Content Creator: Arielle Vandenberg

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

Making grandma laugh since the '80s.

She’s got jokes. Which also means, she’s got brains.

Arielle Vandenberg, who is on a first name basis (@arielle) with the digital world, has been making videos and thereby making people laugh for decades. She says she made her mom laugh all the time when she was little, but it was her grandma who thought Arielle was, “the funniest kid ever-- she even wrote everything I said down into a book.” 

It was also her grandma who told her “Don’t do drugs,” when she first thought about moving to LA. "I think that's pretty great advice,” she laughs. While Gma might have kept the digitally savvy star on the straight and narrow, it's her hard work, diligence, and “being true to myself,” that have really paid off. 

In December of 2015 the actress and comedian was one of the most followed personalities on Vine, with a fanbase of almost 2 million. People tuned in to watch her goof off, ask life’s big mysterious questions, and upload videos with bestie Matt Cutshall. Though the video app announced its shuttering last year, her feat of amassing such a loyal and large following can't be ignored. It comes down to creativity and precise comedic timing. If you can get people to laugh in six seconds or under, with an iPhone, you’re doing something right. 

Calling herself “the professional Jim Carrey impersonator,” it was the funny man who got Arielle hooked on comedy. “I wanted to be a comedian because of Jim Carrey.  I would sit in my room alone and just make faces in the mirror for hours. And also Tina Fey, well because she's a powerhouse of a woman!” 

Growing up outside of Los Angeles, Arielle got the bug for acting when she was young. She’s had roles in numerous TV shows like How I Met Your Mother and Bones. She’s opinionated, telling Esquire, “If you don’t like animals, you’re not living,” not worried about fangirling out over Justin Bieber or dressing as the pop star for Halloween, and says “internet bullies” have been challenging, but jokes, “haters gon hate.” 

Arielle is wearing Keds' Champion Originals.

It’s easy for her to keep going, even in the face of Vine’s shuttering. She continues to build her career in the face of a tectonic shift in the digital landscape. “I’ve always loved making people laugh,” shares Arielle, “so I made it my job. And now I have the best job in the entire world!” She can also bust out “performance dance” anywhere and everywhere to keep her spirits up and her morning prayers “make the day a million times better.” 

"I've always loved making people laugh, so I made it my job."

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The multitalented digital star preaches kindness— makes sense she’s BFF with fellow C&C 100 honoree Lauren Paul. “Teaching young girls to be kind,” she says, is immensely important. “Kids are the future and kindness is the way.” 

In the last five years Arielle says she’s “gone to third base” with her career, which means we can still expect her home run. What might that mean for her? Making Jim Carrey (who else?) a costar, creating her own show, and “purchasing a wiener dog.” Alrighty then.  

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

Beauty: ItsMyRayeRaye

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

A million followers and rising.

As one of the first successful black female beauty YouTubers, hitting over one million subscribers,  Raye Boyce knows something about breaking down barriers. 

A native of Boston, the 26-year-old vlogging maven, ItsMyRayeRaye, got her start on YouTube after requests via Tumblr and Instagram kept pouring in. The social media world has been good to Raye. She met her husband and manager, Eric, via MySpace. The two were married in 2012 when Raye was 21. 

Fear of failure and being accepted topped her list of challenges. “I wasn't sure anyone would understand what I was doing, but I always had the support from my friends and family,” she shares.

Before trying her steady hand in the beauty business, Raye was most interested in fashion, looking to attend the fashion merchandising program at FIT in New York. But her aspirations “quickly changed,” as the makeup world took over completely. “I instantly fell in love,” she shares.

While the beauty queen on the YouTube scene loves spending time with her family and bowling, the self-professed adventurer has a bit of a daredevil side. Yes, she has a taste for skydiving and likes to hit up an amusement park or two. But the rollercoaster of her career keeps her from looking too far to the future. Preferring, says Raye, to “take life one step at a time.” 

As with most influencers on the internet those steps have included haters. “There was a time when I began receiving negativity on my videos that I had never received before. I didn't understand why it was happening but that was really difficult for me and I wanted to quit.” She didn’t. And is happy that she never gave up, remaining true to herself instead. “For the most part,” shares Raye, “my relationship with myself hasn't changed much because I have always been true to me. I can say that each and every day I am growing and I find ways to better myself.” 

Raye is wearing Keds' Champion Originals.

Growth and goals for the social media darling includes starting her own company and doing anything she puts her mind to. “Female empowerment is knowing that you can do anything, even if it might be in a field dominated by the opposite sex.” 

“Female empowerment is knowing that you can do anything."

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She’s on deck to help other women succeed as well, even those in her own industry. There’s no jealous vibes with Raye. “I always try to find ways to share the knowledge that I have in hopes that I could help someone. I think we all need to stick together because we would be so much more powerful as a whole.”

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

Fashion: Alissa Jacob & Aliza Neidich, Reservoir

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

Survived year one.

Best friends for 30 years, Reservoir co-founders Aliza Neidich and Alissa Jacob are a lot more like sisters. After unsuccessfully searching for fulfillment in other careers — Aliza in PR, and Alissa in real estate — the inseparable pair had the realization that they could create something game-changing by joining forces and merging skillsets. After quitting her job, Alissa left New York and joined her BFF out in Los Angeles. Putting their heads together, the duo came up with the idea to open a concept store, something they’d both noticed was conspicuously lacking in this city. It wasn’t long after signing their first lease in Silverlake that the duo got the first taste of entrepreneurship stress (and we’re pretty sure it hasn’t stopped yet).

“We found a space we loved, signed a lease and began construction. However, to make a long story short, we found out we were being lied to by the landlord and we had to get out of our lease while trying to recoup as much money as possible and figuring out what to do with the inventory that was trickling in from vendors,” explains Alissa. Forced to act quickly, the partners decided to open a pop-up shop on Roberston Blvd., where they’ve remained for the last year. “Through this, we learned that not everything will always go to plan, and you really have to be able to roll with the punches in order to be successful,” says Aliza. “Sometimes obstacles happen for a reason. It definitely tested our will, and I'm proud of how we resolved what could have been a disastrous situation,” adds Alissa.

Alissa is wearing Keds' Champion Originals.

Despite some early real estate woes, the Reservoir business has continued to grow. Alissa describes the passion, and, at times, depression, that comes with the territory of owning your own business. “You will never feel more invested in anything. Knowing that this business is a reflection of our work motivates me to make it the best it can be. It's exciting and stressful and rewarding all at the same time,” she says. “The concept of a career five years ago was so hazy to me. Even though I had a job, or jobs, I knew they wouldn't satisfy my own definition of 'career.'"

"You really have to be able to roll with the punches to be successful.”

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"I'm happy I was able to find something that regularly allows me feel both challenged and passionate,” echoes Aliza, of the transition from working for someone else to being in charge of your own destiny." 

If working for yourself is difficult, you might wonder about what happens when your best friend becomes your business partner? Luckily, with the help of some sound advice from friends and a detailed partnership agreement, Alissa and Aliza haven’t let the dynamic come between them. “Sometimes, even though it's awkward, we need to talk business,” says Alissa. “Emotions are definitely still involved, but the partnership agreement allows us to separate work from friendship when we need to.”

So, what’s next for the business partners and besties behind LA’s coolest one-stop-shopping destination? The duo hopes to expand their online business and possibly add a few new locations. “On a grand scale, I'd love to have Reservoir be a go-to for online and in-store shoppers worldwide. On a smaller scale, I'd maybe die if Jessica Lange came in and shopped,” says Aliza. This November, Reservoir celebrated one year in LA. “The first year is so difficult, I'd like to get the business to a point where we are profitable and can consider possible expansion. Hopefully we have developed a unique brand with character that would be valued in different markets as well,” says Alissa. 

One thing both ladies can agree they’ve learned from this last year? Everything happens for a reason. And, yes, that includes shady landlords.

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

Wellness: Tricia Miranda

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

Choreographing her own career. 

With over 30 years of training in ballet, jazz, and hip hop, there was never any doubt that choreographer Tricia Miranda could move her body. But the choreographer, who began her career as what she's dubbed a "chola ballerina," is also moving people's souls. 

A native of Yuma, Arizona, in the early dance days Tricia rocked shaved sides with a bun, dark lipstick, hoop earrings and pointe shoes-- never quite fitting the prima mold. But she received a full scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago in her teens and then at 21 she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her bigger dance dreams. At 24, Beyoncé took notice, casting Tricia in her “Ladies First” world tour and she became a staple on the touring circuit, working with Britney, J.Lo, and the Black Eyed Peas. At the height of her stage career the high energy dancer made a ballsy move to pursue choreography instead. “There is already so much competition in the choreography world and a lot of clients and artists like to use who they've used in the past on other projects,” she says. “It's really hard to get that window of opportunity, to get in with a camp, and then once you're in, proving that your work is great and you're exactly who they want on their team.” But the proof is in the pas de deux in the dancing world. 

