Entrepreneur: Ariel Kaye, Parachute Home

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Entrepreneur List Here. 

Dared to dream big about sleep.

You spend a third of your life in bed and according the Ariel Kaye, CEO and founder of Parachute Home, “your sleep experience matters.” 

A few years ago the entrepreneur was shopping for bedding and found herself surrounded by stacks upon stacks of products wrapped in plastic. It “all looked the same,” she says. “I couldn’t believe that bedding brands didn’t ask me how I slept. I wanted high quality, comfortable sheets like the ones I had experienced traveling in Italy, but I didn’t want to spend a fortune or settle for the cheaper options made with synthetics or chemicals.” 

It was then she realized that “there was no middle-market for modern quality bedding.” After research confirmed her suspicions that a bedding brand that connected with customers and engaged them past the point of purchase didn’t exist, she set out to develop the first of its kind: a bedding company with brand loyalty. One “that enabled people to start and end their day feeling their very best.” 

“As someone who built brands in advertising,” she shares, “I recognized a true business opportunity.” 

From there, the most important step to getting the company off the ground was believing in herself. “About four or five months in,” she explains, “I realized being an entrepreneur was going to be infinitely harder than I expected and that I was pursuing a path of uncertainty. I had moments of doubt and questioned if I had made the right decision.”

During the beginning stages Ariel was the sole founder with no team to bounce ideas off of or simply chat with during the day. So she joined Launchpad, a California-based startup accelerator to grow the business. “The community of mentors,” she says, “and other entrepreneurs—all ready to help and encourage me—pushed me through my time of doubt and loneliness. They reaffirmed that I had to believe in myself and my idea in order for Parachute to be a success.” 

“I had to believe in myself and my idea for Parachute to be a success.” 

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Ariel is wearing Keds' Champion Originals.

She advises that when you’re “just starting out, it’s tempting to focus on the the pieces of the business that you’re more comfortable doing, but the big problems that have big implications on the business are often the least sexy...and unfortunately for me, often have to do with numbers.” With a background in branding and advertising, Ariel needed a crash course in inventory planning. “ Not being able to anticipate demand – and realizing that I couldn’t fulfill orders so early on – felt like a huge failure. It took about six months for me to have a solid understanding of how to project our inventory purchases. It’s an art and a science.” 

And now, she’s dreaming big, over the next five years continuing to expand the product offerings and plans to introduce collections for other rooms of the house.   “I launched Parachute online with the intention of bringing the brand offline at some point, too.” With the recently opened Parachute Hotel in Venice, CA, the company is providing another opportunity for the community to engage. 

“The Parachute Hotel was the natural next step for us – it’s an immersive, home-like space for our community. We’re not just in the business of selling home essentials.  We are creating environments that add value to our community, that allow our customers to interact with us, and that hold space for making great memories with your loved ones.”

She’s committed to steering conversation around unity and community building, maintaining that even in light of recent inaugurations, “we are stronger together.” 

“I realized what had been missing in my career was wanting to feel like I had made an impact. I wanted to build something from the ground up,” she says. 

“Much of Parachute's success can be attributed to the female founders, entrepreneurs and creatives who have supported the brand, cheered us on, and shared our mission of bringing a great night's sleep to the world.” 

On her career bucket list: giving a TED talk and hoping that women gain true equality. “To me,” she shares, “female empowerment means true equality – no longer viewing gender as a differentiator or something to be discussed in economics or politics. We’ll have achieved ‘female empowerment’ when the phrase disappears from our conversation.”

We’ll have a good night’s sleep to that.

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Fashion: Tuesday Bassen

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Fashion List Here.

Fought the man, and won.

Tuesday Bassen has a name as recognizable as her work. Her Ugly Girl Gang Zine, collections of pins and patches, as well as a growing apparel line sized 2-22, has a loyal swath of fans. 

So loyal, that when international retailer Zara attempted to steal the artists’ work and sell it as their own, Tuesday began receiving emails from concerned followers who wanted to know if the behemoth had licensed her work. They hadn’t. 

In a David v. Goliath-like battle, the independent artist took on the retailer, who essentially told her she wasn’t famous enough to have her work pilfered. But Tuesday fought back, taking the company’s response to Instagram, where loyalists spread the word like wildfire.  

“A true silver lining of a terrible situation has been the incredible support from everyone,” shares Tuesday. “It's a worst nightmare scenario for any artist to have their catalogue of work stolen. It drains your time, money, and resources, but being cheered on by other creatives has made it worth the fight.”

It’s why she says, “the support of her peers,” coupled with “sheer tenacity,” is what has kept her going during cloudy moments. The Zara debacle wasn’t the designers first run in with rain. “I think everyone that is building their career from nothing experiences similar struggles: poverty, self doubt, et cetera.” 

She says it’s hard for her to know what the first, most “important” step in her career was, but says, “I spent years under the poverty line building my career slowly. Moving to Los Angeles was the most important decision I've made for my personal life. I moved without knowing anyone, but I knew in my gut that it was the place I've always been meant to live. Because I took the step to improve my happiness, my career started thriving as well.”

“I took the step to improve my happiness and my career started thriving.”

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Tuesday is wearing Keds' Triple Dalmata Dot Leather sneaker.

Today, she is the CEO and sole designer at her company, Tuesday Bassen INC, where she handles her illustration clients, as well as manages her online store ShopTuesday.com. “I dedicated my life to working on my illustration career and started my online store by selling hand made ceramics,” says Tuesday. 

Her Friend X popup shop that featured her work as well as those of her creative peers, performed exceptionally well over the holidays. And by the looks of things, it’s what people want. Her Ugly Girl Gang Zine “devoted to badass women who don’t care what you think or how they look, all the while kicking ass at what they do,” has sold out of Issue #1, #2, and #3. Thank goodness Tuesday Bassen never has. 

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Entrepreneur: Amy Shecter

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Entrepreneur List Here.

In demand CEO for on demand beauty. 

When the time came for veteran fashion executive Amy Shecter to hunt for a new role that would bring her closer to family, she never could have predicted that her very first call would be for her dream gig. But that’s exactly how it happened for the Glamsquad CEO, who previously held top posts at Diesel, DKNY, Cole Haan, Tory Burch, and Elie Tahari, and most recently spent the last two years commuting between New York and Denver as CEO of Core Power Yoga.

“I was a ‘power user’ of GLAMSQUAD, and, to be honest, rather obsessed with the company,” explains the glam fan-turned-head-honcho. “I spent a lot of time talking to the beauty professionals who came to my home about their jobs and the company. I thought it would be an incredible opportunity to be a part of a place that is so disruptive and relevant to the 21st century.” Now, here’s where it gets interesting. “Once I decided to look for a new role in NYC, I got a call from a recruiter who was looking to fill the CEO position for GLAMSQUAD. I actually dropped the phone when she told me. I knew I had to have this position."

Not being afraid to fail has given me the confidence to succeed.

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That Shecter manifested this career pivot is a testament to her spirituality, focus, and dedication. The longtime retail vet credits yoga, running and veganism for her good health, positive attitude, and boundless energy, as well as her father for instilling in her a strong sense of self-confidence and a fearless attitude toward change. “I have taken many risks in my career, all of which have helped me get to where I am today,” says the family-first CEO, who attributes spirituality with allowing her to live in the moment and see beyond the many ‘what-ifs?’ life and business inevitably bring. “As a marketer, I always thought of myself as a brand. Having that approach gives you the freedom to try new things that align and build your brand, as well as your career. Not being afraid to fail has helped me try new things and have the confidence to succeed." 

As Shecter settles into this still-relatively-fresh role as GLAMSQUAD CEO, she’s eager to propel the emerging beauty behemoth forward; to help it seize its status as the destination for on-demand beauty services. “I am totally passionate about what I do. I love building brands and I love to succeed! I am motivated by the potential that I see with GLAMSQUAD and excited about building a company, a team and a brand that resonates with so many women of different ages.”

