Create & Cultivate 100: STEM & Finance: Krystle Rowry

The Food Network. Disney. Cole Haan. Estee Lauder. These are just a few of the clients web designer and digital strategist Krystle Rowry has on her roster, and she’s adding more as we speak. But she’s not just a big-brands designer—Krystle also builds sites for content creators around the world via her business KrissDidIt.com. She saw a need in the community for clean, well-designed sites (or “online homes,” as she calls them) for entrepreneurs, so she filled it—and she went above and beyond to do it. Her work has been featured by BuzzFeed, Essence, Refinery29 and more.

Below, she tells us what makes her tick.

You’ve worked with some very popular brands and content creators helping them bring their vision to life on the internet and beyond. What’s been your favorite project to design and execute?

Oh goodness—that’s like asking which is my favorite child! If I HAVE to choose, I'd say designing the B-School program along with founder, Marie Forleo, and her incredible design team. The program has changed the lives of so many and given them the tools to build a business and life they love. It's been an honor to be apart of something with such an incredible positive impact.

Where do you go for inspiration and fresh ideas?

I find the best ideas when I'm out and about in Los Angeles. Whether it’s seeing the billboards, interior designs of a new jewelry shop, or the menu design at a restaurant, all of it inspires me and fuels my creativity.

What are your top 3 most-used apps at the moment?

Instagram, Pinterest, Spotify

You’ve shared on social media how important mentorship is to you, and you consistently support other creatives on their journeys. Who has been the biggest mentor for you professionally?

Before I started designing for Marie Forleo, she was actually one of my greatest mentors through her online program, B-School. From her lessons and guidance, I learned not only how to grow my business, but also the importance of personal development.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find new roads + switch gears to find success?

I aim to be very strategic when it comes to my business and career, so when I need to switch gears, I find it's best to take some time for myself. During this time, I take a look at what isn't working and explore how I can be better fulfilled going forward. I look at these hurdles as a time to learn, pivot and get excited for what's next.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

For the last 5 years, I have been fortunate enough to mentor over a hundred talented and driven creative entrepreneurs. I try to have a couple of one-on-one calls every week and it’s the highlight of my day. Seeing their businesses flourish and their lives change has been the most fulfilling part of my career.

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

“Done is better than perfect.”

If you could live a day in the life of any other woman, who would it be? Why?

Beyonce. Her talent is unmatched and it would be amazing to know how it feels to move a stadium full of people who have such a deep appreciation for what you do.

“I remember being a teenager who loved coding websites but not knowing who to turn to or where to go for advice because I didn’t see any women succeeding in web development. Representation matters and the future is looking bright!”

What are the common challenges you've seen among female business owners and entrepreneurs?

The most common challenge I've seen is the expectation we put on ourselves to balance it all. We want to be great wives, daughters and mothers while still running a successful business. It can be terribly overwhelming, but I know letting go of the expectation can take a huge weight off.

What do you hope the future looks like for women entering into technical careers and entrepreneurship?

My hope is that women feel empowered and supported when entering into technical careers and entrepreneurship. I remember being a teenager who loved coding websites but not knowing who to turn to or where to go for advice because I didn’t see any women succeeding in web development. Representation matters and the future is looking bright!

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 STEM & FINANCE LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Food: Michelle Tam

At a time when everyone seems to have an opinion on gluten, nut milk, and general nutritional needs, it’s hard to know who to trust as a source of information and inspiration.

Enter Michelle Tam. The badass behind the Nom Nom Paleo empire started her paleo journey eight years ago with a blog, which quickly escalated into a New York Times bestselling book, a nod from the James Beard Foundation, and an active fanbase of “Nomsters.” The irony here is that Michelle has a degree in nutrition and food science, and her first dream job was to develop chemicals to spray on microwave dinners, giving the illusion that the meal was cooked and browned in the oven.

While her approach to nutrition has certainly changed since the 90s, she still approaches cooking like a methodical scientist. To listen to her speak about food and what fuels her family is to listen to a passionate chef who views health as the ultimate form of wealth.

Your recipes are often California-inspired. What are some of those Golden State touches that make them so unique and special?

I’m a native of the San Francisco Bay Area—an immigrant-rich melting pot of cultures that continues to innovate by fusing together different influences, tastes, and cooking methods, particularly from Asia and Latin America. Combine that with fresh ingredients from some of the best year-round farmers markets in the country, and you’ve got a limitless bounty of flavor. In fact, California cuisine is famous for focusing attention on the incredible flavors of local ingredients, rather than on heavy sauces or fancy techniques.

My recipes take a similar approach. My cooking is all about taking shortcuts to deliciousness, while emphasizing the amazingly fresh flavors of real, whole foods. I also take plenty of inspiration from the dishes I’ve grown up eating here in California, from hearty Cantonese home-cooked classics to spicy specialties from my favorite taquerias.

You majored in nutrition & food science in hopes of becoming a flavor scientist. How have you transferred the things you learned in the classroom to your cookbook recipes?

In some ways, I’m doing the exact opposite of what I learned from my Nutrition and Food Science professors in the ’90s. Back then, it was all about “better living through chemistry”—artificially enhancing cheap foods to be more palatable, pushing empty carbs and low-fat diets, and promoting the agendas of agri-business giants. I totally bought it at the time—so much so that I wanted to move to New Jersey to learn how to develop chemicals to spray onto microwave dinners to make them look like they browned in the oven. Paleo is, obviously, a very different take on food and nutrition.

That said, I still use a lot of what I learned in my studies. With a deeper understanding of how food chemistry works, I feel like I’m better equipped to figure out how to make my recipes work optimally, as well as how to create killer flavor combinations. In addition, I approach recipe development meticulously and methodically, like I’m running a science experiment. After all, just like with lab results, recipes need to be replicable! I use my family and friends as taste-testing guinea pigs, and I write up my methods and results—only in recipe form.

What inspired you to try the paleo lifestyle?

It was ten years ago, after popping out two kids, that I noticed I was tired, cranky, and had a muffin-top poking up out of my waistband. I wanted to ditch the loose flesh—and get stronger, too. So I did what any crazy-busy working mom would do: I subscribed to fitness magazines and ordered a bunch of home exercise videos. For well over a year, I did heart-pounding cardio moves in the garage every night. I counted calories. I lost weight. But I was also starving and miserable. I wasn’t any stronger, yet I was achy all the time. My bathroom scale told me I’d shed some pounds, but my food cravings were off the scale. And my muffin-top didn’t go away.

In the meantime, Henry, my better half, had embarked on a mission of his own to improve his fitness, and stumbled upon the paleo diet. He gradually transitioned to a paleo dietary template, while I sat back and scoffed. I knew better—after all, I’m the one with a nutrition degree! To my surprise, however, he didn’t just survive on the paleo diet—he thrived. My husband exercised three times a week and ate paleo, and was in better shape than he was in college. His blood work and body composition were much improved, and he was savoring all the stuff I secretly wanted to eat.

I had to give this paleo thing a try, so in the summer of 2010, I made the decision to go paleo—and when I decide to do something, I commit all the way. I immediately cut out all grains, legumes, sugar, and processed food from my diet, and read everything I could about the science behind the paleo diet. I quit doing all the crazy cardio and starting doing CrossFit. I was all-in.

And you know what? I feel great! After working graveyard shifts for more than a decade, I’d been mentally and physically lagging—but once I changed my diet, I found that my energy levels improved significantly, and my moods were sunnier, too. I was a nicer mommy. Paleo’s the only approach that managed to improve my body composition and fuel me with enough energy to chase after my two boys, hold down a full-time night shift job (which I quit in 2014 after 12 years of working graveyard shifts at the hospital), cook for a houseful of hungry eaters, lift heavy(ish) stuff in the gym, write cookbooks, and maintain a food blog.

If you could have a meal with someone, living or deceased, who would it be and why? What would you eat?

I grew up in the same house with my grandparents and they helped raise me when my parents were at work. Sadly, they both passed a few years ago. I’d love to share one last meal with my paternal grandfather to thank him for shaping my personality, sense of humor, and outlook on life. We’d dig into some fish and chips (mine would be gluten-free) and papaya because that was his favorite meal.

What do you crave in life?

Experiencing joy in all things—especially when it comes to food and family.  Also, I could always use more sleep.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

I love the constant interaction and feedback from my readers (a.k.a. Nomsters)—whether it’s immediate comments on new recipes that I post or hugs at book signings. I am really proud of the community I’ve built at Nom Nom Paleo and I really do feel like I’m friends with all my readers!

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

Do stuff that scares you. I used to avoid things that I didn’t immediately excel in or was afraid of failing at, but these days I love tackling scary new projects or experiences because the payoff always outweighs the risks. Even when I fail, I end up with some lessons learned and a great story to tell!

Do stuff that scares you.

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What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

I think the success of our first cookbook, Nom Nom Paleo: Food For Humans, was the biggest surprise of my career to date. At the time my first cookbook was published, I was still working full-time as a night shift hospital pharmacist, and Nom Nom Paleo was just my passion project side hustle. When our cookbook hit The New York Times best seller list and was nominated for a James Beard award, I couldn’t believe it.

Where does your passion/drive come from?

My passion and drive definitely come from my parents. When my parents immigrated from Hong Kong to the U.S. and settled in the Silicon Valley of the 1960s, their shaky grasp of English limited them to blue-collar jobs: my dad worked as a technician in a factory, and my mom took orders at a fast food joint. They shared a house with my grandparents, even after my sister and I were born. All six of us lived squashed together in a little house.

My parents pushed me to work hard at school and pursue a respectable career—and I did that. I was valedictorian of my high school class, got a pharmacy doctorate, and worked as a hospital pharmacist at a teaching hospital. I was happy being a cog in the wheel…until I wasn’t.

For years, I worked nights at the hospital while my husband and I worked on our side hustle, Nom Nom Paleo. Our blog eventually led to a Webby Award winning cooking app and two New York Times bestselling cookbooks. It was enough to bring me to a crossroads: Should I quit my hospital job and embrace Nom Nom Paleo as a full-time gig—giving up the financial stability and predictability that my parents worked so hard for?

That’s when I realized that no matter what immigrant parents tell their kids about the importance of stability and security, they’re actually the biggest risk takers of all.

My mom and dad had the courage to venture to an unknown land, to start a new life not knowing the language or customs, to face discrimination and longing for home—all without a safety net. In comparison, giving up a steady paycheck to write about food isn’t especially daunting.

After working twelve years as a hospital pharmacist, I hung up my lab coat for good, and threw myself into food writing and online entrepreneurship. I now work relentlessly on Nom Nom Paleo because I want my kids to follow my example—I want them to take risks and pursue purpose-driven work.

“I want my kids to follow my example—I want them to take risks and pursue purpose-driven work.”

What keeps you up at night?

Not much, because I’ve done my utmost to hack my sleep! As a recovering night-shift worker, I have to make up for over a decade of horrible sleep habits. These days, I have blackout panels on my windows, orange lights for bedtime reading, weighted blankets, a white noise machine, and strips of painter’s tape covering the little pinprick of light that emanates from the ceiling-mounted smoke alarm. I even have a pad under my sheets that keeps my body at the optimal temperature for sleep, and wear a sleep tracker to make sure I’m getting good ZZZ’s.

Of course, I still sometimes wake up in the middle of the night, dreading some impending deadline or worrying about the effects of climate change.

Whose career really inspires you?

I’m incorrigibly unfashionable, but I really admire Eva Chen’s career. As head of fashion partnerships for Instagram, she’s able to balance being a badass boss, fashionista, working mom, and now children’s book author, too. On top of all that, she remains super funny and relatable.

What has been your biggest opportunity or biggest challenge as a woman in the food industry?

It’s always hard being taken seriously as a woman in the food industry, let alone a woman of color. When you tack on the fact that I’m not professionally-trained and started off as a food blogger focusing on a special diet, I face even more skepticism from those who have come up through more traditional means.

I’ve tried to carve out a space for myself and others like me—home cooks who have something specific to offer, whether it’s comfort food recipes for those with certain dietary needs or cooking tips and techniques for harried working parents.  Luckily, the free and open internet allows “my” people to find me. I don’t need to rely on traditional food media to build my brand and make an impact.

What is the most challenging part about writing a cookbook?

