Create & Cultivate 100: Content Creator: Jenna Wortham
THE WORTHY WORDSMITH.
THE WORTHY WORDSMITH.
photo credit: Melissa Hom
Most great careers start with a great story.
And New York Times Magazine staff writer Jenna Wortham has hers. It's not that she received a handwritten note from Beyoncé that read, "Thank you for the beautiful words you said about Formation. Thanks for understanding my heart." (OK.)
It's not that she's moderated convos with Ta-Nehisi Coates. Or that she's managed to grow her her Podcast, Still Processing, while launching the Black Future Project, while holding down her job as a culture writer for the Times magazine.
It's that she rejected her first job offer from the New York Times. She didn't think she was the right fit. You know, that whole imposter syndrome sinking feeling. Luckily, the Times gave her time to reconsider. And now, she is a critical voice, addressing what it means to be black and alive.
More below.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
The desire to see women like me reflected in the broader cultural conversation.
You've spoken on this before, but our audience needs to hear it. You rejected the first job offer from the NY Times. Not because of the money, but because you didn't have faith in yourself yet. Can you talk us through how you psyched yourself up?
I had no context for the type of job they offered - I was the first person in my family to graduate from a four-year university. I was afraid to find out I was a failure, to let people down. My tech editor at the NYT wouldn't let me give up so easily, and I'll always be grateful that they saw potential and taught me to nurture it.
Even though you did accept that job, how long did it take for you to accept yourself in that position? I think for us, and for a lot of our readers, those are two different things.
It absolutely is. It was a process, and it took a long time before I felt like I could hold my own. But I never doubted that I would eventually get there. I just wanted everyone else to know it, if that makes sense.
What is the smartest thing you've done to develop your voice?
Stop being afraid of it.
"Stop being afraid of it."
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A fear for a lot of writers and content creators in the digi-age is that when push comes to shove, we're only regurgitating content. That we don't actually have something important to say. How do you push through those moments?
I'm working on honing the art of resistance and refusal. I don't always have to weigh in, and I'm usually better for it when I don't and try to make a bigger point later on.
How do you know when you're onto something gold?
My biggest practice is learning to trust my gut and my intuition. My body tells me - my hands tingle, my heart races. It's up to me to pay attention to the signs.
When you run into a career obstacle, what drives you forward?
I think about the legacy of incredible black journalists before me and what they faced. If they can do that, I can do this.
I think about the legacy of incredible black journalists before me and what they faced. If they can do that, I can do this.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
People who disrespect each other's time. It's our most precious resource. We cannot take it for granted.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
It's non-stop. As a journalist and cultural critic, its impossible to turn my brain off, so even when I'm relaxing and watching TV, I'm thinking -- is this a story? Should we cover this? What's a good angle here? It's amazing but also exhausting!
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
The network of people that I've met through it. I'm lucky to have a job that allows me to be curious about the world, and how different people move through it. Learning about so many ways of being has helped me shape how I want to be and what feels important to me. It's the greatest gift.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
Maybe a drone cam. I'm so tired of being stuck with this perspective on Earth.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
To savor the good moments. My friend and late colleague David Carr once called me out when I tried to brush off a compliment after landing a couple stories on the home page of the New York Times. I tried to diminish the pieces — I think they were about Instagram -- and I felt a little embarrassed celebrating given that our colleagues work in war zones, reporting on public health crisis like Ebola or Flint. But he looked me square in the eye and said that all victories count. There's no need to compare yours to someone else's. It's important to enjoy the moments where our work counts for something because they are rare and fleeting.
"All victories count. There's no need to compare yours to someone else's."
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What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
I'm not much of a singer in the shower! But after a bad day, I really like to draw a bath, throw in some rose petals, epsom salt, and maybe lavender oil, and just soak it all away. I'll probably listen to Moses Sumney and just focus on my breathing until I feel better.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE CONTENT CREATOR LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Health & Wellness: Karena Dawn & Katrina Scott
STEPPED THE GAME UP.
STEPPED THE GAME UP.
Karena Dawn and Katrina Scott met a Manhattan Beach gym, and then they built their empire.
Their intention was simple: They wanted women to have a place where they could connect through fitness and find their best friends-- just as the co-founders did. Conceptualized in 2009, Tone it Up is now a multi-million dollar business that inspires millions of women. Sure, they didn't set out to start a business, but with meet-ups, an app, and a girlfriend-to-girlfriend workout system, they not only have a bustling biz, but a badass community of like-minded women.
Whether you're on the hunt for a fab smoothie recipe, a fun new workout, or perhaps some inspiration to help jumpstart your journey, Karena and Katrina have got you covered.
Names: Karena Dawn and Katrina Scott
More from the fitness founders below.
Names: Karena Dawn + Katrina Scott
Instagram Handles: @KarenaDawn and @KatrinaaScott
Business Instagram Handle: @toneitup
You met at a gym. Invested 3k of your own money and have built a now successful and inspiring community. Was it scary investing those first dollars?
Karena: It was a big risk and yes it was scary, but we knew in our hearts that this was the right path for us. We knew that this was what we were meant to do. We always say that if you're not a little bit scared, you're probably not pushing yourself to your full potential. So we dove in and never looked back!
And now that you have reached ultimate success, how do you ensure that you're staying true to the mission of the brand?
Katrina: We always come back to why we started Tone It Up. We created Tone It Up because we wanted women to have a place where they could connect through fitness and find their best friends, just like we did! We wanted to create a community where women support, motivate, and uplift each other. That's our passion and our purpose and we return to that in every decision we make.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
Karena: Our drive comes from our community. They inspire us to work hard every day!
