The 6 Key Pieces of Advice from Meghan Markle's Create & Cultivate Keynote

It's been said that a woman who knows exactly what she wants is one of the most powerful creatures in the world. When Suits actress and The Tig founder Meghan Markle took to the Create & Cultivate stage on at our #createcultivateATL conference she gave attendees a glimpse at what that looks like. 

Charming, intelligent, and unafraid to let her guard down, Meghan is the definition of the modern woman. In celebration of her big day, we're reliving our favorite moments and best pieces of advice the actress, editor, and activist shared with #CreateCultivateATL attendees. 

1. "DON'T GIVE IT FIVE MINUTES IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA GIVE IT FIVE YEARS."

Passion was a hot topic at the conference all day. Meghan echoed this sentiment by telling the crowd that if they couldn't see themselves dedicating five years of their life to their endeavors, what was the point in even giving it five minutes? 

"Five years sounds like a long time," she said, "but it's really not." 

Time is precious. Focus your efforts on your passions and success is sure to come. "That's when you see your long-term goals payoff," she added.  

photo credit: David Rosario.

2. "BLIND OUTREACH IS JUST LIKE AUDITIONING, IT'S A NUMBERS GAME."

Meghan started developing The Tig after receiving advice from The Coveteur co-founder Jake Rosenberg, to do a site herself. A company had approached her to essentially create MeganMarkle.com, but after giving herself a gut check she knew it didn't feel right. She wanted her site to be less about fashion and include more "think pieces and op-eds about empowerment." 

But just because she's on a show, the actress said she still had to blind email people. "No one knew what The Tig was at the beginning," she said, "but I kept putting out outreach. At the time some people loved Suits and some people hadn't a clue what it was. It seems like I had more of an in, but it wasn't the case." 

She told the audience about cold emailing Heidi Klum's assistant for an interview request. "I don't know Heidi Klum," Megan said, "but she said yes."  

"We all do cold outreach."

photo credit: David Rosario

3. "STOCK EMAILS WITH TYPOS? FORGET IT." 

Meghan is all about a personal touch, explaining that she still sends out handwritten thank you notes.  "I can't tell you how few of them I get," she said, "but one hundred percent of the time, I end up remembering that person." 

And even though she acknowledges typos happen, she says it's vital to make sure you're proofreading. It shows the recipient that you're paying attention and that you value their time. 

4. "YOU DON'T HAVE TO PLAY DRESS UP TO BE A FEMINIST. YOU ARE A FEMINIST EXACTLY THE WAY YOU ARE."

After an audience member asked Meghan how she balances being a feminist with being feminine, Meghan answered that there is no difference. "They are not mutually exclusive," she shared. "You can be a woman who wants to look good and still stand up for the equality of women."

"You can be a woman who wants to look good and still stand up for the equality of women."

Tweet this. 

You're allowed to be a feminist in whatever way that looks like to you. 

5. "DON'T TRY TO WIN THE PART, JUST WIN THE ROOM." 

Meghan shared that as a biracial actress she has heard 'no,' an endless number of times. "Because," she said, "I was going in for the ambiguous girl, the black girl, the white girl, even the sassy Latina girl-- even though I'm not Latina and I'm not even that sassy."

"It's very hard to not question something about yourself in those moments," she said of the endless parade of nos. "But at the end of the day it does not matter if you get that part or you get that dream job. It may see like it at the time, but if you make fans of the people who saw you in that room, that carries on so much longer than what that job might have become."

6.  "IT'S ALL STILL EXCITING. BE GRATEFUL FOR THE LITTLE THINGS. THAT'S HOW YOU ENJOY IT."

Meghan told the audience that for five months she climbed into the back of her trunk after auditions because she couldn't afford to get the broken locks on her car fixed. "This epic day happened where the locks stopped opening with the key," she shared. "And the clicker wouldn't open the front doors. I couldn't afford to fix the doors and this was my girl, this is how I got from one audition to the other." So she would drive to auditions, park in the back of the lot, and once they were over, she'd wait until no one was paying attention and climb back into her car through the trunk. 

Never in her dreams did Meghan think she'd be on a show that has run for six seasons, but in sharing real and humbling moments she's able to enjoy and stay grateful for the journey. 

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Black Female Founders to Receive $36 Million in Funding

 

THE WAY OF THE FUTURE. 

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

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

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

She's the way of the future. 

Name: Arlan Hamilton 

Instagram Handle: @arlanwashere

Business Instagram Handle: @backstagecapital

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

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

How have you successfully navigated a male-dominated field?

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

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

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

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

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

What are your biggest fears about running Backstage?

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

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

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

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

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

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

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

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

I think Ellen has a fun job.

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

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

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

Tweet this.

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

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

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

Can You Stand The Rain x New Edition.

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

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FULL 2018 CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 LIST BELOW. 

Why the Worlds of Fashion and Tech Are Merging

What do fashion, design and tech have to do with each other?

Well, A LOT, based on the GameChangers panel hosted by Dell x Create & Cultivate in Austin this week.

When it comes to innovation and change, technology is enabling better engagement with consumers and brands, as well as creativity and efficiency. Technology is evolving the fashion industry and fashion is influencing technology. Read through for the hot topics of the day and how technology is the future of fashion - in store and online.

THE TECH IMPACT ON THE FASHION INDUSTRY  

Speed is of the essence in the modern world and tech helps us get there. “Obviously a lot has changed with the internet,” shared Charcy Evers, a fashion and retail trend analyst. “‘The consumer wants, what she wants, when she wants it, on her own terms. And if she doesn’t get it, you lose her.”

That’s a scary but exciting proposition. Charcy asked the crowd in attendance, “Where does the creativity of the designer end and tech take over?” She also told the crowd, ‘it has to be seamless, or else I’m out the door,” of her experiences with tech. And it’s true.

“Things are working much closer of the speed to market,” but the key is finding the sweet spot.  You can jump on something too quick and your customer is not ready for it, or you can miss the boat,” explained Evers.

“Our audience appreciates that done is better than perfect,” Morgan DeBaun, founder of Blavity, shared. “They want it now. We have to keep up with that expectations and let go of our perfection. We learn a lot about our audience just by listening.” There was also the recognition that content creation is a 24/7 job and in order to keep up you need tech that works for you.

“I’m really careful at looking at my analytics and seeing what people are paying attention to,” explained Genevieve Padalecki, the massive blogger behind the platform Now and Gen, who boasts an unheard of 25% engagement rate. “My biggest platform is Instagram because I feel like it’s the most honest and real.”

HOW TECH INFLUENCES FASHION AND VICE VERSA

The two concepts go hand-in-hand. The lines are blurred, if not already merged.

Nicola Honeycutt, Dell’s Principal Designer, told that crowd, “We look to industries like fashion and textiles for trends and inspiration for our color and materials in our products -like the Rose Gold aluminum and Alpine White woven glass fiber in our New Dell XPS 13 laptop. And new colors can actually be invented with advances in technology. It’s pretty amazing.”

The industry is changing fast across the board. Today, two out of three Millennials prefer to shop online rather than go to a physical store, with 80% of Americans having made an online purchase in the last month! We know that millennials are influenced by tech and that their affinity for tech is reshaping the retail space.

As retail and fashion trend analyst Charcy Evers explained, “What’s driving trends today is the innovation that’s happening in technology. With every new innovation the customer’s mind and behavior is altered, so the expectation has changed.” Consumers expect products like the New Dell XPS 13, which combines both fashion innovation and tech in one device.

How do you see fashion and tech coming together in your world? Share in the comments below.

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Why Beauty Is About Inclusivity on Every Level

Photos by Klarisse Gepilano

Makeup can make you feel empowered.

That was the topic of conversation at the CoverFX “Power Play” panel held tonight in Los Angeles at the Bumble Hive. Hosted by TINTED founder, Deepica Mutyala, the women *and man* with mics talked everything from diversity in beauty to their favorite feature. It's all about loving yourself! With her platform and YouTube channel, Deepica has always been a champion of bringing change to how we see  beauty. 

As such, a core part of the TINTED mission is to push the conversation forward around diversity and inclusion in the beauty space. For their part, CoverFX has always showcased range in their shades and has consistently shown that they appreciate the #TintFam in their message, espeically with their newest Power Play foundation launch. And that's exactly what they chatted about. 

To find out what all the buzz was about, keep reading for some of our favorite quotes from the evening and be sure to watch the above Live video! 

First up: "Beauty is about inclusivity on every level. Supporting and empowering all the shades in between,” explained the TINTED founder. “It’s not about a race or ethnicity. It’s about making sure everyone know there’s a space for them.”

ON BEAUTY STANDARDS 

"I really want them to admire other people’s beauty without questioning their own. There is space for everyone. -- Ami Desai on how she wants her kids to see beauty

“The beauty industry's responsibility is to eliminate the standard of beauty. There is no standard. We need to stop putting a standard to beauty. Being a male in beauty is definitely a different experience. When it comes to beauty it’s always ‘girls, girls, girls.’ I want to eliminate standards and stereotypes. Any guy can wear makeup if they want it. Do what you want if it makes you happy." -- Influencer Victor Ramos

Photos by Klarisse Gepilano

"There is no standard. We need to stop putting a standard to beauty.”

ON 'THE WORK' 

“Stop the mindset of the ‘token’. It’s not just black or white or something in middle. There is a whole spectrum in between. Don’t just put someone in and check a box because it’s very obvious.” -- Deepica Mutyala on encouraging brands to end tokenism. 

"We have an opportunity to speak out. That’s what encourages change. When I’m on set, I’ve found that my skin tone is very hard to match. There’s always been a struggle. It’s a big problem. It’s so important to have brands like CoverFX because people will just slap whatever they want on your face and get you out there." -- Actress Ajiona Alexus on being on set in Hollywood 

“Sometimes all people see is the beauty. But deep down, it’s important to know, beauty is only one thing--  the work you do behind the scenes, needs to be a beast. Show the world your true worth and talent.” -- Ajiona Alexus on her Tweet, "Sometimes you gotta be a Beauty and a Beast." 

Sometimes you gotta be a Beauty and a Beast. 

Tweet this.

“I remember telling myself OK if no one is gonna be at Sephora, I’m gonna be at Sephora.” -- Victor Ramos on not waiting for someone else to be "the first." 

