Create & Cultivate 100: Entrepreneur: Kenesha Sneed

Kenesha Sneed had spent years as an art director and motion graphics designer when she decided to try a new hobby: ceramics. She enrolled in a community class, but it didn’t take long before Kenesha wanted to pursue her hobby professionally. So she decided to give her full-time job the boot—and thus, Tactile Matter was born.

Kenesha’s collection includes everything from pottery and statues to throw blankets and accessories. She's collaborated with brands like Instagram, Call Your Girlfriend, Refinery29 & Saint Heron, and she’s been featured in Glamour, Apartment Therapy, Kinfolk, and Design*Sponge. We can’t wait to see where Kenesha takes her work in 2019.

When did you know art was your thing?

Art has always been a part of my life and, creating was the only thing I felt good at when I was growing up. As a kid I would get progress reports that said, “she needs more work in math and science, but she really has an interest in drawing.” Which we all know is subtle shade for “get her some crayons and hope for the best!”.

Younger me never thought she’d pursue an artistic career because of the negative stigma that said artists don’t equate to success. Though my parents weren’t artists themselves and I wasn’t born into that world, I’m grateful for them both encouraging me to explore a creative path.

In 2005, I had no idea what motion graphics was or that I would spend the next four years of college at Otis, sleeping under my classroom desk or pulling all nighters to get projects finished. Or that I’d spend the next decade after school working as a motion designer, later an Art Director.

I’ve had opportunities that allowed me to live a creative life. Whenever there’s a moment I ask myself what the hell am I doing? I’m beyond thankful to even have the emotional support that lead me here in the first place.

What questions did you ask yourself before you stepped away from your full time gig to pursue being a an independent artist full-time?

My internal monologue was all over the place. “Will I be able to continue doing what I love?”, “Will I get paid equal or more than what I’m earning now?” Also let’s talk about the weight of being the only black artist in that workspace at the time. There was a feeling of guilt I know many POC feel in majority white spaces. I was like “If I leave, no one here will look like me.” This is why representation is so important.

After sitting on too many questions for weeks, a friend asked me the only question that mattered. “If you choose to stay, will you feel fulfilled?” You have to reach out to the ones who keep you sane in those moments.

What was it like seeing your work in stores for the first time?

I still feel the exact same way I felt the first time, which is a mix of relief, anxiety, thrill, remorse, freedom. There’s a lot that goes into creating, so anytime I see my work in a shop or in someone’s personal space, there’s a sense of validation for myself.

When you get a new idea for a project, where do you even start?

Sleep, water, coffee are necessities to get going or I’ll be running on fumes through the day.

There’s no standard routine for making an idea turn into something but no matter the medium I’m using, I start with sketching my ideas on paper. That’s the only way I know how to unpack my thoughts. From there anything goes and no two processes are the same.

You’ve mentioned in past interviews that you’re ready to see more women of color creating things. Representation in these spaces is so important. Were there black female artists that inspired you in the past to pursue art?

I’ll always be rooting for black women to have more opportunities for success and fill more seats in more spaces because let’s be real, we work too hard not to.

My early memories growing up were inspired by the works of Monica Stewart or Ernie Barnes, who my parents had a print of “Anniversary” hanging on their bedroom wall.

Also artists Augusta Savage, Lois Mailou Jones, Kerry James Marshall, Gwendolyn Knight, Basquiat, Pegge Hopper immediately come to mind.

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

I’m someone who’s very protective of my personal space and this was the first year I acknowledged there’s no way to do it all solo. I was grieving so heavily that there was no conceivable way to navigate a business on my own, let alone be a creative functioning human on top of it all.

My manager stepped in presumably from the heavens to save my work-life, holding me accountable for my actions and I sleep better at night because of her.

I also welcomed an intern who brings a positive light every time she comes in the studio. There’s something so inspiring about someone who wants to learn and soak up everything. I’d take being a mentor over a boss any day.

Both have been a crucial part of getting through this year and that’s been one of the most transformative forms of self-care I could give myself.

Sleep, water, coffee are necessities to get going or I’ll be running on fumes through the day.

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

1st. I’m not a business expert. I make mistakes all the time and I’m okay with that. We all get stuck, It’s about learning to get unstuck and moving forward. Here’s a few life hacks I’ve found useful:

Have conversations about money and don’t be afraid to ask the person next to you what their getting paid. It’s scary but I learned a long time ago if I didn’t know what my peers were earning who do the exact same job, I’d be getting paid far less.

There are companies and brands that want your voice, your time, your creativity but don’t want to pay you your worth. Stand firm in trusting yourself and your value. Feel free to say no to anything that doesn’t serve you.

There’s too many unnecessary pressures we put on ourselves to be doing a specific thing by a certain age. It’s such a distracting feeling that gets you nowhere. Know that some of the greatest artists, musicians, activists, got their recognition later in life.

Read this book. And this. Also listen to this.

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

Whew. I’ll let you know when I find out!

All I know is there’s no straight and linear path to success. First you need to really define what a career or success looks like to you ie. high salary? paid benefits? creative freedom? A career is a cute word for a never ending hustle so no matter what success looks like for you, be willing to put in the work.

I’d love to only focus on being an artist and spend my days creating but the reality is a lot of time and energy is put into work that has nothing to do with making a thing. The back end of creating is sometimes more work than the project itself.

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

A friend told me there’s nothing more important than asking for help, it will free up the mental space needed to do something that serves you. Those were game changing words I needed to hear in that moment.

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

Accept there’s no such thing as instant gratification. Every single thing takes time so be prepared to put in the hours. There’s what feels like a never ending vortex of time, energy, passion, money, failure, excitement, stress, love that goes into creating. It sounds like a miserable amount of feelings but I’m here for all of it.

“2018 has shown me that there’s nothing in life worth taking for granted. Enjoying the time you have with friends and family is crucial to being a better you.”

Who inspired you the most in your life growing up?

My mother and King Oprah.

Whose career is inspiring you today?

The list is longer than my brain has capacity for but here’s a few — Amy Sherald, Ava DuVernay, Jessica Williams, Kehinde wiley, Kimberly Drew, Greg Breda, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Cleo Wade, Melina Matsoukas, Phoebe Robinson, Elaine Welteroth.

Some next level women in my life who are doing the work and always inspire me — Aiesha Bailey-Mannle, Aminatou Sow, Ann Friedman, Kristina Bing, Erica Chidi Cohen, Sarah Blank, Jenny Ko, Lauren Machen, Anica Cramer, Allison Kaylor, Jaimee Dormer.

What are you most excited for in 2019?

2018 has shown me that there’s nothing in life worth taking for granted. Enjoying the time you have with friends and family is crucial to being a better you.

Even though there’s a list of projects I’m excited for next year, I’m more excited for any quiet moment that allows me to just be present.

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 ENTREPRENEUR LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Fashion: Tamara Mellon

Tamara Mellon, a founder of Jimmy Choo, would give Carrie Bradshaw a serious run for her money when it comes to her shoe collection.

While Tamara has been no stranger to the press over the past two decades—from notable business decisions to sensationalism about her personal life—she’s only making headlines these days with her fresh Los Angeles beginning. The former fashion editor come shoe queen spent decades building her empire in New York’s Upper East Side, but has since relocated to LA to launch her namesake brand...for the second time.

“The next generation of luxury brands will not be built the way that I built Jimmy Choo,” Tamara told the Los Angeles Times last year, this time opting for a direct-to-consumer model and cutting out luxury retailers. Cutting out the middleman makes Tamara Mellon shoes available at a lower price point. The shoe mogul is stepping out and inventing a new kind of accessible luxury.

You went from co-founding Jimmy Choo to launching your own namesake brand. Why did you venture out on your own?

After 16 years of building that company, I wanted to create a next-generation luxury brand with an all-new business model. I saw the future as direct-to-consumer. So I trusted my gut and went for it. It was important to me to rewrite the rules and create a company that gives women what they want, for both customers and employees.

What is the Tamara Mellon aesthetic?

My favorite decade is the ‘70s and it’s reflected in the brand. Our aesthetic is both masculine and feminine, and classic with an edge. As for the voice, it’s very forward-thinking. We seek to empower women to own their voice, not find it. We know they already have a lot to say.

Why is it important for models to pay it forward and use their voices?

When Jimmy Choo reached a certain size, I started to feel that it was important to us that platform for good, and to help other women. In today’s world, brands can no longer be neutral. They have to take a stand for what they believe in.

When you get to a certain point in your career, it’s important to speak up. I wanted to start that with this brand right out the gate, rather than having it come years later.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

The team. I love coming in and working with all of the incredible women around me. Everyone is passionate, unapologetic, and is not afraid to speak up about the issues or matters that are important to them.

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

Don’t stop working, never give up.

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

Being able to launch a second luxury brand with all the learnings from the first.

“I want to break old fashion behavior of ‘it’s cool to be cruel’ and make it cool to be kind. ”

Where does your passion/drive come from?

I love designing shoes; it’s what gets me into a state of flow. And fear of failure!

Whose career really inspires you?

Gloria Steinem. She’s my hero.

Also, Michelle Obama. She’s a woman that I’m continually impressed by. She’s a great public speaker. She has presence, gravitas, and is always passionate about what she says. I would take her advice any day.

Who’s someone’s style that you love?

Again, Gloria Steinem. I’m serious. She is 84 and has incredible taste. I also have a pair of the same aviators that she wears. She’s always been known for bridging feminism and fashion.

What has been your biggest opportunity to date?

Creating an office culture for young women that I’m proud of. Every employee has equity in the company, and a seat at the table.

What would you change about the fashion industry if you could?

Two things. First, I would create more opportunity for women in the C-Suite. Second, I would promote inclusivity over exclusivity, to break the stereotypes in the industry. Even customer inclusivity. Break old fashion behavior of “it’s cool to be cruel” and make it cool to be kind.

What are some of the challenges you’ve seen female fashion designers have to face?

If you look at big luxury groups, men still have all of the top executive roles and there is an inequality in pay in the fashion industry. Women have to deal with that power struggle.

Women also aren’t seen as creative heads. There has been a slow change, like Clare Waight Keller at Givenchy, but it needs to be across the board.

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

By not giving up, and by taking my ego out of it and continuing to push through. When hit with a hurdle, you have to reevaluate and pivot.

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

I’m excited to enter into our third year and continue to grow a business that resonates with women across the country. We’re also expanding our categories to offer more than shoes.

And we’re planning to open more stores, so even more women can experience the brand offline, in real life. Lastly, I’m most excited to go tour college campuses with my daughter, Minty.

VIEW THE ENTIRE CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 FASHION CATEGORY HERE!

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Create & Cultivate 100: Content Creator: Alex Elle

Alex Elle is the voice you didn’t know you needed to hear.

The blogger-turned-poet-turned-podcast host got her start as an author in an unlikely way—through self-affirming notes written on tiny pieces of paper (check out her Instagram for a dose of love and motivation). Her breakout book of poems, Words From A Wanderer, was an instant success, and Alex knew she had found her niche.

Over the next few years, she released five more books, including her latest: Today I Affirm: A Journal That Nurtures Self-Care. Oh, and as if that wasn’t enough, she also hosts a weekly podcast called Hey Girl, wherein she has intimate conversations with women who inspire her.

She, in turn, inspires us. Read on to find out why.

Your writing is so raw but so relatable. Did you feel vulnerable sharing it when you were first starting out?

Thank you! I still feel vulnerable when I share my writing. It’s my heart’s work. I think vulnerability is good, so I lean into it. People relate to authenticity and I truly believe that being vulnerable helps amplify that.

What advice would you give to young writers who are nervous to share or publish their work?

Take your time! Don’t be in a rush. Also, be proud of your work prior to public display. If you’re looking for outside validation (on social media) refrain from sharing until you’re able to stand in the truth of your work.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you do instead?

I would want to name cosmetic colors.

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

The highlight of my career has been building a community near and far, in person and online. It blows my mind how writing, storying telling, and standing in comradery can shift the dynamics of sisterhood and self-love in such a positive way, time and time again.

Why is self-care an important part of being an entrepreneur?

Self-care as an entrepreneur keeps me level-headed and present. I cannot go without harmonizing time for myself in work and life. Taking care is needed in order for me to be my best self.

Tell us about your “A Note To Self” exercises.

Writing notes to myself, or affirmations, are gentle ways to remind me of my truth and keep me grounded in it. Putting things down on paper is a vital part of my life. It’s a lifeline, almost. Notes to self give me clarity on so many different levels.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

Showing other people that there is power in their stories and that they do not need to shrink to make anyone else feel comfortable.

My mantra: no rain, no rainbows.

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

My mantra: no rain, no rainbows. Hurdles have happened and will continue to. Remembering that I have to face the grit to get to the glory is what keeps me steadfast and moving forward through adversity.

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

It’s better to start over than to stay stuck. - My mom

What are you most excited for in 2019?

Teaching more workshops and retreats and building community through writing practice! I am also thrilled to share my new journal Today I Affirm with the world. It’s going to be a great year.

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

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Create & Cultivate 100: Content Creator: Jenna Kutcher

If you’ve been on the internet in the last year, you probably know Jenna Kutcher.