Her move worked. Definitely in part due to her core belief that you should “stay humble and never stop learning.” It keeps her moving ever forward, “overly prepared” with “more choreography" than she needs, citing the importance of “staying current, working smart” and making sure she is “always easy to work with.” 

“Nothing is certain in our industry,” she says, “so making a great living off of dancing is extremely challenging.” You have to be a beat ahead. 

"Keep fighting for what you believe in and always know your worth.”

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In 2014, the L.A-based pro released a video shot in her dance studio in North Hollywood. It was a series of dancers performing her choreography to Nicki Minaj's hit song “Anaconda.” The performances, shot with the sole intention of promoting Miranda’s choreography for an upcoming dance tour, went viral. More videos followed suit. In each, the students, who range in age, gender, and race are encouraged by an off-screen Tricia who rarely makes appearances.  And while their bodies work to the same beat, each personality is tangible, self-expression encouraged. In one video of eight-year-old student Aiden Prince busting to her Major Lazer choreography, Tricia sprints on camera to swing him around and give the young buck a hug. The love is there. So is the feeling that despite differences, these kids check their egos at the door, dancing against a backdrop of the studio’s trademark “Unity in Division.”

When she’s not dancing Tricia makes time for cooking, hot yoga, and rescuing dogs from shelters, but wishes she had more time for visiting her family. She understands how important balance is “so you're not over worked, fried or stressed.” But the dancing boss is busy. 

She’s gone from choreographing jobs sporadically to working multiple jobs at a time, and 2017 shows no signs of slowing down. “At the top of 2017 I will be choreographing 2 national commercials, the feature film Baywatch will be released, which I choreographed for and my docu series called "Going Off" will be airing on MTV this spring.” In the next five years she says, “I will be moving on to creative directing.” 

In a town that’s known to break a few spirits, Tricia’s has stayed bold and strong, breaking the mold instead. It’s encouragement that is passed on to everyone who crosses her path. “Don't let this industry break your soul or take away your passion for the arts,” she says. “Remember why this is the lane you chose, keep fighting for what you believe in and always know your worth.”

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

Beauty: Jackie Aina

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

The glow get 'em goddess. 

Beauty Youtube star Jackie Aina’s mission is to encourage those “often overlooked on social media.” As a woman of color, she was invigorated to start her YouTube channel in 2009 after looking for both a creative outlet and online community to “learn about new makeup techniques for darker skin.” 

She says it was challenging to “get people engaged in my content as a darker skin-toned woman.” Explaining that “Most people naturally just assumed I only do makeup tutorials for African American women, not realizing that we come in so many different shades and you don't have to necessarily look exactly like someone to learn a new tip.”

However, her followers and subscribers quickly loved the message she was sharing. Now Jackie’s turned her “hobby and side-hustle” into her “baby and passion,” boasting over a million subscribers. 

“You don't have to look exactly like someone to learn a new tip.”

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The woman is also hilarious (her Twitter bio lists her as "Le Bronze James), unafraid to go barefaced, and often addresses the diversity issue the cosmetic industry faces, calling out brands that are “the worst EVER for POC.” Saying as a beauty vlogger it’s her job to side-eye what’s not working. 

Her fans are constantly championing Jackie to have a line of her own, something that she’s set as a career goal for herself. 

She’s weathered the troll storm on social media a couple of times, recounting a particularly dark time in her life. While in trade school, one of Jackie’s best friends and roommate was killed in a car accident. “Since she lived with me at the time and we shared rent, I had to figure out how I was going to afford rent for the month while being on unemployment and collecting limited earnings from YouTube,” she shares. “I mustered the courage to start a GoFundMe account to get support outside of my closest friends and family and the support my followers was tremendous, but the hate was too.” She says people accused her of using both her friend’s death and her schooling as a way to exploit money from her followers. Both of which were “grossly untrue.” 

“I was used to troll comments, but that was on a different level and it was very hard to not to take it really personal. Not only did I lose my friend, but to also be accused of it for personal gain was really hard to deal with at the same time. I think that was the first and last time I got a real taste of just how ugly people on social media really could be, but it made me tougher and I got through it! Luckily the support and encouragement of my real supporters kept me going and I will never forget the way they all rallied together to help support me.”

Now she advises to use prayer and positive affirmations to hoof it (with the help of God) through the hard times. “Do not go out of your way to read negativity about you,” she says. “Block out negative energy as best you can. The people who truly love you are there to criticize you when need be, not random trolls on the internet.”

“Block out negative energy as best you can."

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That experience likely shaped how she feels about female empowerment: “It means uplifting one another before we assume the worse about each other; having each other’s backs!”

She also says that nine times out of 10 she would support a female-owned business before a male-owned business. “Women are just easier to work with and get the job done!” she says. “And we're so used to being pre-judged we are rarely ever given a chance to prove our worth.”

Adding, “I love and value myself a lot more to ever go back to where I was when I first started my channel. I was so, indecisive, easily triggered by things, and not as confident in my career as I am now!”

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

Entertainment: Elizabeth Plank

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

Feminist at the media forefront. 

When we asked Liz Plank, fab feminst, meme maker, and Senior Correspondent and producer for Vox Media a time in her life when she thought, “I can’t do this anymore," she responded: “Like five minutes ago."

As the voice of millennial feminism on Vox, Plank is on the forefront, determined to educate young people and let them know how much they matter. With a masters in gender and social policy, she has a commanding grasp over issues that affect young people, but she likewise has a mastery over creating viral videos; one of the most useful tools to reach Millennials.  “Their voice matters,” says Liz about the much lambasted generation, “and if they don’t use it, they are letting someone else speak for them.” 

She’s learned the ropes from mentors: Rachel Sklar and Glynnis MacNicol, whom Liz credits as two of her best friends. “They were one of the first people I was introduced to in New York and gave me the confidence of a mediocre white man,” she says. "They built a platform called The Li.st that helps women connect and empower each other, and they've built a community that's been extremely supportive and helpful for me." 

The aforementioned saying also happens to be Liz's favorite life advice: “Carry yourself with the confidence of a mediocre white man.” (Noted.) 

"Carry yourself with the confidence of a mediocre white man.”

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The champion of a feminist awakening maintains that for “far too long, we’ve let non-feminists frame the work of feminists. I think we are all feminists, we just don’t know it yet." And taking a neutral position is not in the cards. “I consider fighting for the equal rights of all human beings the neutral position and anyone who deviates from that has to explain why. I find it weird that activists are the ones who have to explain why they fight for justice. I want to know why you're not fighting.”

Though she won't mute her voice, she isn't opposed to compromise, especially when it leads to better outcomes. “Regardless of the industry you're working in, if you're never making compromises, then you're doing something wrong. Although I'm a very stubborn person, I'm also highly trusting of others (sometimes to my fault) and I've been lucky to work with people who I can put all my faith in. That's how you make the best shit happen. By working with people who challenge you to be better.”

Content Creator: Caroline Goldfarb, @officialseanpenn

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

All about that funny business. 

“I’m personable AF,” says Caroline Goldfarb, the funny woman behind the highly shareable, get your through your day Instagram @officialseanpenn. In the age of PC, heightened person as brand awareness, and highly stylized digital content, Caroline says she tries not to take the meme game too seriously. “I don’t think about shareable,” she admits, “I just throw something up that I know my friends would like.”

She got her start doing “endless amounts” of stand-up in high school in LA and throughout college at Northwestern University. “My only goal in life for as long as I can remember has been to be professionally funny,” says Caroline. Explaining that she’s “always wanted to combine my natural affinity for performing and my obsession with pop culture into being a hybrid of my heroes.” Those include, but are hardly limited to: Wendy Williams, Joan Rivers, Kathy Griffin, and Howard Stern. Meeting Stern she says, is at the top of her career to-do. At the moment however she’s had “a detour into *fire* success on Instagram.” The place where Caroline kills “the internet content game with original art and amazing celeb commentary.”

If you think she’s serious, consider that the 26-year-old knows her audience and knows it well. “When I discovered I had hit something, I didn't let it lie. I exploited my natural ability to thoughtfully and artfully analyze, process, and comment on pop culture,” she says. And she’s turning said ability into an “international merchandise empire, a popular podcast, a development deal with MTV, and a successful writing career.”

“When I discovered I had hit something, I didn't let it lie."

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Consider also that it happens to be true. Caroline is simply bold enough to say it. In fact she’s bold enough to say a lot of things. “I'm a walking female support group,” she shares. “I love women and I live to entertain them. I don't give a rat’s ass what men think of me or whether men think I'm funny.”   

