The Bright and Colorful World of Content Queen Bri Emery

It's been said that "Good clothes open all doors," and perhaps no one knows this to be true more than the entrepreneur who has merged business and fashion. Like Bri Emery, the LA-based art director and creative director behind the lifestyle blog and design studio, Design Love Fest (where she hosts regular workshops for creatives). Launched in 2009, out of an obsession with type and images, Bri has lent her creativity to countless brand campaigns and brings her knack for bright colors and composition to life on her popular Instagram feed. 

The color and style maven has found a way to present herself, define her brand, and stand out in a crowded design space. So stop, look, listen, and see what doors open when you do. And be sure to join Bri on panel May 7th at #CreateCultivateDTLA as she outlines her journey to the top. 

INSTAGRAM: @designlovefest

EARLIEST INTERNET MEMORY: Lots of AOL chat boxes and my terrible guessshopr29 screenname!

BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER: When I quit my full-time job and took a leap of faith that this blogging world would work out for me!

YOU'VE BEEN GRANTED A 2-WEEK, ALL EXPENSES PAID VACATION. YOU GO: Just Google “natural baths in Turkey”—it’s unreal.

YOUR DREAM LADY BOSS TO RING UP FOR BIZ ADVICE: Tina Fey.

CREATIVE PROJECTS YOU LIKE TO TACKLE: Product collaborations.

"Why are we working so hard if we can’t pause for a second and be proud of our efforts!?"

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WORDS OF ADVICE FOR FELLOW CREATIVE HUSTLERS:  When you are a hustler, I think it’s easy to forget to enjoy your successes. I know for me, I will finish a big project and immediately start thinking about what’s next. Why are we working so hard if we can’t pause for a second and be proud of our efforts!? We should all do that more often.

Photos by Calvin Lim, @killacalshoots 

The original version of this post appeared on August 15, 2015

Meet The Mentors: Create & Cultivate DTLA

Create & Cultivate DTLA is going to be our biggest and best conference yet, which means we have another group of amazing mentors ready to give you the best tips to bring your business, brand, or blog to the next level.

If you're wondering what mentor is the best fit for you, check out of the ladies that will be sitting down with you this May at Hudson. Also, if you haven't gotten your ticket yet, what are you waiting for? Get your ticket now.

Paola Alberdi, Creator, Blank Itinerary
Best for: Social Media, Blogging

Since 2011, Paola Alberdi has been to document her versatile and flawless style on her blog Blank Itinerary. 5 years since its launch, Paola has been able to grab the attention of over 250k followers on all her social channels, and continues to grow her brand with strategic partners like ShopStyle, Aveeno, People Magazine, Tresemmé, and Neiman Marcus just to name a few. Get the best tips on how to step into the world of blogging at her mentor session.

Natasha Case, Co-Founder, Coolhaus
Best for: Entrepreneurship, Business Development

Natasha Case founded Coolhaus in 2009 with Freya Estreller. They launched their architecturally-inspired, gourmet ice cream sandwich company from their barely drive-able postal van at the Coachella Music Festival to an audience of 100,000. They built a loyal following over the festival weekend and returned to LA to an abundance of viral press and an eager foodie audience. Since then, Natasha has been named a Forbes 30 under 30 and Zagat 30 Under 30, and has also been featured in many national publications and TV shows including Food Network’s "Chopped" and "King of Cones". Learn how to jumpstart your brand and grow your product fan base by selecting Natasha as your mentor!

 

 

 

Erin Condren, Founder, Erin Condren Designs

Best for: Entrepreneurship, Graphic Design, Branding

Erin Condren started her stationery company after coming down with a terrible case of “cabin fever” and trying to find a way to search for new career opportunities that she could so from home as a “stay-at-home” mother of two. She then began creating note cards for friends, birthday gifts, new babies and hostess gifts, and after her friend encouraged her to sell her designs at a “shopping party” at her home in June 2004, the rest was history. Now, 12 years since its inception, Erin Condren Designs is thriving business, and has helped Erin build a business that fits into her life as a wife and mother. If you’re looking to launch a business but still need that inspiration to find your direction, or are running a business while raising a family, hear from Erin on how she has gotten to where she’s at during her mentor session.

 

 

 

 

Mara Ferreira, Creator, M Loves M

Best for: Social Media, Blogging

Mara Ferreira’s M Loves M is a lifestyle blog focusing on a classic, feminine and fun approach to style, food and entertaining, and living. This site started in 2009 as a creative outlet and online diary for her as she was working towards law school while working at a law firm. Since then, she transitioned from aspiring to be a public interest lawyer, and has moved to documenting her love of fashion, cooking and home design. If you’re in the same shoes as Mara was, and want to transition to fashion from law or totally contrasting field of work, be sure to pick Mara’s brain at her mentor session.

 

 

 

Chloé Watts, Founder, Chloé Digital

Best for: Brand Development, Tech, Web Design, Branding, Marketing

Chloé Watts is the mastermind behind Chloé Digital, the destination for premium Wordpress tech support for style publishers. As a fashion technologist, Chloé has been able to marry tech and fashion into a cohesive way that has allowed bloggers to present their blogs into dynamic and fully functional sites. Who said women in fashion couldn’t run tech? Learn from Chloé on how to tap into the world of tech, and bring your blog to its full potential during her mentor session.

Nicolette Mason, Creator, NicoletteMason.com

Best for: Social Media, Blogging, Strategic Partnerships

Nicolette is a Los Angeles native who lives and works in NYC & LA . She is a freelance creative consultant, contributing editor at Marie Claire, and pens her blog nicolettemason.com, where she shares personal style snaps, travel, and the many things she loves.

Since launching her blog and graduating from Parsons School of Design, she’s contributed to dozens of publications including Marie Claire, Vogue Italia, Brooklyn Magazine, The L Magazine, Refinery29, Glamour Italy, and more, and has partnered with brands like ModCloth and Addition Elle, where she has a cocktail dress collection launching this spring, to design collections. She has also partnered with Target on the heralded launch of their plus-size brand, Ava & Viv.

If you’re looking to start your blog, or are looking for tips on how to become a contributor for publications like Nicolette has written for, make sure to attend her mentor session!

 

Grasie Mercedes, Creator, Style Me Grasie

Best for: Blogging, Social Media, Acting, Modeling

Grasie Mercedes is an actress, model, and author of Style Me Grasie, a blog dedicated to all things style and Grasie’s personal life, which include her adventures in acting & beyond. You can call Grasie a serial multitasker, with having a seamless blog and a great acting resume that includes roles in NCIS, Criminal Minds, All My Children and Masters of Sex, just to name a few. However, her blog she’s able to keep her own character alive through her blog making sure it keeps its readers in the loop with current trends, style how to’s, beauty & lifestyle. If you’re looking to see how to balance being a multi-hyphenate boss or looking how to find your voice within your blog, sign up for Grasie's mentor session!

 

 

 

 

Danielle Yadegar & Heather Serden, Founders, Above The Glass

Best for: Entrepreneurship, Branding, Business & Career Development

Women are natural leaders, creative thinkers and problem solvers. We also get paid less than men for the same work while juggling family responsibilities. Every day, more of us realize that working for others no longer works for us.

That’s how it went for Above the Glass founders Heather Serden and Danielle Yadegar. From finance to business school to start ups, Heather experienced the effects of the glass ceiling that push so many of us into entrepreneurship: traditional careers that fail to meet our economic, personal and professional needs.

But even with her MBA and career experiences, Heather still wondered: Do I have what it takes? Finding the confidence she needed to launch her own business led right to her own pivotal moment. Heather realized her skills and knowledge could be just the edge so many women need to find the confidence to strike off on their own. She knew she could demystify intimidating things like business plans and fundraising. And she believed without a doubt that economic empowerment and the capability to start businesses should be available for all women.

Danielle’s experiences as a fashion editor, stylist and business owner were all preparation for her role as Co-Founder of Above the Glass. As an entrepreneur herself, Danielle faced many challenges in starting her business, primarily lack of understandable information.

She knew she could use the expertise acquired over the course of her career to communicate traditionally complex subject matters in an approachable way. By creating engaging content, she hopes to empower women to pursue their own entrepreneurial endeavors.

Childhood friends who noticed the same gap in the market knew that they could join forces to make business approachable and empower other female entrepreneurs. Sign up for these powerhouse ladies as your mentors  to give you the knowledge, the tools and the edge to own your working lives.

Promise Tangeman, Founder, Go Live HQ

Best for: Brand Development, Tech, Web Design, Branding, Marketing

Promise Tangeman, the founder and designer of Go Live knew there could be a fun, efficient, and helpful way to create your home on the web.

She envisioned a quick turnaround time, technical support at your fingertips, designers everywhere, and collaborating together in a fast-paced, energetic environment to create a site that you would be proud to call your own. And that is when the Go Live workshop was created in 2012. Creative small business come from all over the continent and we help them build, design, and launch their brand and website in person in two days flat. With rave reviews and thousands of websites launched through our brand our passion for fun, efficiency and web design has spread to several other avenues including our website themes, custom design services, and in-person experiences. If you’re looking to dive into tech, or find the best ways to make your website even more dynamic, let Promise give you the best tips on how to do it at her mentor session.