While Shecter certainly has much to boast about professionally — not least, pulling off a transition from fashion to fitness and then swiveling to tech-based beauty — it’s a desire to be close to family that precipitated her latest power move in the first place, something all of us entrepreneurs would do well to remember. “I don’t think you should leave the house without kissing your family goodbye. I do so for a trip to the grocery store or business trip out of the country,” advises the CEO of today’s hottest beauty start-up. Her modest piece of life advice? “Appreciate what you have, live in the moment, and make sure you make time for family.”

Content Creator: Amanda de Cadenet

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Content Creator List Here.   

The feminist fire starter. 

Amanda de Cadenet pulls very few punches. “If I have zero interest in the question,” she tells us, “I won’t answer it.” It’s a refreshing frankness from the founder and CEO of The Conversation and now, #GirlGaze, a multimedia photo project designed to support girls behind the camera. The project's first exhibition, #girlgaze: a frame of mind, opened at the Annenberg Space of Photography in October 2016 and runs until February 2017. It features work from up-and-coming female and gender non-conforming photographers.  

As the tale of implicit career bias goes, only one-third of professional news photographers are women. Which begs the question: whose eye is capturing what's important? The goal for de Cadenet is to get more perspectives seen, and begin championing that potential early. “It’s so important for girls to understand that they have the power,” the photographer slash founder says. 

“It’s so important for girls to understand that they have the power.”

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It’s a message she has conveyed to all her children. Her eldest daughter, Atlanta, took the streets in protest after Trump was elected president, joining over 100,000 people in the streets of DTLA. Her twins, Ella and Silvan, phone banked for Hillary. “It was so wonderful to watch them on the phone,” she recalls, reciting their script with that proud mommy smile. "‘Hi, my name is Ella and I’m a ten-year-old volunteer for the Hillary Clinton campaign.’"

“A life of service is everything; it's crucial,” the activist says. "I'm hardcore about my kids being active in service.” She’s also adamant about raising feminist children and for de Cadenet there's no such thing as too early. "It’s so cool for them to know that they can affect change, that their actions matter, and that starts on the playground.” It is the exact sentiment supported by her work with #girlgaze. She's taking it out of her home and into the streets. 

Modeling this behavior for her children is clearly important to the mom of three. We bring up the saying, 'If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.’ 

“A lot of people say that,” says the CEO, “but you’re either someone who follows or someone who innovates. Who did Hillary see when she decided to run for President? I don’t buy it. You can dream of something and see what’s missing. I made #girlgaze because it didn’t exist.”

The feminist thinks that the concept of female empowerment is often used out of context. “Empowerment,” she shares, “is anything that facilitates a person feeling better about themselves, or good about themselves. Building self-esteem is empowering. For me that means hiring more women across the board in various sectors, because careers build self-esteem.” 

"Empowerment is anything that facilities a person feeling better about themselves."

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Careers like those in photography. 

Where The Conversation addressed the fears and realities of women-- bringing the conversations taking place in Amanda’s kitchen about postpartum depression, sex, and gender stereotypes to light, #girlgaze has intentionally focused on the younger generation. "My audience was getting younger and younger-- that doesn’t happen," she says. The multitasking mama had to ask herself, why it was happening. What content was missing? She saw the gap, realizing that young girls’ exposure to the media, subtle racism and sexism and misogyny, was deeply affecting their self-esteem. “Something does well when it’s needed,” de Cadenet explains. And there was a need.

“They were getting impacted,” she says. “They wanted guidance younger, so I consciously made a choice to create something for them. Creativity is the vehicle for change for a lot of young girls that I know.” A generation she thinks highly of, citing young feminists like Rowan Blanchard. ‘It is our job and my commitment, now more than ever," she says, "to not abandon these issues and to support the next generation of girls tenfold.”

When we talked in November 2016 #girlgaze had received over 750,000 submissions. Photographs from young women all over the world who bring their unique perspective to the digital table, including protest photos documenting the global response to Trump’s election. Issues that strike close to her heart. “Women and people of color have been saying for a long time that we’re living with systematic, clear, undebatable racism and sexism in this country. You have to take stock on a situation before you can change it and then you can create realistic tools.” 

For the lifelong activist and journalist who has interviewed everyone from Bernie Sanders to Hillary Clinton #girlgaze is one tool. A strong, female voice making media that matters is another. Community, yet one more integral piece of the revolution. “We must not become desensitized to our passion and commitment to female only safe spaces,” de Cadenet champions. 

Now is the time to gaze hard at the present, to be heard, to rise up.

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Beauty: Nikisha Brunson

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with Dove, you can view the full Beauty List Here. 

Fresh-faced, refreshingly honest, and free. 

For Nikisha Brunson — Austin-based blogger and owner of 100% natural skincare line Folie Apothecary — it was a bumpy road to becoming one of the realest health and wellness influencers in the game. But it’s one she wouldn’t trade in for anything. As co-founder of Urban Bush Babes and Pineapple Life, the definitive online destinations for natural hair, fashion, health, lifestyle, music, arts, and culture, Brunson inspires legions of women with daily beauty and wellness tips. While she’s undeniably, and enviably, stylish in that effortless sort of way that feels especially unfair, what really sets this lifestyle guru apart from the throngs of beauty bloggers is how boldly and transparently she’s shared her struggles with depression, abuse, ADHD, suicide attempts, and becoming a mom at the troubled age of 16.

Holding a BA in Psychology and an MA in Childhood Education — the blogger, mama, and skincare goddess has also taught public school in New York and Virginia — Brunson brings a refreshingly real and unaffected perspective to the notoriously curated blogosphere. “My teenage son has ADHD, and I was diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety disorder, and depression in my later years, which has inspired me to share my journey in hopes of helping others going through the same things,” says Brunson, who’s been blogging since 2011, but has recently shifted her focus to her health and wellness journey. She has also been vocal about her personal experience as a rape survivor — proving herself nothing short of a superhero, support system, and beacon of hope for the countless women battling, overcoming, and triumphing in similarly oppressive situations. “My depression and anxiety take every heartbreak and dagger I've felt and elevate it to the next level. I've attempted suicide in the past over heartbreak, over being a single teenage mom in college,” she bravely shares. It’s a rare transparency in a world more concerned with what type of foundation a woman is wearing.

"Life is too magical to put barriers on it."

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For Brunson, there have been scores of barriers to self-acceptance, but her true power is evidenced in the ability to transform these low-points into lessons. She describes the challenge and ultimate victory of letting go of toxic relationships to free up the energy for fulfilling her greater purpose. She also chronicles her ongoing struggle with ADHD and the daily effort to focus and juggle without succumbing to procrastination, burnout, and anxiety. For strength, she turns to her son, husband, and those who’ve previously warred with these demons. “There is nothing more inspiring than to have a person tell me that my vulnerability, transparency, or health information that I've shared has helped them change their life and has inspired them.” For this reason, she cites “anyone who is transparent or vulnerable” as her greatest mentor.

Brunson’s journey to self-care and wellness has undoubtedly been an emotional rollercoaster, which it’s why it’s only fitting that she name her new skincare line “Folie,” after the French word for “madness.” Personally, we wish it was considered far less crazy for a beauty influencer to be as unapologetic and honest as she is. “I'm transparent with my mental health issues and disorders. I teach various ways of staying healthy from the inside out such as exercise, smoothie recipes, and DIYs. I listen a lot and offer help to anyone who reaches out to me for it.” These are just a few of the ways she hopes to move feminism forward.

Currently, Brunson is focused on what’s directly in front of her. As far as five year goals, she says that “life is too magical to put barriers on it,” but that she isn’t afraid to reinvent herself and go wherever life leads. In the meantime, you can find her listening to music in the morning, making smoothies and ceramics, and dancing. “My only goal is to stay true to myself and never stop exploring.”

Fashion: Katherine Power & Hillary Kerr, Clique Media Group

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Fashion List Here. 

The media moguls. 

