The Future Is Female: These Women Are Owning Male Dominated Professions

A startup tech exec, a tattoo artist, and a video game developer walk into male-dominated professions. Think it's a joke? It's not. Men may still be the predominate gender in many occupations, but women with the guts, brains, and vision to launch ideas and companies are proving that breaking down stereotypes is only a blip of what they're able to do. 

Kellee Khalil is the CEO and Founder of Lover.ly, the first bridal search engine that set out to solve the inefficiencies of the wedding industry for a new generation of brides. Founded in 2012 the site is like a cross between Google and Pinterest, with opportunities for advertisers and integrated content. Though the focus may be beauty and bridal focussed, the backend is straight data, numbers, and hardcore tech-- but what else would you expect from a CEO that's been coding since high school? 

How have you seen the industry change over the last five years?

The most unprecedented change is marriage equality. In the last year, we witnessed a monumental step forward for our country, and we couldn’t be more thrilled about it.  From the very beginning at Loverly, we’ve strived to be as inclusive as possible with our content, and the industry is finally catching up. Barbie and Ken-looking couples aren’t the only representation of love and marriage these days, and it’s about time we start embracing that. 

How does it feel to be a woman in a male-dominated industry?

The tech space is predominantly run by men (with less than 5 percent of all venture-backed business run by women). The most successful companies in the wedding industry have been businesses run by men. And the community of people writing checks is mostly men. So, it’s challenging to drum up interest and capital from investors who don’t identify with the pain points of our industry’s primary consumer.

On the flip side, I believe being a woman building this product for other women is actually a competitive advantage. I have empathy for our users and understand their psychology as they are going through the ups and downs of planning their weddings. My mission is to alleviate the frustration and inefficiencies by simplifying the wedding planning process. :)

What do you think are the most common myths about women in tech?

Women in tech is a hot topic that media is covering. Because so few women are in the space, you often see only a few get a lot of media attention. This creates a perception that the world is glamorous and easily maneuverable. The reality is, being successful in the tech industry (as a woman) isn’t always smooth sailing. There are lots of challenges along the way. 

How do you work to disprove those?

By continuing to make progress, grow our business, and innovate year over year to great reception from our audience, we prove that we are viable player in our space. Additionally, a big win was bringing on a President and  COO, Peggy Fry,  a digital media exec with 20+ years experience She too comes from a world traditionally run by men digital media and (advertising), and has held inspiring positions at some of the biggest names in digital media (AddThis, Netflix, AOL). The two of us have a crazy enthusiasm about our product and consumers which is reflected in the business.

Do you think it’s different being a women in tech in NY, as opposed to Silicon Valley?

There are some major differences between East and West Coast women-run technology businesses.. Women in tech in the Silicon Valley do statistically raise more capital. I believe this is due to the pure number of active angel and VC’s in the valley. Access is key. There’s also a preconception that businesses in the SV are more hardcore technology-focused, whereas in New York they tend to be more influenced by the surrounding industries (beauty, fashion, content, etc).

Lina Chen is the CEO of Nix Hydra, a VC-backed company that makes colorful and friendly mobile games popular among women. Chen and partner Naomi Ladizinsky established Nix Hydra in 2012, with the debut game Egg Baby. The game quickly became a massive phenomenon in the U.S. among teen girls and currently touts 14 million downloads with zero marketing spend and an impressive 4.5/5 average score from more than 430k reviews on the App Store. Both founders are Yale graduates and are showing no signs of letting the sexism of the gaming industry slow them down. 

What is it like to work in a male-dominated industry?

We have been embracing it because it's a huge opportunity for us! If the industry wasn't so male- dominated, we probably would have had more trouble making a hit game on our first try (because there would be so much more competition in this space) and in fact, our company probably wouldn't even exist. Actually, right now we are mostly ignored by the gaming industry, presumably because what we are doing doesn't interest most people in it, and that is great because it gives us more time to figure things out and grow to an unstoppable size (haha). 

More so, what is it like to work in a male-dominated industry where there is a ton of backlash against female gamers/developers. How do you deal with the pressure of both?

Like I said above, we have been mostly ignored because our games are nothing like the games that lots of more masculine developers are interested in playing or making. So we aren't competing with them and I think if someone is neither a threat to you nor doing anything that's of interest to you, your most natural response is to ignore them or be like 'that's nice, girls' and move on.

What made you decide to take on such a challenge in an industry known for its sexism? 

Profit. Haha. No but actually when we started this company we were clueless. We had no idea what the industry was like or how to make a game and we didn't know anyone who was even a game maker. The first few game makers (male) we met were super kind, supportive and welcoming and no one warned us about anything negative.  We started this whole thing because we couldn't find games we really wanted to play on our mobile phones and figured a lot of other young women probably felt the same.

