Entrepreneur: Sugar Paper

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Entrepreneur List Here.

Making paper out of paper. 

Jamie Grobecker and Chelsea Shukov simultaneously found themselves in a similar position: unhappy with their jobs and looking for a creative outlet. But rather than start a blog, they bought a letterpress. 

A slightly heftier investment but as they learned how to print, initially for friends and family, a company was born. Thirteen years later they are still running Sugar Paper, a trusted resource specializing in bespoke letterpress stationary. 

“When I suggested opening a retail store to Jamie,” shares Chelsea, “she said I was crazy.” But in the age of digital invites and paperless communication, a brick-and-mortar location in the iconic Brentwood Country Mart, was exactly the right move. An IRL store for IRL paper. 

“I grew up in a home where manners were required and traditions were valued,” says Chelsea. “I also grew up with a mom who taught me that I could do anything I could dream up.” Combining those traits and lessons was natural. 

Sugar Paper began as a passion project. “We never intended the brand to be what it is now,” they both agree.  “Growing a company, building a team, learning distribution, manufacturing and managing a brand requires knowledge, qualities and skills we’ve had to learn along the way.”

The only constant along their journey has been change. “It’s better to embrace it,” they say. 

“When you are growing a business and running a household you are always letting someone down,” says Jamie. “The people that love you give you grace and cheer you on.”

"When you're growing a business & running a household you're always letting someone down."

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It’s a mindset derived from Jamie’s favorite advice from her dad: “People that love you know the truth… people that don’t, screw ‘em.” The two go fly fishing when she has downtime. 

The co-founders agree that if they had more time they’d focus on family first.“Becoming mothers significantly changed our relationship to Sugar Paper. Having kids while working full time has forced us to manage our time more effectively and wisely. It has challenged us to learn how to effectively give time to both work and family. Its a constant balancing act.”

One that has been bolstered over the years by a stellar team.“As founders, we understand that we need smart people to help us with specific pieces of the business.” But they still rely on “trusting our gut and remaining true to our core values.” That’s a “nonnegotiable.”

While they admit that “the amount of responsibility that you carry as a business owner can weigh you down,” they have “found that the positives outweigh the negative.

Thirteen years in and they still love what they do. 

“Making beautiful things,” and “keeping the art of the handwritten note alive,” continues to motivate their entrepreneurial journey.  “It’s incredible to see that something we’ve created has impacted so many people. Where there was nothing, we created something.”

"Where there was nothing, we created something.”

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Something that their loyal customers respond to. They remain loyal to their customer as well as other women. “This is a unique time for women,” they share. “There are so many female founders who are connected, whether by geography or social media. We are choosing to help one another rather than view each other as competition.”

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Beauty: Deepica Mutyala

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with Dove, you can view the full Beauty List Here. 

Beauty without borders. 

In her first tutorial upload to YouTube, Indian-American on-air beauty expert Deepica Mutyala takes a friendly and simple approach to contouring. It's not over-the-top. She uses her day-to-day products. The lighting... could be better. It's her barebones, barefaced entry to the world of YouTube. Never in a million years did she think millions of people would tune in. But they did. 

"I grew up in a South Asian community in Texas," shares Deepica, "where two things were always clear to me: my love of beauty and obsession with the Big Apple." Though her father wanted her to be a doctor, Deepica landed a college internship at L'Oreal launching her into the beauty world. She most recently worked as the Senior Manager of Brand & Product Development at Birchbox, where she was exposed to a rolodex of contacts and measurable experience. 

It was at the beauty box brand that Deepica started doing on-camera makeup tutorials, soon realizing there was no reason she shouldn't launch her own channel. Doubt got in her way for a moment, but in January 2015 she faced the camera and launched with the premise of "beauty decoded." After talking about it for years, she finally stopped listening to the voice in her head. The one that told her she didn't have time or that she didn't know where to begin. "When I stopped listening to that voice," she explains, "and just started, my whole life changed."

Her second video "How to Cover Dark Under Eye Circles" went viral, with over 9 million views to date. "What started as a hobby," she says, "quickly turned into much more." 

For Deepica beauty is a universal language, one that speaks to all women. "Since I was 16 years old, I told everyone in my life that I was going to create a global beauty product line catering to women of color. Every year that goes by, my eagerness to do that only escalates. Let’s just say, I won’t stop until I make that 16 year old girl’s dream into a reality."

More from Deepica below. 

What are some of the biggest challenges you've encountered along the way?

My biggest challenge is that I want to do so much - sometimes I find myself taking on too much because of that. I don’t want to say ‘no’ to anything, but I really need to be smart with how I allocate my time. I’m only one person and I need to remember that! It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

What keeps you going?

Emails I get from young women telling me that I’ve inspired them in one way or another.

Who are the people you consider mentors and influences and why?

I have so many mentors/influencers from Jessica Alba (Honest Co.) to Hayley Barna (First Round Capital) to Payal Kadakia (ClassPass). But truthfully, my parents will always be the greatest source of inspiration. They came to this country and established a great life for my sister and me through hard work, will and love.

What is the best piece of real talk advice you've received?

I never take time to celebrate my wins - I’m not sure if it’s because I never want to be complacent or if it’s because my goals are still so much bigger. Either way, I don’t. I remember talking to my friend who is also an entrepreneur and I said “what if this all goes away tomorrow?” He simply said “...but what if it doesn’t?”

That response was not only refreshing but also gave me perspective. He followed up by saying, “Worst case scenario, it does, but everything you’ve achieved so far is more than most people could ever imagine. You should be proud of that.” It was such honest advice and has helped calm my anxiety but also keeps me motivated.

What is your favorite life advice?

Surround yourself with those who want to see you win.

Is there a time in your life when you thought, 'I can't do this anymore?'

Is ‘everyday’ a fair answer? Being an entrepreneur is an emotional roller coaster! You find yourself having the highest of highs and lowest of lows all within a 24-hour period, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It makes up for everything. I will say there was one specific moment pretty recently I remember thinking “is this all worth it?” but when you focus on the purpose of why you’re doing what you do, I made a decision to block out all the other noise and to keep going.

I actually have a folder in my inbox of all the emails I get from young women telling me that I’ve inspired them in one way or another. Those emails really keep me going and remind me that I can’t stop. There’s too much I want to achieve and change in the world for that to even be an option.

"Surround yourself with those who want to see you win."

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How has your relationship to you career changed in the last five years?

Five years ago, I told people I was going to be empowering women and working for myself. Five years before that, I told people I was going to live in NYC and work in the beauty industry. My point being that I’ve spoken everything that’s happened in my career into existence. The more I say it out loud, the more I’ve made others believe my vision, and the more it’s turned into a reality. Five years from now, I know I will be able to say the same. The key to my success in this has always been self-intent - I truly believe that.

International Women’s Day is coming up. It's a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. If you could steer the conversation around International Women’s Day, what would that dialogue be about?

There are so many conversations, but I think the one that hits home to me because of my culture is the importance of women in the workplace. Don’t ever feel like you have to stand behind a man. The strongest men will want you to stand beside them and win as well. You do not to take the back seat for anyone. Your voice is powerful and must be heard in the workplace but also in your personal life. We do not need to make sacrifices with our career for others. There are ways to find compromises and help us all achieve our goals.

What's on your career bucket list?

Create a global beauty product line catering to women of color.

What does female empowerment mean to you?

When I see a woman succeed, I can’t help but have a massive grin on my face. I find genuine happiness in seeing another woman win because I feel like if she wins, I am too. We are in this together. It’s important to remember that. There is room for us all to make it and the more we stick together, the stronger we are. All I want to do with my career is empower other women to go for their dreams and give them the opportunity to do so. What’s the point of having a platform otherwise?

Wellness: Sky Brown

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Wellness List Here.

Pint-sized skateboarding prodigy. 

At eight years old, Sky Brown is the youngest pro skateboarder in the world. In 2016 she competed in the Vans U.S. Open as the youngest skater at the event. 

Born in Miyazaki City, Japan, Sky picked up a skateboard at just three and has been calling skate parks her home for more than five years now. 