 

 

Jessy Fofana, Founder, LaRue PR

Best for: PR, Marketing, Social Media

Jessy Fofana is our go-to for all things PR. With her PR agency LaRue PR, she has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to utilizing PR to strategically grow brands and get them on the right radar. Not only that, she is our seasoned PR correspondent for the Create & Cultivate blog.

Jessy founded LaRue PR over seven years ago after successfully directing public relations initiatives for an impressive list of well-known fashion, lifestyle and cosmetics brands and retailers.  She brings a unique perspective of understanding what every player in the PR game needs.  Having worked in magazine publishing, she knows what editors are looking for, and as the co-creator of Femme Arsenal, an indie cosmetic brand, she understands what business owners need to grow to the next level. Get her advice in-person at Create & Cultivate Los Angeles!

 

Natalie Willis, Head of Business Development, ShopStyle

Best for: Business Development, Marketing, Strategic Partnerships

Natalie Willis leads ShopStyle Collective’s business development team. She partners with the industry’s leading influencers on scaling their business and growing their brand. In a market that is increasingly competitive and ever changing, Natalie and her team work closely with influencers on content strategy, brand partnerships and monetization. She is proud to partner with so many creative, intelligent women and support them as entrepreneurs turning their passion project into a business. Understand how you can inspire, be creative with clear business goals in mind with Natalie as your mentor.

Roundtable: 5 Career Women Talk 'Having It All'

March is women’s history month, and there are currently more female-owned businesses than ever before in the American workforce. "Having it all" was one of the first empowering messages that helped redefine the role of woman, but for some this cornucopia of to-dos and sea change in the workplace has complicated work-life balance.

Is it possible? Is it a myth? What is about gender roles that we can’t seem to stop talking about?

In anticipation of #CreateCultivateSXSW, we checked in with some of our panelists to find out what having it all means to the modern working woman, especially when “normal working hours can sometimes become all of the hours.” 

LET'S START WITH THE BASICS. WHAT DOES 'HAVING IT ALL' MEAN TO YOU?

Silvie Snow-Thomas, Director of Strategy, Elle Communications : 'Having it all' suggests that we can get everything in both our personal and our professional lives that we think we want at the exact time we want it.  What women have been striving for, for generations, is having the same range of opportunities to choose from as men – if a man stays late at the office for example, does he face the same pressure of getting home to his spouse or kids as he would if were a woman? 

Julie Hays Geer, Director of Partnerships, Laurel & Wolf: In terms of what it's "supposed to mean," I see it, for a woman, as being able to have a career and family simultaneously. 

Bianca Caampued, Co-Founder, Small Girls PR : 'Having it all' is being being happy with everything that you have going on in your life - both personally and professionally. When someone asks you how your day was, your answer is always, "Today was the best day ever." 

Sarah Kunst, Founder, PRODAY: It means choosing a life you want to live on your own terms. I ignore other people's definitions of 'it all' and the timelines or "how it's supposed to look" that others might want me to adopt. 'Having it all' means being happy with my life and how I fill my time day to day. If I can do that, I'm winning. 

HAS THE IDEA SHIFTED AS YOU'VE GOTTEN OLDER? FROM EARLY TWENTIES-NOW?

Gabby Etrog-Cohen, SVP PR & Brand Strategy SoulCycle: In my early twenties, 'having it all' was a great job, a sick handbag, good hair, a decent body and a boyfriend. It's funny, I don't think about having it all now.

Silvie:  As I’ve gotten older, the balance I crave has shifted toward striving for a combination of great friendships, quality time with my partner, enlightening adventures and figuring out how to excel in my career. Oh, and sleep.

Julie: My view has shifted as I've gotten older, and my perspective now is to be able to have what makes you happy - whether that's a job and family, a freelance lifestyle, or the ability to travel frequently. 

Silvie: I think an important distinction for all women is to separate the idea of 'having it all' from "having it all at the same time." 

"Separate the idea of ‘having it all' from 'having it all at the same time.’" 

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DO YOU THINK YOUR "ALL" IS SIMILAR OR DIFFERENT, TO SAY, YOUR MOTHER'S GENERATION? WHY?

Gabby: My mother worked two jobs-- she ran central intake at an inpatient mental institution and had a private psychotherapy practice at night, and was an incredible mother. So she was juggling just as many balls as I am BUT, when she was home, she was home. No emailing, no conference calls...there is a different sense of connectivity, of always-on-culture that exists today that never existed for our parents.

Silvie: My mother’s generation of women who came of age just before and after Title 9 and Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act, and they faced much more overt discrimination and blatant sexism than we younger women do.

Julie: The opportunities for women are greater now. Perhaps it's all relative, but with more opportunity there's more "all" to have. Which makes having it that much harder. 

"With more opportunity there's more 'all' to have. Which makes having it that much harder."

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Bianca: I think that having it "all" used to involve starting and supporting a family, but you can have it all without that; it depends on what your priorities are in life.

Silvie: Another thing to consider: in our mothers’ generation, there were rarely female bosses. This new(er) paradigm has begun to change things, but I think we’re all still striving for more of this storied work-life balance, and as women we still are working to end discrimination, however subtle it may be, in hiring and advancement.

Gabby: I am definitely less present with my children, sadly, then my mother was with me and I have to try really hard to disconnect when I am home. 

Sarah: My "all" is personal. It's not going to look the same as another woman's now or in the past or future. It shouldn't. When 'having it all' means "having all that someone else wants you to have," you're failing. 

DO YOU EVER FEEL THE PRESSURE OF PERFORMING BOTH GENDER ROLES SIMULTANEOUSLY?

Silvie: Overall I think the societal pressure now imposed on women (and men) to work longer hours and be essentially on-call all of the time in professional jobs, while still ensuring the quality of work is exceptional, has made work life more stressful on women whether they work in a mixed gender environment or work in a female-run firm. The way of our world is for everyone, especially if you work in client services, to work harder and to ask for more.

Julie: I didn't come from a household of gender role norms, so this isn't a mindset I grew up within. My dad ironed, both parents were home on different nights to cook dinner for the kids. I started my career in a predominantly female industry with great female role models. I recognize the issues at hand for our society, but in my day to day life I luckily don't feel this pressure. 

Bianca: By cultural definitions I guess the answer is yes, but I can be pretty androgynous in style and I think that translates to personality. I don't usually think about things falling into gender role categories - it's just a role. Societal constructs have labeled certain actions or personality traits as skewing male or female, but I'm just doing things that need to get done or based on my intuitive reaction.

Gabby: I don't really think about gender roles. I am constantly striving to be a good person. Not a good woman. 

"I am constantly striving to be a good person. Not a good woman."

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ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE TIME-MACHO CONCEPT? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT? WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO CHANGE IN THE AMERICAN WORKPLACE FOR WOMEN?

Silvie: I am. I believe the term was coined by Anne-Marie Slaughter, who went from an academic job at Princeton to the State Department as Under Secretary for Policy for Hillary Clinton. I agree with Slaughter that the intense competition to demonstrate one’s professional value by working longer hours, having more “face time,” doing more travel, etc. is wearing professional workers down physically and mentally just as stagnant wages and on-demand scheduling is harming lower income workers.

Sarah: Some women want to be a slave to their job and some men want way more free time. The problem is finding a job and work culture that fits what you want out of life and if you do choose to work the 80+ hour workweek, making sure that you're actually producing valuable work and not just amping up face time.

Gabby: I fall prey to that as well. But the truth is, it's OK to go home, take time for yourself and then go back to work, versus staying at the office until midnight without a break. As a mother, I have learned to be incredibly resourceful with my time. I make every single minute count. I just don't have the luxury to waste time. So if I am getting a manicure, I am on a conference call at the same time.

Bianca: Boundaries are extremely important and time in the workplace isn't everything. Time in life, however, is everything. All we really have is time, and it's precious and should be protected, not racked up as a currency for worth in the workplace.

"Time is precious and should be protected, not racked up as a currency for worth in the workplace."

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Sarah: We need room for much more broad roles in society and work than "men love working and women want time off to see their families." We need to allow everyone to be their real selves at work and have the roles and flexibility that allow for more than one kind of job or worker. 

Silvie: I think a lot of my friends in the same age bracket have been working like this since we were in our early 20s. In the U.S. the number of salaried workers clocking 50 or more house per week has grown steadily since the 1970s when 9-5, 40-hour work weeks were the norm.

Bianca: I don't believe that putting in more time or all-nighters in the workplace means more value.

Silvie: The technology we have today allows for a great flexibility, but the flip side of that is "normal working hours" can sometimes become all of the hours. Here’s one thing I’ve learned slash have been forced to understand: sleep is crucial to clear thinking, and to keeping your passion and energy levels high.

Bianca: The most important thing is trying to manage time so you're not putting in all of those additional hours at work, yet are still maintaining productivity, while allowing space for your personal needs.

IS WORK-LIFE BALANCE A REALITY OR MYTH IN OUR ON-DEMANDS WORK ECONOMY?

Julie: I like to think of it more as needing to have a separation between the two vs. a balance.

Silvie: I wonder often, is there a way we can change the mindset in this fast-paced economy and always-connected life to concentrate first and foremost on people’s long-term health and to ensure continued creativity? Can we measure productivity and product quality differently to ensure continued success but also to ensure peace of mind? 

Julie: When you spend 5 out of 7 days each week at a job, that's not balance.

Bianca: I often say it doesn't exist, from my own personal experience, but there is a part of me that has hope it is real.