“We’re not going have brands tell us what we need. I think we’re the first generation that’s saying 'We’re calling the shots and we’re gonna celebrate everybody.'” -- Victor Ramos on the importance of his work. 

"I’ve always been passionate about animal rights. I’ve spent so much time creating resource for people. CoverFX is cruelty-free and completely vegan. In every area consumer voices are huge. It’s so exciting to see how many people are putting their truth out there." -- Tashina Combs

ON SELF- ACCEPTANCE & SELF-LOVE

“You should feel great how you are, exactly how you are.” -- Deepica Mutyala 

“As a kid, beauty was my way of fitting in. Now it’s my way of standing out.” -- Deepica Mutyala 

“As a kid, beauty was my way of fitting in. Now it’s my way of standing out.” 

“Here I am. You’re going to have to accept me as I am.” -- Victor Ramos 

“I love my skin tone. When I was younger I went through ‘that phase.’ You’d always see the blonde guy, but I’ve learned to appreciate myself so much it’s almost weird.” -- Victor Ramos 

“I love my nose, even though I don’t. It’s my paternal grandfather’s. Everything on your face is a roadmap to where you’ve been and where you’re going.” -- Ami Desai 

Photos by Klarisse Gepilano

Did you tune in? What were your favorite quotes of the night?

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Why One Model Called This the Best and Most Diverse Panel Ever

“Sometimes I wake up after days like yesterday & I think “how is this my life?” How did I get so incredibly lucky to not only speak on panels about body positivity & being a boss with some of the strongest women I know, who happen to be my friends and who are ACTUALLY CHANGING THE WORLD?! I know the answer, I got here from really hard work, privilege & never taking no for an answer. Not listening to people who said I was too short, too fat, too tattooed, too outspoken, too much, myself. I was reminded yesterday that there is still so much work to do, and that we ALL have to keep showing up for not only ourselves but marginalized bodies & people. Thank you to @createcultivate for having me & to @jessbeegood from @livestrong_com for moderating the best & most diverse panel I’ve been a part of to date.”

So wrote Tess Holliday on her Instagram following Create & Cultivate Los Angeles this past Saturday. Joining her on panel, were @ihartericka, @mamacaxx, @mynameisjessamyn, and @danikabrysha. The group of women went in on everything from the “body positive” movement and whether they believe in it to how they identify. 

Below are some of the amazing highlights from the panel. 

Jessamyn Stanley
Yoga teacher, body positive advocate, and writer    

Jessica Bordner Photography

On panel, Jessamyn said she’s interested in disrupting the industry beyond visibility. She not only wants to be seen but to be heard and understood.  

“I came to body-positivity to really understand myself in a more whole way. I am attached to the understanding for all human beings that who we are on the inside dictates who we are on the outside.”

“I have so much conflict, thinking about where we are with body positivity and actually cracking the mainstream. I am one of very few fat, black, queer, yoga teachers. Or that’s what people think. It’s patently false. There are so many people who look so many different ways. The fact that anyone would find my presence anywhere surprising is frustrating on a deep level.” 

Though she says she never intended to be the face of a movement, and still doesn’t think of herself in that way, she’s not mad at it. “If there is going to be a cracking of the mainstream, I’m not upset to be in that space. Visibility is critical. Living my truth and just existing can have an accidental purpose.”

She continued, “I think we need to get to a place beyond television, advertising and movies to be our ‘goals’ for life."

Eff the rules she said.  Do what you do. Love who you are. That’s the only plan."

Ericka Hart
Cancer warrior, activist and sexuality educator

Jessica Bordner Photography

Ericka Identifies as a black, queer and femme woman. She spoke on the importance of being clear with how she identifies because it holds weight in a room. She mentioned that when people feel uncomfortable with her being queer, it’s a reflection of a problem they are facing internally. “If someone has a problem with me being queer, they really just have a problem with themselves,” she told the room. 

“I’m used to not seeing myself,” said Ericka. “But I’m really interested in disrupting beyond viability. So yes, I walked topless at New York Fashion week, and that felt amazing. But what I’m interested in is the fact that W Magazine just released at stat that said 0.4% of [fashion] shows this year were diverse. I don’t know how many shows exist at New York Fashion week, but there are many. If you look at the Fashion industry it’s not interested in being diverse and it’s not interested in giving it back to the black and queer and trans people who invented it. I’m interested in actually making the institution different— the system different. We have to be critical about diversity and inclusion. It’s so much more than visibility.” 

Tess Holliday
Model, Author, Momma & Feminist Founder of @EffYourBeautyStandards  

Jessica Bordner Photography

“We all should just do whatever the fuck we wanna do. And whatever feels good for us,” the model said to a cheering crowd. 

“I didn’t see anyone who looked like me. I wanted to be the person that I didn’t see. I started putting myself out there on social media. I’ve been doing it now for eight years.” As a US size 22 Tess told that crowd that she is still the only model for her height and size signed to a major agency. But she is committed to seeing that change.  “I’ve accomplished what everyone said was impossible, and I’m hoping to help other people do the same.” 

Tess also spoke on how she had to break away from waiting on other people to reassure her on things. She used to be stuck in a place where she needed her decisions validated by those around her, but she’s not interested in that anymore. She now knows that she has the power to reassure herself.     

"My best piece of advice would be to be yourself and be authentic. Do something that you love, and don’t be afraid to not do what you love. Just go for it!"

Danika Brysha
Plus size model and founder of @ModelMeals

When Danika started her modeling career she was faced with tons of negative criticism around her size and her curves.

She said, “I heard from people, ‘You have such a pretty face,' but they were just insinuating the rest of me wasn’t up to par, and that just wasn’t true.” 

“I spent my whole life feeling like not enough. To get into the plus-size industry and recreate my normal of what beautiful looks like is incredibly powerful.”

MamaCaxx
Survivor and Role Model

Jessica Bordner Photography

“Body positivity is really embracing marginalized bodies,” shared MamaCaxx. 

“In college I used to have a cover prosthetic. My goal was to hide and conceal. The very first time I decided to take off that cover, I remember it took me two weeks to actually leave my house. I had so much anxiety.” When she did leave the house and subsequently decided to have a photoshoot with a metal leg, Caxx explained that the recurring comments surprised her. “People were commenting that they’d never seen a black girl with a prosthetic,” which she said, is not her world. “What you think of disability is not what it is at all. It’s only one identity. And it crosses all people. Black, white, queer, women, men.”

She continued, “In the fashion industry I don’t see a lot of people with visible disabilities. But what you gain from fair representation goes such a long way.” 

What brands do you think are succeeding at fair representation? Let us know in the comments!

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Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Megan Lytle

THE GLOW UP.

U Love Megz. 

For vlogger Megan Lytle, aka ULoveMegz, embracing herself—and her natural hair—has been a lifelong journey. With her (new milestone!) of over 50 million YouTube viewers, Lytle’s mission of harnessing beauty as a means of “self-expression and mental wellness” is far from small. Beloved for her contagious positivity, inspirational tutorials, and real talk, Megz recently surprised followers with the announcement that she was retiring relaxers and celebrating her natural hair. After posting the “big chop” to her channel, Megz told her audience she felt relieved and liberated. “There are a lot of things that happen behind the scenes when it comes to the beauty world and even more when it comes to being an African American influencer,” she says.

Get the full “Megz experience” below.

Name: Megan Lytle

Instagram Handle: @ulovemegz

You've captured the hearts and attention of 40 million women. What do you think it is that draws women to you?

I've actually made a new milestone of catching the love of over 50 million lovies on Youtube alone. Sometimes I wonder to myself why are people watching or what makes someone want to watch me? It's truly a blessing because I never thought that I would be where I am today back when I started late 2009. If I could think of what it might be, I think its because I'm completely myself and I love talking and being a girly girl with all of my homegirl friends online. I don't act like I'm above and beyond anyone because I am just like them because we can relate to one another. I'm their best friend, sister, their auntie, daughter, cousin, etc.

I imagine it's a great feeling. To be able to positively impact the way someone feels about themselves. To help other women feel beautiful...

It's an amazing feeling, and I always get emotional when I think about it. I never intended to have any of what I've gained over the years! I started my channel when I was lost about what I wanted to do with my life and trying to figure things out and to know that I'm helping women all over the world truly warms my heart. While I'm sharing videos about how I'm trying to be my best self, it was rubbing off on those who watch to be their best selves.

What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty means choosing happiness. Being happy with the person you are right now and most of all having a positive attitude! Say if you aren't feeling the best, bettering yourself in some way is beauty to me because we all have to work on that from the inside out.

Do you remember a moment when you first felt beautiful?

I think the first time I TRULY felt beautiful was this year. I always knew I was beautiful but knowing your beautiful and feeling beautiful are two different things. This year I've found my way to happiness within myself and to know that I am the bomb just the way I am. I started doing things that make me feel good about me!

Where do your drive and passion come from?

My drive and passion come from all the love and support from my online beauty homies. Being able to connect and help people all over the world when it comes to beauty drives me to continue and grow and build. They've really encouraged and motivated me during some tough times that they aren't even aware of! The support of my family plays a major role also.

What are your biggest fears about running your brand?

I have no fears. Fear holds you back, and I plan to go all the way to concur my goals for a better me and a better brand. If I fail at something I just dust myself off and try again.

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

It's not all just lipgloss, edge control, and the perfect selfie. It's hard work to continue to stay afloat and on trend with whats going on. There are a lot of things that happen behind the scenes that people would be surprised about when it comes to the beauty world and even more when it comes to being an African American influencer.

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

Being yourself makes your content original. When you bring yourself to your content even though it might be the same genre, it already becomes different from someone else's because people watch for mainly YOU. They tune in to get the "Megz" experience.

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

I feel the most complete when I see that I've helped someone or when I'm told that I gave someone joy by putting them in a happy mood with laughter. That's the biggest reward for me!

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

I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

"Give someone a hug and sing 'oooooh cchhhillllld, things are gonna get easierrrrrr!'"

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

I would say a lot of the confidence that I have gained came from taking a step back and taking time out for myself in my personal life. I'm still learning and growing so much so I would say once you are comfortable and happy with yourself it will spill over into your career.

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

I get daily advice from my Dad, and I would say one of the best pieces of advice or what we live by is to never make excuses but to make things happen.