Sky started going to skate parks with her dad, Stu, a skater himself, saying that she’s always preferred ramps and bowls to swings and slides. Once she hops on a board it’s easy to see the natural talent, but where it’s easy to deem her a prodigy, Sky’s talent doesn’t come without hard work and commitment. Stu recently told Buzzfeed, “She used to get burnt constantly by older boys and grown men. But instead of backing down she just got fired up and is on a mission. You’ve never seen an 8-year-old girl so determined to do what she loves.” 

Please tell us a little about your backstory and how you became a skateboarding champion!

I was born in Japan, and girls here are brought up to be very safe and clean and polite.. well I was never into that. I love to do exciting things and I love getting mind getting muddy, wet, dirty and just playing rough.

My father is a surfer and I used to make him take me with him to the beach to surf or the skatepark. I loved it. It made me feel like I was free and could do anything. I realized that I could do anything if I tried and I could beat the boys. At first they didn't like it but they realized they couldn't stop me. Because I live in Japan I had never entered any contests.  My dad doesn't like contest surfing for kids and said it's not what surfing and skating is about… it should be for fun. But I got to a level where I was doing tricks that other girls haven't done and this is when I was invited to do some contest in SoCal, I have beaten Pro skaters in contests since I was 7, this year I was invited to the Vans US open and ended up beating my fav pro skater ever.. I'm not sure if I will continue to do contests. But for now they are fun. I like pushing myself and think that I don't need contests to do that. I find they sometimes hold me back since I skate safe to make the heat.

“I realized that I could do anything if I tried and I could beat the boys.

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I do know one thing and that is I want to get out in the world, and let every little girl know if they try their best at something they can do anything, it doesn't matter if your a girl or a boy old or young just go for it.

How much time do you devote to practicing?

I never practice, I just skate and surf. And don't think about it like practice .. I would skate and surf all day if my parents let me but they usually make me do homework and school and stuff hahaha

Who are the people you consider your mentors or influences and why?

Peggy OKi because she was one of the first Females Skaters in the world she opened the doors for females in Skateboarding at a time when the men were savage around Skating and women's rights were really bad.

Heidi Lemmon, she works in downtown LA, she never self-promotes but works silently behind the scenes. She gets Ramps and Skateparks made in project and areas where kids have it really bad with drugs and gangs. I helped her doing demos in really scary areas and she's not scared at all and she hugs even the scariest looking guys and they all respect her. She's Underground LAs mom and she's saved so many kids through skateboarding, and she helped to get Venice Skatepark built which is my favorite. 

Nikki Minaj she's just so strong she says bad words and has the coolest fashion she breathes confidence and I just love it.

How does it feel to be so young and successful?

I don't feel I'm that successful because my dreams are soo big hahaha. I want to go to Afghanistan and Africa while I'm still small.

What is the most important step you took to get here?

The most important step so far is when I entered my first ever skate contest in SoCal called exposure. It's was in a big Concrete bowl and I had just turned 7. I begged my parents to let me enter even though I had never Skated in a Bowl before and this was a big concrete one. Anyways my parents said yes and I was the youngest girl in the contest. I ended up getting 3rd and being in the podium. This step made me realize that not just gender but also size and age doesn't matter, it's all about heart.

"Size and age doesn't matter, it's all about heart."

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Other than skateboarding, do you have any extracurricular activities?

So many I love dancing, singing, I love UFC , BMX, diving in the ocean and watching fish and snowboarding.

What's the best piece of advice you've received from someone you look up to?

Go confidently in following your dreams, be you. And live the life you imagined!!

Wellness: Christina Lonsdale

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Wellness List Here.

Pushing boundaries of human perception. 

Although she’s shot for Vanity Fair and Harper’s Bazaar, and been profiled on Goop and The Huffington Post, Aura photographer Christina Lonsdale does not brag about holding an MFA from some pretentious, overpriced art school. When asked about how, exactly, she landed the unique role she finds herself in today, she simply replies, “My parents met because a goat named Foxy Lady,” as if there’s nothing odd or unconventional about it. Naturally, we asked her to elaborate. The rest is too intriguing to paraphrase.

“My dad started a commune in New Mexico named Lorien, named after an elf village in Lord of the Rings,” says Lonsdale, the Portland-based visual artist who wanders the world with her roving, adaptable aura photography lab, popping up at art fairs, festivals, and the coolest-of-cool-girl events. “My Mom, who was hitchhiking with the goat, realized that catching rides with Foxy Lady was not efficient and went to my dad's commune to attempt to sell the goat. They ended up with two daughters and a goat herd.”

“My parents met because a goat named Foxy Lady.”

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The daughter of a two-time commune-founding Jungian psychologist (dad) and a meditating, energy painting mom, Lionsdale was all but predestined to a free-spirited life of art, wanderlust, and mysticism. While there’s been no shortage of challenges along the way — getting laid off, her dog dying, breaking up with a boyfriend, having no money, and moving into a friend's basement all in two months — Lonsdale has found that sometimes the only way to charge forward is just by showing up. “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro,” she says, reciting her favorite life advice from legendary Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.

For continued inspiration, the aura photographer to the “it girl” set, who goes by the alter ego Radiant Human, turns to travel, and a few of her idols. “I have to be creative so I keep my momentum up and I don't get homesick,” says Lonsdale, who has developed a tactic called “The secrets of home” to help her stay challenged, focused, and hungry on the road. “One of my secrets is to surround myself with who I call my ‘posse’ or my ‘backup,’ I have two brass frames that are joined by a hinge, so it opens like a book and can stand by itself on a nightstand or a desk. I print out photos of my heros doing human things and put them in these frames so I see it everyday. It helps me humanize my heros so that I can see that they eat, breathe, and heartache just like me.” Right now, she has Andy Warhol and Frida Kahlo leaning against a wall in the sunshine. “I love both of these icons because they have used portraiture to change our way of looking at ourselves,” Lonsdale explains.

While her unearthly photography is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of human perception and enlightening those who seek a new, less definable, kind of self-exploration, Lonsdale herself has had to do a fair share of soul-searching. “At first, I felt like I needed to know and do everything,” she says, echoing the entrepreneurial spirit we’ve come to associate with more traditional professional spaces. “Now, I love the freedom and the exploration of learning from other people. This has been amazing because I can play to my strengths and outsource what I don't know how to do. This is empowering on two levels, I am supporting someone else in their dreams, and I am conserving my own energy for something I would rather do.” We guess one thing remains unchanged across all career realms: the importance of knowing your limits and delegating.

STEM: Leura Fine, Laurel & Wolf

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full STEM List Here.

Democratizing design. 

Leura Fine, CEO and founder of Laurel & Wolf, the interior design company that offers its services online only, has come a long way and is bringing the design world along with her. 

A Jewish, southern girl who grew up in Alabama, Leura moved to Montreal to study at McGill University. But she graduated early, moved to LA where she worked for a world famous Burlesque dancer, all the while building a career as an interior designer. Then, she started a tech company. All before the age of 30. 

An innovator in the online design space, Laurel & Wolf has developed a platform and software to allow for easy communication between a client and a designer, from anywhere. The entire service takes place in the digital world, and has opened the industry of interior design to people who never thought they could afford such services. 

Luckily her experiences in the interior design world made a few things quite clear to the budding techie. 

First, “the days of physical style boards and long, unproductive in-person meetings,” needed to go. “The future of design could be digital.” 

Second, she noticed that most designers could not afford to support themselves because their were not enough people who could pay traditional industry rate. 

And third, and most important, people wanted interior design help, but couldn’t afford it. There was a design hole. 

“It was time to figure out a path to allow designers to earn a living doing what they love,” says Leura, “and for far more people to be able to afford access to those services. It was time to democratize design.” 

In January 2014 Leura began concentrating full-time on Laurel & Wolf. The first version of the site was up that month. "I was the algorithm" she says about the company's beta site, a very bare-bones version of what exists today. Instead of spending 100k on a website build out, she paid a local LA-based developer 5k to build out eight pages with no backend. "I started spreading the word through friends and friends of family, putting it out on social media, saying, 'Hey who is looking for interior design services that only cost 300 dollars?'"

She had about 1,500 people sign up over the course of six weeks. The first iteration of Laurel & Wolf took users through a "style quiz,"-- that had no outcome. What Leura was testing was the public's interest. The BIG question: Would people be willing to pay for an interior design service online? 

It's a simple, but brilliant idea-- take a service that only a small percentage of households can afford, and open it up to more people. More people=more work=more revenue. 