Where do you hope to see the gaming industry go in the future?

To be a more magical, colorful and friendly place! We love diversity (obviously), but actually not so much for moral reasons as much as practical reasons - it just improves the ecosystem, speeds up progress and leads to more awesome products. So we'd love to see a more diverse industry in every way and we'd like to have had a huge impact on bringing about that change.

 How do you see the gaming world changing? 

The optimistic entrepreneur in me says it will change in the direction I've described in your previous question!

Mira Keras is a fashion school grad (FIT) and artist currently finishing a tattoo apprenticeship at a shop in Brooklyn called Tattoo Wonderland. According to Mira, the shop goes above and beyond in its commitment to serve everyone, and be inclusive-- which is more than in line with a boss blog post she wrote calling out fat-shaming and Instagram's ban of #curvy. Just last week she tattooed one of our favorite bloggers Christina Caradona of Trop Rogue, who spoke at the latest Create & Cultivate Dallas (check it out on Tattoo Wonderland's Instagram). 

How do you feel as a woman in an industry that's heavily dominated by men?

I love being a woman tattooist. Female interest in tattoo culture is rapidly expanding, and I think that it is important to have tattoo artists that are women who understand and collaborate to reach their vision.

Have you had any days that really surprised you as a woman in the tattoo industry?

When I realized that I wanted to tattoo, it was so hard to find a tattooist to mentor, or even tattoo me. Some artists had this no girls allowed attitude, and some did not want to tattoo someone who didn't already have tattoos. Luckily, I found an awesome feminist mentor who has taken me under his wing.

How have you seen your industry change since you became a part of it?

My lifetime is seeing tattooing become way less taboo. It is finding its way to becoming a respected art. I love seeing more women become interested in tattoos, and tattooing. Femme-Only and pro feminist shops are popping up all the time, which is really exciting. There are so many amazing and inventive women changing the former rigid and exclusive rules, and inventing many new genres of tattoos.

What are your predictions for your industry's future?

The future will bring more women tattooing, and more developing in what is to come as far as technology and tattooing. I am always day dreaming of the day there are metallic and glitter inks, women's interest in tattooing is sure to bring in demand for these inventions.

A Natural Eye: Tammy Price of Fragments Identity

For interior and product design veteran Tammy Price, owner of Fragments Identity, "pillows are like art. They can transform a space, they can make a plain sofa come to life, they can change the texture of a chair."  Which may not be true of every pillow, but the detail of the textiles Tammy choses make spaces feel special in a way that mass produced goods can't. She has an eye, and it's one that caught our attention. 

We checked in with the designer to find out where she catches that inspiration train and the story behind the piece of furniture that got away. 

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND. HOW YOU CAME UP WITH FRAGMENTS IDENTITY, AND HOW THE BUSINESS FITS INTO YOUR IDENTITY. 

I have been an interior designer, showroom owner and interior home product developer for the past 29 years. Design was my passion and when I created new products it was always a “piece of this, with a piece of that”, which I felt were the “fragments” of different elements. It is a complete reflection of things that I love. A mix of old and new, crispness and awesome textiles. I am a lover of all textiles! 

WHAT IS IT ABOUT INTERIOR TEXTILES THAT APPEALS TO YOU?

Absolutely everything! Tone, texture, the way they fabricate. In a way they are a blank canvas that you can create into many many things. They can become incredible art! 

WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION?

I think that when you are so deeply passionate about something, you can find inspiration in absolutely everything. There is no shortage. 

WHEN YOU RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS IS IT POSSIBLE TO SEPARATE WORK AND PERSONAL?

Well, design flows 24/7 for me, but I still make sure that I always take the time to prioritize for my family. It’s really great to surround yourself by people who understand your creativity and let you be who you are. 

WHAT'S THE MOST SURPRISING ELEMENT--SO FAR-- OF BEING A FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR? 

By being a female entrepreneur, you can find a way to make everything happen and open every door you want to go through.- there is always way!!

WHAT'S A SURPRISING PAST JOB YOU HAD THAT BENEFITS YOU TODAY?

During college, studying for my degree in design, I worked retail management and visual merchandising. While it wasn’t interior design, that job really gave me the platform and opportunity to learn about design and product development. 

WHAT'S THE BIGGEST MISTAKE MOST PEOPLE MAKE WITH INTERIOR DESIGN?

Not being patient enough to wait for it to all come together. The designer has the whole vision, but it takes time for it to all come together and you have to wait for it to unfold. 

