Create & Cultivate 100: Music: Madame Ghandi
THE BOSS MADAME.
THE BOSS MADAME.
photo creditL: Molly Matalon
Kiran Gandhi, known by her stage name Madame Gandhi, is an electronic music artist and activist based in Los Angeles.
Having gained recognition as the former drummer for M.I.A. and as the iconic free-bleeding runner at the 2015 London Marathon, Madame Gandhi now writes music that elevates and celebrates activism focuses on female empowerment and Fourth-wave feminism.
"I am a drummer," she says, "whose mission is to elevate and celebrate the female voice."
Her debut solo EP, Voices, which she released under the name Madame Gandhi late last year and describes as “electrofeminist.” It is a wonderful intro to her beats and ideology, declaring in a a spoken-word breakdown on album closer “The Future Is Female”: “I want to live in a world that is collaborative/A world that is emotionally intelligent/A world in which we are linked and not ranked!”
Did we mention she has her M.B.A from Harvard? No, we didn't. We'll drop that in now.
In a recent interview you mention that the point of your work, "is actually to make somebody else feel joyful and elevated and inspired when they leave my show.” How do keep yourself joyful and inspired to be able to do this for your audience?
I keep myself joyful by reading books that inspire me to be my best self, meditating and repeating positive thoughts, sending love to others, running, and being productive by building towards my goal of taking my ideas and writing them into music that can contribute to the joy of others!
In your song The Future is Female, you have a lyric that reads, "To me, “The Future is female” means that no longer will female qualities be subordinated to male qualities.” We love this. What female qualities do you see reigning in the future?
Increased value placed on emotional intelligence, collaboration instead of competitiveness, leading with compassion instead of ego and finally thinking about how much we can give instead of how much we can receive. All people possess a mix of masculine and feminine energies but I believe that the deeply ingrained misogyny that still plagues our society today prevents us from loving and valuing what feminine energy brings to the table. I argue that bringing in more of the divine feminine is the very thing that just might save our society where hypermachismo culture fails us.
Your music has been said to seamlessly weave together flavors of multiple genres from hip hop and pop to electronic. Who are your biggest musical inspirations?
My biggest musical inspirations are the Spice Girls, Fela Kuti, tUnE-yArDs, St. Vincent, Thievery Corporation, Santigold, TV on the Radio, the Dirty Projectors and M.I.A.
So much of your work is focused on women empowerment and encouraging women to own their voice. Hypothetically speaking, if you had a son in the future what would you want him to understand about female empowerment and how he can contribute to the movement?
I think and dream about this all the time and it scares me. I don’t know how I would raise a son in this world. I suppose I practice on my little brother haha. He is 8 years younger than me and I take a strategy of both encouraging and nurturing him, while educating him and challenging some of his inherent privilege. The nurturing and encouraging aspect is not only because I love him dearly, but also to embody the very style of leadership I wish we valued more, and prove its enormous power. My brother now sends me articles about equality, engages in discussions with me about modern feminism, asks me questions all the time, navigates his relationship with his girlfriend through a lens of partnership and is very good at criticizing and identifying problematic social norms. I can only hope my son would be similar.
Your career path has involved a few different industries. How have you successfully navigated the business and music industries while uplifting female empowerment?
I have only ever worked in music. I served as Interscope Record’s first ever digital analyst, then I got my MBA from Harvard, and then I worked at Spotify as a consultant after school. My intention was to learn the business so well so that when I created my own music, I would never be exploited and I could create on my own terms. If you make radical feminist music but then have to rely on the very gatekeepers I am criticizing to get the music out, the project would never work. I wanted to educate myself so much so that I could run as much of the project on my own, control the narrative, strategy and finances. This is deeply feminist in its intent because it rejects exploitation, rewards creativity and has an end goal of getting a message of healing and empowerment out instead of making millions of dollars.
What does it mean today to be a liberated boss madame?
That I follow my intuition and feel free and brave enough to express myself, own my voice and feel safe enough to be as authentic as possible.
What is the best piece of real talk advice you’ve ever received?
"Keep it moving!"
If you could change the conversation around one subject right now, what would it be?
Sex positivity!! I think if we want to combat sexual assault, we have to also include sex positivity and a joyful, educative focus on female sexuality! We have the best sex organs, we have so many ways we can receive pleasure, I want us to feel like we know our own anatomy inside and out, we know what turns us on and what doesn’t, and moreover we learn how to communicate that to our partners no matter what gender identity they are. I want to educate men that they absolutely must receive enthusiastic, joyful consent, read our body language more intuitively and ask when they don’t know, and understand that the best sex is not only about receive but about giving! Sexual assault, harassment and rape in this country must end, and I think a large part of the antidote is removing the stigma surrounding female sexual liberation. Therein lies some of our deepest power.
What’s your superpower?
I am the rays of the sun, joyful, positive and hopeful, and I will keep shining for you! I want to be a ball of shining love energy that you can come into when you need! This is what the female energy represents to me - healing, life, love. It’s why I love the color yellow so much. My first name, “Kiran”, means first ray of sunlight in the morning in Hindi, and I step into this name as much as I can. It’s a personal reminder to lead with empathy, unconditional love and fearlessness. My mom is the most beautiful example of this.
What do you sing in shower when you’ve had a bad day?
Fela Kuti - “No Agreement”
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE MUSIC LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Fashion: Ilse Valfré
THE BONAFIDE BADASS.
THE BONAFIDE BADASS.
In three years, about the amount of time it takes most of us to unsubscribe from email lists, Ilse Valfré went from being a kindergarten teacher to CEO of a million dollar indie lifestyle brand.
And her email subscription list is huge. With close to 700k followers on Instagram, the entrepreneur has a handle on her handle. Part indie, part pop, the Mexican-born artist understands the wild-at-heart millennial mind. Valfré’s mission is to bring her art to life by creating unique products that are a direct reflection of the psychedelic world that she has created. (Shoutout to her "grow a pair" denim jacket.) Her work explores the poignant tension between vulnerability and confidence as she transports her audience into the hearts and minds of the characters that she creates.
More from the badass business owner below.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
From my inner need to create stuff. It’s therapy for me.
When you were young, were there successful Latina businesswomen whom you admired?
My aunty Wanda Amieiro is a fashion designer from Mexico City. Seeing how she built her brand was a big inspiration for me, and it has always fascinated me how she was able to balance her family life and her career, and still look flawless.
Do you feel ever feel extra pressure as a Latina business woman?
To be honest, I really don’t. I love what I do and I just take one day at a time and try to have fun during the process.
When you run into a career obstacle, what drives you forward?
My family, especially my partner who happens to be my husband. His ability to problem solve is incredible and he still manages to remain relaxed.
What are your biggest fears about running a business?
Like I said, I am taking this amazing journey one day at a time. But like anybody, I do have a fear of letting our employees down (who have become like family) if we make a wrong business decision.
You quit your job to focus on your artwork and building your brand full time. How did you know it was the "right" time?
When I realized I wasn’t getting any younger and that to build a business takes time and effort. So I literally woke up one morning, called my boss and quit. That same day I started blogging and educating myself on how to start a business from home. This was back in 2009.
"When I became a mom at 25 I gained this confidence and a clear vision."
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What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
That Bruno (my black character) is based off my real life cat that was rescued from the streets of Tijuana.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
I think I get the most excited when I see people connecting and interacting with the art. It never gets old for me to see people getting my work tattooed on them, or seeing how creative people get when they dress up like my characters.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
My personal life is really connected to my career. When I became a mom at 25, I gained a lot more confidence and a much clearer vision of how I wanted life to be. Becoming a mom has definitely helped me focus in on what's important and has ultimately given me a lot more motivation to make Valfré a success.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
We live in a society that constantly tells us that we're not good enough, pretty enough, or smart enough. Something I always try to remember is that “the key to happiness is gratitude”. This means that no matter what, you always have to try and see the bright side and be thankful for who you are and what you have.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
When my calendar hits December, my brain instantly shifts into Mariah Carey mode. During these days you'll definitely hear me singing “all I want for Christmas” on repeat. hahah
How many pins is too many pins on a jacket?
There is no such things as too many.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE FASHION LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Michelle Lee
EDITOR OF THE YEAR.
EDITOR OF THE YEAR.
Michelle Lee didn't have an "in."
There was no relative ushering her into the ranks at Condé Nast. Nepotism wasn't going to land her a job at a glossy. At yet, the future was always on her mind.
Michelle went to college at University of Florida choosing Journalism as her major her sophomore year. She liked writing. She liked the journalism building. It made sense. She ended up graduating with a very specific degree in Magazine Journalism, but as a result of her eagerness, she scheduled all of her classes at night and worked during the day. By the time Michelle was in the midst of her junior year she had a full time job as a Staff Writer at a Florida paper called the Weekly Planet. By the end of her time there she was penning features and cover stories. Then she skipped walking at graduation and moved to NYC. She was ready. Eager. And didn't know a soul.
Now, she's the EIC at Allure, the "Beauty Expert" beat of the magazine world. But she's flipping the script on what "beauty" means. "We did that in big ways in 2017 with our Helen Mirren The End of Anti-Aging cover, as well as putting Alicia Keys on with no makeup, and Halima Aden in her hijab for our American Beauty issue," she says. That inclusive messaging has really resonated across digital and social media.
Oh hey, Michelle Lee. We see you EIC. Boss. Babe. Badass. Game-changer. Forever learner.
Name: Michelle Lee
Instagram Handle: @heymichellelee
Adweek named you 2017 Editor of the Year. What does an honor like that mean to you?
It was such a wonderful surprise and honor. I burst out crying when I found out…like, full-on ugly cry. We’re all so busy every day that it’s easy to put your head down and forget that people are actually seeing—and enjoying—your work. So it’s wonderful to be recognized in such a visible way. When I took the job at Allure, I very consciously didn’t change everything overnight since I understood that the audience needed to be eased into some things. So, two years in, it’s wonderful to see where we are now and to see how much we’ve truly moved the brand forward in an exciting way.
In part, it's because you announced Allure would no longer use the phrase "anti-aging." Was it scary to make that kind of proclamation, knowing how many advertisers use the phrase?
It was a little scary but we really believed it was the right thing to do. Growing up, I never considered myself to be a thrillseeker or risktaker, but in business, I can be pretty fearless. I won’t jump blindly into situations but I do find that calculated, educated risks often have the biggest payoff.
"In business, I can be pretty fearless."
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How do you take that honor as fuel to push boundaries in 2018?
When I started at Allure, the brand was already extremely trusted as The Beauty Expert. Today, I think we’ve brought an extra layer to our mission, which is to challenge antiquated standards of beauty and to redefine what’s considered beautiful in our culture. We did that in big ways in 2017 with our Helen Mirren The End of Anti-Aging cover, as well as putting Alicia Keys on with no makeup, and Halima Aden in her hijab for our American Beauty issue. And that message has really taken flight on digital, social media and video, as well. All of the risks we took this year also made me (and I hope others, too) readjust how we measure success. In the traditional magazine world, people would typically measure success by newsstand sales. But to brands (especially ones who are going through big change) I think it’s important to give them enough time to grow and to look at success as a combination of many things, such as social buzz. To me, I wanted us to create cultural moments, and I think we accomplished that. Because we’ve exceeded my expectations for 2017, plus we’ve been so nicely recognized this year, it definitely plays into my plans for 2018!
What is the biggest challenge you're currently facing as an editor?