The photographer, Instagram pro, podcast host, and new mama has been everywhere this year. Over the past few years, Jenna has grown her small-town photography business into a million-dollar brand. But what we love most about her has nothing to do with her work: Jenna is real. Like, really real. Talk-about-infertility-on-the-internet real. And in a world where feeds are filled with perfectly-curated photos and captions, it’s a refreshing revelation we could all take notes on.

You’d think, given her resume, that Jenna would be one of those “stretched-too-thin, busy-all-the-time” types, but the truth is: Jenna has it figured out. She’s the queen of outsourcing, and she really does practice what she preaches: Focus on what’s important, and success will follow. Below, she talks about why.

You’re a photographer, podcast host, influencer, and condo flipper—you stay busy! What appeals to you about being an entrepreneur with your hands on a lot of projects, versus holding down one 9-to-5?

At the age of 23, I walked away from corporate America and I haven’t looked back. There isn’t a day that goes by where I’m not filled with gratitude the minute I wake up knowing that I get to do what I love (and do it from home in yoga pants) every day. I’ve always been a multi-passionate human being and so I always have a lot of projects on my plate but the diversity keeps me dreaming and creative and it forces me to work smarter not harder and make the right hires. Being an entrepreneur means I get to craft my dream life and I am lucky enough to get paid to do what I love. For me, time is my currency, not money, and so spending each day on things I enjoy means more to me than anything else.

Tell us a bit about your podcast, Goal Digger. What do you hope women feel when they listen to your show?

Oh, where do I begin? The Goal Digger Podcast started as an experiment and has turned into a show that gets over a million downloads each month. When I created the show, I wanted to create a workshop-style podcast where people can leave and take action in their life and business, so the podcast is a mix of tangible takeaways and inspiring stories of women who are out there living and working on their own terms and creating their dream lives (while being candid and honest about the behind-the-scenes mishaps, mess-ups, and mistakes!) I want people to see, learn, and hear about successful women so they can see their own potential reflected in the women who are out there doing it!

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

Truly, I’m looking at her right now. I recently had my first baby after a three year fertility struggle and I wasn’t sure how becoming a mom would impact my drive for business and work. For the past eight years, my business has been my baby and so I was fearful that I couldn’t do both. As my miracle babe sleeps next to me right now, I couldn’t love her more but I also couldn’t be more proud of the business I’ve built and will continue to grow. I am surprised at how natural motherhood feels to me, but how I still have that fire in me to do more, create more, and help more women rise up. I want to show my baby girl what’s possible for her and show her that you can be both an amazing mom and a career-oriented woman.

Congratulations on Baby Kutcher! You’ve been vocal in sharing your struggles with infertility, a topic that’s still considered taboo by many. What inspired you to be open about your experience?

I sometimes joke that I’m like Jim Carrey on Liar, Liar; I just can’t be inauthentic. Transparency to me is as easy as breathing air, and so sharing the highlight reel of my life doesn’t feel right if I don’t include the struggles, the hardships, those seasons of trial. Shying away from the hard feels so out of alignment for me and as someone with influence (heck, we all have influence), I want to start a dialogue about the things that a lot of us face behind closed doors and tell the whole story, not just bits and pieces of it. Opening up about my hardships or struggles has opened more doors for real community and relationships to happen online and if I need to be a voice to help others know they aren’t alone, then I will happily step up to the plate. My feed, my online journal isn’t just about marketing or perfect shots, it’s my legacy and you better believe my legacy story has bumps in the road that have made the triumphs even sweeter.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

It’s the power of reaching one person that drives me. A lot of people look at the number under their name to measure their reach or impact and I believe in focusing on impacting lives one by one. If I can grow my following one by one, if I can impact one person with a caption, or inspire one person with an episode, I will make a bigger mark than if I focus on appealing or speaking to the masses. I don’t want to add to the screaming match of marketing or social media, I want to whisper the right message to those who are needing it. So each day I focus on connecting on a one-on-one level and pray that the ripple effect will reach all the people who are needing what I am putting out there.

Whose career really inspires you?

Joanna Gaines has really been a hero of mine for so many reasons. Not only is she undeniably exceptional at design, I admire her ability to set up boundaries to protect herself and her family. I love how she’s expanded and scaled her brand in so many directions without losing touch of her taste or who her customer is and how she’s clung to her faith in a way that inspires others. I believe that she’s proof that you can “have it all” and that it’s okay to step back in different seasons to realign with what’s most important to you.

Transparency to me is as easy as breathing air, and so sharing the highlight reel of my life doesn’t feel right if I don’t include the struggles.

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If you could photograph any one person or event, who or what would it be?

Oh goodness, this is a tough one. There are so many powerhouse women out there that I would LOVE to photograph. One thing I never tire of documenting are love stories of power couples, the kind of couples who have their own passions and projects but also support and work together for a greater good. I am a giant fan of Michelle Obama, so I think doing a couples session with her and Barack would be so wicked special. I admire them so much as individuals and how they show up for one another in marriage!

You split your time between Minnesota and Hawaii. Why did you decide to buy property in Hawaii, and how does the split time affect your business? Do you work on specific projects in each home?

It’s true, we are lucky enough to spend three months out of the year on our favorite island, Maui. We own two condos, The Kutcher Condos, and enjoy them so much. When we aren’t on the island, we rent the properties out to our friends and followers and invite others to enjoy the spaces we intentionally created. Hawaii has been a really special place for us over the past few years. It started as a bucket list vacation, then we returned for our first month long sabbatical, and now we go there often to rest and relax.

It’s a grounding place for me, so when we go, we work very minimally and try to enjoy the island life and a slower pace. It’s a time for us to recalibrate and come together as a couple. I can be a workaholic because I love my job, so Hawaii is a place where I come back home to myself and dream! We have the absolute best of both worlds being close to family in Minnesota and enjoying the seasons and the beauty of Duluth and Lake Superior and then escaping from the cold to put our toes in the sand.

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

I don’t consider anything a failure. I look at everything I do as an experiment that can yield results. I mess up often and encourage my team to mess up, too, so we can learn and grow and troubleshoot together. My mantra is that “busy is not a badge of honor” and so I love to systemize, strategize, and plan my work really intentionally so that when I am working, I am focusing on only the things that I can do and delegating the rest. I think it’s important to not take things too seriously and to remember that it’s okay to pivot and pivot often if something doesn’t go exactly how you thought it would. We are always learning, growing, shifting, and dreaming of what’s next and taking a good look at what’s been working, what didn’t quite work, and how we can serve the world better!

What are you most excited for in 2019, both in your personal life and in business?

Man, 2019 is going to be a year unlike any other. With the addition of our sweet baby girl, I knew that I wanted to really give myself time and space to settle into motherhood without the pressure of being on the road or having to commit to a lot of engagements… so I said “no” to just about everything and I have an entirely blank calendar for this year which I can fill based on what feels best for not just me, but my family. I’m putting my head down in new ways and focusing on The Goal Digger Podcast and serving my online community, two things I can do from the comfort of my own home, and then sneaking away to the island with Drew and Conley to enjoy this new season of life and to be as present as we can manage to be. I used to think of saying “no” as a negative thing but now I am reminded of how great it is to protect your best “yeses” and this year’s best “yes” is going to be family first and letting the rest fall into place! It’s going to be an amazing year!

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

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Create & Cultivate 100: Entrepreneur: Kendra Scott

Family, fashion, and philanthropy. These are the founding principles that fuel Kendra Scott—both the billion-dollar brand and the iconic woman behind it.

The powerhouse started her namesake in her Texas bedroom in 2002 with no capital behind her, aside from a $500 investment in herself (her mom was her first official employee!). And the aforementioned principles are not just branding fodder—they have guided every decision Kendra has made in her business. Armed with a tenacious attitude and and her own designs, building her empire from scratch means Kendra’s touched every element of her business. From material sourcing to handling door-to-door sales with her young son in tow, there is nothing she hasn’t done in business that doesn’t reflect her principles.

Now Kendra Scott's jewelry, home decor, and products are sold at retailers including Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, hundreds of boutiques, and at more than 75 Kendra Scott brick-and-mortar stores where she’s been able to reinvigorate the brand and build relationships IRL with customers. She’s a mother, a champion for women at work, and a venture-capital-raising CEO you should take several notes from.

You started your business with $500. What was more important in those early days, the people in your corner or the determination in your heart?

It’s always a combination of the two, isn’t it? In 2002, I saw an opportunity to bring something unique to the jewelry industry, and failure was not an option for me. I knew I had to succeed to provide for my family, and that more than anything is what fueled my passion. But if it hadn’t been for the people in my life who believed in my dream and gave me the support I needed to succeed, I would not be where I am today.

Why do you think the fear of failure holds us back?

I think so much of it stems from the belief society has ingrained in us that we have to be perfect. We are terrified of making a single misstep, but what I have learned over the years is that failure can actually be a gift. The failures we go through become a bridge to the next place in our lives, a better place, where we use what we’ve learned to help us grow. Don’t expect a life without challenge, heartbreak, and struggle. We must go through a few setbacks in order for us to reach that place of success in our lives.

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

My mom! She was my first employee, and she still works with my company today. Back then, our office was my spare bedroom and our distribution center was my dining table. Those early days were hard, and there were so many times that I felt discouraged and was tempted to give up, but my mom was my rock who always told me to keep going. She is a huge reason why “Family” is one of our company’s core pillars today.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

There is so much about my job that I love. I get excited every morning to come to work, which is such a privilege to say. But I am most fulfilled by our ability to use this success to do something much more impactful – to make a positive impact on my community and to leave a lasting legacy of giving back. Having a billion-dollar business means that we have the resources to give back millions of dollars every year. Since we started keeping track of our giving in 2010, we’ve given $25 million back to impactful causes around the world. We have the means to change lives for the better, and that's a gift I don't take for granted.

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

You must learn to pivot quickly and adjust to what’s happening around you, and to sometimes let go of your idea for how things should be or what you want—because there may be something even better in store, something that will light you up and keep you passionately committed for years to come. And occasionally, you must learn to fall flat on your face.

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

The best “real talk” moment I’ve had lately is on the question that female entrepreneurs get all the time: How do you find a work-life balance? There is no such thing! My roles as a mother and a CEO are constantly competing for my attention, and there’s no cookie-cutter solution to doing it right. I believe as women we should let go of the pressure to have the perfect “balance,” commit to being the best mom and businesswoman we can be, and embrace each day as it comes.

Who are the first three people you think an entrepreneur should hire?

If an entrepreneur can identify the three areas where they are weakest, I’d say their first hires should be three people that bring strength to those same areas. I find that’s almost never the case, though, because as entrepreneurs we like to believe we can do it all! It typically takes a while—and a few lessons learned—to realize that we are so much stronger when we learn to accept and trust the strength of others on our team.

“It’s so easy to focus in on the numbers and the benchmarks, but my top priority is always ensuring that we hold true to the foundation of who we are: Family, Fashion, and Philanthropy. No matter how fast we grow, I am determined never to lose sight of that.”

Who inspired you the most in your life growing up?

I caught the “fashion bug” from my Aunt Jo, who was a buyer for a local department store in my hometown. I can still remember the afternoons we spent together in her basement, analyzing slideshows of the latest New York runways. My mother was the first one to teach me about being an entrepreneur. She sold Mary Kay makeup, and I have always been inspired by her commitment and determination. Those two women have made a huge impact on the woman I am today.

Whose career is inspiring you today?

I’ve admired her for years, but I still look to Oprah as my biggest inspiration. She is a constant source of hope and encouragement to millions of women around the world, and I love her message that anything in life is possible when you believe, work hard, and lead with kindness. I got the chance to meet her for the first time this year, and was absolutely blown away! That’s a moment I will never forget.

If you could live a day in the life of anyone else, who would it be?

I always joke that if I weren’t a designer, I’d want to be a Broadway actress. My dream would be to spend a day playing Maria from The Sound of Music (although of course, no one can top Julie Andrews…)!

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

There’s one challenge that hundreds of entrepreneurs eventually face, and that I myself still face today: When you wake up one morning and are running a company that is bigger than it was the night before. The pressure is always there…How do you continue that rapid growth pace? How do you keep up the momentum? It’s so easy to focus in on the numbers and the benchmarks, but my top priority is always ensuring that we hold true to the foundation of who we are: Family, Fashion, and Philanthropy. No matter how fast we grow, I am determined never to lose sight of that.

What are you most excited for in 2019?

I am excited to make an even greater impact in the way we give back in 2019. In the coming year I will be fulfilling a lifelong ambition of mine with the launch of the Kendra Scott Foundation, which will be committed to areas of need for women and children. More to come soon!

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 ENTREPRENEUR LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Frederique Harrel

"Beauty should not be acquired at someone else's expense."

These are the words Freddie Harrel lives by. The UK-based Parisian fashion blogger and self-proclaimed confidence coach turned a frustration within the hair care industry into a booming, ethical business of its own. Freddie was on the hunt for synthetic extensions for her own big, bold, beautiful hair, but was disappointed by the quality of the products available. She started experimenting by making her own synthetic extensions and a few years later, Big Hair No Care was born.