Nor does she shy away from some real-good-text-your-BFF-about-it-self-love. “RuPaul said it best,” she shares. "’If you can't love yourself, how in the HELL are you gonna love somebody else??’ At the end of the day YOU are your biggest advocate in the world, and you have to love everything about yourself and believe you are capable of anything to make others believe in you.”

To her point, she shouts those things out-- list form. “Things I love about myself: That I'm an exotic half-Persian goddess, that I'm always the funniest person in a room, that I have a sparkling personality, that I'm well-read and super intelligent.” She says should could go on.

Still, she can’t get it all right. “I want to be like Martha Stewart and wash my ceilings and iron my sheets,” she says, “but it feels impossible to get on that level.” And she does have certain boundaries. She won’t make fun of women’s bodies, kick people they’re already down, and doesn't like making fun of people with mental illnesses or disabilities. When the Obama/Biden friendship memes were making their social rounds Caroline said that they were “just too real.” A casual statement that’s more nuanced than some followers might expect. “Seeing all the vicious jokes about Trump and laughing at him pre-election almost made me feel like I was doing a part in preventing him from getting elected by making him into a joke, taking away his power. Where we now see that it really did exactly the opposite.” Adding, “ I feel like we all need to seriously reevaluate how we take part in the world around us and stand up for what we believe in, beyond making or laughing at political memes. To me, dealing with the fact that Obama and Biden are leaving office and our political climate and society is potentially going to seriously change by making a series of *not even really that funny memes* is a waste of time.” (She did post a photo of Obama on the 10th of this month captioned, “Gonna miss u…” followed by a pic of Trump having what looks like urine dumped on his head. “Tinkle Down Economics #Watergate2,” she captioned, in reference to the infamous golden shower leak.)

Caroline is wearing Keds' Kickstart Perf Leather.

“Many comedians are highly smart, observational people who have the superpower to observe the world and point out the improbable ridiculousness of everyday life,” notes Caroline. “There are lots of different kinds of comedy, from the low-brow (Kermit memes) to the high brow (Political satire, a perfectly crafted stand-up set) but if it makes people laugh it has an important place in society!”

Instagram’s reigning meme queen is slightly resigned (“pretty much OK with”) to the fact that she’s known as Official Sean Penn, but believes “I'll naturally and gradually establish myself as Caroline Goldfarb, a bad-ass comedienne with a banging internet presence.  Amazing careers aren't built in a day!”

And to the people who say she should stop selling merchandise with celeb’s faces? Caroline says sorry, not sorry. “I'm never going to stop making pencil pouches with Larry David's Face on them.”

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

Beauty: Melody McCloskey, Style Seat

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

Took her seat at the table. 

Melody McCloskey, co-founder of leading beauty booking destination StyleSeat, is proof that sometimes outsiders do it better. As CEO and co-founder of the booming beauty giant — in 16,000 cities since 2011, and facilitating more than $3 billion in appointments — McCloskey is empowering industry professionals to take ownership of their success, not unlike the route she took to get here.

McCloskey’s journey to startup queen was anything but typical. In college, she majored in International Relations and French. She got her first taste of tech working as a PR Manager  for an early stage tech company, and later at Current TV, a small network started by Al Gore. It wasn’t long before she worked up the confidence to quit and start her own business.

“In the beginning, my co-founder and I hit the pavement in a real way. We spent our early years out with the beauty professionals, in their salons, in their homes, listening to what they needed to better run and grow their business,” she says. “Because we were so close to our customers since day one, I gained real confidence that what we were building was important and needed.” Raising capital for a female-fueled beauty company in a sea of white male VCs, on the other hand, didn’t come so easily. “Fundraising is perhaps one of the biggest challenges I faced. Asking investors for money is not an enjoyable experience for me, and it’s not why you start a company,” notes McCloskey. But there’s no denying money helps. “If you want to be a certain size faster, it can be necessary. Because so many tech VCs are male and white, they didn’t understand the beauty industry or our customer base, which is overwhelmingly female and diverse. They wanted to fund companies they deeply understood, and we did not fit that description.”

"Asking investors for money is not why you start a company."

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Having arrived in tech via the road less traveled, there were no shortage of moments when McCloskey doubted her own capability and whether or not she deserved to be here. “I almost didn’t start my company because I was afraid that I didn’t have the right background, or that I wasn’t smart enough.” For all the women struggling with similar self-doubt, the beauty impresario warns against counting yourself out. “If you love something, and you’re tenacious and don’t put up with bs, you can do whatever you want to do.” She hopes that StyleSeat inspires more women to discover their unstoppability, whether it’s fast-tracking that career change or going full force on that side hustle. “The biggest thing that limits you is yourself.”

Today, StyleSeat has a network of more than 300,000 beauty professionals servicing more than 10 million users, with McCloskey closing out countless women-to-watch lists. For the first-time founder, it’s been a rollercoaster of fear, emotion, and trial and error, one that she’s gotten much more comfortable riding with experience and age. “The first few years of starting a business you’re doing several things a day that scare you without any experience doing them. Hiring a lawyer, building a profit loss statement, hiring incredible talent, closing a business development deal.” The fear never goes away, but you learn to cope with it. “I used to feel close to paralyzed every day, and then I got used to doing scary stuff all the time and now, even though the things I’m doing are so much bigger scale, I’m less scared because I know, whatever it is, I’ll figure it out.”

"If you’re tenacious and don’t put up with bs, you can do whatever you want to do.”

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Right now, McCloskey is focused on making StyleSeat a thriving, high return business, but she’d love to try her hand at angel investing — “I want to be everything I thought was missing when I was coming up. It would be so much fun to hang out with entrepreneurs, who are super weird and crazy, and help them pursue their dreams.”

Fashion: Emily Schuman

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

From blogger to fashion boss. 

Emily Schuman, founder-turned-fashion boss at Cupcakes & Cashmere, wants you to know that the work/life balance myth is exactly that... a myth. Since launching her wildly popular lifestyle blog in 2008, Schuman has parlayed her unparalleled instinct for fashion, food, beauty and interiors into two books, as well as successful clothing, home, and lighting lines by the same name. Couple that with being a wife and new mom, it’s no wonder the elusive “balance” isn’t exactly in the cards for this blogger-cum-business maven.

“In a lot of ways, it really is a myth for me, which is why it's so important to have times when I'm not ‘on,’” explains the multi-tasking mama. She’s as effortless at DIY-ing marbled napkin rings and ombre picnic utensils as she is throwing together an impromptu-yet-festive holiday look or whipping up some home-baked, namesake cupcakes to satisfy those pregnancy cravings. At least, that’s what Instagram would have you believe.

Despite Schuman’s impeccably curated existence, she’s not afraid to get real and tell it like it is. She describes the chaos of her early career and the stress of planning a wedding with managing a blog as a team of one, all while penning her first book. On one particularly high-strung occasion, she recalls being physically peeled away from her desk to get some much-needed rest by her then-fiance, now-husband Geoffrey. “I remember insisting that I still had things to finish and he sweetly reassured me that it would be good to get some sleep and that I could get to things in the morning. He couldn't have been more right.”

These days, the budding business tycoon is inching closer to some semblance of time management, although it’s still a work in progres. “I'll set aside my phone on weekends for large chunks of time and disconnect anytime I'm with my family or friends so that I can enjoy their company and not feel dependent on social media,” says the two-time author, who still struggles with work/life separation. “I also put a lot of importance on spending time with my husband and daughter in the mornings and at night, so I won't be checking email or responding to calls during those periods. As much as possible I try to keep regular working hours so that I'm not on-call 24 hours a day.”

"I'll set aside my phone on weekends and disconnect anytime I'm with my family." 

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At just 33, Schuman has already created a mini empire, boasting books, brands, and bag designs for Coach as well as a capsule collection with Club Monaco. In a notoriously flighty and easily distracted industry, she’s built a beloved blog with mass appeal and trend-defying relevance. And as the business has grown and evolved, so has the powerhouse behind it.

“When I first started my career, I felt almost embarrassed by my success and would try to downplay certain achievements. Now, as a 33-year-old business woman, I embrace it in a way that’s empowered and am proud of my accomplishments,” she explains. “I’m a lot kinder to myself in my 30s than I was in my 20s.”

With this newfound sense of empowerment and wisdom comes a desire to pay it forward  — to inspire future generations of female entrepreneurs and create the kinds of opportunities for them that she was fortunate enough to receive. “I've been able to forge my own path and largely avoid the prejudices my closest girlfriends have encountered in the workforce, but having a one-year-old daughter has really put things into perspective for me,” says Schuman. “I’m raising her to be a strong woman who will fight for gender equality, but I only hope that by the time she is my age, she won’t have to fight quite as hard as previous generations.”

