucker you into paying $2.40 more for a stick of deodorant than your male counterpart. 

It seems to get worse when it comes to products that are only for women. There is an actual LEGAL tax (not just a subtle price increase) on tampons in most states, where they are categorized as ‘luxury items’ rather than basic necessities. Watch Thinx founder, Miki Agrawal, break it down in this video:

So what’s a girl to do? Continue to have this conversation. Especially about money.  Especially with other women.  Especially with your partner.  Especially with your political representatives.  And try your best to notice. Notice other subtle ways the world is unequal to women. Subtle ways that might not yet have been given a clever name, like The Pink Tax. 

"Try your best to notice. Notice other subtle ways the world is unequal to women."

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I continue to navigate the meaning of equality in my relationship, especially as our identities as individuals evolve independently of our identity as a couple.  Although some of these negotiations are very cut and dry, like the Pink Tax.  Sometimes we can interpret the 50-50 split very literally. For example, I now use 50 percent of his deodorant, shampoo, and shaving cream. 

Now I’m on to reconsidering how to think about an equal split of another important resource: time. I wonder if this clock would cost 7% more in pink. 

About the author: Joanna Pawlowska is a curious human of many interests living in Silverlake, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, CA.  Her experience ranges from tech startups to public radio, where she takes new ideas and brings them to life. She's passionate about issues and stories about the lives of women. 

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The RealReal Is Changing the Way Millennials Shop

For the modern career woman, a wardrobe that works for her is clutch. If she also happens to have a Proenza Schouler lunch clutch for afternoon power meetings, all the better. But the woman who thinks she doesn’t have the salary to fund a Saint Laurent wardrobe, should think again. Because though you might not be in the position (yet) to ask for a promotion, you can give one to your wardrobe.

So how does one craft a closet that keeps up with fashion and doesn’t break the bank? It’s RealReal simple.

The RealReal is the must-shop luxury consignment site, offering the largest selection of pre-owned items across women's and men's fashion, fine jewelry, art, and home. With 4.5 million members, it's quite literally the real deal, it’s changing the way modern millennials are approaching fashion.

THE NEW, SMART WAY TO SPEND

Forget fast fashion, this is smart shopping. With items up to 90% off retail, the first thing you can do is fill your wardrobe with 7 key items that never go out of style.

For under $1,000 dollars you can nab these essentials for spring and summer: Frame Denim, Equipment Silk Button-Down, 3.1 Phillip Lim Straight Leg Pant, Stella McCartney Blazer, Elizabeth and James Long Vest, Loeffler Randall Textured Leather Ankle Boot, Raquel Allegra Tee.

These are basics that you will wind up replacing far less than those inexpensive items that tend to get ruined quickly.

We also tend to take better care of clothing that we know is worth more, and won’t fall apart in after a couple of wears. The bonus is, you won’t be playing host to a hoard of knock-off, inexpensive pieces taking up coveted space in your closet.

WHY IT MAKES THE MOST SENSE TO CONSIGN 

The RealReal makes the consignment process so incredibly streamlined for a busy working woman. No lugging an old IKEA bag full of clothes you no longer want to a shop.

You can choose free in-home pickup or free shipping, and the turnaround is fast. Priced-to-sell, items are photographed and merchandised and typically sold within 3 days.

Which means you can:

GIVE YOUR BOSS SERIOUS WARDROBE ENVY

She might even start to wonder if she’s paying you too much. (She’s not.) Swapping out your clothes is like borrowing from a besties closet. If you replace two items per month, instead of stockpiling clothes you end up donating, you end up saving money by seemingly splurging.

Sellers receive up to 70% of sales, which means you can turn that right around and invest in a new piece. Like that Chanel Boy Bag you have both eyes firmly fixed on.

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What's In Our Bag: Everything You Need for Create & Cultivate DTLA

Designed for the 7am-10pm lifestyle, the 15” Tote from Dagne Dover is the ultimate day-to-night carryall, made with sneaky compartments to keep your essentials in place. And since your day at Create & Cultivate DTLA is going to jam-packed from when you first arrive to when Chelsea Handler takes the stage at 8pm, you want a bag that’s working for you while you work it.

We’re breaking your day, and just what should be in your bag. Sorry, no hot sauce needed.