YOUR BEST PIECE OF ADVICE FOR YOUNG FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS?

Never let somebody tell you that you can’t do something, because you can. Just do it and go for it.

"Just do it and go for it." 

Tweet this. 

WHAT'S A PIECE OF FURNITURE YOU FOUND, DIDN'T PURCHASE, AND HAS HAUNTED YOU FOREVER?

While I was driving through Napa, I spotted a vintage club chair that I had to have! At the time, I was driving a rental car and I tried to fit this chair in that car every way possible until I had to give up :( I still want that chair!

Be sure to check out Fragments Identity in the Create & Cultivate Office and Guest Bedroom! 

Boss Dating Tips from Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe

Whitney Wolfe is the Founder of Bumble. The dating app where women have to make the first move (because you only live Beyonce, amiright all my single ladies?). Which seems to be an approach that many women are taking in both their business and personal lives. But when you’re busy hustling, it’s highly possible that dating falls at the bottom of a very long to-do list. So we checked in with the CEO to find out her tips for dating when you’re a boss, like her. 

1.  When you’re busy, throwing paint against the wall to see what sticks isn’t the best approach. Part of the point of dating apps is to suss people out, “break the ice, keep it lighthearted, and let us be your wing woman,” says Wolfe. Use this opportunity almost as a first date that doesn’t require you to leave your house. (If only dating was actually that easy. *sobs in ice cream.*) 

"Use dating apps as an opportunity almost as a first date that doesn’t require you to leave your house.” 

Tweet this.

2.  There are plenty of fish in the sea, and the pool of Bumble men is on point. But with over 1 million users just about evenly split between men and woman, remember: mercury poisoning is also real— we’re looking at you Jeremy Piven, emoji wink. So you need to manage your expectations about what a dating app can do, in the same way you manage your stress, employees, work load, and email inbox. There’s no magic bullet for anything. Mitigating expectancies is crucial, especially when you’re first starting out.

3. No group photos. Do you head into an investor meeting with a posse? Do you bring your bestie to your business brunch? Nope. If you want to be taken seriously, be serious. Show your face in your profile pic. Wolfe says, “If you have six photos of you and all your friends, it’s going to be harder for you to make great matches.” Beyond that, it’s fine to show that you have friends and you *woop Drake voice* know how to cut a rug, but as a HBIC you should also know there is such a thing as over-selling it. Be confident in you. That said…

4. You’re a Boss in the boardroom. There’s no reason you can’t be Queen Boss on Bumble too. Wolfe says, “There is nothing more attractive than confidence and intelligence.” We’d have to agree. If a man is intimidated by a powerful woman, then he’s not the man for you. Going on a date with him is just a waste of your time. If in in your initial convo he’s trying to one-up you, give him the the ole “BRB” and never come back. 

5. Time and again female CEOs reiterate how important it is to be authentic. When you’re looking for investors, when you’re starting a business, when you’re pitching a client— authenticity and honestly are key when making smart business decisions. Wolfe says, “I would never wear red lipstick in real life, so for me to then put photos with a full face of makeup and red lipstick would be ridiculous. Sure, it might get more right swipes, but it’s not the right kind of men I’d be attracting. It’s not important to have a first date—it’s important to have something authentic and real.”

It’s not important to have a first date—it’s important to have something authentic and real.”

Tweet this. 

6. Use your time wisely, and be online during peak times. There are good times to Instagram (ahem, 12nEST when Europeans are home from work, the east coast is heading to lunch and the west coast is rising and shining), and there are smart times to Bumble. That sweet honey hour for Bumble according to Wolfe, “is at 6pm.” Which just happens to be Happy Hour. Coincidence? Nope. 

Be sure to check out Whitney on the Main Stage this January at Create & Cultivate Dallas, where she’ll be dolling out much more than dating tips. Think: How she landed a spot as the first female guest on Trevor Noah’s “The Daily Show.” 

The Bright & Busy World of Designer Jolene Kraus

Most people say separate work and pleasure, but when your husband is your partner — in both life and business— how do you draw a line between the two? For Jolene Kraus, who co-founded Park Studio, an LA-based lighting and interior design company, with husband Ben, the answer is simple: "We like that our lines are blurred. I think that’s what makes us successful." 

The duo are also parents to 13-month-old Arden, and work out of the studio in their backyard. But, according to Jolene, when you love what you do "it's not really work," so negotiating this territory is easier.  "Yes, we have to physically make every fixture, box it, answer all emails, work in quickbooks, etc," she says, "but I am beyond proud of the business Ben and I built in under two years." Beyond that Jolene notes that creativity doesn't operate on a 9-5 schedule, so bringing business home is part of the job. "It's impossible for us to automatically shut off our creative thinking caps at exactly 5 pm.” Based on the designs Park Studio is putting out, we wouldn’t want them to.     