It's hard enough to motivate yourself. How do you find the strength to motivate millions of other women?
Katrina: Our community gives us strength! Whenever we need an extra boost of motivation, we scroll through the #TIUteam check-ins on Instagram. Seeing so many strong, beautiful, and dedicated women brings us so much inspiration!
"Seeing so many strong, beautiful, and dedicated women brings us so much inspiration!"
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How did the discipline of healthy living and "toning it up" help you when launching a biz?
Karena: We make sure to get our own workout in first thing every morning. That way, we feel focused, balanced, and centered no matter what comes our way that day. We kept that routine and mentality while launching Tone It Up and through today. And we encourage all women to prioritize themselves and their health first thing in the morning too. That's why we provide a Daily Workout on ToneItUp.com and our Studio Tone It Up app. It lays out exactly what to do so you can focus on your health even on your busiest days!
What's the most rewarding part of running Tone It Up?
Katrina: It is so rewarding that we get to be a part of so many women's lives and play a part in their health journeys. We have the amazing opportunity to meet and connect with so many women around the world. We have to pinch ourselves every day that this is our lives.
Karena: It's also incredibly rewarding that we get to do this together. It's so special to be able to experience everything with your best friend and grow together.
What's something you'd like people to know about your titles that they probably don’t?
Katrina: That we have desk jobs too! Sometimes people think we get to exercise all day. We actually sit at our desks writing and creating most of the day just like you! We're inspired to create simple recipes and make workouts quick and accessible for everyone because we know how busy you are and how important it is to balance it all.
What about your respective careers make you feel the most complete?
Karena: When we hear from a girl in our community about how she feels the healthiest, happiest, and most confident she ever has!
What's the best advice you've ever been given?
Katrina: My mom growing up would tell me to find my passion and what makes me excited and make that my career. My dad always said "trust but verify". These are things I've lived by!
"My dad always said 'trust but verify.'"
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What song do you each sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
Katrina: Something funky - anything James Brown.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE WELLNESS LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Pat McGrath
THE VISIONARY.
THE VISIONARY.
Pat McGrath's mother told her she can do anything. And thank goodness for badass mothers.
They were wise words that clearly stuck. As the beauty industry's go-to, British make-up artist Pat McGrath has created the world's most celebrated editorial and runway makeup looks. Find a trend, you can trace it back to Pat. #BacktoPat. Vogue has called her the most influential make-up artist in the world.
Yes, world.
But what she creates is truly out of this one. Defiant and decadent, Pat's artistry has never played by the rules. Which, is something she's excited to see from her industry, recently telling GQ, “The world of makeup is becoming increasingly more diverse and less about rules, which is absolutely divine."
D-I-V-I-N-E.
They write, "If there is an equivalent to Supreme in the cosmetics world, it would be McGrath’s beauty line Pat McGrath Labs, which she started in 2015. Stoked by cultish cosmetics culture, almost every lip stick, eye shadow palette, and Versace show face kit sells out almost instantaneously." No offense to Supreme, but Pat McGrath is way more original.
And seeing as Pat's entire spirit and character is set to "destroy convention and embrace cautionless self-expression," we say, let the destruction commence.
More from Pat below.
What is your earliest memory of beauty and makeup?
I mean, really, my earliest memory was watching my mother do her makeup. She was obsessed with beauty and collected makeup and experimented with it. I think it’s a lot of young men and women’s experiences, growing up, watching the ritual of what their mothers would do.
The beauty industry has been under construction for a while. Do you think there have been significant improvements?
Yes! While there’s always room for improvement, I really think that it’s great to see that it’s getting better, but I myself know that I can go even further and I’m really excited about that.
With the Internet and social media, there’s been real growth in terms of beauty knowledge and beauty communities. Do you think it’s changed the way we approach beauty?
Of course! It started out with magazines and all those incredible articles and no matter how steeped in beauty I would be, I would read a magazine and tear the page out and go straight to the store to buy exactly what I’d seen. With Instagram, it’s taken it to a whole new level. You can see every minute, every second in your scroll, new ways of how to apply makeup, it’s so entertaining and it’s so inspiring.
Who are your muses as you create beauty looks and products?
They’re infinite! From Kim [Kardashian West] to Naomi [Campbell] to Paloma [Elsesser] to Duckie [Thot], Miss Fame, I love them all! All these beautiful, formidable, strong, courageous women and men of all colors and sizes. Beauty has nothing to do with one's age, gender, body size, socio-economic status, race, religion or culture. Social media really opens up the whole world to you, you can cast from everywhere. I remember seeing Paloma on Instagram many, many years ago and I remember thinking, “I’ve never seen such beauty!”
"Beauty has nothing to do with one's age, gender, body size, socio-economic status, race, religion or culture."
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Who do you think your biggest beauty icon is?
Just one? There are so many! I always do Grace Jones and my mother, two beautiful Jamaican women.
How hectic is it backstage doing beauty at a runway show?
The fastest I've ever had to do beauty for a show was 50 models in one hour. Typically, I have a minimum of 23 people working with me. When I started, there would be 18 girls in a show, now there are shows with 150 girls, which means you just need a bigger team. And the timing of there being so many shows and so many girls arriving late, you need to have lots of hands backstage. Of course, that’s why I live on a motorbike during Paris Fashion Week, it’s my happiest time. We have a whole fleet of motorcycles because the cars are stuck in traffic and sometimes we’ll have to send motorcycles to the cars and my team loves it, they feel just like James Bond.
What do you splurge on when it comes to beauty?
The moment I get off the plane, anywhere in the world, I go straight to a drugstore and get all the latest balms and creams and everything. I especially love getting lashes. Eyelashes back in the day, they would have amazing eyelashes in the drugstores! For my beauty splurge, I go to amazing spas around the world. I’m a spa-holic.