Julie: Striving to not always bring your work home with you, or taking time to shut down and live your life without checking your email on the weekends, that separation can be a reality.

Gabby: There is no such thing as work-life balance. At least, I don't think so. There is integration. Some days I bring my kids to work. Some days I have conference calls from home. Some days I am failing as a mom, some days I am failing at work and some days I am failing at everything! But, then there are those days when you think, damn, I can actually do this. 

Sarah: For those not in poverty, work-life balance is more about the choices we make and relentlessly pursuing the life and lifestyle we want. Balance doesn't mean a 9-5 job for most of us, it means having the space to be human.

"Balance doesn't mean a 9-5 job for most of us, it means having the space to be human."

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Arianna Schioldager is Create & Cultivate's editorial director. You can find her on IG @ariannawrotethis and more about her at www.ariannawrotethis.com

'Fast & Casual' sweetgreen Is Creating a Sustainable Culture

VP of Brand, Farryn Weiner. 

Building healthier communities isn't the type of lofty goal you’d expect out of a “fast food” company. But that's exactly what sweetgreen, the healthy fast casual company started in 2007, is all about. They are committed to changing the way people think about food and having a positive impact on the food system.

The company has five core values, something that VP of Marketing & Brand, Farryn Weiner calls her “North Star.” From keeping it real to making an impact, it’s how they cultivate culture and a work environment that requires all team members to take leadership roles.

Collaborating on a salad with Kendrick Lamar-- they’ve done it. Organizing run meetups via Twitter. Yep. They’re on it. They have education programs and music festivals, like the upcoming sweetlife festival taking place this May. With headliners like Blondie, Grimes, and Flume, the company is building on the universality of food and music.  Or as Farryn says, “music and food have an uncanny way of sparking connections, and that’s really what we’re all about.” There is no idea too big or too small to be brought to their table.

We checked in with Farryn to find out how and why she got involved with sweetgreen (it involves taking a literal “leap”), what the “sweetlife” means to her, and the three questions she always asks herself before joining a company.

Can you tell us a little about yourself, how you came to work for sweetgreen, and how its office culture is different than what you’ve experienced in the past?

I met the sweetgreen founders skydiving in Utah and immediately got to know them and the brand. I was drawn to the idea of passion x purpose, obsessed with the mission, and knew I could tell a great story and help make the world a better place by coming to work here. For me, there are three key questions I ask myself before joining any organization:

• Are there leaders I can learn from?

• Is there a compelling story to tell?

• Is the company solving a problem and therefore, positioned for growth?

sweetgreen provided a resounding yes to all these questions. We’re really in a position to change the way people think about food. We can make healthy eating accessible and help people understand the food system — that’s a huge opportunity, and a huge responsibility.

In terms of culture, everyone at sweetgreen is a leader, and great things are expected of every single person. We’re a growing company but for us, growth is about our higher-order principles and ensuring we can build the kind of company we can be proud of. We think more about our people pipeline than our real estate pipeline. If we don’t have access to the right supply network or people, we will alter our pace of growth to solve those problems so we can execute the right way and be true to our mission. In other words, we think about how to multiply talent and cultivate leaders, and that drives our growth. Growth isn’t about a number, it’s more qualitative and development-focused.

sweetgreen is founded on five core values. Can you talk a bit about making decisions that last longer than you, and why this is a important business model?

Jon, Nic, and Nate developed our five core values in the early days of sweetgreen, and we live by them to this day. Every decision we make, from hiring and real estate to community and food prep, goes through the filter of the core values, and they’re a gut-check to make sure we’re doing the right thing and building an impact brand. We have a perspective and we stand for something — that’s what today’s consumers are looking for, and it’s how we’ve always operated.

Thinking sustainably is one of these core values, and it’s about making decisions that will benefit the company and the community for the long haul. We’re inspiring healthier communities, and thinking sustainably is a big part of that. We take a holistic view of health that includes everything from healthy eating to fitness to education and building community. We connect the dots, we focus on the root cause, and we solve real problems that have a real impact.

What lessons have you learned from working with sweetgreen?

Always have a north star, and rally your teams around it. Having our core values is so intrinsic to our success as a brand. They drive our focus and execution, which builds momentum and fosters growth and development. It’s so simple, yet so powerful.

"Always have a north star, and rally your teams around it."

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How important is collaboration when it comes to creativity within the office?

Collaboration is at the core of what we do — we operate very cross-functionally and non-linearly. This year, we restructured the organization around our key imperatives; every single person at every level has a leadership obligation to drive the business. We’re always testing and learning to understand how to make the sweetgreen experience more seamless and inspiring for team members and customers alike. We have a strong respect of the brand and its mission, and there’s partnership across functions and levels — we’re all here to build a great company and change the way people think about food. 

How does sweetgreen choose its collaborations? What goes on in those meetings?

We look for partners that combine style and substance — we’ve collaborated on salads with Dan Barber and Kendrick Lamar because they’ve given us an opportunity to talk about nutrition in a fun way that transcends impact and is authentic to who we are and what we stand for.

People hear fast food and healthy is not top of mind— or on their mind at all. How are you working to change that thinking?

The rise of fast food compromised nutrition for convenience, so “healthy” and “fast” were mutually exclusive for a while. But we’re part of a movement to make healthy eating more mainstream — it’s what today’s consumers crave and demand from food businesses. People are busy, but they want to eat well and be healthy; we’re making that possible.

Along those lines, “sustainable” and “fast” are not always synonymous. How does sweetgreen mitigate being a “fast” food company playing the slow, long, sustainable game?

It’s all about the supply network you build, and we’ve worked hard to build a strong one. We do things differently, and we don’t take the easy route — it’s not easy to source sustainably, but we’re committed to doing so and supporting local food economies.

What does “living the sweet life” mean to you?

For me, there is no “work life balance” — I believe in finding a life you love, inclusive of friends, career, travel, etc. I’ve always wanted to work in an entrepreneurial environment, see the world and apply the lessons I learned around the globe to my career to help me tell better stories for the brand I work on. My sweetlife is a world where all these things coexist, and I bring a lot of energy to all of it.

You’ve written about doing “better than your best,” how do you bring this attitude into sweetgreen’s culture and messaging?

At sweetgreen, how we strive for excellence in everything we do, from sourcing to healthy recipes to leadership. We bring energy to our work to build momentum and work toward our mission. To that end, I’m constantly challenging people around me to do more and better than they think they can. And as the team is moving a million miles an hour on a handful of very different projects, I push the team to be very proud of everything we do, from an email to the sweetlife festival announcement. We have a lean team, so there’s a lot of accountability - we all own our domains, if we don’t take the best care of our channels, who will? We like to say that we “only do dope” — if it’s less than dope, it won’t go out the door.

"We like to say that we 'only do dope' — if it’s less than dope, it won’t go out the door."

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How much fun is it to work at sweetgreen? (Because it seems really fun.)

To be able to wake up and do what you love is one thing, to be able to wake up and do what you love and make a difference is that much sweeter. We’re part of a movement to change the way people think about food and make the world a better place, and that’s a really exciting and fun position to be in.

Arianna Schioldager is Create & Cultivate's editorial director. You can find her on IG @ariannawrotethis and more about her at www.ariannawrotethis.com

C&C Classifieds Nº5: Spring Into A New Career Venture

A new month is here, and as we move into spring, a lot of us feel the need to refresh our homes, workspaces, and lives in general and start off on a new leaf. If you’re getting a head start on your spring cleaning and are also looking for a new chapter in your career, we’ve got you set with some great opportunities at amazing companies across the US.

Check out the listings below, and make sure to apply right now.

Spring - New York, NY

Inspired by the season and the street, Spring has been able to thrive as a single shopping destination where its consumers have been able to discover a variety of designer products, from lifestyle, apparel, to timeless must-have pieces for both men and women. It the three years since Spring has been founded, they have been able to add over 900+ brands to their arsenal, including French Connection, Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, Opening Ceremony, Marc Jacobs, and so many more. Not only that, their company has grown exponentially as a team, with over 80+ team members in the NYC headquarters. 

If you’re looking to work for an ever-evolving company that offers amazing perks, great discounts, unlimited vacation, meaningful equity sharing, and even allows you to bring your pup to the office, check out Spring’s positions below. 

• Product Analyst
• Community Manager
• Product Design Lead
• Product Design Intern

Instagram - Menlo Park, CA

Does Instagram really need an introduction? Based out of the San Francisco Bay Area, Instagram is constantly looking to expand and bring in new talents to its headquarters. If you’re looking to be a part of one of the most powerful apps today, check out Instagram’s positions below.

• Instagram Communications Designer
• Instagram Product Marketing Communications Associate 
• Product Marketing Manager, Monetization
• Instagram Brand Marketing Manager
• Product Marketing Manager, Monetization MBA New Grad

Postmates - San Francisco, CA

If you love for Postmates for taking care of you all those Friday nights where you want to just stay home and have food delivered to you, why not try working for them? Their team is built by a passionate team of engineers, designers, operations and growth specialists that are transforming the way people get what they need under an hour. Join the team of innovators that have helped millions of people make their lives so much easier. 