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

Honestly, I just figure it out. I feel like with everything that I've ever been through I just stayed positive and figured things out. Things don't always go our way or are always full of sunshine, but those bumps get smooth eventually! Pimples pop, the scare fades away with a little tender love and skincare. That's how I look at it.

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

The Five Stairsteps - Ooh Child I scream sing this song all the time and it puts me an inspirational good mood. I sing that really loud when people try to annoy me or when someone else is frustrated or trying to be negative. Give someone a hug and sing "oooooh cchhhillllld, things are gonna get easierrrrrr!" It works!

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

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

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FULL 2018 CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 LIST BELOW. 

Create & Cultivate 100: Entertainment: Yvonne Orji

THE BREAKOUT STAR. 

When Insecure actress Yvonne Orji says, "I feel good as a woman in Hollywood. I feel good as a black woman in Hollywood," you can tell she means it.

And she doesn't think her job would be easier if she were a man. "No, because I like being a woman. I think there is beauty and benefit to being a woman. I like being able to go into male-dominated spaces and blow people’s minds away."

That’s not to say she is blind to the discrepancy in Hollywood. Race issues. Age issues. Wage issues. There’s no way to avoid them.

"I like being able to go into male-dominated spaces and blow people’s minds away."

Tweet this.

Her journey through Hollywood certainly hasn't been without sexist moments. Having first made a name for herself on the stand-up circuit, Orji says there was always a moment where the  announcer would prep the crowd. "Are you ready for a woman? are you ready for a woman?" they'd ask. These are the micro-aggressions that continuously diminish women at work. "They never do that for man," she says and it's no laughing matter. "Apparently," says Orji, "there are rules as a female standup comic. You can’t be pretty, skinny, and funny. Pick one. You can’t be all these things. To be funny, you have to be overweight, and you have to be dirty with your jokes." That's not the case for Orji. "I do clean comedy and just really want to make people laugh in a positive way. Yes, I know how to work out and put on makeup. Why are there so many fractions in order to make people laugh as a woman? You don’t hear this from guys. You can just be funny."

But she's never let those intros deter her or hold her back. "I stand my ground and stand my own. This is me. I am not backing down. You may not know me now, but by the time I finish my set, you’re going to think I’m incredibly funny."

These are also stereotypes she’s been working to break with Insecure, which is about to begin filming its highly-anticipated third season on HBO. Orji plays BFF Molly (a high-powered DTLA attorney) to Issa Rae's character, Issa. The show has been properly aplauded for being an important show with great roles with great roles for women as well as one that tackles social and race issues while avoiding cliches. "Molly can be insecure. Everyone can be insecure. And that happens in life. You have one thing set and then you don't. You’re dating someone, but then you want a new job. You have the job, but you don’t have the relationship. There are always things that aren't working." 

It's this kind of material, and the specifically multi-faceted role she's currently playing, that makes Orji love being a woman in this town. "Especially now," she says. "With the type of content we put out there and the content creators that are allowed to have their voices expressed." She brings up Living Single. “There were shows that were popular in the ‘90s that featured strong black characters, and then that fell off for a minute. There was a gap in programming." But shows like Living Single allowed for the progress and next iteration of strong black female-led comedies. i.e. you can be a high-profile black, female attorney who also doesn't have it all together. It's the true Millennial experience, where women, and here specifically black women, are more than one thing. 

When asked about the latest success of Wonder Woman and Gal Gadot (a fellow C&C 100 honoree), Orji quotes an article that talks about how true success will be when a female-led movie is allowed to fail and Hollywood will still make another. “Men have been failing for years. And they are still given development deals and big deals with studios. There is so much pressure on women. ‘Oh if this fails, Hollywood will NEVER make another movie like this. It HAS to be great.” It’s a dangerous setup. For Orji, “Divide and conquer doesn’t work here,” she says. Not if Hollywood wants to make progress. "Women helping other women is the way." And it's why she explains, "It’s so important for Issa and I and why we work really hard at it. It’s also more comfortable to look around a set and see a female sound tech, a female executive producer." She brings up award-winning director extraordinaire Ava duVernay, a champion for diversity in Hollywood. “It’s the same thing with directors like Ava. When people say, 'I don’t know another black actress.' Ava will say, 'Well, how about her?'” We bring up the all-female set of Zoe Lister-Jones’ movie Bandaid. “Ooh, checkmate, Hollywood,” she says. Except Orji isn’t sitting around waiting for Hollywood to make its move. She’s making her own. Taking her future into her own hands— a space where she is clearly comfortable. 

"I came to Hollywood as an intern in the writer’s room and I didn't really know what that meant, but I saw how much power exists in there. With First Gen [her semi-autobiographical sitcom that that draws loosely from Yvonne's stand-up routines and real life experiences] maybe I didn’t know structure, but I knew people. And you have to be willing to take the risk. At least for me. It was up to me to take this into my own hands." Thats’s the kind of go-getter she is. And that part is so crucial.

"I stand my ground and do my thing as me. I can go toe-to-toe with the next guy."

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"I stand my ground and do my thing as me. I can go toe-to-toe with the next guy. There is strength and power in being a woman: we are smart, we are creative, and we are compassionate. Are there great women out there doing amazing things, with a guy coming in not doing anything extravagant and everyone thinks what he’s doing is amazing, but yet she has to prove herself? Yes, that does still exist and it does still suck, but not to the point where I want to be something other than an African immigrant black woman. No, no, no! I’ll take my portion, I like it." 

She also notes there has to be more diversity because the women at the forefront of society are more diverse. “Who is going to play the First Lady (Michelle Obama), who is going to play Oprah?” she asks. (#Oprah2020.) Good questions.

We have a strong feeling she'll be in the running. 

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

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

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Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Myleik Teele

THE QUEEN OF CURLS. 

If you didn’t know that America’s first black millionaire was haircare entrepreneur Madam C. J. Walker, now ya do. And yet, despite the well established buying power of women of color, the market for black beauty is still shockingly scarce.

Myleik Teele, creator of Curlbox, aims to give black women options. With her subscription box of curly hair products, Teele is making the “black hair experience fun and beautiful for black women” by creating a service that lets women experiment with multiple products for the price of one. “The hardest part of launching curlBOX was convincing brands how important and needed this service was,” explains Teele, of the industry’s close-mindedness. “We aren’t always at the top of the marketing budgets though we're spending a lot.”

More the Myliek below. 

Name: Myleik Teele

Instagram Handle: @myleik

Business Instagram Handle: @curlbox

What was the impetus for starting the CurlBOX?

I wanted make the black hair experience fun and beautiful for Black women.

We love the advice you've doled out on Medium. Specifically, do the worst first. What was the "worst" or the hardest part of launching CurlBOX?

The hardest part of launching curlBOX was convincing brands how important and needed this service was.

The beauty industry seems a little split-- there's natural and there's contour. And there doesn't seem to be a lot of in between. What direction do you hope the industry is heading?

I hope the industry is heading toward freedom and options. A woman should be able to do whatever she sees fit.

And how will CurlBOX be a part of that convo?

We are here to provide women with another option. If a woman chooses to wear her hair in it's natural state, we have something for her.

Where do your drive and passion come from?

I am deeply passionate about creating solutions for women of color. Seeing those things come to fruition and seeing women who have long been neglected excited about their hair is what keeps me going. I'm here to make things better.

What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty is being comfortable in your own skin.

Do you remember a moment when you first felt beautiful?

I can't recall the exact moment but I'd say around 19 or 20 when I found ways to enhance my features

What are your biggest fears about running a business?

I don't really have any fears running a business. I'm here to do my best and in the event, my services are no longer needed I'll move on to something else.

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

I am an advocate for women of color. While the business has gotten popular over the years, I've spent a lot of time explaining our process (what we want to buy, how we want to feel, how we'd like to be sold) to companies. We aren't always at the top of the marketing budgets though we're spending a lot.

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

While it's OK to be inspired by others, there's someone out there that's looking for the original you. Someone is looking for you so that they'll have permission to be themselves. Why be a second-best someone else when you can be YOU?

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

My company is ran mostly by women. The future is female and we are proof.

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

I'd love to trade jobs with Guy Raz, the host of "How I Built This" podcast. He gets to talk to some amazing entrepreneurs. I love hearing stories of success because there's always a hurdle and love hearing how each person made it over.

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

I spent about three years as an executive assistant to a high prole PR VP and after working with her and learning the ropes, I felt like I had something to offer. Once I learned a skill I was unstoppable.

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

The best piece of advice I've ever been given is to network with people who are currently on your level. Don't break your neck to befriend the CEO if that's not where you are. You and your peers will rise together.

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

A bump is an opportunity to learn a new skill. I'm excited to find ways to get over it. I'll either knock it down or build a bridge around it but I won't be stuck.

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

"No Weapon" by Fred Hammond.

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

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Create & Cultivate 100: Content Creator: Denise Vasi

MINDFUL AF.

Denise Vasi has it Maed. 

The actress (lead on the hit show Single Ladies) mother to Lennox Mae, wife to director Anthony Mandler, and founder of Maed, the soon-to-be launched lifestyle site committed to impact. Self-care tops her list of priorities. As does fostering open and honest convo, whether that's with Lennox, or her hundreds of thousands of IG followers. Denise is constantly dolling out her truth with her own spin on old adages.

"One day, or day one. You decide." 

"The past is a place of reference. Not a place of residence." 

"Be soft, kind, and loving. But also take nobody's shit." 

She doesn't settle and she doesn't want you to either. She has it "made" because she made it herself. A Brooklyn native, Vasi signed to Ford Models at the age of 12. "For modeling they said I was too tiny, I wasn’t Caucasian enough, I wasn’t African American enough, I wasn’t Latina enough.  They kept saying no but I kept moving forward and fighting my way in everyone’s door."

And we're glad she did. 

More from Denise below.

Name: Denise Vasi

Instagram: @densievasi

Where do your drive and passion come from?

Launching Maed has always been about creating impact. Surely there will be shifts while the brand evolves but Maed strives to inspire others and that will always remain the heart of my brand. Being impactful is the force that drives me.

When you run into a career obstacle, what drives you forward?

I used to be easily stymied by obstacles, so I had to change my way of thinking. Knowing that any challenge at hand was actually an opportunity to educate myself, a chance to dig deeper, ask myself more questions and that ultimately from it all I would grow--- holding on to that is what pushes me through.