It’s always a challenge to figure out where time and resources are best spent. When I started out in media, an editor in chief had one job: the magazine. Today, an EIC has about 10 jobs, between print, digital, video, social, ancillary businesses, events, licensing, etc. It’s my responsibility to myself and my staff to make sure I’m spending my time on the biggest needle movers.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
I didn’t go to a fancy college or have a lot of contacts in the industry when I was starting out, so I always thought of myself as a bit of an underdog when I was younger. This turned out to be a great strength though since it taught me to have an incredible work ethic. I believed early on that I’d need to work twice as hard as everyone else. I also have a great love of learning. It really bugs me when I don’t know how to do something or if I don’t understand something. So I’ll take it upon myself to learn. I’ve taught myself photography, CSS, how to design responsive websites, video editing, and more. That love of learning has made me a better, more curious editor.
Love of learning has made me a better, more curious editor.
How else is Allure helping re-draw the lines of what "beauty" means?
One of my favorite Allure video series is also one of our most popular: Dispelling Beauty Myths. The concept is really simple. It’s just one person telling their story, standing against a white backdrop. The person tells their raw, personal story about having a feature—that’s not traditionally considered beautiful by society—but why they’ve embraced it. We’ve covered everything from albinism to acne to weight to a burn victim to grey hair to mom bod. It’s always the video series that makes me cry.
"I believed early on that I’d need to work twice as hard as everyone else."
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What kind of responsibility do you feel to put powerful and positive messaging into the glossy world?
Well, I’d rephrase that a bit. I don’t feel like it’s my responsibility to put out a positive message. I think it’s more effective for us to have the difficult conversations. One thing that’s bothered me through the years about the stereotypical women’s media voice is that it was too earnest, almost corny, like, that somehow women couldn’t handle the hard truth. Don’t get me wrong: we’re not a brand that is negative or attacks people. BUT I also think it’s important to not shy away from a bit of ugliness. For example, we devoted April to a celebration of skin color and diversity. For our magazine cover story that month, we featured 41 women of color talking about diversity, inclusion, and colorism and the stories WENT THERE. We didn’t hide from the hurt and pain and some pretty strong language.
I don’t feel like it’s my responsibility to put out a positive message. I think it’s more effective for us to have the difficult conversations.
Do you remember the moment (or a moment) when you first felt "beautiful?"
Oof, that's a tricky question. I don't think I felt beautiful until college. I was an extremely late bloomer. I remember going to my cousin's wedding when I was around 18 or 19, feeling like I had been the ugly duckling who had blossomed into the swan. My entire personality had changed because I felt more comfortable in my own skin. I'll never forget one of my aunts commenting, "Who is this girl? I don't even know her!"
What is your biggest pet peeve?
People chewing loudly. Or taking up the whole sidewalk...slowly.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
How being an editor in chief involves understanding business and finance. A lot of people think it's purely creative...and for a good part of my career, it was. The track when I was starting was: be a writer than an editor, then a senior editor where you're managing a few people. But the further up the ladder you go, you start interacting with marketing and advertising and finance. Suddenly, people are talking more about P&Ls and ROI. If you want to ascend to the top of any field, learn business!
IYO-- How can we stay original when we are so saturated with other people's work?
Hire people who think outside the box and who will challenge your ideas from time to time. I think I'm pretty good at going with gut reactions and knowing when a concept feels "meh" or magical. I'm not a critical manager. I prefer positive reinforcement. But I do often challenge editors to push an idea further if it doesn't feel right yet. We've taken great pains to mold Allure into a culture of innovation. Once you do a few innovative things, it becomes addictive. And the whole staff catches on and wants to one-up what you've already done.
I prefer positive reinforcement. But I do often challenge editors to push an idea further if it doesn't feel right yet.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
I'm really proud of how innovative we've been at Allure this year with everything that I already mentioned but we also launched an augmented reality issue in Dec 2016, a beauty assistant chatbot on allure.com, and a really cool Try It program that lets visitors request product samples right from our site. Years ago, I knew that I needed to learn digital but I also started to learn tech and product (which a lot of editors don't do). Now, I'm fascinated by those things so I work really well with our product team...and that leads to more innovative projects.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
I'm obsessed with food, so probably Anthony Bourdain or anyone else who gets to eat and travel!
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
I don't think there was one moment. I've been in a state of constant growth. And there have been many peaks and valleys. In the past decade, I've gone through moments feeling like I could literally do anything I put my mind to. And then I've gone through totally irrational moments when I thought I would be homeless.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
I always use the same anecdote when I'm asked this question so I'll give another one. I think I have an entrepreneurial spirit and I've been a business owner before. At this point, though, I'm just not into dropping everything to start a business. So how do you satisfy that part of yourself? I remember hearing about the concept of being an intrapreneur years ago on a podcast and it really stuck with me. The idea is that you start a project at your own company. It's a great way to learn new skills. For example, if you want to know more about marketing, first, be great at your main role, but then go ahead and let your boss or others at your company know that you have an interest in something else and that you'd love to help.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?
I am not one to freeze and wallow. I just won't do it. Like anyone, I've had failures in my career, but I know that there's another opportunity IF I work really hard. My solution is always to spring into action immediately. Don't wait. Just move.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
I make up silly songs about my kids, which stick in my head all day. So I'll find myself humming them or singing them in the shower sometimes. You can't have a bad day when you're singing a totally silly song!
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE BEAUTY LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Content Creator: Destiney Green
#MAJORMOMCRUSH.
#MAJORMOMCRUSH
It's 2018. Bye, bye man crush. Hello, mom crush.
With fearless matriarch Destiney Green of popular parenting blog Mom Crush Monday ruling the roost, 2018 is all about unstoppable, stylish mamas taking over the world. Born as one new mom’s personal journey into the murky waters of raising a tiny human, Mom Crush Monday has officially graduated from the newborn stage, with a cool 185K Instagram followers, a membership-based platform, and a line of children’s clothing on the way.
With musings on graceful co-parenting, mental health, and mother/daughter adventures, Destiney and her daughter Honor are empowering, and inspiring, a community of mamas to dream, love, and grow.
More from Mom Crush Monday below.
Name: Destiney Green
Instagram: @MomCrushMonday
Where do your drive and passion come from?
When I became a mother, I suddenly felt like I had a purpose and a reason to push myself harder than ever before. Every time I look at Honor, I know why I'm working this hard.
Who is your biggest mom crush right now?
Denise Vasi. She's the epitome of career and mom success!
Your bio says you're a "future entrepreneur." What does "future" mean to you? And what are your plans?
The future is quickly approaching. I've known for a long time that I had big plans for myself, and I didn't want to let myself off the hook. 2017 has been about preparation for me, and in 2018 you'll see it all come to fruition. I'm really excited to see these pieces coming together on a couple different businesses I've been working on building.
When you hit a rough patch or hit bumps, how do you find new roads?
This question is such an important one. I think too many people are afraid of failing. I'm not and I encourage others to not be as well. If I hit a rough patch mentally, I take a day and refocus. If I hit a rough patch in a business opportunity, I look at why it didn't work and vow to make the next time better. I don't slow down enough to dwell on the hard moments. The key is to keep moving forward.
"I think too many people are afraid of failing. I'm not."
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How has motherhood helped you feel more empowered?
Oh my gosh, how has it not?! It's literally the most powerful thing you can do. To give life to another being. If I can do that, I'm unstoppable.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Excuses. I hate excuses.
What matters most to you about your job?
The connection with other women, and creating a foundation of sisterhood based on support and not competition.
What are your biggest fears about being a mom?
I wouldn't want Honor to ever look back and say I didn't prepare her for something.
How do you get over them?
I try to stay ready so we don't have to get ready.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
People assume that blogging is all fun and games. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE my job, but a lot of work goes into what I do. I work long hours and I work hard for what I want.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
I get to be completely flexible with my time and decide what I want to fill it. If a project doesn't feel right, I say no. I am in control of my future.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
Beyonce, because she's mastered her business and has changed the tables for so many.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
I think every day I grow more and more into the woman I am supposed to be. I've always been confident in who I am, but each day I find I'm on the path I'm meant to be on, that confidence grows.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Real talk, don't think you can do it all alone. Play on your strengths and hire out your weaknesses. No one got to the top alone.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
"Ambition" by Jay Z.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE CONTENT CREATOR LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Food: Lindsay Jang
THE SHARPEST SKILLZ.
THE SHARPEST SKILLZ.
Growing up in Alberta, Canada, Lindsay Jang, started bussing tables at 11 at a Chinese restaurant called Golden Captial.
Her whole family worked there. She learned the value of hard work early, but she didn't find her calling until years later. After dropping out of both art school and management school, she moved to New York, got a job at Nobu and finally felt at peace. That was 2004. She kept hustling. In 2009 her and business partner Matt Abergel, moved to Hong Kong. They kept honing their skills, both in love with prep of Japanese cooking and yakitori.
While Matt worked, Lindsay wrote the plan for Yardbird, their modern izakaya and yakitori restaurant. The created the space they wanted to go on Sundays. They created their dream. And the energy they put into Yardbird was immediately evidenced by the flocks who lined up outside to taste. Wait times were legendary. Within weeks they became one of Hong Kong's most-hyped restaurants. Hype hasn't slowed down.
At the end of last year, Yardbird spread its wings, migrating from Bridges Street to Wing Lok Street, adding lots of extra space. Yardbird is not her only venture.
Lindsay has impressively earned success across multiple verticals—the restaurant industry with Yardbird, Ronin, and Sunday’s Grocery, the media world with MISSBISH (a site for street wear media for girls/female driven platform), and fashion via the MISSBISH label.
Next up, Lindsay introduces Hong Kong favorite Yardbird to the West Coast with the opening of the Downtown L.A. restaurant, which will be named Birdyard, followed by the launch of MISSBISH’s Los Angeles office in 2019. Apparel available now at shopmissbish.com.
Woah LJ. We're so into it.
More from Lindsay below.
Name: Lindsay Jang
Instagram Handle: @lindsayjang
Business Instagram Handle: @missbish and @yardbird
You started bussing tables at 11. So where do your drive and passion come from?
My parents taught me the meaning of work ethic at a very young age and I attribute all the opportunities I've had to the simple acts of keeping my head down and working hard.
You've said that Yardbird is your dream space. That you imagined and opened the spot you'd want to go on Sundays. Now that you live in that dream, what's it like?
It's more amazing than I ever could've imagined. It has evolved into a global community of wonderful people. I get to work with the best in the business day in and out. I couldn't be more excited for what's to come.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Dishonest, ego-driven people.
You changed the HK restaurant scene. But people are always adverse to change. (i.e. someone telling you that you'd never survive with a "no reservations" policy). How do you listen to the naysayers or those that don't agree with you and stick to your guns?
I don't listen. LOL.
What do you think is more important in business: the numbers or the gut decisions?
Initially your gut and then finding the balance between how you feel and what makes sense from a business perspective.
What are your biggest fears about running a business?
Growing to a size where I don't know my core team intimately.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
It's all about your team. Nothing happens autonomously.
"It's all about your team. Nothing happens autonomously."
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IYO-- How can we stay original when we are so saturated with other people's work?
Trust your instinct and be daring to try something different. Hire young talent and listen to them.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
The ability I have to help other people grow.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
Oprah. She gets to inspire and nurture people every day while defining her own path and means to an end. She has conviction, talent, and a huge heart.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
I think I've always been the person I am today, I've just been given more opportunities as I've gained more experience.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Work with people smarter than you.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?
I don't dwell on the mistake or failure. I just go into problem-solving or moving forward mode.
I don't dwell on the mistake or failure. I just go into problem-solving or moving forward mode.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
I have a terrible voice. Even I don't like to hear it. LOL.
We recommend singing and dancing throughout the day as a preventative measure to bad moods.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE FOOD LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Philanthropy: Lilly Singh
THE BIGGEST HEART.
THE BIGGEST HEART.
For YouTube personality and influencer Lilly Singh a meme a day keeps the grump away.