What was your biggest fear in launching your own brand?
I felt uncomfortable doing something that everyone’s already done. I didn’t want to be boring.
"I felt uncomfortable doing something that everyone’s already done. I didn’t want to be boring."
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What’s the best piece of #realtalk you’ve ever received?
I was brought up by a mother that taught me, “You can do anything.”
This interview has been edited and condensed from multiple sources.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE BEAUTY LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: STEM: Jessica Naziri
THE DIGITAL DARLING.
THE DIGITAL DARLING.
You know that one friend you have, who you always go to for tech tips, the trendiest gadgets, or the best apps to organize your life? That's Jessica Naziri, tech expert, writer, speaker, and founder of TechSesh.co, a tech and lifestyle site for women. It's where culture and tech meet.
Jessica is on a mission to bring tech to women and women to tech. It's a win-win. Recently listed on Inc.'s 30 Inspirational Women in Tech 2017, Jessica started her career as a technology reporter for The Los Angeles Times, CNN and CNBC.com. She's consulted for Google, Intel, Dell, and Samsung, helping get their message to a millennial audience. But she's also committed to fostering the next generation of female tech leaders.
More from Jessica below.
Name: Jessica Naziri
Instagram Handle: @jessicanaziri
Where do your drive and passion come from?
TechSesh.co was born out of my passion for creating a platform that celebrates incredibly dynamic females in the tech space and a place where women can talk candidly about their journeys and share actionable advice that fellow career-focused women can hold on to. My drive and passion come from the lack of what is out there. I wanted to close the tech creative gap and come up with development solutions and show that it is okay to be creative, fashionable and involved in the tech industry. I feel like that’s something this industry can expand on. There was a gap between lifestyle and tech companies who needed help, and there was no one there to help them. I saw this void and I wanted to make a difference in order to encourage people to break the stereotypes in the tech space.
You didn’t have a traditional trajectory into tech. After working in the startup world, you taught yourself to code. What was that experience like?
I started my career as a technology reporter for CNBC and the LA Times and later as a tech exec at a local start-up in LA. I still remember looking around at all my co-workers who were the ones building the product roadmap, debugging and testing the latest version of the app and I felt inferior. At the time I didn’t touch a line of code and I felt that I needed to prove myself even further because I was female— so I took more initiative, wore many hats, wrote and pitched content, and was able to make a huge impact in the company. Still, the reality of it was, no matter how hard I worked, the problem wasn’t me. It was my gender. I promised myself that day that I would never allow gender bias to affect me and I would never overcompensate because I was a woman.
After seeing the gender gap in technology first hand, I wanted to make a difference by starting TechSesh.co, a modern woman’s destination to all things tech. My mission is to be inclusive, to inspire, to educate, and equip girls with the tech skills and knowledge to pursue 21st-century opportunities.
How do you feel as a woman in tech?
Embrace the 'f-word.' Since when did feminism become a bad word? If you advocate for women’s rights, you’re a feminist. Stand up for what you believe in: for your sisters and daughters. Women are more empowered than ever before. We’re seeing better products catered to women as we see more diversity. Pink is not a strategy. There is no one size fits all and companies are beginning to realize that! We should constantly be thinking about it because it’s the only way we get better and smarter as a society. With more opportunities, there are also more tech products. The more we push for inclusion, the better these tech products are, as they are based on needs and wants, not stereotypes of women.
"If you advocate for women’s rights, you’re a feminist."
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How have you successfully navigated such a male-dominated field?
I’m okay with knowing that not everyone is going to like me, especially in a male-dominated field. When working at the start-up, I realized men don’t apologize or ask for permission, they just do it. I learned quickly to do the same. So take it from me and do yourself a favor, eliminate “I'm sorry,” “excuse me,” and “if it’s alright” from your vocabulary. You don’t need to apologize for someone bumping into you, being passionate, asking for permission, raising children or saying no.
You don’t need to apologize for someone bumping into you, being passionate, asking for permission, raising children or saying no.
Women in STEM only represent 23% of the field. How do we get more women in tech? What are your hopes for young women who are interested in STEM?
Change comes through storytelling, whether that’s through an advertisement, a movie, or a book. We need to start by changing pop-culture and we need women as heroes in movies. Imagine your favorite beauty brand like Benefit coming out with an ad that promotes skipping class, not concealer or one of my favorite movies, Mean Girls where Lindsay Lohan gets a great grade on her math test and hides the fact that she achieved the A just to get a boy's attention - we send messages to our girls every single day that beauty is more important than brains and that science and tech is not for you. That is not the right way to empower women.
"We send messages to our girls every single day that beauty is more important than brains and that science and tech is not for you. That is not the right way to empower women."
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What is the best advice you have to young women wanted to get involved in the STEM world? Should they learn to code? Should they go back to school?
It is important for young women to know they can have successful and impactful careers in the tech sector without committing to a life of coding. You don’t need to go back to school to learn, but when you understand the technology yourself, you are ultimately empowered to do what you want to do. If your dream job doesn't exist yet, create it. I like business & technology because my ultimate goal is to empower millennial women through technology, and show them that they can make whatever they want to make with techs help.
"Success to me is not doing the same thing twice."
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State, once said, "There's a special place in hell reserved for women who don't help other women." My biggest pet peeve is when women who don’t help other women. We are already swimming in an upstream battle when it comes to respect in the field, so why are we not helping each other?
What are your biggest fears about running a business?