All of it! We have a unique agreement with our publisher where my husband and I do just about everything ourselves, from writing and photography to book layout and design. Henry does all the photography, cartoon illustrations, and graphics, while I focus on recipe development and writing. Every square centimeter of each page of our books was designed by us. For us, putting together a cookbook is a lot more involved than turning in a manuscript. Despite all the work, we wouldn’t do it any other way because we love the creative freedom and knowing that the final product is truly “our baby.”

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road + switch gears to find success?

Nom Nom Paleo has given us the opportunity to chase after things that we think are fun and interesting, without worrying too much about challenges or roadblocks. Ten years ago, I would have never thought that we’d have the chance to publish cookbooks, produce a podcast, design a cooking app, or design action figures—so all of this is gravy. Besides, my husband and I run Nom Nom Paleo as a mom-and-pop shop, so we’re nimble and can adapt to changes quickly and pretty seamlessly. Also, Nom Nom Paleo is fairly diversified, in that we don’t rely heavily on a few partners or sponsors for our success. We’re able to dive into things that we’re passionate about, and keep learning and growing in new directions.

What are you most excited for in 2019?

Professionally speaking, I never know what’s around the corner—but I can’t wait to see what’s in store! As for what I’m personally excited for, we’re taking a family trip to Italy this summer to celebrate my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary and my father’s 80th birthday. I’m looking forward to chilling with my whole family in a little town in Abruzzo, taking cooking classes, and eating lots of gelato!

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE FOOD LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Music: Ella Vos

In a world where “the dream” is being signed by a major label, Ella Vos bucks tradition. When she walked into meetings with labels to find a major lack of female executives, she was inspired to take a risk and strike out on her own.

It’s safe to say the risk of going independent paid off: Ella’s debut album was an instant hit—she’s played big festivals, sold out shows, and had her music featured on Grey’s Anatomy, Life of Kylie, and The Originals. But amidst her rise to fame, Ella wants us to know she’s still a real person. She started her journey in music while pregnant with her only son, and she wrote her hit song White Noise about her struggle with postpartum depression. The song, of course, went viral, but Ella is humble: When someone likes her music, she says, it’s “the best feeling ever.”

This breakout star has done so much in her short musical career, but talking to her gives you the feeling that this is just the beginning. We can’t wait to see what’s next for Ella Vos.

You released your debut album, Words I Never Said, independent of a label. Why did you choose to go solo?

I could write an essay on the reasons I didn’t release my album with a label, but the short answer is that it just didn’t feel right. I had several meetings that left me feeling disappointed in the absence of women at the executive level in the music industry; normally I would have thought “That’s just the way things are,” but instead it inspired me to do something different. I definitely went into this career thinking I would “need” a label to have any type of success. That way of thinking was a big reason why I decided to remain independent—to prove, even just to myself, that there is not one way or path to anything in life. It was liberating to take control and know that it was up to me to make it happen.

What has been your biggest opportunity or biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge has been viewing my career as a business, and that I am the boss. It’s not instinctual as an artist to think that way—at least, not for me. I’ve had to really push myself to speak up for what I want, how I want to do things, and what my goals are, and not what I think someone else thinks my goals should be.

Vulnerability and honesty shine through your lyrics. What message do you want to spread to women through your music?

I hope to spread to everyone, especially women, that it’s okay to be vulnerable. It’s okay to be wherever you are emotionally, or physically, whether you’re happy or not. And it’s important to talk about it. I think for years I feared showing my feminine side for risk of appearing “less than”— less capable, less trustworthy, less attractive, less stable, etc. But that’s a very damaging and dangerous way of thinking that I’ve been working on changing in myself and hope to inspire others to do as well.

What’s your songwriting process?

I almost always start with a melody over a single instrument, either piano or guitar. I’ll mumble out words in the melody that become building blocks to write the lyrics. Sometimes, not all the time, a word will pop out that inspires the rest of the song. Other times it takes days of writing and journaling and brainstorming to find what the song is about. Sometimes I don’t really know what the song is actually about until I’ve written and recorded it. I like to really “brew” in my lyrics, working on them over the course of days, changing little words here and there. I hate writing lyrics in front of other writers or producers; I get really self-conscious, so I usually write lyrics alone at home in my bedroom.

Whose career really inspires you?

So many of the up and coming female artists right now are SO inspiring to me—like Maggie Rogers, Billie Eilish, Bishop Briggs, Elohim, Verité, Jessie Reyez… the list goes on. Every one really seems like they’re doing it their own way and loving it, and it makes me really excited for where music is headed.

You’ve been open about your battle with postpartum depression after your son was born. How was music a source of comfort for you during that time?

Music has always been a source of comfort, starting with playing the piano when I was young—it was really the first way I learned to express myself. But I didn’t realize how important a tool it could be until I was dealing with postpartum depression—how it could help not only to release emotions, but to also make sense of things and gain confidence to speak up about it.

It was liberating to take control and know that it was up to me to make it happen.

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What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

I’m constantly surprised at the consistency of everything; that even when I couldn’t release music for a year, that people still continue to listen and share and follow. Also, sometimes, I’m just shocked that anyone likes my music at all, which I know is silly, but it’s an honest feeling. You spend all this time making art, alone, caring for it like a little baby, and then you throw it out into the world not knowing what will happen to it—and any time someone grabs onto it and says “i like this!” it feels like the biggest accomplishment ever.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road + switch gears to find success?

Success is a word I’ve been challenged to redefine for myself constantly. I’ve hit some major bumps—one of the biggest was being diagnosed with cancer while on tour this past year. It was easy to feel like my year career-wise was going to be a failure, but instead I just leaned really hard into what I knew I could accomplish and what I thought would make me happy, letting the less important pieces slip away.

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

Believe in yourself and others will follow.

What’s next for you?

I’m releasing my EP Watch & Wait in January and heading off on a US headline tour end of March. I’ve also been directing my own music videos recently and hope to do quite a few more!

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

Photoshoot skincare provided by Dermalogica

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 MUSIC LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Content Creator: Alisha Ramos

Alisha Ramos doesn’t want to go clubbing anymore. She’s in her late twenties, and what she craves most is meaningful connections and friendships that matter—if you’re over 25, you probably feel the same. So Alisha created Girls’ Night In, a newsletter that covers culture, lifestyle, and self-care, for homebodies like us. And it caught like wildfire.

Six months into the venture, Alisha quit her full-time job to pursue opportunities with GNI. In just over a year, Alisha grew her newsletter 400-fold (not a typo!). She knew she was on to something, and has since built a simple newsletter into content that more than 100,000 women look forward to receiving in their inboxes every day.

Below, Alisha talks self-care, imposter syndrome, and the value of “no-screen time.”

Tell us a little about Girls’ Night In. How did it come to fruition?

Girls’ Night In is a self-care community and newsletter. Our mission is to help women relax, recharge, and build more meaningful connections in an overwhelming world. I started it as a side project in January 2017 as a weekly Friday newsletter. We now reach over 150,000+ women around the world, and host monthly gatherings offline in several cities!

What do you hope women take away from your newsletter?

Self-care is however you want to define it. The term gets used a lot these days, but ultimately it’s a very personal experience. At Girls’ Night In, we explore the mental, social, and emotional aspects of self-care, as well as the “fun” stuff like what face masks and skincare products we’re loving. It’s a balancing act!

What has been your biggest opportunity or biggest challenge in creating GNI?

Our biggest challenge has been how quickly we’ve grown and serving our audience’s needs. Our readers are super engaged with us and have so many ideas and requests. The challenge is always in focusing our efforts as a team and serving our audience in the best way possible.

Any plans to expand to real-world face-to-face events?

We are! We’re in cities like SF, NYC, Boston, Philly, Toronto, D.C., and more. We host monthly book club gatherings and larger events.

What are the common challenges you've seen among female business owners and entrepreneurs?

Impostor syndrome is real. But let me tell you: no one knows what they are doing. I’ve learned that everyone is making it up as they go, and that’s given me more confidence. If you’re passionate about your mission, stay true to your values, and listen to your customers and audience, then you’re on your way to success. Stay strong!

You made a conscious choice not to include political news in the newsletter. Why?

Our readers are very smart. We make the assumption that they receive their political news and op-eds elsewhere.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

Meeting our community members IRL. It’s so nice when a woman comes up to me and says, “I’m so glad GNI exists. I made a friend through it, and I read your newsletters religiously.”

Impostor syndrome is real. But let me tell you: no one knows what they are doing.

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What does your day-to-day routine look like?

We now have an office! I was working from home for the longest time. My workday is pretty typical - 9 to 5pm, although of course as an entrepreneur you put in a “second shift” at night. But I’m trying to live out our values and practice self-care at night, and put into place “no screen nights” on some nights so I can spend meaningful time with my friends, family, or s/o.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find new roads + switch gears to find success?

I did fail a few times in the beginning of my career. It’s especially hard when you’re new to the workplace. I realized that a job I was in was not the right fit for me. I spent a few months doing a ton of self-reflection and experimentation with different types of work before I could finally figure out what spoke to me the most.

What are you most excited for in 2019?

Growing the Girls’ Night In team and community! We have big things in store!

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 CONTENT CREATORS LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Entrepreneur: Nancy Twine

Before her 30th birthday, Nancy Twine had already left her successful career in finance at Goldman Sachs to pursue her next adventure: starting a hair care company.

Taking that chance paid off. Nancy’s brand, Briogeo (the combination of two words—Italian for “vibrant” and Latin for “of nature”), offers women a plant-based natural hair care and made her the youngest African American woman to launch a line at Sephora. But Nancy’s success wasn’t sheer luck—she’d been working to perfect the recipes for her hair care products since she was a young girl, mixing up natural remedies with her grandmother. Briogeo’s formula is free of sulfates, silicones and parabens, instead incorporating natural oils, vitamins, and antioxidants. It’s a smart move in this era of wellness, and we can’t wait to see where Nancy takes her company next.

Diversity in hair care products has been long overdue. What was the moment you decided to take the leap and break into the industry with Briogeo?

After working in finance and within the same team for 7 years, it felt right (and normal!) to be ready for a change. Ultimately, launching Briogeo was inspired by the experience of making natural products at home with my family and later wanting to have a larger impact on the natural beauty sphere by launching my own plant-based hair care product line. These childhood memories ultimately inspired me to do something greater with the passion for creating and start my own clean beauty line.

What are some daily habits you have that contribute to your success?

One of the major keys to success for Briogeo has been staying true to who we are from the beginning.

Find something you REALLY believe in and that you won't quit until you've succeeded. Some people think that finding success as an entrepreneur is easier than it is. It's the most difficult and challenging undertaking I've ever experienced - but the key is to keep going.

Overtime, I've been able to control the impulse of "freaking out" about most things. After seeing things go wrong hundreds of times, you brain starts to adapt and realize that it's never the end of the world. There's always a solution and no set back is too large to overcome. I do work hard and think about work a lot - and there's got to be balance to that. I try to spend my weekends focused on myself - and not on my business. I allocate a few hours on Sunday night to prep for the week, but other than that, I really focus on unplugging fully to give my mind a break. It's really important. I'm trying to make meditation and yoga a more regular part of my wellness routine, but I still struggle finding consistent time during the week, but I'm working on it!

What does a typical day look like for you?

It greatly depends on whether it's a week day...or the weekend! During the week, I try to get up no later than 7am so I can squeeze in a quick workout or meditation. If I'm lucky, I can get through all of the overnight emails (we have several international retailers and vendors) before I get into the office. I always have my best days when I can manage to be productive before the work day actually starts. I live in Union Square, so my commute is relatively simple - just 3 stops on the 6 train to our NoMad office, where I typically arrive by 8:30am. My mornings typically consist of team meetings, calls, and working my way through e-mails. I typically take a late lunch around 2pm before re-focusing back on projects at my desk. I don't travel as often as some of my other entrepreneur friends. I find that traveling can set me back quite a bit with projects I'm working on, so I only travel if it's absolutely necessary. I'm a very hands-on CEO in a very fast paced business - so there's never a real break during the day! I typically get home between 7:30p - 8:00p and cook dinner before finishing the day with a read.

“Never rush into launching an idea. Part of success is taking the time to be thoughtful and smart about your approach. Often we can get excited and impulsive by our own ideas and feel the need to rush them through. Slow and steady wins the race!”

What was your biggest hesitation when you started Briogeo?

Briogeo has never taken any outside VC investment, and very early on it was difficult funding the various needs of the business, so I was constantly dipping into my personal savings to fund the business until we became profitable.

What are the common challenges you've seen among female business owners and entrepreneurs?