The Canadian YouTube personality, vlogger, comedian, author, and actress, who goes by the YouTube name IISuperwomanII, has amassed over 2 billion views on her videos since beginning her channel in October 2010. Though she’s known for her comedic take on everything from. It’s her first upload (now deleted) a spoken word piece on religion and humanity, that most closely ties to her work with #GirlLove, an internet campaign the YouTuber launched in December 2016. Lilly, in unison with other successful women like Grace Helbig, encouraged young girls to spread love by complimenting other girls and using the #girllove.
The campaign and the love grew.
Lilly now partners with WE charity, part of the ME to WE organization, a for-profit social enterprise that empowers people to work together to change the world. The WE charity donates 90 percent of its earnings to developing villages to help grow them into sustainable communities. For the Girl Love campaign, ME to WE created a Rafiki bracelet, outsourcing the labor for the creation of the bracelets to Kenya, which now sell on the ME to WE online store. On a recent trip to Kenya she was so inspired by the women making the bracelets saying. “It has been so humbling to see the impact we made last year on these young girls in Kenya with our first #GirlLove Rafiki.”
She prefers to spell boss as “bawse,” and we’d say that’s exactly what she is.
More from Lilly below.
Name: Lilly Singh
Instagram Handle: @iisuperwomanii
If there were a social media apocalypse, which platform would you want to stay alive?
Twitter. It's the first platform I check in the morning and has allowed me to connect with some of my biggest inspirations.
What’s that last thing you watched or read that inspired you?
Rupi Kaur's The Sun and Her Flowers. She’s able to articulate her thoughts in such a real, relatable way, which I found intriguing and inspiring. That's what I try to do with my comedy. Relatability is priceless.
Why was it important for you to spread #GirlLove?
The sad reality is that girl-on-girl hate is everywhere: at school, at work, and online. I wanted to create a community that encourages positivity amongst women because as women, we know how amazing other women can be.
"I want young girls and women to see that encouraging one to achieve is a global win – we’re all in this together."
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I love in the Life Changing Trip to Kenya vid, you call the beads for the #GirlLove rafiki "the recipe." As if each one is a small part of the ingredients for love. Can you tell us about that moment?
Technically the mamas call the beads "the recipe" because it contains the colour coding and type of bead required to create the rafiki. However, I would agree that love is definitely in the recipe since each rafiki is handmade by a mama. In addition, the income they receive helps families in outstanding ways.
How did you land on the concept of rafikis-- or friendship bracelets?
This was heavily inspired by the knowledge the We Staff and organization as a whole has. Rafikis/beading is very much part of the Massai culture to begin with, so to take an activity that would happen anyways and add economic value to it is a double win. Also, they're cute!
What do you want your Superwoman legacy to be in 30 years?
The greatest legacy I could ever leave behind is inspiring people to be the best versions of themselves.
"I've learned that empowering people to change the world in their unique way is incredibly valuable to humanity – far greater than any numeric milestone like views or money."
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What is your favorite video you’ve ever done?
I have a lot of favourites, but my collaboration with Dwayne Johnson is most dear to my heart. Throughout my childhood, Dwayne was my absolute hero and to think that he’s now like a mentor and friend to me is surreal. Working alongside him was not only educational and inspirational, but it was the number one thing on my bucket list.
You're known for keeping it funny and positive. From the get-go was that part of your plan? To put some good vibes into the world?
I started making YouTube videos because I was depressed and trying to make myself happy. Therefore, keeping it positive has always naturally been part of the creative process. I'm fortunate enough to be in a really good and happy place today, but I know the impact a positive comedy video can have on someone having a bad day. So yes – that's the plan!
What has been the biggest surprise of your career to date?
It is difficult to share my biggest surprise of my career, but I have three moments that are extra special to me. First is my world tour and documentary, “A Trip to Unicorn Island.” Being able to travel the world, meet my fans and spread positivity was an unforgettable experience. Second is my Girl Love Rafiki Bracelet. When I saw my design come to life, I was overwhelmed. The bracelets not only represent being passionate about Girl Love, but doing something about it. Last is “How To Be A Bawse", of course! Writing my book has been a surreal journey.
When you hit a difficult bump in the road, what drives you forward?
I just really love life. I'm grateful for all the people I know, opportunities I get, and experiences I live. More than anything, gratitude drives me forward and I'm a huge believer that it's a necessary ingredient in happiness and success.
It gets a bad rap sometimes. But your platform has allowed initiatives like Girl Love to be successful. What are some of the positives you've seen come from social media?
Social media has given many people around the world a voice in ways that were not possible before. It has enabled real people to tell real stories with real voices. And those voices are diverse.
Where does your drive and passion come from?
I’m inspired by my fans, #TeamSuper. I started my YouTube channel because I felt alone, and their love and support has completely changed my life for the better. When I get to meet them in person, hear their stories and see how my videos have encouraged them to work harder or love themselves more, that’s true inspiration.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
Creation makes me feel most complete. It's a beautiful thing to have an idea in your brain and then take all the necessary steps to make it a reality. Not many people are afforded that privilege and I'm very grateful to see my brain babies come to life.
What would you call your superpower?
Hustle. Immense Hustle.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
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Create & Cultivate 100: Entrepreneur: Soraya Darabi
THE TRAIL BLAZER.
THE TRAIL BLAZER.
Soraya Darabi is the kind of Cover Girl every young woman should aspire to be.
She covered Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business” issue, then showed up on Inc. Magazine’s “30 Under 30” list in 2012, only to land on Fortune’s “40 under 40” list three years later.
Her business train moves as fast as her brain and as such, some have dubbed her a serial entrepreneur. But that doesn't bother Soraya-- not in the slightest. She began her career as the Digital Marketing and Social Media Manager at The New York Times at 23. She moved into entrepreneurship with the launch of Foodspotting, which she co-founded in 2011 and was acquired by OpenTable for $10 million, and then Zady, anti-fast-fashion e-commerce destination described as "The Whole Foods of fashion," in 2013.
Through all of her ventures she's never glamorized startup life.
Rather, she's crystal clear on the romanticized version of startup life the media likes to play up. She says entrepreneurs need to be stern if they want to see their idea succeed. At present, she's General Partner and founder at New York-based venture firm, Trail Mix, which invests in "the future of living well.” Investments include The Wing and Parsley Health.
More from Soraya below.
Name: Soraya Darabi
Instagram Handle: @soraya
Business Instagram Handle: @trailmixvc
We think hybrid models in all areas of business are the future. As someone who has been voted "most creative" by Fast Company. What does it mean to be "creative" in business?
To be creative in business you have to live in both the present and the future. In the present you should create an environment for yourself, whether you work for yourself or a company, that is your own personal culture. Imagine starting a business from scratch and writing a memo that at first only you can read, called "MY COMPANY CULTURE." What would go on that memo? Personally, I would write down words like flexibility, reflection, movement, excitement, dynamic conversations, brainstorming, imagining, gut-instinct. These are words that guide how I operate in business, but the words may be very different for you. Creativity is about inventing a system for yourself, that ultimately allows you to flourish within a larger construct.
What would you say has been the through-line of companies that you've founded and invested in?
Honestly, I'm not sure there is a tight soundbite or perfect through-line of the companies I've worked for, founded or invested in. Generally speaking I am drawn to work whereby I can learn from a mentor or colleagues, when the work is purpose-driven and design driven. I like pushing the envelope of what is expected in business and in life, and I believe the companies I align closely with - especially now at TMV - are edgy and bold. Beyond that, my mother the professor, always reminded me growing up that people change professions frequently. College students change their majors at least 2 times on average. Change is a word we embraced in my household because change leads to growth. Now, as an investor, I gravitate toward founders who relish in the new and push boundaries.
"Change is a word we embraced in my household because change leads to growth."
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For our reader, she's young, entrepreneurial, but at times fearful of the next step. As someone who has shifted roles and founded new businesses, how have you decided when it's time to step down and/or move on?
There is absolutely nothing more terrifying than leaving a role. It takes conviction, thoughtfulness, and time to make that plunge. I suggest before making a move formally, to ask a few friends to join your 'personal board' and to meet with them once a week or once a month to help prepare you for that next step with a detailed plan that you can be held accountable to. Love and support is the best way to get out of a rough professional patch and into the clear.
How do you feel about the characterization of "serial entrepreneur?"
I don't mind it, I think entrepreneurs who begin many companies are eager to make a dent in the world. It's an earnest desire to build a business with lasting impact. I would rather be known as a serial entrepreneur than Sally from HR.
What are the common challenges you've seen among female business owners and entrepreneurs?
I see women in business having difficulty pitching their idea and their mission effectively, economically and confidently. Once I feel like I am a black belt in pitching myself (Im not!) I would like to offer free coaching for women entrepreneurs specific to public speaking and presenting. I'm not alone in wanting to help women in this way. The newly launched Female Founder Office Hours will be a great way for women to practice their pitch in front of some of the most senior women in venture in a supportive environment with the goal of helping them present beautifully to the outside world.
With Trail Mix Ventures what was the turning point that convinced you, it's time to take matters into my own hands?
I knew that incredible companies in New York and Los Angeles were being overlooked by venture capitalists and saw that as an opportunity to launch my own fund to invest smartly, and sincerely, in purposeful businesses. That's it.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
I am a child of an immigrant. My passion comes from the pursuit of the American Dream.
"I am a child of an immigrant. My passion comes from the pursuit of the American Dream."
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When you run into a career obstacle, what drives you forward?
A night out with my friends who put work into perspective and remind me to let loose and to have some fun. Dancing drives me forward.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Unanswered emails and texts.
What are your biggest fears about running a business?
I'd rather answer that question with this quote: "'You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
Investing isn't only for MBAs and left-brained. My line of work is both creative and intuitive, and some of the best investors in silicon valley began as journalists (as I did) because of their innate curiosity and love of truth. So if you feel like a futurist and you want to be on the pulse of what is next, please consider a job in venture.
Every day there is someone in your shadow. How can we stay original when we are so saturated by other people's work?
I think you get momentum from competition but keep your eye on the prize and stay focused and calm. That's all any of us can do. That, and, deleting Facebook from our smart phones.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
I feel complete in my career when I push myself - or our team pushes itself - to a finish line we never thought we would get to. I feel complete when I learn and then master a new skill (like pitching institutional LPs). It feels wonderful to be in a position to learn new things on a daily basis.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
I would trade jobs with a popular playwright. As a teenager I wrote plays in my downtown and once had a play quasi-produced. It is a great hope that I will go back to those early works and workshop them to life again, with an adult vocabulary and prospective. So I think I would trade jobs with Neil Simon.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
The woman I am today is purely because of my Grandmother, Elizabeth Fennelly, a great early influence, a true philanthropist and a very kind soul, and my brilliant mother, Katherine Fennelly, who raised my sister and me on her own terms while pursuing work that was not only meaningful to her but to the world. I think without them supporting my dreams and ambitions I would be without the confidence and resilience I have at this moment in life.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Just to remember breathe and sleep. My mother always says "Everything will be better in the morning, but only if you've had a good night's sleep."
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
After a bad day, If I'm in the mood to sing, I would go with Everybody Hurts by REM.
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Create & Cultivate 100: Fashion: Eva Chen
INSTAGRAM'S NORTH STAR.
INSTAGRAM'S NORTH STAR.
photo credit: Jeff Thibodeau
She's never had a master plan, but Eva Chen, current Head of Fashion Partnerships at Instagram, has had one hell of a career.
The fashion boss spent a decade running leading fashion publications, including Lucky and Teen Vogue, where she worked in various roles for eight years, chiefly as the teenage fashion magazine’s beauty editor. During her time at the glossy, she finessed her digital savvy and grew her own social media (now 600k), before joining IG in 2015.
She's worked under the masterful Anna Wintour, is heralded by the Business of Fashion as one of the 500 hand-selected people shaping the $2.4 trillion fashion industry.