8:00 AM: You’ve been waiting for this forever!! And it’s finally check-in time! If you already have your badge, head upstairs where you’ll receive your track card, notebook, and pen. Slip that notebook into one of the side pockets. You’ll need it, but right now it’s time to grab some breakfast. Fuel for the day ahead is vital.

9:00 AM: You’ve got your coffee and your track. Find your seat and set-up for the first panel. Pull your phone from the phone compartment, snag a shot of the empty stage, and then get ready for some amazing boss-piration. Which means, grab your notebook, your pen-- from one of the three pen loops, and get ready to put facts to paper.

12:00 N:  You’re either heading to your mentor session or to lunch. If you’re going to meet with your mentor pull out your tablet (there’s room for an 11”) and record it. Seriously, this is advice you can’t get anywhere else and you might not be able to shorthand as fast as they’re doling out the goods. If you’re heading to lunch, tuck everything away, and get ready to shake the hand of the creative peer next to you.

2:30 PM: In 15 minutes it’s panel time again. Which means that notebook and pen are about to get another workout.

5:00 PM: Break time! There is so much to during the break. You’ll definitely want to pull out your phone from its pocket, take some Instagram shots (we #regram our favorites) and visit the multiple pop-ups, beauty bars, grab a juice and put it in your bag. We’ve got three keynotes ahead, so you’re going to want something to sip on while they spill their business secrets. There’s a pocket for a “water bottle holder.”

6:00 PM: Jessica Alba takes the stage in conversation with Katherine Power and Hillary Kerr. Pull out that phone and start live Tweeting NOW.

6:30 PM: Rachel Zoe takes the stage in conversation with Jen Meyer. Keep the inspirational Tweets coming. It’s maje. Bananas. Ah-mazing. All of it. 

7:00 PM: HAPPY HOUR! Tuck everything away and head to the roof to grab a cocktail, pass out a few business cards from that zip pocket, make a few moves, and use one of the side pockets for the cards you’re collecting.

8:00 PM: Everyone’s favorite comedienne and all-around shero, Chelsea Handler takes the stage. You’re probably going to want to write down everything she says.

9:00 PM: You came, you saw, you conquered-- maybe in heels. It’s a very stylish crew at C & C. If your feet are killing you, grab the sneakers you tucked into the bag. (Yes, there’s room for sneakers) and slip them on. Grab your gift bag, and head home full of knowledge, a side pocket of new contacts, and plenty of info on that tablet.

Why Business Cards Still Matter & 3 Go-to Sites

Just because your entire business lives online does not mean you can’t make an impression in real life.  Business cards provide an inexpensive, customized way for you to leave your mark with a new networking connection, collaborator, or client.

And since most business cards are available online, there is really no excuse not to have cute business cards—you can create a bespoke, on-brand card in less than 15minutes and for around $20.  Check out these sites to get started. 

You can create a bespoke, on-brand card in less than 15 minutes and for around $20. 

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VISTAPRINT

Arguably the most inexpensive, basic business cards on the market, Vistaprint offers an affordable, professional way to get the word out about your brand.  You can browse their designs or upload your own logo, and the interface is very simple.  Standard cards start at just under $10.

MOO

A favorite of creatives, Moo has a clean, easy-to-use website and on-trend fonts, colors and designs. You can choose from a huge collection of the brand’s pre-designed business cards, many of which are specifically tailored to the arts, fashion, beauty and media industries.  The company also has a large collection of specialty cards, like spot gloss, raised spot gloss and gold foil.  Doubled-sided business cards start at $9.99. 

ZAZZLE

Basic business cards at Zazzle start at $21.95, so it’s a little pricier than Vistaprint or Moo. However, Zazzle offers a money back guarantee, so if you don’t like what you create, you can send the cards back for a full refund. The company offers over 50,000 custom templates, or you can design your own.

What is your go-to for business cards?  Share with us in the comments!

An original version of this article appeared on Ipsy. 

Maskimize Your 2016: How to Put Your Best Business Face Forward

It’s the night before a big business meeting and you’re stressed. It’s totally normal, but do you know what happens when you have a mini-freak out? Your skin often has a mini flare up. Research shows that people are more likely to respond positively to good skin, so we asked our friends at Origins how to make sure we’re all putting our best business face forward this year. Their advice? Mix and mask your way to glowing success – and skin! 