Leaving a cushy and respectable editorial job at a top fashion magazine to become an entrepreneur might sound completely terrifying and insane to most people, but Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power are certainly not most people. The fashion world power duo met while working for Elle Magazine, on the set of the show "Project Runway." They struck up a friendship and bonded immediately; within a year they had started Who What Wear as an answer to the lack of great editorial content online at the time. This was 2006, when MySpace was king, and most leading fashion magazines had only splash pages as websites, with no content at all. Kerr and Power saw an opportunity and took a leap: they left their jobs at Elle and launched a newsletter which is now, arguably, The Clique Media Group media empire.

As seasoned veterans of fashion editorial, Kerr and Power brought the professionalism and expertise of print media to their web content. But a big part of the reason for Who What Wear’s wild success was the duo’s early embracing of social media; though it was a fledgling medium at the time, Kerr and Power used MySpace to launch a series of videos promoting their new site. Thanks to that, the pair’s own strong networks, and the site’s uniquely friendly and approachable take on fashion, Who What Wear’s readership swelled. Kerr and Power have harnessed the power of social all along the way, and today Who What Wear boasts over 2.3 million Instagram followers. In fact, it was their enthusiasm and savvy for all things digital that led them to eventually step up their entrepreneurial game by launching Clique Media Group, not only as a parent company for Who What Wear but as a tech, commerce, and content company that would allow them to pursue all their digital dreams. In 2017, CMG is a formidable global media, marketing, and consumer brands company that is venture-backed (Amazon is an investor) and regularly touted by Forbes Magazine.  Aside from Who What Wear, their current portfolio includes the home and lifestyle site myDomaine and beauty platform Byrdie, the cutting-edge social only Gen Z network Obsessee, and their most recent acquisition, the website CollegeFashionista. They’ve also entered the consumer space, partnering with Target to offer an ongoing monthly collection of clothing and accessories inspired by street style trends that launched in January of 2016. The collaboration has been so popular that Kerr and Power hope to expand their reach in terms of consumer goods. “We’ve found incredible success with our Who What Wear clothing and accessories line at Target,” says Power. “In fact, we just expanded with Who What Wear shoes that follow the same thesis of fast fashion informed by data from our savvy millennial reader. So I’d love to see us expand in that area of consumer brands as I know we can give consumers what they’re looking for.”

What else is the power pair currently excited about? “I'm obsessed with the Obsessee girl and world; the combination of Gen-Z and social-only content makes every part of my brain excited,” says Kerr. For Power, it’s virtual reality. “We’re always trying new things and work to stay on the cutting edge of all technological advancements, so it’s certainly on our radar,” she tells us. “In fact, we’ve already been using VR as event activations. For our Obsessee pop-up at The Grove this summer, we partnered with Samsung, who had ambassadors bring headsets for guests to view fashion, music, and art virtual reality videos. People loved it!”

“I’d like to build this company to the giant I know it can be."

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It may not seem like Kerr or Power has literally one free second for anything outside of running their empire, but these superwomen squeeze in extra-curriculars to keep themselves sane. For Kerr, a self-described “word nerd,” it’s reading, and for Power, it’s exercise. “I love my daily 6 a.m. workout class at Tracy Anderson’s studio in L.A,” she says. “It keeps my brain functioning clearly.” For her part, Kerr has made peace with being a workaholic. “I take better care of myself, emotionally and physically,” she says of the time since the two first started out over a decade ago. “I've finally realized that I cannot separate my brain from work, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I firmly believe that you never know where a good idea will come from, and that means staying alert, open, and engaged with the world around you.” But don’t make the mistake of assuming Kerr and Power are content with staying where they are professionally. The same ambition and confidence that spurred them to take a risk and start Who What Wear back in 2006 is still here, and bigger than ever. “I’d like to build this company to the giant I know it can be,” Power says of their future goals. “You only get this close to something so big maybe once or twice in a lifetime, so I’m going to swing for the fences.”

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Music: Anna Bulbrook

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Music List Here.

Taking us all to #GIRLSCHOOL

After spending the last ten years onstage performing with bands like Edward Sharpe and The Airborne Toxic Event (work which nabbed the violinist/musician a Grammy, hello) GIRLSCHOOL founder Anna Bulbrook noticed a lack of women on-stage with “increasing urgency.” 

GIRLSCHOOL, an LA-based music and arts festival that celebrates and connects female-identified artists, leaders, and voices in an inclusive, action-oriented, and forward-thinking way launched one year ago, with its first annual weekend-long festival. It was dubbed FIELD DAY WEEKEND, hosted at the Bootleg Theater in LA.

As someone who has been playing music nearly her entire life, the multi-instrumentalist knew she had to find the answers to questions she couldn't stop asking herself: "How can we generate the positive force to change this dynamic? How can we celebrate and lift talented women past the local level? How can we flip the script and make it cool to be a talented woman in rock?" 

The festival was the first part of the puzzle and this month marks GIRLSCHOOL’s second festival. “For me,” explains Anna, “it has become an amazing reason to intentionally connect with other women doing cool things in the space of music and intersectional feminism.” She can’t imagine her life without the community she's building and continues to learn from other powerful women along her journey.

Her favorite life advice comes from Fabi Reyna, who started She Shreds, the women’s first guitar magazine who told her, “Get a little better every time.”

"It's scary to do something new, especially in public, and you can't skip steps," shares Anna. "But the beautiful thing is that action begets action begets more action."    

Older for Anna doesn’t necessarily mean wiser: “I have a major professional crush on Tavi Gevinson, for being unabashedly precocious, and for celebrating her diverse talents.” But she will admit there has been plenty of self growth since running away with a band at 23. “I'm so glad I drank the rock'n'roll Kool-Aid” she laughs, “and I'm glad it worked out. I've had so many wild experiences from being in a band!” But she’s also “grateful to be growing into this next phase of life, and to be getting to build something for my community.”

That means she’s more intentional in her choices. “I used to make life decisions in an instinctive or reactive way.” With GIRLSCHOOL she says she has a “clearer picture of where I want to go, and the kinds of people I want to share that process with, and am working to create those opportunities instead of 'catching' them.” Along this journey she says she's getting more patient, exercises daily with few exceptions, is taking on modern dance, and "has one excellent cup of coffee per day," that she likes to make herself.   

"When it comes to creating change, there is magic in critical mass."

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“There is power in knowing and loving each other in person,” explains the musician. "And when it comes to creating change, there is magic in critical mass. So, I love our frighteningly talented artists. I love the brilliant and dynamic team of women who are assembling behind-the-scenes to make GIRLSCHOOL better and better, and who bring my level up as a person in the world every day. I love the magic that happens when everyone gets together. I love feeling part of something bigger than myself. And I love learning how to be better as person, friend, artist, leader.”

As for what's next? "I want to raise a million dollars for charity. And I want to meet Michelle Obama." 

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Food: Helen Johannesen

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Food List Here.

Toasting to hard work (with crisp notes of cherry on top).

In the back corner of popular Jon and Vinny’s in Los Angeles is a neon sign that reads, helen’s; everyone here is on a first-name basis. Which is exactly how Helen Johannesen, partner in the restaurant and founder of helen's wine shop, likes it. When she invites you in the back for a glass you wonder if you need to sit down for dinner at all. (You will, but she’s just that charismatic and knowledgeable about wine.)

Helen has been steadily working in the restaurant business since graduating from college. Eight years ago she began working with Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo at animal in Los Angeles where she had the opportunity to build the wine program. A role she says really “sparked a curiosity about food and wine pairing.” She became their Director of Operations and Beverage Director for several years until the three partnered up on Jon & Vinny’s and helen’s. 

She spend most of her time at the shop helen’s on Fairfax (down the street from Melody Ehsani), but also runs the beverage programs for all six other restaurants. It’s a massive undertaking and she recalls a moment last year when she “felt more underwater than I had ever felt before.”

“I was never going to walk away,” she says, “but sometimes if you can’t pursue your real passion and are bogged down by too much bullshit, it feels defeating.” 