Since beginning her foray into the business side of hair, Freddie has used her platform to advocate for women’s empowerment with SHE Unleashed, a workshop series where women of all ages come together to discuss the issues that impact the female experience, including the feeling of otherness, identity politics, unconscious bias, racism, and sexism. She was also the Cosmopolitan Influencer of the Year in 2018 and is a renowned TEDx Talk speaker.

Harrel’s brand is so much more than ethically-sourced hair products—it’s evolved into a community of women who want to take back the confidence that the patriarchy robbed from them. At the helm of this movement, Harrel is a fierce force who wants to inspire a generation of women to embrace their true selves.

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

It took me a while and each time it was accidental. I had had my blog for just under a year when I left my career as a digital strategist to be a personal stylist for ASOS. There we were basically full-time bloggers; there was no job like it. It taught me to take blogging seriously and showed me the financial side of things. When they let me go, I knew I didn’t want to go back to digital marketing—the exposure I got online really made me want to work with women on confidence, so I knew that after that job I would need to create the next steps myself. I trained as a coach and launched the SHE Unleashed workshops the following year, in 2016. I wasn’t making a lot of money from the blog at this point, so I really had to build everything up, whatever I was going to be. Around this same time, my husband got offered a job out of the blue in Geneva, and it was such a good opportunity we had to seize it! But I was very worried it would put a stop to my career, as there was nothing going on in Switzerland for me. So I launched Big Hair No Care! I had already developed the product years before, when I got grossed out by human hair and tired of the horrific synthetic alternatives you find on the high street. I found this lady in China, we created this style, and that’s what I was wearing when I launched the blog. It was never my goal to launch a beauty brand, let alone a hair one, but with such a short notice, BHNC was the quickest business idea to set up.

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

I’ll start with the rewards because they outweigh the rest by far! The biggest reward is the community! All these like-minded ladies who follow me online and share their stories and journeys with me. By making myself vulnerable, I’ve found people who’ve been through the same things as me, and it has been extremely cathartic in some occasions. As for challenges, they’re mostly around people sharing their unsolicited opinion.

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

I mostly work with fashion brands, but also services and tech brands. When it comes to fashion brands, I try to stays away from super fast fashion retailers with very low prices, because you know they’re probably taking shortcuts when it comes to their workforce of the environmental consequences. But I realize that this is now a privilege I have, to be able to turn down offers from brand I don’t agree with. I also decide based on the message of the campaign, be it around self-love or supporting young entrepreneurs.

Tell us about Big Hair No Care. What was the inspiration behind it?

Big Hair No Care started because I absolutely love a huge Afro. My hair has so much less volume, so I add extensions to it. I used to use human hair but wasn’t a huge fan, so I starting doing a bit of research in to synthetic options on the high street—none fit my criteria, so I found a supplier and designed the the extensions I wanted. When people kept asking me about my hair and I would tell them they were extensions, they kept asking where from and I had nowhere to direct them to. I eventually launched it as a brand when we moved to Geneva, and extended the range with another texture. Everything happened so quickly—I had never planned to have a hair business.

My line offers clip-in extensions, which are made to match your texture. You don’t need to wash, condition, or detangle them, so they are really great for people who don’t have much time or experience. The aim is to make the natural hair experience faster, easier, and more inclusive. This idea that black women are “extra” and spend senselessly on beauty needs to stop, and hair care needs to be made easier. I wanted a brand that would allow us to save this time and money for things that uplift and empower us so we can put this time and money towards therapy, travelling, a mortgage, evening courses, etc.

Big Hair No Care is a hair business, but it’s also a self-confidence business, a self-love business, and a business by and for black women. I’m hoping to help change the culture of black beauty and make it so much easier, be a culturally-aware brand striving to be ethical, equal, and social, ensuring more and more black people make money from this industry.

“I was born as a black woman for a reason, and I just want to make sure I don’t miss it. ”

What characteristics make you successful as an influencer?

I think my vulnerability. I’m very positive as a person, but positive doesn’t mean happy. Happiness is a full time job, and I share a lot of my lows with my audience. In an age where social media gives us the impression that everyone else is living their best lives, it’s nice to be able to come across people who make vulnerability comfortable, and I hope to be one of these people.

What does it take to build your personal brand from the ground up?

I wouldn’t really know to be honest. I still don’t understand how I got there, but you can’t really compare circumstances. Working as a personal stylist definitely helped in the early days, and having big hair too, ahah! But I’d say consistency is key! That’s why I’m so honest online, because I would have given up a long time ago if I was portraying an ideal I couldn’t keep up with. I guess if you’re doing you, you’ll always find inspiration on what to share (eventually, there are moments I wonder what this is all about). Engaging with your followers, listening and talking with them—I’ve made great virtual friends since this IG journey! Then there are all of these specific tips you can find on how to grow your brand, but I wouldn’t really know—I hate myself for worrying so much about these things sometimes, so I’m just doing me. At some point they said videos are the future, I tried and beat myself for it, but YouTube isn’t for me, and that’s okay.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

Speaking with other women, and entrepreneurs, getting together with them! I’m also having so much fun (and panic!!) dreaming of the future of BHNC and putting things in motion. As mentioned earlier, I really intend to change the culture. There’s no OPI or Essie when it comes to black hair, there’s no big sister like Glossier. Who’s talking to young girls? Our hair is one of the things that sets us the most apart, especially when growing up and trying to find your spot. Who tells them they’re enough? Who says their hair is beautiful and fun to play with? I want to be on their side for the rest of the journey. 63% of black women wear protective styles—what brand is honing the conversation around that? I want to be that brand.

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

You are what makes your business different! It always boils down to you. No one can copy who you are, how you think, how you see and perceive things. You have to be your very best friend through it all, because you’ll hit the floor countless times.

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

So many! Being featured in most of the printed press, being awarded Influencer of the Year by Cosmopolitan this year, being at a stage where other brands share my vision of BHNC and want to help, so so many highlights!

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

Well, it’s been the best marketing tool to build BHNC, without my own personal brand it would have been impossible! It allowed me to meet and/or befriend people I would not have had access to had I not been popular online. It opened so many doors for me.

Where does your passion/drive come from?

I’m intense!! I speak too much, I’m loud, my laugh is loud, I get super excited, I don’t rest easy, I don’t know—I’m just intense! But I LOVE to feel helpful. I still can’t believe that a lot of people look up to me, you ought to have seen me growing up! I was never a cool girl! So now that I have these people rooting for me, I don’t want to disappoint. I want to create things they’ll be excited about. I was born as a black woman for a reason, and I just want to make sure I don’t miss it.

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

Easy money. To a certain extent, absolutely! But you also pay with both your sanity and self-esteem.

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

My dad would always tell me whenever I’d tell him I was hitting rock bottom, that it was actually exciting because it’s when I fall that I find all my resources. When I go low, I go really low, and it’s very painful. I think it’s my survival mode that kicks in. I usually grant myself a small pity-party then I rush to the drawing board. I just have to, I can’t afford to sink (Did I tell you I was intense?)

Who’s career really inspires you?

Sophia Amoruso! Talking about someone who’s hit bumps and turned them into successes! I love her attitude!

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

Expanding BHNC, moving to NYC as result. New life in a new place, I absolutely can’t wait!!

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 BEAUTY LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Art & Design: Asiyami Gold

Sometimes you need to quit nursing school to become who you actually want to be.

For the Nigerian-born Asiyami Gold, the decision to quit nursing school to pursue a career in the arts came as a disappointment to her parents. But that decision also opened up a new door, one that allowed her to travel the globe, create an international community, and achieve prestige in a number of creative fields. The model, designer, photographer, creative director, and storyteller is a jack of all trades, and master of most. Scrolling through her Instagram is akin to flipping through a moodboard, as the tones, landscapes, and intimate portraits tell singular stories. Not to mention, her self portraits and their corresponding captions are so stunning and raw, you’ll find yourself deeply invested in her journey. She leaves ego at the door, and transparently shares her evolution through her art and world view.

Finally, if you find yourself jealous of her style (which, you will), revel in the fact that she founded a fashion label, A.Au. You, too, can attempt to borrow some of that Gold that makes Asiyami so damn cool.

What do you think it takes to make it as a successful photographer today?

Being a successful photographer requires one to have a vision in order to adequately communicate their ideas through visuals. You also have to have the talent for engaging with your subject in a way that allows you to leave knowing more about them and making them trust you to see them the way they see themselves, but even better. Overall, a successful photographer should be able to evoke an emotion by making their work so palpable that it is deeply felt.

You travel the world for your work. What are some of the most memorable trips or projects you’ve made on your adventures?

When I traveled to Colombia several years ago, I played with the idea of leaving something behind with the people who shared their stories and time with me through my lens. I invested in a small Fuji camera and myriads of film packs. After capturing my subjects, I exchanged their time with me with a Polaroid shot of them; that way they would always remember their encounter with me each time they looked at that picture.

Tell us how you got your start as an artist, and how you eventually found your niche.

I strongly believe that we are all born artists, and some are blessed to have parents who recognize these gifts at a tender age and so begin to foster their children’s gifts. I unfortunately did not have that growing up. In the 5th grade, I painted my first canvas that was recognized by my school and awarded for being the best painting by a student at the time. My parent’s response to my award was contrary to my expectation. I grew up in a country where art was respected but not revered which then led me to treat the arts as it had been painted: “Art is a hobby; it doesn’t put food on the table.”

Later on in life in high school, I picked up a $200 Sony camera that allowed me to document moments in my life that I cherished. As the world was heading to digital—such as storing memories on Facebook, I had a deep nostalgia for hard copy photos, and photo albums one could physically flip through. I would document my friends, our outings, my life at the time and journey to CVS pharmacy to print hard copies for memory’s sake.

Although my parents didn’t give much reverence to photography as a career, they loved documenting me and my siblings while we were growing up. The first thing my dad will give to visitors when they stopped by the house was a photo album and some light refreshments to welcome them. Through those photos, he would tell stories, referring back to how he felt and what that particular moment in time meant to him. In my adult life, I found myself doing the same thing. I picked up a camera when I turned 15 and never looked back. I enjoyed documenting life and the beauty that I saw in things that others didn’t deem as beautiful.

As time progressed, I fine-tuned my work, studied what I liked about photography, and executed my vision. I didn’t start out paying attention to my “niche,” and if I’m being completely transparent I wouldn’t say I have even found my niche. What I can say confidently is that I love documenting beautiful things and giving life to things that are often taken for granted. Through my work I’m able to offer a different perspective on how people may perceive their everyday “norm” and that to me is what really makes it all magical.

What do you think is the hardest part of building a career as a creative director?

Meeting other people whose vision align with yours and having clients who are able to communicate their products in a way that allows you to build a storyline that is true to the brand’s identity.

People look to you for inspiration, but where do you go to feel creatively inspired?

As someone who has to constantly seek out a new way of seeing things to feel creatively inspired, I look to the source of it all. I pay attention to my surroundings, I take trips to places that challenge me and also allow me to marvel at the beauty that is Mother Nature.

There are also a handful of people whose work online inspire me. I’ve been a huge fan of Jamie Beck; she was one of the first people I followed on Instagram. It has been interesting following her journey through visuals and seeing how her work has evolved over the years. Adding to that, I am mesmerized by Athena Calderone’s love for creating beauty which oozes through every photo so making it almost contagious. I find the clarity and aesthetic of Alice Gao’s work very inspiring. Nneka Odum’s ability to visually paint her experiences with her subjects both in photo and in words makes the online experience so visceral that it’s deeply felt. All these women feed different parts of me and allow me to engage and see the beauty in all spectrums of photography.

Do you feel that the power of social media has impacted your career as a photographer at all?

Absolutely! Each day I get to share my story with 200k+ people—something that would never would have happened without social media. It has allowed me to connect and seamlessly build on a vision that would have taken years to even get started had I went down the path of being a nurse.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

I feel the most fulfilled when I’m able to conceptualize an idea and birth that idea into something tangible that can be felt. I feel even more fulfilled when one person sees my work and it inspires them to go out in the world and also fulfill what they have been called to do. Being an “influencer” isn’t about the free clothes and the #ad—I’m grateful for those things because they foster other projects and ideas, but in a world where we are all becoming more alike, it is important to remember that someone in my position has a moral obligation to communicate from a voice true to where they are at that particular point in time. We are not acting in service of others when we don’t articulate our failures as much as we do our triumphs. It’s important that people look at what I’ve done and also go in pursuit of their individual callings with vigor.

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

I get asked from time to time “how do I build a following?” I will always respond with the fact that I didn’t start out worried about the numbers. There’s a misconception that you have to be extremely wealthy to live a certain kind of lifestyle, but I believe in living within one’s means and starting where you are.

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

My first feature in a magazine. I was featured in Atlanta magazine as one of the top bloggers in Atlanta. When I brought the magazine home my mother screamed and danced around the living room.

I’m also surprised when people meet me and talk to me about how my work has served as an inspiration for them to also trust their calling and pursue whatever they desire at that moment.

What keeps you up at night?