To maximize success, Origins just released a totally new innovation in masking to obtain even greater high performance results. Maskimizer™ Skin-Optimizing Mask Primer is the first-ever mask primer to prep, prime and hydrate skin, leaving it more receptive to the high performance benefits of Origins masks. Just a few spritzes of Maskimizer on clean skin before mask application enables you to mask and relax. 

Next, choose one of Origins Single-Use Mask Pods, which are also perfect for carrying in your purse or stashing in your desk if you’re on the go. There are so many fan-favorites to choose from, but here are our favorite combinations!

Don’t Fret Before a Meeting with a Potential Client: Use Out Of Trouble™ 10 Minute Mask To Rescue Problem Skin

When you’re meeting one-on-one with a new client, your face is front and center, but nerves and stress can make you red and blotchy. Get “Out of Trouble” before your meeting with an easy ten-minute mask. This super absorbent mask redefines texture and wards off future outbreaks. That way, you’re securing your future by emphasizing your business know-how, and not your problem skin.

Go Into That Job Interview with Gusto: Use Original Skin™ Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay

Glowing skin is like a great hair day, it can give you the confidence boost you need before meeting with a potential employer. After all, you want them to focus on what you’re saying, not any skin issues. Show them how you’re a true “Original” by outlining your best traits and what you can add to the company. Your glowing and radiant skin is a bonus.

Ask for a Raise with Confidence: Use Clear Improvement™ Active Charcoal Mask To Clear Pores

A meeting with the boss can be stressful, even to employees who are in good standing.  But if you’ve shown “Clear Improvement,” that’s the mask you should use. This active charcoal mask clears your pores, absorbs environmental toxins, and dissolves impurities. Which means, while you’re outlining the progress you’ve made as an employee and giving your boss reasons to give you a raise, your skin is working for you as well.

Before Flying In for a Meeting: Use Drink Up™ Intensive Overnight Mask

Hopping on a flight to pitch a new client can seriously dehydrate you. So what’s girl boss on-the-go to do? Before you take off, opt for the “Drink Up, Intensive Overnight Mask.” The avocado and apricot kernel oils instantly quench compromised moisture reserves and help build a reservoir for tomorrow— which you’ll need once you’re up in the air. 

And remember the best way to leave a killer impression in any meeting, is to be yourself. The best you is the one that’s comfortable in her skin— we’re just helping you give it some major glow. 

Meet the Boss Women Making Waves in the Caribbean

Searlina Bodden, editor of lifestyle Instagram edit Blacktie and Barefoot talks lifestyle consumerism in the Caribbean, why brands and bloggers need to take a look at the tropical career woman and introduces us to the muses behind the movement.

A few weeks ago, a fashion and philanthropy event organized by the Cayman chapter of 100 Women In Hedge Funds, an influential industry organization with a chapter in Grand Cayman received coverage, very positive coverage, on MSNBC. Having covered the event for B+B, as well as assisted with some of the logistics, I was delighted.

In the interview on the Squawk Box that addressed the health of the boutique business, CEO of Nicole Miller Bud Konheim referenced the designer’s recent trunk show and spring collection showing in Cayman. Mr. Konheim expressed his pleasant surprise that a boutique in the Cayman Islands could generate what was apparently huge volume over a two-day event, relative to the size of the market. Out of all the boutiques in the world where Nicole Miller’s designs have been thriving for 30 years, he chose to mention the Cayman Islands.

National pride was just a small part of what started buzzing in my brain. What was a small comment on national television had inadvertently given credence to an idea that had been taking shape for the past nine months on Blacktie + Barefoot. 

I started B+B on accident. One day, I made the decision to stop editing on my own feed and dedicate an Instagram account solely to interpreting global lifestyle trends for Caribbean working women.  I started posting. I attended Create + Cultivate Chicago. I made a commitment to experiment with the idea for one year, spending no money on advertising. I didn’t even link it to my own personal social feeds.

I knew that women in the Caribbean faced an interesting challenge with accessing global lifestyle trends. We depend on import from “mainland” big markets like the US and the UK for our goods from fashion to food. And while online shopping and now shoppable editorial feeds close the purchasing gap, that satisfies only one part of the online lifestyle experience. In fact, from a consumer standpoint, the shoppable element is great but the truth is Caribbean women love to travel. A lot. We get island fever and we travel for fun. For food. For nightlife. And we travel for clothes.