More below.
Name: Eva Chen
Instagram Handle: @evachen212
You're fluent in the language of fashion. With your move to IG to you feel more fluent in the language of tech?
I am barely proficient in the language of tech and look forward to becoming more fluent. The team here at Instagram is wonderful and so inspiring to learn from.
What has surprised you most about being a woman in the tech sector?
Facebook has been an incredibly supportive place to work, especially as a mom to two young kids. And having women in positions of authority, like IG COO Marne Levine and Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg, is very important to me.
What's your biggest pet peeve?
People who stand on moving walkways at the airport.
What would you consider your superpower?
Ability to function despite prolonged sleep deprivation from children.
From pre-med to Lucky to Instagram. What has been the most surprising element of your career?
I've never had a master plan, I've always just gone where opportunities have arisen.
"I've never had a master plan, I've always just gone where opportunities have arisen."
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What has proven to be the biggest bump in the road?
My inability to say 'no'....
And how did you get over it?
Working on it for 2018!
Is there an early-on piece of advice that Anna Wintour gave you that you ignored?
No—Anna has the really vexing quality of pretty much being right about everything, at least in my personal experience.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
When I can help someone understand how to use Instagram better!
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
I don't want to trade with Oprah, but I'd love to meet her simply to absorb some of her magic.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
Working on it! I think part of becoming an adult is realizing that life is an ongoing work in progress.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE FASHION LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: STEM: Aisha Bowe
THE NASA GAL.
THE NASA GAL.
This is what an engineer looks like.
Meet Aisha Bowe, Aerospace Engineer, Founder, and CEO, advised by her high-school guidance counselor to attend beauty school.
While she never did pursue that career in cosmetology, she did grow up to be one of NASA’s leading aerospace engineers. These days, the would-be-beauty-school-dropout focuses her genius on the tech solutions company she co-founded. As a proud minority owned business, STEMBoard creates software solutions for defense and enterprise clients and works toward closing the achievement gap by empowering minority youth.
Learn about how Bowe’s bootstrapped her way to the top of the boys' club below.
Name: Aisha Bowe
Instagram Handle: @aishabowe
Business Instagram Handle: @stemboard
You are a force and we are in awe. From aerospace engineering to STEMBoard. What were you like as a kid?
Insecure and unfocused. I wasn’t the greatest student, I didn’t have any goals and I internalized the limitations others put on me. It wasn’t until college that I began to recognize my abilities.
At first, you were too intimated to accept a job at NASA. What's your advice for young women experiencing similar feelings?
Do not be afraid to put yourself in a position of failure! Studies have shown that girls consistently outperform boys in the classroom, so remember that we are badasses! And when that fails, just fake it until you make it
Do you still feel that creeping intimidation some days?
Of course! There is no playbook for what I am attempting to achieve. The company, our mission, and objectives were at one point just a daydream. I constantly nd myself combating negative stereotypes.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
Impact. I measure success as lives touched...including my own. At so many points along my journey, I doubted myself. Watching the company grow into an entity that builds technology for Federal clients while uplifting women, people of color and other historically disadvantaged groups in the workforce has been a motivating experience.
How do you feel as a woman in STEM?
Inspired & empowered! Visibility of Women in STEM is at an all-time high. While there is still much work to be done, I love waking up to uplifting narratives in social media.
How have you successfully navigated such a male-dominated eld?
Don’t think it hasn’t been difficult, but I realized early on I couldn’t do this on my own. I needed mentors (both men and female) who believed in me almost more than I believed in myself to help push me through and motivate me. I have a tribe of people that surround me with light and real talk when I need it the most.
What are your hopes for young women who are interested in STEM?
I hope that women see themselves and technology as being key to future success in STEM. I look up to women like Debbie Sterling founder of GoldieBlox, Dr. Ellen Stofan former Chief Scientist at NASA, Kimberly Bryant, Black Girls Code
You've said that "success lies in the establishment of positive daily habits." What are some of those positive habits?
It’s easy to get overwhelmed. I set small, measurable goals focused on incremental progress: meditate, workout, eat well. Working out in the morning gives me energy, I feel accomplished which helps to create a positive mindset. I make lists, if I don’t write it down it gets lost. I review my goals each day and prioritize.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Negative attitudes. Staying positive, even in the face of the improbable, is vital to success.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Don't spend life daydreaming about 'what could be'. Invest your energy in what is right in front of you and see how it can be cultivated into something meaningful #realtalk.
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Do you have any fears about running a business? If so, what?
That I will fail those who are a part of the team. That I won’t progress as quickly as I want to. I want to win and that drives me more than anything.
What's something you'd like people to know about running STEMBoard that they probably don’t?
Running a company is hard. STEMBoard creates smart tech for Federal and private sector clients. There’s no playbook to starting a business you created. As an entrepreneur, it is a constant race to stay ahead of the curve. Love yourself like Kanye loves himself-it’s key!
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
There is an African proverb I love: If You Want To Go Fast, Go Alone. If You Want To Go Far, Go Together. Your team is and will always be the most vital part of a company’s. Bet on them, empower them and learn that in order to lead one must learn to follow. From my tenure at NASA to co-foundering STEMBoard, I used to place pressure on myself to have all of the answers.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
Less than 10% of all venture capital deals go to women or People of Color. I aspire to one day provide investment to startups. Arlan Hamilton of Backstage Capital does just that.
At what point in your career did you nd the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
Sometimes you have to take an L. As much as I believed that others were going to see our vision, no one decided to fund us in Silicon Valley. We had to focus and relinquish the notion that someone needed to co-sign our worth. We bootstrapped and did it ourselves, ve years later we’re so glad we did.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE STEM LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: STEM: Mandela Schumacher-Hodge Dixon
THE FOUNDER.
THE FOUNDER.
Forget thigh gaps, Founder Gym is about representation gaps. Knowledge gaps. Network gaps.
Specifically, Founder Gym is an online training gym that focuses on underrepresented founders building tech startups. Over the course of 4 weeks, founders complete structured exercises to increase their strength in a core area of startup success, and receive personal training from Silicon Valley investors and venture-backed founders.
Top trainer and co-founder: Mandela Schumacher-Hodge Dixon, says, "As a woman of color in Silicon Valley I have seen first-hand the gaps in knowledge, network, and capital that underrepresented founders experience. Founder Gym is my way of closing those gaps."
More below.
Instagram Handle: @MandelaSH
Business Instagram Handle: @FounderGym
Congrats on the launch of Founder Gym! Chat us through what it's all about and the impetus for the company?
Founder Gym is an online training center for underrepresented tech startup founders. Via four week cohorts led by expert trainers, we help founders develop their entrepreneurial muscles, so that they can successfully navigate their startup journey. As a woman of color founder in Silicon Valley, a global director of entrepreneurship, and a portfolio services director at a venture capital rm, I have seen first-hand the gaps in knowledge, network, and capital that underrepresented founders experience. Founder Gym is my way of closing those gaps.
So, when someone is launching, what's the biggest mistake they usually make?
The biggest mistake most new founders make is that they build the solution, before they truly, deeply understand the user and their problem. They are so smitten with their idea of a solution that they invest all their time, energy, and resources into developing it out. Then when they finally launch it, they are confused as to why no one is using it. The issue is they did not first focus on mastering the user and that user's problem. If they had kept their eye on that, they could have intentionally designed a solution with that information in mind, and likely achieved greater early adoption of their solution.
The biggest mistake most new founders make is that they build the solution, before they truly, deeply understand the user and their problem.
Do you remember your first big mistake and what you took away from it?
My first big mistake was not asking for help when I needed it. I had imposter syndrome and didn't want to be "exposed" for not knowing something everyone probably thought I should. So rather than seek out advice when I really needed it, I kept my head down. This was a big mistake and a huge waste of time, because I spent countless hours struggling alone, and problems that likely could have been resolved, ended up spiraling out of control. This experience taught me a few things: 1) I don't have to know it all (99.9% of other founders don't), 2) I should ask for help when I need it (99.9% of all successful founders have close advisors and coaches), 3) there are people who are willing to help me, and 4) vulnerability is key - you have to be willing to talk about your weaknesses, if you truly want to reap the benefits of other people's guidance.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
My parents always pushed my sisters and I to be our very best - both in academia and sports. Hard work, discipline, and excellence were engrained in me at a young age. Also mortality played a role. Once my father unexpectedly passed away when I was a teenager, I very quickly realized the finiteness of life; that I only have a limited amount of time on this earth and I'm going to make the very most of it.
How do you feel as a woman in STEM?
I feel like I am not just a woman in STEM. I am a Black woman in STEM, who grew up in a low- income household, who never took a technology, business, or finance class in K-12 or college, didn't go to an Ivy league school, and didn't know a soul in tech prior to entering Silicon Valley in 2011. My background and lived experiences has shaped who I am, how I interact with this industry, and the way in which I want to make an impact. My existence in this space isn't just about me. This is about what I can do to help other people like me; people who aren't from the tech world and don't have access to it, but who want their shot to contribute to it and benefit from it also.
I am not just a woman in STEM. I am a Black woman in STEM, who grew up in a low- income household, who never took a technology, business, or finance class in K-12 or college, didn't go to an Ivy league school, and didn't know a soul in tech prior to entering Silicon Valley in 2011.
How have you successfully navigated such a male-dominated field?
Several things have helped me successfully navigate this male-dominated field: an unwavering belief in myself, my ability to learn, grow and adapt, a relentless work ethic, a commitment to excellence, building strong relationships, strong communication skills, and a deep understanding of human nature.
What are your hopes for young women who are interested in STEM?
If you are not yet in STEM, but are interested in entering the field, step one is to get clear on why. Why do you want this? Once you are crystal clear on your reasoning for pursuing this path, that will create the motivation that propels you forward to learn whatever you need to learn, meet whoever you need to meet, and do as much as work as you need to do, in order to break into the field and make your dreams a reality. Any path to greatness starts with a strong reason why.
"Any path to greatness starts with a strong reason why."
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What is your biggest pet peeve?
People who make excuses, instead of taking personal responsibility.
What are your biggest fears about running a business?
My biggest fear is letting the opinions of others drown out my inner voice. In business, that could lend itself to me signing up for things that truly don't align to the type of business I want to run and the type of founder I want to be. I try to ensure that fear doesn't become realized by blocking off time each week to be alone, reflect, think, plan, and ensure my business is still in alignment with my innermost truth.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
I work extremely hard. I work in the early mornings, late nights, weekends, etc. Sometimes I even pull all-nighters (even though I'm trying to cut back, because I also recognize the importance of sleep and rejuvenation). I work really f___ hard behind the scenes to create the things everyone else sees later on in public.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
Doing something that I truly believe in with people I truly enjoy, and having fun every step of the way. That makes me feel complete.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
Oprah Winfrey, because she built her career on listening, learning, and sharing the truths about humanity.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
I think every time I have faced my fears and come out on the other side in one piece, I have grown more confident. I think every time I have received recognition or praise from others, I have grown more confident. So it's been a combination of internal affirmations and external affirmations that have helped me realize my potential and step into my power. I don't think true confidence is an overnight or instantaneous thing. I believe it's developed from experience, and I am still on my journey of experiencing new challenges that will help me evolve into who I need to be, in order to truly, fully embody unwavering confidence.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
I didn't receive this advice, but this is the advice I want to give. It's advice that I live by. Don't blindly accept the narrative: "This is just the way it is." That's something that others can easily accept, but I challenge you to question it, push back on it, and even offer alternatives if you're able to. Many problems with society today stem from people blindly perpetuating the same narratives, systems, and behavior they inherited from the previous generations. I'm here to remind you that this is a new time, a new era, and you do have the power to create better ideas and narratives that can positively change the world.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road?