She admits that the industry can be incredibly challenging and “can really take you down if you let it,” but ultimately believes: “I love what I do, and every day is a new day, so any frustrations can be laid to rest and I can move forward. Passion is the best motivator.”

"Passion is the best motivator.”

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She jubilates that there are “SO MANY THINGS,” on her career bucket list, but says, “I would hesitate to say them out loud.” She will however cop to wanting to open a second location for Jon & Vinny’s and helen’s this year. For now the busy wine boss feels satisfied and grateful having “prioritized my wants, needs, and dreams more than any other time in my life.” 

When she needs a port in a storm (#winejoke) Helen looks to her business partners, whom she credits as being “influential and wonderful friends along this journey.” She also says she’s “always admired Carolyn Styne, who nine years ago was one of the only other female wine buyers for multiple units in this city.” While they are her day-to-day mentors, she’s likewise shouting out to “too many women across the industries to list, who speak their mind, work hard, believe they can have it all and don't second guess or apologize.”

Helen claims the most striking career difference between now and five years ago is that she come first. “I'm really betting on myself and my own business right now,” she says. Sharing that it's a move that “takes an extra amount of self-encouragement.” 

Which is something she works to pass on to other women in the company. “Many of our top positions in the company are held by women and they were placed there because they are the best candidates for the job. We don't discriminate over here. I try and be a leader to those women.”

“Women,” says Helen, “have the power to be as badass as you wanna be.” 

We’ll drink to that. 

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Philanthropy: Kelly Sawyer & Norah Weinstein, Baby2Baby

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Philanthropy List Here. 

Bridging the diaper divide.

"As a mom of two girls, I want nothing more than for them to grow up as strong decision makers who go after what they want and make it happen. They're growing up and seeing that women can run for president, lead any company, and win gold medals. They believe women can do it as well, if not better, than men and it’s a belief I hope they keep strong as they head into the world." -- Kelly Sawyer Patricof

Baby2Baby, the non-profit founded by co-presidents Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein is all about the diaper domino effect: providing children ages 0-12 with diapers, clothing, and the basic necessities that every child deserves to start life off right.  

After meeting over dinner in Los Angeles, Kelly and Norah knew that they both wanted to “move into the [philanthropic] world exclusively, instead of having it on the periphery,” but weren't sure where to start. As moms themselves, they knew they wanted to help children and began to meet with various non-profits, asking where they could be most effective and most useful. Many of the narratives they heard highlighted the same problem: basics were in short supply. The diapers, the gear and clothing that allowed those in need to learn and benefit from their services. The idea for Baby2Baby was born. They knew plenty of women who had softly used or new goods that could be donated. 

They started with 12k and an 800 square-foot space. A kickoff party at that space hosted 30 friends. Among those in attendance were Nicole Richie and Jessica Alba. Huggies took notice. “We got a call,” Norah says, “that Huggies wanted to send 100,000 diapers and $75,000. They asked if we accepted pallets.” The co-founders joke they had no idea what that meant at the time and they ended up unloading those 100,000 diapers themselves with the aid of one intern. “We gave them away in two days,” Kelly adds, which was eye-opening. The need was that great. 

Their motto after that was simply to say yes. Items are now currently distributed to over 100 non-profit partner organizations.

What many people don’t realize is that diapers are not considered a necessity by the government and thereby not covered by food stamps. A third of mothers in the United States are forced to choose between diapers and food. In that exists a “cycle of poverty,” explains Norah. “You can’t send your child to daycare without diapers and you can’t go to work if you don’t have daycare.” Many childcare centers require 6-8 diapers per day, per child to attend. It creates a barrier many low-income families cannot topple on their own. 

“We had big aspirations and dreams that many might have thought were unrealistic,” shares Kelly about their launch five years ago. But since its founding Baby2Baby has “reached those goals and we’ve served more low-income families that I had imagined we could.” They are nowhere close to being done or fulfilling the needs of struggling families. “I now realize,” says Kelly, “that it’s time to make bigger goals and push forward with confidence that we can meet them.”  

"It’s time to make bigger goals and push forward with confidence."

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In 2016 Baby2Baby served over 125,000 low income families in Los Angeles area and they are currently distributing more diapers than any other organization in the country. But the women divulge that there are over 300,000 children living in poverty in Los Angeles. “Our reach is big,” they say, “but it’s not reaching everyone.”

Yet the growth patterns bring optimism. In 2015 they expanded with their Baby2Baby National Network, extending the reach out of Los Angeles to an additional 20 cities in the United States. They also continue to gain the support of high-profile names. Mothers like Jennifer Garner, Kate Hudson, and Drew Barrymore. “We’re proud that it’s a group of moms and that the whole board is women,” they say. 

And while the names help visibility Norah, a former lawyer who interned for President Clinton during his presidency, says her legal background helps as well. From dealing with corporate giving from big names like Disney and The Honest Company, to developing holiday product lines with Paul Mitchell, to putting donated products through their rigorous Baby2Baby golden standard, the day-to-day operations are every bit a business. “I loved my firm,” shares Norah, “but I knew I wasn't meant to defend securities litigation.” Instead she’s using her life and her acumen to defend the basic rights of mothers and children. 

“To do that,” explains Kelly, “we need to ensure that the low-income children in our country, and around the world, have access to basic essentials—food, a solid education, diapers, schools supplies, clothing to keep them warm, and more. They need and deserve this foundation so that they can grow and succeed.” That’s why they are also focused on education and fighting laws in California that classify diapers as a luxury. 

“Awareness is paramount and now more than ever our work is cut out for us,” says Kelly. “I strongly believe that to help women succeed we need to focus on helping girls succeed.”  

With a staff of 20, a committed brother and sisterhood of volunteers, and clear goals in mind, they are on their way. "When I see people post about Sunday night blues and hump day, I cannot relate anymore," says Norah. "I love the work week and love what I do." 

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Fashion: Jamie Mizrahi

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Fashion List Here.

Stylist for Generation Instagram.

Jamie Mizrahi is proof that a career in styling is a process much like getting dressed. You start bare, slowly adding pieces, until finally, you've constructed an outfit. Or in her case, a lauded career. Though today she dresses women like the Foster Sisters and badass Sasha Lane, Jamie got her “first client,” after over ten years in the business, grinding it out in both New York and Los Angeles. “It takes hard work and determination,” Jamie says. “In my experience, it takes never saying no and constantly doing the best you can while learning from others and your own mistakes.” 

Of which, she says, there were so many little ones in the beginning. They make her laugh now, as errors are an inevitability in a business that's core nature is on-the-go and very demanding. You're constantly dealing with tiny details and large personalities. The stylist acknowledges however, to be allowed the space to err is vital. “You can’t do better if you can’t make mistakes,” she says. 

“You can’t do better if you can’t make mistakes.” 

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Unafraid to ask for help, Jamie explains she is “constantly asking [mentors] for advice, seeing where they are in their lives.” She’s realized, “it's not always easy to get to the right decision on your own.”

In her spare time she's a sucker for pottery, hot yoga, cooking, and hiking, swearing by both her skincare routine and “laughing a lot.” 

Part of her career process has included hiring an agent, an important step. “An agent helps you keep all the pieces together and works on building your career with you, helping bring in new opportunities, while you're out hustling."  

As time goes on Jamie's relationship to herself and career only gets “better and better,” in part because she truly loves her chosen path. And whether she's working with friends or new clients her approach to the job doesn’t change. “When I'm working, I make sure to maintain a level of professionalism always. If you're hiring me to do a job, I'm going to do it to the best of my ability - and treat everyone with the same amount of professionalism. Of course there are situations where there's play mixed with work, but I let my client steer that ship.” She's also sure to let those clients be the architects of their own style. The goal is not to have people recognize her work. There's no signature "Jamie," outfit.   