"I’m raising my daughter to be a strong woman who will fight for gender equality."

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That said, she maintains that the best piece of real talk advice she’s ever received is that it’s okay to cry in the workplace. “Obviously you don’t want to be a blubbering mess on a weekly basis, but it’s okay to get emotional sometimes if you’re passionate about what you do.”

Let it out, ladies. A *little blubbering* might be good for biz.  

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

Music: DJ Kitty Cash

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

Brooklyn's resident badass. 

Kitty Cash has a new routine that has nothing to do with music, but maybe everything to do with where she is in her career. “Every morning,” shares the born and raised Brooklyn-based DJ, producer, and model, “I write down three things I am grateful for.” 

Those might include some career highs like: looking up from a DJ set to see Beyoncé grooving, playing for performance artist Marina Abramovic, who told her “Kitty, you are the future,” and a tribute set she played to Missy Elliot at the Essence Festival.

Her support from other female artists surely arises out of Cash's own feeling on the matter; what you put out, is what you get back. "Female empowerment is understanding that women unifying is a powerful force," Cash shares. "That we can create by being there for each other." She recently took to Instagram to show her love and support for friend and rising musician SZA.

But she didn’t get her start DJing. After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a BA in advertising and marketing communications, Cash worked in public relations at Ralph Lauren, moving on to work as head of marketing and communications at G-Star. “When I first graduated, I set a goal and I stuck to it,” the denim obsessed DJ shares. “I wanted to work for a brand and climb the social ladder until I was an EVP of a company.” 

It was during her time at G-Star that she began DJ’ing for artist Kilo Kish. She loved it so much that she decided to replace her 9-5 with her passion. “When I was working at G-Star, the more I developed Kitty Cash, the more I realized I was an asset and I should make my position work for me just as much as I worked for my position.” Now when it comes to her career her approach is drastically different, calling it “more of a symbiotic relationship or a partnership.” Adding,  “When it comes to my career I am structured, but I also leave room for life to run its course. I am always open to trying something new because you never know when you will discover a new passion.”

Read more from Kitty Cash below on how she found a new passion and why strengthening her relationship with her mother led to a place of self-love. 

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

There was definitely a learning curve, starting fresh in a new industry slash a new world and finding my own lane. As an entrepreneur time management is extremely important and was a challenge in the beginning as well.

The DJ space is traditionally male. But more female DJs and artists are emerging. Are there women you looked up to? Who paved the way?

I really love Spinderella, DJ Beverly Bond, and Annie Mac.

And how does it feel to be a woman in the music industry today?

I think now more than ever I feel very empowered. Although it is a male-dominated industry I have come across some very powerful women who are very supportive and are able to teach me and help me grow within this space.

"More than ever I feel very empowered."

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What keeps you going?

Knowing how amazing it feels to be behind the decks and really control a room. You can't buy that feeling!

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

Stay true to yourself because that is what got you here in the first place.

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

I probably have that moment once a month. It is so easy to think or say you can't do something but you have to remember why you started and that nothing ever comes easy.

Do you have any extracurricular activities?

I love making stationary and African/Caribbean dance.

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 would talk about women being the champions of their own causes. Highlighting what they have done within their field and their contribution to society rather than them being a woman. This is why I believe it is important to give recognition to movies like "Women of Brewster Place," "Hidden Figures," and "The Color Purple."

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

For the first three years out of the five, I realized that strengthening my relationship with my mother allowed me to fill a lot of voids and questions I had about myself. Through her I learned a lot about myself, and through her mistakes I saw how I could be a better me. With her love I developed self-love. I've been able to understand what makes me happy, what I deserve, and what deserves my energy. I learned to be grateful, honor my worth, and love myself the way that I am, just being proud of myself and who I am blossoming into. It is so easy to see all of the wrongs, the imperfections, the things you want to change about yourself but what about everything that makes you you? I have learned to allow myself to live everyday to the fullest and I am still learning to love and respect the journey.

"I learned to be grateful, honor my worth, and love myself the way that I am."

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What does female empowerment mean to you?

Being open to nurture, cultivate, honor, and grow with other women. It's understanding that women unifying is a powerful force that we can create by being there for each other.

Philanthropy: Leslie Engle Young, Pencils of Promise

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 education gap. 

Pencils of Promise is a global education organization that builds schools and provides educational programming to increase literacy rates in Ghana, Guatemala, Laos, and Nicaragua. Since its founding in 2008, Pencils of Promise has served over 30,000 students. 

Leslie Engle Young plays a vital role at the company: Director of Impact. A title unlike many others on the job market today. 

Prior to working with Pencils of Promise Leslie was focused on two very different paths: early childhood education and short story writing. After studying English and fiction writing in college she was set on being a writer. At the same time she was teaching preschool in Portland, OR. As the daughter of two educators her career path made plenty of sense. “Practical sense,” Leslie says. 

Until she took a leap. A major one. Buying a one-way ticket across the world to Laos when she was 23 and looking for more. She stayed almost four years, as the Country Director in Laos, creating on-the-ground change through education. 

What is the most important step you took to where you are today?

There wasn't one singular step that got me in the job I have today. In fact, it was the repetition of stepping forward again and again and again that got me here. My job has changed greatly through the years, from being one of two volunteers on-the-ground in Laos, to overseeing our impact across four different countries from our HQ office in New York. My role today looks nothing like it once does, and it was the commitment to continuing to learn and continuing to step into the unknown that kept me here. 

What are the challenges you encountered along the way?

Some of the biggest challenges came in the early days in Laos. Myself, and my Lao colleague Lanoy, frankly didn't look the part. And in a communist country that is primarily run by men, that was difficult. We were two women, then 25 and 30, with no previous experience setting up an NGO or building out an education system. This came with heavy doses of doubt and skepticism from those around us, which at times, was tiring. But we sought a lot of strength from one another and ultimately we sought strength from the people we got to work with--from the parents, teachers and students who were endlessly dedicated to carving out as much opportunity as possible for themselves and their communities. 

What is the "promise" of Pencils of Promise?

Our promise is one of opportunity. We believe that every child, regardless of status or location, deserves the right to a quality education. We promise to work with communities and governments to ensure equal opportunity for all children. 

Why do you think education is the most powerful weapon to change the world?

Because education is agency.

What keeps you going?

My coworkers! I work with a group of people all over the world who are endlessly dedicated to making their countries a better place. They are constant source or motivation and inspiration. 

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

Women everywhere. Women leading, women working, women mothering. Women who are doing it day in and day out. Women who, in many parts of the world, keep going despite every single odd. Women who come together and believe in their combined power and their voices. 

"Women everywhere. Women leading, women working, women mothering."

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Do you remember having a mentor at the beginning of your career?

In the first year I was in Laos I met and got to know a man named Mike who worked for a larger NGO in town. He had 15+ years of solid experience on me and had been working in aid and disaster relief in some of the most challenging places on earth. I was young, probably very naive, and in desperate need of some straightforward guidance. Mike was always ready to talk over a fruit shake or a beer on the Mekong, never sugarcoating anything yet always infusing everything with his signature optimism and zest. I don't know what those first couple of years would have been without his friendship (and that of his equally amazing wife) and guidance. 

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

My dad, a lifelong educator, was the one person who got me through being a preschool teacher (a job that is not for the faint of heart). When I would call him in tears after a particularly exhausting day with 20 three and four-year-olds, he used to say to me, full of love and sarcasm, "Don't you just hate it when kids act their age?" That sobering comment sums up working with people. We're all coming from different places with different realities and baggage, and the ability to have empathy and understanding for one's actions can help us cross the biggest cultural and generational gaps. 

Do you have any extracurricular activities?

Running--I run half and full marathons.

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

I've learned to take more structured time for myself. A lot of this came with running. When you train for a marathon, you need a lot of hours--weekend runs can take up half of the day. I've used this to be my own time and space and hope that as life continues to get busier I remember to really embrace and cherish that time. 

How has your relationship to your career changed?

Over time I've grown to really embrace the discomfort and the learning curves in my career. At first it was hard--I wanted to have things right the first time around. But I've come to really thrive off of the unknown and the challenges. I enjoy the opportunity to fail fast and learn from it as quickly as possible. 

What’s next?

My next five years will be about starting a family and sharing the joy and purpose of my work and travel with our kids.

Fashion: Rebecca Minkoff

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

From ramen days to real tasty success. 

The early Rebecca Minkoff days were “the ramen days,” according to the mom and mogul who heads up her eponymously named fashion empire. "I worked out of a walk up and it was a real hustle.”