• City Marketing Lead
• Email Marketing Manager
• Email Marketing Analyst
• Online Marketing Manager
• Online Marketing Analyst
• Strategy Analyst

David & Goliath - El Segundo, CA

Is advertising more of your calling? David & Goliath has been one of the leading creative agencies in the west coast, bringing you some of the most entertaining advertisements from Kia, Jack In The Box, and California Lottery. If you happened to watch the Kia Optima commercial with Christopher Walken during the Super Bowl this year, then you’re familiar with David & Goliath’s work. Be a part of some of advertisings' best creatives and apply to work at David & Goliath. 

• Account Supervisor
• Broadcast Producer
• Director of Communications
• Art Producer

Buzzfeed - Select US Cities

Buzzfeed, for the small majority that are not familiar with the giant media network, is a cross-platform global network for news and entertainment that has always found its way to catch your attention on your Facebook feed. Buzzfeed has been able to dominate the world of content with multiple channels tailored to various subjects and interests that are trending today in social media. And the numbers don’t lie: with 6 billion monthly global content views and 200 million monthly unique visitors to buzzfeed.com, you can see that you’ll be with an all-star team. 

Editorial

• Parenting Writer - NY
• Weekend Social Media Strategist - NY

Marketing

• Client Analytics Manager - NY
• Marketing Associate, BFMP - LA

PR

• Manager, International Communications

Sales

• Brand Development Strategist - NY/LA
• Brand Strategist - NY/ATL

Maker Studios - Select US Cities

If you’re interested in working in the world of digital entertainment on YouTube, Maker Studios is the place for you. As the global leader in short-form video, Maker has helped attract more than 10 billion views every month and over 650 million subscribers to their network. Not only that, they manage some of the most popular content creators including Pew Die Pie, Jenn Im, Camilla Coelho, and Timothy De La Ghetto. Did we also mention that they were recently acquired by Disney? (That means great Disney perks!)

• Account Manager - LA/NY
• Creative Director - LA
• Sr. Manager, Marketing - LA
• Sales Development Manager - LA/NY
• Media Planner - LA

POPSUGAR - Select US Cities

With over 75 million unique visitors and over 20 million social fans, it's safe to say that POSUGAR has a strong fan base. If you’re all about working for an all-embracing lifestyle company that is built around the power of happy and producing up-to-the-minute female-focussed content, POPSUGAR is for you. Get poppin' on applying to these positions below! 

Editorial

• Senior Writer, PopSugar News - NY/SF
• Native Content Lead - SF
• Editorial Intern - SF

Marketing

• Head of Events - NY
• Creative Director, The Bakery - NY

Sales

• Sales Assistant
• Senior Account Executive Programmatic Partnerships

Paper Source - Chicago, IL

As one of the premier paperie and gift retailers in the US, Paper Source has helped their customers tap into their creativity with their products and craft kits. If you have a creative itch and want to work with a company that cultivates the same creative itch, be sure to apply to Paper Source.

• Assistant Buyer - Crafting
• Executive Administrative Assistant
• Junior Graphic Designer
• Senior E-Commerce Manager

P.S. - I made this… - Venice, CA

Erica Domesek, Founder of P.S. -  I made this… and Create & Cultivate Chicago alumni, has been able to make her blog into an innovative lifestyle brand that has empowered all of its followers to create their own beautiful creations. If you’re an avid follower of Erica and the brand and are looking to start off your career with the amazing DIY lifestyle brand, be sure to apply to intern with them! 

• Creative Maker Intern

YES TO… - Pasadena, CA

You have probably seen that our love for the YES TO brand knows no ends, especially when we’re flying up in the air. YES TO has been able to be one of the lead natural beauty products with many accolades for it’s unique collections and formulas that stay away from harsh chemicals. Not only that, but the brand also makes sure that it gives back to the environment by creating products that are environment friendly and gives back through its YES TO Seed Fund. If this sounds like a company that’s meant for you, apply to YES TO.

• Social Media Marketing Assistant (E-mail resume to careers@yestocarrots.com)

Kenmark Optical - Louisville, KY

Kenmark is an employee-owned company that designs, markets and distributes optical and sun eyewear and accessories. The company collaborates with top fashion designers and iconic brands to present a wide-ranging eyewear portfolio. The brand portfolio includes Zac Posen, Vera Wang, Original Penguin, and Lilly Pulitzer, just to name a few. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, distribution is worldwide in over 70 countries ranging from independent optical retailers to boutique shops, luxury department stores and multi-national chains. Kenmark has spent more than 40 years building a varied and deep supply chain network that sources from the best global factories and sells to the finest retailers and distributors. If you’re interested in joining their growing team, check their listings below.

• Communications Coordinator
• Brand Manager

This Blogger's Curves Once Took Center Stage, But She's Shifting the Spotlight

MORE THAN HER BODY.

It's something that most, if not all, women can relate to. 

When Tanesha Awasthi started her eponymous blog (formerly Girl with Curves) in 2011, she paved the way for plus-sized fashion bloggers. But this year, she's rebranding, stepping out from behind the body label as just herself-- a woman with brains, gusto, a champion for the body positive and female empowerment movements, mom (to 2-year-old son and English bulldog), digital influencer, and so much more. Her body may have carved out a place for her in the blogging world, but it's her other more compelling attributes that have staying power.  

Below, find out more about Tanesha, how she feels about Barbie's three new body iterations, and why it was time to say goodbye to Girl with Curves. 

When you started your blog what was the motivation? Was there a moment where you thought— OK, I’m underrepresented, I’m going to be that girl. 

I started the blog as a creative outlet and never imagined in a million years it would turn into a business. When my husband suggested I should start one, I had no idea people were sharing their personal style online, and even thought it was kind of ridiculous! But after posting a few pictures, I got an overwhelming response from women of all ages explaining how inspired they were seeing someone they could relate to. From that moment on, I knew I had something special to offer and I ran with it. I enjoy knowing I'm helping women feel better about themselves on some level. The work is rewarding because it's changing lives and creating change.

Mattel announced three new Barbie body types in January— Tall, Petite, and Curvy. How did that make you feel?

I think it's great that such an iconic doll is becoming more inclusive of body types, especially when Barbie is the first doll most of us pick up, play with and emulate as adolescents. Showing different body types, races and hair colors is definitely a step in the right direction to helping girls love themselves as they are vs. wanting to look like one form of beauty we see in a traditional Barbie doll.

That said, I also think it's important for us to learn to value more than our appearance, by valuing who we are, what we do and what we stand for vs. what we look like.

You left a job in tech— an industry that is known for being sexist and male-dominated, for a job in fashion— an industry that is likewise known for not being inclusive. Is a thick skin part of your work-DNA at this point? 

I was always the youngest person at any corporate job I ever had, and I'm the type of person that gives everything I do 110%, regardless of if it's my passion or not- I aim to excel and do my best, regardless, and I encountered some pretty harsh criticism being young and not having much experience, as well as being a "bigger girl" throughout my life. But I think the thick skin really came from realizing I was in fact plus size according to the fashion industry, which isn't something I really acknowledged about myself when I first entered the world of blogging. 

How do you navigate the “haters?” The hard moments? 

Shockingly, I don't get many negative comments, but when I do I practice the kill 'em with kindness ideology and I educate. I think most internet trolls are hiding behind their own issues and projecting them onto others. Sometimes people just need a good, intellectual response to set them straight and 9 out of 10 times it works and I get a respectful response in return.

Was there a point you ever felt like giving up? How did you stay motivated?

It was definitely hard staying motivated to blog while pregnant, unknowing if my audience liked or disliked me sharing such a personal part of my life. But as time went on, I realized my blog is about me, and alI I can do is be myself and share what I'm going through in life at any given time. The brand had to grow with me, or not at all.

"The brand had to grow with me, or not at all."

Tweet this. 

What do you think is the most important part of your messaging?

My mission is to show women they can look and feel amazing, regardless of size. I also enjoy breaking the size barrier between straight and plus size fashion, working with brands on both sides of the playing field, being able to wear both ranges at times.

Do you ever feel pressure to be a consistent role model for other plus-sized women? And females in general?

Not at all, I'm honored and flattered to be a role model. I love sharing the knowledge I have of fashion and beauty and my journey to self-acceptance. I think my message resonates well with women of all sizes because we all want to change things about ourselves and we all struggle with self-esteem and confidence at some point. My goal is to impact the lives of all women, regardless of size, race or age. There's a lot of work to be done!

"My goal is to impact the lives of all women, regardless of size, race or age." 

Tweet this. 

You’ve always put yourself front and center, but you have rebranded as Tanesha Awasthi. Why is now the right time?

My brand has grown to cover so much more than plus size fashion and when the blog recently turned 5, it was weighing on me quite heavily that the name didn't make sense anymore, so I made the decision to change it to my own name vs. being known as a phrase that only describes my body. 

How are you evolving as a business woman? 

I've learned a lot about business in the past 5 years since starting the blog. I worked in tech since I was in high school, but I started a jewelry business in college and a social network for adolescent girls after graduating, which never panned out because I didn't follow through. I've always been an idea person but never truly put my all into any of my own ideas because it was a lot of work- it wasn't as easy as getting a paycheck from someone else. 

The blog started as a hobby and organically grew into a business, so I didn't consciously decide to try to make it into a business, which I think is the reason I stuck with it. It's also a venture my husband is involved in as my business partner, and he keeps me sane and reassured on the days I want to take a break and disappear from the world of social media. 

When it was just me fighting to stay afloat with deadlines and consistent content, it was much harder to create clear goals and grow the business. Now that he's involved, we're building a team and creating real goals I can actually be excited about!