As an entrepreneur, I fear a lot of things. My fear has always been of failure. Putting in so much time, energy and passion towards something I love, while always fearing I may not succeed. But one thing I learned over the years is that entrepreneurship is not for the fearless, still, sometimes I lose sleep, dreading (or sometimes even expecting) the worst case scenario. I've learned how to channel fear in the most productive way by from mistakes and taking the time to study other people's mistakes. Every one of my biggest fears drives me to ensure that I never have to see them come true.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
I get to work with tech companies, such as Dell and Moen, on their branding, packaging and social content for their products, in order to help them tailor their products to their target markets. I even earned the nickname "creative developer" because of how often I get called in to explain to the creative teams how their concepts work from a technical perspective.
IYO-- How can we stay original when we are so saturated with other people's work?
Success to me is not doing the same thing twice.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
My career makes me feel complete because everyday, I get to learn something new from the people I meet, feedback from my audience, and the always changing tech industry.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
I love my job! I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
Women’s intuition is real. Follow it and you will become a master of your life. I followed my gut, left a cushy high paying job with benefits to start my passion project that turned into a full-grown business. I haven’t looked back since. When big brands reach out and tell me they love the TechSesh.co mission, I know I am doing something right.
I followed my gut, left a cushy high paying job with benefits to start my passion project that turned into a full-grown business.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Authenticity is single-handedly the most important message and I can sit here and write about how successful I am, but it’s more important to talk about my failures and how I learned from them.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?
The trajectory of my career path has been long and windy with so many potholes along the way. I have taken on jobs because I needed them, which then led me to more opportunities. But these detours have led me to where I am now with TechSatish. When I left my high-paying job, everyone thought I was insane. My husband, Michael, really encouraged me to start my own business and served as my biggest support system. Having a mentor, friend, or lover to bounce ideas off of and boost your confidence is key when dealing with these detours in your career changes.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
I sing “Ok, Google, play Alanis Morissette's You Live, You Learn." Then I leave the singing to the professionals.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE STEM LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Entrepreneur: Brit Morin
THE MILLENNIAL'S MARTHA.
THE MILLENNIAL'S MARTHA.
She might not have a show with Snoop Dogg, but Brit Morin, the founder and CEO of Brit + CO, has become the Martha Stewart for Millennials. In 2011 when she launched the Brit + Co platform, she wanted to work, but she also wanted to create. Now with an engaged community of over 130 million user, the media platform produces hundreds of pieces of content every month to grow up with their rapidly growing base.
Brit started in tech, first at Apple, which transitioned to a job a Google. But the more she found herself staring at a screen she looked deeper into her own soul. She wanted to create. That she did.
“I don’t think women brag about themselves enough,” Morin told us at last year's Create & Cultivate SXSW. That’s a habit we should all embrace more."
It's why she put her name in the company title. "I want people know I'm real about this. I'm a real person. When you Tweet me, I'm gonna Tweet you back. When you Instagram I'm gonna Instagram you back. It's not a brand just trying to be a brand."
But boy, has she built a brand. And one to brag about at that.
More from Brit below.
You really brought DIY digital. Why’d you go down that path and why was it important to you?
When I was first considering the type of company I wanted to start, I was doing a lot of DIYs for my upcoming wedding. At the same time, Pinterest was gaining popularity and I noticed that my friends who were pinning projects were also the ones saying, “I don’t know how you’re making all of these things, I’m not creative.” I realized there’s a gap between the creative confidence we have as kids as compared to what we have as adults, and I wanted to help bridge that. While younger generations are deeply immersed in the digital, they also crave experiences and want to “do”. I wanted to create a company that connects digital and analog, and acts as a 360 degree creative brand for women.
What have you found to be some of the hardest parts of entrepreneurship?
Learning to not take things personally is the biggest lesson I have learned. This can be particularly difficult when you attach your name and face to your company like I have. Initially it’s something I really struggled with, but I’ve learned to focus on the positive and take each failure as a learning. By focusing on our mission of inspiring and empowering women via creativity, I’m able to keep growing Brit + Co, even through the chaos.
How do you deal with feeling of imposter syndrome... How did I get to this table or in this meeting?
Imposter syndrome is something that women in particular really struggle with. Steve Jobs once said, “Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use.” I started Brit + Co at 25 years old and I’m still learning every day, but I try not to get caught up in the fact that I am a young leader and focus on the fact that I have a fresh perspective.
"I am a young leader and I have a fresh perspective."
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We both have audiences that we encourage to go and create their own. Sometimes that means they are creating a competitive product. Can we talk about that and what it means to support other women and support female business owners?
I’m a big believer of the idea that “empowered women empower women.” At Brit + Co our entire mission is focused around helping our audience live their best lives. In addition to empowering our audience, we support and are supported by so many amazing women. For example, Mila Kunis is an advisor to Brit + Co, and our #CreateGood event hosted speakers like Allison Williams and Randi Zuckerberg. I also personally try to pay it forward by providing advice and support to as many women as possible. There is power in numbers and if we work together, we can achieve so much more.
There is power in numbers and if we work together, we can achieve so much more.
SF tech space is notoriously male-dominated. Do you see yourself as a woman in tech? You’re in that world, in SF… have you ever felt like you were treated differently as a woman?
I see myself as a person in tech, but I would like to be recognized more for my success in business than my gender. I’ve definitely faced challenges as a woman in the industry but I think that’s mostly because venture capital is so male-dominated, and many investors fundamentally don’t understand and can’t relate to the company I am building. In instances like these, I try to focus on something all investors can understand, which is data. Figures like revenue growth, audience expansion, and increased engagement are universal.
When you find yourself come up against a roadblock or a bump in the road, how do you find new roads?