Most people know that Rebecca started with one bag: her iconic Morning After Bag (M.A.B for those ITK), but she’s been making clothes and sewing from a young age. At eight she asked her mother for a dress, a request that was refused but met by a challenge: she’d teach her daughter how to sew. So the budding designer-to-be went to sewing camp. Then she went to performing arts high school, where she got a taste for design in the drama costume department. Eventually landing an internship for a designer in New York where the CEO taught her the ins and outs of every department. 

Fast forward to 2001. She took her scrappy approach to fashion and business and launched her eponymous label. She used the last of her savings to make her first bag without any assurance that she would succeed. A little over ten years ago, in 2005, it was just Rebecca and an intern. Her brother Uri mortgaged his home and maxed out his own credit cards to keep the business from going bust. Today the brand sells to over 900 retailers, has over 10 stores internationally, including four stateside, and is looking to open more. 

From day one she’s been a staple in her company. “Early on, I was told by retailers not to have a direct dialogue with my customer,” says Rebecca. “They thought I was cheapening myself by being accessible. I decided not to take their advice - which as a very young brand was a risk. But I know that decision had a huge part to play in our success.” 

Even as the RM brand has grown exponentially the way Rebecca conducts business has remained constant. “I've always had my hand in everything,” the fashion mogul shares. “I'm in the office every day.”

"I've always had my hand in everything. I'm in the office every day." 

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She counts her mother and brother Uri, who has stayed on as CEO, as tremendous influences. She also “hugely admire[s] women like Jessica Alba who have built incredible businesses for families.”

Rebecca is a mom herself to daughter, Bowie, and son, Luca. Striking a balance every day is “impossible,” but she handles her mom-boss status by way of “trial and error, and more than anything trusting myself. Knowing when to step in and knowing when it's okay to step back.” She works out twice a week with a trainer, admitting “the two sessions are all I have time for, but my trainer makes it worth my while.” And on the weekends you can catch her spending time with her family, having a glass of wine with her husband or escaping to Quogue. “I’m pretty bomb in the kitchen,” the CEO adds.

While she certainty doesn’t pretend that her day-to-day is effortless, Rebecca manages to handle her career and motherhood with grace. Even in moments of doubt and financial distress, she never gave in. Even in the beginning when a factory put another, very successful brand’s logo hardware on her bags. “Occasionally there are moments when you need to reflect and ask, 'OK, how am I doing?,” she says.  And, “What needs to change so that I can get through this?” But got through it she did. 

With a fashion empire and a family, she still finds time to host a salon series. “I do a fireside chat with a woman I admire. We'll talk about her successes and discuss the different challenges we've had and really just share stories.” For her female empowerment is about “championing each other and rooting for each other - rather than always trying to come first and comparing yourself to someone else.”

If you're looking for a female role model in business, the designer of the M.A.B is as F-A-B as it gets.

Philanthropy: Lauren Paul & Molly Thompson, Kind Campaign

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

Killing it with kindness.

Both Lauren Paul and Molly Thompson, co-founders of The Kind Campaign experienced bullying in middle and high school. Experiences that shaped who they are and gave them the first-hand knowledge needed when they launched Kind Campaign. 

While attending Pepperdine University, Lauren had the opportunity to intern for Tom Shadyac on his documentary project, I Am. Wanting to do something since being "severely bullied" in middle school, Lauren shares that the experience working on a documentary gave her the idea to work on a documentary of her own. One that specifically addressed the issues of bullying. 

Lunch in the Broadway Cafe at Pepperdine was the starting point, when both Molly and Lauren enthusiastically said, “YES” to an “uncharted adventure.” 

“It was during that life-changing lunch,” shares Lauren, “that I pitched the idea about creating a documentary.” Molly was all-in. “From that moment on,” she says, “we dove head first into everything. The moment we turned on the cameras and held our first interview for the film, we both knew there was a huge potential for something greater.” 

That was in 2008. Bullying wasn’t the hot-button topic it is now. They didn’t know if people would be willing to open up about their experiences. But the moment women and girls started talking it was clear that the issue had been swept under the rug for too long. Like Lauren, Molly had her own share of bullying experiences in high school. “Bullying specifically between females,” shares Molly, “was not addressed. It was almost expected and accepted as a rite of passage.”

The college seniors were about to launch a movement. 

Those initial interviews for Finding Kind, paved the road toward Kind Campaign, which officially launched in February, 2009. Since inception, Molly and Lauren have spoken at over 400 schools in North American and the UK, activated 390 Kind Clubs across the globe, and Lauren shares that “Kind Campaign Assemblies are now hosted by faculty and volunteers almost every day of the school year.” The co-founders are getting ready to head out on their 12th Founders Assembly Tour. 

It’s been an incredible journey for both. Lauren grew up in Orange County and Molly in Dallas, but after sharing a laugh over a YouTube video their junior year of college the two became “fast friends.” 

“It feels very surreal looking back on the last several years,” shares Molly who gave birth to daughter Lyla last August and understands the power of the messaging more than ever. “When we first started Kind Campaign, we were running on passion and adrenaline, pulling all nighters and barely scraping by with enough funds to keep going and spreading the movement.” Now the goal of offering free global programming is a reality. 

Lauren knows that more than ever young women need to know “that they matter, they are heard and they are equal. That no one can tell them who they are and what they can and can't accomplish.” She also brings up the power of social media and the influence it has over girls’ self-esteem. “There needs to be more conversation about how to have a healthy relationship with your phone. To remind girls that their worth is not determined by how many likes or followers they have.” Adding, “This is something we ALL need to hear and think about.” 

More from the co-founders below. 

What do you think young women and girls need to hear now more than ever?

Molly: That they are strong, powerful, beautiful, inspiring, unique, and more than capable of accomplishing anything that they put their minds to. And then remind them of this over and over and over again in order to combat the mixed messages that women and girls are fed by the media, by what is going on in our world today, by the experience that they have at school or in the workplace, and by the things that they start to tell themselves because it has become so ingrained within them. I think more than anything they need to be encouraged and allowed to be whoever it is they truly are, rather than to be told what it is they can or can't do, or be put in a box. Now, more than ever, I think we need to remind ourselves and our peers that we are enough, more than enough; and no one can take away our intellect, our self respect, our beauty, our talents, our voice, or our worth

How can we each carry kindness into the world?

Lauren: Serving others doesn’t necessarily mean starting your own non-profit or dedicating your whole life to community service. One of my favorite quotes was said by Howard Thurman. It reads: “Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

I deeply believe in that motto. There is nothing better than a person who comes alive when they tell or show you what they do or what they’re passionate about, whether that’s being a teacher, sailing, owning a bakery, being a lawyer, singing or being a mom. You will be the best you if you find a way to do what you love and love what you do.

Molly: Every single person has the ability to change the course of someone else's life, just by being awake, being aware, and being kind. We truly do not know the battles that others face in their day-to-day lives, so if we just focus on ourselves and our ability to carry kindness into the world, and we are a light in someone else's life (however small it may be), we have the chance to make someone's day and even save their life.

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

Lauren: When I went through my experience being bullied in middle school I remember waking up every morning and thinking that there was no way I was going to make it through another day of school.  I went to bed every night not wanting to wake up in the morning. I truly lost myself.  But with the support of one friend and my family, I was able to dig myself out of that depression and now I look back and that dark time and know that it all happened for a reason.  Without that experience, I would not be doing the work I am doing. I am now able to stand in front of hundreds of girls in our assemblies and remind them that their school experience is just one chapter of their story.  That no matter how dark the chapter is that you are in, there is a whole life ahead of you, waiting to be lived, filled with love and adventure.

What's a surprising story you heard during a school assembly that's stuck with you?

Lauren: Rachel is a girl we met during our last Spring tour while in Utah. At the end of all of our assemblies, we take a picture with the group of girls we are speaking to and post the picture on Kind Campaign’s social media. We were scrolling through the girls comments on her school’s photo and came across this comment from Rachel:

“I was at the Kind Campaign assembly at Draper Park. You guys really changed my point of view on everything. I can relate to everyone in the film. Every girlfriend I've had, I have lost.This morning when I woke up I was thinking about committing suicide. I came to school today on the verge of tears. Once I got in and sat down I wasn't really paying attention but once I watched the movie and I was in tears. I came up and shared my Kind Card. It was about one of my best friends. He stood by me through all my hard times. Once I got home I realized that even though some girls can be rude and don't understand what their words can do that it shouldn't be worth dying over. I called my best friend and talked to him for an hour. I was just crying my eyes out. Your assembly today? Yeah, it saved my life.”