"Any challenge at hand is a opportunity, a chance to dig deeper." 

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What is your biggest pet peeve?

People who don't deliver all that they say they will.

What are your biggest fears about running a business?

Letting my mind get in my way of my creative process.

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

That it's not a job it's a passion project. I love what I am creating and I love the community that I'm creating it for.

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

I think because of the access we have today, it's hard to say 100 percent that we are not somewhat informed by others. That's not necessarily a bad thing. I do believe that the past informs the present and that to be great at what you do, you should study those that came before you. That being said there's a slippery slope between being influenced by and imitating someone's work or style. For me, I stay original by sticking to what I immediately gravitate to and staying true to my creative eye. When something does inspire me, I look at how I can dig deeper or build on the concept. Adding value to something is the most positive way to pay homage IMO. Also, you should always give credit where credit is due!

Being impactful is the force that drives me.

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

That the path laid out for me is my own.

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

OPRAH... need I say more?!

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

I've always been on the journey to becoming the woman I am today whether I knew it in those exact moments or not. Things definitely changed after I gave birth to my daughter. Soon after, I figured out I wasn't ready to go back to acting. While I didn't exactly know what was next for me I felt so incredibly empowered-- I knew I could do anything.

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

Build meaningful relationships and look at others in your space as potential partners. Rather than viewing them as competition try to create dynamic ways to collaborate.

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

I sit back and evaluate the situation, then I make a list of all the possible solutions. Writing things down really helps me work thru things. I also have a group of 3-4 people that I reach out to when I need to brainstorm.

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

Whichever nursery song I listened to 72 times the night before while putting my daughter to sleep :)

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE CONTENT CREATOR LIST CLICK HERE. 

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Create & Cultivate 100: Health & Wellness: Lauren Ash

NAMA-SLAY.

photo credit: Deun Ivory

Lauren Ash is putting the OM in HOME. 

A wellness visionary, yoga and meditation teacher, creative writer, and founder of the culture-shifting lifestyle brand synonymous with black women’s wellness—Black Girl In Om, Lauren is creating safe and honest space. 

A space where women of color can close their eyes and feel surrounded by sisters. 

Through BGIO, Lauren creates and cultivates meaningful experiences and content for a hugely marginalized community. From the BGIO podcast—which has reached more than half a million listeners—to holistic self-care retreats, Lauren considers her work an act of compassion, belonging, and ultimately a space she once needed and didn’t see.

More from Lauren below. 

Name: Lauren Ash

Instagram Handle: @hellolaurenash

Business Instagram Handle: @blackgirlinom

Your site says, “Black Girl In Om creates space for women of color to breathe easy” what does breathing easy consist of?

Consider what it takes to breathe easy in the physical body: clean and safe air, lack of mental stressors causing you to breathe at a constricted, accelerated rate, and perhaps even the removal of constricting external forces on your chest, belly, and throat. Women of color are disproportionately faced with a greater number of challenges, ranging from economical and social, to health and psychological, so breathing easy is often a task much more complicated for us. However, when we remember that wellness is our birthright, and not some new, elite thing reserved only for the privileged, we begin to shift our paradigm and realize the possibilities that come with approaching breathing easy through simple, accessible practices such as compassionate exchanges with each other, a few moments of silence during the middle of a stressful day, and arming self-talk. Preventative and holistic self-care and selflove allows us all to breathe a little easier and slowly but surely it can become a lifestyle. This is what Black Girl In Om is all about.

What is your definition of holistic health for women?

Holistic health for me refers to experiencing wholeness in mind, body, and soul. Sometimes we feel fractured, and that’s okay. It’s important that we experience those fractures to know what wholeness feels like.

It’s important that we experience fractures to know what wholeness feels like.

When you were launching your platform what fears or doubts did you have to move past?

The fear that I would get in my own way. I experienced a tremendous amount of support from an intimate group of people who mattered a lot to me in the very beginning. I experienced some external fear and doubt from those who didn’t know what great resolve and determination I had and I allowed that to only fuel me. I believe that I’ve always known that the only force that could stop me would be me.

What’s the legacy you want to leave on your community?

The same legacy that my Grandmother Lillian Lazenberry-Martin left for me and everyone blessed by her presence: the feeling of true affirmation and support; the power of resilience and determination; the beauty in good vibes, a brilliant smile, and how good it feels to be taken care of. Also, a feeling of belonging and deservedness. Thanks to technology, I’m able to reach even more women than my Grandmother and continue to be an extension of the amazing legacy she left.

What advice do you have for women working towards cultivating the career of their dreams?

Don’t leave your Self out of the equation. When you dream up your ideal career, ensure that it involves prioritizing your energy, your spirit, your personal development. Approach your career from a holistic perspective.

"When you dream up your ideal career, ensure that it involves prioritizing your energy, your spirit, your personal development."

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What is your biggest pet peeve?

When someone interprets someone else’s glow-up as their downfall. Can’t we all shine together?

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

I work in my pajamas and headscarf more than half of the time.

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

That at thirty years old, and in my third year of being a creative entrepreneur, I finally feel empowered and equipped to thrive in my career while simultaneously thriving in my wellness journey. It’s been an ebb and ow thus far, but I’ve made recent decisions, changes, and investments and 2018 I’m making it all happen. The amazing thing is that this moment has been so tremendously supported by my team, our incredible global community, and my close friends and especially my Mother. This goes back to what I said earlier: only I can stand in the way of my own growth and potential!

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

I feel enormously blessed with my path and wouldn’t trade it for the world. However, if you absolutely forced me to, I would swap with Issa Rae. She, like me, cultivated a very specific platform, Awkward Black Girl, on her own terms for quite some time. She did so with limited resources because she knew it was a narrative worth telling and knew that there was a community of people longing to see themselves represented. Now, she has overwhelming support and resources at her fingertips to continue to do what she’s always done. And she keeps it real. She is unapologetically Issa. On and off the screen. Always. I love her for that.

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

Honestly, I’ve always been confident. Thankfully, from a young age, my family poured encouragement and affirmation into me and supported my creativity and expression. But I think that the confidence level has boosted from the stories of women in my community who has been inspired by my work and the mission of Black Girl In Om. Ranging from how BGIO has inspired them to prioritize their wellness and seek out support to how I have personally inspired them to become a yoga teacher or dramatically change their career to be in alignment with their values, it is these stories that remind me that I can be confident in my purpose and my path because it is quite literally transforming countless women’s lives. That’s what it is about. I’m simply a vessel; a vessel of inspiration and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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

My Grandmother always told me “don’t take any wooden nickels” which basically means don’t put up with bullshit, ha! Seriously, though, she was speaking to a certain level of spiritual discernment and intuition which I’ve always tried to hone. My best friend Chelsea shared with me years ago what remains to be my favorite mantra: what is for you can’t be taken from you. This helps me time and time again as it reminds me to let things go, trust, and move on.

"What is for you can’t be taken from you."

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

Challenges breed innovation and creativity. I try to embrace challenges as opportunities. This is a must for anyone who wants to be in it for the long haul as a creative entrepreneur. My strategies include meditation and yoga, talking about the “bump” with people outside of my industry, and (importantly) not freaking out.

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

Jamila Woods’ “LSD” (and any song off of her HEAVN album!) because it’s such a beautiful reminder of self-love, my divinity, and my worth.

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

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Create & Cultivate 100: Music: Lion Babe

LIVING OUT LOUD.

Hear her roar. 

Never has the name of a musical group so perfectly encapsulated it's lead singer. 

Jillian Hervey is Lion Babe.

One half of the electro soul duo hailing from NYC, the singular songstress is enigmatic both vocally and visually. She is king of her jungle. After Pharrell watched one of the duo's first music videos on his phone, he flew Jillian, and band producer Lucas Goodman to his Miami studio. 

That song, "Treat Me Like Fire," released in 2012 was only the beginning of Lion Babe's spark. With songs like "Wonder Woman," which talks about female empowerment. Jillian has soul in her DNA. The daughter of singer/actress Vanessa Williams and music manager Ramon Hervey II (Babyface, Natalie Cole), she was raised listening to the likes of Chaka Khan. 

She fierce, fresh, and unapologetic, recently explaining, "I honestly think that any women or person that says you should be dressing [or behaving a certain] way to avoid unwanted sexual advances, or else, is inviting negative behavior . . . Please, I have no time for it.”

But man, do we have time for her. (And you should too.) 

More from Jillian below. 

When you first made the jump from dancer to singer, was it as smooth as your voice? (JK but not really. We jam to your music in the office all day.)

Thank you for the love, I definitely know my dance experience informs my rhythms and influences. The transition to singing was actually pretty drastic for me. With dance, you are moving through large spaces with lots of light, bodies, and sweating, whereas with singing, it's more introspective, still, and you're usually creating in dark small spaces. I've never been one to sit still, so that was hard to adjust to. The creative space is crucial to me.

Your mom was the first black Miss America but had her titled unfairly taken away. And then went on to have an amazing career. What has she taught you about resiliency and strength?

She has taught me that we come from a long line of strong individuals. She always told me and my siblings about women and men in history who are black that have paved the way because of their resilience. It's in our blood. But mainly her teaching is by example. She always stays true to herself. She always takes risks and does the things she wants to do, because she knows she can. She has that will and believes in herself.

You've been compared to the likes of Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu. What does that feel like?

It doesn't really feel real still, those two women, in particular, have such a special place in my upbringing, that it's too nice of a compliment. I wanted them, The Spice Girls and Brandy to join a supergroup. The only thing I think people really are comparing is the feeling. Both women have super unique tones, flows and artistry and a very strong sense of self. Those are definitely attributes that I value and try to do for LION BABE.

What do you know about self-love today that you weren't so sure of ve years ago?

5 years ago I was just getting out of college, so I was still very scattered and was just beginning to dive into myself. I now know through more experience, practice, break ups and time, that I have a formula that when it's honored I am good. Staying creative and dancing always gives me confidence, traveling always keeps me grounded and allows me to experience and know myself differently, and gratitude for the things from the littlest to the biggest helps to put it all into perspective. The more your honor your spirit and soul, the more that energy grows around you. Also, I remind myself that life is always transforming, each moment, so there is always the opportunity to change.

"The more your honor your spirit and soul, the more that energy grows around you."