My legacy. I question: What am I leaving behind? When I’m gone, what will still be here to serve others that I was a part of? The thought of building something greater than me that will serve for generations to come is what keeps me up at night.

What are the common challenges you've seen among female creatives in business?

I think the need for genuine support from other women in the industry. Emphasis on “genuine.”

Being able to dissect our failures & put the pieces back together from a more informed perspective is key to finding true success.

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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?

I go back to those bumps and examine where I miscalculated. Once I arrive to a consensus on why things didn’t pan out, I ensure to execute my process differently the next time. Switching roads isn’t always necessary but being able to dissect our failures and putting the pieces back together from a more informed perspective is key to finding true success.

Artists have it tough when it comes to pricing talent/skills. What’s the best advice you have for artists/designers/photographers out there who are working to turn their creative skills into a career?

Know your worth and never settle for anything less than that. The brands that respect you and see your value will always meet you where you are. It’s not always about the money, it’s also about the relationship. I’ll rather secure an ongoing relationship with a brand and get paid less, than get paid a lot once and never hear from them again.

What are you most excited for in 2019?

I’m excited about some projects that I have in store. I think 2019 is about manifesting a lot of things that I have been hesitant to pursue due to my fear of not succeeding or not being to execute my ideas concisely.

I’ve been toying around with the idea of starting my nonprofit for creatives in my hometown Abua Odual. I’m excited about pursuing the things I want to achieve with more vigor and my evolution as an individual.

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

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Create & Cultivate 100: Health + Wellness: Koya Webb

For Koya Webb, a great day is just one flow away.

The former competitive track and field athlete combines the work ethic and dedication of an athlete with simple practical holistic health practices that anyone can follow to live a healthy and active lifestyle.

It’s hard to name something the wellness expert doesn’t have her hands in. Each day brings something different because, well, she has a lot of titles: yoga teacher, personal trainer, holistic health and wellness coach, author, motivational speaker, and professional fitness model, to name a few. Or, as her clients refer to her, a “transformational specialist.” She’s also the founder of the Get Loved Up movement, a source for all things yoga, holistic health, and integrated nutrition. The subscription app provides yoga flows, mindfulness meditations, sculpting workouts and tutorials for cooking plant-based vegan recipes, in addition to a community of self-care seekers and direct access to Koya.

Get Loved Up is not your generic fitness or yoga app—it’s a platform that makes healthy living a priority in a fun, accessible way. (And for the budding yoga-preneurs, don’t miss out on the Get Loved Up 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training!)

You’re an ex-track athlete. How has your background influenced your current career, and has your mindset on wellness changed since then?

Being an athlete most importantly taught me the importance of discipline, consistency, and teamwork. My track injury lead me to yoga and guided me into the lifestyle of taking better care of myself.

You’re a big advocate of eating vegan. How do you think a plant-based diet affects our day-to-day health?

Eating a plant-based vegan diet gives you the optimal nutrition you need without the negative side effects of getting nutrition from animal products. A vegan diet is also better for our environment as we use fewer resources and reduce our carbon footprint by adopting a plant-based diet.

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

Treat others how you would like to be treated...including animals.

What advice do you have for busy entrepreneurs who might be putting their wellness regimen on the back burner?

The healthier you are, the more you can accomplish each day. When you take care of yourself, you have more than enough room and time to take care of others and work.

If you weren’t working in health, what career path would you choose?

I’d be a singer for sure. I just produced my first single “Be Loved” with a music video last year and it was SO much fun! I want to let my creative juices out more so I plan to sing and dance more this year.

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

What keeps you up at night?

Social injustice and the state of our government. I feel politics are a bit out of control. It’s always been rough but now it’s getting nasty. Some of our leaders can’t even be looked up to as good role models for our kids, and that should be a prerequisite...at least be decent person who is kind and loves ALL people.

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

I know consistency is the key. I have to keep pushing and find a way no matter what. Happiness is success to me, so as long as I’m happy, I’m a success. I use challenges to make me stronger.

Whose career really inspires you?

Oprah and Michelle Obama inspire me the most. Oprah has been a lifelong business and “live the life of your dreams all while blessing the world with your gifts and talents” inspiration to me, while Michelle Obama is an inspiration of how you can be a successful leader, wife, and mother and still live your purpose. I draw daily inspiration from both of these women and how they move in the world.

What are you most excited for in 2019?

I’m most excited about my first book, “Let Your Fears Make You Fierce.” It comes out June 11th!

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

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Create & Cultivate 100: Entrepreneur: Rachel Krupa

Spaces and places help make us. At least, this is part of the philosophy behind The Goods Mart, Rachel Krupa’s brainchild.

Dubbed the “7-Eleven for All You Organic People” by The New York Times, The Goods Mart is disrupting the traditional convenience store model with socially-conscious products made easily accessible through reimagined community spaces. Because even in an on-demand economy, people still crave community—or at least a place to pick up the snacks they crave or quickly grab pantry staples. As of 2019, The Goods Mart has two brick-and-mortar locations in New York and Los Angeles, and its accessible-good-for-you-food movement is only getting started.

While many people think of good ideas, Rachel Krupa is someone who not only thinks of them, but acts on them. She spent over a decade building a career in PR with an emphasis on food and wellness, which made for a strong foundation for her “a-ha” moment with The Goods Mart. She kept imagining a “better-for-you-7-Eleven,” and because it didn’t exist yet...she built it. She’s got Big Entrepreneur Energy and isn’t afraid to show it.

The Goods Mart was recently named “A 7-Eleven for All You Organic People” by the New York Times. NBD. How did Goods Mart manifest from an idea to real life?

I feel everything that I’ve done in my life has brought me to The Goods Mart—from growing up in small town Michigan and working in the hospitality industry both as a server and publicist to launching a countless number of startups in the food and wellness space. When I first had the idea of opening a better-for-you 7-11, I started to tell friends, and they all seemed to think it was a good idea, so I toyed with the idea more and talked about it more frequently. I believe there are two types of people: talkers and doers. I’m a doer, so after telling so many people, I HAD TO OPEN the store.

Your LA Goods Mart location accepts EBT cards. Why was ensuring this level of accessibility important for you?

By accepting EBT, we’re able to further our mission to make better options more available, it was a small step to make BIG change for everyone! The week we opened in Silver Lake, a customer asked us if we accepted EBT and told me why it was so important to her. I’m very grateful for that amazing mom who fueled our mission to accept EBT/Snaps.

When did your entrepreneurial journey start? Were you thinking of business ideas as a child?

My parents were very hardworking and instilled a strong work ethic in me. I never thought of myself as entrepreneur, just as a hard worker. I’ve always been a very independent person and have always wanted to do more, learn more, and rarely take no for an answer. I LOVE making people smile and shaping conversation to evoke change. A guiding principle in my life has always been, “If you’re not happy, why are you doing it?” When I was younger, my parents called me a serial intern: I interned at my university’s event department, in D.C. with a congressmen, at Michigan’s Democratic Constituent Relations office, and at Major League Baseball in New York, which led me to my internship with Lizzie Grubman PR, the catalyst for my PR career over 15 years ago. OMG! I never had a yearning to start my own PR agency, but in early 2010, I felt burned out, so I started Krupa Consulting as a bridge to what I was going to do next. But then clients and friends kept referring incredible business my way, hence, the true birth of Krupa Consulting. Eight years later, I wasn’t feeling burned out. I was just yearning to “Do More” and help change the food system. Enter The Goods Mart.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

Two fold answer: Educating consumers/customers on new products or switching their perspective on things. I also LOVE working with and talking to our customers at the store, seeing people come in, discovering new products, or just feeling great about paying only $1.25 for a cup of coffee. It’s incredible. Also helping to build a community around the store is rewarding beyond words.

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

It’s about making mistakes so you can learn from them. When bumps or hurdles happen, I like to think about what caused the problem and how can we resolve it. It’s about working through the WHY.

Who are the first three people you think an entrepreneur should hire?

Every entrepreneur should evaluate their strengths and weaknesses… it’s about putting together a team that accentuates one another. I’m also a believer in finding an amazing assistant to help keep you organized and be better.

If you don’t try, how do you know? You will spend days, months, or years wondering… what if… stop that and just DO!

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

If you don’t try… how do you know? You will spend days, months, or years wondering… what if… stop that and just DO!

Who inspired you the most in your life growing up?

My parents – they busted their butts to make sure I could do everything I wanted to do.

What keeps you up at night?

Ideas… things I want to do with The Goods, my clients at Krupa, and for my teams.

Whose career really inspires you?

Oh, that’s a tough one… I don’t have one person, but multiple clients that hustle and grind each day to make their business the best rock. Christina Tosi really sticks out. She’s the definition of hustler. She has built an INCREDIBLE business and never seems to run out of energy! She’s in the business of putting smiles on people's face one cookie, truffle, or cake at a time!

What has been your biggest opportunity or biggest challenge?

My biggest opportunity and biggest challenge are the same: to create a new category in retail—a natural convenience store that is accessible!

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

Confidence in yourself and confidence in your idea and business.

What are you most excited for in 2019?

I’m so excited to continue to expand The Goods Mart, open new stores, help launch new products, and introduce our customers their new favorite snacks!!! 2019 is also going to be an amazing year for Krupa Consulting… we have an incredible team and new clients starting this year that will only make our company better!

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

Photoshoot skincare provided by Dermalogica

VIEW THE ENTIRE CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 ENTREPRENEUR LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Entertainment: Sophia Bush

Sophia Bush has had a year, on screen and off.

It began with a development deal with 20th Century Fox, which gave her the reins both in front of and behind the camera. She’s now hard at work both producing and starring in CBS’ forthcoming Surveillance, an NSA spy drama on CBS, meaning her days involve not only acting but also reviewing scripts, casting, hiring—and if you didn’t already know her for her starring roles in hits like One Tree Hill, Chicago PD, Incredibles 2, and our old fave, John Tucker Must Die, you’d think she was a seasoned producer, hearing the way she talks about running a set.

Sophia has also been a prominent voice in the #MeToo movement. She’s adamant that Time’s Up be not just about Hollywood, but every industry, because, in her words, the problem is a systemic, psychosocial, societal problem. But she knows her influence as an admired woman in Hollywood, and she’s committed to using that influence for good.

Read on for Sophia’s take on flipping the script, in more ways than one.

You signed a talent and development deal with 20th Century Fox last year. Tell us about your starring role in ​Surveillance​ and what other exciting things you’re working on through the contract.

Entering into this next phase of my career, and being able to check a few more boxes on my goals list, felt very empowering. It’s meant reading countless scripts and sifting through mountains of material to find the things that speak to me. First and foremost that meant zeroing in on a new show to both star in and produce. This marks my first time fulfilling roles on both sides of the camera simultaneously, aside from the episodes of One Tree Hill that I both acted in and directed. Shout out to my fellow ladies in the DGA! That meant I was part of meeting with and ultimately hiring our director, the incredible Patricia Riggen, who served as an executive producer and my North Star on set. That means I was involved in casting for every role. I screen tested many actors myself, alongside Patricia and David C. White, our writer & creator. And I was able to set a tone on set. To make sure that everyone knew that they were heard, cared for, and would be protected if the need ever arose. It was so incredibly fulfilling and I cannot wait for more.

You starred in ​Incredibles 2 ​and are now hard at work on ​Surveillance​—two very different projects. What’s been the most challenging and enjoyable parts of working on each?

Well, when you make an animated film you can go to work in sweatpants, so that’s a real bonus! And to learn from Brad Bird and the incredible team at PIXAR was a real dream come true. And on a story where the ladies take the lead, no less I’ll happily work for them for the rest of my life!

Surveillance is a more traditional working environment. Long hours. A set that requires a flight away from my home to get to. But within those “tough” descriptors was also so much joy. Incredible attention to detail with everything from the script and what we’re saying with it. From wardrobe to set design. It was perfect. I was more energized than I’ve ever felt on a set. More alive. Being so invested in each and every aspect of the job made it feel so deeply connected from the jump off. If I can be that happy at work every day, I’ll do this job for as long as I can.

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

This year, certainly. Making films and shows that I truly believe in, with wonderful people, that have been deeply inspiring and completely healthy? That’s been a real earned joy.

Where does your passion/drive come from?

I think of it like a fire. I’m not sure where it was lit, but I know that it happened when I was young, and I’m in no danger of my fuel running out any time soon!

What piece of wisdom would you share with young women just starting out in the entertainment industry?

I’d say to women in ANY industry that you need to work hard, cultivate a real community of women, take constructive criticism as a challenge to better yourself, and also refuse to take abuse of any kind. Speak truth to power. Even when your voice shakes.

​In the age of #TimesUp, how do we flip the narrative that the onus is on women to change how they’re treated in the workplace?

I’ve been frank about my experiences over the years, as have many women thanks to #TimesUp, because women need to know that they are not alone. And that mistreatment in the workplace is never okay. It should not be our responsibility to quit, to give up our financial security, our hard-earned positions, or our careers, because abusive people cannot keep their hands/words/body parts to themselves. Companies and employers need to make reporting safer, need to ensure that victims are not retaliated against, and need to actually punish abusers. Period. And women as a collective need to call for these changes, and we need men to back us up and join the chorus as well.