If I hit a bump in the road, I try to focus on what's in my control to fix. I try not to complain (which is easier said than done sometimes). Instead, I like to remind myself that struggle is par for the course - it's an expected part of the journey on the road to greatness. And with that in mind, I go for a run, watch a motivational video on YouTube, and get back to it!
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
"Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley.
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Create & Cultivate 100: Fashion: Tanesha Awasthi
THE FASHION CURVE BALL.
THE FASHION CURVE BALL
MORE THAN HER BODY.
It's something that most, if not all, women can relate to.
When Tanesha Awasthi started Girl With Curves in 2011, she paved the way for plus-sized fashion bloggers, stepping out from behind fashion industry constructions. She is a woman with brains, gusto, a champion for the body positive and female empowerment movements, mom (to 4-year-old son and English bulldog), digital influencer, and so much more. Her body may have carved out a place for her in the blogging world, but it's her other more compelling attributes that have staying power.
A well of inspiration to women everywhere, Tanesha challenges women to love their bodies. To love themselves. She believes that self-esteem starts with a healthy sense of realism. And the woman is real.
To point: 2017 was the year of expanding content altogether, covering a wider variety of topics outside of style and beauty that are important to her. She added a Wellness section and a Real Talk column where the blogger vents about things that are bothering her.
Find out more below.
In many ways your career through-line is about breaking barriers. First as a WOC in tech and then as a plus-size blogger in a formerly non-inclusive space. Was that always a goal of yours?
Not at all! When I first started GWC it was simply a creative outlet outside my now former career in tech. I never thought it would turn into anything outside of a hobby, let alone a full-blown business. But I did realize pretty quickly that I didn't fit into the "style blogger mold" at the time, in being larger than the majority of women I saw getting attention from magazines. I was happy to know I was different from everyone else by riding the line between straight and plus, because that gave me the option of really standing out in a market that wasn't yet evolved as far as curvy bodies go.
"I was happy to know I was different from everyone else."
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Would you say that your career in tech prepared you for the fashion space?
In ways I think it did, especially when it comes to organization, project and time management. My business partner and husband has a tech background as well (in software Engineering) and we often find ourselves using knowledge and business practices from our past careers to help take our digital media business forward.
Women struggle with self-confidence. With imposter syndrome. But Girl with Curves is about being unapologetically confident. At what point did you find that self-confidence within?
It took me many years to find it - I certainly didn't start GWC as a confident woman who loved her body or herself inside and out. It's been quite the journey and at times I still think I'm searching to find that confidence within myself at any given moment. GWC allows me to get my daily dose of what I call "friendship-therapy" by talking to women who have either gone through similar experiences as myself or are going through the same experiences as I am at any given time. It's a beautiful thing to find people online from all walks of life whom you can relate to on such a deep level, without even knowing them personally! I think of my audience as a community of friends and I've always had an open line of communication with them about the core values GWC stands for self-confidence, self-love and body acceptance.
GWC stands for self-confidence, self-love and body acceptance.
Can you recall a recent hard day when you had to rely on someone other than yourself to pull it together?
I rely on my husband and sisters a ton, but I often vent about things I'm going through in my #RealTalk column on the blog, which I started just a few months ago as a way to openly vent about any and everything that was on my mind. It's nice hearing from readers who can offer me advice or simply let me know that hearing me talk so openly about an issue puts them at ease in knowing they aren't alone. The last #RealTalk was about the downsides of pregnancy that women often don't discuss. Needless to say, it was a popular topic!
"Ignore the negative what-ifs and go for it."
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Ignore the negative what-ifs and go for it. I've always been an over-analyzer, so ignoring that voice in my head is something I constantly have to overcome, and it was the best advice I got from the CFO (who also became my friend over time) at my former job in tech, who was very supportive of me leaving to pursue blogging full-time.
You're about to give birth to your little girl! How has having a girl changed your approach to parenting? Are there different concerns?
I'm due in 2 weeks! Knowing that I'm having a girl has definitely brought about some anxiety, because girls are treated so unfairly in today's society, along with a whole list of things I went through growing up that most of the women I know also went through, including sexual harassment and discrimination. At the end of the day though, I know all I can do is teach her she can be anyone she wants and accomplish anything she sets her mind to, along with reminding her that her worth is much more than physical appearance.
You also recently launched the Girl with Curves collection exclusively at Dia & Co. What did you learn through that process?
I've always wanted to be a designer, so being able to go through the process with a team of people who believe in my vision and stand for the same values I stand for through GWC was amazing. I can't wait to design more in 2018!
What are you excited for next?
I'm in the process of designing another collection for 2018, as well as continuing to build my team on the digital media side of the business.
What would you consider your superpower?
I have a knack for telling people exactly how to get what they want out of their job, their husbands, whatever it is, I can give some amazing advice that gets results!
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE FASHION LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100 Entertainment: Lele Pons
THE MOST WATCHED.
THE MOST WATCHED.
Lele Pons had the most viewed Instagram Stories in 2017.
Let that soak in for a second. She beat out Selena Gomez and Kylie Jenner, two names that people associate "most-watched" with.
The Venezuela-born social media influencer is known for her self-deprecating and hilarious skits. After making a name for herself on Vine and YouTube, 21-year-old Elenora "Lele" Pons, grew her Instagram to over 20 million followers. The model, actress, comedian, and YouTube star has a brand deal with US makeup brand CoverGirl, walked for Dolce and Gabbana last year in Milan, and shows no signs of slowing down.
Making people laugh gives her life.
More from Lele below.
Your IG Stories had the most views, of ANYONE, in 2017. What does that feel like?
It’s so amazing! It almost doesn’t feel real. I’m really happy that people want to connect with me like that.
What are your goals for 2018?
I just want to get better and keep growing in everything I do. Last year was amazing and I just want to keep building. Specifically, I want to expand into dance and music. I have some ideas that I’m working on and can’t wait for everyone to see.
Are you ever nervous about what you put up on social? Or how people are going to respond?
There are always going to be negative people on social media, but you can’t let that scare you or stop you. Sometimes I post something where I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and it can make me feel a little nervous about how people will respond to it, but I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by endless support.
"There are always going to be negative people on social media, but you can’t let that scare you or stop you."
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Piggybacking on that a little, when you hit a bump in the road, what drives you forward?
Friends, family and my team. They are always there for me and always pushing me to be my best self.
What would you say is your superpower?
I think my superpower is being able to be hyper-focused, but whacky at the same time. I spend hours shooting and editing my videos and it’s a lot of hard work that I take seriously. But, I also know that what I’m doing is making fun videos, so I try not to take myself too seriously.
Why do you think you chose a career that gets people laughing?
I’ve always loved making people laugh. Whenever I was with my friends and family, I’d dance and make jokes and just try to entertain.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE ENTERTAINMENT LIST CLICK HERE.
Create Cultivate 100: STEM: Pamela Fletcher
FINDING NEW ROADS.
FINDING NEW ROADS.
Pamela Fletcher is leading the charge of electric vehicles.
After overseeing the development of the breakthrough Chevrolet Bolt EV, a $37,500 all-electric hatchback that can go 238 miles on a single charge—the first electric car to achieve that kind of range at such a low price point, she aimed higher.
And cleaner. Toward a zero-emissions world.
More from the woman finding new roads below.
You've been named one of Fast Company's Most Creative People of 2017. For you, how do creativity and business work together?
Without creativity, there is no business. Right now, at General Motors and Chevrolet we’re reinventing the transportation sector to achieve a vision of zero emissions, zero crashes and zero congestion. This is a new roadmap. It requires creativity as we look for ways to capture customers’ hearts and minds with solutions they might not have considered in the past, such as electric vehicles, ride-sharing, and autonomous technology.
How do creativity and cars work together?
As with so many industries, there is no one way to put the puzzle together. At the beginning of the all-electric Bolt EV program, the team had a blank slate. We brought together different thinking from all parts of the company to create options for an affordable, versatile all-electric vehicle. Even after one vehicle was selected, we kept going back until we got it right. Creativity belongs throughout the whole vehicle process.
You're leading your team at GM toward the mission of a zero-emissions world. We imagine you have to get creative here. You're doing something that's never been done before. How do you manage the day-to-day of that?
Achieving zero emissions won’t happen overnight, or on my own. It’s important to keep an eye on the larger mission while getting laser-focused on the specific goals. For Bolt EV, we aimed for an electric range of over 200 miles. It’s a big step in itself to translate the overall mission down to the individual level. One size doesn’t fit all, and as we look toward a world of zero emissions, it’s true as well. We must transform our vehicles into the future solutions consumers need.
How are you looking big picture?
Zero emissions, zero crashes, and zero congestion is now the driving force for every project. Nowhere else I could work has this scale and scope. This is literally changing the world.
Were you always interested in engineering? We'd love if you shared an anecdote from your childhood that sums up your career trajectory.
My dad enjoyed racing, and my family spent the weekends on the track. I don’t have any brothers, so I was the one in the garage with my dad learning how everything worked. What began as a love of cars and speed has transformed over my career into a love of the technology at the heart of mobility. As I look back at the common thread on projects I’ve taken on, it’s been making technology available and exciting.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
I’m a lifelong learner, and my drive comes from the opportunity to continually re-invent, improve and understand how items work. The pace of technology and its evolution is the fastest it’s ever been, and I can’t imagine a more exciting space to work.
How do you feel as a woman in STEM?
I don’t find myself exceptional because since I was a child, anything I was interested in my parents encouraged. I never heard “girls don’t do this.” That encouragement has translated into me working in areas that I’m interested. It works for me; I can’t imagine doing anything else.
How have you successfully navigated such a male-dominated field?
If you’re doing something you’re genuinely interested in and doing the best work you can, your contribution will stand out. I think it has to come from inside, and finding where and how you can engage and participate in areas you are passionate about.
What are your hopes for young women who are interested in STEM?
Number one, I hope they’ll consider STEM. When I look at my career and friends’ careers that are in STEM fields, most have found them very rewarding. If STEM is for you, then pursue it with everything you’ve got. If it’s not, that’s OK too. Just don’t rule STEM out upfront.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
My job is the best of both worlds: I’m looking ahead to the big picture and how to transform mobility as well as being grounded in the details of bringing technology to life.
"Take the risk and do what you love."
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What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
There are many moments, but I love when you launch a vehicle and then you are driving to dinner and the car you worked on passes you on the road. It’s such a great feeling because those people chose to spend their hard-earned dollars on something you built. It’s not a small decision. Cars are the second largest consumer purchase after a home, so I feel very proud to see vehicles succeed that my team engineered and built.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
I can’t identify a specific point, but I can say that I’ve always made choices to do things I love. Sometimes those choices haven’t been easy, including at the beginning of my career when I took jobs with lower pay or left a company to do the work that really excited me. By relying on my passions, I’ve stepped into this new role that is really changing the future of mobility.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Take the risk and do what you love. I had a professor in college who helped me see this when choosing my first job. Opportunities might not come again, so seize them.
When you hit a bump in the road or come up against a problem, how do you find new roads?
I’ve been lucky to lead great teams. When I’ve encountered challenges of time, resources or even inspiration, a team can help find a new road to success.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE STEM LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Entrepreneur: Allison Statter & Sherry Jhawar
THE BTS BOSSES.
THE BTS BOSSES.
Behind-the-scenes of every famous face and brand deal are incredibly important women, many of whom intentionally shy away from the spotlight. They take the phone calls. Make the deals (or walk away from them). Come up with ideas and branding. They get shit done.
Such is the case of Allison Statter and Sherry Jhawar, founders of Blended Strategy Group. Never heard of it? There's a reason for that. And #sorrynotsorry for blowing your cover ladies. Both are incredible strategists and entrepreneurs. Allison spent 16 years building her career in the entertainment industry. When she met her business partner Sherry Jhawar, the former Global Head of Marketing for Eos Products, there was instant biz chemistry. Together they founded Blended Strategy Group.