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When you come across a career obstacle what drives you forward?

The vision. If you can see something, the battles aren't so scary, you just have to adjust your map on how to get there.

What makes you feel powerful?

Being on stage is powerful because it is pure energy.

What would you call your superpower?

My intuition.

Did you always know you wanted to be a performer?

I have been performing since I was little so it was just a part of me. I didn't know exactly how it would manifest but I have always loved it.

What's been the hardest part of the music industry world for you?

The number of egos, fear, and pressure that get created for no reason.

Since the beginning, you've chosen to work with and be represented by a group of women. Why did you make this decision?

Being a woman, and writing as a woman, I can't help but think of our perspective so it just came naturally. I've always wanted to lift women up. Lucas aka Astro Raw and I are LION BABE together though, so I think there is just as much of a male presence as well. Our goal is to be universal and inclusive.

What's your favorite time of day to write?

Anytime after 3pm. I need my sunlight.

What do you sing in the shower?

Warm ups, jazz or Christmas songs (when it's in season.)

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

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Create & Cultivate 100: Music: KING

FREAKIN' ROYALTY. 

King is the title given to a male monarch.

But the Queens of KING said nah. They're taking the title crown. 

The musical trio—comprised of Anita Bias and twins Paris and Amber Strother, released their debut EP in 2011. It was called The Story, but it was only the beginning of theirs. Immediately, the industry took notice. Prince and ?uestlove praised their magic. (When Prince first heard their  debut album, he said: “Don’t change a thing.”) Kendrick Lamar sampled "Hey," one of the three songs on the EP, for Section.80 track "Chapter Six."

In February of 2016, after what felt like decades of waiting, the women released the full-length We Are King. The album was nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 59th Grammy Awards, making them the first independent artists to be nominated in that category.

Like we said, freakin' royalty. 

More from KING below. 

Where do your drive and passion come from?

Paris: All of us are lifelong lovers of music- there’s something so touching about being able to communicate in this universal language. It’s been incredible to reach and inspire people by expressing our emotions through sound, and it’s that connection that keeps us going.

What's behind the name?

Anita: When we were first starting out, it was just the three of us independently creating this landscape of sound. The word KING was like a revelation- it was the first and only name that came to us. It reflected that we were kings of our own musical kingdom, and the name gave us the space to tell our own story.

We are kings of our own musical kingdom.

It took five years between the EP release and the debut album. What was going on during that time?

In hindsight, I can now say we were growing up and growing into being KING. Those five years saw us not only finding our sound and creating the album but learning tons about the business side of music. We’re so grateful we had the opportunity to take our time to learn more about ourselves and create an album that we were proud of.

Prince, Erykah Badu, Solange. KING has worked with some of the most amazing artists. Is that empowering?

Amber: It’s incredible when people you’ve always looked up to recognize something in your music also.

You've said that you'll never compromise the music for any reason. So when you run into a career obstacle or a roadblock, what drives you forward?

Amber: Knowing that the music is special to our fans, friends, and family keeps us going. There will always be obstacles, it’s just important to remember why you were drawn to making music in the first place.

Paris, you also produce for the group. There aren't many female producers in the music world. How are you changing the game?

Paris: I’d love to break down barriers that any woman feels when it comes to following your art. One of the highest compliments I’ve ever been paid was a fellow musician telling me that by just being who we are, we gave so many others permission to do the same.

"I’d love to break down barriers that any woman feels when it comes to following your art."

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Do you think it's surprising to people (or male producers specifically) that you're producing?

Paris: I think some people are surprised that it’s produced by a woman, I think some people are surprised that all the music so far has been produced in entirety by just one person. It’s an incredible time though, and super inspiring to see so many other women making great music. It’s becoming less of an anomaly.

We hear the words "male-dominated" so much that it's almost like white noise. And yet, almost all industries are dominated by men. What shift have you seen in the music industry that's exciting and/or empowering for you as women?

Anita: It’s a great time to be an independent artist. It’s so cool to see the way that women are able to create communities in the internet age- now it’s easier than ever before to connect with people who love and appreciate your art and vice versa.

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

Amber: It’s all about finding balance, and knowing when to put your blinders on. It’s important to immerse yourself in others work- let all the art around you inspire you, and never forget the perspective you bring to the table. Hone in on your own originality.

What about your career makes you (each respectively,) feel the most complete?

Amber: Doing what I love with the people I love.

Anita: The ability to touch people that you’ve never met.

Paris: It’s incredible to watch something grow from just your imagination to being a fully- fleshed out piece of art

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

Paris: The support we received from so many people on the day we released our first project in 2011 will stay with us forever. Hearing from so many new fans and artists we admire gave us the spark to know we were on the right track, and that it was moving people the same way it moved us. That experience made us confident that we had something special with KING.

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

Anita: When Prince first heard our debut album, he said: “Don’t change a thing.” It was something we kept with us throughout the creation and release and gave us the backbone to know that even if nobody else had our backs, he thought it was perfect.

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

Amber: Any song by Stevie Wonder.

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

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Create & Cultivate 100: STEM: Kimberly Bryant

THE EXEMPLARY LEADER. 

“I consider myself a fighter and a revolutionary and I’m driven to stand up to injustices and inequities whenever I see them manifest.”

When Kimberly Bryant first met computer programming as a freshman in an Electrical Engineering course at Vanderbilt she was excited. 

But she also felt culturally isolated. "Few of my classmates looked like me," she says. Though much has changed in the tech sector since her college days, the issue of representation has not. 

In 2011, Kimberly, founded Black Girls Code after her daughter expressed an interest in learning computer programming, but the mom found none of the programs in the Bay Area were crafted to or for young African American girls. The entrepreneur and champion for change has cited lack of access and lack of exposure to STEM topics as likely culprits.

"By launching Black Girls Code," she says, "I hope to provide  young and pre-teen girls of color opportunities to learn in-demand skills in technology and computer programming at a time when they are naturally thinking about what they want to be when they grow up."

That's the mission of Black Girls Code. Their aim is to increase the number of women of color in the digital space by empowering girls of color ages 7 to 17 to become innovators in STEM fields, leaders in their communities, and builders of their own futures through exposure to computer science and technology, and to train 1 million girls by 2040.

It's Kimberly's Code of Honor, if you will. 

More from Kimberly below. 

Name: Kimberly Bryant

Instagram Handle: @6gems

Mostly male. Mostly white. That's been the narrative. It's been the picture. Many of our readers struggle with owning rooms like that. How were you able to find your voice and your power?

I come from a very strong matrilineal family. Both of my grandmothers were businesswomen and were able to create opportunities for themselves and their families at times in circumstances much more difficult and tenuous for Black women than what I'm faced with today as a professional woman of color in a male-dominated industry. This ancestral heritage has played a significant role in helping me to both find and owns my voice, my unique views, and my personal power. My wish is that my daughter will find the same light within herself by the example I hope to set for her. I want her to know that she is powerful beyond measure and has absolutely everything she needs to find her path and thrive in these spaces.

Do you remember feeling fear in any of your initial career moments and how did you push through?

I still have fear during certain career moments. One way I push through is preparation. I've found it helps to ease my tension when I know I've prepared for the "moment" to ensure I know my stuff and I'm ready for whatever outcome I can imagine. For those outcomes, I can't foresee? Well, I lean on faith to conquer those fears. I honestly believe that every experience is meant to get you closer to where you're supposed to be. So this pushes me through the fear.

Our children have immense power to shift our perspective. We are able to do for them what, at times, we've been unable to do for ourselves. How has being a mom made you a better entrepreneur?

Embarking on this entrepreneurial journey as a single mom has definitely been one of the hardest things I've ever done yet it has also been the most rewarding.

Where do your drive and passion come from?

This is a difficult question to answer because in some ways I feel this is just who I am. I've always been a rather intense and passionate person and I'm not quite sure where that comes from. I do know that I consider myself a fighter and a revolutionary and I'm driven to stand up to injustices and inequities whenever I see them manifest.

So many industries are shifting. You're part of the movement that is doing the shifting. How does it feel to be a part of that seismic activity?

I'm very proud of the work that BGC has done to shift the narrative around who belongs in the field of technology and I'm very glad that this path found me. We still have much work to do and I'm reminded of a phrase from the musical Hamilton; "legacy is planting seeds in a garden you'll never see". I look at the work I'm doing now in this light. I may never see the true fruits of my work in this lifetime but I'm certain that the seeds we are planting now are creating a legacy that permanently transforms this industry for future generations. It better.

2040 you want to reach 1 million girls. What are some other benchmarks for Black Girls Code?

This year marks our seventh year in existence as a non-profit organization and what we are most excited about is seeing girls who have been involved with Black Girls CODE since they were 10 or 12 years old, graduate from high school and head off to college many in STEM and technical fields. We hope to focus a significant amount of our efforts this year on building a strong and active alumni network and connecting our BGC alumni to career and internship opportunities in some of the many companies we've worked with over the past seven years.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

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

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

The greatest sense of completeness in my work comes from seeing so many of our girls discover their passions and become empowered to follow their dreams. I am continually inspired by the girls who are such brilliant, creative, and strong leaders. When I see them shine I know my work and this path is exactly where I was meant to be.

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

Shortly after I graduated from high school one of the directors at a firm I was interning for during the summer took me to lunch and shared a crucial piece of advice with me---never go to lunch alone. His advice was to use the lunch hour as a time to network internally and build strong business relationships with my fellow co-workers and associates. Today in the age of self care I'm sure there are many folks who would disagree with this advice and I would certainly also encourage the art of disconnecting and resetting as a good practice, but his fundamental advice was really meant to emphasize the value of networking both within and outside of your work environment. Learning how to build a network very early in my career has yielded immense benefits for me both in my past corporate career and in my current entrepreneurial pursuits.

When you first when to raise, you were met with resistance, in part because of the name. But as you've said, words matter. How we chose to frame issues matters. You've shown that you can say no to dollars to don't feel right (multiple times). How would you encourage other young women to walk away from money that's not in their best interest? (It's scary!)

As I've built BGC over the last seven years it's been extremely important for me to lead with authenticity and to be willing to take a loss if it means we hold true to our values. I understand that making the hard decisions can be di cult and at times the seemingly impractical choice but I believe strongly that "values-driven leadership" is extremely important in mission driven organizations. The decisions we make at the top lter down and infect the work we do---it's the fertilizer for the soil that we build in.