Rushing to get a new product launch underway, which we ultimately had to stall. Sometimes brand's are faced with tight timelines to launch new products, but I learned very quickly that it's not worth sacrificing putting your best foot forward in order to hit a deadline.

Never rush into launching an idea. Part of success is taking the time to be thoughtful and smart about your approach. Often we can get excited and impulsive by our own ideas and feel the need to rush them through. Slow and steady wins the race!

What are two qualities you think every entrepreneur needs in order to be successful?

Perseverance & grit.

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE ENTREPRENEUR LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Lauryn Evarts

Kale in one hand, champagne in the other.

This is the ethos behind The Skinny Confidential, the lifestyle site Lauryn Evarts built in 2009, while she was a student at San Diego State University. She wanted a place where all the women on campus could come together to share tips and tricks for wellness. What she didn’t expect was that her blog would end up reaching women around the world, amassing a cult following.

Lauryn parlayed the success of her blog into an influential IG account (with more than 700k followers!), a namesake fitness book, a YouTube channel, and now, a podcast with more than 25 million downloads. But amid her success, Lauryn humbly reminds us—this empire took work, and she’s not done yet. Read on to hear her thoughts on branding, over-sharing, and the art of execution.

Tell us what prompted you to start The Skinny Confidential.

There was A LOT of untapped white space in the online world. There were a lot of bloggers out there talking about their life, but I didn’t see a lot of sites connecting like-minded women. I was interested in that, you know? I was interested in other people from around the world, what made them tick, what they were doing and what their tips & tricks were too—whether it was a model, an actress, or an everyday girl, I had this desire to connect and talk with other people. Having this sort of resource full of women’s tips & tricks didn’t exist at the time, so I set out to create a brand and blog that was pretty, pink & cheeky.

When launching, I knew that the blog would be the foundation of the brand. How I rolled it out was very thoughtful and strategic—I didn’t just throw up a site without planning. I like a plan.

Being broke (lucky if I had $80 in my bank account to be honest), bartending, teaching Pure Barre & Pilates classes, living at my godparents’ for free & attending San Diego State full time, I knew that if I did this I had to do it right. ​The Skinny Confidential​ needed to come out with a bang.

I found a web designer and made a huge poster board with the design I had in my head. The best way was to draw out what I wanted instead of telling him. I had this pink Trapper Keeper (which I still have today) full of ideas and clippings and research that I wanted to share with the world. Lots of questions too.

Talking with doctors & experts and tweeting with models helped me to really get started in creating a space for women to share tips & tricks when it came to health & fitness. Niching down was a no-brainer because I didn’t want to overwhelm the audience.

Also, you should know the name ​The Skinny Confidential ​has nothing to do with being skinny. I was writing down all these cheeky words when I was thinking of a name and skinny & confidential kept coming up. It was everything that I wanted because it means “get the skinny.” You know, “get the juice.”

You can pretty much get anyone to buy anything. How did you build that trust with your audience?

When I find something I like, I cannot shut the F up. There’s something in me where I just have to get other people involved, like a natural over-sharer. If I find a great shirt at Forever 21 for $13.99 I have to tell everyone and their mom. TSC readers need to know where it’s from and WHY THEY NEED IT—very specific over here. I’m very much about details & specifics.

If someone is telling me about why I need a Hydro Flask, I want to know what color to get, what to put in it, if it’s for warm or cold drinks, how it’s cleaned, the proper straw to use—every detail is essential. Every single detail has always been important and interesting to me, so I do that with my audience when I talk about products too. It’s just very important to the overall brand.

When I talk about something that I think my readers will love, I want to take them from A-Z. If A-B is talking about something and a reader decides to buy it, then A-Z just goes so much further. Is my reader going to buy it and absolutely love it? Are they going to use it every day? Is that person going to recommend it to 10 of their friends, then those friends are going to recommend it to 10 of their friends? I think of my audience very inclusively—everyone's an influencer no matter how many followers they have.

When I feel that kind of correlation with a product, that’s when I feel comfortable selling something.

When did you realize you could make a business out of your presence online?

Immediately.

The second I had the idea I knew it could be a business. My whole life I’ve known that I’d work for myself. There was no other option. I’m such a horrible employee—the worst of the worst. I like to do things my own way, on my time, so this was always the path I knew I’d take. I like and thrive off being an entrepreneur. There’s never been a plan B. I try to find that confidence from within, because no one else is going to give it to you.

Focusing on propelling forward and 100% believing in yourself is so important. That mentality comes from my childhood. I always had to make things happen for myself because there was no other option. Getting creative and finding angles to get things I wanted was just part of my life. That’s something that has fueled my entrepreneurial side. I believe anyone can do anything they put their mind to with proper execution, patience, consistency, & focus.

Your branding is so on point. Everyone has an image that comes to mind when they hear the words “The Skinny Confidential.” How have you built and maintained your brand so well over the years?

I hope that the image is pink clouds and pink nails and pink cotton candy—LOL but really I like to keep it pink. Every single thing I do is an opportunity to brand. From Instagram captions and the upper and lower-case format I use, to the colors & fonts of Instagram stories, to the “&” that I use in my blog posts—every single opportunity is a branding opportunity. If anything ever went wrong with ​The Skinny Confidential, I​'d probably be a branding consultant. Branding is one of my favorite parts of this career. Nothing is too little to brand.

Keeping the same fonts and colors is crucial (C & C is genius at this by the way!). You also really need to commit and write the way you speak in person. Like I want my readers to feel like we are drinking spicy margaritas at happy hour.

Sometimes that’s hard because you’ll see something someone else is doing and you’ll want to shift your formula, but I think you need to stay true to the brand you’ve built and not stray too much.

To me, a brand should evoke a feeling in the audience. What I want people to feel when they’re on the site is that it’s this cheeky resource where they can get all the juice in this really pretty, pink way. When they leave, I want them to take what they like, leave what they don’t—but ultimately apply anything they like to their own life and feel they had a valuable experience that was worth their time. That’s my goal with everything from the blog to Snapchat and Instagram.

Respecting the audience’s time and making their visit fun, flirty & girly is the goal.

What are some of the biggest challenges and rewards you’ve faced by displaying your life online?

It’s difficult to know when to shut it off. Anyone who works for themselves can tell you that it’s hard to know what to share and what not to share. You gotta know when to put the phone away. I try to do that when I’m at dinner with family and friends. I’m an over-sharer by nature but still, letting people in on your private life feels...bizarre sometimes. I’ve talked about everything from my sister’s heroin addiction to my mom’s suicide and the death of my grandma—which all really affected me. Putting that out there is really scary but I hope it is helpful to the readers.

I’ve rolled out these personal posts over the last 8 years though, over time. I’ve been careful with my content so my audience has gotten to know me gradually and I’ve gotten to know them too. When I decided to share these things, I felt I was in a very comfortable spot. It’s still intimidating though.

The rewards are incredible. When a girl comes up to me on the street, says she was working 9-5 pm and quit her job to start her own business because she was inspired by our podcast, it gets me off. Also, it makes me so happy when I go into TSC secret Facebook group and all these like-minded women are connecting, planning meetups and doing things without me. They’re all hanging out in this non-judgmental space and it’s so fulfilling because that’s why I started ​The Skinny Confidential​ in the first place.

How do you decide which brands you do and don’t work with?

Well actually liking the brand is a must. I have to use the product or brand for at least a month and preferably I will have already used it. I think a lot of people don’t talk about the brands they truly use because they don’t want to give out free publicity. What’s worked for me is the opposite. I’m super transparent with what I use, and the best partnerships have come from me finding a product, loving it, talking about it, then being approached by the brand to collaborate. I’ll tag the brand, talk about the product on all my channels first, then some really purposeful, meaningful partnerships come out of it. The best collaboration for me is one that happens very organically.

As far as brands that I haven’t tried that come to me, it really needs to fit with my audience and The Skinny Confidential.​ Everything I do is for the long-term, not the short-term, so working with a brand I don’t absolutely love, and don’t think my audience will love, isn’t worth it. We all know those brands that can feel “sell out-y.”

“To me, being successful means you’re waking up and creating your own future on your own terms.”

What characteristics make you successful as an influencer?

To me, being successful means you’re waking up and creating your own future on your own terms. It’s liberating to wake up feeling like that and know that you’re in charge of your day. You really are the creator of your own future and once that clicked, I realized that’s what success is for me. ​The Skinny Confidential​ has been successful so far because what you see is what you get. We talk about every single subject, there’s no judgement, everyone is just doing them, and the reader is so focused on ideas & growth.

Readers come for the taboo subjects, to hear from experts we bring on the podcast, and the valuable & honest takeaways. It’s not about me. The community is key.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

That I can design my own future and the sky's the limit. There are so many different angles that The Skinny Confidential​ can go and the community that’s come together is now doing things with each other all over the world.

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

Gary Vee told me: “You have one fucking life do something about it.”

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

Nothing has really been a surprise. My growth has been slow and strategic and everything that’s happened has happened because I planned it out carefully.

Some cool highlights have been ​The Skinny Confidential Book​ launch, the podcast hitting 23 million downloads, the people I’ve had access to & sharing them with the audience, the meetups of 500+ women & meeting the community in person. The Victoria’s Secret fashion shows have been really fun, and the secret Facebook group has been very rewarding as well.

You have a large presence on social media. How has it impacted your career?

Social media has been everything for ​The Skinny Confidential.​ It’s given me access to women all over the world from Japan to Australia to Finland. It has and continues to bring so many people together in a way that we’ve never been able to do before. Without social media I wouldn’t have been able to gain access to a lot of the people I’ve had access to. It’s badass.

“When a door closes or something doesn’t work out, I find another door to go through. If one way doesn’t work, I find another way. Passion is great, but for me, it’s always been about strategy and execution.”

Where does your passion/drive come from?

It definitely comes from when I was little. I grew up in a very wealthy community where kids were getting Ferraris for their birthday and that’s just not where my family was at. We were regular class and not on the same level as the families around us. If I wanted something my parents would say, “go figure it out.” I had to get creative with bargain shopping and finding ways to make it work—whatever it was. I had to do the work, find tips & tricks and creative angles to get what I wanted.

When a door closes or something doesn’t work out, I find another door to go through. If one way doesn’t work, I find another way. Passion is great but for me it’s always been about strategy and execution. I like to go “do” instead of talk about the things I’m going to do.

What are the common misconceptions you’ve heard about influencers?

There’s so many—I feel like it’s a scroll. A lot of people think bloggers just take a picture, write a little post and that’s it. People think we don’t have to do a lot work but it really is like baking a cake. You have all these different elements that you need to make things happen. There’s photos, writing, editing, distribution, execution, promotion, the emails, the organizing, the meetings—there are so many things that go into it to make right.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road and switch gears to find success?

I’m OBSESSED with bumps and hurdles. People ask me what my failures are and I really don’t look at it like that. You have to go through hurdles to maintain success in any industry—it’s part of the game, and life. I feel like you have to get uncomfortable to get comfortable. I switch gears by going through a different door. If I can’t get in through the front, back or side door then I’m skydiving in through the ceiling. Finding different ways to make things happen is one of my favorite parts of the job. It’s sort of creative if you think about it.

What’s next for you in 2019? What are you most excited for?

Writing another book that really makes sense for my community—something that’s really useful for my audience and it’s not going to be a replica of the blog. It will provide a ton of value that is also entertaining. We’ve also been working on product for the last 2 years so definitely more on the product side.

Hopefully a lot of in-person meetups, maybe a podcast tour, more interesting podcast guests and continued valuable takeaways on all of ​The Skinny Confidential​ platforms is what’s coming up in 2019.

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

Photoshoot skincare provided by Dermalogica 

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 BEAUTY LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Fashion: Nicolette Mason & Gabi Gregg

Representation matters. Just ask Nicolette Mason and Gabi Gregg.

As fashion industry veterans and OG bloggers, Nicolette and Gabi teamed up to address a lack of premium and stylish designs in plus-size retail. The duo has spent their careers in the fashion industry and have repeatedly been frustrated by the lack of plus-size statement pieces inspired by high fashion, streetwear, or seasonal trends. The reality is that without access to stylish wardrobes, there is an implicit message to plus-size women: This is what you can, and cannot, wear. This message is reinforced constantly throughout all facets of culture, and this powerhouse pair decided: Enough was enough.