I come up against roadblocks every day, so my mantra is just to keep moving. We’re lucky to be at a point where we have a ton of inbound interest and no shortage of opportunities, but I think it’s important to create your own path, not just go down the road you are led. I try to stay informed on what’s happening outside of the Brit + Co bubble and to continue to keep my vision for the company fresh and inspired.
What would you call your superpower?
This is unconventional, but I’d have to say switching gears! I have literally gone from talking about entertaining tips on the Today Show to IPOs on Fox Business, and from meetings on the creative concept around our next immersive, experiential event, to our strategy around growing the engineering team. And of course, there’s the ultimate switch of CEO to mom as soon as I get home everyday. With so few free hours, I have no time to waste!
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Create & Cultivate 100: Entrepreneur: Cyndi Ramirez
THE CHILLMASTER.
THE CHILLMASTER.
photo credit: Hao Zeng for Interview Magazine
As the master manifestor behind New York’s coolest relaxation destination, Chillhouse founder Cyndi Ramirez is just heating up.
Her buzzy brainchild—a hybrid nail studio, café, and spa—has notoriously tense city-dwellers kicking off their Margielas in favor of a manicure and massage. A refreshing respite from the barrage of crystal-and-reishi saturated wellness blogs, Chillhouse just gets that a shoulder rub pairs best with a glass of wine and a little grub. As founder of food-meets-fashion website Taste The Style and partner in the hospitality group behind some of New York’s hottest haunts, read on to discover how the wellness renegade stays chill and finds balance.
More from Cyndi below.
Name: Cyndi Ramirez
Instagram Handle: @cyndiramirez
Business Instagram Handle: @chillhouse
What are the common challenges you've seen among female business owners and entrepreneurs?
Lack of resources, fear of the unknown, fear of failure.
What was the turning point that convinced you, it's time to take matters into my own hands people just need to chill?
Hah. I think I just really saw a void in the relaxation space. It was so linear and sterile. It was time to shake it up a bit and create a space that folks immediately feel at ease upon arriving.
What's the number one stress point you hear from customers?
Not enough time in the day.
When you're feeling particularly stressed out, where do your drive and passion come from?
I close my eyes, take a deep breath and just tell myself everything is going to be alright. I then just dive into an area of work that inspires me, whether that's mood boarding, or buying something new for the store.
When you run into a career obstacle, how do you find new roads?
I reach out to people who are smarter than me and ask a lot of questions. People want to help you! I forget that sometimes. There are more people out there that want to see you succeed than not. Lean on those, not the rest.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Flaky people with bad attitudes.
What are your biggest fears about running a business?
That everyone will one day decide they hate me and leave me? Haha, too much? I think you always fear the worst but hope for the best. I don't actually think anything like this would happen to me but don't we all worry we're going to fail on our darkest days?
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
That I'm constantly getting pulled in 80 directions. Keeps thing interesting.
Every day there is someone in your shadow. How can we stay original when we are so saturated by other people's work?
Oh that's such a great question. I'd like to think we're always inspiring each other, you just have to hone in on your vision and stick to your gut when it comes to the brand. React to the trends, but don't rely on them. But staying on top of our competition or our comrades is very important. I love knowing what other brands are doing.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
That I get to call Chillhouse mine. Finally getting that level of respect I've work hard for my whole life, haha!
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
I mean, a travel photographer has got the life, no? I'd also love to be Chelsea Handler for the day, just to know what it's like. That woman knows how to have a good time. But really, no one. I have the must fulfilling job in the world.
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 know if that happened overnight. It was a gradual process and one I'm still working on today. I'm still far from being the woman I want to be but I'm getting closer each day.
"I'm still far from being the woman I want to be but I'm getting closer each day."
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What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Don't forget to work on your personal brand, no matter who you work for and no matter how much you love your job. You come first, always.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
My shower song used to be "Criminal" but it's been a minute since I've belted that one out.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE ENTREPRENEUR LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Content Creator: Leandra Medine
THE ORIGINAL.
THE ORIGINAL.
Nothing can stop them, our thumbs go all the way up to Leandra. Both of them.
And yet, what can we say about Leandra Mendine Cohen AKA the Man Repeller that has not yet been shared?
An American author, blogger, and humor writer best known for Man Repeller, an independent fashion and lifestyle website, from the beginning Leandra knew that good fashion is about pleasing women, not men.
From that premise she built her online kingdom. Sometimes dressed in the role of King, sometimes Queen, and occasionally the oddball Jester, but no matter the outfit, the swagger and the wit, always took precedent. Followers and readers tuned in religiously to hear her take on Kanye West, on maximalism and minimalism, and most recently on her pregnancy.
It's not that she dared to be herself. It's that her choices, both sartorially and editorially, seem to involve no dare at all. It was/is, quite simply, her truth. (Though we'd be willing to bet that at a slumber party she'd certainly choose dare.) She simply was/is an original. And as those slashes imply, has remained so in the face of trends and blogger takedowns, industry turnover and the highs and lows of heels and life.
At her core she claims, she's a storyteller. "We're humans," she says. "We strive on a connection. We need it to survive."
More of her story below.
Name: Leandra Medine
Instagram Handle: @manrepeller
Climb or be climbed. There's a cutthroat mentality to all biz worlds, especially the content world. Whatupclickbait. But you have managed to stay above the fracas, if you will, without stomping on anyone. How've you done it over the years?
I don't know that I agree that there is a cutthroat mentality in the content world, at least not in this day and age. There is enough business to go around, that has been my philosophy out of the gates and I am a very collaborative worker. The success of my peers only lights my star, and that's true vice versa also. I try not to forget that.