Her day-to-day includes being a supportive woman in both her work and personal life. “I mostly work with women every single day... women doing lots of different things. I cheer them on, I give my ear, I offer advice when someone asks and I push my friends, clients, and colleagues to be the best they can." She aims to surround herself with people who do the same for her. For young but seasoned stylist female empowerment is about, “women standing up for what we believe, working towards what we want and championing each other to do whatever we set our minds to.”

Considering she’s not yet 30, her centered approach to styling will likely facilitate a long and empowered career.  “Keep working. Keep creating. Be happy. Be healthy," she says. "If you can do those things the rest falls into place.”

It might not be so crazy that “world domination,” is on her bucket list. And if that doesn’t happen at least you know she’ll be dressed for it. 

STEM: Melissa Grillo Aruz, Forerunner Ventures

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full STEM List Here.

Investing in women. Investing in future.

Meet Melissa Grillo Aruz: VP of Platform at Forerunner Ventures, the early stage venture capital firm investing in some of the buzziest, cultiest, most disruptive brands of the moment, including Dollar Shave Club, Birchbox, and Glossier.

Now 39, the Brooklyn-based mother of two launched her career at ad agency Razorfish, where she handled retail accounts for Victoria’s Secret, Ralph Lauren, and Abercrombie & Fitch. “This was in the early 2000s and these were the brands that were on the forefront of media, launching brand pages on Facebook and yes, MySpace, which now seems obvious, but back then was very innovative,” says Grillo, once behind such digital milestones as creating the first live streaming concert with Fergie for Victoria’s Secret Pink, as well as the first sponsored blog post with Refinery29. A different time, indeed.

From there, Grillo moved onto marketing for Gilt Group during their period of landmark growth, and consulted for J.Crew, Madewell, and Warby Parker. “I started to get excited about this next generation of consumer facing brands that had a strong POV, really connected with their customers in a fresh new way and came to life online,” she explains. It was through this work that she became acquainted with Kirsten Green, future boss and Forerunner Ventures founder. For the last two years, they’ve been forging the future of retail and backing some of this generation’s most sought after startups.

After fifteen years in the fashion space, Venture Capital was still uncharted territory. But Grillo isn’t one to be easily deterred by the unknown. “There was a fun and steep learning curve when I came on board, and I am lucky to be a part of a group that sees the value in disciplines outside those which traditional Venture Capital firms typically offer their companies,” explains Grillo, whose intuition for supporting promising and profitable young brands makes her an irreplaceable asset to the VC firm behind the explosive growth of Bonobos and Outdoor Voices. “It was exciting to know I could be a part of how Forerunner differentiates itself. I learned to capitalize on what I was good at while, at the same time, being humble enough to ask questions, read up on new topics, and as with anything involving startups worked my butt off to learn.”

"I learned to capitalize on what I was good at, while being humble enough to ask questions."

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While the finance industry is historically male-dominated (an antiquated reality that Forerunner is no doubt disrupting, however unintentionally), Grillo rarely feels like a fish out of water.  “The key to dealing with these situations is to try to put yourself in other people’s shoes and understand what their motivations are,” says the VP, who leans on a close network of entrepreneurial women and hardworking moms for encouragement and support, and counts her professional teammates as mentors. “I can easily tell myself I’ve spent decades growing brands, creating and riding trends, and that I’m really good at what I do, and that internal pep talk usually does the trick! A successful career is earned and requires sacrifice. It truly is done through dedication and a lot of hard work, nothing is handed to you.”

Between running family and working at the fund, Grillo has little time leftover for herself — but one thing’s for sure, she never skips her bedtime routine. It’s the little things. “Every night, no matter how tired I am, I always take off my makeup, put on eye cream and moisturizer read a few pages of my book and off to bed.” When asked how she defines female empowerment, she replies, “Today, for me, it means asking intelligent questions with confidence and walking into a room without questioning whether I belong there or not. As I start my day tomorrow it will mean something else, but it always means operating with confidence and self love.”

"A successful career is earned and requires sacrifice."

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That big things are in the future for Melissa Grillo and the team at Forerunner — now that’s something we’d put our money on.

Beauty: Tati Westbook

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with Dove, you can view the full Beauty List Here. 

Livin' that glam guru life. 

From hobby to full time job, Tati Westbrook, AKA the GlamLifeGuru, joined YouTube in November 2010 to teach women about makeup. But, while the channel started as a side hustle, Tati's intention was always to use the platform to build a career. 

Since her first videos, the makeup obsessed YouTube star has built a following of over 2.5 million subscribers, amassing over 400 million views. With those kind of numbers it’s not shocking that brand dollars came calling. However, after some initial bad experiences with sponsors, Tati has since chosen to turn down a lot of opportunities. It’s not only about the money. It's about her community, and she says she would rather promote products that she can truly get behind. This approach allows her to upload unbiased products reviews, sharing that her business strategy has always been to “work hard and keep my promises.” In fact, the digital beauty darling says she’s turned down a lot of money that could have made a big difference for her and her family. That's not to say she's not making beauty bank, but most of it is made from pre-roll ads. Proving that you can stay totally authentic and make money. 

In the beginning, her videos were met with some hate— those who claimed the 34-year-old was “too old,” to be making beauty videos. But she persevered and plans to keep uploading beauty videos for years to come. It takes beauty and brains to ignore the haters. The guru also recently branched out of the YouTube. She shares: "For the last year I've been a weekly beauty corespondent for Amazon's hit show Style Code Live and recently my own show was green-lit to go into production this spring."

We can't wait to see more from the beauty expert who says, "Women have the power to change the world." 

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Content Creators: Piera Gelardi & Christene Barberich, Refinery29

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Content Creator List Here.   

The digital visionaires. 

It's hard to imagine a digital world without Refinery29.

When the site first launched in 2005 the focus was city guides only. Now, the globally recognized media company, which serves as a go-to for information, community, and inspiration for millennial women scoping out news on everything from fashion and health, to technology and politics, boasts an audience of over 493 million across platforms. It's a bonafide global success. In many ways the site gave women the tools needed to become their own Anna Wintour. It was one of the first steps in democratizing fashion, moving the conversation out of the realm of luxury and into the realm of real life.

But without the guidance of Executive Creative Director and co-founder Piera Gelardi and Christene Barberich, co-founder and Global Editor in Chief, there would be no Refinery29 as you know and love it today. These two woman are powerhouses in the media, they shaped Refinery29 to be a true competitor, and they embrace change and collaboration in a way that continually moves the content needle forward. 

Oh, and give their new podcast a listen. It just hit the airwaves last week and there is so much more to glean. 

Read more from the visionaries below.

What has been the most challenging and rewarding aspect of your careers thus far?

Piera: The most challenging aspect of my career so far has been going from being a maker to a manager… going from being a sassy solo saxophonist to the conductor of a huge orchestra. It was an education for me to learn both how to lead in my own style, but also how to really enjoy leading and to find the creativity in it. Now, leading a team is one of my favorite parts of my job because I’ve found my own style that leverages my imagination, creativity, and empathy and I’ve developed fun, unique management systems that connect me to my own creativity while bringing out the ideas and creativity in others.

Christene: I've learned that launching a company is a ceaseless series of start-up moments...starting at the beginning, rewriting some rule that no longer applies. Almost 12 years after we launched Refinery29, we're still having to move quickly, adapt, be creative and often unorthodox in our problem solving...I know now that that never goes away. And sustaining the energy and motivation to constantly be thinking in new ways, challenging your own convictions and beliefs about how to do things, can be extremely challenging...but it's also what fuels growth—professionally AND personally. The startup spirit, if you're really conscious of how the company and its people are doing, never goes away.

Are their creative/content comprises that had to be made that you wish you would have stuck to your guns on?

Piera: I truly believe the greatest creative work is accomplished when you let your guard down, open your mind to new ideas, and focus on being inclusive of fresh ideas and thoughts. There’s a beauty in tension between ideas and often that creates the best results. At R29, we seek to challenge convention, and in order to do so, you must believe that great ideas can come in all forms. If/when I’ve had to make creative compromises, its been for the better. You have to make mistakes to learn. It’s about moving forever forward.