Enter Premme. The brand brainchild of Mason and Gregg was born out of a love of fashion and the recognition that the industry is still lacking when it comes to the wants and needs of plus-size women. This mission of the brand is to provide plus-size women with bold, fashion-forward statement pieces without compromise. Screw socially-reinforced hegemony—Premme is about embracing who you are and looking fine AF while doing it. Because the thing about capitalism is that if consumers make enough noise and demand increases, the more inclusive the market must become. Keep your eyes peeled as Mason and Gregg take 2019 by storm, advocating for more accessible fashion and plus-size representation.

What was the inspiration behind Premme?

Premme was born out of our frustration at the lack of stylish, quality options in the plus-size market. Our designs are statement pieces that are inspired by trends from the runway and street style.

You’re friends and co-founders. Why does that business dynamic work for you?

We’ve both been leaders in the plus-size community for almost a decade and have very similar career trajectories; we’ve both been fashion editors, influencers, designers, and brand consultants, and we saw similar issues with the status quo. Because we started as close friends, we are able to communicate easily--we also share similar values and aesthetic taste which helps!

How would you describe the Premme aesthetic?

The Premme aesthetic is feminine, bold, and unapologetic. We like to encourage our customers to break fashion rules and provide her the wardrobe to do just that: From prints and colors to crop tops and cut-outs, our designs are about pushing fashion forward.

What do you think people crave when they get dressed in the morning?

A mix of comfort and style, and pieces that make them feel confident as they walk out the door.

What should every woman have in her wardrobe?

We both love moto jackets—they add a little personality to any outfit and work over everything from a tee and jeans to a frilly dress.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

Hearing from our customers and community about how our clothing makes them feel good in their skin is definitely the most fulfilling part of our job!

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

Maintain your integrity and trust your gut.

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

The first day that Premme launched was such a career high—the feedback and excitement from our followers was palpable, and watching as the clothing we worked so hard on sold out was unforgettable.

Where does your passion/drive come from?

We’re both passionate about social justice and equality, and we’ve chosen to pursue a creative career that affects change: giving plus-size women access to designs and styles they’ve been told (either directly or through what’s currently available for them to shop) that they shouldn’t wear. The lack of options is really astounding—68% of women are plus-size while the plus-size fashion market only accounts for 17% of the womenswear market. It’s not okay and we feel a responsibility to help change things.

What keeps you up at night?

Donald Trump.

Whose career really inspires you?

Emily Weiss.

What has been your biggest opportunity or biggest challenge?

Funding—it’s really sad how little VC funding goes to people of color and/or women.

What are the common challenges you've seen among women in the fashion industry?

Hiring practices are still problematic, not just for models but for all positions, race, size and overall looks still play a huge role. Opportunities are still going to the most “attractive” people by European standards.

“The lack of options is really astounding—68% of women are plus-size while the plus-size fashion market only accounts for 17% of the womenswear market. It’s not okay and we feel a responsibility to help change things.”

What would you change about the plus-size industry?

We’d love if there were more quality, trend driven clothing options, more diverse and size-inclusive casting, and more body positive language and messaging.

Whose style do you love?

Rihanna, Solange, Tracee Ellis Ross.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road + switch gears to find success?

Being a strong leader is definitely about flexibility and being nimble when you confront problems. We’ve both learned that bumps and hurdles are actually opportunities to grow and become better at our jobs.

What’s next for you? What are you most excited for in 2019?

Growing and scaling Premme to the business we know it can be. We’re a super new brand and have so many ideas that we can’t wait to show the world! Not to mention, we want to body positivity to reach as many people as possible.

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

Photoshoot skincare provided by Dermalogica

VIEW THE ENTIRE CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 FASHION CATEGORY HERE!

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Create & Cultivate 100: Entrepreneur: Payal Kadakia

Payal Kadakia is a hustler who hardly needs an introduction. The co-founder of ClassPass, the subscription-based fitness platform, launched the service in 2013 to cater to fitness lovers on the go. To date, the company has raised a total of $173 million from outside investors and boasts a valuation of $470 million. And while Kadakia now serves as the executive chairman of the company, her DNA is the foundation of ClassPass. This is evident in her mission-based philosophy the fuels the brand: It’s not about an individual product, it’s about connecting people with activities and pastimes that they’re passionate about. She also knows you can’t be casual about building your dream business—you need to be all in. ClassPass couldn’t have grown into a multi-million dollar business without Kadakia making it her number-one priority.

Kadakia not just an idea woman—she executes on her ideas. It’s what separates her from the pack and has earned her serious recognition and accolades, including spots on Forbes’ Women Entrepreneurs to Watch list and Fortune’s 40 under 40. Spoiler alert: Reading this interview will make you want to stop what you’re doing and start drafting your dream business plan.

What was your “aha moment” when founding ClassPass?

After I graduated from college, I found it challenging to nourish my love of dance while working in traditional jobs. By most standards, these were great jobs, but they weren’t great for me because they prevented me from pursuing my passion for dance. In 2010, I visited San Francisco and met incredible entrepreneurs. My first “aha moment” was meeting them and realizing that I, too, could build a company.

My second “aha moment” came 36 hours later. I was searching for a ballet class to take after school and found the online search process to be cumbersome and miserable. Since I was in the mindset to look at challenges as startup opportunities, I was able to quickly realize that this frustration was a business idea: to create a company that makes it easy for people to try new classes and pursue their passions.

When you get a new idea, what’s the first thing you do with it?

Think about it all day long and dream of its impact.

You went through a rebrand in the early stages of starting your business and switched up the business model. Were you confident this was the right decision? How did you navigate any doubts you had?

I was always confident because I was mission-focused, not product-focused. I knew there had to be a way to fulfill our mission of reconnecting people with their passions, so I was willing to keep iterating on our product and business model until we found the right approach. To this day, iteration and a constant quest for even more ways to accomplish our mission remain core to our company’s DNA.

How has fitness and staying active made an impact on your life?

In more ways than I can possibly calculate -- fitness has made me who I am, and it quite literally paved the path for me to found ClassPass! The same way you need to challenge your mind, you have to challenge your body to continue to let yourself know you can achieve anything you put your mind to.

Who was the first person you hired for your business, and how much of a difference did it make?

Soon after I got the idea for ClassPass, I bought a URL, bounced the idea off of friends, secured an angel investment, and was joined by my childhood friend Sanjiv Sanghavi. These early decisions were crucial, especially the decisions that led me to exactly the right angel investor (my mentor Anjula Acharia) and the right co-founder. Early on when your business is little more than an idea, it’s crucial to be joined on that journey with people you trust, with whom you can work well under pressure, and who share your vision.

What are the common challenges you've seen among female business owners and entrepreneurs?

I’d love to see more successful female role models. If more women see other successful women accomplishing their dreams, they’ll dare to aspire to reach their dreams as well.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road + switch gears to find success?

I don’t fit well in a box, and I’ve often found that I need to question professional norms, such as titles and other artificial notions of prestige, in order to determine what’s best for me. When I reach a hurdle I’m not sure how to cross, I enlist the advice of my trusted mentors, but ultimately I also trust my instincts.

What’s the best piece of #realtalk advice you’ve ever received?

Early on, when I was just getting started, my mentor and angel investor Anjula Acharia told me that if I wanted to make ClassPass work, I had to quit my job. Building your dream can’t be a part-time endeavor; you have to pursue it with everything you’ve got.

What are two qualities you think every entrepreneur needs in order to be successful?

A purpose and a lot of persistence!

Who inspired you the most in your life growing up?

My mother! She approaches every challenge as an opportunity for growth. She’s strong and smart. She raised me to believe that women should reach for their dreams and that hard work pays off.

Whose career is inspiring you today?

My fellow female entrepreneurs, including Jessica Alba, Jenn Hyman, and Katrina Lake, among others. I hope this list just keeps getting longer and longer!

What are you most excited for in 2019?

ClassPass’ international expansion and continuing to perform!

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

Photoshoot skincare provided by Dermalogica

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 ENTREPRENEUR LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Art & Design: Shantell Martin

It’s easier to be unoriginal in a globalized culture, where Instagram seemingly dictates beauty standards and plagiarism is just one copy-paste away.

That’s why Shantell Martin’s art so special. She is a cultural facilitator, forging new connections between fine art, education, design, philosophy and technology. The British-born, New York-based artist is most recognized by her signature stream-of-consciousness physical drawings, which are conceived through her meditative process and uninhibited flow. She’s experimented with textiles, ceramics, circuitry, and embroidery, but her drawings and light projections are what has fueled her rapid ascent into mainstream design. The artist has collaborated with iconic brands like Nike, Vitra, Max Mara, Tiffany & Co., and in 2018, Puma launched a global capsule collection featuring her drawings.

Her work architects a fantastical world wherein the viewer is an essential element. Her love language is a line—where it forms, how it contorts, and how it travels remain undetermined until pen meets paper. Editors at Vogue and New York Magazine have caught the Shantell Martin bug, as well as Kendrick Lamar, who collaborated with the artist on a performance at Art Basel a few years back.

She’s a self-assured “cool girl” with a once-in-a-generation talent, and if there’s one thing we’re sure of, it’s that you’ll be seeing much more Shantell Martin in 2019.

You often do “live art” performances. Tell us a bit about that process and why you think it’s captured the attention of so many people.

Creating in front of an audience has become a fundamental part of my process. I think it is important for artists to share their process with their audience, in a way it demystifies and yet unifies the bond between the work and the audience. This creates more of a personal relationship with the work. As an artist it keeps me very present, there is no place to hide or hesitate and that creates an honesty that the work is then imbued with. I think it’s this honesty that really cements the relationship my audience has with me and the work.

Where does your passion/drive come from?

I can’t really say. It’s a part of who I am.

When you lived in Japan, you drew in a small sketchbook—but in the US, you’re afforded the space to do larger installations. What are some pros and cons of each type of work?

It’s interesting, someone recently said to me that my work has had different line-width periods. This has happened quite naturally without any forethought. I look at my projects as opportunities to evolve as both an artist and a person, the line is a reflection of this growth but also it is a reflection of the space I’m working within and how I am able to use the right tools to create in each unique space.

You’ve spoken about how you don’t always know what you’re doing with a drawing, but you come to it with a good intention to make it work. How do you think that theory of thought applies to life, too?

I think it comes back to that point of honesty. Intention is a very powerful aspect of existence. Essentially, and I think many people whether “artists” or not, can relate to being fueled by a purpose or the search for purpose. This purpose is like the internal line which for me becomes something external with the lines of my art. I have a purpose which is very much tied to exploring the essence of humanity and the world… it comes from a place of pure curiosity and empathy and I feel that intention to connect with the deepest part of myself and YOU is a universal feeling.

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

I’m still surprised that I get to make my art for a living.

You’ve collaborated with mega brands like Puma and Tiffany & Co. What’s a company you’d love to work with in the future and why?

NASA - it’s been a dream since I was a child. I mean I’d love to see my lines out in space! Also HERMES they’ve been supporting artists for years and I greatly admire the craftsmanship and integrity of their work.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

I love seeing the smiles on peoples faces when they see my work. That’s really special. I also love collaborating and exploring other creative spaces with other people who are masters in their fields.

In a world where likes and follower counts are so coveted, how do you stay authentic and true to yourself/your brand?

Keep it simple, be honest. Be YOU.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find new roads + switch gears to find success?

I keep drawing. I keep working. Staying committed to the work and faithful to the practice is something very important to me. Also, I still practice going out into the world and seeking a “no”. By that, I mean to say that I ask for things expecting to get rejected. I consciously practice becoming more comfortable with rejection, and when you do that you will see that you more often than not will get a “yes” and that it actually feels great to hear “no” which is a sign that you’re growing and aiming higher and higher.

What are you most excited for in 2019?

My collaboration with the New York City Ballet.

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 ART & DESIGN LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate: Beauty: Rita Hazan

Rita Hazan doesn’t have bad hair days. She’s also never taken a sick day or missed a day in her namesake salon.

She describes herself as “equal parts colorist, artist, and innovator,” and for good reason. The industry veteran is known for creating a product so genius, it’s hard to imagine life before it: root concealer. As an expert colorist entrusted by the likes of Beyonce, Katy Perry, J-Lo, and Jessica Simpson, Rita is familiar with the agony of visible roots between salon visits. Enter her root concealer—AKA the easy-to-use solution to your root woes (you can thank us later).