And then there were more questions, more late nights, and the step of raising money. 

“There are all sorts of moments you have as a founder and CEO where you might question the path you are on,” says Leura. “However, usually after a good venting session, a good cry, a few glasses of wine, I feel refreshed and ready to conquer the world.” Feeling failure she explains is an important part of the process, but you can’t dwell. “Take a deep breath and move on! You will realize that you are a lot stronger than you think.” 

You’d have to be to work her hours. “My career has evolved from having a job to being the job. My life life is Laurel & Wolf, which is how it should be when you start your own company.” 

But she says she can rely on herself more than ever before. “In my job, I’m constantly having to push myself harder to learn more, do more, be more, and as fast as possible. For the first time, I’ve realized I can actually meet those demands along the way.” That doesn’t mean she always gets it right, nor does she have the expectation she will, but knows if she’s willing to fight for it, there’s nothing she won’t accomplish. Which includes taking Laurel & Wolf public. 

Beyond democratizing design, Leura wants to level the playing field for dreams as well. “Little girls should dream of being scientists, designers, or CEOs and they should have women to look up to in every single field.When I was a little girl, I never dreamed I could be a CEO because I never saw one. We have the power to change that and therefore change the course of history.”

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Entrepreneur: Katie Rosen Kitchens, FabFitFun

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Entrepreneur List Here.

Thinking outside the subscription box. 

Katie Rosen went from writer to business marketing guru, but you might be surprised to hear that prior to co-founding FabFitFun the mogul-in-making knew “next to nothing,” about starting a business. “This was a huge transition for me,” Katie shares. “I had over 10 years of experience as a writer. The editorial space felt very comfortable for me. But comfort hardly ever leads to true success.” 

FabFitFun, a subscription box that delivers premium, full-size lifestyle products four times a year, is Katie’s most successful venture to date. Plus she says, “there’s been something truly exciting and satisfying about learning an entirely new skill set in my early thirties.” And the mom of two loves being an example for her daughters. 

This past year FabFitFun nearly tripled its 2015 revenue, experiencing crazy growth margins. “I think investing in our team has been one of the leading sources of growth,” shares Katie, who also serves as the company’s Editor in Chief. She explains that in the past few years they’ve brought on “game-changing talent,” those that are “far smarter and more talented,” than Katie. That game-changing talent is predominantly female. 71% of the staff is female, their leadership (positions of director or higher) is 75% female, their senior executives (VP or higher) is 43% female, and their internal engineering team is 67% women. Katie notes, “Unfortunately, this is no the norm, especially in tech and startups, but we put real effort in finding and supporting talented women in our field.” 

"Investing in our team has been one of the leading sources of growth."

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From their fantastic marketing and editorial teams to their team of data scientists who work to “uncover the products that really make people happy,” Katie has made investing in top talent a priority. “Research reveals a strong link between trying new things and happiness,” she adds, addressing the company’s desire to inspire happiness and personal growth through discovery. “We strive to nurture that link. I think that is what is ultimately driving new growth.” 

But those growth margins have not been without growing pains. There are plenty of other subscription services on the market. “One of the challenges we face is helping brands understand why we are different and honestly better,” she says. “Once they participate,” Katie says, “they get it.” Almost every brand that has participated has asked to come back and be a part of another box. There are also days when the mom spends more hours at the office than with her family. But again, the upside comes back to people and the culture FabFitFun has built. “I’m happy we have built a team of such talented, dedicated and nice people who continue to inspire me and light with me every day.” 

No matter how many hours she clocks, family remains at the top of her to-do list. With a teething nine-month-old who wakes her up multiple times a night, Katie looks to an example set by her parents, both children of blue collar families who were the first in their families to go college. Both still work. “My mom was the true definition of an amazing, successful working mom,” shares Katie. “She got her PhD while I was in school but still found the time to be a great mom and encourage me every step of the way.”

“I have to believe that women can have a career while still balancing a wonderful family life,” Katie hopes. Though it means that her barre card is covered in cobwebs, dinner consists of stir fry and quesadillas, she’s fine giving up certain things if it means she’s home to cook her kids dinner and put them to bed. “That means I’m back on the computer at nine,” she admits, “but it’s worth it.” 

In 2017 FabFitFun will focus efforts on more personalization and customization. Katie believes it is a core factor in satisfaction and growth. She’s also focusing on building on content to bring the program to life, which includes treated members to exclusive perks from partners throughout the year. She also believes that the subscription box model will continue to grow, even though a day subscription service pops up every day. “I believe less traditional forms of subscription services will continue to emerge. And the need for better and more personalized customer service will lead to innovations in the market.” 

It’s hard to believe there was a time in Katie’s life when she thought her only real possible career was as a writer or editor. “It was my big dream,” she shares. “And it was very scary to think about doing anything else.” But embracing the change is part of life. Besides, shares Katie, “you can’t please everyone and you will be boring if you try.”

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Content Creator: Cleo Wade

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Content Creator List Here.   

Power to the people's poetess. 

Cleo Wade has a presence about her that cuts through the digital divide, a kind of solar-powered positivity halo that recharges our batteries when we need it most. It’s rare to be a poet in 2017, but the 28-year-old made the decision to “lead my life with vulnerability,” 

Poet, artist, and speaker, Cleo was born in New Orleans and moved to New York City after high school where she began interning, taking jobs in fashion, and working for designers. 

She says her favorite thing about her childhood, “was attending poetry summer camp.” But though she was “always writing,” she needed “some time to grow up and get brave enough to make things with words.” 

They are words that interrupt a regularly scheduled Instagram stream of humblebrags,  Sometimes handwritten, sometimes typed, she’ll employs a feminist narrative: “every mother/is a boss/every woman/is the president…/of/the/universe.” Or she’ll challenge her readers with a more simple: “First things first— give a damn.”

Though she models and collaborates with big fashion brands like Barney’s, she says today she spends most her her time, “making things with words. Sometimes as poems. Sometimes as painting. Sometimes as public art installations.” She’s also currently writing her first book, sits on EMILY’s List’s creative council, supports Planned Parenthood, and canvassed neighborhoods in Charlotte, North Carolina during the last presidential election in support for Hillary Clinton. But Cleo is not a list of things or activities. “Sometimes all people need is to be seen and heard,” shares Cleo. “Sometimes I invite my friends over just to listen. Compassionate listening is the greatest and simplest form of peacekeeping.”

“Compassionate listening is the greatest and simplest form of peacekeeping.”

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In a world in which picking up a phone to speak with someone, let alone talking face to face with a stranger, Cleo is an anachronism. She is the woman with a booth at the Hester Street Fair in downtown Manhattan, set up specifically with the intention of conversing, offering “peaceful and loving conversation.” She is the “hello” that pulls you out of an echo chamber. 

“My life goal,” says Cleo, “is to just get up everyday and create tools that help others, listen more, and love big.”

More below.  

What keeps you going?

The people who have allowed my work to be apart of their day keep me going. it is a privilege and an honor.

Who are the people you consider mentors or influences? 

My brother, my best girlfriends and my parents. The people in my life who have shared with me their most intimate stories are my biggest inspirations and influences.

What is the best piece of "real talk" advice you've received?

My brother really taught me how to be radically honest with myself. The best advice he ever gave me was "seriously, it’s not that serious."

What is your favorite life advice?

There is a sign in someone’s yard in my hometown that says "Until Further Notice...celebrate everything" That is honestly the best advice anyone ever gave me and I stumbled on it on the way to the grocery store!

What is a time in your life when you thought, ‘I can’t do this anymore?’

I think we all have mini-moments of that feeling throughout our day. Our brain is constantly second guessing our decisions. I think you know you are doing something great if you have moments of feeling overwhelmed.

“You know you are doing something great if you have moments of feeling overwhelmed.”

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International Women’s Day is coming up. It's a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. If you could steer the conversation around International Women’s Day, what would that dialogue be about?

I think there are certain points in time when women feel like they are continuously fighting and they aren't sure if things are getting better because the fights feel like the same fight over and over again. There is a Coretta Scott King line that Kamala Harris sites often in her speeches that says "Struggle is a never ending process. Freedom is never really won, you earn it and win it every generation." If there is anything I would like to discuss, it is the importance of continuously recommitting yourself and rededicating yourself to the betterment of women everywhere in every aspect of life, and because all of the issues intersect we must care about and root for them all. There is no future in the economic advancement in women without a future in social advancement for all women of every race and background. I always tell my friends there is no future of feminism without a future of anti-racism.