Arianna Schioldager is Create & Cultivate's editorial director. You can find her on IG @ariannawrotethis and more about her at www.ariannawrotethis.com

Boost Productivity & Concentration with One Simple Switch

It’s 2 PM, you’re on your 3rd or 4th coffee, perplexed as to why you’re still not percolated.

In fact, you’re nodding off, ready to head home and clock out for the day, even though you still have a solid amount of work to get done. It’s a common mistake to think that caffeine will help us stay energized throughout the day, when in fact it’s often doing quite the opposite.

Sorry to break the coffee bean bad news to you, but all the vanilla lattes and black coffees are probably sending you on a vicious cycle of jitters and crashing that’s slowing down your productivity. You feel sluggish, because it’s real. 

Part of the problem is that we’ve grown to love the crash and burn; the 2 PM java run is part of our work culture. Think of how many times a week you turn to a colleague and say, “Want to go grab a coffee?” It’s fun, it’s a break from the grind, but it may be the last thing you need. 

At a certain point caffeine addicts can’t feel its effects anymore. Beyond that, adding on one espresso shot on top of the last, can dehydrate you— another major flaw in caffeine’s DNA. Dehydration is known to reduce concentration and diminish productivity. Why coffee? We thought you were our BFF for life. 

So while it may not be as fun to ask your workmate if they want to head to the water cooler for a late afternoon boost, test it out. Save yourself the java drama and see how water can help you stay just as alert as a shot of pure, heavenly espresso.

DITCH THE 2PM CRASH & BURN

We know that our bodies depend on water. But though caffeine stimulates our sympathetic nervous system and gives us the temporary jolt we need, it also does something else: it make us need to relieve our bladders. The problem with this, is that it is incredibly dehydrating. Every time we use the restroom, we lose water. The less water we have in our systems, the thicker our blood gets and the slower it moves through our veins. That sluggish feeling you’ve experienced? It’s actually happening when our bodies use oxygen at a slower rate. 

Coffee also stimulates us in ways we aren’t aware, so though it may not be giving you the boost you need to make it through that Keynote presentation, it could be the reason you’re tossing and turning at night. And without a good night’s rest, you’re going to be tired the next day…hence, more coffee. So, how do you break this cycle? With water. 

Good ole H20 hydrates you for mental focus and doesn’t make you want to crawl back into bed. With Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Water, you can power up with its naturally infused electrolytes and minerals that will give you the clarity and creativity to get you through the day. Plus you can feel good while drinking it because it's ethical and sustainable. 

CHARGE UP + CLEANSE YOUR BODY WHILE DOING IT

Coffee may be a diuretic, but it’s not flushing out the right toxins that can help our bodies feel revitalized. Also, the more coffee Water, on the other hand, can do that, and manage to keep us awake without the crash. The more water you drink, the more you help your body by flushing out toxins (coffee and caffeine included). Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Water is loaded with potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium, along with many other minerals that make the water naturally alkaline, which helps balance out the over-acidic environment of our bodies. Not something coffee can really fight since it’s pretty acidic itself. The truth is in the science. 

MAKE DRINKING WATER A HABIT

Step 1: Hide the Keurig. Step 2: Hide the coffee mug. Step 3: Invest in a water bottle. 

It might sound silly, but once you start using a water bottle, especially one with a sipper or straw, you’ll find yourself sipping from the bottle every five minutes, ’til you find yourself drinking five or six bottles of water a day. Your body naturally needs water, so it won’t be a surprise when you find yourself refilling your bottle every hour.

"Need to boost concentration? Step 1: Hide the Keurig. Step 2: Hide the coffee mug."  

Tweet this. 

This also becomes easier when the water you're drinking, tastes great. Not all water is bottled equally. When your water tastes like chlorine or feels lifeless, you'll be less inclined to drink it. But a good source of water is key when establishing a habit of hydration, and you'll be surprised to find that you actually crave water the way you once did caffeine. 

And trust us, the regular visits to the restroom won’t be as bad as the 2 PM crash. You need to get up and move anyway.

9-9 with Vibe Tribe Creative Co-Founders

Vibe Tribe Creative Co-Founders Hilary Schlesinger and Lindsey Cavanaugh live in different cities. It's good morning skyline for Hilary who is Chicago-based, and hello mountain majesty for Lindsey, who works out of Boulder, Colorado. But a thousand miles (give or take a few) doesn't keep these two partners and best friends from staying in sync. Something they attribute to their similar outlook when it comes to fundamental values and non-negotiables. Foremost, they both agree that "communication is everything." They also both believe in a healthy/work life balance. For Lindsey this is about treating "yourself right so you can continue to be a driving force, not a drained one."

For Hilary, the notion of hard work shifted after creating the company. "I used to think," she says, "that hard work was measured by a mix of time and energy, as well as the eventual outcome-how successful I was at executing the task at hand. However, I have come to pair this grit, shall we say, with a deeper sense of purpose. It’s not just about getting something done, it’s about having heart and passion for whatever it is you’re doing."

They worked with Giuliana Rancic and Catt Sadler and have the goal of making "your brand rad." 

We checked in with the Co-Founders to find out how they spend their days, how they stay on track and dig into the meat of their work, and what advice they have for entrepreneurial women starting out. 

7:30-8:30AM: Our cute alarm clocks (DOGGIES!) wake us up bright and early to get our days started, warm cuddles and all. Both of us frequent our local dog parks (and coffee shops, duh.) to tire our babes out, and breathe in fresh morning air as we transition out of sleepiness and into go-getter mode. 

9:00-10:00AM: Virtual date! We like to jump into our work day by connecting with one another. This entails anything from reviewing what each of us had for dinner the night before to random ideas that might have popped into our brains in the middle of the night. This time is all about tuning in and setting intentions for the day. We review what’s on our plate, update our shared status document, and divide and conquer across initiatives! We also utilize this time to look out for opportunities to unplug… if we don’t have anything pressing to get done, we’re all about maintaining a healthy balance of work and play!

10:30AM-12:00PM: Our late mornings are usually geared towards inbox maintenance. We’ll respond to new inquiries, client emails, and send a bunch of “next steps” love notes out to keep the momentum flowing across projects. This is sort of like an extension of our internal touch base, but all about connecting with our tribe members. 

12:30-1:00PM: Lunch and more dog walks! Probably a coffee refill if we’re being honest.

1:30-3:30: Though we are constantly in communication with each other throughout the day, our afternoons are when we really dive into the meat of our work on an individual basis. For example, we might each be working on different site designs or Lindsey might be editing photo galleries, while Hilary is drafting new proposals. We’ll touch base here and there, but definitely allow ourselves to get a little lost in our creative energies and rhythms. This is usually when we have epic breakthrough moments… of course while jamming out to our favorite beats. Do we still g-chat during this time? You betcha. Our topics range from “LISTEN TO THIS SONG ASAP,” to “What would the Titanic have been like if people had cell phones?” Our minds are always on. 

"What would the Titanic have been like if people had cell phones?” 

Tweet this. 

4:00-5:00PM: After a few hours of grooving on our own, we end our day much the same way we started--grounding back to our connection as partners! This is usually the point where we share our progress on different initiatives and provide internal feedback. We’ll also evaluate how we’re tracking against what we set out to do that day and figure out if it’s time to sign off for the night, or if we should refill our mugs and keep going!

5:30-6:30 After we sign off, you can likely find Hilary on her yoga mat and Lindsey at the grocery store petting avocados. 

9:43pm: A few times a week we will both catch each other on g-chat during odd hours. It's that mutual, “I SEE YOU.” and we laugh. It’s in these moments we feel fortunate to love what we do so much that getting creative at night is something we truly enjoy.  

VIBE TRIBE SIX TIPS FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL WOMEN

1. Listen. To your gut. To your heart. Your ideas and inspirations.
2. Secure. Your domain and social handles as soon as you have a name. A solid support system.
3. Create. Business cards, right away. A lifelong relationship with your local barista who will know you to show up at all hours. A frequent flyer account. Trust. 
4. Invest. In building your website! Things that contribute to your sanity in stressful situations. A bomb planner. Workshops. A solid dry shampoo. Your time in something that is completely unassociated with work. 
5. Let go of: Perfectionism. People and things that waste your time!
6. Imagine. What would happen if you abandoned fear? Where you'll be in 5 years? How amazing it will feel to release your message, something you truly believe in, out into the masses. 

This Business Owner Put 50k Miles on Her Car In One Year

DO WHAT YOU KNOW. IT'S SOMETHING WE HEAR A LOT IN THE BUSINESS WORLD.

For Gorjana Reidel, founder of Gorjana, an LA-based jewelry line, it's a strategy that worked. "Creating," she says, "is in her blood."

Reidel moved around a lot as a child. From Serbia to Canada and finally, the United States for her freshman year of high school, her family was always on the move. So when she launched her eponymous jewelry line in 2004, with her now husband, the two hit the road-- literally putting 50k miles on her car, securing their first 100 stores. The goal was to create and sell beautiful pieces like she saw in luxury department stores, but at much more affordable and approachable price. 

It wasn't so much a strategy, she says but, "the only way we knew how to do something." Which might have something to do with why Gorjana was the top-selling jewelry line on Shopbop for seven years. We checked in with the designer to ask about why she's not the biggest fan of technology and how passing on a piece of jewelry is sharing a part of yourself. 