Given your recent "Different Kind of Pregnancy Announcement" and the overwhelmingly powerful response from women, why do you think you've been able to connect with readers?
At my core, I'm a storyteller and a very self-aware analyzer of my own identity and I think the combination of these things and how deeply I respect and honor honesty have made connecting really natural. This is a hard question to answer because I didn't necessarily set out to connect, it's something that is so embedded in my DNA and the way that I communicate. I mean, we're humans, we strive on a connection. We need it to survive.
What kind of content do you think women are craving?
Precisely the kind of content MR produces, that is why we publish what we do. The balance, we have found, never undermines a woman's intellect for the simple reason that she enjoys a candy piece every now and then. It's also a judgment-free zone, but one where no topic is off limits for intellectual dissection.
It's a judgment-free zone, but one where no topic is off limits for intellectual dissection.
I think all women in their late 20s and mid-30s have reached the 'will I ever be happy again' point. What would you say to those women struggling with life and/or career who don't have a partner by their side?
When we're in the throes of upset, it's hard to recognize that station lasts forever.
"We're humans, we strive on a connection. We need it to survive."
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SO. Let's LIGHTEN the mood for a sec. Do you sing in the shower-- and if so, what's the go-to jam?
Yes, of course, and mostly show tunes.
What is your biggest professional pet peeve?
Hmmm, being asked questions that maintain answers that are really easily Google-able! (This is absolutely not a comment on this questionnaire, which has been a delight to fill out)
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
The piece that encapsulates my having a purpose that is bigger than I am.
What would you consider your superpower?
My hankering to learn about other people's vulnerabilities.
When you run into a career obstacle, what drives you forward?
The necessity to pay bills.
What kind of an 80-year-old lady do you think you'll be?
I'll probably talk out loud to myself a lot, and wear sunglasses in the dark.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE CONTENT CREATOR LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Health & Wellness: Angela Davis
FULL OF SOUL.
FULL OF SOUL.
Angela Davis turns a 45-minute workout into a life-changing experience. She's friends with Oprah and is Beyoncé's chosen Soul Cycle instructor. As if that weren't enough she's also a five-time All-American Team USA track-and-field star.
All-in-all, Angela Davis is a badass source of inspiration to everyone she meets, and has built a career on the SoulCycle mentality of blending fitness with inspiration. She does it all and according to her Instagram bio: Mom, Wife, Motivational Coach, Fitness Evangelist, Speaker, Co-Founder.
More from Angela below.
Name: Angela Davis
Instagram Handle: @shapewithangela
What’s your definition of inspiration?
To inspire means to breathe life. So when you’re inspiring someone you’re literally breathing life into them. Into their hopes and dreams and reminding them of what is possible.
When a client of yours is having a tough time with a workout or a health obstacle how do you encourage them?
I always encourage every client to do their best, be their best, and hold themselves accountable. My mom once told me the definition of accountability is accounting to your own ability. And with that, your best is always good enough.
What advice do you have for women working towards cultivating the career of their dreams?
Well, if they’re already in the process of cultivating the career of their dreams, then they’ve already won. The privilege of living a purpose driven life and operating in your gifts and talents is the ultimate dream come true.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
People faking. Faking in a workout, faking in life, just being fake annoys me.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
A job is an exchange of time for money. Some people have jobs and it's not necessarily something they love to do or want to do. What I get to do is my life’s work, therefore it doesn’t feel like a job. I’m literally doing what I was created and designed to do and I’m having the time of my life!
I’m literally doing what I was created and designed to do and I’m having the time of my life!
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
On a daily basis, I get to co-labor with the One who created me. And inspire others to live the life that was intended for them.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
I wouldn’t want to.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
When it became clear to me that people pleasing wasn’t a good look for me and that no matter what I did, I could never make everyone happy. So I decided to follow my heart at any cost and honor the whispers that were my intuitive guide.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
That “no” is a one-word answer. Don’t feel like you have to explain yourself to people. Your “no” is enough.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?
I make one. A bump in the road doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Sometimes it just calls on you to push through a little bit harder.
"A bump in the road doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Sometimes it just calls on you to push through a little bit harder."
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What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
I don’t really know that I sing in the shower, but a go-to song for me when I’m feeling down is "No Weapon" by Fred Hammond.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE WELLNESS LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Music: Vérité
ALT POP PHENOM.
ALT POP PHENOM.
The Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter, VÉRITÉ, is a touring machine.
After coming back from a month long US tour, she's already kicking off touring her new album, Somewhere In Between, featuring the singles, "Phase Me Out," and "When You're Gone."
From Texas to Canada, New York to Nashville, she's on track to chart her 2017, which included 12 million fans listening from 61 countries who jammed to over 5 million hours of her work.
Not bad for a girl without a major record label. "I cannot wait to destroy shit with you next year," she told her Instagram followers.
We are all about that.
More from VÉRITÉ below.
You just got back from a month US tour. What was that like?
Simply amazing. I love touring and traveling more than anything else. Playing shows, you get to see a clear payoff for all the work you put in. The energy of performing and seeing people so stoked to see you is ridiculously intoxicating.
A Twitter user wrote, "to be a fly on your wall." To which you responded, "I'm boring." Which, we doubt. What's a day in the life of you?
It really depends on what day you ask me. I feel like my days are either really structured and methodical or completely free falling. I have certain rituals. I drink coffee as soon as I wake up, I try to read or sit quietly for a few minutes, do emails and then tackle whatever needs to be done.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
I've always held myself to a high standard. I want to push myself to be a better version of myself at all times. I've always loved performing, so everything I do is centered around wanting to put on a memorable live show.
When you run into a career obstacle, what drives you forward?