Providing comprehensive commercial, marketing and branding consultation to their clients, Allison and Sherry cut out the middle man-- talent agencies and red tape, instead making a direct connections between the brand and the client. They're like the BitCoin of client/brand relations. As Sherry says, it's important to the founders to "provide a pathway and megaphone for small brands to be heard in this insider’s world."
More below.
Blended Strategy arrived on the scene at what we think is the perfect time. People are over-managed. There are so many cooks in the kitchen. Why was it important for each of you to streamline brand and talent management?
Sherry: When I worked internally in marketing at the brand, I found that Hollywood is such an “insider’s world.” If you do not know the right people and have the right level of “cache,” you do not get very far. Naturally, if you work at a big brand with a big checkbook, everyone will take your call…but they also then try and take advantage of you because they assume you do not know any different. It is important to me that we not only provide a pathway and megaphone for small brands to be heard in this insider’s world, but also an unbiased and knowledgeable negotiating representative for the larger brands – all the while, providing the right strategy to all our clients. On the talent side, I found that many times the dots were not well connected between talent’s various partnerships – the partnerships were kept in silos vs being connected so they could amplify each other and the talent.
Allison: When I worked internally at the management company, my biggest challenge was working with the brands on the best way to activate with my talent and how to best leverage them to get them fully engaged. As we all know, there are so many different ways for brands to engage with talent nowadays. Because of that we think it is not just important, but very helpful for brands to have us on board to help them navigate through the entire process so they enter the partnership with talent on a positive note and then continue to work with them in a way the talent feels excited which in return gets them more engaged. With our expertise in both brand management and talent management, we are very valuable to brands.
Navigating partnerships is no easy feat. A co-founder relationship is no exception. How did you know you would work as co-founders?
Sherry: I know this sounds hokey, but before Allison and I decided to start this business together, I felt like there was a force that kept pushing us together (at the time, I was at eos and I worked with her on talent she managed) and I truly felt there is something bigger in business for us to together. I lived in NYC and flew to LA to spend 2 days with her to try and learn as much as I could about her! It is funny in retrospect, but honestly, in those 2 days, I learned that the core Allison and I were very similar people in our work ethic, passion for business, devotion, and closeness to our families and friends, and more. All of those qualities in Allison, along with our very clear complimentary skill sets and knowledge bases, are what made me confident to take the leap of faith and start Blended Strategy with her. In the end, it truly is a leap of faith – no matter how much “research” you do to ensure it will be a good partnership, you truly do not know until you are in it. We are 2.5 years in and still learning about each other! Like any relationship, the key is trying to find time to communicate and not get lost in the shuffle of all the day-to-day hustle.
Allison: For me, I always knew I wanted to have my own business one day, but I also knew I never wanted to do it alone. I am someone who needs my partner riding alongside me, in the weeds with me, encouraging me…. Sherry is that person. In all honesty, I didn’t know we would work as partners but I was so drawn to her that I didn’t really care, I just assumed we would figure it out and that is what we have done. For me, it was that I saw a good person who shares similar life and family values as me. That is at the core of our partnership. We love each other on a personal level first and then all of the professional aspects of our relationship come second to that. It's like a marriage, I know I need her in my life no matter what, I love her, I am so grateful for her, so all of the hurdles we encounter we just work hard to get over them. Not having Sherry as my ride or die is not an option.
Where do each of your respective drives and passion come from?
Sherry: My parents and older brother all worked incredibly hard as I grew up and are all great role models in work ethic and I always want to make them all proud. Many of my close friends are all marketers too and we fuel each other’s careers too. Honestly, I truly love seeing great and unexpected (but thoughtful) marketing come to life, and being able to do that for both our talent clients and brand clients is incredibly rewarding and fun. I love pop culture and I love products and brands– so to have a job that encompasses both, is a dream come true. I mean what other job is it part of work to watch Stranger Things and trawl Instagram!
Allison: I get it from my parents. They are both incredibly hard workers and are both self-made. They grew up in middle-class families and have worked their entire lives and made an impact on me. For me, it's about following in their footsteps and making them proud…. Plain and simple!
Relationships are a huge part of your business. How does someone with no connections begin to build those important relationships?
Sherry: I am huge proponent and fan of LinkedIn and reaching out to people on there. If you write to someone with a thoughtful and personalized message, you would be surprised how many people will write you back. Most people do not take the leap of faith to do this and it is a great platform! Additionally, it was interesting, when I first landed in here 2.5 years ago and started this business with Allison, I didn’t know many people in this industry. The few people I did know, I worked hard to foster those relationships and with new people that I met, I invested time to get to know the people and truly connect. If you are knowledgeable, honest and hardworking, people will gravitate to you and build trust in you. I feel lucky in many of the new relationships I have made in this business, as they are people I would never have gotten to know in my prior career.
"If you are knowledgeable, honest and hardworking, people will gravitate to you and build trust in you."
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Allison: Networking is key. Don’t stop networking. Leverage your friends' relationships, don’t be afraid to ask for introductions. I used to think I needed to do it all myself and then I realized that the support and the introductions are the most helpful when building relationships. I also think being consistent and honest is important. Once you get one person to trust you and build that relationship you have a strong foundation to work off of. One day you will wake up and be grateful you asked for the intros and that you hustled to network because you will have your own incredible network and people will be coming to you asking for help. Always return the favor!
How do you hold onto them?
Sherry: It is important to make time to see these key relationships on a someone consistent basis to stay connected. Sending interesting articles or news to the person is also a great way to stay connected. It takes work, but with the relationships that are worth fostering and holding on to, making them a priority is critical.
Allison: Make an effort to check in with them frequently, see them for lunch or drinks, drop them a “just saying hi” email and ask how they are. These small gestures go a long way.
Sherry, you are the former Global Head of Marketing for eos Products. I remember the moment when that lip balm became everything. It remains the brand's most ubiquitous product. When you're talking to celebs and influencers specifically about product dev and the strategy around it, do you suggest creating something that is niche and specific and expand from there? What are your marketing secrets?
Sherry: Yes, the ubiquitous eos Sphere (or Egg Shaped Lip Balm as many call it) is something special that I am so proud to have been a part of creating, launching and building. As for my marketing secrets, you need to hire Blended Strategy to get those! Haha! Just Kidding! In all seriousness, while eos created a truly unique product it actually wasn’t a niche category – lip balm is a huge category and we created a new approach to the category that was cool, beauty-oriented and fun vs functional. That is the key thing in product development – how are you going to address a category need in a unique and differentiated way. It can be through innovative packaging or it can be by a new approach to communicating the benefits of the products. One of our brand clients, OLLY vitamins reinvented the vitamin category by calling out the end benefit you get from taking the vitamins vs the ingredients. People do not know what various ingredients actually do, but they do know how they want to feel after they take them – was crazy that no other brands were communicating their product message that way. Also, another thing both Allison and I tell clients who want to start brands is that they should start with a focused and small assortment – not launch 40 skus at once, but 3-10 skus and build from there.
Start with a focused and small assortment – not launch 40 skus at once.
Sherry, what is your favorite thing about working with Allison? And Allison, same to you.
Sherry: Allison is one of the most open people I have ever met. There are no walls, no layers of the onion to peel back – just an open and honest approach to things. It is incredibly rare and incredibly refreshing. It is because of that, that I trust her immensely.
Allison: Sherry is the hardest working woman I have ever met. Her passion comes out in everything she does and it is truly incredible, it inspires me. She makes me want to do better every day. Her commitment not just to our business as a whole, but down to the details of our work is something I am so grateful for. I love every day that I get to work next to her. RIDE OR DIE!
What are your biggest fears about running a business?
Sherry: Disappointing my business partner and the team who works with us and relies on us.
Allison: Letting Sherry down, letting my family down and of course letting our team down.
What would you each respectively consider the biggest challenges facing young female entrepreneurs?
Sherry: As far as we have come in elevating females, most industries still have males at the top. Beauty for example – all these rising female-founded beauty brands from Anastasia Beverly Hills to Ouai Haircare to Glossier to many many more. But still, the top people at all the big beauty conglomerates are men. So being taken seriously as women entrepreneurs is still something that continues to evolve – but progress has been made and will continue to be made!
Allison: While it is clear women are now being taken seriously and have an incredible runway to start businesses, I still think we are faced with living in a man's world. Why does it have to be such a big thing that there is a boom of badass women right now… why can't we just be part of the overall story that we sit next to men and have the same abilities as them? I think that we are still being put in this bubble is a challenge.
"Why does it have to be such a big thing that there is a boom of badass women right now?"
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What about your respective careers makes you each feel the most complete?
Sherry: Coming to work every day and seeing a team that enjoys coming to work, is proud of what they do, and feels they learn from me and Allison. It is a priceless feeling that fuels me every day. Also doesn’t hurt when we get an email from a prospective brand or talent client saying they have heard good things about Blended Strategy! Love that in just 2.5 years our name is getting out there as a viable option for both brands and talent to utilize for marketing and branding services!
Allison: For me, it's two-fold. There is the part about walking into our office every morning knowing that Sherry and I built our business from the ground up and its ours. That fuels me everyday and I still walk in and pinch myself and feel incredibly lucky and blessed. The second piece is seeing our team and how much work and effort they put into our business. Both of those things combined complete it all for me!
To both: If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
Sherry: Ellen! She makes people laugh, interviews people from all walks of life and seems to have fun doing it! Seems pretty fun to talk to people and ask them who their favorite muppet is!
Allison: Anyone in the Royal Family….. first and foremost because I love all of the philanthropic work they do. It is really inspiring. Second, because they are royalty and let's be real, they are fascinating!
At what point in your careers did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the women you are today?
Sherry: I had a moment at eos, where I looked at our advertising creative which I had led the strategy work on, our overall marketing plan, the products themselves, and all the relationships I had built around me, and I realized I was really good at my job and that I was having so much fun doing it too. I had come into my own at that moment and knew I had the trust of the Co-CEOs at eos and everyone around me – and it was an incredible feeling.
Allison: For me, I had worked for dad for 16 years and I needed to get out from under his wing and I also felt like I had done everything I could for him. I had my third son and did a lot of soul-searching about leaving my kids everyday and being a working mom. It had to really be worth it for me and so I took a leap of faith and left the job security I had working for my dad to start BSG. Best decision I ever made! And, icing on the cake was how supportive both my mom and dad were.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Sherry: The best advice I was given, was being told that the hardest thing as a business gets more successful, is saying no to what might be great opportunities. This is something that one of the Co-CEOs of eos told me and it was beyond helpful to me as eos got extremely successful – we couldn’t do all the great things coming the brand’s way all at once as it would tip over the brand and also stretch the team too thin. And the same is true at Blended Strategy – Allison and I consistently sit together and evaluate the how, the what and the when in growing our business and have had to say no to potentially great opportunities because it just wasn’t the right time for them.
Allison: Best advice I have ever gotten is to be ok not doing it all. I have minor OCD and I need everything to be perfect in life and in business. As a working mom that is impossible. I had a friend tell me it was ok to let 50% be my new 100% and that it’s ok to not do it all. It really has helped me prioritize and balance it all.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?
Sherry: I like to talk through things to see if I can get to the solution. I rely on Allison and several of the girls on our team to be sounding boards for me when I hit a bump. I do fully subscribe to the philosophy that things do happen for a reason – so even bumps or disappoints along the way are there to help guide us to the right outcome.
Allison: I rely heavily on Sherry during the bumps. Another reason its nice to have a partner, I don’t feel alone when we have to make hard decisions or we are faced with bumps. Sherry and I really support each other and will sit together and talk through the bump and we get through it and then it becomes a distant memory!