You’ve said that you make pieces that reflect who you are. So, give us a little background. Who are you and what were you doing before launching Gorjana?

I spend most of my childhood moving around; I lived in Serbia and Canada before moving to the U.S. my freshman year of high school.   Living in Serbia I was really close to my grandmothers and spent most of my childhood watching them create and then learning to create too. Whether it was learning how to knit and making sweaters for my Barbie dolls or making my first bracelet out of buttons and string, creating was in my blood. After high school I attended Arizona State University and moved to Southern California after graduating.  I was then faced with the harsh reality of getting my first job.  Quickly realizing that sitting at a desk was not for me; I started working at Neiman Marcus.  I worked in the jewelry department for most of my time there and fell in love with jewelry.  I was eager to learn more and I left to go work for a local designer.  Although the pieces she made were so beautiful, they were well outside of my price range.  I realized that I wanted to create pieces that were every bit as amazing but were much more approachable.  I decided to start my own collection 12 years and ago and the rest is history.

In terms of launching, door-to-door is not a business strategy you hear about all that often anymore. But in the first year of your business you put 50k miles on your car to secure your first 100 stores. Can you tell us a bit about that approach and why doing things in person still matters (even in this digi-age?) 

I would not really call that a strategy ☺ It was more of a way to survive and the only way we knew how to do something - just hit the pavement and go for it. Being able to go and visit all our stores was so invaluable.  I was able to see different parts of our country and experience what they have to offer.  It really helped me understand our customer and build more meaningful relationships with them.  Having direct contact with the stores was also a great way to get feedback about the product first-hand and be able to evolve the collection based on it.  The best part, however, was all the amazing food I got to eat along the way.  I am a huge foodie and our road trips consisted of some amazing food spots.

Although technology has helped up in so many ways, it has also created a distance that I don’t really care for.  I am such a face-to-face person, even now I much prefer meet someone in-person than talk to them over email.

But speaking to digital- you were the top-selling jewelry brand on ShopBop for 7 years. What were some of your strategies to stay on the top of your game? 

It has always been about the product.  We focus so much on quality and making sure the design aesthetic stays true to the brand.  Our pieces have that timeless quality and I think the reason people love it is because they know they are making a wise purchase.  It is an investment in a piece that you will keep going back to and wanting to wear and most likely never take off.

Can you walk us through your creative process? 

It usually starts from an inspiration I get, it can be from a magazine, someone I see walking down the street, or beautiful curtains I happen to pass (that has happened).  The collection will evolve form there and the designs usually just flow out.  That’s actually how I know if it is going to be good or not.  There are times when I get stuck and I have learned to move on and revisit an idea later, or just let it go.

What is a piece of jewelry you never take off?

So this always changes because I go in waves.  Sometimes I will pick one or a few items and those will be my go-tos for a few months and then I will fall in love with a new beautiful piece and never take that piece off.  Lately it has been my Olympia shimmer studs and my power gemstone bracelet in rose quartz.

Is there a piece of jewelry you’ve lost that you still think about?

Fortunately no, I am pretty good at keeping track of special pieces because I know I would be so upset if I lost one.

Why do you think “passing down” jewelry has become such a tradition?

Jewelry is so personal and I feel like it starts to become a part of you and carry your energy as you wear it.  So passing a piece on to someone is like a sharing a piece of yourself.

If you had to pass down— or rather pass on some business savvy to women looking to launch their own business, what would you say?

My biggest piece of advice is to believe in yourself and be patient.  You have to believe in yourself and try to block the negative energy.  You are the only one that is in control of your vision and dream and don’t let anyone take away from that.  The second part is something it took me awhile to master, BE PATIENT!!!!  There are very very very few over night successes.  It takes a long time and a lot of work to achieve your goals.  Be patient and enjoy the journey!

What’s next for Gorjana? 

We will pursue our goal of making sure every girl has a Taner Bar necklace:) We are also looking to expand and open a flagship store.  We want a place where people can come and learn more about the brand and fall in love with the product.

5 Essential Office Decor Tips from the Creative Director of High Fashion Home

Echo Marble Dining Table, available at highfashionhome.com 

Dolley Frearson is Co-Founder and Creative Director of High Fashion Home, a destination spot for anyone looking to revamp a space or choose from a huge variety of high design products equally high on value and quality. But the pieces offered aren't just for the home, no matter what the name says. 

With the shift in corporate culture (which, for many means buh-bye to the cubicle!) and the continued surge in startups, office spaces are starting to feel a bit more homey-- or at least somewhere you don't mind spending overtime in. We asked Dolley for her 5 essential tips for creating a "high fashion" office that feels like home/work. 

MAKE IT A PLACE OF BEAUTY AND INSPIRATION 

People think that an office (home, startup, or otherwise) needs to look like an actual corporate office; bookcases, filing drawers, and executive desk, etc. but it doesn't. Whether you spend 1 hour a day in there or 8 hours, your place of work should be a space that inspires you. So, think about places that inspire you-- whether it's a clean modern space like the Apple store, a hip boutique hotel, a feminine retreat to call you own, or a historical library with art work and books for inquisitive minds. Start with your inspiration and build around that.

Click through for four of my favorite desk picks. 

Final Draft Writing Desk, $849. 

The Salon Desk, $1299. 

The Caravan Desk, $499.

Beverly Large Desk, White, $939.

MAKE IT USEFUL 

You don't want to build a study that no one uses. Think about who would use it the most and how you would use it. If you have a huge space, feel free to use a dining table instead of a desk (like the above Echo Marble Dining Table at the Create & Cultivate office in LA). With laptops, iPads and wireless printing these days, you no longer need the typical desktop computer technically. If you're like me and like to use your home office as a "study" or "library" for your kids to share, consider a round, oval or rectangular dining table with 4-6 chairs. It's also nice to have a larger table when they need to work on a school project or if your kids want to have a study group at home. If you don't want to share the space with the kids, a large table will still be nice if you need to share the space with your spouse or if you have meetings often or need more surface space for projects.

Click through for four of my favorite dining as desk picks. 

Henley Dining Table, $2399.

Toulon Dining Table, Brushed Gold, $2,599.

Cal Marble Round Dining Table, $1099.

Marren Dining Table, $1,199.

TO COLOR OR NOT TO COLOR 

For those who like a clean canvas to clear their minds, a neutral wall color with monotone or muted colors in the furniture and accessories is the way to go. Some need color to bring them ideas and energy. If color inspires you, by all means find that perfect artwork or rug that has the colors you love in it. You can also go with a black or dark charcoal gray or any shade of deep blue. I personally love home offices to look like a hidden cave or jewelry box, but that's my way of creating an office retreat. This idea works best with an office room that has higher ceilings and windows for natural light. 

DECLUTTER YOUR OFFICE (AND YOUR LIFE) 

 Declutter your office (and your life) - I'm a strong believer in the saying "tidy house, tidy mind!" I think it's incredibly important to keep your home (and office) organized and simplified. Nowadays, there are so many great boxes, file boxes, trays, etc. to keep you organize. If you start off with the right tools, it will help keep your space in order.

ACCESSORIES ON SHELVES 

If you love collecting books and objects, that's fine, but keep them organized and make them look like they have meaning on your shelves. If you have built-ins already but don't have enough books (or any at all), combine your current books or new and beautiful coffee-table books you love with some great accessories like objects, sculptures, pretty boxes, plants, etc. It's great way to inject color and add texture to your shelves. But keep these shelves a bit open so they don't look too cluttered and busy. There are so many great design blogs and Pinterest photos of bookshelves to give you some great ideas.

5 Ways to Make Your Fashion Business Profitable in Year One

Year one for every business looks different. This guide is for brands that already have a strong foundation (year 0) under their belt. Year zero is your startup phase and those startup costs should be considered separately. Some of those costs may include: branding, pricing, website, samples, manufacturing, marketing plan, sales plan, assortment plan, and a cash flow plan. In year zero you are also determining if you will be a collection based brand (a brand that sells tops, bottom, dresses – i.e. a whole collection) or if you will be an item driven brand (a brand that focuses on making one particular kind of product – think Bonobos when they first launched). If you want to create a brand with a budget in mind, start with item driven products then expand later. 

To make a business profitable your revenue needs to surpass your expenses. Seems simple, but it takes strict financial planning and strategy to take advantage of every dollar spent.

KNOW WHAT YOU WILL SPEND MONEY ON THIS YEAR, AND CUT ACCORDINGLY. 

Make a list of all the activities for the year you think you will spend money on (marketing, photo shoots, etc.) then start to rank them in order of costs and potential revenue (it's tough to know exactly in year one what will make you money). Focus on only the top 3-5 opportunities. Brands waste tons of money doing a lot of marketing activities poorly. 

LEVERAGE NETWORKS TO GET THINGS DONE AND GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TIME TO DO IT. 

When minimizing cost you need to trade off with time. Example: The less money you want to spend on hiring a graphic designer, the longer it will take to find a good one that is in your budget. This is especially the case when looking to leverage your current networks to execute something. Your friend who is really good at "X" may not have the bandwidth to do you a favor for three months. So, plan accordingly. Start by making a list of everything you need to get done for your business, for this example we will use a selling campaign. You will need to hire Photography, Hair, Makeup, and Graphic Designers, etc. Your next list should be everyone you know in your network, including Facebook Groups and other groups you are a part of. Finally have a list of things you can do for others.  When writing the posts' message include your offer and see who is open to trade. The low end of a photo shoot done professionally can run you $5,000, so if you have the time to pull this off working within your networks, you might save a chunk of change. 