Which women in your industry do you look up to most? Why?

I look up to Ava DuVernay, Reed Moreno, Kerry Washington, and Oprah. Julianne Moore. Amy Adams. All of these women have forged their own paths, told their own stories, and offered truth about real, deep, human experience to their audiences. And they’ve fought to do so. They remind me never to give up pressing for more transparency and honesty.

Pain is information. Take it as such, grow from it, and figure out how to do better and work smarter next time.

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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?

Bumps and hurdles are part of the journey. No one, and I mean NO ONE, has had a life or career without hardship. Pain is information. Take it as such, grow from it, and figure out how to do better and work smarter next time.

If you weren’t working in entertainment, what career path would you choose and why?

I’d be a journalist. Nothing matters more to me than telling true, empathetic stories about people. And journalists dedicate their lives to doing so, all over the world. They have my ultimate respect.

What are you most excited for in 2019?

I’m most excited that over 100 women will be sworn into the United States’ most diverse Congress in history. It’s about damn time.

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 ENTERTAINMENT LIST HERE.

Create & Cultivate 100: Entertainment: Lili Reinhart

Lili Reinhart is wise beyond her years. Even after she scored a starring role on Riverdale, the subversive CW take on Archie Comics, she lost precisely zero percent of her humble personality. Talking to Lili is like talking to a best friend—she wants you to know about her rocky journey to Hollywood, her commitment to doing work she’s passionate about, and how she’s trying to post less about her personal life on Instagram.

When Lili’s first audition tape was turned down by the casting team at Riverdale, she didn't take no for an answer. She somehow got another chance at auditioning, and the second time, she killed it. The rest, of course, is history.

Lili may only be 22, but she knows what she wants, and we can’t wait to watch her go get it.

You moved to LA alone at age 18. What advice do you have for other young women on chasing their dreams, even if they’re scary?

I think the most important thing to tell yourself is that it could take multiple tries in order for your dreams to come to fruition. I ended up moving back home to recuperate after my first time living in LA. I was there for 5 months, burned through my savings account and eventually had to go back home to save money. Nothing fell into place immediately, that’s for sure. I actually spent 2 months in LA when I was 16 as well, auditioning for whatever I could. My success didn’t happen overnight. I started auditioning for projects when I was 12 years old and finally booked my big Riverdale role when I was 19. Chasing your dreams is always going to be scary, but it will be easier if you remind yourself that it takes patience and perseverance for good things to come.

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

I think one of the highlights of this career has been the opportunity to travel. I grew up wanting to travel the world, but I had never even been to Canada when I booked Riverdale. Since then, I’ve gone to Paris, Mexico City, and all over the US for work-related press or conventions. Also I’ll be going to Milan in the springtime.

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

Sometimes it’s all about being at the right place at the right time. It’s different for everyone, of course; no two paths towards success look the same. But, for example, with me… moving to LA was the right choice. It just didn’t workout the first time. It was only when I moved back again, did I have the chance to audition for Riverdale in person. It was the right project, the right role, and I was in the right city to audition in person. The stars had aligned when just a year earlier, they hadn’t. So I think it’d be harmful to think that a path or road isn’t working for you just because of one failed experience. I always say, keep trying. Exhaust the path, if necessary, until you need to find a new one.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

It’s incredibly fulfilling to be a working actress. This is something that I’ve wanted to do my entire life. And to be honest, I didn’t have too much doubt about my making it in the industry when I was growing up. I felt discouraged and frustrated a lot, of course, but I think I always knew deep down that this was what I was good at and that everything would work out. Nothing else felt right. I didn’t give myself a plan B. I didn’t go to college to study anything else, I had no backup plan. I was going to be an actress. Period. So I think it’s incredibly fulfilling to be in the position where I am today. I’m glad I didn’t doubt myself, though at times other people saw my dreams as being unrealistic or out of reach.

On Riverdale, you play the beloved Betty Cooper. What would you say to people who might typecast you as a one-dimensional “girl next door” character moving forward?

I think that’s up to me not to be typecast, honestly. I have to choose the right roles for myself. I am not interested in auditioning or being part of projects where I would be playing the girl next door, or a young detective. I’m only seriously looking at projects where the role doesn’t remind me of Betty. It’s up to me to show my range in the upcoming roles that I’ll play. People can try to typecast me, but I’m not going to let it happen.

You’ve been pretty adamant about keeping your personal life out of the press. How do you handle the pressure to share your daily life that comes with being in the spotlight?

Hmm. I’m not sure I’ve done too good of a job at that, honestly. I like to say I’m going to keep my relationship private and my family-life private… but it’s hard. I’m an open person. I like to share things about myself and share glimpses into my world. Sometimes I share too much, or give too much of myself away. But it’s something I’m working on. I’ve only been in the spotlight for two years so I’m very much still learning my limits. One of my new year’s resolutions was to keep my life a little more private in general. I don’t need to share as much. It’s nice to have some mystery and not let the world know everything about where you are, who you’re with, what you’re doing, etc. etc.

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

The one piece of advice that really has held true for me is when I was told “Your heart will never lead you astray.” And it’s true. If I don’t feel passionate about something— I don’t pursue it. Let’s take roles for example: if I read a script and it has amazing producers, has a huge budget, big celebrities attached… but it doesn’t resonate or connect to me on a spiritual level, then I won’t pursue it. If something doesn’t give me butterflies or make me excited, it’s not worth my energy. I only want to give myself to things that strike a fire within me. And it can be hard to stay true to that in this business, any business or any aspects of life in general. But I plan on sticking with that piece of advice throughout my career.

Social media has been around for much of your life. How do you remain authentic in the age of Instagram?

I’ve realized recently how difficult it is for some people to remain authentic in their social media platforms. But to be honest, I’ve always been myself. I’m not trying to present myself in a different way or paint myself in the most beautiful light. I’m just me. I don’t think much about what I post, I just do it. That’s what keeps me authentic, I think. Also what get me in trouble sometimes, but whatever. If you’re actually having to stop and think or study whatever you’re posting… then it’s probably not coming very naturally.

If I don’t feel passionate about something, I don’t pursue it.

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Which women in your industry do you look up to most? Why?

I had the privilege of being in the audience for the Glamour Women of the Year Awards and I saw Viola Davis speak. I was hanging onto her every word. She’s such an incredible woman and speaker. I just think she’s so wise and has so much to say about being a woman in this industry. Lady Gaga also has always been an idol of mine. She’s so talented and, to me, she’s the kind of person you’d want to go to for advice. She’s outspoken and she has always had a vision for her work which I find very inspiring.

You’ve previously said you don’t want to do another 22-episode show because it takes up your whole life. What do you want to pursue next?

Films. My heart really lies in the film industry. Television has given me the most incredible opportunity to create a platform and have a consistent job. Also, I’ve met some of the most important people in my life through Riverdale. But at the end of the day, I want to be in movies. So I hope to pursue film projects when I’m on hiatus from Riverdale each season, for however long we run. It would be a dream of mine to be in a 19th or 18th century period piece. Maybe someday.

Photo Credit: James Wright

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 ENTERTAINMENT LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Food: Pauline Lhote

You need no introduction to Chandon.

As one of the world’s most recognized wine brands, consistency and quality is paramount. This is where Pauline Lhote comes in. The director of winemaking has known since the tender age of 14 that she was destined for a career in winemaking. Not only does she hail from the capital of all bubbly—Champagne, France, of course—her parents were both farmers and instilled in her a deep appreciation for agriculture, the environment, and the labor of love behind the winemaking process.

Lhote never needed to search for her calling; it found her. What started as a three-month internship at Chandon in 2006 turned into a full-time career, and 12 years later, Pauline has made a permanent impact on Chandon’s business and brand.

Winemaking is a very niche industry. How did you get your start?

Winemaking is indeed a small but mighty industry! I actually grew up in Champagne, France, and knew I wanted to be a winemaker since I was really young (maybe 14 years old)—but not just any winemaker, I knew I wanted to make bubbles. My parents are also both farmers, so I grew up in this environment where grapes and agriculture were so important, and I became so passionate about the industry and process. I eventually ended up applying to local winemaking schools, and was fortunate enough to attend one of the best for Sparkling Wine, the University of Reims in Champagne.

You’ve been with Chandon for years. How did you climb the corporate ladder and eventually become a leading female winemaker?

I left France for California back in 2006, for what was supposed to be a three-month internship at Chandon. From the moment I arrived, I knew that this was the perfect place for me. Three months turned into 12 years, and I climbed my from intern, to assistant, to head of winemaking. This happened I think due to a combination of my existing passion, relentless work ethic but also the support and encouragement I received to explore my own view point. There is something so unique about American culture and maybe even the entrepreneurial spirit alive in California, that encourages the freedom to create and push boundaries in a way I didn’t find back home.

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

It would be with my grandma, who I miss dearly. I would love to catch up with her. For me it is not so much about what we would eat but what we would drink.... I would share the bubbly I make with her of course!

What do you crave in life?

More time to be home and spend with my family. I travel a lot so time home is really something that I look forward to.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

I love that my vision for pleasure and epicurean experience gets shared with people all over through something as fun as bubbly. Aside from that, I am most fulfilled when I see my team grow and work together. I have a very special team that I am very proud of.

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

To stay true to myself and trust my instincts.

I am most fulfilled when I see my team grow and work together. I have a very special team that I am very proud of.

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

I was extremely honored to be recognized by Wine Enthusiast Magazine as a 40 under 40 tastemaker! It’s a great recognition within the industry.

Where does your passion/drive come from?

I feel extremely lucky to have found my passion so early on in life, in a way that was very organic. I didn’t search for it…I was kind of born into it, but there’s no other place or circumstance I could imagine wanting to switch for. In terms of my drive, parts of it are inherent and other parts I’ve had to develop in order to move forward. Perhaps it has something to do with growing up with all brothers and wanting to prove I could do just as much and more…or being a woman in a male dominated wine industry, you have to have conviction and be true to yourself in order to stay the course.

What keeps you up at night?

I must say that I am typically a good sleeper! What keeps me up at night are probably the weight of decisions I need to make. In winemaking, you realize the results of your decisions after waiting some time; at Chandon specifically, I have to wait an average of 2 years for the wine I make to age, before I get to taste the end results. So decisions I’m making today will impact wine you get to taste in 2021! I’m a perfectionist and so pressure to make the best decisions are probably what keep me up at night.

Whose career really inspires you?

My greatest mentors and role models have been the generations of female winemakers who came before me and blazed a trail to prove that women can do this job. Dawnine Dyer was the first female winemaker for Chandon back in the 70s and one of the first in the entire Napa Valley region. Her work revolutionized sparkling winemaking for Northern California and I very much admire her career. When I came to Chandon California, I felt great pride in reigniting that torch, carrying forward a strong female legacy for the estate, which is such a young, female-forward sparkling wine brand.

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

Like everyone, I have had many opportunities and challenges, but personally never felt that being a woman has driven them. I do think that as a minority, both as a woman and because I’m younger than most in my field, it’s been especially important to be confident and assertive. Not backing down and believing in my vision have helped me navigate the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities along the way.

Mentorship is our responsibility.

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There aren’t many female winemakers out there. How can we get more women into the field?

There are actually many women in wine, but maybe few in leadership positions. Much like other industries, it’s so important to encourage those under you and give them the opportunity to succeed when you can. Mentorship is our responsibility!

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

I go back to the reason why I am doing it in the first place, armed with new information I’ve received from the hurdle and re-approach it from a different angle. I think about what’s changed, what new opportunities or options have been created, and maybe even redefine what success looks like. Mistakes are usually what propel you to get better and reach new heights.

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

I am toasting to what is most important for me, Family!

And I am most excited for the opportunity to create something new. 2019 means a new season, a new harvest, new wine ready to taste, new ideas and flavor innovations—and the possibilities are endless!

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE FOOD LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Fashion: Shelley Sanders

Shelley Sanders designed jewelry for 15 years before she decided it was time to launch her own collection. Enter The Last Line, a direct-to-consumer model that aims to turn the traditionally-stuffy jewelry industry on its head: no walking into a shop full of glass cases, a snobby salesperson giving you a side-eye; no markups; no hassle.

Shelley’s pieces range from classic tennis necklaces and simple studs to bold cocktail rings and zodiac collar necklaces. She’s invested in the creation of every piece, sketching every single item before it goes into production—talk about hands-on.

Below, Shelley gives us the down low on why she chose a DTC model, what she wants to change about the industry, and how she knew it was time to start her own venture.

How did you get your start in the jewelry industry?

I have always been creative, even as a little girl, but truthfully I didn’t understand the capacity of how that trait would play out in my adult life. From super young, I was attracted to jewelry and not just the glamorous, “dress up” side of it but actually the intricacies of a piece–– the shape, the design, the metals, and of course, the stones! I would collect coins and doodle shapes and designs which at that time I didn’t have any clue that I would one day make career of this. Fun fact: I draw every piece we make before we even begin production.