The hair guru first made her mark on the industry in the 90s, establishing herself as an authority on colors and trends amidst a male-dominated beauty field (queue eye rolls at the patriarchy). Her first major client was Mariah Carey, everyone’s favorite songstress, diva, and MTV Cribs subject. Word of mouth travels fast: If you’re Mariah’s go-to, you must have some sort of special sauce.

Fast forward to 2018, and Hazan is still on her hair hustle, but with widespread brand recognition. Between her innovative products, A-list client roster, and illustrious 5th Avenue salon, consider Rita Hazan one of your hair fairy godmothers and always take her advice.

Your client roster includes the likes of Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, and Madonna. Tell us a little about your journey in the beauty industry. What was your big break?

I was an assistant at Oribe for around 6 years, then I got a promotion to colorist. At the time, my work was a little different from everyone else’s and it caught the eye of one of my stylist friends that happened to be working with Mariah Carey. It was 1997; Mariah had gotten a divorce and was putting out a new album; she needed a new look. My friend referred me to work with her on her new image and the rest was history. Anyone looking for a new look after that would call me.

How do you build trust with such high-profile clients?

First, you have to have confidence and know your craft; you need skills and a vision, which takes time. You must be able to deliver a look that works on stage or in print and also in everyday life. It's important to be precise, and execute what you say you’re going to do. Consistency is key. Another tenet that I’ve always lived by is to be discrete. Discretion is very important, when I work, I say I am deaf and mute; I hear nothing and say nothing.

What’s your number-one essential to keeping color looking healthy?

Well, it has to actually be healthy—looking healthy is not enough. It can look healthy with a simple blow dry. You must know how to use hair color in a responsible way. I know how to manipulate colors and products to give me the result I want. It's taken years of learning, trial and error, to fully understand my craft. I also do tons of research before I do any product in my own line and before every job I get, even today.

What advice would you give to young aspiring colorists?

LEARN. You can’t learn anything about color in one year. It takes years of studying and practicing. You can't learn a vocation like this by watching videos on YouTube or Instagram; it's not real. Everyone has to develop their own style. It seems to me that everyone is doing the same thing these days. You need to get out there, assist, get your hands dirty, and be creative. That's the only way to develop and grow your own color aesthetics, but to do that, you need to be skilled. A lot of people don't realize that hair color is chemicals—it’s chemistry.

What other women in your industry do you admire? Why?

When I was starting out, there were not many women doing what I wanted to do, if any. It was an industry of men. I was one of the first female colorists to open my own salon and to have a product line. I see so many talented women doing it today and it makes me happy because as women, we know our hair, the emotion, and reality that comes with it. When I see women like Marie Robinson, Tracey Cunningham, Riawna Capri, and Nikki Lee doing their thing, it makes me so proud.

“It’s important to be precise, and execute what you say you’re going to do. Consistency is key. ”

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

It has to be creating an entire new category in color care: my root concealer. There was no product like it on the market for covering gray roots before mine. Now, of course, several big companies have copied my idea (within an inch of my patent). It's both immensely flattering and annoying at the same time.

If you weren’t a colorist, what career path would you choose and why?

There was no plan B. From the time I was 17, I knew this was what I wanted to do and I wasn't going to stop pushing and working for it until I did.

Where does your passion and drive come from?

Honestly, I’m not sure. I think it comes from my soul. I think I was born this way. I was raised with a really strong work ethic. I’ve never called out sick a day in my life, cancelled a job or day in the salon. I know it’s not normal, but that’s just me.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find new roads + switch gears to find success?

It happens to everyone! In this social media-driven era, it can look like everyone's life is perfect, but really it’s just a highlight reel. My advice is to never look at what other people are doing. It’s not your path and it's not your vision. Most people never understand my vision until it's done or in progress. My journey is at my own pace. I don't feel the need to be in the same gear as others; when I need time, I take it. I pause, I breathe, I obsess a little and then I take a break. I listen to my soul and then the answer always hits me—I trust my gut!

What are you most excited for in 2019?

I’m working on a new line of styling products for color-treated hair. It’s an innovative way to use ingredients that are protective & nourishing for color-treated hair but are effective at styling. The development process is always a really exciting time; picking colors, designing packing, finding fragrances and testing, testing, testing! I love all that stuff. If I’m putting my name on something it has to work and be the best!

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 BEAUTY LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Food: Amirah Kassem

Amirah Kassem’s personal brand is all about sparkles and smiles—but also serious business and psychedelic baked goods. Her bakery, The Flour Shop, has developed a cult-like following since it first opened its doors in SoHo in 2012. Amirah’s creations are out-of-this-world and one-of-a-kind, but don’t take it from us—you’ve probably seen her Insta-famous rainbow cake, which always contains a different sort of candy explosion. This cake, inspired by pinatas, is the perfect analogy for Amirah: it’s multidimensional, playful, and full of sprinkles.

Over the past six years, the entrepreneur has harnessed her contagious energy and love of the color wheel to grow The Flour Shop into a multi-million dollar business. Her business is such a clear product of her personality, and that passion has a distinct DNA—one that plays with nostalgia, loudness, fun, and sugar. So much so that she colloquially refers to her team as the “Sprinkle Squad.” From her early days as an Easy Bake Oven connoisseur, all the way to 2018, Amirah is living proof that you can build a business on fun and flour.

What inspired Flour Shop and how did its branding come about?

Growing up in Mexico and baking with my mom was pretty much where it all started, drawing inspiration from my colorful culture and childhood imagination!

Your cakes are all over social media. What inspired you to create the rainbow cake?

Pinatas! I love birthdays so I decided to combine all of my favorites, cake, rainbows, sprinkles and pinatas!!!!

If you could have a meal with someone, living or deceased, who would it be and why? What would you eat?

Willy Wonka! We would meet at his place and eat wallpaper!

What do you crave in life?

Pizza!

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

Spreading Joy! One sprinkle at a time.

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

NEVER GROW UP. - Peter Pan

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

You’ll find out in April when my book comes out!

Where does your passion/drive come from?

EXCITEMENT! As long as you're excited about something passion and drive will follow

What keeps you up at night?

Tomorrow’s ideas!

Whose career really inspires you?

Rachael Ray

What has been your biggest opportunity or biggest challenge as a woman in the food industry?

My upcoming collection with Williams-Sonoma! It’s so magical and I can’t wait to share it with the world!

Be yourself—there’s only one of you! Don’t look at what others are doing!

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The pastry industry is huge. How does Flour Shop constantly stay fresh and relevant?

Easy: Be yourself—there’s only one of you! Don’t look at what others are doing!

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road + switch gears to find success?

Expansion can be difficult, but learning to grow through a magical team was key! Spending a good amount of time teaching and training your team is more important that just filling roles.

What are you toasting to in 2019? What are you most excited for?

More Flour Shop locations, my first book, and my collection with Williams-Sonoma!

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE FOOD LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Entertainment: Diane Guerrero

Diane Guerrero has traded in her orange jumpsuit (of Netflix’s Orange is the New Black fame) for superpowers, podcast mics, and authorship. She’ll star as Crazy Jane in DC Comics’ new series Doom Patrol, premiering next month on DC Universe; hosts a podcast, How It Is, with Reese Witherspoon; and she’s just adapted her book In The Country We Love into a YA book. Below, she shares the story behind her book and what she’d do if she were president.

On when she knew she wanted to be an actor…

Well, for me I think that I’ve always had the bug. I’ve always fantasized about being on stage or on TV or singing or presenting. As a kid, we couldn’t really afford acting classes or at least steady classes so I would just take advantage of anything that was free or in the neighborhood or anything they offered after school. That was kind of my escape. I don’t think I ever realized that it was a possibility for me. I don’t think that anyone said, “You can really do this” or even myself I don’t think I believed in myself enough to say, “This is my path. This is what I want to do.”

On My Family Divided, her YA adaptation of her the story of her parents’ deportation...

This is an issue that affects the entire family, and that means children most of all. This was an issue that was always discussed in our home, a fear that we had. And that fear didn’t just start when it happened, when my parents were separated from me when I was 14, but when I was a kid. It would’ve been really helpful to have had resources and stories like my own when I was growing up—and that’s why it was so important for me to adapt the book for young readers. The new book is the same story, but it has a few more footnotes. It also has a synopsis at the beginning of every chapter. Really, the book is written in a very young voice. I already know young students who have read the [adult] book and teachers who have used the book in their classes. Now it will be easier for middle schoolers to read the story on their own.

On activism through her work...

My job as an actor is to be visible and to tell stories. I know I have a platform and a responsibility. I am representing my community, in a sense, especially given the fact that there are not as many Latino actors out there. I consider it as a way to represent a group that is underrepresented and often misrepresented. I’ve taken it upon myself to be out there fighting to represent my community in the best light possible. I hope to continue to portray characters with interesting stories, who are fighters and go-getters, who overcome challenges and are essentially superheroes in their community. That’s the kind of message I want to send out. I’m also telling stories about the American experience; brown, black, white, we’re all living that.

On what she’d do if she were president...

I would update the visa system, and I would have members in Congress who care about this issue and who want to make changes now and not people who are going to insult us and not people who are going to ignore us. Those are some of the moves I would make. I’m not a policy expert of course, but I think that from the knowledge that I do have, I would say that the visa system needs updating and then we can go from there.

This interview has been edited and condensed from multiple sources (1, 2, 3).

Photos from Diane Guerrero’s Instagram.

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 ENTERTAINMENT LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Food: Sophia Roe

For Sophie Roe, food is anything that is necessary to maintain life and grow. It’s a sort of poetry for the holistic NYC chef and self-proclaimed “food and feelings advocate,” who is on a mission to create a new sort of culture around food and wellness.

She encourages her friends and followers to explore the different relationships they have with food, while simultaneously working to renounce the all-too-common toxic narratives around food like shame or guilt. She advocates for more inclusivity in the food industry and is on a mission to empower her community through sustenance. Also note that she can explain the hell out of gluten, once and for all.

To talk to Sophie is to see holistic health in a new light. Her passion and zest is injected into every word, every meal, and every declaration of gratitude. She is helping to pioneer a paradigm shift and making space for a culture that is invested in health as wealth.

How did you get started as a chef? Did you always know you wanted to be in the food industry?

I have always had a relationship with food. Some of my favorite memories with my mother involve food. It wasn’t what I initially wanted to do right out of high school, however a string of events put food directly into my path, and I am so grateful for it!

Apart from being a chef, your bio says you’re a food and feelings advocate, and an empowerment engineer. Can you explain to us how you tie in food with feelings and empowerment?

I believe ‘food” constitutes much more than just the edible variety. Food is so deeply tied to overall consumption, I truly believe there is emotional and mental “food” –the stuff we absorb throughout the day outside of what is edible. Food is so often used as a tool for guilt, shame, pain, etc. which I find to be a travesty because we need every variety of “food” to survive. When we dive deeper, and look at our individual relationships and stories around food, what we end up with is often so a much deeper narrative than we had initially thought. So often a person may want to get their diet back on track, but it turns out they were struggling with an eating disorder, being made fun of as a child, or perhaps is dealing with deep-seeded insecurities. This is why “empowerment” is so valuable in connection to food.

If you could have a meal with someone, living or deceased, who would it be and why?

This is such an interesting question because the answer changes depending on mood and timing. Right now, I’d really love to have a meal with my father. He died before I could meet him, and I think it would be really special to have been able to share a meal with him before he passed away.

What do you crave in life?

Childlike wonder and copious amounts of HAPPY!

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

It’s my greatest hope that my work reminds people of who they are, the power they possess, and the knowledge that they can in fact be who they dream of, and more.

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

“If you blame it on someone else, don’t expect it to get any better.” Ultimately, we are the keepers of our own lives. Always blaming others for what you don’t have or didn’t accomplish (victim addiction) only passes blame, and maybe makes you feel justified…but rarely resolves the issue.

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

Being on the most recent cover of Cherry Bombe magazine (issue 12)!I have been a reader of that magazine for years. Its pages have inspired me, and my career in food beyond belief, so it’s a real honor to grace the cover.

Where does your passion/drive come from?

From knowing how painful pain can feel, and how happy happiness can feel.

What keeps you up at night?

All of the hundreds of things I want to make and give to others.

It’s my greatest hope that my work reminds people of who they are.

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Whose career really inspires you?

I can’t say because I don’t know what it’s like to exist as anyone but myself. The words of so many inspire me, the actions of so may also inspire me. But to dial in on a person’s career? That’s challenging for me because to the naked eye someone’s career may be super inspiring or filled with greatness; however, I am sure behind what we all see is so much hard work, struggle, and maybe even some suffering. I am more inspired by people themselves, and not so much their careers.