DON'T PRODUCE EXCESS INVENTORY UNLESS THERE IS DEMAND. 

I’d rather you create demand through having a strong social media profile and 2-3 units on hand per item to sell online. Instead of producing your manufacturer's minimum at a lower price and getting stuck with aging goods. These days brands are launching with strong social media 6 months to a year out before the product launches. Why? To create demand, so when the products are available for sale, there is an audience. You do need some product to fulfill demand when your site launches, but wouldn’t you rather sell out and start to build demand, then have too much on hand?

FOCUS ON SELLING IRL.

It takes time to build your ecommerce following, and to get picked up by wholesale retail accounts. I have noticed that my clients who focus on selling in real life at markets, friends and family events, trunk shows and through co-branded popup events see a far higher increase in sales right away. This is because people can touch and feel your collection and you can sell to them with your charm and passion for your product. Build each event with a 360* marketing strategy to take advantage of every dollar spent. Example: Have a friend at the event taking pics for social media, give shoppers 10% off if they follow you on IG, and sell samples/damages at a big discount to get rid of inventory you cant normally sell. 

STOP TREATING YOUR BUSINESS LIKE A HOBBY. 

Hopefully, since you are reading this, you actually want to make money in this business. This means you cannot have a 4-hour work week or magically have a business you love. It’s just not possible. You should be clocking in 60 + hour workweeks if you are really hustling. If you have a day job, that means you are working on this nights and weekends and lunches. You need a plan of action. For every dollar that you spend and every hour that you spend on your business you need to outline the 3 ROIs you are getting. Those ROIs (return on investment) won’t always have financial implications, but they might have brand awareness implications and that absolutely will help you in getting sales. It takes the average brand 18 months of selling to really see a pick up in sales and to understand their customer. 18 months means 3 seasons of pitching, product development, sample making etc.

"You should be clocking 60 + hour workweeks if you are really hustling."

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There is no magic wand to make your business profitable in year one, but there is smart planning and smart execution that can get you there. How you set up and manage your business goals and brand vision can bring you closer to profitability. But keep in mind, the industry is not set up so that the brands with the most exposure, press and sales make the most profit. In fact, many highly visible brands are in debt. But, by following the tips above you will keep yourself on the safer side of cash flow management and be a stronger, wiser CEO for it. 

Syama Meagher is the CEO of Scaling Retail, a consulting firm for fashion and retail brands. Her Launch My Brand course, 6-weeks to building your business foundation starts 3/31/16. Watch Syama in action on Scaling Retail TV, The Channel to Grow Your Fashion & Retail Business. 

Sarah Kunst Is Part of the 4%, But She's Changing That

In an op-ed for Fortune last month, Sarah Kunst, founder of Proday, referenced a report published by Digital Undivided called Project Diane. The report found that just 4% of female-led startups are run by black women, and that those companies pull in about .01% (an average of 36K) of funding typically raised by a successful startup. She wasn't surprised by the findings, but she wasn't impressed either. 

And while Project Diane calls that 4% "the real unicorns of tech," Sarah is no mythical creature. She's astute and purposeful in her own efforts and her leading work to bridge the digital divide. 

We checked in with Sarah pre-SXSW where she will be joining us on panel: How to Launch Your Business, Create Community, and Stay Relevant in the Modern Marketplace. 

The stories we hear about women in tech, and WOC in tech are usually upsetting due to the lack of diversity and frustration of fundraising. But let’s talk about the positive to start. What are some surprising conversations you’ve had about Proday? 

The best thing about building Proday.co into an app that connects pro athletes with their fans for workouts has been the support from the sports community. The doors that have been opened and the help I've gotten from top athletes and agents has been beyond my wildest dreams. I'm so grateful for it. 

What’s the most surprising backlash you’ve experienced?

Many tech investors have gotten jaded or burnt and they are afraid to believe that someone can finally break through in a crowded market that's seen a lot of failure. Much like many investors weren't hot on Facebook a decade ago because Myspace seemed unstoppable and Friendster had failed, I sometimes talk to investors who think that fitness and apps are hard markets and that because no one has won the entire thing yet, no one will. It's fun to prove them wrong. 

Where do you see your work changing what you’ve called the “broken dynamic” of venture funding? Can you talk a little bit about the stats in the Project Diane report?

My work is building a billion dollar company in the sports, fitness and content space. That I do that as a black female founder may make me an outlier in an overwhelmingly white male tech world, but it doesn't change my mission or discourage me. It's kind of cool to beat the odds and know that my success will only help pave the way for more like me. 

Businesses with diverse leadership teams are proven to do better in the marketplace, and yet parity is still rare at high-level jobs. Why do you think it is so hard to break this mold?

People who run the most successful funds and countries in the world aren't dumb and they aren't incapable of changing things when they put their minds to it. They are though, not incentivized to make these much needed changes. When you see top execs fired for not having diversity in their teams you will see a change. Releasing diversity data from top companies in tech is a start, but there needs to be accountability and action for these execs to take the truth to heart and start building diverse companies that will deliver better returns. 

"When you see top execs fired for not having diversity in their teams you will see a change."

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Why is it important for you to invest in other women?

I invest my time, money and expertise into things that will make me money. When I was a venture capital investor that meant focusing on founders who I knew would be successful. Clearly, female and minority founders will be successful so I've invested in a diverse group of founders as an investor and advisor and I know that I will see huge returns on those bets. 

Piggybacking on that, you’re female and black in an industry known for blatant sexism. How does the idea of intersectionality influence your work?

Well, if I tried to split the parts of me that are black from the parts of me that are female, I'd literally die because humans aren't capable of separating their race from their gender any more than you can put ingredients in a smoothie back into their separate, pre-blended form. Intersectionality doesn't 'influence' my life, it is my life. It's all of our lives. We all are the sum of our experiences and bringing that whole self, all our parts, into our work is vital to innovation. 

In what ways do you think it is a key component of building a strong movement? 

If we ask people to silo themselves - to not like a certain kind of music or dress a certain way or be a certain thing because we assume that their resume or race precludes them from certain interests or traits, we're being close-minded and shallow. Close-minded and shallow people rarely change the world for the better. Be open minded and don't be afraid to go deep. Don't assume to know where someone else 'intersects' and what drives them. Ask. If we remind ourselves that everyone we meet has intersects that we'd never expect, it's a lot easier to remain open to the new ideas and innovation they bring. To think that we're a sum of our demographic qualifiers devalues all of us. 

"To think that we're a sum of our demographic qualifiers devalues all of us." 

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Be sure to check out Sarah on panel at #CreateCultivateSXSW.

Arianna Schioldager is Create & Cultivate's editorial director. You can find her on IG @ariannawrotethis and more about her at www.ariannawrotethis.com

Startup 101: Your Year One Essential Checklist from Above the Glass

FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS GROWING FASTER THAN EVER. BUT TO CAPITALIZE ON THE WHIRLWIND OF OPPORTUNITY, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE STORM FROM WITHIN. 

Enter, Danielle Yadegar and Heather Serden, co-founders of the freshly launched Above the Glass, an online platform providing women in business with straight talk interviews with women in business and actionable take-it-to-the-bank advice. Like free downloads, because Above the Glass wants to see you succeed. They believe that, "without a doubt economic empowerment and the capability to start businesses should be available for all women.”

So, if you are on the precipice of launching, download the Startup Essential Checklist from Above the Glass, and get the engine on your business running. 

To download the checklist, enter your information on the the form below and a link to the free download will pop-up. Good luck! 

Founder of Career Contessa on the Non-Reality of Dream Jobs

While on the hunt for her "dream" job, Lauren McGoodwin became a career junkie, obsessed with finding her place in the working world. She tried on the idea of numerous careers, from event producer to teacher, before realizing that she didn't believe in a dream career. 

With this clarity, and loads of experience behind her, she left her job at Hulu to work on her brainchild, Career Contessa. Launched in 2013, it is an online platform dedicated to career and business advice for women, sharing inspiration, information, and direction-- the likes of which she's sharing with us.  

You can never have too many honest conversations about the real work, 

Did you have a dream career when you were young?

When I was a kid, I had many dream careers— I wanted to be everything from an interior designer to a dermatologist. In college, I decided to pursue a degree in education with the idea that I wanted to become a teacher. Somewhere around my junior year, I suddenly realized becoming a teacher wasn’t my dream. Instead I wanted to pursue a more “business-focused career.” I laugh looking back on that now because I really had no idea what that meant— or how to get started—I think mostly I just knew deep down a traditional 9-to-5 job wasn’t for me.

Was there a point when you realized just because it’s a dream doesn’t mean it’s always fun? And how did you handle that disconnect?

After stepping away from the teacher track, I asked myself what my “dream job” would be if I could pick anything. For me, event marketing sounded dynamic and exciting. I remember thinking: “How could it not be amazing?” 

I worked very hard to find a summer internship—in fact, that was my first real introduction to job-hunting, networking, etc. Ultimately it worked, and I wound up at an event stadium in Portland, Oregon. Initially, I felt on top of the world. I got cool bragging rights with my friends because I spent all summer at concerts, and I could hook them up with free tickets. But behind the scenes, I was shocked to find I was bored.

"Behind the scenes, I was shocked to find I was bored."