We were really moved after reading that and immediately connected with her through Instagram and offered further support with our in-house counselor. Our on-call therapist counsels girls and parents who write to Kind Campaign and need extra conversation and support. This service is free of charge. I still keep in touch with Rachel and she is happy, healthy and doing so well!

What does female empowerment mean to you?

Molly: Everything. Female empowerment is everything. Celebrating each other, our accomplishments, our differences, our failures and our victories so that we feel emboldened and proud of who we are with the knowledge that we are good enough. It has taken on a new meaning since having Lyla. Even though it's always been important to me, now it's even more personal. Not just for myself, not even for all of the incredible young women we meet through our work, but for her - my little heartbeat. She needs to know her worth and feel supported and celebrated. Not judged and picked a part, scrutinized under a more harsh microscope than others.

"Female empowerment is everything."

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Lauren: It means getting to know yourself. Loving and respecting your body, heart and mind. It means doing your best to let go of those female insecurities we all harbor. It means feeling genuinely happy for other women and celebrating their beauty, uniqueness and accomplishments without going to a jealous or competitive place. Don’t be a part of drama and gossip.

What’s on your career bucket list?

Lauren: I’ve always dreamt of writing a book. I would also love to continue speaking in other countries.  Molly and I took our Kind Campaign Founders Assemblies to the UK last year and I would love to see our programming continue to spread globally.

Molly: Honestly, in so many ways I feel like I've already exceeded what any bucket list could capture. Not to sound cheesy, but I really do feel so unbelievably lucky to be in the position I am and do what we do. We have always said, "If we can just impact one person, then it has all been worth it." And thanks to social media for making this world seem so small and allowing us to see Kind Campaign's impact, we have the opportunity to hear from that "one person" who has been impacted on a regular basis. So I guess my career bucket list would be to keep Kind Campaign's messaging current enough as time goes on to continue to have such a profound impact on people. And to meet Oprah.

Wellness: Annie Lawless

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

Writing her own rules.

Law school student turned creator. That’s the short version of Annie Lawless’ story, but the long-form version is a lot more interesting. 

While in law school in San Diego Annie started making juice out of her apartment kitchen. After feeling inspired by her local yoga community, and uninspired by her chosen career path, Annie and her co-founder would buy the produce at the local Whole Foods, juice it in her kitchen and then sell it door-to-door. Scrappy? Yes. Legal? Blurry. 

As her passion for the business grew, she dropped out of law school to focus FT on Suja. By the time she parted ways with the brand, it was worth about 300 million dollars. 

But just because she had seen success, didn’t mean she stopped looking for opportunity. She started her blog, Blawnde, as a side hobby to post wellness and lifestyle content while launching her organic juice company, Suja Juice. “As a child,” says Annie Lawless, “I lived with Celiac disease and became fascinated with nutrition, health, and wellness as a result of my revelation of the power of food.”

“After a few years of working full time on Suja, I decided to switch gears and focus on Blawnde. I am very inspired at this time in my life to create interesting, useful content and connect with my audience in a deeper way.”

She’s also used her law-school diversion as a way to connect with herself. “Don’t waste one minute, let alone 3 plus years of your life doing anything that makes you unhappy or doesn’t feel right,” says Annie. “Life is way too short, and forcing yourself to be or do something you’re not is a terrible way to spend your time on earth. Don’t worry so much about what you’re ‘supposed’ to be doing or what other people think of you, and do what you are really passionate about, happy, and fulfilled doing.” 

“Don’t waste one minute of your life doing anything that makes you unhappy.”

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She’s human and gets stuck from time to time. “There are definitely times I feel stuck and lacking in spirit. When this happens, it is so important for me to take a step back and do things for myself like yoga, a self care day, or travel to a new place to get my creativity and motivation flowing again.” 

Her positive spirit is not only encouraging, it’s proof that what you put out, is what you bring in. “Don't get stuck in the weeds,” says Annie. “Stay above drama, pettiness, and irrelevant negativity in life.”

For her empowerment means, “that I don't see a single thing that I can't do that that a man can because I am a woman. It means seeing the world as a completely level playing field open to anyone willing to get out and play.” 

“Stay above drama, pettiness, and irrelevant negativity in life.”

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For Annie that means writing another book, starting a family, and launching another brand within the next five years. “Can't has never been a word in my vocabulary,” she shares.

“Women have accomplished so much and we have made huge strides in the last 25 years. I would love for us to shift the conversation from what we can't do, to all that we have done and can do. If we cut the negative talk about the things that hold us back in this world, and push right through those and actively do, I think that would be a very positive environment for women all over the world.” 

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

Content Creator: Sophia Rossi, HelloGiggles

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

Played nice on the Internet and won. 

Sophia is wearing Keds' Champion Originals.

Sophia Rossi wants to run her own farm. For now she’s CEO of the HelloGiggles fam. 

Despite the community she's fostered, Sophia didn’t get her start in "feel good" entertainment. “I started my career,” she says, “as a producer for The Hills, The City, and then Glee.”(One of those things, not quite like the others.) She began as an Associate Producer on the pilot of The Hills, and over the course of five years the content guru grew into the role of Executive Producer.   

“I think working in entertainment,” the LA native shares, “showed me how negative the climate could be for women on a large scale. So when I met Zooey [Deschanel and Sophia’s HelloGiggles co-founder] and we both wanted to create a positive space for women, I think we were both coming from the same place.”

It’s a place that prepared her for her new role. “As a producer,” Sophia explains, “you have to just make things happen. And when you start your own company, it’s that same energy of, OK, let’s figure it out.” 

Which they did. The company's first digs were Sophia's home, three blocks away from her parents in Beverly Hills. An empowerment den filled with positive vibes. In 2015, HelloGiggles was purchased by Time for a reported 20 million dollars. Sophia has stayed on; her role in creating safe spaces for women on the internet is invaluable. 

“The internet can get pretty dark," she says. "I think 2016 showed us just how bad things can get, so it’s important to me that we have a place where women can share their voice and connect with each other on the issues that matter the most to them. Our community is always growing, and I love knowing there will always be a place for women to come and share their empowerment and be entertained, too.”

"It’s important to me that we have a place where women can share their voice."

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Sophia is wearing Keds' Champion Originals.

"When you’re running a startup," Sophia says about the early days, "there’s a new challenge every day. It’s literally 24/7 of putting out fires and there’s that sort of high you get from from moving from one panic to the next. The biggest challenge is to not let that be the culture of your company." She knows things don’t always work out, but has learned “it’s never the catastrophe you thought it would be.” 

“When you’re building something, you don’t always know what it’s going to look like when it’s finished. But then you realize it's never quite finished. So staying authentic to myself and my original goals helps me make sure my career stays on track." 

For Sophia the challenge and opportunity is "more than just inspiring other women with words." The job of HelloGiggles is to give the community "tools to really make big changes in their lives. And hopefully that inspires them to go out and do the same for other women, too." 

When times turn tough, Sophia will turn to friends she counts as mentors, like fellow media boss Katherine Power (and fellow C&C 100 honoree), and friend Joyce Azria who one told Sophia, “'Always have clean hair.'" Advice that made a lot of sense to her

And she’s not joking about the farm part. 

“I’m working closely with chef Roy Choi (of Kogi Truck and Locol) and we’re seeing what we can build together," she reports. "He’s such a leader and a motivator and I’m so honored to learn from him and benefit from his positive energy. But in five years, my hope is that I’m finally drinking enough water and that I own a farm." She would like said farm to have chickens. 

“My favorite thing to do," Sophia says, "is create a space for humans to thrive.” From career goals to squad goals to squawk goals, it looks like success will come home to roost for this woman no matter what.  

Philanthropy: Lauren Miller Rogen, Hilarity for Charity

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

Knows laughter is some damn good medicine. 

“Witnessing what happened to my mother destroyed almost all of my optimism. But that truly has changed because of Hilarity For Charity. I know and feel the good that is out there every single day.” So shares Lauren Miller Rogen, filmmaker and co-founder of Hilarity for Charity, a non-profit organization that works with the Alzheimer's Association to raise money for research and support groups, and to help families struggling to care for a person with Alzheimer's. It’s an organization near and dear to Lauren’s heart, having watched her mother, Adele, a teacher for 35 years, struggle through the debilitating effects of the disease. 

Born in Long Island, raised in Lakeland, Florida, Lauren says she was always into creative activities. Happiest when she was drawing, she acted in summer camp plays and wrote stories, eventually finding herself enraptured by fashion. But when she moved to New York to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), she decided it was not the world for her. Acting was her passion. And after her dad convinced Lauren she needed a bachelor’s degree, she switched schools, graduating from the Film School at Florida State, a place she says she finally felt like herself. “I had found my people and what I was meant to do,” she shares. A few weeks post-gradation, Lauren and 15 of her fellows caravanned to Los Angeles. She’s called the City of Angels home ever since. In L.A. she worked as an assistant for three years, saving enough money to stop working, and pursue her dream of writing and acting full time. In 2011 she took For a Good Time, Call, a movie she co-wrote, produced, and starred in, to Sundance. Later that year she married actor Seth Rogen, after dating for over a decade. 