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance. — Vernā Myers, VP, Inclusion Strategy, Netflix”

When you hit a big bump in the road, like a NO, how do you find a new road?

I'm a person that doesn't take 'NO' for an answer. Perhaps it's my training as an engineer but I always think there could be a better or different way to get around a no so I'll actively look at the situation and try to figure out a way to reach my desired outcome. When I can't figure out the answer on my own I ask for help. This is probably one of the most important skills (asking for help) I've had to embrace as a leader.  

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

My current obsession is the Broadway musical Hamilton. I'm a late-comer to the Hamilton train but was completely blown away by the show and every single song in it. So I find myself humming the various melodies in the shower, during the day, and just about anytime I need a little extra boost of motivation and inspiration.

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

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Create & Cultivate 100: Entrepreneur: Morgan DeBaun

THE GAME CHANGER.

Name: Morgan DeBaun

Instagram Handle: @morgandebaun

Business Instagram Handle:
@blavity @shadow_act @travelnoire @21Ninety @afro.tech

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

Being able to get into the room. There are still a lot of closed doors when it comes to women entrepreneurs, whether it be to pitch, or securing funding, it’s still very much a boys club. Hopefully, that will change in the near future with the number of women business owners and entrepreneurs consistently growing.

"A press release won't fix male ego." Obsessed with this, but also, TRUE. How do we keep changing culture? How do we fix it?

We change the culture by continuing to have an open dialogue about situations and issues that may have been accepted in the past, but as we move forward, towards a more inclusive landscape in every industry, those practices and beliefs just aren’t acceptable any longer. 

What was the turning point that convinced you, it's time to take matters into my own hands? The world needs Blavity.

It was after the death of Mike Brown. Almost every media source painted this kid out to be a monster, all while his body still laid in the middle of the street. Too often we see the narrative around people of color go from bad to worse in the media before real facts have been presented. Blavity was created to change that.

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

I find new roads by going back to the drawing board and revisiting the original vision. That usually helps me get back to aligning myself with my goals. In doing so, I almost always come across new avenues and alternative ways to get to the job done.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

People who talk a lot about what they want to do instead of just doing it. Actions speak louder than words and execution is everything.

"Actions speak louder than words and execution is everything."

Tweet this.

What does the concept of #hustlesmart mean to you?

To hustle smart means to put in the work needed, but doing so efficiently and effectively, so that time, energy and resources aren’t wasted along the way.  Sometimes I think people take pride in being “busy” and “working hard.” If you can accomplish the same outcome with less work isn’t that a better outcome?  

How has your relationship to that concept changed over the last five years?

I have a team now. We still hold the concept in high regards, but with more brain power, it has become easier, in a way. We work together and are able to pick up on each other’s blind spots, so that makes the process of executing ideas a lot smoother than being alone in my one-bedroom apartment trying to do everything on my own. 

What are your biggest fears about running a business?

If I had to take a stab at it, I would say that taking too long to recognize that a project or idea or system just doesn’t work. I love the quote “fail fast” because the greatest lessons are born out of failures and mistakes. 

Fail fast, because the greatest lessons are born out of failures and mistakes.

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Blavity is explaining difficult concepts like Cap Tables. And also sharing the recipes from black food bloggers. You're diversifying media with diverse content. How involved are you in mapping it out and what does the process look like?

I’m very involved. Our team constantly collaborates and brainstorm together in the office or via slack.  Each person on our team juggles multiple hats (we’re a startup!) but we work together to create the best content or product for our community.

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

I feel most complete being able to employ people who are underdogs and deserve to work in a space where they can be their full creative selves. 

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

I wouldn't. I’m proud, and very much still in awe of what my team has done in the short years that Blavity has existed.  I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

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

It was when I decided to quit my job at Intuit and pursue Blavity full time. It was all sorts of scary and nerve-wracking but I never looked back.  I think that when you find something that you’re really passionate about that you’d be willing to do for free then it makes everything that comes after less scary.

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

Stop asking for permission and just do it.

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

Beyoncé - "Formation"

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

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Create & Cultivate 100 Philanthropy: Nia Batts

REBEL WITH A CAUSE.

She can't blow out her own hair, but Detroit native Nia Batts has one hell of an idea with Detroit Blows. 

The idea for Detroit Blows came together around 2010 when two friends, Nia Batts and Katy Cockrel, who have known each other since they were 4 and in the same dance class, were working together on a project in Detroit. 

(Shoutout to friends for life #FFL.) 

Nearly 7 years later, in October 2017, the #FFL opened Detroit Blows, the city’s first non-toxic blowdry salon, that features blowouts and beauty services like express manicures and pedicures. Talk about new adventures with old friends. They're also taking a new approach to the blow dry model. 

The philanthropic arm of the business, Detroit Grows, aims to reinvest in Detroit. The salon donates $1 of every blowout service and a percentage of the retail footprint to support Detroit-based female entrepreneurs through microgrants, and women entering and re-entering the workforce.

Name: Nia Lauryn Batts

Instagram Handle: @nialauryn

Business Instagram Handle: @detroitblows

Can you chat us through the inception of Detroit Blows?

My parter, Katy, and I are childhood friends, native Detroiters, and prior to this venture, frequent business collaborators. I was actually her client when I was living in New York and working for Viacom. And as she tells the story, I would land in yoga pants, juggling two phones, hair in a top knot, looking for the closest place to get a blowout, and she would regrettably inform me that we had to go out to the suburbs. There was an unsettling dichotomy in the conversations we were having with our Detroit-based partners; although young people were moving to the city, and making money in the city, they were still spending a signicant amount of their dollars outside of the community. The concept for Detroit Blows stemmed from a need we experienced first-hand and an exploration into filling that void -- cost-effective, high-quality blow dry services -- led to the development of a model with reinvestment in the city at its core.

And why the give-back model was an important part of the concept?

I think ultimately (like many others) we are guided by the belief that businesses have a responsibility to communities in the way that people do. We knew we wanted to use non-toxic products, retail conscious brands with stories (in partnership with Conscious Commerce), and reinvest a portion of our profits into female entrepreneurs and programs helping women enter or re-enter the workforce. We're unwavering believers in 'the multiplier effect' -- that by investing in women, you are investing in their families, in their communities, in every idea they touch.

Where do your drive and passion come from?

My parents. There are hard days when you're leaning into new chapters of your story. Their belief in me is contagious. And my best-friend/life-wife Sophia, who was one of the earliest champions of this project. She makes it all look so easy, but will be honest with you when it's not. People like her, that show the truth behind their process, make me feel my dreams are attainable

Philanthropy means the "love of humanity." It's so beautiful and simple. What does it mean to you?

In my previous role, we made an effort to reframe and root the concept of Philanthropy in the business strategy of Philanthropic Investment. If Philanthropy is a 'love of humanity' Philanthropic Investment is an informed and strategic effort to ensure the sustainability of it. It's loving humanity in the ways that help it evolve and continue.

If Philanthropy is a 'love of humanity' Philanthropic Investment is an informed and strategic effort to ensure the sustainability of it. It's loving humanity in the ways that help it evolve and continue.

How did you find yourself on this particular career journey?

That's funny, sometimes I do wonder if I've lost the plot, but it helps that it makes sense to me. I went to film school, so I've always been a storyteller at heart, but the way I've done it has often been non-traditional. In different ways I've told the stories of people, of movements, of brands, today I'm grateful to be telling the story of a beautiful and resilient city rebuilding, and the women who are strengthening it every day with their purchasing decisions.

Do you think you've found your true calling?

I don't think any of us have one true calling, but I do think this is one of mine. As I grow and get closer to myself I've fortunately become less afraid of pursuing what stirs me. Birth began to move me, and I felt very called to become a doula, so I had to just write it into my story.

"As I grow I've fortunately become less afraid of pursuing what stirs me."

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Are there any fears associated with your work? If yes, what are they?

The shift from a large corporation to small business comes with a learning curve for me as a CEO and I've definitely spent some time in moments of fear. But too much fear can be dangerous, so I try and catalyze it into something small I can do that day, that helps lessen the outcome I'm afraid of; almost like an offering an invitation to the universe to help a girl out a little bit.

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

I can't blowout my own hair, or anyone else's for that matter. But being a longtime consumer of the service allows me to approach our business in a different way and really focus on the client experience. You often have to lead from where you are, and hire other great people to do the same.

"You often have to lead from where you are, and hire other great people to do the same."

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What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

That I've been able to dene it on my own terms.

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

Shonda Rhimes, Ava Duvernay, Issa Rae -- any of these badass women who are writing, directing, producing, hiring and leading the teams that are centering women of color in their stories and have found ways to make them both colorful and colorless. Representation is important in the stories we tell. I think we're all enjoying the fruits of their labor.

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

After a heartbreak.

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

Always believe that something magical is about to happen.

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

I take a long hot shower and I think to myself, this is going to get much worse if you don't pull it together before the water gets cold.

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

Beyoncé + Frank Ocean - "Superpower" -- The way it describes the inevitability of a love that has to exist so the world keeps revolving makes me really grateful to be alive again.

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

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Create & Cultivate 100: Philanthropy: Grace Mahary

LIGHTING THE WAY.

Grace Mahary, model and philanthropist, is all about bringing love and light to the world.

A first generation Canadian of Eritrean descent, Grace has walked in Victoria Secret shows and graced the pages of Vogue, but over the last four years, she has been researching renewable energy solutions, especially for countries lacking electrical and mechanical infrastructure

Drawing from her global network, Grace compiled a team to create tangible clean energy solutions for communities around the world, turning her sights to something near and dear to her heart: Project Tsheigh.

Project Tsehigh ( (pronounced se-hai, PjT for short) was established in New York City in 2015. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing uninterrupted energy to impoverished communities around the world via renewable energy sources. Tsehigh, translated as “sun” in English, is determined to bring uninterrupted clean energy to impoverished communities around the world, Grace launched the non-profit in Eritrea, home to her family and a place in desperate need of sustainable clean energy.

That’s what we call beauty on the inside. Keep shining Grace.

More below.

Name: Grace Mahary

Instagram: @gracemahary

Business Instagram: @ProjectTsehigh

Where do your drive and passion come from?

My parents, as they are extremely passionate people who exemplify hard work and perseverance.