“There is no future of feminism without a future of anti-racism.”

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How has your relationship to yourself changed in the last five years?

I get a little braver every day and as my audience grows, I feel a deeper responsibility and dig more deeply to create a conversation about the challenges of today.

What does female empowerment mean to you?

Knowing that you deserve to feel safe and take up space in this world and knowing that if you have the privilege to know that then you have a responsibility to help other women realize that too.

Music: Butterscotch

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Music List Here.

 A role model for gay women of color. 

Though she’s widely considered to be the best female beatboxer in the world, it took a while for the musician known as Butterscotch to find her voice. “I grew up surrounded by a musical family, but never knew if I had the voice I would need to be successful,” the 31 year old from Davis, CA says. “I played classical piano, saxophone, Uute and other instruments laying around the house and would constantly keep myself entertained because my mother wouldn't allow me to watch TV.”

Though she always knew she had a deep love for music, it wasn’t until a chance encounter in her teens that Butterscotch was able to meld her interests and talents. “In high school I met an amazing beatboxer and he taught me the basics. Beatboxing was the glue I needed to fuse all my talents together and came up with my own style; I combined beatboxing, hip-hop, jazz and R&B into my one woman show,” Butterscotch says of that magical moment when it all crystalized for her. Within a few years she was winning contests left and right, including nabbing the title of first female beatboxing champion in 2005. All that competing eventually landed her on the television show America’s Got Talent in 2007. She placed third, and has been traveling the world wowing audiences with her unique blend of vocal percussion, singing, and instrumentation ever since.

Though Butterscotch says taking the leap to audition for America’s Got Talent was one of the most important moments in her career, when asked what got her to the place she is now, she credits her own persistence. “I have been let down so many times. I have been told 'No' so many times. I have failed. I have been depressed,” she admits. “But I never want to disappoint the little girl who had a dream she would one day change the world.” It’s no surprise then that her biggest influence growing up was Michael Jordan, one of the most hardworking, persistent athletes of all time. “I was obsessed with basketball and he was the greatest and exemplified this to the infinite degree,” she says.

The award-winning musician has performed with Earth, Wind, & Fire, Nile Rodgers, Bobby McFerrin, KRS-One, and Wyclef Jean, shared a stage with Stevie Wonder, and toured extensively around the world, but despite the fact that it’s precisely her uniqueness that makes her such a dynamic artist and performer, Butterscotch has dealt with some push back to her individuality. “Being a gay woman of color, I have felt that a lot of people in the music industry have tried to guide me in the direction that they want to see me. ’Don't be so controversial, act more feminine, don't cut your hair, get a fake boyfriend,’" she says of challenges she’s faced in her career so far. But that negativity fuels her desire to keep doing her raw, honest thing, especially for others dealing with the same pressures. “I want to make sure everyone knows that they are unique and special and that is what makes them beautiful,” she says. “We have been conditioned in our education systems that we all have one path; school, college, more college, get married, have kids, job, steady career, retire, die. There is not just one way to live. We are humans. Not machines.”

"There is not just one way to live. We are humans. Not machines.”

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Butterscotch released her first set of EPs in the summer of 2016, entitled “The Scotch Tapes,” and in them she uses her retro-futuristic blend of jazz, classical, hip-hop, and R&B music to spread her message of self-acceptance and empowerment. Through her art she’s even been able to find some of that for herself. “I am beginning to fall in love with how to let myself be in the natural flow of things and trust in the universe,” she says. Part of that includes taking time from her travel schedule to indulge in some of her hobbies, which include working out, riding her bike, and taking photos on road trips. That’s not to say she isn’t hard at work creating, with plans to release both more EPs and her first full-length album in the near future. As for her other musical goals? “I would also like to score movies, play with orchestras, win a Grammy (or two or three), and collaborate with Kendrick Lamar & Erykah Badu.” But that’s not all. Butterscotch has bigger dreams as well. “I want to invent an app to help artists, start a tea infusion company, buy some land, paint with elephants, and eat yummy food,” she says of her five year goals. With her proven track record for blending talents, it’s doubtful that she won’t soon be doing all of the above, and potentially all at once.

Entrepreneur: Ariel Kaye, Parachute Home

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Entrepreneur List Here. 

Dared to dream big about sleep.

You spend a third of your life in bed and according the Ariel Kaye, CEO and founder of Parachute Home, “your sleep experience matters.” 

A few years ago the entrepreneur was shopping for bedding and found herself surrounded by stacks upon stacks of products wrapped in plastic. It “all looked the same,” she says. “I couldn’t believe that bedding brands didn’t ask me how I slept. I wanted high quality, comfortable sheets like the ones I had experienced traveling in Italy, but I didn’t want to spend a fortune or settle for the cheaper options made with synthetics or chemicals.” 

It was then she realized that “there was no middle-market for modern quality bedding.” After research confirmed her suspicions that a bedding brand that connected with customers and engaged them past the point of purchase didn’t exist, she set out to develop the first of its kind: a bedding company with brand loyalty. One “that enabled people to start and end their day feeling their very best.” 

“As someone who built brands in advertising,” she shares, “I recognized a true business opportunity.” 

From there, the most important step to getting the company off the ground was believing in herself. “About four or five months in,” she explains, “I realized being an entrepreneur was going to be infinitely harder than I expected and that I was pursuing a path of uncertainty. I had moments of doubt and questioned if I had made the right decision.”

During the beginning stages Ariel was the sole founder with no team to bounce ideas off of or simply chat with during the day. So she joined Launchpad, a California-based startup accelerator to grow the business. “The community of mentors,” she says, “and other entrepreneurs—all ready to help and encourage me—pushed me through my time of doubt and loneliness. They reaffirmed that I had to believe in myself and my idea in order for Parachute to be a success.” 

“I had to believe in myself and my idea for Parachute to be a success.” 

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Ariel is wearing Keds' Champion Originals.

She advises that when you’re “just starting out, it’s tempting to focus on the the pieces of the business that you’re more comfortable doing, but the big problems that have big implications on the business are often the least sexy...and unfortunately for me, often have to do with numbers.” With a background in branding and advertising, Ariel needed a crash course in inventory planning. “ Not being able to anticipate demand – and realizing that I couldn’t fulfill orders so early on – felt like a huge failure. It took about six months for me to have a solid understanding of how to project our inventory purchases. It’s an art and a science.” 

And now, she’s dreaming big, over the next five years continuing to expand the product offerings and plans to introduce collections for other rooms of the house.   “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. 

“The Parachute Hotel was the natural next step for us – it’s an immersive, home-like space for our community. We’re not just in the business of selling home essentials.  We are creating environments that add value to our community, that allow our customers to interact with us, and that hold space for making great memories with your loved ones.”

She’s committed to steering conversation around unity and community building, maintaining that even in light of recent inaugurations, “we are stronger together.” 

“I realized what had been missing in my career was wanting to feel like I had made an impact. I wanted to build something from the ground up,” she says. 

“Much of Parachute's success can be attributed to the female founders, entrepreneurs and creatives who have supported the brand, cheered us on, and shared our mission of bringing a great night's sleep to the world.” 

On her career bucket list: giving a TED talk and hoping that women gain true equality. “To me,” she shares, “female empowerment means true equality – no longer viewing gender as a differentiator or something to be discussed in economics or politics. We’ll have achieved ‘female empowerment’ when the phrase disappears from our conversation.”

We’ll have a good night’s sleep to that.

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Fashion: Tuesday Bassen

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Fashion List Here.

Fought the man, and won.

Tuesday Bassen has a name as recognizable as her work. Her Ugly Girl Gang Zine, collections of pins and patches, as well as a growing apparel line sized 2-22, has a loyal swath of fans. 

So loyal, that when international retailer Zara attempted to steal the artists’ work and sell it as their own, Tuesday began receiving emails from concerned followers who wanted to know if the behemoth had licensed her work. They hadn’t. 

In a David v. Goliath-like battle, the independent artist took on the retailer, who essentially told her she wasn’t famous enough to have her work pilfered. But Tuesday fought back, taking the company’s response to Instagram, where loyalists spread the word like wildfire.  