With time my creativity and curiosity to design built and it became more of pursuit for me to see how I could continue to create and maybe make a career of this. I love to design and create and have been known to get sucked into a design because it’s technically interesting or challenging. I studied Fine Arts at Parsons, but they cancelled the Metals program and I was so bummed. A West Coast girl at heart, I ultimately returned home to California to train with Master Jewelers in San Francisco and almost immediately knew I was going to work in jewelry for a living, but I don’t think I ever thought I would do it at this level. And after working on lots of other people’s lines for over 16 years, I decided to launch my own!

You’ve previously said you actually enjoyed working for other people. What made you want to start your own company?

Working for someone else, no matter the industry, is an excellent learning tool, especially if you have any inkling of wanting to be an entrepreneur. I always liked working for other brands because I love the challenge of designing through someone else’s eyes whose style is not identical to mine. I loved interpreting different vibes and becoming their designer and using my knowledge of design to translate their vision. Now designing my line I still design for other people but this time it’s our customers, which is still a challenge to create something that can speak to first-time buyers and all the way up to seasoned collectors. I have always love creating jewelry for all types of people, the wide range is actually what I miss about my old job. I live for a design challenge, constraints are what sometimes what inspire the best creative thinking—push us outside of our comfort level!

What about the direct-to-consumer model that The Last Line employs appealed to you?

Truthfully, before we launched my husband Teddy (who is my business partner) and I went back and forth over being a DTC brand––there is a lot of opportunity, but a lot of risk as the only retailer. Now a year and a half in, I was one of the better decisions we could have made. We have control over how we tell our story as a brand, through our collections, photography, even the pieces we make and our drop schedule. We are telling a story as we intended you to discover it, it’s a designers dream truthfully. Another perk of being direct-to-consumer is there is no middle-man between us and our customer, t’s a more personal approach and it’s service driven, which is important when spending $2,000+ on a piece of jewelry online. We have a whole category of pieces called “you asked, we listened” which has been built off of customer requests.

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

Ten years ago, I would have never believed that I would have my own brand and definitely not as developed as The Last Line. In my mind, I would have thought I would be more of an artist, maybe produce a few jewelry pieces for my friends or family, but nothing to the scale of what we are looking to accomplish with The Last Line.

The definition of success has changed so much over my career, I’m still defining it! At the beginning of my career when I was designing for other lines, it was seeing a magazine placement of something I designed. When I was in production, I would work so hard on a piece for weeks and if I got a great sample, it was the best, even if we never made it. Currently, I am happy seeing people’s reaction to The Last Line, my muses are real people, the cool women who are wearing The Last Line because they like it, that’s the ultimate success and a real pinch-me moment.

“The definition of success has changed so much over
my career—I’m still defining it.”

What would you change about the jewelry industry if you could?

I love the industry but I think there is still a notion that fine jewelry is reserved for special occasions and those days are (long) gone, especially for the pieces I design. Women are wearing fine jewelry day-to-night and mixing in old and new. For me, it’s how a woman mixes her jewelry collection that is cool and a goal of mine was to make pieces you can wear and not worry about. What’s the fun in buying something beautiful just to keep it away?!

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

Happy customers.

The genuine feeling of loving what I do.

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

A lot of people told me before launching The Last Line “Decide, go for it and never look back,” but I think it’s really important to look back, that’s how you learn. I am constantly checking in on what I did, what worked, what didn’t work, etc. it’s such an important learning for growth, personally and professionally! Equally important is to establish (and believe) a clear vision of what you are setting out to do, the worst thing you can do is lose authenticity of your goal, your business, your product, whatever it is. That’s not to say that you can’t do new things, but do it with your own lens. I have made a rule that I will only ever produce things that I am happy to present and wear myself, if I don’t believe in it, why would someone else?

Who’s style do you love?

I’ve never been celebrity or model obsessed, for me I’m way more inspired by the real women and men I see living their life—looking rad, making it happen. Literally, I love unique street style on anyone from a child, a peer, a mom, grandma, guy or girl, I respect it and it inspires me in all forms all the time.

I also love classic and antique jewelry, especially Art Deco and retro styles as a source of inspiration. I’m a nerd for it, a true geek and could probably could win a Jeopardy category on jewelry design over the last 200 years.

I know all antique pieces, their designers and their techniques. I look at old renderings and enjoy just taking them in, I appreciate construction and technical function of pieces.

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

First things first, you learn the most from listening no matter the situation. Then assess what happened, dust yourself off (because you will fall in starting something) and move forward. In a short time I’ve realized how important it is to be perfectly clear about everything and extremely direct, whether its with regards to design, tone of voice, a business relationship or a new hire, I’ve paid hard for times I wasn’t clear. Most importantly, go with your gut and trust yourself.

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

SO much, I feel like we’ve been doing this forever but we’ve only just begun, lots more sparkle to come. . The inspiration behind the name of The Last Line is it is the last place you’ll have need to look for your jewelry and I plan to live up to the name, trust me.

VIEW THE ENTIRE CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 FASHION CATEGORY HERE!

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Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Justine Marjan

Justine Marjan met her mentors on Instagram.

She moved to LA with the talent and tenacity to build her own hair and beauty empire. She also had a calculated digital strategy that has established her as one of the industry’s most sought-after artists.

In the early days, Justine published a personal blog and maintained a curated Instagram presence that showcased her work and demonstrated tutorials. This digital portfolio allowed her to create a consumer-facing brand and to act as her own agent, manager, cheerleader, and publicist all at once. New to Los Angeles, sans representation, she drove across the city to salons she loved to drop off resumes every weekend. She blindly reached out to two of the industry’s biggest icons on Instagram - (both C&C100 alum!) - Jen Atkin and Kristen Ess. The best part? They replied.

Years have passed since those initial Instagram interactions, and Justine’s career has been skyrocketing ever since. Her client roster reads like the guest list of a legendary party at the Chateau Marmont. Think Ashley Graham, Olivia Culpo, Shay Mitchell, and America’s royal family, the Kardashians.

She’s also the global stylist for TRESemme (no biggie), the former editorial director of Mane Addicts (which, if you know, you know), and co-parent to Cashew, a mini goldendoodle who loves a strong fashion moment.

How did you get your foot in the door and make your mark in the hairstyling business?

I had been working in a salon in my hometown for eight years when I realized I needed to move to a larger city to meet my goals and continue to grow in my field. I started reaching out to hairstylists I admired in Los Angeles through social media and replied to a few social media ads. I would drive to LA every weekend to drop off resumes and check in to salons I loved. Eventually Kristin Ess and Jen Atkin replied and I worked part-time for both of them until the workload with Jen picked up so much that I ended up working with her full-time. I was one of two employees at the time, so my duties included helping launch Mane Addicts and OUAI. I had experience blogging, so I spearheaded Mane Addicts as editorial director while also acting as a personal assistant and assisting Jen with hair, all while taking my own clients on the side. I felt like I had 5 jobs and was easily working 12-14 hours a day, 7 days a week. When Jen launched OUAI and her empire started to build, she had less time for her clients and, at this point, her clients knew and trusted me, so I would do their hair when she wasn’t available. Eventually things picked up through referrals and word of mouth, and I was able to branch off on my own.

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

I attribute my entire career to social media. When I first started in LA, I connected with people through social media and they used my social pages like a digital portfolio to verify my credibility. I also had a personal blog I promoted through social, so when Jen was starting Mane Addicts, she knew I had experience not only in hair, but also with writing and photography. I realized early on how powerful social media is in marketing and branding yourself. You no longer need an agent to get your name out there, so I used my Instagram to promote my work and skills and didn’t have an agent for the first couple years of my career as a freelancer. I am constantly using my Instagram to post tutorials, connect with my followers, share my knowledge, build relationships with my peers, colleagues, editors, brands, and find potential new clients. I can easily say that 70% of my job is social media.

Working with celebrities sounds like it can involve a lot of pressure. What’s been the biggest challenge and the biggest reward in having a famous roster of clients?

The biggest challenge is the continuous artist struggle, or the freelance blues. As an artist, our business comes in ebbs and flows, sometimes it’s abundant and sometimes it’s quiet.

When working with high profile clients, it’s important to remember not to take it personally when they work with someone else or when they are having a bad day. It’s imperative that your ego is put aside and you remember that we work in the service industry, and that before anything else, our most important job is taking care of our clients.

The biggest reward is seeing my work make a best beauty list or seeing the finished photos in a campaign or on the red carpet. I love seeing everything come together from head to toe and it feels so good to collaborate with other creatives.

What characteristics make you successful in the beauty industry?

Working with celebrities means there is no room for ego. It’s so important to have an adaptable personality and not to take things personally. More than talent, making sure you are of service to your client and make them feel great will go a long way. There are a lot of wild personalities in the industry and we’re all artists so it’s hard not to get competitive or take things personally, but you have to remind yourself that you will attract clients who are like you, so think about what you are projecting into the world.

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

Consumers are more educated than ever and want to be involved in the process of what beauty means. It’s no longer about a pro telling you what to do or buy, instead consumers want to feel like they are a part of the conversation. We’re seeing so many amazing social-first beauty brands pop up and it’s created for great communities of conscientious consumers who feel connected to something larger. I love that founders can have a direct form of communication with their audience and address what real people actually want and need. I’m so impressed with how Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores have launched Summer Fridays as a social-first company that now is available in major stores like Sephora.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

I love partnering with brands and creating something amazing! One of my biggest accomplishments in 2018 was creating a line of hair accessories with Kitsch. It was such a career bucket list moment to be able to design beautiful pieces and see them come to life. I love watching people wear them and getting feedback from real people wearing them!

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

There’s enough work to go around for everyone. Don’t be threatened by your peers, be inspired by them. There’s always going to be enough work for us all to be successful.

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

My amazing partnership with Tresemme which has allowed me to lead the hair backstage for shows like Jonathan Simkhai, Cushnie et Ochs, and Alice and Olivia during New York Fashion Week. I’ve always looked up to the legends who key shows like Guido Palau and Odile Gilbert so being in their company is such an honor.

Where does your passion/drive come from?

I didn’t grow up with a lot of money and I always had to work for what I wanted. My father was an immigrant and worked so hard to support our family. I saw my parents struggle to support 2 daughters and a son with a disability that I’ve always really pushed myself to be my best and accomplish something. I hated hearing ‘we can’t afford that’ or negative connotations around money and success that in my late teens and throughout my 20’s I worked so hard to change my conditioning and mindset. I am constantly pushing myself to be better and grow to build the life I want.

“It’s important to remember that every experience in your life serves a purpose. Although it may seem like one door is closing, another one will always open and we have to be prepared to make space for that in our lives. ”

What are the common challenges you've seen among female hairstylists?

Even in a female-centric industry like the beauty industry, it is still male-led. Among the top tier of talent, there are few women and the boards of many of the major brands are still majority male. The industry can feel like a “boys’ club,” where men look out for each other and the women have to work twice as hard to get noticed and be twice as careful about their actions and appearance. High-profile women can often be threatened by women around them, so they prefer to have male glam squads. Women also have to worry about the impact having children will have on a freelance career. As the breadwinner, it’s hard to think about taking time off to have a child and how that will impact crazy work hours and travel schedule. Overall we’re still working for gender equality in the beauty industry, just as we are in all industries.

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

It’s important to remember that every experience in your life serves a purpose. Although it may seem like one door is closing, another one will always open and we have to be prepared to make space for that in our lives. It’s hard to let go of what we are attached to, but sometimes our attachments can limit us and we need to make space for growth. I heard a great quote about how worrying about something before it happens only means you worry twice. I try to keep an open mind while taking each roadblock and setback one step at a time.

Whose career really inspires you?

Jen Atkin’s career inspires everyone. I worked for her for years when I first moved to LA and she has been the most significant mentor and influence in my life. I admire her humble beginnings, how hard she works, what a big heart she has, her sense of humor, energy, and confidence! She has been able to expand out of just hair and make a name for herself as a businesswoman, pioneer, innovator, and influencer. I am honored to have her in my corner and will always look at her accomplishments as inspiration!

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

I am stepping into the unknown in 2019. I will be with a new agency January 2019 and it’s a big unexpected change in my life so I am trying to keep an open mind and be ready for what is to come. I also have an exciting TV opportunity that will air in the spring, more hair accessory drops with Kitsch, and hopefully a lot more travel, clients, and surprises in store!

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: STEM & Finance: Ruzwana Bashir

Ruzwana Bashir is bucking tradition. An Oxford and Harvard MBA graduate, she left a successful career in finance to launch Peek, a travel company that makes booking activities and tours easy. After spending upwards of 20 hours planning a vacation to Istanbul, Ruzwana thought, There has to be a better way to do this. So she took a big risk, moving from her stable job at The Blackstone Group to relocate to Silicon Valley and build her dream from the ground up. We caught up with Ruzwana to hear her advice for budding entrepreneurs.

What inspired you to create your travel booking company, Peek? What did you see missing from the market?

I was organizing a birthday trip to Istanbul with my friends. I spent 20 hours researching what the best things to do there were and calling far-flung activities companies to try to book the experiences I'd discovered. The whole process ended up being lengthy and frustrating, so I found myself wishing that there was a one-stop shop to book amazing activities online - but it didn't exist, so I figured it was time to build it!