How do you feel as a woman in tech?

I’ve never thought to consider myself “a woman in tech” because I don’t have formal STEM education. However, as I learned more about the sciences through my work with Project Tsehigh, I realized that I’m passionate about advancing technologies in the renewables space that will improve the quality of life for so many people. The traditional definition of technology is expanding, and I’m honored to be surrounded by these intelligent, strong women who are changing the world.

It’s great to see the numbers of women in stem rise, but it’s also important for young girls and adult women to know that if you don’t want to go into a career in tech or math or sciences, it doesn’t make your career less meaningful. As someone who has two careers, can you talk a bit about this?

I’ve had to deal with defending my job throughout my entire modeling career. Some people think that the fashion industry is completely frivolous and that modeling is as easy as standing in front of a camera and smiling. That’s definitely untrue, and now modeling has opened so many doors for Project Tsehigh. And even though I’m developing my STEM skills, that doesn’t devalue my career as a model. If you follow your passion, there is always room to incorporate purpose.

Would you say modeling gave you a thicker skin to deal with the STEM field?

Modeling has taught me a lot of valuable skills like confidence, independence, and the importance of humility. All of those skills are transferable to running a business or nonprofit. Project Tsehigh is still very new, and I compare it to a startup tech company that is building its infrastructure, reiterating processes and fundraising. This year we launched our first project and donated 105 solar power units to households and establishments in Maaya, Eritrea. It was one of the most challenging -- and rewarding -- projects I have ever worked on in my entire career. There were set-ups, setbacks, and comebacks, but my confidence, independence and humility helped me persevere.

What are your hopes for young women who are interested in STEM?

My hope is that young women who are interested in STEM are never discouraged because society says that tech is for men, or that working in tech “makes you less feminine” -- which is just ridiculous! Growing up I wanted to be a basketball star, but I was conditioned to think that women were either athletes or they were “girly girls” -- we couldn’t be both. As I grew older, I quickly learned that wasn’t true at all. I was able to play ball and walk the Victoria’s Secret Runway Show. The great thing about STEM is that you can combine multiple passions to make your career. If you love coding and reading, you could create an app for finding the best books. If you love the math and fashion, you could manage the finances for the biggest fashion houses. The possibilities are endless!

What is your biggest pet peeve?

My biggest pet peeve is when people chew with their mouth open. The sound of their lips smacking drives me off the wall!

What are your biggest fears about running a business?

My biggest fear about running a business is failing the people that work with me. I try to be transparent and honest with everyone I work with, and I take obligations to others seriously. I regularly ask for their feedback on how our organization is doing and how I’m doing as a leader, like a reverse employee evaluation.

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

Working as a model is very unpredictable, and opportunities can be super last minute. Some mornings I’ll wake up with my day planned in my mind, and then I’ll receive an email or call about flying to another city that same evening for a job!

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

"Be authentic. You’ll break through the static when you find your secret sauce and share it with the world."

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What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

Knowing that Project Tsehigh is creating lasting change on a global level.

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

A performer! If I could sing well, I would be on tour igniting the stage and sharing my energy with everyone. Also an actor because I like challenging myself to play different characters, and then I could act out additional dream careers like working with professional athletes in sports medicine, working with Elon Musk on eliminating fossil fuels and powering the world with 100% renewable energy, or a character who lives minimalistically in the tropics teaching yoga or some type of exercise to the local community.

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

That is still an ongoing effort for me. Over the last couple of years, I really started embracing my talents more and being less fearful. I’ve grown so much after starting Project Tsehigh. As a model, I’ve always had an agent guide me to make the best decisions, so running Project Tsehigh has pushed me out of my comfort zone. I’m usually speaking directly to partners and potential donors, which was daunting at first, but now has become second nature.

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

You need to make mistakes in order to grow and learn. Don’t overthink -- take the first step and then figure out how to execute the rest of your goal. Specifically pertaining to modelling: don’t take things personally.

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

I will admit that I am a bit stubborn at times, but it becomes a positive character quality here because once I have my mind set on achieving something, I’ll literally do whatever it takes to accomplish it. If that means financial sacrifice, so be it. Hard labor and exhaustion, I’ll do it. I refuse to feel defeated because I believe in myself and know I can accomplish anything with hard work.

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

"Closer" by Goapple because it inspires and reminds me that no matter what happens, I’m closer to achieving my dreams and goals!

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

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Create & Cultivate 100: Entertainment: Tiffany Haddish

TIFFANY HADDISH 2020. 

Should Tiffany Haddish be President? 

If the job was based on a candidate's ability to make us laugh, we'd vote yes. Tiffany was a much-needed reprieve during that endlessly L-O-N-G-W-T-F 2017. From her stories about Will and Jada and Groupon (which went viral), to her breakout hilarious supporting role in Girls Trip, Tiffany had us ROTFL when the rest of the world had us in tears. 

And even though her story is a bit of a tear-jerker, she's never let it stop her. It's positively inspirational. The witty woman has been performing at The Laugh Factory since she was a teenager. But her childhood is nothing to laugh at. Tiffany frequently shares about growing up in foster care and stints spent living in her car.

Still, Tiffany is the first black woman standup to ever host Saturday Night Live in its four-plus decades. She also managed to release her memoir, "The Last Black Unicorn." And she's now an official spokesperson for Groupon, which makes sense seeing as she's in the top 1% of their users. 

More from our next President below. 

On success:

I'm still living in the same place, and -- none of your damn business where I live -- but I'm still driving a Honda. I'm trying to decide if I should get myself the Tesla SUV or if I should get myself a new pair of shoes. I don't know I think I'm going to go with the Ted Bakers because they might be a little cheaper, but the Tesla though.

On her social worker Colita Louis: 

I thought it super necessary to thank her because she basically saved my life. She got me out of that living situation, and she noticed that I had something and she got me into Laugh Factory Comedy Camp. I went to the comedy camp and it changed my whole world and I'm so grateful to her for that.

On potentially saving the world:

I obviously went through these things for a reason, and if it's not to share with other people so they can handle their situations better, well, I don't know what the hell I went through it for. I might as well share it because this the only life I got to live and who knows it might save the world.

On eating kale with Taylor Swift:

When I met Taylor Swift, she was reciting my jokes back to me telling me how much she loved me. I'm going over to her house. … We supposed to be eating baked chicken and quinoa salad with kale and all this healthy stuff and talking and laughing. I'm going to hang out. It's going to be great. Taylor Swift knows I'm [all] jokes.

This interview has been edited and condensed from multiple sources. 

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Create & Cultivate 100 Philanthropy: Mari Copeny

LITTLE MISS FLINT. BIG DREAMS. 

Little Miss Flint is going to change the world.

And hint: she already has.  

When Mari Copeny was 8-years-old, she wrote a letter to President Obama, asking him to meet with her and a group of people coming to Washington D.C. It read:

Mr. President,

Hello my name is Mari Copeny and I’m 8 years old, I live in Flint, Michigan and I’m more commonly known around town as “Little Miss Flint”. I am one of the children that is effected by this water, and I’ve been doing my best to march in protest and to speak out for all the kids that live here in Flint. This Thursday I will be riding a bus to Washington, D.C. to watch the congressional hearings of our Governor Rick Snyder.”

The President responded.

Cue: the waterworks. Which is exactly what Mari, AKA “Little Miss Flint,” has been fighting for in Flint, Michigan since 2014. Working, clean, water. Yes, it’s a human right. She’s known around her town as “Little Miss Flint,” because of her work and activism on the matter to represent the children of Flint.

And she’s still hard at it. Now ten, Mari is the youngest Women’s March Youth Ambassador, National Youth Ambassador for the Climate March, and Youth Ambassador for Equality for Her. She has spoken in front of the White House and at the Science March in Washington D.C. Mari also spoke at the United Nations Girl Up Leadership Conference.

Read more about what we can expect from this amazing young girl below.

Name: Mari Copeny

Instagram Handle: @MariMyAngelOfficial

Your Twitter bio says "watch me change the world." But you ARE changing the world. Where do your drive and passion come from?

I am. My focus is on making the world see that kids are not just the future we are the present as well and we can change the world now. I am focusing so much time on Flint kids and making sure that we get all the things that we need to be successful.

Philanthropy means the "love of humanity." It's so beautiful and simple. What does it mean to you?

It means being able to give back to every single person and love them for who they are.

How did you find yourself on this particular journey?

The Flint Water Crisis kind of flung me into this life and I haven't looked back since. What began as me wanting the world to know that we have a serious problem in Flint has turned into me wanting to help out kids all over the country and to prove to other kids they can change the world as well.

We gotta know, what kind of hugs does Obama give?

They are amazing. He is so soft and warm. Best HUG ever. Like a big fluffy bear without the fluff.

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

That even though I'm an activist that I am also a kid as well and I LOVE being a kid. And my number one focus is on making sure that Flint kids are not forgotten.

What's the best advice your mom has ever given you?

To always find the good in every situation, even when things seem all bad.

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

I dont find a new road, I will work until I am able to get over that bump. Sometimes it takes a lot of being told no to finally get the answer I want.

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

"Happy" by Pharrell Williams.

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

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Create & Cultivate 100: Music: Kelsey Lu

THE IL"LU"MINATED. 

You can call her Lu. Seriously, the musician's biggest pet peeve is when people call her Kelsey. 

But let's back up a minute. 

Meet Kelsey McJunkins aka Kelsey Lu, the classically trained cellist raised Jehovah’s witness to musician parents in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The haunting songstress turned to music as an outlet from the restrictive religion she was born into, crediting the institution with both broadening her interests and shielding her from much of what her contemporaries were listening to. Lu has played with pop acts from Blood Orange to Florence and The Machine, yet her distinct sound—often ghostly and unsettling—exists in a far away world.

More on the enchanting cellist below.

Name: Kelsey Lu

Instagram: 

Where do your drive and passion come from?

It comes from the basic instinct of survival. Tapping into something that is unseen but felt and riding with it.

Your mom played the piano. Your dad, percussion. He was also an artist. Was there a dichotomy between the "artist" part of your upbringing and the strict religious side?

Well being an "Artist" comes in so many different flavors you know. I wouldn't say that going to museums around the country, or my dad supporting a family based solely off of his being a Portrait/Court Room Artist as being something that clashed with the rulings of the Organization I was brought up in noticeably. The only times it did was when I decided to leave the religion I was raised in to further my life as an artist. Music and Art was my gateway away from that life, so it was then that the dichotomy began.