“A true silver lining of a terrible situation has been the incredible support from everyone,” shares Tuesday. “It's a worst nightmare scenario for any artist to have their catalogue of work stolen. It drains your time, money, and resources, but being cheered on by other creatives has made it worth the fight.”

It’s why she says, “the support of her peers,” coupled with “sheer tenacity,” is what has kept her going during cloudy moments. The Zara debacle wasn’t the designers first run in with rain. “I think everyone that is building their career from nothing experiences similar struggles: poverty, self doubt, et cetera.” 

She says it’s hard for her to know what the first, most “important” step in her career was, but says, “I spent years under the poverty line building my career slowly. Moving to Los Angeles was the most important decision I've made for my personal life. I moved without knowing anyone, but I knew in my gut that it was the place I've always been meant to live. Because I took the step to improve my happiness, my career started thriving as well.”

“I took the step to improve my happiness and my career started thriving.”

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Tuesday is wearing Keds' Triple Dalmata Dot Leather sneaker.

Today, she is the CEO and sole designer at her company, Tuesday Bassen INC, where she handles her illustration clients, as well as manages her online store ShopTuesday.com. “I dedicated my life to working on my illustration career and started my online store by selling hand made ceramics,” says Tuesday. 

Her Friend X popup shop that featured her work as well as those of her creative peers, performed exceptionally well over the holidays. And by the looks of things, it’s what people want. Her Ugly Girl Gang Zine “devoted to badass women who don’t care what you think or how they look, all the while kicking ass at what they do,” has sold out of Issue #1, #2, and #3. Thank goodness Tuesday Bassen never has. 

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Entrepreneur: Amy Shecter

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Entrepreneur List Here.

In demand CEO for on demand beauty. 

When the time came for veteran fashion executive Amy Shecter to hunt for a new role that would bring her closer to family, she never could have predicted that her very first call would be for her dream gig. But that’s exactly how it happened for the Glamsquad CEO, who previously held top posts at Diesel, DKNY, Cole Haan, Tory Burch, and Elie Tahari, and most recently spent the last two years commuting between New York and Denver as CEO of Core Power Yoga.

“I was a ‘power user’ of GLAMSQUAD, and, to be honest, rather obsessed with the company,” explains the glam fan-turned-head-honcho. “I spent a lot of time talking to the beauty professionals who came to my home about their jobs and the company. I thought it would be an incredible opportunity to be a part of a place that is so disruptive and relevant to the 21st century.” Now, here’s where it gets interesting. “Once I decided to look for a new role in NYC, I got a call from a recruiter who was looking to fill the CEO position for GLAMSQUAD. I actually dropped the phone when she told me. I knew I had to have this position."

Not being afraid to fail has given me the confidence to succeed.

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That Shecter manifested this career pivot is a testament to her spirituality, focus, and dedication. The longtime retail vet credits yoga, running and veganism for her good health, positive attitude, and boundless energy, as well as her father for instilling in her a strong sense of self-confidence and a fearless attitude toward change. “I have taken many risks in my career, all of which have helped me get to where I am today,” says the family-first CEO, who attributes spirituality with allowing her to live in the moment and see beyond the many ‘what-ifs?’ life and business inevitably bring. “As a marketer, I always thought of myself as a brand. Having that approach gives you the freedom to try new things that align and build your brand, as well as your career. Not being afraid to fail has helped me try new things and have the confidence to succeed." 

As Shecter settles into this still-relatively-fresh role as GLAMSQUAD CEO, she’s eager to propel the emerging beauty behemoth forward; to help it seize its status as the destination for on-demand beauty services. “I am totally passionate about what I do. I love building brands and I love to succeed! I am motivated by the potential that I see with GLAMSQUAD and excited about building a company, a team and a brand that resonates with so many women of different ages.”

While Shecter certainly has much to boast about professionally — not least, pulling off a transition from fashion to fitness and then swiveling to tech-based beauty — it’s a desire to be close to family that precipitated her latest power move in the first place, something all of us entrepreneurs would do well to remember. “I don’t think you should leave the house without kissing your family goodbye. I do so for a trip to the grocery store or business trip out of the country,” advises the CEO of today’s hottest beauty start-up. Her modest piece of life advice? “Appreciate what you have, live in the moment, and make sure you make time for family.”

Content Creator: Amanda de Cadenet

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Content Creator List Here.   

The feminist fire starter. 

Amanda de Cadenet pulls very few punches. “If I have zero interest in the question,” she tells us, “I won’t answer it.” It’s a refreshing frankness from the founder and CEO of The Conversation and now, #GirlGaze, a multimedia photo project designed to support girls behind the camera. The project's first exhibition, #girlgaze: a frame of mind, opened at the Annenberg Space of Photography in October 2016 and runs until February 2017. It features work from up-and-coming female and gender non-conforming photographers.  

As the tale of implicit career bias goes, only one-third of professional news photographers are women. Which begs the question: whose eye is capturing what's important? The goal for de Cadenet is to get more perspectives seen, and begin championing that potential early. “It’s so important for girls to understand that they have the power,” the photographer slash founder says. 

“It’s so important for girls to understand that they have the power.”

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It’s a message she has conveyed to all her children. Her eldest daughter, Atlanta, took the streets in protest after Trump was elected president, joining over 100,000 people in the streets of DTLA. Her twins, Ella and Silvan, phone banked for Hillary. “It was so wonderful to watch them on the phone,” she recalls, reciting their script with that proud mommy smile. "‘Hi, my name is Ella and I’m a ten-year-old volunteer for the Hillary Clinton campaign.’"

“A life of service is everything; it's crucial,” the activist says. "I'm hardcore about my kids being active in service.” She’s also adamant about raising feminist children and for de Cadenet there's no such thing as too early. "It’s so cool for them to know that they can affect change, that their actions matter, and that starts on the playground.” It is the exact sentiment supported by her work with #girlgaze. She's taking it out of her home and into the streets. 

Modeling this behavior for her children is clearly important to the mom of three. We bring up the saying, 'If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.’ 

“A lot of people say that,” says the CEO, “but you’re either someone who follows or someone who innovates. Who did Hillary see when she decided to run for President? I don’t buy it. You can dream of something and see what’s missing. I made #girlgaze because it didn’t exist.”

The feminist thinks that the concept of female empowerment is often used out of context. “Empowerment,” she shares, “is anything that facilitates a person feeling better about themselves, or good about themselves. Building self-esteem is empowering. For me that means hiring more women across the board in various sectors, because careers build self-esteem.” 

"Empowerment is anything that facilities a person feeling better about themselves."

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Careers like those in photography. 

Where The Conversation addressed the fears and realities of women-- bringing the conversations taking place in Amanda’s kitchen about postpartum depression, sex, and gender stereotypes to light, #girlgaze has intentionally focused on the younger generation. "My audience was getting younger and younger-- that doesn’t happen," she says. The multitasking mama had to ask herself, why it was happening. What content was missing? She saw the gap, realizing that young girls’ exposure to the media, subtle racism and sexism and misogyny, was deeply affecting their self-esteem. “Something does well when it’s needed,” de Cadenet explains. And there was a need.

“They were getting impacted,” she says. “They wanted guidance younger, so I consciously made a choice to create something for them. Creativity is the vehicle for change for a lot of young girls that I know.” A generation she thinks highly of, citing young feminists like Rowan Blanchard. ‘It is our job and my commitment, now more than ever," she says, "to not abandon these issues and to support the next generation of girls tenfold.”

When we talked in November 2016 #girlgaze had received over 750,000 submissions. Photographs from young women all over the world who bring their unique perspective to the digital table, including protest photos documenting the global response to Trump’s election. Issues that strike close to her heart. “Women and people of color have been saying for a long time that we’re living with systematic, clear, undebatable racism and sexism in this country. You have to take stock on a situation before you can change it and then you can create realistic tools.” 

For the lifelong activist and journalist who has interviewed everyone from Bernie Sanders to Hillary Clinton #girlgaze is one tool. A strong, female voice making media that matters is another. Community, yet one more integral piece of the revolution. “We must not become desensitized to our passion and commitment to female only safe spaces,” de Cadenet champions. 