You’re quite academically accomplished—you have an MBA from Harvard Business School, where you were a Fulbright Scholar, and a BA in Economics from Oxford University. How has your education influenced your career path? What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs who don’t share your prestigious academic background?

Going to business school was a huge influence in my career. It was in business school that I got my first experience in startups, and it also brought me to the United States. Before that, I had been working in finance and private equity in London for a few years, but I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. My experience in business school reaffirmed that I wanted to start a business in America.

The best advice I could give to interested entrepreneurs is to that If you are going to start a business, try to work at a startup first. I learned so much by working at Gilt and Art.sy, mostly that I loved the environment. Go try it out to see if you like the lifestyle before diving in headfirst by starting your own.

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

Every time that I’ve felt like something is tremendously challenging, or I felt like I couldn't achieve something and then I did, I grew new muscles on how to take on challenges in the future. For me, it’s about not being afraid of failure, and learning from each challenge and obstacle.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

It’s so fulfilling to see that we’ve been able to achieve millions of customers, and hundreds of millions of bookings through our platform already. It’s crazy for me to think about the journey that me and my co-founder Oskar Bruening had. We started out eating grilled cheese sandwiches and working incredibly late trying to get something started. Now we get to have this huge team of amazing people, many of whom are more talented than we are, who are all inspired by the same vision. I’m very motivated by learning, so my own personal growth has been fulfilling as well. When we started, I was not as prepared and didn’t know anywhere near as much of what it took to build a company. I’m excited to continue that learning as Peek continues to grow.

You have large corporate teams in both Utah and Silicon Valley. What’s the best advice you can give a new business owner when it comes to scaling up?

When you’re scaling up, you can feel a pressure to try to do it quickly, but my advice is don’t ever rush the hiring process – it’s much better to find the right fit.

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

When we first started Peek, we were approaching activities from a consumer perspective trying to create a solution to make booking experiences easier. As time went on, we realized that the small businesses that offer these experiences actually have even more challenges. Lots of the operators we work with had been running their business the same way for a long time, and didn’t know how to bring their business to the digital age where the majority of their customers were. That realization was a big surprise to us, and we ended up focusing a lot of our attention building software tools that would allow these small businesses to provide a great experience for their guests online.

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

To be persistent. Nothing that is worth doing is ever easy.

“It’s really important that we encourage mentorship with women, and acknowledge our own biases when it comes to who we are giving opportunities to. ”

What women do you look up to? Why?

Rather than trying to emulate any one individual, I tend to admire specific attributes in different individuals.  They range from the authenticity of someone like Oprah Winfrey to the persistence of Margaret Thatcher or the empathy of my good friend Farrah Jarral, who is a doctor working in inner-city London.

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

Being able to raise capital. Women CEOs typically get about 2% of venture capital which is such a small percentage of what’s available. In the early stages of fundraising, so much of investor’s decisions are based on the entrepreneur themselves. It’s human nature to feel a connection with someone who reminds you of yourself, and in 2018 less than10% of decision-makers in venture capital firms were women. There’s a bigger issue here with women not having the same level of opportunity as men, especially in the workplace. In order to shrink this gap, it’s really important that we encourage mentorship with women, and acknowledge our own biases when it comes to who we are giving opportunities to.

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

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Create & Cultivate 100: Content Creator: Candace Reels

Candace Reels didn’t create The Female Collective for us—but we’re so glad she did it anyway. TFC, an online community and philanthropic organization, aims to help women come together, tell their unique stories, and feel empowered to tackle the missions that matter most to them.

When Candace launched the collective, she didn’t intend for it to be public—she did it for herself as a way to motivate herself and promote self-love. The account grew, and so did Candace’s ambition; she soon launched a clothing line (think “feminist fight club” t-shirts) and pivoted the account to the large-scale community it is today.

We look up to Candace because she parlayed a personal project into a burgeoning space for the women who needed it most. Read more about what motivates her below.

Your company, Female Collective, was founded because you hated your job. Tell us more about how you used that lack of inspiration to build a brand.

I was at a really low point in my life and I needed something to motivate myself to the next step on my life journey. I didn’t know what that would be, but I knew that I needed to create something from my lack of inspiration. That’s when I decided to create an Instagram account where I would post inspiring and motivating content to help get my life together. It’s not always easy to create when you’re not feeling inspired, but it’s definitely what you need to do. It’s important to get how you feel out in your writing, art, or in whatever type of content you create. This release will help you move forward to where you need to go in life.

Who did you have in mind when you created Female Collective?

Honestly, Female Collective started off as my own self love, inspirational, and motivating account. I didn’t tell anyone about the account and didn’t use hashtags; it was literally just a personal account that I created to help me get to the next step in life. What ended up happening was people found it and starting sharing my content. I learned that yes, I started this account to help myself but there were so many other women who were going through the same thing I did and needed this just as much as me.

What has been your biggest opportunity or biggest challenge?

I would say that my biggest challenge has been myself. I tend to talk down on myself and compare myself to others. Which is the number one thing to NOT do when you have your own business or what you shouldn’t do as a human. I found the best way to overcome that is to go within and remember why you started in the first place. The journey is going to be hard, but you must celebrate the small victories and know that there is room for everyone to succeed and your time will come.

What keeps you up at night?

Our current political climate, specifically the GOP and all of the ridiculous things they are doing. Fortunately the Democrats won the House back and that has help me sleep a bit better.

Female Collective isn’t just a community—you also donate to various organizations. What causes has FC helped support in the past, and why do you see giving back as an important part of your business model?

I knew when I decided to create clothing for Female Collective that I wanted to give back to organizations that have been doing great work for years. I find it important to give back because that’s one of the many ways in helping to create the change that we want to see and helping those who are in need. By donating money to these organizations you are helping them stay in business and by helping them stay in business you are helping individuals who desperately need these orgs to live, grow, and learn. Some of the organizations that FC has supported are RAINN, Planned Parenthood, Black Girls Code, Global Fund For Women, Girl Rising, and Everytown.

Who inspires you? Who do you look up to in your industry?

My two biggest inspirations are my parents, they have helped me become the compassionate and passionate human that I am today. My other inspirations also include Angela Davis, Maya Angelou, and Shirley Chisholm. Those three women are ones that inspire the work that I do everyday. What they accomplished in life during an extremely hard time for a black woman helps get me through life challenges today. They were able to do so much in a time they weren’t allowed to. And because of them I have much more opportunity as a black woman to thrive in this society.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

Being able to give back to organizations that I love and receiving so many DM’s of women saying how thankful they are that Female Collective exist. They are so thankful for a safe space online were they feel celebrated, supported, uplifted, and empowered. I started Female Collective as my own self love/self care journey and I’m so grateful that it has become that for so many other women.

I started Female Collective as my own self love/self care journey and I’m so grateful that it has become that for so many other women.

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What does activism mean to you?

Activism to me means taking a stand for something you believe in or something you’re against. Not just stating it, but taking actionable steps in creating the change you want to see. There are so many ways you can activate in your community, big or small. Marching, volunteering with or donating to organizations that support what you believe in, starting a movement on social media, having courageous conversations with your friends and family, and calling out people when they have done something wrong in your eyes. There are additional ways to go about it, these are just a few.

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

When I hit a bump or hurdle, I usually take a few steps back and recharge. Sometimes you exhaust yourself to no end and you feel uninspired. I usually talk to my mom, journal, meditate, and read one of my favorite self help books. When you have your own business you’re constantly judging your success to others, feeling lost, and confused. That’s why it’s so important to find ways to get yourself back on track and remember the goal that you set in your mind.

What are you most excited for in 2019?

IMPEACHMENT!! Kidding, not kidding. But the political side of me is excited about the future of the Democratic party. There were so many firsts that happen this year at midterms. This is the first time in American history that we have elected more than 100 women to the U.S House of Representatives and i’m so excited to see what they will do. On the career side I’m excited for the many opportunities that will be coming Female Collective’s way and I hope that more people will learn about what I’m doing and that it continues to be a safe space for ALL women. Last, but not least on a personal side i’m excited to continue my self love journey. The person I was when I started FC is far different from who I am now. I hope I continue to become more confident in who I am and know that I can accomplish anything I set my mind on.

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

Photoshoot skincare provided by Dermalogica

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

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Create & Cultivate 100: Fashion: Emily Current & Meritt Elliott

Emily Current and Meritt Elliott are the definition of Business BFFs.

The LA-based design duo founded acclaimed premium denim line Current/Elliott in 2008, and by 2015, proved that lightning can strike twice with the launch of their second brand, The Great. The fully-realized womenswear collection re-approaches American classics in a nostalgic and slightly tomboy fashion. The label is their proudest achievement to date, and a celebration of their two-decade long working relationship. After all, the duo is on a mission to create best friends for your closet.

In a testament to where strong friendship can take you, the duo has evolved beyond the periphery of fashion and into interiors, paper goods, and lifestyle goods. While they are sought after brand builders and celeb stylists, they are also busy as hell. The duo currently design a collection for Pottery Barn (Baby, Teen, Kids, and Home) and just released A Denim Story, a coffee table book, with Rizzoli. They are members of the CFDA, and casually just dropped an entire new friendship-inspired youth brand called Emily + Meritt. While we’re over here wondering how they possibly stay on top of their Google cals, they’re plotting their next business endeavor, partner-in-crime style.

How did you each get your start in fashion? Did you always want to be designers?

We met as students at UCLA and bonded over vintage Levis, our similar Northern California upbringings, and personal style rooted in casual Americana boy- meets-girl ease. Right after college, we worked as magazine assistants and for Los Angeles based fashion brands. We both felt connected and inspired by the process of telling a story, both in visual imagery and through product. A couple of years into our careers, we teamed up and launched our styling and consulting business. Through thousands of fittings and a keen sense of the market, we created a small, vintage inspired and more tom-boyish denim line with the intention to disrupt an industry oversaturated with tight, sexy denim. It was a hit, and our love affair with design was officially sealed.

The Great is the second brand you guys have built and created together. What’s different this time around?

After our first business [Current/Elliott] sold to a private equity firm and we departed, we aimed to create a full lifestyle brand in The Great that was comprised of both denim and army tomboy pieces and its soft and vintage inspired feminine counterparts. For years, we were frustrated with how the fashion and garment industry was run, and how as two young women, we didn’t fit into it. We knew from our experience in a primarily male-run industry that relied heavily on women’s creativity that we could not only set out to make compelling clothing collections, but also to build a business infrastructure that we felt aligned with our morals and that supported women and their creativity. It was our priority, in this next chapter, that we owned both the business part and the creative part, as to succeed, they must hold hands. We wanted to curate a thoughtful and fair working environment. Since our launch we have seen such an incredible build, and cherish our loyal customers. We added shoes and a kids’ line and have opened our flagship store in Los Angeles.

How would you describe The Great’s aesthetic?

In creating this line, we were inspired to design a collection that wasn’t just denim and reflected the way we loved to dress. Perfect versions of classic, boyish pieces like Army pants, denim, tees, sweatshirts, and twill jackets are mixed with feminine silhouettes and pieces like embroidered white cottons, Victorian laces, vintage silk prints, ruffles and unexpected volume. This line is intended to dress a woman for the main event of her life…..which is her day-to-day life.

What’s been the most surprising aspect of starting your own brands?

The most surprising element to starting your own brand has been that the small tasks, the tedium, the physical hard work of being an assistant all those years ago never ends- even when you become the boss. You can be in charge and need to create the big ideas and make the big decisions, but the little details and the small demanding minutiae never ends. It’s ALL important.

You’re friends and co-founders. Why is that a business dynamic that works for the two of you?

We simply love and respect each other. We find that two heads and four hands can juggle multiple projects with much more ease. We celebrate each others’ strengths and nurture each other’s challenges. But at the crux of it, we find each other very creatively inspiring and pretty damn funny.

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

People want to feel effortlessly stylish. They want to mix classic pieces that feel loved and worn with pieces that feel either more bold, or more feminine or more fun. They want to tell a story by what they wear, and a woman who wears The Great is saying, “I am cool. I am smart. I have innate style, and I do it ALL.”

What should every woman have in her wardrobe?

Perfectly-worn denim, the perfect crew neck tee in white, grey and black, a flat worn boot, a classic sneaker, a pair of Birkenstocks, a flattering black blazer, a vintage dress that can be dressed up or dressed down, a colorful kimono, a fistful of sweatshirts and sweatpants that can mix and match, and a few special pieces of things that are red, metallic, or animal printed.

“The most surprising element to starting your own brand has been that the small tasks, the tedium, the physical hard work of being an assistant all those years ago never ends—even when you become the boss.”

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

When we see a customer feel confident in our clothes, living their best lives. When an inspired team member comes in early or stays late because they love their job, and when we can snuggle with our loved ones at the end of a long work week.

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

Be kind, stay laser focused on your vision, and surround yourself with smart, happy people.

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

We have had a diverse career with so many highlights! We have designed custom looks for the Oscars, we have proudly been inducted into the CFDA. We became authors in our visual ode to denim, aptly named A Denim Story. We have designed nurseries our own children have grown up in and designed a planner and paper line that young women everywhere can plot their dreams in—just like we did. Most recently, we have built our first flagship store for The Great, where our entire collection hangs (peppered with some curated third party and vintage!). We love that this space is not only a jewel box representation of our beloved brand, but a gathering place for so many incredible people in our community to shop and socialize.