Obstacles present themselves daily. The knowledge that all I can do is put one foot in front of another is what drives me to move forward. I can only do one thing at a time, so long as I'm making the next right decision, anything can be done.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Loud chewing.
What is it like being a woman in a male-dominated industry?
I'm so happy to be doing what I want to do in life and hope to push forward as a woman in a way that will make a change. Every once in a while, you get a surprise slap in the face that can challenge your position, autonomy or vision. I try to laugh those moments off while setting clear boundaries and continuing to take full ownership of my project.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
I think it's easy to have a perception that everything is always so together. For me, it's like an intricate set of constantly churning gears. The machine never stops running.
IYO-- How can we stay original when we are so saturated with other people's work?
You create things you love and want to listen to yourself. You'll undoubtedly be influenced by other people's work, but your interpretation of those influences will be original to your perspective.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
Talking to the humans who love my music and make my career possible. I'm really lucky to have smart, interesting, chill fans. I want to make them happy.
I'm really lucky to have smart, interesting, chill fans. I want to make them happy.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
I have no idea. I'm really happy with my job.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
I feel like it's been a slow process of trial, error, fucking up, learning from mistakes, taking ownership of who I am and what I'm worth, what I deserve, etc. Ideally, I will continue growing and adding to the list.
"It's been a slow process of trial, error, fucking up, learning from mistakes, taking ownership of who I am and what I'm worth."
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What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
No one knows what they are doing. Do more, think less and learn from what happens.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
Lullaby of Birdland.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE MUSIC LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Entrepreneur: Erica Chidi
THE COMMUNITY BUILDER.
THE COMMUNITY BUILDER.
Name: Erica Chidi
Instagram Handle: @ThisIsLoom @ericachidi
If who a company follows on Instagram is any indication of what they're about, we're absolutely digging Loom, the pathways to pregnancy, parenting, and reproductive empowerment from doula turned founder Erica Chidi. From I Love My Baby, But mom, Whitney Eve Port to the artist and activist Zoe Buckman to Rihanna to female-founded, sexual wellness co, Get Maude to plant-based feminine care line The Honey Pot… it goes on. It's all about women's wellness, reproductive health, and family.
For Loom, which opened last October in Los Angeles, these things are intrinsically linked. In a profile on the LA Times, Erica described the 2,000-square-foot space as a “progressive, contemporary, inclusive approach” to wellness. Loom holds classes and counseling sessions for anyone invested and interested more in learning about reproductive health. It's an inclusive space where any vag talk is fair game.
And we’re not the only ones taking notice. Chidi just raised a $3 million seed round to build a digital platform for reproductive education making her one of the rare Black women to have raised more than $1 million in venture capital. In her Instagram announcement, Chidi wrote “we’re building a world where women can understand and thrive in their bodies at every stage of their lives.”
Whether you are reproductively curious, pregnant, or new-to-parenting, Erica wants you to come to build your community, access resources, and demystify the next chapter with a little guidance. As they say, it takes a village.
More from Erica below.
From doula to business owner, what has been the most surprising aspect of your career path?
How slash-y it's been. Prior to going to college, I went to culinary school. Then I graduated from college with a bachelor’s in Visual Art History and Media and Communications. From there started off working at a contemporary art gallery and from there moved into public relations. At times I found myself confused by all of the different avenues and skills I was picking up. However, all of those skills and experiences ended up having synergy and supporting my growth. Having the ability to communicate made me into a great health educator. Having a culinary background allowed me to think consciously about food and nutrition and its importance to pregnant people and anyone trying to improve their reproductive health. And lastly, my appreciation of art and design uniquely lent itself to creating LOOM because I knew that inviting aesthetics and environment would help people get excited about their reproductive health and wellness.
What was the turning point that convinced you, it's time to take matters into my own hands? Loom needs to exist.
I think the turning point for me happened in my first year as a practicing doula. I looked at the pregnancy, parenting, and reproductive health education industry and looked around and realized there was inertia. There had been very little innovation and didn't reflect what I or other people like me would want. It still felt hyper-feminine, dogmatic, essentialist, and polarizing. There wasn't a fresh, moderate, evidenced-based, and inclusive brand that brought together a lot more untraditional modalities and yet worked side-by-side with the medical community to give people better overall outcomes in their pregnancy, their parenting, their reproductive health experience.
What are the common challenges you've seen among female business owners and entrepreneurs?
Burnout. We all try to juggle being good. Good at a partnership, leadership, friendship, etc. And we tend to forget to nurture ourselves.
What are some of the common challenges you've talked to mothers (and those preparing for motherhood) about?
Pushing back on perfection, making ample room for mistakes, and learning to ask for help early and often.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
I would say it comes from my parents. My parents are both immigrants, they're from Nigeria. My dad came here to studied medicine and became a doctor and my mom went to nursing school. They came over in the seventies and both came from villages where there was no electricity. My parents always encouraged me to work really hard and they worked hard, and so I do feel like that ethic comes from them in terms of my drive. I'm passionate about helping people feel confident about their bodies and be able to effectively advocate for their health and wellbeing.
You do you. How have you championed this concept in other women and for yourself?
It's about looking forward and allowing yourself to be inspired by what other people are creating and at the same time not distracted by anything that doesn't inspire you. Give negativity little to no oxygen.
What are your biggest fears about running a business?
Failing at it. Have to close our doors and letting people down.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
Being a doula requires you to be on call 24/7, it's actually a very monastic lifestyle. You go to bed early, you try to eat healthily in order to keep your immune system in good shape, that way you are ready to go to a birth at any time. Doulas are definitely calming and supportive in the moment but in order to do that my lifestyle is very measured.
What about your career that makes you feel the most complete?