Now is the time to gaze hard at the present, to be heard, to rise up.

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Beauty: Nikisha Brunson

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with Dove, you can view the full Beauty List Here. 

Fresh-faced, refreshingly honest, and free. 

For Nikisha Brunson — Austin-based blogger and owner of 100% natural skincare line Folie Apothecary — it was a bumpy road to becoming one of the realest health and wellness influencers in the game. But it’s one she wouldn’t trade in for anything. As co-founder of Urban Bush Babes and Pineapple Life, the definitive online destinations for natural hair, fashion, health, lifestyle, music, arts, and culture, Brunson inspires legions of women with daily beauty and wellness tips. While she’s undeniably, and enviably, stylish in that effortless sort of way that feels especially unfair, what really sets this lifestyle guru apart from the throngs of beauty bloggers is how boldly and transparently she’s shared her struggles with depression, abuse, ADHD, suicide attempts, and becoming a mom at the troubled age of 16.

Holding a BA in Psychology and an MA in Childhood Education — the blogger, mama, and skincare goddess has also taught public school in New York and Virginia — Brunson brings a refreshingly real and unaffected perspective to the notoriously curated blogosphere. “My teenage son has ADHD, and I was diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety disorder, and depression in my later years, which has inspired me to share my journey in hopes of helping others going through the same things,” says Brunson, who’s been blogging since 2011, but has recently shifted her focus to her health and wellness journey. She has also been vocal about her personal experience as a rape survivor — proving herself nothing short of a superhero, support system, and beacon of hope for the countless women battling, overcoming, and triumphing in similarly oppressive situations. “My depression and anxiety take every heartbreak and dagger I've felt and elevate it to the next level. I've attempted suicide in the past over heartbreak, over being a single teenage mom in college,” she bravely shares. It’s a rare transparency in a world more concerned with what type of foundation a woman is wearing.

"Life is too magical to put barriers on it."

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For Brunson, there have been scores of barriers to self-acceptance, but her true power is evidenced in the ability to transform these low-points into lessons. She describes the challenge and ultimate victory of letting go of toxic relationships to free up the energy for fulfilling her greater purpose. She also chronicles her ongoing struggle with ADHD and the daily effort to focus and juggle without succumbing to procrastination, burnout, and anxiety. For strength, she turns to her son, husband, and those who’ve previously warred with these demons. “There is nothing more inspiring than to have a person tell me that my vulnerability, transparency, or health information that I've shared has helped them change their life and has inspired them.” For this reason, she cites “anyone who is transparent or vulnerable” as her greatest mentor.

Brunson’s journey to self-care and wellness has undoubtedly been an emotional rollercoaster, which it’s why it’s only fitting that she name her new skincare line “Folie,” after the French word for “madness.” Personally, we wish it was considered far less crazy for a beauty influencer to be as unapologetic and honest as she is. “I'm transparent with my mental health issues and disorders. I teach various ways of staying healthy from the inside out such as exercise, smoothie recipes, and DIYs. I listen a lot and offer help to anyone who reaches out to me for it.” These are just a few of the ways she hopes to move feminism forward.

Currently, Brunson is focused on what’s directly in front of her. As far as five year goals, she says that “life is too magical to put barriers on it,” but that she isn’t afraid to reinvent herself and go wherever life leads. In the meantime, you can find her listening to music in the morning, making smoothies and ceramics, and dancing. “My only goal is to stay true to myself and never stop exploring.”

Fashion: Katherine Power & Hillary Kerr, Clique Media Group

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Fashion List Here. 

The media moguls. 

Leaving a cushy and respectable editorial job at a top fashion magazine to become an entrepreneur might sound completely terrifying and insane to most people, but Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power are certainly not most people. The fashion world power duo met while working for Elle Magazine, on the set of the show "Project Runway." They struck up a friendship and bonded immediately; within a year they had started Who What Wear as an answer to the lack of great editorial content online at the time. This was 2006, when MySpace was king, and most leading fashion magazines had only splash pages as websites, with no content at all. Kerr and Power saw an opportunity and took a leap: they left their jobs at Elle and launched a newsletter which is now, arguably, The Clique Media Group media empire.

As seasoned veterans of fashion editorial, Kerr and Power brought the professionalism and expertise of print media to their web content. But a big part of the reason for Who What Wear’s wild success was the duo’s early embracing of social media; though it was a fledgling medium at the time, Kerr and Power used MySpace to launch a series of videos promoting their new site. Thanks to that, the pair’s own strong networks, and the site’s uniquely friendly and approachable take on fashion, Who What Wear’s readership swelled. Kerr and Power have harnessed the power of social all along the way, and today Who What Wear boasts over 2.3 million Instagram followers. In fact, it was their enthusiasm and savvy for all things digital that led them to eventually step up their entrepreneurial game by launching Clique Media Group, not only as a parent company for Who What Wear but as a tech, commerce, and content company that would allow them to pursue all their digital dreams. In 2017, CMG is a formidable global media, marketing, and consumer brands company that is venture-backed (Amazon is an investor) and regularly touted by Forbes Magazine.  Aside from Who What Wear, their current portfolio includes the home and lifestyle site myDomaine and beauty platform Byrdie, the cutting-edge social only Gen Z network Obsessee, and their most recent acquisition, the website CollegeFashionista. They’ve also entered the consumer space, partnering with Target to offer an ongoing monthly collection of clothing and accessories inspired by street style trends that launched in January of 2016. The collaboration has been so popular that Kerr and Power hope to expand their reach in terms of consumer goods. “We’ve found incredible success with our Who What Wear clothing and accessories line at Target,” says Power. “In fact, we just expanded with Who What Wear shoes that follow the same thesis of fast fashion informed by data from our savvy millennial reader. So I’d love to see us expand in that area of consumer brands as I know we can give consumers what they’re looking for.”

What else is the power pair currently excited about? “I'm obsessed with the Obsessee girl and world; the combination of Gen-Z and social-only content makes every part of my brain excited,” says Kerr. For Power, it’s virtual reality. “We’re always trying new things and work to stay on the cutting edge of all technological advancements, so it’s certainly on our radar,” she tells us. “In fact, we’ve already been using VR as event activations. For our Obsessee pop-up at The Grove this summer, we partnered with Samsung, who had ambassadors bring headsets for guests to view fashion, music, and art virtual reality videos. People loved it!”

“I’d like to build this company to the giant I know it can be."

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It may not seem like Kerr or Power has literally one free second for anything outside of running their empire, but these superwomen squeeze in extra-curriculars to keep themselves sane. For Kerr, a self-described “word nerd,” it’s reading, and for Power, it’s exercise. “I love my daily 6 a.m. workout class at Tracy Anderson’s studio in L.A,” she says. “It keeps my brain functioning clearly.” For her part, Kerr has made peace with being a workaholic. “I take better care of myself, emotionally and physically,” she says of the time since the two first started out over a decade ago. “I've finally realized that I cannot separate my brain from work, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I firmly believe that you never know where a good idea will come from, and that means staying alert, open, and engaged with the world around you.” But don’t make the mistake of assuming Kerr and Power are content with staying where they are professionally. The same ambition and confidence that spurred them to take a risk and start Who What Wear back in 2006 is still here, and bigger than ever. “I’d like to build this company to the giant I know it can be,” Power says of their future goals. “You only get this close to something so big maybe once or twice in a lifetime, so I’m going to swing for the fences.”

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Music: Anna Bulbrook

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Music List Here.

Taking us all to #GIRLSCHOOL

After spending the last ten years onstage performing with bands like Edward Sharpe and The Airborne Toxic Event (work which nabbed the violinist/musician a Grammy, hello) GIRLSCHOOL founder Anna Bulbrook noticed a lack of women on-stage with “increasing urgency.” 

GIRLSCHOOL, an LA-based music and arts festival that celebrates and connects female-identified artists, leaders, and voices in an inclusive, action-oriented, and forward-thinking way launched one year ago, with its first annual weekend-long festival. It was dubbed FIELD DAY WEEKEND, hosted at the Bootleg Theater in LA.

As someone who has been playing music nearly her entire life, the multi-instrumentalist knew she had to find the answers to questions she couldn't stop asking herself: "How can we generate the positive force to change this dynamic? How can we celebrate and lift talented women past the local level? How can we flip the script and make it cool to be a talented woman in rock?" 