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
Sherry: “Where Does the Good Go” by Teagan & Sara. It was the song that Meredith Grey and Cristina Yang “dance it out to” in their last scene together on Grey’s Anatomy. I loved that moment of that friendship and that song just lifts me up.
Allison: “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey. A classic and my all time favorite!
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE ENTREPRENEUR LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Entertainment: Emma Roberts & Karah Preiss
THEY'RE LIT
THEY'RE LIT.
"Nobody reads anymore" is an untruth for Emma Roberts and Karah Preiss, friends and co-founders behind Belletrist, the site that celebrates great books and the people who read them.
And yes, reading, in and of itself, is a form of entertainment-- one of the best and oldest forms of entertainment we might add.
Every month, Belletrist features a different book and a favorite independent bookstore, both hand-picked by Emma and Karah.
Though they live on opposite coasts, the actress (Emma) and voracious reader (both) are forever connected via words.
After co-founding Belletrist in 2017, Emma says that she read more books than she ever has before, but that doesn't stop people from questioning her on set. "When I'm reading a book on set, some people will come up to me and ask, 'You read?' And I say: 'What part of that is
surprising? Because I'm an actress? Because I have blonde hair? What is it that literally stopped you in your tracks to be shocked that I can read and do read,' that's really crazy. And they're like, 'Well it just didn't seem like you would read.' So, I ask 'why?' And no one can really give me an answer. I always find that interesting. I would actually assume somebody reads before I would assume that they don't read. Being an actress, I think that people are just surprised that you do anything else," she wrote on Belletrist while interviewing "Abandon Me" author Melissa Febos.
But we are certainly happy both women are readers. The more the merrier. Plus, with their platform, they're not only getting noses in books, but they're sticking theirs places we'd love to go. Through Belletrist Emma had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interview Joan Didion, as well as Carmen Maria Machado, author of the inimitable "Her Body and Other Parties."
More below.
Favorite book you read in the last year:
Emma: "The Rules Do Not Apply" by Ariel Levy. This book is an account of Levy's life, toggling between life as a young girl and a woman trying to navigate the overwhelming burden of a choice that we all feel as we reach adulthood. Contrary to what many people think, it's not just a story of a woman's miscarriage. It's an important book about what it means to "want it all" as a woman in the 21st century.
Emma, on finding the woman who would become one of her favorites:
Emma: When I was eighteen and living in New York City, I met a boy. Because this boy was a writer, he was trying to write—probably about me, I thought. It turns out, he wasn’t. Either way, he wanted me to shut up, and so he handed me a book from his bookshelf. The book was Play It As It Lays.
The author was Joan Didion. I had never heard of her before, but because I wanted to come across as sophisticated I said nothing and started reading in the other room.
From that moment, I fell in love with Joan and not in a casual way. You don’t just read Joan Didion. Joan Didion begins to inform your life. She makes you look at places, like California, New York and Hawaii, differently. She changes the way you view grief and loss. She humanizes celebrities like John Wayne and Joan Baez. She forces you to understand that a journalist is not just somebody who reports the news, but rather someone who makes history. She changes the way you keep a journal, even though you know you might be the only person to ever read it. She makes you feel like you might possibly be the reporter of your own life, not just living it.
I’m not the only woman or person who has thought these things about Joan Didion, and I certainly won't be the last. However, there is a part of me, and I think there is a part of every person who reads Joan, that wishes she was all their own.
Belletrist January Book Pick:
"The Immortalists" by Chloe Benjamin. We adore this novel and cannot wait to discuss many of the philosophical questions raised throughout!
On their friendship:
Emma: We literally love books. I think that’s been the strongest part of our friendship. We met through mutual friends, and it was one of those things where people thought maybe we wouldn’t really become that close, but we ended up becoming really close because of…
Karah: Books.
Emma: … a love for reading and just wanting to learn more, read more and … she [Karah] really imposed such a reading list on me.
On their hopes for Belletrist:
Karah: We said we want to do what Kylie Jenner has done to lip kits …
Emma: … for books.
Karah: For books.
This has been edited and condensed via Belletrist.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE ENTERTAINMENT LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Fashion: Emma Grede
NOT JUST GOOD. GREAT.
NOT JUST GOOD. GREAT.
As the co-founder of Good American, the inclusive denim line Emma Grede launched with Khloe Kardashian in December 2016, there was a lot of pressure to perform. But with a focus on inclusive sizing and showing the product on various models on its website, the duo found immediate, chart-topping success.
It was the biggest denim launch in apparel history. NBD. With sizes ranging from 00 to 24, that they don't separate into "petite" or "plus-size" categories, the label relied on social-media marketing, featuring the product on an array of women on its Instagram. They've now expanded into bodysuits and sweats, as modeled by Khloe herself.
Originating from a convo between Khloe and Emma about what it means to be a woman today, Emma shares “We believe everybody deserves to be shown off. Fashion should be made to fit women, not the other way around. Body ideals really have shifted in the last few years.”
Here's to shifting the industry, one Good pair of jeans at a time.
Read more from Emma below.
What an amazing year you've had! In 2016 you and co-founder Khloe did one million in sales on day one. Did you ever anticipate such wild, record-breaking success?
I knew we were going to be successful because I knew we had made a killer pair of jeans that doesn’t exist in the marketplace and I was sure women would react positively to that, but No! I didn’t expect that first day of sales and I didn’t anticipate the year we’ve had either.
As a company how do you one-up yourself on that? And stay ahead of the game?
You have to constantly and consistently do two things, one listen to your customers, what do they want, what can they not get and what can you do better for them? And then you need to act on that information from a product development perspective and keep improving what you do.
Your husband also co-founded a denim line that has seen astronomical success. What kind of jean talk happens in your household?
Ha ha! Yes it is quite odd but Jens, who owns Frame denim, and I have worked together for over 10 years now, first in the fashion agency group he founded - Wednesday Group- with his business partner Erik Torsteensen and now with Good American, so we literally talk shop all the time. Our business are our hobbies as well as what we do professionally but we also have two children together, so sometimes there just is no space for us discuss business and that creates a nice balance.
What would you say most prepared you to launch a company?
Good American isn’t my first company, it’s my third! But I would say all my experience leading up to now. Working in the fashion and entertainment business has given me an appreciation for what’s important and that’s product. If I look at how I spend my time it’s all in creating the best possible product.
When do you feel the most empowered?
At about 8:30 am every morning! I’ve worked out, had breakfast with my family, taken my little boy to school and I’m on route to the office listening to a Podcast……somedays I’d like to turn around and head back to bed!! But most days I’m feeling on fire at about 8:30 am!!!
What do you find most empowering about working alongside Khloe?
Khloe is the real deal as a business woman, she’s one of the most positive people I know and she’s also importantly, a really hard worker. She puts her all into every task, she’s super passionate about what we do and that’s both inspiring and empowering.
![Emma Grede_02201[11] copy.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53fba539e4b0a52701b62eb4/1516595190386-QRQE246X2H4UPN7CU1W5/Emma+Grede_02201%5B11%5D+copy.jpg)
"We wanted to liberate women from an unreal external projection."
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People always say a co-founder relationship is like a marriage. Why do you think you and Khloe work well together?
Ultimately we have a respect for one another and what each of us does. Khloe is very open-minded and she’s learned a lot from her time in the business with her various ventures, which is where my respect for her comes.
What's the Good Squad about and why is it an important part of the brand?
The Good Squad is so important to us, we believe very strongly that it’s so important to show a real representation of women in fashion and the wider media landscape. We wanted to liberate women from feeling as though they need to live up to an unreal external projection of how they should be. Our girls come from all over the world, from all different backgrounds, have different shapes, sizes and are all working hard to realize their dreams and potential.
"We believe very strongly that it’s so important to show a real representation of women in fashion."
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When do you feel the most pressure?
At about 8:30 am every morning- Ha!! I feel pressure going into photo shoots and filming things, I really don’t do well on camera.
When do you feel the most relaxed?
On Sundays. I love Sunday brunch, the newspapers, hanging with my babies -- that’s just the best and most relaxing for me.
Any upcoming Good American news you can share with us?
YES! We just launched our spring 2018 collection and new styles will drop weekly! We are also very close to releasing our line of maternity denim called ‘Good Mama’. Launch details will be released on Good American’s social media channels very soon!
What would you call your superpower?
I’m really good at motivating people and just getting stuff done, out the door, over the line. That’s my super power.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE FASHION LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Content Creator: Orion Carloto
THE ONE TO WATCH.
THE ONE TO WATCH.
Orion Carloto is in Flux.
But her approach to life's realities has a twist.
After writing for Local Wolves magazine, Orion decided to bare her soul, publishing her first book of poetry, Flux. With original illustrations by artist Katie Roberts, Orion pulls from her own experiences with love and loss, creating a safe space for the brokenhearted. Solitude, sex, and yearning for simpler times dot her pages.
Born in a small town in Georgia, the writer and poet first became popular on YouTube. Such is the world we live in. But growing up with her nose in a book and stuck deep in her own imagination, Orion was never fated to stick to the video platform. (It doesn't hurt that she understand the art of a good pic.) A fan of hot coffee, the color yellow and baring it all on the page, she's a Gen Xer to keep an eye on. As she writes on her Instagram, which has over 500k followers, "2017 was magical for many reasons. I traveled the most I’ve ever traveled. I wrote music. I moved to NYC. I came out as bisexual. I fell in love with a beautiful woman. I released my very first book of poetry and prose. I healed."
In this digital age when many young influencers take to video to express themselves, it's refreshing to see the 21-year-old take to paper.
More from Orion below.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
If anyone taught me how to go after the things you want the most in life best, it would be my mother. I know it's a cliché to praise one's own mother, but that woman has continuously enlightened me with the importance of working smart and working hard. Make mama proud.
When you run into a career obstacle, what drives you forward?
Pulling inspiration from everything that's surrounding my life. Literature, films, strangers, travel, music, photographs, stories, big cities, and the people that I love with my entire being. That's what pushes and excites me to move forward. Or by traveling to a place that I've never been to before. Experiencing unfamiliar places has a funny way of pulling heaps of creativity out of you.
What was it like putting your first book of poetry out in the world?
If I could describe that experience in one word, it would be bittersweet. Releasing 'Flux' was something I've always dreamt of achieving even before it was written. Yet, when the social release day came about, I was completely beaming and overwhelmingly terrified all at once!! My heartbreak, something that once only belonged to me, now lives on the shelves of thousands of people and I'm still trying to adjust to that.
My heartbreak, something that once only belonged to me, now lives on the shelves of thousands of people and I'm still trying to adjust to that.
Will you do it again?
Absolutely without a doubt! Exposing your vulnerabilities is a tough position to be in, but I wouldn't trade that experience for the world.
Since you work with curious creatives, where do you think good ideas come from?
My best ideas come from warm coffee in the morning, the people I cross souls with, and both the strange and endearing endeavors my life takes me on.
You have a young following with a ton of ideas and feelings. Based on what you read and see from them, if you ran the world, what one law you would enact?
Easy-- a law that ensures and protects everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community across the entire world.
"Exposing your vulnerabilities is tough but I wouldn't trade it for the world."
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What is your biggest pet peeve?
People who constantly interrupt!
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
I think it's easy for people to assume that just because I'm a writer, that I write every single day! Truthfully, it takes a thoughtful sit down, complete solitude, and feeling inspired for me to successfully write a new piece that I'm proud of. Although I try to journal every day, when it comes to poetry or prose, I find myself greeting writers' block more often than I'd like.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
When others can connect with my words and truly feel them while reading. To me, that makes me feel like I'm doing something right.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
Malia Obama. I know being a college student is her full-time "job" at the moment, but MAN, could you imagine having Barack and Michelle as your parents?!