What has been your biggest opportunity or biggest challenge as a young, female entrepreneur?

My own confidence has been the biggest hurdle for me. I am constantly bombarded with self-inflicted imposter syndrome. Finding a place where I believe that I actually deserve a career has been a huge struggle. I had such a tumultuous childhood, so figuring out how to maneuver those memories, and feelings as an adult seeking a career has been my greatest challenge.

What are the common challenges you've seen among women in the food industry?

I think one of the biggest problems with women in the food industry is simply proper visibility! It’s not like suddenly there are tons of women in the kitchen. So many publications talk about this new uproar of females in the kitchen. WE HAVE BEEN THERE THE WHOLE TIME! I think now you’re seeing more focus on women in food because women are paving their own ways in the industry. Women are creating their own restaurants, concepts, publications, etc. I don’t really see this as a struggle, I’d like to think women are just setting themselves free from the standards that have been put in place for so long.

It’s important when things go wrong to stay calm, assess the situation in realistic way & shift gears accordingly.

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When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road + switch gears to find success?

As long as you know and understand that at the start of every venture there will be hiccups, and bumps in the road, you sort of give yourself permission to stay calm when you’re staring face to face with one. 90 percent of what I worried would happen, never ended up happening anyway; it’s very important when things go wrong to stay calm, assess the situation in realistic way (leaving the emotion as far out of it as possible), and shift gears accordingly.

What are you most excited for in 2019?

Finishing my first book!!!!

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

Photoshoot skincare provided by Dermalogica

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE FOOD LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: STEM & Finance: Shivoni Siroya

Many of us take our credit scores—or the fact that we have them—for granted. Credit is the vehicle to financial stability and growth, yet 3 billion people around the world are currently financially underserved.

Shivani Siroya founded Tala—a tech startup providing micro-loans to entrepreneurs in the developing world—to address this disparity. Not only has Shivani paired her passion for social impact with her tech entrepreneurship, she’s disrupting the entire fin-tech industry with an unparalleled strategy: Analyze credit-seeker’ smartphones with an app that will determine how creditworthy they are. By generating data—texts, emails, GPS coordinates, social-media posts, retail receipts, and so on—Tala’s Android app is able to study a person’s smartphone behavior (literally down to obscure variables like how frequently a user recharges the phone’s battery, how many incoming text messages they receive, how many miles they travel in a given day or how they enter contacts into their phone) and use the data to predict the likeliness of a loan being repaid. Currently Tala’s repayment rate is 92 percent and the platform has reached 2.5 million people globally. Suffice to say, Shivani’s creating the blueprint to something special—something with scale, impact, and the potential to stimulate wealth everywhere. It comes as no surprise that Tala’s 2018 was explosive.

The long and short of it: Add Shivani to your CEO-inspo moodboard STAT.

Can you explain your company and your mission with Tala to our readers?

Tala’s mission is to expand financial access, choice, and control to the 3 billion people who are financially underserved around the world. Through Tala’s Android application, anyone with an Android smartphone in our markets can apply for a loan and receive an instant decision, anytime and anywhere, regardless of their financial history, so they can access customized financial services to take care of business costs, family expenses, and school fees.

And this is only our beginning—our mission doesn't end at opening access, we’ve added in financial tips and will be launching additional products this year to keep putting our customers in charge of their own financial lives.

Tell us a little about the impact Tala has on women and small business owners living in underserved financial communities.

Jenipher, an entrepreneur in her 60s, was one of our earliest customers in Kenya. She ran a food stall in Nairobi’s Central Business District and used Tala loans as working capital, to purchase ingredients in bulk for lower costs. Eventually, with the credit history we helped her build, she was able to walk into a commercial bank and secure a small business loan to support her dream of opening a restaurant. Our mission is to co-build a financial system where stories like Jenipher’s become the new reality. Our lending product opens access to financial services for a class of emerging consumers with potential that only needs to be proven.

If there is one thing you could tell our readers about Tala, what would it be and why?


Building Tala has taught me the importance of knowing and understanding your customers and their entire daily life. There’s a misconception that the people we serve are akin to non-profit beneficiaries and not a viable customer base; in actuality, they are consumers capable of being economic catalysts with significant purchasing power and reading and consuming the same content that we do. But there is no way I would have learned this without spending years living and working alongside them, learning about their personal lives and dreams for their families, and seeing them take action to make their goals a reality.

I’m also excited to share that we’re hiring! If our mission piques your interest, or if you’re ready to fix finance for over 3 billion people around the world, we’re waiting for you. See our global openings at Tala.co/careers.


You’re using your financial background to launch world-changing tech. What is your advice for women wanting to take the leap from an industry like finance to technology?


The opportunity presented by a world like tech is that it is a space where diverse interests can thrive. Though imperfect, this era of “disruption” means that there’s likely a group of people working on solving a problem you’re interested in—do your research and go out and find them! I also encourage you to find mentors that can help you learn the dynamics of the new industry, and join communities you can contribute to and grow with. Most importantly, have confidence in your abilities and your value. Trust that you have something unique to offer your new industry, and work hard to show it!


How important is it for women in tech to build communities surrounding their brands and how has it influenced you and your work with Tala? 


For women in tech, starting a new venture can be exciting, yet lonely and difficult. A community can serve as a much-needed constant in a journey that’s likely to be unpredictable.

I fully believe that community is the key to sustainable success. My family taught me the importance of being there for others, and I love sharing ideas and helping others make connections, as I’ve benefited from the help and advice others have given me.

The fellowships and communities I’ve joined are spaces where I can safely share ideas and best practices with peers going through similar hurdles. By serving as some of my first sounding boards, they’ve helped me build my platform as Tala and I have grown.

Community was a significant topic for the Tala team in 2018; we incorporated it within our team offsite, in our speaker series, in community events for our customers and also in community outreach events here in Santa Monica.

“I always think of funding rounds as a mirror to what’s happening internally—it is the best way to get lots of feedback on your business at once.”

You’ve raised one of the largest series b by a woman. When did you realize you had a product to pitch to investors? What steps did it take to get you there? 


We actually didn’t start by pitching. An investor heard my story and traction and through that process, our round came together. To get to a point where we were ready to take on investment, our small, scrappy team had already spent a significant amount of time in our markets, making sure we understood our customers, their lives, and their needs and tweaking our product offering in response. We each wore the hat of customer service advocate to make sure we were attentive to how customers were experiencing the product. When an investment opportunity presented itself, we knew immediately where we needed to focus the funds. 


Since then, we’ve learned to view funding rounds in relation to our learnings goals, from developing our data models in series A to scaling the business in series C. I always think of funding rounds as a mirror to what’s happening internally—it is the best way to get lots of feedback on your business at once. It’s important to listen and ask for feedback even if you get a no—because you’ll always come out stronger.

Any advice for women looking to take their tech to the table to raise series A or B? What was the biggest difference between the two series for you?

My advice is to do your homework and own the narrative! I cannot overstate the importance of knowing your business’s unit economics, knowing the ins and outs of your market, your customers, and your approach to the opportunity you’re addressing.

Our fundraising strategy always parallels what we are looking for in board members and advisors, and plans for the capital.

What is one app you can’t live without and why?


Whatsapp. I know it’s one that everyone uses—but for me, it’s my lifeline to keeping in touch with my family in India. We have probably over 50 different groups WhatsApp chats going at a time and it always makes me feel like we’re connected even if we’re not seeing each other in person for months.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road + switch gears to find success?


I remember the problem our team set out to solve and the people we’re solving it for. Our customers and our mission are my consistent north star, and honing in on them are extremely helpful. I have also embraced the importance of taking time off to recharge and spend time with friends and family—last year, I hiked Mount Batur, and the rigor of the experience and doing it along with close friends provided refreshment and energizing clarity.

“I never expected to be an entrepreneur – I set out to solve a problem and this was the right path to get to my goal. ”

What are you most excited for in 2019?

Our team experienced a significant amount of growth in 2018—new teammates, new product features, new markets, and increased fervor and clarity towards fulfilling our vision. In 2019, I‘m excited to see how the 2018 foundation that we set will help us create more momentum globally and excited to see us take on some very new audacious experiments and product launches!

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled? 


I’m most energized by meeting our customers, hearing their stories of what they’ve been able to accomplish with Tala, and getting their feedback on the product.

It’s just as rewarding to hear that someone used their Tala loan to open a cyber cafe in their community, as it is to hear that same person ask us to create a forum so they can trade entrepreneurial tips with other Tala customers. This tells me that what our team has built is not only working but that our customers trust us enough to share their ideas with us and with each other.

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


Before founding Tala, an earlier boss encouraged me to “figure it out” after I shared that the data I needed for a four-month project did not exist—and I was already out of the country and needed to return to our team with answers. Being confronted with an information gap that needed to be closed led to me starting Tala and finding out about the problem that we’re focused on solving.

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?


I never expected to be an entrepreneur – I set out to solve a problem and this was the right path to get to my goal. This perspective has helped me keep a clear focus on our mission, though I occasionally have to pinch myself when I see how fast our team is growing.

What’s your superpower?

Challenging my limits. I love high-intensity workouts and strength training because there’s power in learning that I’m capable of lifting two or three times my body weight—it all comes back to believing that you’ve got that power within you to take on something new. It’s a lot easier to walk into a daunting meeting with potential investors or speak at a large conference when you’ve started your morning by accomplishing what once seemed impossible.

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

Photoshoot skincare provided by Dermalogica

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 STEM LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

From acclaimed fashion model to actor, designer to businesswoman, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has done it all. The multi-hyphenate mogul’s latest venture, Rose Inc., offers an insider peek at some of Rosie’s favorite beauty products, makeup tutorials, skincare tips, and interviews with some of your favorite beauty gurus. Rosie takes a hands-on approach to her site, with a “Memo From Rosie” section dedicated to personal notes from the founder herself.

In addition to everything she’s working on for Rose Inc., Rosie will be our keynote speaker at Create & Cultivate New York! Check out her interview below, then join us in the city to get all the advice she’s learned from launching her namesake brand.

You’ve become a household name after years of putting in hard work as a model, and some acting work. What prompted you to venture off into beauty?

Beauty has always been a passion of mine and a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember, starting as a passion and ending up in a career.  Growing up I would sit and watch my mother in awe while she would get ready for work or a night out. I loved seeing how she could transform into this striking, confident woman.  It was then that I began to understand the way makeup could alter a person’s demeanor or mood. As a teenager, I always enjoyed experimenting with makeup and trying out the newest products.

Over the last 16 years as a model, I’ve spent countless hours in the hair and makeup chair learning from all the incredible artists I’ve been lucky enough to work with.  Every time I’m in the chair I find I learn something new and creative and have made special friendships and memories along the way.

Rose Inc. for me is a place where I could bring my passion to light and hopefully create an inspiring online destination where I can highlight my favorite artists, peek inside the bathrooms of some of our favorite influencers, tastemakers and professionals, and where we could explore, interview and discuss new products, tips and tricks with the top experts in the industry.  

What was the inspiration behind Rose Inc. & its aesthetic?

In looking at the landscape of beauty websites, I thought it was important to create a space that was curated by someone who has been in the industry, sat in the makeup chair, and had firsthand experience of the impact that these products and routines can have on your life both physically and emotionally.

We have features and stories that cater to every type of woman, whether you want to know more about your favorite beauty icon or you’re in search of some serious advice for your next must-have product.  We want to reach women all around the world and hear what they have to say about the beauty space.

The brand launched in May and is taking off swiftly. How did you build that bond with your audience?

I think with any brand it’s all about authenticity and honesty. I hope that it’s clear when people come to the site or spend time with me that they can see I have a true affinity for everything beauty related. Building a bond with your audience is an ongoing process, it’s a two way street. We love to hear what our readers have to say, what they want to read or watch and then we try to deliver what it is they are asking for.

What characteristics make you successful in the beauty industry?

Passion, drive, and a clear vision.  When you embody those characteristics everything else will fall into place.

What does it take to build a beauty brand from the ground up in today’s world?

When I look at what’s happening in the beauty industry right now and see what’s working and what’s not, I see that it’s about having a clear point of view for your brand and believing in something bigger than the product itself.  Creating a sense of authenticity and dialogue with your consumer while exploring innovative and exciting products that make people feel their very best selves.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

I love meeting new people who inspire me both creatively and mentally, as this has been an ongoing learning process for me.  Seeing each of our initiatives through to completion, and hearing positive feedback from our readers, makes this all incredibly worthwhile and gives me an immense sense of pride!