We checked in with the multitasking maven to find out more about those blurred lines, busy days, and Park Studio’s bright future. 

HOW IMPORTANT IS COLLABORATION WHEN IT COMES TO CREATIVITY?

We are often building custom fixtures for our clients and we rely heavily on collaborating during that process. I truly believe every fixture has been the result of a successful collaboration. This could happen over months or just weeks, but we generally work from sketches to mock-ups to the final production run. We each speak up during the process.

IS THERE A DESIGNER (OR TWO) YOU'D LOVE TO COLLABORATE WITH?

Of course we would love to collaborate with commune. My product and color heroes are Scholten + Baijings--I would love to work with them!

HOW DO YOU BALANCE MOM LIFE AND WORK LIFE?

Our nanny works 9-5, so we are with Arden from when she wakes up until our nanny gets here. And the same in the evenings—when the nanny leaves at 5, we are with her until bedtime at 7. That doesn’t mean that one of us won’t take a phone call or answer an email. I want our daughter to see the importance of hard work and make sure she understands that mommy and daddy have businesses to run. Hopefully we are setting up a legacy for her. 

THAT SAID: MOM, WIFE, AND SMALL-BUSINESS OWNER--WHICH JOB IS HARDER?

That’s a tough one. They all have their challenges, but they are all also very rewarding. I am beyond proud of the business Ben and I have built (in just under 2 years); and our daughter is our obsession (also under 2). Ben makes it easy to be his wife. He would do anything for us, so thankfully that job is the easiest. Being a mom is hard knowing that she is at an impressionable age-- she’s now starting to say what we say (yikes) and we are really seeing her Scorpio personality these past couple of weeks. Being a mom also means I don’t get a lot of me time-- thank God for dry shampoo and granola bars. Being a small business owner is very hard. we don’t just wear many hats, we wear every hat. from dropping off packages at fed ex to writing every email reply to designing and building the fixtures. all of that said, we are very grateful for what we have and wouldn’t change a thing!

"We don’t just wear many hats, we wear every hat."

Tweet this. 

HOW ESSENTIAL IS LIGHTING TO SETTING THE TONE OF A ROOM? WHAT GOES INTO CONSIDERING THE LIGHTING IN A ROOM?

Lighting is the most important aspect of a room, and I’m not saying that just because we have a lighting company. we can always remember that time we went into an overly lit room and could only think about how we must look in that harsh light (though maybe it’s a girl thing). lighting for a room needs to be the right scale and the right output. you don’t want a small fixture in a large room and you definitely don’t want too much light/output in a small space. That’s why we make multiple styles of fixtures that create adequate amount of ambient light to accommodate the majority of room sizes. 

The Sonoma Chandelier, $1300. This chandelier hangs in the Create & Cultivate office. 

"Thank God for dry shampoo and granola bars."

Tweet this. 

HOLIDAYS AND NYE PARTIES ARE HERE. WHAT IS THE BEST DINNER PARTY LIGHTING?

We always tell our clients to put their lights on a dimmer. The ability to create mood lighting is always a good thing.

WHAT'S THE BIGGEST INTERIOR DESING MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE?

Scale and proportion. From too small of an area rug, to too large of a sofa. Scale and proportion are challenges for the untrained eye.

WHAT ARE SOME TIPS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THE "EYE" FOR INTERIOR DESIGN?

I think it’s important to hire professionals who do have expertise in the field. Though, if you are on a budget (as all of us are), there are definitely great resources that can help with that process. Homepolish is one of our favorite design consulting services. 

In general we like to follow these tips:

+Chandeliers should be 30” - 36” above a dining table. That helps create an intimate setting.

+Drapery should just skim the floor. 1/4” above the floor to be exact.

+Paint all of your walls, not just an accent. If you’re brave enough to paint one wall black, paint them all—or it will look like you ran out of paint. 

WHERE DO YOU SEE PARK STUDIOS EXPANDING?

Very soon we will be more than a lighting studio. We are in the process of manufacturing hardware (think drawer pulls and knobs) and updating our pillow offering. More than anything I would love to design furniture and rugs. We want to be a one-stop shop for affordable, great design.

FINALLY, TELL US! YOUR SECRET LA FURNITURE SHOP SPOTS?

A+R on La Brea,  Noir  / CFC,  all of the local flea markets, St. Vincent de Paul, and we are craigslist lovers.