Christene: If other people have a stake in something, as millions of people do in Refinery29, compromise is essential in everything, so I don't spend too much time dwelling on moments where I might have given too much. I'm focused on the long game. 

Refinery29 started with city guides. It is now a go-to site for females for everything from fashion to politics to tech. How do you see Refinery29 continuing to be a pivotal voice in the online space?

Piera: When we launched R29, so much in fashion felt like it was engineered to exclude and make people feel bad with rules and “don’ts.” We were all about thumbing our nose at the canons of fashion, instead celebrating personal style, and reveling in people who were going their own way and expressing themselves unabashedly.

Eventually, our perception of style evolved beyond beauty and fashion — we believe style is how a person chooses to live their life and the ideals they align with, and that includes everything from politics to technology, food to entertainment. We are continuing on our mission to make inclusive content that represents a diverse range of women’s experiences, voices and perspective. I see R29 continuing in the same path we have always been on, but with even greater ferocity, passion and a continued push to ensure our global audience feels seen, heard, and represented in 360 degrees of their lives.

Christene: To see principles and beliefs that Refinery29 has embodied from the beginning—body positivity and diversity, pay equity, a non-judgemental space to appreciate and explore a woman's passions and interests AND express herself without scrutiny...to see those values embraced and expressed globally, in the mainstream, that's progress. 

How has your relationship to your career changed in the last five years?

Piera: Once I identified who I wanted to be as a leader, I focused on being courageous enough to hold onto that vision for myself, even when faced with doubt. Sometimes I ask myself, “Is what I am about to do a reflection of who I am and who I want to be?” I have told myself “I can’t do this” SO many times over the years but, despite that, I have done it. I have learned and pushed and grown and it’s been hard and it’s been amazing. My relationship to my career has evolved to where I have the ability to constantly grow, learn, and discover new things about myself and the world. I believe that life is a work in progress, and therefore nothing is ever finished or perfect.

Christene: I accept more fully the great responsibility I have to provide a critical platform for others, and, like most things, I see my ambitions and goals as a work in progress. To know that success is not a destination or an arrival somewhere, but a constant pursuit of knowledge, understanding, growth, transformation, and activism...thanks to all the remarkable women I'm surrounded by, the sky's the limit.  

What does female empowerment mean to you?

Piera: At Refinery29, women’s empowerment is our mission; We want to be the catalyst for women to feel, see, and claim their power and, as a result, create a world where women can reach their infinite potential.

Christene: It's knowing that gender doesn't prevent, inhibit, or limit our ability to achieve ANYTHING. Empowerment comes from within, but it also comes from seeking out, identifying, and acting on the places where discrimination, in all its forms, exists. 

Food: Chloe Dahl & Nikki Booth, Knuckle & Claw

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Food List Here.

Made restaurant dreams a reality. 

Chloe and Nikki are wearing Keds' Champion Originals.

Growing up on Martha’s Vineyard, Chloe Dahl, entrepreneur and co-owner of Knuckle & Claw in Los Angeles, says lobster was her favorite food. “I'd have it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if I could,” she shares. 

Nikki Booth, Chloe’s partner in business and life, had always wanted to be in the restaurant industry. They had only been dating a year when they put their heads together and created Knuckle & Claw. “It didn't hurt that we're foodies through and through,” the granddaughter of writer Ronald Dahl says. “I’ve always been a foodie,” echoes Nikki, who moved from her hometown of Las Vegas to Honolulu for college. It was there a whole new world of food opened up for her. “Blew my mind,” she says.

When it comes to what’s next, Chloe says she “has a few dreams up my sleeve,” but no one knows what the future will hold. Though we're guessing lobster will be on the menu. Both have big aspirations. For Chloe writing a “great book” is on her bucket list and says if she had more time for something it would be writing. Nikki has hopes of starting “a charity focusing on humanitarian efforts around the globe.” 

Three years and two restaurants later, the world is their oyster. 

Grab more inspiration from the restauranteurs below. 

What is the most important step you’ve taken in your career?

Nikki: Pushing myself forward even if I was scared. A wise woman once told me that its okay to be afraid as long as you don't let it stop you and I think that's the most critical step for a lot of people. 

What are some of the challenges you've encountered along the way?

Chloe: Everyday is a challenge in the restaurant industry. You are on call 12 hours a day, 365 days of the year. You have people to pay and mouths to feed and chances are you're the recipient of neither. 

Nikki: Before we started our business I didn't realize how difficult managing staff would be. You develop a relationship with them and you really depend on each other. 

What keeps you going?

Chloe: Believing in my self-worth and remembering my potential. 

Nikki: Chloe, she’s the tits. 

Who are the people you consider your mentors or influences and why?

Chloe: My grandmother, Patricia Neal. She never gave up.

Nikki: My mom and dad. They worked their asses off for everything they have and it's been inspirational watching that kind of work ethic.

Chloe and Nikki are wearing Keds' Champion Originals.

What’s the best piece of “real talk” advice you’ve received?

Chloe: Forgive yourself. Sounds cheesy, I know. 

Nikki: There is always a solution. Seriously. Think outside the box, look at it from a different angle, whatever you gotta do, the answer is there.

What is a time in your life when you thought, 'I can't do this anymore?'

Nikki: Ah fuck man, I hate those moments, but they happen a few times a year and I think hitting a low like that helps you push yourself past the darkness and into action. 

What’s your favorite life advice:

Chloe: It’s OK to be scared as long as you don’t let it stop you. 

Nikki: There is always a solution. Seriously. Think outside the box, look at it from a different angle, whatever you gotta do, the answer is there.

How has your relationship to your career changed in the last five years?

Chloe: It hasn’t really. My goals are more refined, but I’m as driven as ever. 

How has your relationship to yourself changed in the last five years?

Chloe: I am able to separate my leadership from my emotions. It has lead to clarity and more realistic expectations of myself and other.

Nikki: I am prone to anxiety and I wasn't managing it well when we first started. In the past few years I've focused on taking better care of my mind and body and its made a huge difference. I think if you want to get ahead in your career focus on your mental and physical health and you'll get there. 

International Women’s Day is coming up. It's a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. If you could steer the conversation around International Women’s Day, what would that dialogue be about?

Nikki: I’d love to focus the conversation on pursuing more access to education for women. So many young women still don't have access to education and educating girls around the world will change the world.

What do you do to support other women either personally or professionally?

Chloe: We prioritize collaborations with female owned/run business. We gotta support each other. 

Nikki: Chloe and I support local and international woman through different organizations that are geared toward education and micro-finance loans.

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Philanthropy: Shiza Shahid

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Philanthropy List Here. 

The world's umpire for impact. 

Shiza Shahid, co-founder of the Malala Fund and more recently founder of NOW Ventures, is driven to create a positive change on the world. While a student at Stanford University, Shiza watched a YouTube video of a young Malala Yousafzai, a female Pakistani education advocate. She reached out to Malala’s father to spearhead a week-long camp in Pakistan for Malala and her classmates, organizing 27 girls in Islamabad, her hometown. 

As a umpire for impact, after graduation in 2011, Shiza started her career as an analyst at McKinsey & Company in Dubai, where she combined her mission-driven approach with business acumen.

Upon hearing about the Taliban’s attempted assassination of Malala in 2012 for speaking out about girls’ rights to education, Shiza hopped on a plane and met the education activist in Birmingham, England, where the 15-year-old was hospitalized at the time. The two went on to found the Malala Fund where Shiza also served as CEO of the organization, which supports education innovators and activists around the world.

All of her efforts start, she says by "showing up and believing you can change things." 

She credits her husband and best friend as a major influence in her life and jokes that the best advice she’s ever heard comes from her trainer who, “tells me to work harder.” 

She’s done just that.