Where does your passion/drive come from?

Our parents, our families, and each other.

Whose career really inspires you?

We are inspired by so many people in all different fields. We respect everyone from Michelle Obama to Tory Burch. We admire our business-minded peers Jessica Alba and Reese Witherspoon. We love the grace of Oprah Winfrey, the charitable spirit of Katie Couric and the business minds of Eileen Fisher and Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard.

Whose style do you love?

Meritt: Emily

Emily: Meritt

What has been your biggest opportunity or biggest challenge?

We have loved having the opportunity to talk about our journey with other young women looking to be entrepreneurs. We love to reflect and mentor! Our biggest challenge has been to find the time to rest and relax and recharge. Good ideas come from rested minds.

What are the common challenges you've seen among female fashion designers?

Just heard a statistic that only 4% of the investment that goes to founder-led companies are given to companies led by women. While we feel empowered by the recent cultural shifts, we still have a long way to go.

What would you change about the fashion industry if you could?

We want to encourage brands to clearly identify their brand pillars and stick with them as opposed to looking sideways and following the same trends. It’s OK to pass on some if they don’t pass through your brands filters. The more points of view and diversity in vision, the better—it is what makes the industry so special.

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

First, we pow-wow and really dig into what didn’t work. Next, we get to the root of what has inspired us all these years and start again from an authentic, fun place. We have learned to be agile and resilient.

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

We are focused on growing The Great categorically and nurturing our new store in Los Angeles. We are also working on the Emily + Meritt brand as the little sister brand to The Great. with more accessible distribution and price points. You can now shop the Emily + Meritt brands with home décor at Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Teen, PB kids; our Paper Collection with At-A-Glance at 3000 staples and OfficeMax stores as well as Amazon; and our knits collection on emilyandmeritt.com. More to come!

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: Entertainment: Catt Sadler

When Catt Sadler found out her male co-host at E! was making double her salary, she did what anyone would do—addressed the problem with her employer, expecting they’d remedy the situation. When they didn’t, she made what can only be called a bold Hollywood move: She quit and took her story public.

In the era of Time’s Up—an era wherein Catt’s job literally entailed reporting women’s #MeToo stories—she felt it was her duty to speak up. She did so unapologetically, publicly demanding an end to the gender pay gap.

In addition to her work for equal pay, Catt launched The Cattwalk, an online media company focusing on fashion, beauty, and health. In NAKED, a powerful series on the site, Catt interviews inspiring greats like Gwyneth Paltrow, Amy Schumer, and dozens more women you should know. The interviews are heartfelt and revealing in a way most journalists can’t evoke; but then again, most journalists aren’t Catt Sadler.

Read on for more on Catt, what she’s been up to since her E! exit, and the sage advice she has for women at work in 2019.

You left E! before the #TimesUp campaign had really gained traction. Tell us about making that decision without the support of a very public movement we didn’t know was coming.

Leaving my job after twelve years over a pay disparity issue was difficult in and of itself. Speaking up about it publicly required a lot of soul searching and courage. But honestly I looked to the brave women before me who in recent months had been speaking up and unapologetically using their voices to share their truths. I had been reporting on the #MeToo movement and again and again was awe inspired by women who had be treated unfairly but came forward anyway. These women opened the door for me to take a stand.

At the Golden Globes this year, several actors were vocal in their support for you and the fight for equal pay. How did it feel to see so many women you’ve worked with stand up with you?

I was shocked and completely humbled. I knew these women actually watched the network so they knew how glaring the disparity was. They were informed so that meant a lot. But mostly, I knew they were using my name as a symbol for something much bigger - for all of the women who aren’t paid in the ball park of their male coworkers doing similar jobs, all of the women getting passed up for promotions when they are deserving, all of the women who don’t have a platform to tell their story and make change.

Studies show nearly 70% of women accept job offers without negotiating pay. What advice would you give women on negotiating their worth?

Know your worth and be prepared to back it up. Come to the table with facts, records, achievements, accomplishments, and numbers. Also, do your research. What are others in your position in your particular industry making? Role play your negation with people you trust beforehand so you’re prepared for anything. Try and get so comfortable with your position and belief of your value that you are able to eliminate the emotion in the negotiation. And lastly, don’t be sorry for making money one of the most important issues to you. Men don’t. It’s often the first thing they discuss. We as women were taught the topic to be taboo. Speak up unapologetically!

What do you wish you’d known when you were first starting your career in entertainment?

That nothing is fair. You aren’t always rewarded for your hard work or talent. Networking is paramount.

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

Failing is never just that alone. To fail is to learn. It is a teacher. Ask yourself: Why am I experiencing this setback? What does this hurdle teach me? You must dissect where you are before you pivot blindly. Can women really “have it all?” Is that a myth? It’s not about the fairytale house with the picket fence, having clean-faced kids, and a designer closet while doing your dream job anymore. To me, having it all is living on my own terms. That is true freedom.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

I have to connect with people. That’s what I love about social media and digital media today. It’s not one-way traffic anymore. I love that I can get up and exchange with people all over the planet - from sharing inspirational quotes, to favorite lipsticks, to revealing interviews with kickass females - for me, it’s the SHARE.

Let’s be vulnerable and Photoshop-free, peel back the onion, and learn from one another.

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Through your Cattwalk series, NAKED, you interview women we love in raw, unapologetic profiles. What inspired you to focus the series on vulnerability?

Love this question! I’m so sick to death of the armor everyone wears everyday. We, especially we as women, feel like we have to look a certain way, dress a certain way, and achieve a certain level of success to be fully received and admired. I am also used to interviewing women in a soundbite driven climate where nothing meaningful gets its due. I want women to take it all off! Come as you are! The more naked the better. Let’s be vulnerable and Photoshop-free, peel back the onion, and learn from one another. This brings me true joy and I think my audience appreciates the rarity of these types of discussions.

Which women in your industry do you look up to most? Why?

Oh man. So many. I adore Natalie Portman. She’s so insanely smart and beautiful and aware and strong and delicate. Oprah, the OG. She paved the way. I am currently obsessed with author and motivational speaker Brene Brown. She speaks on leadership and leading with our hearts, not just our minds.

Can women really “have it all?” Is that a myth?

It’s not about the fairytale house with the picket fence, having clean-faced kids, and a designer closet while doing your dream job anymore. To me, having it all is living on my own terms. That is true freedom.

What are you most looking forward to in 2019?

Evolving professionally, helping my son celebrate his 18th birthday - a milestone - and getting to Tokyo. On my bucket list!

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

Photoshoot skincare provided by Dermalogica

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 ENTERTAINMENT LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Entertainment: Sandra Oh

When Sandra Oh won her second Golden Globe earlier this month, we cried right along with her. Known best for her 10-year role as Cristina Yang on Grey’s Anatomy, which she left in 2014, Sandra spent four years playing small roles in film and on stage until she was cast in Killing Eve, arguably one of the most talked-about shows of 2018 (it was already renewed for a second season). The role of Eve is undeniably perfect for Sandra: it’s a psychological thriller that showcases her range, but it also flips the script on stereotypical norms—much like Sandra herself has been doing in Hollywood for years.

Below, Sandra talks representation, her role in Killing Eve, and if she’d ever return to Grey’s Anatomy.

On playing one of the only Asian characters in mainstream TV for years…

Young Asian people who come up to me have a certain vibration, and I receive it, and I understand it, and I feel emotional just talking about it. I’m here for you. And I’ll continue doing everything I can to fill something that I know you need right now, that we don’t yet have as a community.

On when she knew Killing Eve was right for her...

As soon as I started reading it, what jumped off the page to me were a few things: the originality of its tone and the fact that I felt like I understood where Phoebe [Waller-Bridge, the show’s creator] was coming from immediately. The idea that it’s a psychological piece between these two women, about the female psyche, was so interesting to me. There’s tons of things that are interesting to me. I love spy stuff—who doesn’t? So to kind of upend that…because this character is not slick. I felt immediately like I could understand Eve. But the two biggest things were what I felt the piece was about, which was an investigation of the female psyche, and the originality of the voice and the tone of Phoebe.

In the books Killing Eve is based on, Eve is white. On filling that role...

Can I just tell you, it’s about f–king time! The character is not Asian, but there are a billion examples of the reverse where the source material or the character in the book was one ethnicity or another and no one blinks an eye when people change it to being a white actor. I really hope that there is more pressure and sensitivity and understanding around it. And that comes from the actors themselves. It really does. When you read the source material — oh, you know, this person, this character is first nations, maybe I shouldn’t play it, right? Hopefully actors are empowered to be able to just make that choice.

On the prospect of returning to Grey’s...

I’m just going to say no. I’m just going to put that down there because it’s been four years since then, and I’ve really got to try and create much more of that separation. Even though I could just talk on and on and on about that show and what I feel like I learned from it and continue learning from it. It was so special, lightning in a bottle that’s lasted for over a decade.

This interview has been edited and condensed from multiple sources (1, 2).
Photos from Sandra Oh’s Instagram.

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 ENTERTAINMENT LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Entertainment: Nicole Ari Parker

You may know her as Giselle Barker from Empire, but we know Nicole Ari Parker as a powerhouse on screen and off. The Boogie Nights star isn’t just an actor—she’s also the founder and brains behind Gymwrap, a moisture-wicking headband that keeps hair styled between washes and salon visits.

We’ve been big fans of Nicole since her Soul Food days and love how real she’s been since day one. She’s reflective and resilient, but brazen and bold. Read on to hear more about her career path, role models, and envy-inducing relationship with her husband, Boris Kodjoe.

You’ve been working in Hollywood for more than 20 years. How have you seen the industry change? Has it become a more empowering place for women?

I think it’s changed because of what's happening behind the camera and on the executive level. More of the decision makers and image creators look like the real world so it’s only natural that it is reflected on the screen. Women of all backgrounds are in leadership roles and it makes a difference not only in how many female characters are created but also in how they are depicted. The writing and execution of these roles have drastically improved in even the past 10 years. I used to study scenes for an audition to play a doctor for example and somehow all my lines were questions! ALL of them...lol...like no matter what the scene is about, she would say "What do you mean?" "Really?" “What do you think, Robert?" "Is that so?" As if the head of neurology didn’t know what to do. It’s gotten way better… more dynamic… more real.

What do you wish you’d known when you were first starting your career in entertainment?

Well I probably would have practiced more on camera... like on a cell phone or have a friend tape me...to get a sense of what your face does or if you have bad camera habits like tilting your head or scrunching your eyes...I always practiced how to be truthful to the scene only and would never know that I looked down a lot. I would never encourage an actor to abandon their craft, but having it translate on camera is another skill. Most auditions are taped and most jobs are for camera so it’s good to know technically what you're doing.

What advice would you give to women who are hungry to chase their dreams but just starting out in their careers?

Have good friends. Have a fulfilling life. Travel. Fall in love. Be resilient and get back at it after a no or 100 no's. Yes get an agent and go on auditions but also start to work on dreaming then writing creating directing producing the stories you want to tell. It gives you strength in ways you can't imagine. That strength translates when you walk into a room to read for a role.

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

Meeting the great director Emily Mann in 2012 which was supposed to be a 30 min coffee but turned into a 2 hour lunch about her production of Streetcar Named Desire on Broadway. Then getting cast as Blanche Dubois. Highlight of my entire life.

You met your husband, Boris, on the set of Soul Food nearly 20 years ago. What’s it like to continue working together all these years later?

The writing and execution of roles for women have drastically improved in even the past 10 years. It’s gotten way better…more dynamic…more real.

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Love it. We work really well together. Wish we could do it more often.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

Tapping into the part of a character that's universal. Whether it's love or pain or loss or ambition or revenge…finding the humanity in that.

If you weren’t acting, what would you do instead?

I would love to be a literature teacher. Lol. Or an archeologist.

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

The bump usually comes when there too much chasing..too much output moving too fast without being grounded. So then I sit back and begin to create something myself. Could be as simple as baking a cake with my daughter the old fashioned way..sifting flour..letting butter get to room temp..taking my time doing something I love etc I sometimes take my book idea off the shelf and start writing or write synopsis for movie idea. Follow up. Cultivate ideas i have inside of me. Something really good always comes out of it.

Which women in your industry do you look up to most? Why?

Felicia D. Henderson, Oprah, Cicely Tyson, Meryl Streep, Emily Mann, Channing Dungey, Shari Redstone, Lynn Nottage, Pearlena Igbokwe, Deborah Lee, Rose Catherine Pinkney, Patricia McGregor, Laurie Metcalf, Maria Maggenti and sooo many of my actor peers. You could say they all are excellent and steadfast and maybe even fearless..but i think the thing is..even if they were afraid...they did it and continue to do it anyway..and that makes all the difference.

What are you most excited for in 2019?

I put so many cakes in the oven. I think they're just about ready.

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

Photoshoot skincare provided by Dermalogica

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 ENTERTAINMENT LIST HERE.

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