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

I feel lucky I get to talk to so many brilliant people across this industry. I think the best thing I have heard lately was about the importance of delivering something that is unique and infused with your own personal style.

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

Without a doubt, launching Rose Inc.  It certainly feels like a new chapter in my life and while it feels like an organic next step for me because it’s my passion, becoming a founder is quite the departure from modelling, I do feel some days that I’m learning a lot on the go!

Where does your passion/drive come from?

This is a question I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to articulate properly because a passion for this industry is something that has been a part of me for as long as I can remember.  An appreciation for and fascination with all things beauty related is something that struck me from a very young age.

I often find that as women, we tend to attribute a lot of our success to a fluke.  I try to remember that while I absolutely would not be where I am today without a lot of help, and certainly some luck, it really comes down to my own determination and dedication.

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What are the common challenges you've seen among female business owners and entrepreneurs?

I often find that as women we tend to attribute a lot of our success to a fluke.  I am sometimes inclined to feel this way about my own life and career, and while I try to remember that I absolutely would not be where I am today without a lot of help, and certainly some luck, it really comes down to my own determination and dedication.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road and switch gears to find success?

I think that becoming a mother has given me a completely different perspective on the ups and downs that I face in my career.  My personal life is a priority for me, so when I hit a bump in my career, I am reassured by the fact that that is not the be all, end all.  I truly believe in visualizing what you want for your future, and eventually, you can get there.

Whose career really inspires you?

Any woman who has accomplished her dreams, through hard work and determination, while remaining true to herself and a good person.

What’s next for Rose Inc. in 2019? What are you most excited for?

I’m excited to work with even more unique and inspirational people from across our industry, and share their stories with our readers.  The beauty world is constantly evolving and in order to deliver the most thoughtful, and hopefully helpful, content, we will continue to seek out exciting new products, ideas, and innovators.

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 BEAUTY LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Health + Wellness: Katie Austin

On top of serving major ab envy, Katie Austin is building a fitness empire.

The trainer, health coach, author, blogger, and model may have picked up a thing or two on how to inspire confidence through fitness from her mom—the iconic queen of spandex and home fitness tapes, Denise Austin. Katie has followed in her mother’s footsteps by building a community of fitness seekers and an app for those looking for new routines, recipes, and ways to get sore.

The former D1 college athlete knows a thing or two about conditioning the human body, and that deep-seated discipline is now powering her career. Below, the 25 year-old health expert sat with the C&C team to talk about what’s next for her digital wellness movement.

You played D1 lacrosse at USC. How has your background in sports affected your career path?

I’ve played lacrosse ever since I was 7 years old, so I think it taught me hard work, discipline, and time management from a young age. Those attributes have definitely helped me start my business and my career. I think playing sports definitely played a huge role in wanting to do fitness as a career, too. I did running/lifting tests for lacrosse since middle school, so fitness has really always been a part of my life. I love being surrounded by athletes. There’s a strong work ethic to every athlete out there that I really respect.

Being a fitness influencer is a big responsibility—what do you hope young girls and women take away from following you online?

I think being a fitness/health influencer is the best- just because you’re giving girls a positive takeaway. I really hope girls can learn how to better themselves, but in a real and practical way. It’s really important in this day and age to know that a lot of the stuff you see online isn’t attainable in real life. I want to empower girls with easy ways they can get fit, eat healthy, but still live their damn life.

If you weren’t working in fitness or social media, what would you be doing instead?

Well I am also a sports host! I co-host a Friday night show on Fox Sports West, and do some basketball hosting here and there. So I would definitely be pursuing that a bit harder!

Tell us about a time you failed, and how you turned that moment into opportunity.

Ohhh many of times!! So I have an app now, with workouts, recipes, challenges, etc., and it looks like it was super easy for me to just build something like that. Well, nobody knows that I actually built an app before.. I saved up $20,000 in college, and put it all towards an app. Long story short, it was terrible hahah. But I waited two years, and tried again!! It wasn’t a failure because I AM SO HAPPY it happened! I learned so much about what went wrong, how to make it better, and go stronger the next time. Every failure teaches me something great.

Where does your passion/drive come from?

Two answers. My parents! They both came from nothing, and grew their businesses from the ground up in their twenties. They inspire me like crazy! Then second, the girls who follow me and my workouts. I see their posts, stories, or messages to me and it makes me just want to help more and more people across the world.

What would you say to the haters who think Instagram isn’t a “real” job?

I’ve actually lost a friend over this… She would make fun of me for “instagramming for a job.” And it used to bother me, but now it doesn’t. Bring on the haters- they have no clue how much work goes into creating content, building a brand, creating and managing a blog/app/site, maintaining customer service, engaging back to your audience, pitching yourself, and SO much more. It’s funny though, because whenever a friend who isn’t a social media influencer sees the amount of work we put in they always say, “oh my gosh, I had no idea.” So I think it’s really that people just don’t understand it.

Watch our interview with Katie on the set of our Create & Cultivate 100 photoshoot.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

Seeing girls feel accomplished, feel confident, and feel so great about themselves!! Even if it’s just a recipe they like of mine, or a workout, if I can just make another girl happy in the slightest, I feel fulfilled!! Truly.

What are some of your hobbies outside of fitness?

Hanging out with my friends! Anyone who follows my instagram stories… first off, I am sorry. I like to have fun haha. I love my girlfriends. And Sex and the City for the 38th time.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find new roads + switch gears to find success?

I can definitely get down on myself when I hit a bump or hurdle. First off, I make sure to calm myself down and try not to be stressed out! Then I reassess what went wrong, or how I can be better. To keep up my motivation, I like creating new projects. I like to think of new creative things, guides, series, challenges, etc. I always like to switch it up with new content!

What are you most excited for in 2019?

Most excited about being 25, and really feeling like this is the first year I KINDA know what I’m doing with my life. Haha but seriously…

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

Photoshoot skincare provided by Dermalogica 

VIEW THE ENTIRE CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 HEALTH & WELLNESS LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Entrepreneur: Jeni Britton Bauer

THE UNICORN.

Jeni Britton Bauer makes life taste good.

And the founder of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams says that if her business was a flavor it would be Dark Chocolate: "Complex and game-changing, hard to replicate."

That's not to say others haven't tried.

But with over two decades dedicated to the scoop game, Jeni knows a thing or two about packing a pint, finding new flavors, and running a team. She started in her car, so hitting the sweet spot didn't come easy. There were learning curves, major lessons and hard, trailblazing work.

But life right now is sweet-- and well deserved. 

More from the Ice Cream biz's master maker below.  

First things first. Pink hair, don't care?

My outward expression of myself has played a big role in my career and success. I quit art school to start my first ice cream business back in 1996. I had very pale pink hair back then (I mixed Manic Panic Flamingo Pink into my conditioner to dye my platinum blonde). I always loved it— should have been born with it. I also used to wear thrifted clothes back then and punky outfits. It was all part of my thing. What I didn’t realize until I closed that business and wanted to start again is that your look can unintentionally alienate a lot of people. I was not portraying a person in charge. I simply wasn’t. We can debate about it all day, and I wish I could say that it didn’t matter, but it did. When the food critic came over, he had no reason to believe I was the one in charge, and, believe it or not, how you look helps set the tone of the conversation. That first impression is everything, and it will make the ice cream taste better or worse. Believe me. Also, your own perspective is altered by what you believe about yourself. I believed I was a counterculture artist, or wanted to be—and that isn’t very warm and welcoming to the rest of the world. Even more, I had not even done the work to earn that reputation! It was all a bullshit exterior. I was identifying with others’ work, not my own. And that is so transparent. When I started my second business, after my first failure, I wanted to convey personal strength, professionalism, humility, and self-control (literally the opposite of my former self). The ice cream was the same, but I had changed. This time the same food critic loved the same ice creams he’d written off before. I took all emphasis off of me and put it on my ice creams, and more importantly, the wide array of wonderful human beings who were potential customers. By cutting my hair short, dying it back to dark blonde, and choosing to wear a starched white shirt and apron as a uniform every day, I got into character. I was an ice cream maker and shopkeeper in a busy market. This helped me fit into the vibe there and be accepted into the community—and begin to build a brand and a company that means something to people. I put a lot of credit on this transformation for my success. It got me the important first impressions I needed to build a trusted small business in my city and beyond. It was how I put myself aside and truly got into the spirit of service. It has made all the difference in my life.

But now is different. I’ve put in the time (22 years, half my life), laid the groundwork and foundation for what I do.

"I can take risks and not risk my own credibility. I’ve earned it." 

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So the pink hair is back—so are my outfits. The lesson to me, and advice I give as I look back on two decades of hustle is to get into the character you are trying to convey— nerdy as it may be. And let it start with humility. Make the character about the work, and then focus on the work. Build equity and trust and credibility in your name, not your clothing or hairstyle. It’s the only thing you actually own.

Now. The way you talk about flavor profiles is like the way people talk about great loves. Do you think loving what you do is an important part of being an entrepreneur?

Being an entrepreneur, and more importantly, a maker is an emotional endeavor. It’s like listening to a singer delivering a beautiful song. You either feel the melody in your soul or it falls at. That comes down to whether the singer is emotionally into it enough to care about the tiniest details, and whether they are brave enough to put themselves out there—put everything on the line for it. That comes from experience, of both love and, to some extent, suffering. Making things, communicating with people, and building a culture of service is emotional just like a beautifully delivered song. It’s about making people’s lives better, even for a moment. And it’s about every perceivable detail.

For me, it isn’t that I love what I do. I am obsessed with it. I care so deeply that it feels good and also it hurts. I love being in it every day, and when I’m not, I crave it. I know it sounds ridiculous, but that is the thing. It’s emotional. You cannot build a community unless you care so deeply that you will risk everything for it. That’s not dramatic. That’s what it takes (at least for me). And no money in the world can buy that passion. You get it by building slowly on a shoestring and truly getting to know what you do and who you do it for and why. By making decisions every day based on what you believe is right. It’s about staying true to your ideas and building upon them as you learn. And never taking things at face value. You can’t teach it or explain it. You get it or you don’t. And it’s everything

What are the common challenges you've seen among female business owners and entrepreneurs?

They don’t trust themselves. But the great thing is that, as a collective, we do trust ourselves. And together we are such an incredible force. We encourage each other and inspire each other. So we can overcome our insecurities together.

Where do your drive and passion come from?

Honoring the work that I and countless others laid in those early years and that continues all over our company. When I was young and trying to figure out who I was going to be I didn’t have a strong family to fall back on. I was either going to make it or I was going to end up like so many others I knew— without power and hope. So I decided I wasn’t going to live in a basement my whole life. And I wasn’t going to blame others. And I wasn’t going to ever say, “Why me?” I was going to fight like hell and make it out or go down trying.

It literally was life or death to me. And I am grateful for it. Many kids I grew up with had safety nets and what ended up happening is that they took no risks! I had nothing. So I had nothing to lose. The jump off the cliff without a parachute was safer than the wolves on the other side. But I owe my passion and success to all of that. And I am grateful for it.

When you run into a career obstacle or a speed bump, how do you find new roads?

I nd a way over them. I like to say: “Those are not bumps in the road. They are the road.” But it’s not exactly a perfect metaphor. Roads are too predictable to be a good metaphor for a life of entrepreneurship. They are at and, once laid, they are relatively easy to travel even with the bumps.

The truth is that every entrepreneur I have ever met is really good at going up against the odds. It’s the only thing that gives you your edge over anyone else. When most people see bumps or brick walls, they turn and run. But not entrepreneurs. They are too curious about the “what if” to turn around. And, often it’s actually not that treacherous. Sometimes it is, but you just go. The hard thing is when everyone else in your life wants to jump in and save you from YOURSELF! Don’t do it Jeni! It’s too dangerous! Get back on the easy path. Nah. There is no easy path. But there are some that are greater adventures.

Speaking of roads, I've probably told a hundred women your "these aren't bumps in the road, this IS the road," quote about running a company. Have any more gems you'd care to share?

Lately, I prefer a sea analogy. To get to point B you’ve got to be brave. You’ll swerve up and down, in and out, go all topsy-turvy and still when it’s all added up, you’re moving toward your North Star. Everyone will think you’re fucking nuts. And by their definition, you are.