Shiza currently runs NOW Ventures, a seed stage mission-driven venture fund, dedicated to investing in startups whose founding teams propose transformative solutions for the world. Shiza explained her new role to TechCrunch as follows: “The hypothesis we aim to prove is that mission-driven companies are a better investment than purely profit-driven companies. We believe that they are creating more loyal customers and generally aim to solve large problems, rather than to create cute apps.” Last June the company raised its first fund as a 506c offering. 

Fear doesn’t play into her vocabulary. “You can only connect the dots looking back,” she says, explaining that she is propelled forward by both “a sense of gratitude and responsibility.” 

“You can only connect the dots looking back.”

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But the global activist's aim is “to become more impactful” in her work, and she has the confidence to do so, especially now that she’s “found my place in the world as a mission-driven entrepreneur and investor.” 

Through exercise, which she swears by, reading and mediation, Shiza has also “found a deeper level of self-awareness and connection” to herself. 

Believing that “connecting people is one of the most generous acts,” Shiza finds the time to bring women together in “intimate off-the-record dinner salons,” and won’t stop searching for ways to make a bigger impact until women everywhere are free from fear and persecution. 

She has her work cut out for her. But her time is now. Paraphrasing Steve Jobs, she says, “We’re all going to die, in the face of which we are already naked, so don’t let fear hold you back.” 

Wellness: Sakara Life

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Wellness List Here.

Turning greens into green. 

In the image-driven patriarchal world we live in, most women have battled with body issues at some point in their lives. With intense societal pressure to look like the gamine girls in the glossy fashion magazines, for many women, eating can become more of a pain than a pleasure. It was no different for Danielle DuBoise, co-founder and co-CEO of the wildly popular organic meal delivery company Sakara. “I used to battle with food. I was a constant yo-yo dieter, always looking and searching for the one diet I thought I had to try to get the body I thought I didn't have,” DuBoise says. Looking at her today, you might never guess that the vibrant blonde had battled with body image issues so intensely in her youth that she was once hospitalized as a result.

“I used to battle with food. I was a constant yo-yo dieter, always looking and searching."

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“That was my 'aha' moment, when I realized that I had to heal my relationship to food and get back to food as nourishment rather than food being about calories, and teach myself that less food wasn’t always better.” Around the same time, DuBoise’ childhood friend Whitney Tingle was going through her own health struggles, with the long hours of a stressful Wall Street job causing her to gain weight and develop cystic acne. DuBoise, who had been a pre-med student, switched her focus to nutrition, and the two friends dedicated a year of their lives studying both Eastern and Western approaches to health. They launched Sakara in 2011.

“Eating this way is what completely changed my mindset around food and finally gave me the body I wanted, and I wanted to share this way of life with as many people as possible,” DuBoise says of her decision to get into the organic food delivery game. Though the hugely successful company now employs 80 people and has been covered in the press by the likes of Forbes, Business Insider, Vogue, and more, in the beginning it was just the two best friends from Sedona, Arizona working tirelessly out of their own NYC kitchen. “We started by bootstrapping the company with $700, so Whitney and I did everything. We cooked, we handled finances, tech, customer service, PR, all of it.” Their hard work clearly paid off, but before they became the secret weapon of Victoria’s Secret Angels and were minted in the "Forbes 30-Under-30" canon, they had their fair share of panic-inducing challenges. “We got a huge piece of press from Gwyneth Paltrow and the next week none of our delivery drivers showed up so Whitney and I had to take hundreds of dollars worth of taxis to deliver everything ourselves at 4am after being in the kitchen all night,” DuBoise recalls.  These days, Sakara delivers its healthy meals to thousands who swear by the nourishing, delicious, plant-based fare, including Paltrow, Lena Dunham, and Kate Hudson, and the company recently launched S-Life Mag, an editorial extension of their wellness brand which features recipes, beauty tips, and interviews with women like Mary Helen Bowers of Ballet Beautiful and supermodel and Sakara devotee Lily Aldridge, amongst others.

DuBoise says she and Tingle plan to expand Sakara even more in the next few years, bringing their unique approach to creating safe and effective wellness-based products to beauty, supplements, and homecare. On a personal level, DuBoise says she wants to start a non-profit venture in the near future, and she recently started a band with her husband. “We never have enough time to really work on it, but it's still so fun when we do,” she says. Though she’s incredibly busy and the pressure of running a business can be intense, since deciding to shift from medical school to entrepreneurship six years ago, Danielle DuBoise has never looked back. What keeps her going? “Knowing we're helping thousands of people transform their lives through the power of food as medicine,” she says. “When I took the time to prioritize my health, that's when I found my purpose.”

Food: Hannah Hart

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Food List Here.

Clear Eyes. Full Hart. Can't Lose.

“Do you guys remember when I used to film this on my laptop,” Hannah Hart of My Drunk Kitchen fame asks her YouTube audience of over 4 million subscribers in one of her more recent YouTube videos, “Eggnog? Egg not!”

For those who don’t remember, it’s been over five years since the first episode of My Drunk Kitchen aired in March, 2011. Where a brunette, baby-faced Hannah advised strangers on the internet how to make a grilled cheese sandwich. The video was made as a joke at the request of a friend. It went viral. The hook: she downed a bottle of wine in the process, during which she realized she didn’t have any cheese. 

What Hannah did have were jokes and a whole lot of heart. A silliness and a face that twinkled with a kind of friendly familiarity that the internet needed. People have always bonded over laughter. Hannah became a reason to smile, even though her own life had given her plenty of reasons not to. She never could have imagined that YouTube would be the platform that launched her career and there were dark times in her life. “I called a suicide hotline and the response was so scripted it made me laugh and I kind of just snapped out of it… I was grateful the hotline was there for me, even though the way it saved me may have not been the most conventional.” 

In 2014, Hannah released her parody cookbook, My Drunk Kitchen: A Guide to Eating, Drinking, and Going with Your Gut. It was a New York Times best-seller for five weeks. 

“I wanted to share the lessons I’ve learned in case they were able to help another."

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In her new memoir, Buffering, released fall 2016, Hannah candidly shares the reality of her upbringing. Heartbreaking and empowering she touches on dealing her sexuality, faith, self-esteem, as well as the struggles of having a schizophrenic mother. In many ways it is a departure from intoxicated, charismatic YouTuber, but it was a journey she needed to take.  

“I wanted to share the lessons I’ve learned in case they were able to help another,” Hannah shares. “Also, I want to start a dialogue about the gaping holes in our mental health system that leave non-violent people who are mentally ill with no options outside of homelessness.” 

In other ways, it’s a natural evolution. She's still sharing, still gathering people, this time in front of pages, instead of a screen. In the book she writes, “I fought against my truth in every move, shadowboxing myself and my subconscious, ducking and swinging.” 

Today, she’s coming out swinging. “She [Hannah's mom] sang us a song about 'never giving up' when we were little. I think that's great advice for people who stop themselves from moving forward in their lives.” And Hannah is moving. She doesn’t know where her career will go, but is trying to stay present and pay attention to the changing media landscape. 

As an advocate for LGBTQ rights and those of mentally disabled community, when asked why now was the right time to share this truth with the world, Hannah says, “I was more afraid of becoming something I'm not. I'm very glad to see that people were willing to accept me as I am.”

Looking to the future, Hannah says she wants to start a foundation to educate people about mental illness as well as teaches family members strategies for communication around mental health. “I am rooting for everyone to find contentment in life,” says Hannah. “This involves making room for others to do so as well, not just ourselves.”

"I am rooting for everyone to find contentment in life."

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What Hannah will have room for in this upcoming year is unclear. With the book and a new six-episode culinary-travelogue series on the Food Network that will incorporate digital and social content, 2017 is gonna have a whole lotta Hart. 

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.  

Food: Kai Kani

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Food List Here.

Chopping it up at 16.

What were you doing at 16? Dreaming, maybe. Likely not about creating “a museum based on arts, food, and fashion,” in your spare time. But you also probably didn’t start a baking business at 10 that gave you the opportunity to make pastries for The Oprah Winfrey Network. 