The festival was the first part of the puzzle and this month marks GIRLSCHOOL’s second festival. “For me,” explains Anna, “it has become an amazing reason to intentionally connect with other women doing cool things in the space of music and intersectional feminism.” She can’t imagine her life without the community she's building and continues to learn from other powerful women along her journey.

Her favorite life advice comes from Fabi Reyna, who started She Shreds, the women’s first guitar magazine who told her, “Get a little better every time.”

"It's scary to do something new, especially in public, and you can't skip steps," shares Anna. "But the beautiful thing is that action begets action begets more action."    

Older for Anna doesn’t necessarily mean wiser: “I have a major professional crush on Tavi Gevinson, for being unabashedly precocious, and for celebrating her diverse talents.” But she will admit there has been plenty of self growth since running away with a band at 23. “I'm so glad I drank the rock'n'roll Kool-Aid” she laughs, “and I'm glad it worked out. I've had so many wild experiences from being in a band!” But she’s also “grateful to be growing into this next phase of life, and to be getting to build something for my community.”

That means she’s more intentional in her choices. “I used to make life decisions in an instinctive or reactive way.” With GIRLSCHOOL she says she has a “clearer picture of where I want to go, and the kinds of people I want to share that process with, and am working to create those opportunities instead of 'catching' them.” Along this journey she says she's getting more patient, exercises daily with few exceptions, is taking on modern dance, and "has one excellent cup of coffee per day," that she likes to make herself.   

"When it comes to creating change, there is magic in critical mass."

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“There is power in knowing and loving each other in person,” explains the musician. "And when it comes to creating change, there is magic in critical mass. So, I love our frighteningly talented artists. I love the brilliant and dynamic team of women who are assembling behind-the-scenes to make GIRLSCHOOL better and better, and who bring my level up as a person in the world every day. I love the magic that happens when everyone gets together. I love feeling part of something bigger than myself. And I love learning how to be better as person, friend, artist, leader.”

As for what's next? "I want to raise a million dollars for charity. And I want to meet Michelle Obama." 

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Food: Helen Johannesen

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Food List Here.

Toasting to hard work (with crisp notes of cherry on top).

In the back corner of popular Jon and Vinny’s in Los Angeles is a neon sign that reads, helen’s; everyone here is on a first-name basis. Which is exactly how Helen Johannesen, partner in the restaurant and founder of helen's wine shop, likes it. When she invites you in the back for a glass you wonder if you need to sit down for dinner at all. (You will, but she’s just that charismatic and knowledgeable about wine.)

Helen has been steadily working in the restaurant business since graduating from college. Eight years ago she began working with Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo at animal in Los Angeles where she had the opportunity to build the wine program. A role she says really “sparked a curiosity about food and wine pairing.” She became their Director of Operations and Beverage Director for several years until the three partnered up on Jon & Vinny’s and helen’s. 

She spend most of her time at the shop helen’s on Fairfax (down the street from Melody Ehsani), but also runs the beverage programs for all six other restaurants. It’s a massive undertaking and she recalls a moment last year when she “felt more underwater than I had ever felt before.”

“I was never going to walk away,” she says, “but sometimes if you can’t pursue your real passion and are bogged down by too much bullshit, it feels defeating.” 

She admits that the industry can be incredibly challenging and “can really take you down if you let it,” but ultimately believes: “I love what I do, and every day is a new day, so any frustrations can be laid to rest and I can move forward. Passion is the best motivator.”

"Passion is the best motivator.”

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She jubilates that there are “SO MANY THINGS,” on her career bucket list, but says, “I would hesitate to say them out loud.” She will however cop to wanting to open a second location for Jon & Vinny’s and helen’s this year. For now the busy wine boss feels satisfied and grateful having “prioritized my wants, needs, and dreams more than any other time in my life.” 

When she needs a port in a storm (#winejoke) Helen looks to her business partners, whom she credits as being “influential and wonderful friends along this journey.” She also says she’s “always admired Carolyn Styne, who nine years ago was one of the only other female wine buyers for multiple units in this city.” While they are her day-to-day mentors, she’s likewise shouting out to “too many women across the industries to list, who speak their mind, work hard, believe they can have it all and don't second guess or apologize.”

Helen claims the most striking career difference between now and five years ago is that she come first. “I'm really betting on myself and my own business right now,” she says. Sharing that it's a move that “takes an extra amount of self-encouragement.” 

Which is something she works to pass on to other women in the company. “Many of our top positions in the company are held by women and they were placed there because they are the best candidates for the job. We don't discriminate over here. I try and be a leader to those women.”

“Women,” says Helen, “have the power to be as badass as you wanna be.” 

We’ll drink to that. 

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Philanthropy: Kelly Sawyer & Norah Weinstein, Baby2Baby

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Philanthropy List Here. 

Bridging the diaper divide.

"As a mom of two girls, I want nothing more than for them to grow up as strong decision makers who go after what they want and make it happen. They're growing up and seeing that women can run for president, lead any company, and win gold medals. They believe women can do it as well, if not better, than men and it’s a belief I hope they keep strong as they head into the world." -- Kelly Sawyer Patricof

Baby2Baby, the non-profit founded by co-presidents Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein is all about the diaper domino effect: providing children ages 0-12 with diapers, clothing, and the basic necessities that every child deserves to start life off right.  

After meeting over dinner in Los Angeles, Kelly and Norah knew that they both wanted to “move into the [philanthropic] world exclusively, instead of having it on the periphery,” but weren't sure where to start. As moms themselves, they knew they wanted to help children and began to meet with various non-profits, asking where they could be most effective and most useful. Many of the narratives they heard highlighted the same problem: basics were in short supply. The diapers, the gear and clothing that allowed those in need to learn and benefit from their services. The idea for Baby2Baby was born. They knew plenty of women who had softly used or new goods that could be donated. 

They started with 12k and an 800 square-foot space. A kickoff party at that space hosted 30 friends. Among those in attendance were Nicole Richie and Jessica Alba. Huggies took notice. “We got a call,” Norah says, “that Huggies wanted to send 100,000 diapers and $75,000. They asked if we accepted pallets.” The co-founders joke they had no idea what that meant at the time and they ended up unloading those 100,000 diapers themselves with the aid of one intern. “We gave them away in two days,” Kelly adds, which was eye-opening. The need was that great. 

Their motto after that was simply to say yes. Items are now currently distributed to over 100 non-profit partner organizations.

What many people don’t realize is that diapers are not considered a necessity by the government and thereby not covered by food stamps. A third of mothers in the United States are forced to choose between diapers and food. In that exists a “cycle of poverty,” explains Norah. “You can’t send your child to daycare without diapers and you can’t go to work if you don’t have daycare.” Many childcare centers require 6-8 diapers per day, per child to attend. It creates a barrier many low-income families cannot topple on their own. 

“We had big aspirations and dreams that many might have thought were unrealistic,” shares Kelly about their launch five years ago. But since its founding Baby2Baby has “reached those goals and we’ve served more low-income families that I had imagined we could.” They are nowhere close to being done or fulfilling the needs of struggling families. “I now realize,” says Kelly, “that it’s time to make bigger goals and push forward with confidence that we can meet them.”  

"It’s time to make bigger goals and push forward with confidence."

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In 2016 Baby2Baby served over 125,000 low income families in Los Angeles area and they are currently distributing more diapers than any other organization in the country. But the women divulge that there are over 300,000 children living in poverty in Los Angeles. “Our reach is big,” they say, “but it’s not reaching everyone.”

Yet the growth patterns bring optimism. In 2015 they expanded with their Baby2Baby National Network, extending the reach out of Los Angeles to an additional 20 cities in the United States. They also continue to gain the support of high-profile names. Mothers like Jennifer Garner, Kate Hudson, and Drew Barrymore. “We’re proud that it’s a group of moms and that the whole board is women,” they say. 

And while the names help visibility Norah, a former lawyer who interned for President Clinton during his presidency, says her legal background helps as well. From dealing with corporate giving from big names like Disney and The Honest Company, to developing holiday product lines with Paul Mitchell, to putting donated products through their rigorous Baby2Baby golden standard, the day-to-day operations are every bit a business. “I loved my firm,” shares Norah, “but I knew I wasn't meant to defend securities litigation.” Instead she’s using her life and her acumen to defend the basic rights of mothers and children. 