This woman, or Blacktie Lady as I fondly call her, is a high potential prospect not simply because she can afford items on the luxury lifestyle market, but also because if she is approached in the right way, she will hop a plane to come and have the experience you have sold to her via your feed or your blog. You can take her past the online purchase into the brick and mortar experience, which will inevitably create new behaviors that bring her back again and again.

However, in order for both the brands and the bloggers to see the buying power behind the Blacktie lady, it became clear to me that Blacktie had to be more than simply a trend edit. I now needed to tell a story.

So I took to my surroundings; the very group of women who inspired me to start broadcasting tailored content in the first place; females who reflect the diversity, purchasing power and influence of the Caribbean career woman. 

As for what is next for Blacktie and Barefoot, there are many exciting developments in the works including our web launch and extended shopping features tailored specifically for the offshore customer. What I am more excited about, however, is continuing to tell stories of women across the Caribbean and perhaps even being a small part of a movement that gives them an even richer, even more relevant online experience with the tools to design their best life.

 For now, meet three women who have inspired this journey thus far. 

Christina Bodden – 46, philanthropist, mother of 2, art enthusiast, avid reader and book collector, style enthusiast with a penchant for handbags, classic silhouettes and timeless beauty looks 

Occupation: Partner, global law firm

Side Hustle: Board member of the Cayman Islands National Gallery, Global Counsel Member of 100 Women in Hedge Funds

Day Dream: Art, literature and vintage fashion dealer

Travels to: New York, Miami, Dallas, London

Wears: Theory, Nicole Miller, Diane Von Furtstenburg, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy and Prada, Gap jeans, Lululemon & Nike activewear 

Eats: Power smoothies in the AM, farm to table salads with fresh fish and chicken, typically light breakfast for dinner

Lives for: Her sons, beauty and art

Isy Obi - 36, Fashion designer with a love of modern design, art and architecture, eternal shoe addict and recovering finance professional.

Occupation: Creative Director and Fashion Designer, Isy B.

Side Hustle: Shoe blogger at isybshoes.com, writer, contributor at Real Life Magazine, Board Member - Cayman Tennis Academy Fund and a huge supporter of Caymanian and Caribbean artists.

Day Dream: Yay! I live my dream everyday.

Travels to: Wherever my dreams take me - in 2016 I'm heading to Singapore, Indonesia, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Park City, New York, Miami, South Africa, Botswana, London, and Paris

Wears: Diane Von Furstenberg, Marchesa, Marc Jacobs, Isy B., Tamara Mellon

Eats: Slow Food (Member of Slow Food Cayman). Avid locavore and supporter of the local farm-to-table movement.

Lives for: Travel and adventure with my explorer husband, early morning yoga and meditation practice on the beach, letting go of false limitations and living my highest potential, my family and good friends.

Amanda Kong – 31, kite boarder, travel enthusiast, soul searcher, a woman of many styles and many eyes, an imbiber of my surroundings, a cat of 9 lives (maybe 7 left), eclectic to the core 

Occupation: Financial Regulatory Consultant

Side hustle: a friendly ear, a kind word, a humanitarian consideration, a perpetuator of health and fitness in balance

Day dream: to see the world - all of it – and to see its history played out before me

Travels to: From the deserts of Rajasthan to the shores of Mauritius, I've had a kaleidoscope of experiences yet so much more remains. I want to travel to have an experience - the culture and food, style, cinema is all rolled up into it. So I've been around the world and still have a long way to go.

Wears: Anything I like. I gravitate towards a sporty, casual look with good quality classics for work. On the weekends, I live in a bikini and cur offs, if I am not in the gym. 

Eats: Protein shakes, salads, and MEAT! But I always leave space to try something new. 

Lives for: The roller coaster that is life.

Searlina Bodden is the founder of @blacktieandbarefoot

Photos: Kenroy Lumdsen Photography @kenroylumsden; Hair and Makeup: Steven Jensen of The Salon Cayman @feelinvybz and Ruthanna Young-Hull of Renaissance Salon Cayman @renaissancesaloncayman; Nails: Ann-Marie Bryan of Polished Cayman @chunnyb2