Her relationship with Seth, which she calls “the best thing that happened to her,” began soon after Lauren moved to LA. However, life happens in the midst of happiness. Shortly thereafter, at only 25, the creative’s mom and the "heroic woman" whom she credits with showing her “how important it is to have passion for what you do with your life," was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s (anyone under the age of 64). Adele was 55-years-old. Lauren explains that “losing my mom, slowly, right in front of my eyes to a disease like Alzheimer’s shaped who I was for a while.” She was depressed. "I was really dark five years ago. Much darker than I thought I could ever be," she shares. The pain dominated her thoughts. Until a friend suggested a fundraiser. She resisted at first, the usual protests in mind. The fear of the workload. And the fact that she knew “NOTHING about having a fundraiser,” didn’t abed those fears. She remembers riding to the first event thinking, “there’s just no way this is going to work.” But, it did.

Since its first Variety Show in 2011, Hilarity for Charity has raised over $6M. Lauren says, “From the creation of HFCU (our program for college students), to the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Relief Grant Program (which has awarded over 120K hours of free at home care to those who need it the most), HFC has shown me that amazing things can come from the least expected places, and that doing what you can do is one of the best ways to help ourselves and the world around us.”

"Amazing things can come from the least expected places."

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And naturally, though HFC is heavily focused on millennials, Lauren wants to rally as many people as possible around the cause. Especially the eight-second attention span Gen Z crowd. “It’s estimated that close to 15 Million Americans will have Alzheimer’s in 2050. Gen Z’ers will be how old then?” she asks. "I think that a disease like Alzheimer’s won’t be stopped until EVERYONE is involved in the fight.”

These days, Lauren swears by cuddling with her dog, Zelda. As for whether comedy is the best medicine, Lauren says, “It certainly helps. It’s also really the only thing my husband and I know how to do, so I don’t think we would have been able to form HFC without it. But, I also believe that if the time is right, sometimes some things are just so sad and so awful that the only thing we can do it laugh.” She still counts herself as incredibly blessed, despite the struggle her mother's disease has presented. "I can’t say I’ve faced any challenges that were particularly worse than most people—I’ve had unfair teachers and bosses, friends who didn’t value me, jobs I didn’t get and really wanted. Pretty basic stuff. Really, I have been pretty lucky my entire life." She does add the her biggest hurdle has been the one that most people face: self. "Like many, I can be my own worst critic, and the voices of insecurity, anxiety, fear, jealousy can drive me to places that aren’t productive, helpful, or even kind."

“Sometimes things are so sad the only thing we can do is laugh.” 

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At present Lauren runs HFC, “with a great team of people,” writes, acts, and hopes to make “another feature in 2017 which I will direct.”  

The days of caravanning to LA may be distant, but there is an optimism engrained in Lauren that even her darkest days can’t takeaway. She thinks back to her third day on the job as an assistant. “I delivered some papers to my boss who was in the middle of an ADR session with Tom Hanks,” she says. Her boss introduced her to Hanks who said, “Nice to meet you Lauren. Don’t. Get. Jaded.” Simple, but sage advice that has stuck. Because when Lauren says “I am lucky to do this work with HFC and THAT is what keeps me going,” you know she means it with her whole heart. 

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

STEM: Latinas in STEM, Board of Directors

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

Inspiring the next generation.

Jazlyn Carvajal, Diana Albarrán Chicas, Cecilia Fernández, Kimberly Gonzales, Joanna Gonzalez, Desiree Lassiter, Maribel Mendoza, and Nidia Trejo make up the Latinas in STEM Board of Directors, an organization founded by 5 MIT alumnae looking to formalize the service work they were doing in their respective communities. 

The founders of the organization are all first generation American women who have been the first in their families to attend college. They have careers in industry with a long track record of community service. The current board consists of professional Latina women who are interested in providing Latinas with mentorship, resources, and access to careers in STEM.

The stats around women in STEM aren’t great. And the barriers to entry for women of color are compounded. A lack of role models, lagging outreach, and overall limited parental awareness, leads to dismal numbers. So you’ve heard. 

But with organizations like Latinas in STEM, founded in 2013, there is hope. And not only on the horizon. 

Their goals include: inspiring young women to consider STEM careers, increasing the number of Latina women pursuing STEM careers, and creating a network that enables women in STEM to survive. Their programs include K-12 student and parent outreach, college student support, and professional development that enables their network to grow and reach more students. 

It’s vital work that serves the community and world. 

More from the Board of Directors below. 

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

The most important step was starting a dialogue among friends about the need in our communities and our desires to help our communities in a more formal matter. It was a simple Facebook group message sent among friends that eventually led to the formal organization of Latinas in STEM. 

What are some challenges you’ve encountered along the way?

There have been many challenges for us as a group. To begin, the group is currently completely volunteer run, meaning that we all have day jobs as STEM professionals. As such, one of the challenges has been carving sufficient time to help our organization progress along the way. Luckily, we have had a lot of support from our networks and other organizations who have similar goals. 

What keeps you going?

Knowing that we can encourage Latinas whose shoes we were once in -- to do well in math and science subjects, get good grades to enter college, and follow a career path of their dreams. 

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

Our first mentors and influences for many of us were our families. We have all had various mentors throughout our careers including each other. 

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

Stay humble. Know that your career path and your goals may change over time, but stay true to yourself along the way. 

What is your favorite life advice?

One of the greatest things we can have as women is education. Our knowledge and opinions are valuable to share with the world to help make it better. 

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

We’ve all overcome a lot of adversity in our lives. We move forward and make opportunities by being proactive. 

What’s next? What are the five year goals?

Next, we plan to expand the organization, and hire full-time administrators to help us continue the work that we are doing. As we mentioned, currently we are 100% volunteer run, but we want to expand our work by reaching out to more people nationwide. We need more woman power, and so we hope to formalize the group even more. 

What is a habit or routine you swear by?

Share your big goals with others- it makes you accountable and also may open new doors. 

"Share your big goals with others- it makes you accountable."

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How have your relationships to your careers changed in the last five years?

Embracing the idea that mentoring the next generation of STEM experts outside of our individual, professional work is an important part of our career journeys. 

How have your personal relationships changed in the last five years? 

We encourage one another to embrace failures and share these stories with our Latina members. It’s important for our members to know about our successes as Latinas in STEM, and it is equally important to tell our stories of roadblocks and lessons learned. Although it can be difficult to think back on difficult situations, our stories can be what inspires our members to continue pursuing and thriving in STEM fields. 

What does female empowerment mean to you?

It means supporting and mentoring one another to achieve our goals. It means being critical of each other in a way that helps build other women up, and not tear them down. It means helping other women achieve their dreams. 

Entrepreneur: Justina Blakeney, The Jungalow

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

Welcome to her Jungalow. 

“Take a deep breath and listen, practice some restraint.” 

Those are the words of current breadwinner, new mom, and captain of a design business that’s rapidly expanding: Justina Blakeney, founder of The Jungalow. The interior design boss is the first to admit that “no one knows how it’s going to go," but handling uncertainty is a big part of entrepreneurship. "There are days when I feel like things aren’t balanced or chill, when I have to work a lot and travel,” but, she says, “I think it’s important to understand in what type of environment your thrive. I flourish in the multi-hustle world.”

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 notes. 

"I flourish in the multi-hustle world.”

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At the moment she has five people who work for her. They are all part time and she runs a single member LLC. “That’s all going to change next year,” she says, joking, “in part because I don’t want to break any labor laws.” It’s also because she knows she needs full time commitment from her employees. “I’m ready for my business to be at the forefront of my employees minds and I can’t expect that to be the case if it’s not their full time job.”

And it has become very full time.

Most Jungalow income still comes from social media and the blog, but the business is expanding rapidly. What exactly is in the works? “The Jungalow world takeover.” NBD. And it’s moving fast— a pace she is most comfortable with. “People need to be able to keep up,” she says, “and I have no patience for people who work slowly. Being able to be fast is how you can make money. You have to be quick.” At least in her business, where iteration is not the name of the game. 