But remember you are the captain of your ship. You did your homework, built the ship, got to know its power. Now convince people to get on your boat and help you. And trust yourself that no matter what storm hits, you are good enough to correct course, figure it out, fight through it. Learn. Pretend you are the only one who has ever done it. Do not compare your work to others.

Don’t expect certainty. The people I know who are the most certain are the least likely to get anywhere interesting because they can’t learn and adjust and freestyle. So much of this is training yourself to be good enough to not have to think but to act correctly without thinking. That’s Jedi shit, and it only comes from testing yourself.

What are your biggest fears about running a business?

I have no fears in business anymore. I have battled the Balrog of the Misty Mountains and won. I am a white fucking wizard. My only fears are as a parent. That said, I work every day to be better, and if that’s not enough then it’s not enough.

What's the Jeni's legacy you hope to leave behind?

You know this is something we, as a company, are thinking about more and more. We want Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams to be the next great American ice cream company. In other words, an ice cream company that sets the standard for service, integrity, transparency, and deliciousness for generations to come. As Jeni the person, I just want to have a good time and make people’s lives better while I’m here.

What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?

I work constantly. I’m never not working. And I’d rather be doing that than just about anything else. For me it all starts from a place of love.

I grew up making things with my artist grandmother. While she always moved on to the next thing, I wanted to get so good at the rst thing that I could make dozens. Build inventory. Then sell them. Baskets made out of dried and dyed weeds, doll sweaters. And I was always the neighborhood organizer. We’d have a fundraiser or something. It was all play.

I’m still doing that every day now. Exactly the same feeling. Still just as fun.

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE ENTREPRENEUR LIST CLICK HERE. 

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Black Female Founders to Receive $36 Million in Funding

 

THE WAY OF THE FUTURE. 

She watches the hell out of General Hospital, writes the ‘L Word’ fanfic twitter page @ModernLWord, but Arlan Hamilton, founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, is an emerging venture fund manager to watch. Especially since what she's trained her investor's eye on is what everyone else is ignoring. 

Here are the facts: less than 10% of all venture capital deals go to women, People of Color, and LGBT founders. Other VCs see this as a pipeline problem. Backstage Capital sees it as the biggest opportunity in investment. And they've put their money where the stats are, their second round of funding has just launched and is targeting $36 million in commitments and Arlan foresees the fund investing $1 million checks into 15-20 companies over the next three years.

Dedicated to minimizing funding disparities in tech, Arlan and Backstage Capital are investing in high-potential founders who are of color, women, and/or LGBT. Once homeless, she knows what it's like to have doors closed on you and your dreams. But, she's opening the doors. We suggest you walk through them with her. 

She's the way of the future. 

Name: Arlan Hamilton 

Instagram Handle: @arlanwashere

Business Instagram Handle: @backstagecapital

Where do your drive and passion come from for Backstage Capital?

The mission. The fact that nothing has changed from my original thought, that there needs to be more access to capital for certain people who are being overlooked and underestimated. Until that massive problem is solved, it will fuel the energy that I need to do that.

How have you successfully navigated a male-dominated field?

By asking what a male would do and just giving myself permission to not apologize for being who I am.

What are your hopes for young women looking to get into finance as investors?

I wish it were now, but I hope that the work that I'm doing and the women alongside of me are doing makes it easier for them to enter this field. That's another part that makes it worth it for me, the idea that what we're doing is making it that much easier for the next person.

What would you say is your biggest pet-peeve in business?

Politics. I think a lot is held up and not accomplished because of ego and people trying to play certain personal agendas. A lot could be accomplished if we just focused on what was important.

What are your biggest fears about running Backstage?

That we won't be enough. That we won't be able to raise more and more funding for the very deserving and viable companies that we are backing.

What's something that you would like people to know about your work with Backstage that they probably aren't aware of?

It's much, much harder than it may appear. There's a ton of work that goes into it that it's not seen. I get a lot of feedback from people who think we're okay, that we've made it. When in reality it's a day-by-day, brick by brick, thing.

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

Having a woman come up to me and say she started a company because she read something about me. Or having a woman of color tell me that because Backstage exists they knew they wouldn't be alone when they came to Silicon Valley or launched a business. So, moments likes that where I know that something is working and I'm inspiring someone.

When you come across a difficulties or bumps in the road, how do you approach them?

I've always been able to self-motivate by seeing into the future and what I think the future might be. Anytime something is rough, which happens a lot. We might be told we were getting $100,000 investment and then the day the wire is supposed to hit, it doesn't. That's a big deal for us. On those kind of days I just think about the fact that I was homeless and I would imagine myself as a VC. There was no question to me that I would be able to make Backstage happen. You have to keep reminding yourself to keep going, you can do this. The way that you fail, is to stop. That is certainty. If you keep going, there's that potential that you win.

If you were to trade jobs with anyone, who would it be?

I think Ellen has a fun job.

At what point in your career did you find the ability to take charge and become the leader that you are today?

I had to have that mentality with everything. When I was working part time doing data entry, working at a pizza shop. I had to have that "I'm the boss" attitude to get through it so I don't know that it happened recently. It started with my mom telling me I deserved to be in any room and shouldn't shrink myself to make someone else feel better about themselves.

"It started with my mom telling me I deserved to be in any room and shouldn't shrink myself to make someone else feel better about themselves."

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What is the best piece of advice or #realtalk you've ever been given?

The best piece of advice that I take in come from music. Anyone from Nikki Minaj to Casey Edwards.

What song do you sing in the shower when you've had a really shitty day?

Can You Stand The Rain x New Edition.

TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE STEM LIST CLICK HERE. 

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Create & Cultivate 100: Food: Natasha Phan

PHAN-FREAKIN-TASTIC.

Whomever said “No Guts, No Glory” must have heard Natasha Phan’s story.

As the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants who owned and operated an Echo Park supermarket, Phan is no stranger to the LA food biz. After graduating from UCLA and accepting a digital advertising position with Martha Stewart, Phan seized an opportunity to pursue her true passion. During a panel discussion with culinary mogul Roy Choi, Phan went out on a limb and asked her future-boss for employment. Despite initial rejection, Choi ultimately accepted. Now the Director of Business Development for Choi’s Kogi Group, Phan is shaping the future of Korean-American food.

More from Natasha below. 

Name: Natasha Phan

Instagram Handle: @natasha_phan

Business Instagram Handle: @eatatpot @kogibbq

Where do your drive and passion come from?

My parents. They came to America at the end of the Vietnam War with very little and figured things out pretty quickly. For over 30 years, they independently owned and operated an Echo Park supermarket that brought immigrant families together. My career is an extension of their story. 

Your journey begins with a 'no.' You in person cold-pitched Roy Choi. And he said no. What did that moment feel like?

Total rejection and confusion. I believed there was a spiritual force that led me to meeting Roy, so I trusted my gut and put myself out there. The last thing I expected was to be told “no.” It didn’t make sense because everything felt so intentional.

And what did it feel like when he emailed you later that evening?

Pure joy and relief. My instincts were right! I was supposed to meet him and I was supposed to introduce myself! I remember feeling anxious because I knew that my life was going to change very quickly.

What did that teach you about being persistent in biz?

It taught me the importance of checking in with your gut. As business owners, we often let facts, data, and others guide our decision-making. But I’ve learned it’s crucial to take a pause, or two or three, and give time for your brain to align with your instincts.

"It’s crucial to take a pause, or two or three, and give time for your brain to align with your instincts."

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What did working with Roy teach you? And how did you take those lessons and turn them into Commissary?

Working with Roy has taught me to never get too comfortable. If you start feeling like everything’s at ease then there’s likely something wrong or something you’re not paying attention to. In the last 10 years, I’ve been trained to look deeper and deeper, corner to corner, and more often than not, I’ve found something else to make better. 

What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?

Many people don’t know that I’m heavily involved in the creative development of all our businesses. I work closely with Roy on ideation as well as vet and guide all the designers, photographers, and artists we collaborate with.

IYO-- How can we stay original when we are so saturated with other people's work?

I stay original by engaging in a world that’s not curated by a set of algorithms. I actively seek out tastes and ideas that aren’t easily acquired or accepted by the mainstream and pop culture. 

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

What makes me feel the most complete is that there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing than feeding people. It’s more than a career, it’s my life’s purpose. I know this is my calling.

If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?

Oprah is my ultimate inspiration. She is beyond the beyond.

"Oprah is my ultimate inspiration. She is beyond the beyond."

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At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?

When I left my job at Martha Stewart to work for a taco truck.

When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?

I talk it through with my advisory council – my best friends, mentors, and therapist.

What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?

"Dancing on My Own" by Robyn.

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE FOOD LIST CLICK HERE. 

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Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Shiva Rose

THE NON-TOXIC NINJA.

Shiva Rose is holistic and happy. 

Almost a decade ago Iranian actress Shiva launched her beauty platform, The Local Rose, a platform celebrating a holistic, healthy life style without sacrificing taste & glamour. 

She's dealt with divorce, major health issues, including lupus and other autoimmune disorders, and the grief of being told she only had a year to live at 26, but Shiva's personal agenda and holistic messaging includes taking responsibility for her own health. And her life. She's been a fighter from the beginning. Raised in Iran until the age of ten, Shiva and her family were forced to escape to Paris. They then moved to Los Angeles, where she remains today. 

Now the wellness-and-beauty entrepreneur heralds her brand Shiva Rose Beauty, which creates 100% toxic and chemical free skin, body and beauty products, handmade in California and Oregon, USA

Her book Whole Beauty is coming out next Spring. 

More from the Shiva goddess below. 

Name: Shiva Rose

Instagram Handle: @localrose

Business Instagram Handle: @shivarosebeauty

What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty is what we choose to see, how we choose to live, what we want to cultivate in our lives on a daily basis. The ability to see beauty in the most simple moments, and to live in that is the ultimate gift.

Do you remember a moment when you first felt beautiful?

I think I have always felt most beautiful when connected to the natural world. There have been moments when I've been soaking in some wild hot springs with dear sisters, and have felt totally divine and in my feminine beauty.

"I have always felt most beautiful when connected to the natural world."

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Where do your drive and passion come from?

From my connection to the source. From being in nature. From wanting a better world for my daughters.

What was the impetus for launching The Local Rose?

I started my holistic lifestyle brand before wellness was becoming mainstream. I began it 9 years ago to document my path towards healing from various autoimmune issues. I felt at the time there were not many sites that showed wellness and holistic living in a chic, modern way. I wanted to also bring some love to the many wonderful artisans and healers I was meeting.

What are your biggest fears about running a business?

I try not to think or live in fear. It's a daily practice to substitute love for fear but it can be done with conscious thinking and meditation. I would say some challenges that I do come across are having the stamina and strength to deal with the heavy load. We must create strong nervous systems so we can hold the space for success and abundance.

"I try not to think or live in fear."

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What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?

That I do most everything from writing the posts on my site and making many of my products by hand. I also handle the day-to-day dealings.

IYO-- How can we stay original when we are so saturated with other people's work?

Listen to your unique, authentic intuitive guide. Truly don't do something just to make others happy, but something that lights you up in a deeply powerful way.

Don't do something just to make others happy, but something that lights you up in a deeply powerful way.

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

When I receive emails from people who have tried the line and see that it works for them. Also from the comments on my blog about certain stores that have touched them. My book Whole Beauty is coming out next Spring and that makes me feel pretty complete, at least for the moment.

If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?

To be honest I love what I do and truly don't want to trade with anyone. I would just like to create more of this and bring some healing to people in pain. I have been in the depths of despair from divorce, from health issues, from childhood traumas and I want to just let others know that there is a light at the tunnel, once you realize you are the light.

At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?

I feel it was a gradual journey where I began to listen to my inner voice and guide. I did have a light bulb moment after a Kundalini class to create my beauty line. It wasn't so much confidence, but rather deep knowing that this was something I would do. I feel when we open ourselves in meditation, our egos get out of the way and our spirits or souls will guide us.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?

I Say Yes to life and life says Yes to me!

When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?

I take a moment a feel the bump fully. I then will take some time away to refuel myself with the love I receive from mama earth and father sun. I also will try to take a Kundalini class by one of my teachers. These things will usually realign me and help me get back on my path.

What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?

Usually mantras! If not mantras then I love the music of Van Morrison, Dan Dyer, Zeppelin, classical and the blues.

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE BEAUTY LIST CLICK HERE. 

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