“To do that,” explains Kelly, “we need to ensure that the low-income children in our country, and around the world, have access to basic essentials—food, a solid education, diapers, schools supplies, clothing to keep them warm, and more. They need and deserve this foundation so that they can grow and succeed.” That’s why they are also focused on education and fighting laws in California that classify diapers as a luxury. 

“Awareness is paramount and now more than ever our work is cut out for us,” says Kelly. “I strongly believe that to help women succeed we need to focus on helping girls succeed.”  

With a staff of 20, a committed brother and sisterhood of volunteers, and clear goals in mind, they are on their way. "When I see people post about Sunday night blues and hump day, I cannot relate anymore," says Norah. "I love the work week and love what I do." 

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Fashion: Jamie Mizrahi

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Fashion List Here.

Stylist for Generation Instagram.

Jamie Mizrahi is proof that a career in styling is a process much like getting dressed. You start bare, slowly adding pieces, until finally, you've constructed an outfit. Or in her case, a lauded career. Though today she dresses women like the Foster Sisters and badass Sasha Lane, Jamie got her “first client,” after over ten years in the business, grinding it out in both New York and Los Angeles. “It takes hard work and determination,” Jamie says. “In my experience, it takes never saying no and constantly doing the best you can while learning from others and your own mistakes.” 

Of which, she says, there were so many little ones in the beginning. They make her laugh now, as errors are an inevitability in a business that's core nature is on-the-go and very demanding. You're constantly dealing with tiny details and large personalities. The stylist acknowledges however, to be allowed the space to err is vital. “You can’t do better if you can’t make mistakes,” she says. 

“You can’t do better if you can’t make mistakes.” 

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Unafraid to ask for help, Jamie explains she is “constantly asking [mentors] for advice, seeing where they are in their lives.” She’s realized, “it's not always easy to get to the right decision on your own.”

In her spare time she's a sucker for pottery, hot yoga, cooking, and hiking, swearing by both her skincare routine and “laughing a lot.” 

Part of her career process has included hiring an agent, an important step. “An agent helps you keep all the pieces together and works on building your career with you, helping bring in new opportunities, while you're out hustling."  

As time goes on Jamie's relationship to herself and career only gets “better and better,” in part because she truly loves her chosen path. And whether she's working with friends or new clients her approach to the job doesn’t change. “When I'm working, I make sure to maintain a level of professionalism always. If you're hiring me to do a job, I'm going to do it to the best of my ability - and treat everyone with the same amount of professionalism. Of course there are situations where there's play mixed with work, but I let my client steer that ship.” She's also sure to let those clients be the architects of their own style. The goal is not to have people recognize her work. There's no signature "Jamie," outfit.   

Her day-to-day includes being a supportive woman in both her work and personal life. “I mostly work with women every single day... women doing lots of different things. I cheer them on, I give my ear, I offer advice when someone asks and I push my friends, clients, and colleagues to be the best they can." She aims to surround herself with people who do the same for her. For young but seasoned stylist female empowerment is about, “women standing up for what we believe, working towards what we want and championing each other to do whatever we set our minds to.”

Considering she’s not yet 30, her centered approach to styling will likely facilitate a long and empowered career.  “Keep working. Keep creating. Be happy. Be healthy," she says. "If you can do those things the rest falls into place.”

It might not be so crazy that “world domination,” is on her bucket list. And if that doesn’t happen at least you know she’ll be dressed for it. 

Beauty: Tati Westbook

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with Dove, you can view the full Beauty List Here. 

Livin' that glam guru life. 

From hobby to full time job, Tati Westbrook, AKA the GlamLifeGuru, joined YouTube in November 2010 to teach women about makeup. But, while the channel started as a side hustle, Tati's intention was always to use the platform to build a career. 

Since her first videos, the makeup obsessed YouTube star has built a following of over 2.5 million subscribers, amassing over 400 million views. With those kind of numbers it’s not shocking that brand dollars came calling. However, after some initial bad experiences with sponsors, Tati has since chosen to turn down a lot of opportunities. It’s not only about the money. It's about her community, and she says she would rather promote products that she can truly get behind. This approach allows her to upload unbiased products reviews, sharing that her business strategy has always been to “work hard and keep my promises.” In fact, the digital beauty darling says she’s turned down a lot of money that could have made a big difference for her and her family. That's not to say she's not making beauty bank, but most of it is made from pre-roll ads. Proving that you can stay totally authentic and make money. 

In the beginning, her videos were met with some hate— those who claimed the 34-year-old was “too old,” to be making beauty videos. But she persevered and plans to keep uploading beauty videos for years to come. It takes beauty and brains to ignore the haters. The guru also recently branched out of the YouTube. She shares: "For the last year I've been a weekly beauty corespondent for Amazon's hit show Style Code Live and recently my own show was green-lit to go into production this spring."

We can't wait to see more from the beauty expert who says, "Women have the power to change the world." 

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

STEM: Melissa Grillo Aruz, Forerunner Ventures

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full STEM List Here.

Investing in women. Investing in future.

Meet Melissa Grillo Aruz: VP of Platform at Forerunner Ventures, the early stage venture capital firm investing in some of the buzziest, cultiest, most disruptive brands of the moment, including Dollar Shave Club, Birchbox, and Glossier.

Now 39, the Brooklyn-based mother of two launched her career at ad agency Razorfish, where she handled retail accounts for Victoria’s Secret, Ralph Lauren, and Abercrombie & Fitch. “This was in the early 2000s and these were the brands that were on the forefront of media, launching brand pages on Facebook and yes, MySpace, which now seems obvious, but back then was very innovative,” says Grillo, once behind such digital milestones as creating the first live streaming concert with Fergie for Victoria’s Secret Pink, as well as the first sponsored blog post with Refinery29. A different time, indeed.

From there, Grillo moved onto marketing for Gilt Group during their period of landmark growth, and consulted for J.Crew, Madewell, and Warby Parker. “I started to get excited about this next generation of consumer facing brands that had a strong POV, really connected with their customers in a fresh new way and came to life online,” she explains. It was through this work that she became acquainted with Kirsten Green, future boss and Forerunner Ventures founder. For the last two years, they’ve been forging the future of retail and backing some of this generation’s most sought after startups.

After fifteen years in the fashion space, Venture Capital was still uncharted territory. But Grillo isn’t one to be easily deterred by the unknown. “There was a fun and steep learning curve when I came on board, and I am lucky to be a part of a group that sees the value in disciplines outside those which traditional Venture Capital firms typically offer their companies,” explains Grillo, whose intuition for supporting promising and profitable young brands makes her an irreplaceable asset to the VC firm behind the explosive growth of Bonobos and Outdoor Voices. “It was exciting to know I could be a part of how Forerunner differentiates itself. I learned to capitalize on what I was good at while, at the same time, being humble enough to ask questions, read up on new topics, and as with anything involving startups worked my butt off to learn.”

"I learned to capitalize on what I was good at, while being humble enough to ask questions."

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While the finance industry is historically male-dominated (an antiquated reality that Forerunner is no doubt disrupting, however unintentionally), Grillo rarely feels like a fish out of water.  “The key to dealing with these situations is to try to put yourself in other people’s shoes and understand what their motivations are,” says the VP, who leans on a close network of entrepreneurial women and hardworking moms for encouragement and support, and counts her professional teammates as mentors. “I can easily tell myself I’ve spent decades growing brands, creating and riding trends, and that I’m really good at what I do, and that internal pep talk usually does the trick! A successful career is earned and requires sacrifice. It truly is done through dedication and a lot of hard work, nothing is handed to you.”

Between running family and working at the fund, Grillo has little time leftover for herself — but one thing’s for sure, she never skips her bedtime routine. It’s the little things. “Every night, no matter how tired I am, I always take off my makeup, put on eye cream and moisturizer read a few pages of my book and off to bed.” When asked how she defines female empowerment, she replies, “Today, for me, it means asking intelligent questions with confidence and walking into a room without questioning whether I belong there or not. As I start my day tomorrow it will mean something else, but it always means operating with confidence and self love.”

"A successful career is earned and requires sacrifice."

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That big things are in the future for Melissa Grillo and the team at Forerunner — now that’s something we’d put our money on.