Justina says, “I worked really hard to not be known as a blogger. I wanted to be known as a designer first.” The plan with the furniture line is to develop the wholesale side of the business first. That way, “by the time we get into a retail we’ll be a brand name.” She describes ecommerce as “an intimidating whole new universes.” Citing the customer service, sales tax, and returns. “But what I keep telling myself,” she explains, “is that it’s not hard, it’s just a lot. And the hardest part is making the leap.” Especially when you're conditioned to think business is a man's game. “There was this moment,” she explains, “where it became very clear to me that being good at business was not about being good at numbers, or understanding the Dow Industrial— that’s what I thought being ‘good a business’ meant.”

“As women,” she says, “we’re trained to think that business is not a woman’s game— it’s not left-brained. But being able to relate to people has proven to be a much bigger asset than I knew.”

Developing her brand meant make hard choices, like passing on 50k opportunities because they “didn’t make sense,” both aesthetically and in her gut. She’s driven by authenticity, while also understanding that “businesses are machines that are created for profit. You can’t depend on someone else for your well-being. It’s something I always have in the back of my mind— to make sure I have my own back.” 

We circle back to the election. “Trump won because he was bold and didn’t care what people think. It was a messaging nightmare. But as much as Trump is deplorable, he’s authentic; he’s an authentic dickhead.”

The Bernie supporter is considerably angry about the country's new POTUS but her support for other women and women of color is unwavering. “Female empowerment is about having your own back and having the back of your sisters,” she insists. “It’s so hard for me to watch women not supporting other women and men not supporting women. As a woman of color and as a woman, it’s painful for me to see. It’s so easy to be catty and jealous, but it’s so counter-productive. It’s so much easier to be supportive.” 

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

Philanthropy: Alliance of Moms

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

Creating an army of moms. 

“The Alliance of Moms' mission is to break the intergenerational cycle of babes born to teens in foster care and in my family my brother and I are the breaking of that cycle,” shares Jules Leyser, co-president of the non-profit. Her own mother grew up in residential foster care in the UK and was long-term fostered by the woman Jules knew as grandma. 

“My mum experienced an incredible amount of abuse and trauma throughout her childhood,” the activist explains. She had her first child, Jules’ brother at 17 and gave birth to Jules two years later. “In many ways she got lucky,” she says,“because my dad was a teacher and showed her a whole different world with opportunities she otherwise wouldn't have known.”

Jules, now 44, hasn’t strayed too far from her beginnings. She broke the cycle of teen pregnancy, giving birth to her first child at 39. And as co-president of The Alliance of Moms, an organization founded with Yasmine Delawari Johnson, who began working with kids in the foster care system when pregnant with her now 7 year old, her day-to-day is spent helping young moms and kids in foster care. 

Almost seven years ago, while pregnant with her son, Yasmine started volunteering at the Alliance for Children’s Rights. Later, when pregnant with her daughter, Malala, she joined their Board. Looking to do more, the “dear friends,” hosted a fundraiser in Yasmine’s backyard to support pregnant and parenting teens in foster care. But they knew they could be more hands-on. From those backyard conversations and volunteered hours, The Alliance of Moms was born. It is a membership-based auxiliary of the Alliance for Children’s Rights. 

Two years ago they were a group of five moms. Today, they have 500 members and are growing. 

Yasmine admits that the last two years have been some of her most fulfilling, but equally difficult. Coming from a place of integrity and intention has helped the co-presidents through. But that meant they really had to hone in on their mission. Around the 6 month mark they took a few days to nail it down. “As a start-up nonprofit,” says Jules, “we simply couldn't do everything and we were getting generous offers for things like doing hair for our girls and makeovers, but we knew that wasn’t what were were giving up time away from our own families to do.” Education with a focus on early brain development became an integral piece of the Alliance. With 80% of the brain developed by age 3, Yasmine and Jules knew that “if our girls' babies could start pre-school on track with other kids then they had a better chance of doing well and not falling behind and therefore they would hopefully avoid becoming teen parents themselves.” 

The full time volunteers recognize the challenges. “It is easy,” says Yasmine, “to be completely caught in the wheel of day-to-day demands of the business part of our organization and feel like you don't have time to pause. But like anything in life, you must make that time. It is in that space that you can grow with authenticity, grace and clarity.”

It’s with the aforementioned grace that Yasmine and Jules are dedicated to the commonalities, not differences, amongst mothers. “Luck and geography can make our lives seem very different, and in some ways our lives may be very different, but we all want our kids to feel safe. We want them to be healthy and educated. We want them to have opportunities and know their value. Many of our young mothers in foster care have come from such traumatic histories that they may have never experienced any of these things themselves, but if you ask them what they want for their kids, their answers are the same,” says Yasmine. 

“Luck and geography can make our lives seem very different, but we all want our kids to feel safe."

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“We aren't social workers or any authority figure who has power over them and their babies. We are just moms who know how challenging parenting can be even in the best of circumstances,” says Jules.“They've been let down and often abandoned many times in their lives so it’s important that our community of moms consistently wraps our arms around them.”

At the time we talk, the pair is in “deep strategic planning” about what comes next. They want to deepen their relationships with teen moms, well aware that in order to have the kind of impact they want they have to focus beyond how many girls they can reach, but “how often we can reach the same girls.” They also want to expand outside of Los Angeles within the next five years. 

As full time volunteers, the realities of dedicating their day-to-day to a cause can be exhausting. And to do so with "grace," Yasmine shares is probably the hardest, but most important part. But the mom of two  insists that you do the work, especially when you don’t feel like doing it. “In my mind, I am still the high school student cramming for the test, and yet nothing in my life today actually reflects that. It's funny how we hold onto these ideas about ourselves. I rarely feel like doing the hard work, but I just sit down and do it.” 

Adding, “I am in a very fortunate position where I do not need to work to help support our family. I work because it is important for me to model for my children a mother who is dedicated and passionate, and I work to try to do my part in our world. I don't look at my work as a career path as much as a life path. In that sense, I don't ever see myself not working. There will always be ways to engage and give back.”

Quitting is not an option for either. "Understandably there is a self-esteem epidemic amongst our teen moms and although it is hard to quantify," says Jules, "I believe that our alliance makes the girls feel seen and important in ways that are not typical in their everyday lives."

Together, they’ve launched a parenting movement with the hopes of shattering every current  statistic about teen moms, their babies, and foster care.

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

Philanthropy: Caitlin Crosby, The Giving Keys

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

Keyed into something good.

Like so many great love stories, it all started in a New York City hotel room. While on tour, actress/songwriter Caitlin Crosby decided to wear her room key as a necklace. Then, had the bright idea to engrave these beautiful old keys with inspirational words. It wasn’t until Caitlin met Rob and Cera, a young couple living on the streets of Los Angeles, and invited them to join her for dinner, that the concept for The Giving Keys truly took shape. Over dinner, she asked them to become her business partners and the pair went to work making keys the very next day. Fast forward a few years and Rob and Cera are still together, gainfully employed and living in San Diego (Rob works at the San Diego Zoo!). The Giving Keys is changing lives through providing jobs and second chances to deserving individuals affected by homelessness.

Now that you know about her company, it’s time to meet the multifaceted woman behind it. Crosby grew up acting and began writing songs about her experiences and struggles behind the scenes. Her first album, Flawz and its accompanying website LoveYourFlaws.com, tackles self-love in the face of body image issues. From there, she began touring, selling creative merchandise, and sharing women’s stories. Out of this ultimate desire to uplift, The Giving Keys was born.

“Being aware of all the needs in this world, I’m always trying to always think of creative ways to combat them,” shares the 34-year-old philanthropist and founder, who is an avid boxer and passionate body positivity advocate in her down-time. “I always wanted to write songs about issues that people were going through to hopefully encourage them. All of those observations, and trying to strategically create a product and movement that would heal people,” she say, have helped her arrive here.

Today, The Giving Keys is sold in more than 1,200 stores, including Nordstrom and Fred Segal, and has created more than 54 jobs for at-risk individuals. “Seeing our employees who once experienced homelessness flourish within the company and hearing the many stories about people's lives being impacted and changed,” is what keeps Crosby going. ‘We aren't in this to just make money and be fashionable. We exist to change people's lives.”

"We aren't in this to make money. We exist to change people's lives."

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So, now that Crosby has checked collaborating with Oprah off her bucket list (NBD!), will she finally kick her feet up and just chill? Far from it. In addition to expanding The Giving Keys into a full fashion, lifestyle, and apparel brand, she’s also got plans for a mission-based music album, getting back into acting, and two more babies (Oh yea, she just had her first kid amidst all of this massive growth.)

“The ultimate goal is to get as many people off the streets by creating more jobs for individuals trying to transition out of homelessness,” she says. So what’s her best advice for staying grounded and sane? “Be kind to yourself. You are unique for a divine purpose. There's no one else who can do what you do. Embrace all your 'quirks' & so called 'imperfections.' Change your perspective and know that those things make you 'you.' And that's a beautiful thing."