How do you think that's shaped your music and your relationship to music and art?

It narrowed my point of vision while exposing it to other parts that most kids my age weren't getting excited over, i.e. classical music. My exposure to pop culture was monitored much more so than a regular degular American childhood upbringing, but because of that, I was appreciating the things that most kids weren't which separates me from the herd.

What was life like on the road? What was the most fun and conversely, the most challenging?

In the very beginning when I started touring with Nappy Roots it was just exciting and fun, I wasn't thinking about the fact that I was the only female within a fully cis male environment. That was the challenge later on when the glitter in my eyes wore thin. Hard finding the space for myself. But it gets easier every time, you learn to make space and time for yourself.

"You learn to make space and time for yourself."

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What is your biggest pet peeve?

When people call me Kelsey.

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

I have to rosin my bow every time I play and the process of making rosin in a beautiful one. Most specifically though is that it is comprised mostly of Pine sap. Pine sap is indeed the key ingredient in rosin, and it is derived from pines grown for paper pulp on big southern plantations. I grew up around a lot of Pines in NC.

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

It's like the mating songs of Lyre Birds, they are one of the most complex songbirds in the world. The reason for their complexity is their unique ability to mimic sounds, they can literally mimic the calls of any birds, as well as natural sounds they may come across, say for example like a camera shutter. What makes one stand out from the rest, is the way they personalize their mimicry.

"What makes one stand out from the rest, is the way they personalize their mimicry."

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What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

Earth.

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

I can't really pinpoint the exact location of time or place upon which I found that confidence, I also don't feel like it's been fully realized for myself. It's something that takes time and trial and error.

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

Let the River run between your thighs and lift your eyes to the sky.

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

By getting through the pain of that bump, you will naturally find another road.

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

The song of my own tears falling to the bottom of the shower floor.

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

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Create & Cultivate 100: Fashion: Paola Mathé

THE QUEEN OF COLOR. 

You don't need to write a novel to tell a story.

Paola Mathé is the embodiment of this. A storyteller at heart, the blogger and Creative Director was born a dreamer from a small town in Haiti. Paola moved to the United States during her teenage years, where she lived in a one bedroom apartment with her family in Newark, NJ.  Of her mother, the creative shares, “She’s had a very tough life and over the years I’ve seen her get stronger and smarter." It's certainly helped shaped the woman Paola has become. 

A driven individual, Paola was the first in her family to graduate from college, receiving her dual bachelor's degree in Economics and French Literature at Drew University. Post-grad she went on to launch a career in hospitality. As is the narrative with many bloggers, she started Finding Paola as a creative outlet during a time when her career was soaring. She recalls getting “four promotions over the course of about six months-- I was dominating and living that life," she says. "But I got really into it [the blog] and made time. I was working 50-60 hours a week, managing all of these different people but really wanting to be creative. So that’s what I started doing. And I remember thinking, I don’t have much, but how can I create this? How can I show people that they can live without having much?”

This was during 2009 when the blog in its infancy was called Finding Paola: Lost in New York. What was she searching for? Was she truly lost? Not exactly. “I was writing about things I was not familiar with but were intriguing and exciting. I was really trying to find who I was. I started seeing this girl," she says self-referentially, "who, whether she had someone to go to an event with or not, she would still show up, she would meet people, network, and then I started seeing me changing in front of me-- doing all these things I was never comfortable with, really trying to get stronger.”

She was busy documenting different events, but the content evolved over time to include her personal style. "I tried to keep up with that, while also being as honest as possible." She says that having a blog, especially before the dawn/explosion of social media was really hard. “I felt like everyone was studying a manual I didn’t have and everything looked the same. I didn’t want my blog to be that because my life is full of color and I felt like my story was so different from the blogs I was reading. I remember subscribing to a lot of them, trying to follow and keep up and then unsubscribing because I didn’t relate. But then I’d wonder why they were getting so popular. I didn’t realize that at the time my blog was also getting popular. I thought it would just be friends and family.”

“I felt like everyone was studying a manual I didn’t have."

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Occasionally she'll read her old posts to see how much she’s grown, although many have been lost as she’s transitioned platforms over the years. “A lot of posts don’t migrate," she laughs recalling the days when twenty views would get her really excited. “I thought the only person reading it was my mom because she was terrified of me being in New York and wanted to keep tabs on me.”

Describing herself as a shy child surrounded by strong women in Haiti, including her mother, Paola says, “I remember always trying to be in charge of her money. I would always try to calculate everything. How much does sugar cost and how much does rice cost? I was shy, but I was very observant. I had very strong opinions and I knew when I was older I wanted to be treated a certain way. I remember being in this house full of women. My mom didn’t like to be alone so when we lived in our family house in Haiti she surrounded herself with friends-- people who weren’t relatives but I would call them cousin. I saw how all these women lived. As a little girl I saw their love lives, how they cried, how they handled things, and I remember sitting there-- because in Haiti it’s very strict you can’t just get into grown folks business-- and thinking about what I liked and didn’t like. That’s why Fanm Djanm is important. They were all strong in their own way, but I didn’t want to be treated how they were treated. As I got older and older I found myself solving problems. And I realized that I could solve problems and be creative.”

She is referring to her company, Fanm Djanm, a head wrap collection and popular lifestyle brand launched in 2014 that celebrates the strength of women while empowering them to live boldly. It means “strong woman" in Haitian Creole. 

More from Paola, a very strong woman, below. 

Where do your drive and passion come from? 

My drive comes from the way my heart races when I feel like I'm going to step out of my comfort zone. It's embedded in all my daydreams as a shy little girl. And it continues to evolve as I realize how much I can do with the right mindset. My passion? Maybe I was born with it? I don't remember not ever being passionate. I see beauty in abandoned cracks and crevices. Sometimes I create it. And sometimes it just surprises me. It's hard not to have passion. 

When you run into a career obstacle, what drives you forward? 

Knowing that it's not going to be permanent. Knowing that it only gets worst if I ignore it. So I have to push and find a solution. Sometimes reading about other entrepreneur's obstacles help me because I know I'm not alone. 

I know I'm not alone. 

We've talked a little before about how you created your office space in Harlem. And that even though it's small, it's yours. Why is having something that's all yours important? 

It's important to have something that's all mine because I make the rules. I create my world of beauty and happiness. The walls vibrate inspiration and truths that I don't find most places. I get to curate and be in charge of what I like. I can look around on a bad day and find a piece of artwork and some words that just lift me up. And that's where some of the magic happens. 

How do you manage your time between your personal brand and Fanm Djamn? 

It's hard to manage time between the two. It's hard to say that I'll work on Fanm Djanm for an x amount of time today and I'll dedicate another x amount to Finding Paola. It's exhausting. So I go by what demands my attention the most at the moment. Fanm Djanm is my baby, but it's just one of the long term projects I'm going to work on in my life. I think having a good team is extremely important. My transition to Austin hasn't made it easy. 

How have you been able to work remotely with your team since you moved to Austin? 

The move to Austin has been a big challenge for, and my pregnancy hasn't made it any easier. I'm happy to work young, ambitious, trustworthy people. I found that with the current state that I was, it was difficult to make solid plans. I've learned a lot about patience and not to be too hard on myself the past few months. 

What is your biggest pet peeve? 

My biggest pet peeve is how easy people find it to comment on other people's bodies, especially women's bodies. I think the world would be a better place for us if we weren't being reminded every time our bodies go through a major change or look different. It's our body, we know how we look, and we don't need your remarks unless we ask for it. 

"It's our body, we know how we look, and we don't need your remarks unless we ask for it." 

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Who or what are you most inspired by? 

I'm inspired by women. I'm inspired by black women. I'm inspired by women who have found their voice, and who know what they want (or at least what they don't want). And of course color! I love color and how it makes me feel. It doesn't have to be bright or bold (although that's my go-to). Neutrals can be fun too. I love how mixing or not can tell a story. And my friend Mama Cax continues to inspire me everyday. 

What are your biggest fears about running a business? 

My biggest fear is failing those who work with me. I want them to do well and be well just like I want to do well. It's difficult when you've started without much and are still finding yourself. But the more I learn, and the more I know, the more I'll be able to look out for them as well. 

You're about to be a new mom. What do you hope to pass on to your child? 

I'd like for my child to know that she was born from unfiltered and exciting love. I'd like for her to know that she will be privileged even as a biracial person, and that she should understand his or her role in all of this. I'd like to pass on open-mindedness, and being able to love, communicate, share, and inspire. I'd like to pass on that nobody is perfect and that life is unfair no matter where or how you're born. But if you're able to make a difference, you should. There's so much that I'd love to pass on. I think self-love is also one of the top things I'd like to pass on. Being free, but not carefree.

Where do you find inspiration?

When I was in Harlem I would go up to a stranger in the street if I thought they had a story or they’d be an amazing person to have a conversation with. I love talking to older women a lot. I started photographing older women in Harlem and I would approach them and tell them how beautiful and amazing they are. They would look at me like I was crazy-- that’s how you know you live in an ageist society. When you tell an older woman she’s beautiful often they think you’re making fun of them or it surprises them.

How does that make you feel as a woman?

People think you’re failing at life because you’re not doing something before you’re 30. I know so many amazing people who didn’t start to find themselves until later. When I meet a woman who says, ‘I’ve been doing this for a while, but it wasn’t until I was 45 that I really found my voice,’ to me that’s really inspiring. These aren’t just women breaking the rules but those who are doing something positive and impactful for their communities. I want to showcase stories like that.

"People think you’re failing at life because you’re not doing something before you’re 30."

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When did you find the confidence to become the woman you are today?

There was a video recently of me and I started crying because I was like WHO is this woman, WHY are they using these words to describe her-- and I realized, 'Oh it’s me.' 

I painted the floors in my office in Harlem myself. I was tired and I wanted to get it done, because customers don’t care if you’re painting the floors, they want what they’ve ordered. But I was tired and I sat down and was looking around. And I remember thinking, “Oh my God, this is me. This is mine. The woman who wrote the piece about me in the New York Times described it as a matchbox and I was like 'damn, not even a shoebox?' But still, its my colorful matchbox.

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

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