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
I can think back to two points in my life. The first was when I began working with my excellent team of strong and confident women. Like my manager, Rana Zand, for example. Watching her work ethic and absorbing her continuous advice inspired me to take charge and to absolutely never stop no matter the obstacle. The second was the moment I finished writing my first book. It was that moment that I let go of all of my heartbreak. I gained an appreciation and better understanding of who I am as a person and my potential in achieving absolutely anything I put my heart to.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Patti Smith said it best, "Build a good name. Keep your name clean. Don’t make compromises, don’t worry about making a bunch of money or being successful — be concerned with doing good work and make the right choices and protect your work. And if you build a good name, eventually, that name will be its own currency."
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
Anything Amy Winehouse!
Do you have any resolutions for 2018?
To begin and finish my second book. Oh, and also to be reasonable at texting people back much faster.... not days later.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE CONTENT CREATOR LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Health & Wellness: Melissa Arnot Reid
THE SUMMIT MASTER.
THE SUMMIT MASTER.
Nothing can stop her she's all the way up (on the top of Mt. Everest without supplemental oxygen).
She may be the first American woman to successfully summit and descend Everest without supplemental oxygen, but Eddie Bauer guide Melissa Arnot Reid has said that “being the first is irrelevant.” As one of the world’s most revered climbers, she has summited Everest 6 times, holding the record for an American woman. (Nepali Lhakpa Sherpa has 7 summits as of 2016, the most of any woman, anywhere.) Despite her near-mastery of the mountain, Arnot Reid remains in humbled by it, all-too aware of its indiscriminate power over even the most skilled and seasoned climbers. Its with this humility in mind that Arnot Reid co-founded The Juniper Fund to provide financial support to families of local workers killed in the mountains of Nepal.
Find out this world class athlete literally climbed her way to the top.
On August 7th of 2017, you and Maddie Miller broke the record for the fastest time to summit each state’s high point in 41 days, 16 hours, and 10 minutes. WOW. Just Wow. And also, why? What compelled the 50 Peaks challenge?
We completed this challenge in August of 2016 after 3 years of planning. It was really Maddie's idea- a way to have an adventure framed within a goal. Our goal was to complete the peaks in 50 days but when it became clear we might be able to get the speed record we decided to go all out (aka, no sleeping).
Mentorship is a huge part of Create & Cultivate? Did you have a mentor? And why is mentorship important to you?
Mentorship is a totally lost art. I never had a mentor and I had to make a lot of mistakes of my own, which is why I have dedicated myself to trying to be a solid mentor for the next generation of young female climbers. I work with a 15, 18 and 22 year old and it is super rewarding to see where they are going with what tools I can share with them.
Is there a climb where you would say you learned the "hardest" lesson?
My hardest lesson came on a climb in 2010 when my partner was killed in an ice avalanche while we were together. I had always felt that I was making safe decisions so I would always be safe but that moment reminded me and taught me that mother nature is in control and all you can do is respect that. It changed the path of my life.
You're the first American woman to ascend and descend Everest without supplemental oxygen. What's it like to be the "first" in something? Does that make you feel more pressure to perform?
I think that being first is a little scary but also wonderful because it shows others what is possible.
Everyone always talks about the ascension. But what's the climb down like?
The climb is one thing but the descent is so much more serious- you are already tired and have so much to lose. Each step matters, there and back.
Where does your boundless ability to push yourself come from?
I have a deep personal curiosity of what is possible for me. That keeps me pushing myself and trying new things.
What would you call your superpower?
Perseverance and a real ability to tune out discomfort.
If you could give a room of women one piece of advice, what would it be?
Take the first step. Ignore the end goal, it always seems overwhelming if you are looking 20 miles down the road. Just take the first step and you will be surprised at what momentum you create.
What's your favorite advice you've ever received?
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams- (it's a Thoreau quote). It is my guiding principal. Don't be timid, go after your dreams.
"Don't be timid, go after your dreams."
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How much of a climb is psychical? And how much is mental?
100 percent both. You need to be strong the whole time but you also need to believe in yourself and keep those mental traps from weighing you down.
What do you think you'll be doing as an 80-year-old lady?
I hope climbing on a sunny day with my husband and family. Something outside for sure. I am an outdoor animal, I don't think that will change with age.
What new challenges are you excited to face in your lifetime?
I am always looking for new ways to learn and push my own boundries. Anything where I am learning I consider an adventure.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE WELLNESS LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Philanthropy: Monique Coleman
THE EQUALITY AMBASSADOR.
THE EQUALITY AMBASSADOR.
She's using her platform to make real change.
From High-School Musical to the United Nations, actress and activist Monique Coleman has dedicated her life and celebrity to empowering girls and women. Recently named the UN’s newest Girl Up Champion, the GimmeMo talk show host continues to uplift, using her platform to advocate for keeping girls around the world educated, healthy, and safe. Named the first ever United Nations Youth Champion in 2010, Coleman visited 24 countries in just six months, tackling the most pressing issues affecting our at-risk youth.
While you may know her as Taylor McKessie from the hit High School Musical franchise, her true passion lies in fighting for human rights.
More from Monique below.
Name: Monique Coleman
Instagram Handle: @_moniquecoleman
Where do your drive and passion for Girl Up come from?
My passion stems from my deep belief that empowering girls does change the world.
Philanthropy means the "love of humanity." It's so beautiful and simple. What does it mean to you?
To serve without limits.
Much of your work involved traveling. What have you seen on your journeys that inspired you to keep going?
I’m amazed at the resilience of humanity. The strength of a mother to walk for days with her family to escape a war; the dedication of young students who see education as a way to a better future; the pride of a village who receives clean water. I’m also inspired when I see how little it takes sometimes to make an enormous impact.
What have you found to be the most pressing issues facing today's youth?
Self Esteem, Comparison, Feeling like their voices aren’t heard.
Do you think you've found your true calling?
I believe my purpose is to empower, inspire, and motivate people however the form that it takes is ever evolving.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
The ability to use my platform to make a difference.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
The Dalai Lama. I’d love to spend my days engulfed in teaching Peace & Compassion.
At what point in your life did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
Still working on it :)
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Nothing is ever “life or death” unless it’s literally “life” or “death”
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
I don’t. I cry.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE PHILANTHROPY LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Food: Marissa Ross
PAIRS WELL WITH OTHERS.
PAIRS WELL WITH OTHERS.
Notes of brilliance, with a hint of sarcasm, finishes strong.
That's Marissa Ross as a wine. *We know nothing about wine.* But we are the exact kind of reader and drinker the wine writer has empowered. Wine, for most, is a scary subject. *Do you taste cherry? Is it peppery? Can wine be fuzzy? I feel fuzzy. Why am I swirling this glass? hits floor.*
'Cause look, shoving our nose into a glass and inhaling wine notes, makes most of us feel like imposters. Marissa has loosened up that stigma, writing about vino like as one writes about their favorite other binges. Wine and Amazon Prime, ya'll.
She's got haters, ya-- those who says she's unqualified. And she responds to them. (SHE GIVES NO DAMNS.) She does however give great IG Story, is the author of Wine. All The Time, The Casual Guide to Confident Drinking, is Man Repeller's "go-to wine expert," and looks damn good in a red lip (see above) with a red (see above) in hand.
Don't put a cork in her. She's not even close to done.
More from Marissa below.
Name: Marissa A. Ross
Instagram handle: @marissaaross
So when Mindy Kaling writes this about you, “Can I just be Marissa, please? I want to be hilarious and sexy and smart and insanely knowledgeable about wine.” Where do you go from there?
The retirement home! [laughs] You can't really top that.
Now let's back it up. When did you first realize that you could write about wine in a way that made people want to know more?
February 3rd, 2015. I'd been making videos and writing about wine since 2011, but it wasn't like a "thing." I never went viral, I didn't have insane traffic. Honestly, I'd have like fourteen hits, and half of those would be me neurotically rereading and editing my own work. Writing about wine was something I did for me because I genuinely enjoyed it, and honestly, never in a million years thought about it as a career. But February 3rd, 2015, Grub Street published an article about my wine writing and videos by Sierra Tishgart and my life changed forever. I woke up that morning to fifty-something emails from literary agents, publishers, magazines, all asking me to write about wine. It was like a cartoon anvil falling out of the sky on my head. I couldn't believe it. It's still hard for me to believe.
Why do you think wine makes people so nervous/like they have to know so much?
I think of wine and its culture on this constant pendulum, swinging between being for the people and being for status. In the 1990s, we hit a peak of wine being for status; it was used to show off money, to show off intellect, to show off "taste," just like people brag about Rolexes, Ivy League degrees or Leonard Cohen albums. People are nervous and feel like they have to know so much about wine because wine culture made sure we felt that way. Not only was "good" wine exclusive, but so was the information around it. But now that pendulum is swinging back, and people are realizing that wine is not just for them, but for everyone. It's really exciting for me to see more people enjoy wine, and be empowered by it.
"Wine is for everyone."
Best wine night memory:
It would be impossible to choose just one. Wine is so special because it is so much about set and setting. I've had the best nights in the countryside of Umbria, the wine bars of Barcelona, just in my backyard with my husband.
Worst wine might memory:
I used to do these under $10 wine review videos for Hello Giggles called Wine Time. The first time I ever shot anything, I was being very cocky and thought for some reason I could do two episodes back to back. As it turns out, if you drink nearly two bottles of $3, you will inevitably-- and mysteriously-- end up crying on your neighbor's couch for no apparent reason and then going home to spend the rest of the evening puking straight wine. Glad I got that mistake, and valuable lesson, out of the way, right away.
How deep into a glass should one actually put their nose?
As someone who has a long nose and constantly has wine on the end of it, I say as deep as you damn well want!
What is your biggest pet peeve?
It's a tossup between winesplaining, and when finished plates are left on the table for long periods of time in restaurants.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
I don't just drink wine all day. (laughs) [ed note: laughs]
IYO-- How can we stay original when we are so saturated with other people's work?
I think it's important to immerse yourself in art that is outside of what you personally create in your career. You want to stay inspired, to be seeking fresh perspectives, to push yourself in new directions. Sometimes those directions don't work out like you'd like, but you're still moving forward, and you never know where those directions will lead you.
"It's important to immerse yourself in art that is outside of what you personally create in your career."
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
Five star Amazon reviews. I'm kidding! The thing that really completes me, is that I get to empower others. I meet people all the time that were so afraid of wine, that are now confident and enjoying wine more than ever because I was able to give them the tools and information they needed in an accessible, fun way. I feel really fortunate every day that I have the opportunity to tell people that think they can't, that they can.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
Bourdain, of course. Who doesn't want to travel the world eating and drinking all the delicious things? Or Amy Sedaris. Her new show, "At Home with Amy Sedaris" is a dream show to me-- hilarious comedy and commentary with a midcentury slant. Like if I could somehow trade half of Bourdain's job with half of Sedaris', that would be the ultimate for me.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
It was before I had a career, back when I dropped out of school and moved to Los Angeles. I had no money, no connections, no prospects. Every day I wrote and told myself I was a writer, that I was going to be a writer, and that nothing could stop me. I know my career seemingly happened overnight, but there were many failures, dead ends, and shitty day jobs before any success. I had to have confidence in my work and in myself very early on to keep going no matter what. That relentless, blind confidence, combined with the confidence of finding success by working through failure, is what makes me the woman I am today.
Every day I just wrote and told myself I was a writer, that I was going to be a writer, and that nothing could stop me.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Don't let "perfect" stand in the way of good.
"Don't let "perfect" stand in the way of good."
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When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?
I take a deep breath and I look around, and I listen. There are opportunities around us every day; we're often just too busy looking and listening to everything else to notice them.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
"Forest Green" by Mike G. or "The Spiteful Chant" by Kendrick Lamar.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