However, there’s nothing traditional about the ingredients that makeup 16 year-old chef and creative entrepreneur Kai Kani. “I began helping in the kitchen when I was three years-old,” she says. By the time she was six, her mom, recognizing an early talent in her daughter, let her cook and use a knife on her own.  “At 14,” she shares, “I began my pop up restaurant, KAI, which features a 12 to 16 course Progressive American Tasting Menu.” Coming from a “multi-cultural background” Kai says that she grew up cooking and eating foods from different cultures, an upbringing has influenced the way she cooks. She also has used her talent to support organizations like St. Vincent Meals on Wheels and The Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. 

And while she has plenty of normal teenage extracurriculars— tennis, drawing, hanging out with her friends and exploring Los Angeles, she’s got a pretty rad list of things she also wants to accomplish and equally impressive insight for how she wants to get there. 

Read more with Kai and her inspiring work ethic below. 

What is a habit or routine you swear by?

I swear by PREPARATION. It’s the most important thing to me, it helps me stay organized and not have to worry about little things when the main event comes. 

What are some of the challenges you’ve encountered? 

People not understanding how much work that I put in to what I do. 

Who are the people you consider you mentors or influences and why?

My mother and father. My dad is an business owner who began his business at 18.

What is the best piece of “real talk” advice you’ve received?

Believing in the Law of Attraction through Manifestation.

What’s your favorite life advice?

If you don't take the time to design and plan your life, you will have to settle for what life gives you. 

"Take the time to plan your life or settle for what life gives you.”

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What’s next? Do you have any five year goals?

Now, I’m focusing on some product development of my own, working on getting my cookbook published, as well as starting a high end streetwear clothing line. My five year goals, are to have a few successful restaurants, my clothing line, and to have a magazine focusing on art, culture, food, and fashion. 

What does female empowerment mean to you? 

Women have the authority to make our own decisions, make changes, and have a positive self image. 

What keeps you going? 

Determination and focus. 

Music: DJ Nikki Pennie

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Music List Here.

Turned the tables on her career. 

Imagine being offered a job for a gig where you don’t know the ropes. Would you say yes? Or be too scared? That’s what happened for DJ Nikki Pennie. She wasn't always adept at getting rooms to dance. The British-born stylist started her career in the fashion world, but folks in the industry kept getting offering her DJ jobs.  

“It was the last thing I ever thought I would end up doing,” she shares. “I got offered a few DJing gigs for fashion brands before I even knew how to DJ three years ago and the rest is history.”

History and a lot of hard work. “I saw an opportunity and I ran with it,” she says. “I took a risk, put in over 100% and thankfully, it worked out.” 

In an industry that remains dominated by men, Nikki says it’s important for her to identify as a female DJ, but that women have the power to “conquer everything.” 

Read through her interview below. 

What are some challenges you’ve encountered along the way?

There have been so many. To start, I couldn’t DJ. I was fortunate enough to be introduced to Dave Garnish. He’s an incredible British music producer who was in LA at the time working on projects. He was kind enough to train me. He was literally a Godsend! I was also lucky to have the intuition to read a room, which is one of the most important DJ skills and that’s something you can’t get from training. 

How do you feel as a woman in the music industry?

It’s an exciting time as the barriers are less significant. 

“I took a risk, put in over 100% and thankfully, it worked out.” 

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What keeps you going?

My ambition, drive, and a lot of coffee! 

Who are the people you consider mentors or influences and why?

Dave Garnish is my mentor. I have so much respect for him and what he has achieved. He has now opened his Garnish Music Production and DJ schools in London, LA, and Brooklyn. His talent, wisdom and kindness are precious!

What’s next? Do you have any five year goals?

I am starting to produce music this year, who knows where that will take me?! I don’t really make long-term plans. I think sometimes it’s better to enjoy the journey and see where life takes you! 

Is there a habit or routine you swear by?

My Dior beauty routine, as I am one of their ambassadors and their products are the best (I am not biased). The Dior Star Canceler is a life-saver especially with the late nights, jet lag, and traveling involved with my job. 

What is a time in your life when you thought, ‘I can’t do this anymore?’

There have been so many points, but thanks to the support from my amazing friends and family that have supported me… I have never given up. 

What is your favorite life advice?

When you fall, always get up straight away.

How has your relationship to your career changed in the last five years?

I am much more confident than I was five years ago and I really feel that anything is possible for anybody. 

What’s on your career bucket list?

To DJ in Japan. I love Japan, Japanese people and the culture. 

What does female empowerment mean to you?

To support an encourage our peers. 

What do you do to support other women either personally or professionally?

Be kind. Kindness is one of the most important things in life. 

STEM: Whitney Wolfe, Bumble

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full STEM List Here.

Making the dating world buzz. 

Changing the way we date and shifting the power dynamics between men and women, those are just two of the issues that Whitney Wolfe, founder and CEO of Bumble wanted to address when she launched her dating app that requires women to make the first move. 

“One of the biggest challenges has been rewiring people's opinions on women making the first move,” shares Whitney, an experience that challenged her more times than she can count. But she’s made the female-led approach work, exclaiming that “well over a billion messages,” have been shared on the app that boasts over 10 million users.   

Whitney has made about every list and for good reason. She’s a game-changer, a rule-breaker, and an industry dominator in a male-dominated field. Dating startups are notoriously hard to grow and the new-kid-on-the-dating-block is always around the corner. But Whitney and her team have maintained their foothold, launching BumbleBFF where women can find friends and colleagues. In short, she’s an inspiration for young entrepreneurs everywhere, not just women. And at 27, she’s only getting started. Up next on her list: disrupting health tech. 

How has your experience being a woman in tech changed since you first launched Bumble? 

I had to grow a thick skin early on, and I had to realize that if you're lucky, people will underestimate you. No better way to debunk stereotypes than proving the archaic thinkers wrong. Supporting one another, and truly helping one another as women, with NO expectation of anything in return is going to propel the next generation of girls and women forward.

What are some of the challenges you've encountered along the way? 

The list is too long. Sometimes the hardest things to break are bad habits, and women assuming men need to be in control is most certainly something that needed disrupting! 

So, what keeps you going? 

Changing the way relationships work and putting women in control to finally feel equal to the man. My team, their passion. The amazing stories that come from the millions and millions of connections we're making! 

Who are the people you consider your mentors or influences and why? 

My business partner, Andrey, is most certainly my mentor, he's beyond brilliant and talented. My fiancé is my rock and sees things in a visionary way and gives me a lot of perspective. 

“If you're lucky, people will underestimate you.”

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What is the best piece of "real talk" advice you've received? 

Snap out of it! It always looks better in the morning 

What is your favorite life advice? 

Be kind to everyone, because every single human on this planet is fighting a battle we know nothing about. There is nothing more important than motiveless kindness. 

What is a time in your life when you thought, 'I can't do this anymore?' 

I can count them on one hand, and I always in that moment, knew change needed to happen. And I went out and found and created that change. You have to listen to your gut, always. 

What's next? What are your five year goals for Bumble? How do you continue to build community that's empowering? 

I want to build Bumble into the Facebook for people you don't yet know, and I want Bumble to become a leading lifestyle brand both online and offline for all your introductions, with women always making the first move. Woman making the first move into the good, and out of the bad has the power to change the world. 

What's on your career bucket list? 

To be involved in disruptive health tech.

What does female empowerment mean to you? 

It means confidence, being happy for women in a genuine way, and being equal to the man. It means never feeling inferior. 

What do you do to support other women either personally or professionally? 

I try to help with both personal and professional advice, investments, and for the good or the bad, snapping women out of it when they're stuck in bad relationships or ruts. One of my goals in 2017 is to do more, and to be a better mentor to more women. I've been so busy trying to build a company to empower women, that my personal capacity has been limited and I hope to have some spare time to devote to this. 

 Women have the power to:

Do anything. They are the power.