Helping people feel empowered, seen, and less alone.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
I'd trade jobs with Nicu nurse. They are incredible people and work closely with families that are dealing with the hardest possibilities and are some of the most empathic people I know. I'd love the chance to support families in that way
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
There isn't a specific moment. I think confidence is always being reinforced hour-by-hour sometimes. It's a long-term process and accepting that has helped me realize that even if I don't feel confident now, I can build it down the line.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Don't be afraid to seek pleasure and feel good about it.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
New Edition - "Can You Stand The Rain."
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE ENTREPRENEUR LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Food: Kismet
THE COSMIC CHEFS.
THE COSMIC CHEFS.
Their meeting may have been fated, but don't refer to their food as feminine.
Recently named purveyor of LA’s most essential dish, Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson’s Kismet is reimagining traditional Mediterranean flavors with its signature jeweled crispy rice served golden brown with a gooey yolk. But it wasn’t always a family affair for the co-owners of the family-style establishment. The co-workers turned competitors turned collaborators first met back in Brooklyn before moving to Los Angeles to upend its burgeoning restaurant scene. On a mission to create a dining experience that’s as sustainable as it is delicious, what the Sara(h)s have whipped up is nothing short of...fate.
More from both women below.
Names: Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson
Instagram Handles: @misssarakramer @shymanson
Business Instagram Handle: @kismetlosangeles
Where do your drive and passion come from?
Drive and passion seem like pretty inherent qualities for both us, lucky for us. But being responsible business owners motivates us on a daily basis. We always strive to create sustainable workplaces for ourselves and our employees.
Sara, you were the star of Mamma Mia at 17. After two years you realized it wasn't the road for you. What do you have to say to our audience about switching careers?
I had worked my whole young life to be a performer, and when I left the industry, I was still so young. I wasn't entirely sure what it was, but something essential was missing for me. Looking back, I think that it was hard to feel as if I had control over my own career trajectory. I think if I'd stuck it out, I would have eventually felt differently, but as much as I loved performing, I'm glad that I've taken a path where I can create in multiple ways - not just menus and flavors, but also spaces and jobs for other people.
It was not love at first business sight for you both. At what point did you know you could work well as business partners?
Our initial meeting was in circumstances that didn't present partnership as an option, or even a thought. But as soon as we did start working together, at first not as partners, it became very clear that there was undeniable potential there.
What about your personalities works really well together?
We're both hard-working, to a fault, so resentment never comes into the picture. If anything, we both constantly feel as if we could always be doing more. (Jewish guilt?) Also, we tend to balance each other nicely. Sarah is more details-oriented while Sara tends to see bigger picture. This kind of complementary divide has really helped us achieve something pretty symbiotic.
What's the through-line in both of your restaurants?
They're both Middle Eastern-inspired in theme, but very much rooted in local Southern California produce. Our entire ethos rests in responsible sourcing and creating positive work environments.
What are your respective hopes when someone leaves either of your restaurants?
We hope that when a customer leaves one of our restaurants that they feel satisfied by more than just the food. We want them to feel nourished by the warmth and care of the experience, as well as by the meal itself.
What are your biggest pet peeves?
A huge pet peeve - when people refer to our food as "feminine." It feels limiting and like a superficial way to describe what we do merely because we're women.
What are your biggest fears about running a business?
Failing. Being wrongly sued. Employees getting badly injured. Running a business, particularly one of this nature, is incredibly risky.
What's something you'd like people to know about your jobs that they probably don’t?
We think that people don't fully understand the scope of what being a chef/owner entails. We are responsible for so much beyond the kitchen (as is the case for many of our peers) that cooking is just a fraction of what we do on a daily basis.
IYO-- How can we stay original when we are so saturated by other people's work?
We are less concerned with being original than being positive members of a community. We're excited by the work of our peers and hope that we are looked at similarly.
"We are less concerned with being original than being positive members of a community."
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What about each of your careers makes you feel the most complete?
The positive feedback from our employees. We've had a number of people express how the industry was pushing them out and their experience working with us has inspired them to keep at it. We can't say how satisfying it is for us to know that.
If you each respectively had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
Sara: Some combo of Oprah and Alice Waters, because they're both incredibly inspiring, with such positive, empowering messaging. Oprah is amazing in every way, but I so love that she's incredibly supportive of other women.
At what point in your careers did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the women you are today?
Sarah: It was a period of slow growth, but becoming a business owner made me realize that what I do does have an impact on other people's lives.
Sara: I was wavering about the direction of my career when I was given the opportunity to run my own kitchen, at Glasserie in 2013. It was a defining moment in that I took the leap and didn't really allow myself the option to look back.
What's the best advice you've each ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Sarah: My mom, when I was just out of college and stressed about leaving a job, she said to me, "Look, Sarah, you get one job and you learn from it. You get another job and you learn from it." It's stuck with me and imbued me with a sense of calm about moving forward.
Sara: Real talk, this business (and I imagine all businesses) is about relationships. Community and relationships to other people are everything. A chef once told me to chill out, in relation to keeping my working relationships healthy, and it's been something I've remembered ever since. Pick your battles.
A chef once told me to chill out, in relation to keeping my working relationships healthy, and it's been something I've remembered ever since. Pick your battles.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?
It's all about perspective. We take some steps back and allow ourselves to dream big without criticizing based on our previous failures.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
Sara: Well, I've got quite a repertoire. Ha. I do love a power ballad. Celine Dion's "It's All Coming Back to Me Now," for example.
Sarah: Chaka Khan, "Ain't Nobody."
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE FOOD 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: 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: 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: 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
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE PHILANTHROPY 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: 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.
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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
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