During the internship, I had this moment where I realized that everything I’d tried so far, I’d hated. That was terrifying. I handled the disconnect by going back to school on a mission to participate in everything and anything the Career Center hosted, whatever it took to find my way. I was like a career junkie. I went to workshops, information sessions, career fairs, etc. to figure out what career I should pursue— and how to land it. 

It was a period of experimentation, but letting go of the idea that there was one “right answer” ultimately saved me from myself. Actually, it was around this time that I realized I didn’t believe in the idea of a “dream job,” and I still don’t. Careers are so fluid these days, if you don’t leave yourself open to evolving, you’ll wind up unhappy—even if you’re sitting in the most gorgeous corner office or traveling the world and eating delicious meals on your per diem. 

Same goes for moments of fear. What’s your advice for taking risk?

The majority of my life I’ve been very risk-averse, honestly. But running a start-up, suddenly fear and the unknown becomes just part of the day job. 

For me, the secret is preparation. That might be writing something out, talking to a friend, or just giving myself plenty of time to think before I jump. I planned for over a year before I left my full-time job at Hulu to launch Career Contessa. I talked to other entrepreneurs, created a business plan, mapped out my expenses, etc. It was still scary to leave my stable career, but I felt more excited than anything because I’d spent the time to let the idea noodle. At some point, you’ve prepared so much, it just feels like you can’t turn back. 

"I want to prove my fear wrong.  Let your fear inspire you." 

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For the times when you can’t really prepare, I say “fake it till you make it.” I’m an introvert so public speaking makes my nerves go crazy. But I’m also competitive as hell so when I host a workshop or panel, I let the fear push me forward. It’s like competing with myself—I want to prove my fear wrong.  Let your fear inspire you.

Can you take us through the evolution of Career Contessa? Where is started and where it is today?

Career Contessa actually started as the project for my master’s thesis. After college I’d found myself struggling in yet another job, I was shocked by that because I’d been so proactive throughout college. After all those hours in the Career Center, I still felt poorly equipped. Even after I went back for my masters, I couldn’t let go of that frustration —so I decided to use it. 

We’re so lucky that there are so many different types of jobs and companies out there, but all those options can feel paralyzing. It’s no longer simple to answer “What do you want to do when you grow up?” you know? 

Career Contessa was my alternative approach to answering that question. In 2013, I started the site—although it was more like a blog really at that point. Back then, we only had our Contessa profiles, which are these great interviews with successful, professional women. I’d hoped that by reading about the career paths of successful women, our audience would find inspiration and direction for their own careers.  

Almost immediately, those profiles sparked endless dialogues and debates. Our readers sent us questions about informational interviews, networking, personal branding, etc. They needed so much more help than those profiles could provide. That’s when I started to realize that Career Contessa had the potential to be much more than a passion project or a weekly interview series. 

In 2014, I left Hulu to focus on building Career Contessa into a full-fledged site. 

I’ve always believed in trusting your audience—ultimately, they’ll make the right decisions for you. In 2015, we sent out a series of surveys, asking our readers what they wanted from us, what they loved about Career Contessa, what they hated. We realized they wanted two things: sophisticated advice and a direct connection to women like them who’d successfully advanced their careers. That’s what guided us to where we are now. 

Everything from there went really quickly. We hired a Managing Editor to shape our content and shift it towards the kind of smart advice our readers wanted. Then we launched our first paid service, Hire An Expert, which lets readers work 1:1 with a trusted career “mentor” of sorts, without the commitment of pricy coaching packages. 

As we evolve, we always try to stay close to our audience, and we know that a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work for them. Our goal is to continue the conversation as we go.

What parts of your professional history and personality did you leverage when starting Career Contessa?

All of it! I was a Recruiter at Hulu so I was very familiar with how the hiring process worked on both sides. I also leveraged many of my professional relationships to help me recruit career experts, launch a College Tour with corporate sponsors, and hire our first employees at Career Contessa.

My personality is also a big part of Career Contessa. I’m very ambitious, which helped me get out of a dead-end job and into my gig at Hulu. It also helped me leave there to start my own company. And although I’m an introvert, I love meeting new people and hearing their stories. This makes me a natural networker, which is really key to growing a company.

Was there a woman you looked up to that helped shape your career?

There have been many! From mentors to sponsors to colleagues, I’m constantly shaped by the hard-working women around me! The women that I’m particularly shaped by are women leaders. I’m trying to build a company and lead a team at the same time. Of course I want to be “good” at both so I look up to women that are successfully doing this like Alexa Von Tobel of LearnVest, Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook, and many of our own Contessas.

The culture of women in the workplace is shifting. It not every woman for herself, but rather, you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. Why do you think this shift toward empowerment is vital?

One of my favorites quotes is, “When women support each other, amazing things happen.” This is 110% true and I think women are catching on that supporting each other and rooting for another woman’s success won’t dampen your chances of succeeding.  I also think this shift is vital because empowered women help empower others and they serve as role models for everyone coming after them. 

"Rooting for another woman’s success won’t dampen your chances of succeeding."

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What does it mean to be a Career Contessa?

It means realizing that your job can and should be an integral part of your life. It’s part of what makes you feel fulfilled and, ultimately, happy and sane. A Career Contessa knows that thinking proactively about her professional growth is both necessary and empowering. She’s daring and she takes constant risks. She also makes mistakes—sometimes huge ones—but she knows how to evolve from them and she has a sense of humor about it. Honestly, she’s the sort of woman who’s way too smart for cheesy, traditional career advice or gross life coach retreats. but she’ll read all day about careers and professional growth when the information is clever and valuable. That’s who we’re trying to reach.

What about those WTF career moments? Where you think, I have no idea what I’m doing. How do you work through those?

Easy. I find other women to talk to. I’m not the first woman to launch and build a business and I wont be the last. Yes, we have Google to help but nothing replaces a great conversation with another women. The energy, momentum, and direction I get from a career conversation with another women is really vital to moving me out of me WTF freak out moment.

"The energy, momentum, and direction I get from a career conversation with another women is really vital to moving me out of me WTF freak out moment."

What’s next for you in 2016? 

2016 is going to be a big year for growth for Career Contessa and me. At Career Contessa we are focused on building our brand awareness and Hire An Expert service. We’re also focused on more engagement opportunities like our monthly webinars, college tour, and other workshops.  Navigating your career is tough— and pretty much never ending—but we’re doing our best to make it fun and personal.

Photos courtesy of Joe + Kathrina. 

Mara Ferreira of M Loves M Could Have Been Your Lawyer

Relatable. It's not something all too often associated with fashion bloggers who rub elbows and create collabs with luxury designers. But when Mara Ferreira created her blog M Loves M in 2009, that was one her goals. That, and finding a creative outlet to connect with her then long-distance boyfriend, now husband, while studying for the LSAT. In the process however, Mara found that blogging was more her bag than legalese. 

But even though she may have skipped out on the Bar, she's definitely set the bar for bloggers higher. 

We caught up with Mara pre #CreateCultivateDTLA to find out memorable lessons, weighing the pros and cons of big changes, and why following your heart is always a risk worth taking. 

What were some of the most memorable lessons for you when you started off as a blogger? What’s the one lesson you still keep in your back pocket today?

I learned to not be afraid of starting something new. It can be scary at first, especially when you don't know what you're doing, but the challenge is so rewarding. One lesson I keep in my back pocket today is always be nice and easy to work with when working with brands. If you're difficult they won't want to work with you, and they'll also tell their other friends in the industry! I've heard some awful stories which prove it's always better to be kind!

Who do you think you would be today if it wasn’t for your blog? What would you be doing?

It's so hard to say! I think I might still be in law, working as a lawyer and wishing that I had pursued my other passions and interests. Working at the law firm really inspired me to have a creative outlet, though. If it wasn't blogging I know it probably would have been something else. 

You went from studying law to becoming a marketing professional. What would you say to anyone that wants to make a switch in their career after they’ve gone to school for a certain profession?

I think it's important to really weigh the pros and the cons. I'm a big list maker and that helps me when I'm making a decision. But at the end of the day, you really have to follow your heart. I knew that I was headed in the direction of a career that wouldn't make me happy. If I hadn't taken that risk to leave, I wouldn't have discovered what I truly loved. Even worse, I probably would have had a lot of regrets.

"At the end of the day, you really have to follow your heart."

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How do you find a balance in being a full time blogger and having a 9-5 job?

Finding balance is so tricky! I was working all day and then coming home to work on my blog at night, often until 2 or 3 am. Weekends revolved around the the blog with shooting outfits, recipes, and trying to constantly stay ahead. It was extremely exhausting, as you can imagine. Try doing that for 6 years and you definitely need to rethink some things. Now, I have a lot more flexibility by being able to work on my own schedule. My bedtime has gotten a lot more regular, which is a good thing!

If you were to start your blog today, in the midst of all the competition, would you take a different angle? Where would you focus your attention?

There is a lot of competition now and while some people say you need to have a specific angle, I think if you just stay true to yourself and write about what you love, the readers will notice. I've seen several bloggers who have started within the past few years and they've been able to be incredibly successful by just being themselves. I think it's important to not try to be like everyone else or write about what you think you need to. I've always loved cooking and baking, and that's been a part of my site since the very beginning. The posts aren't the most popular, and they don't get the most comments, but it's something I enjoy and love sharing with my readers. When I do get those emails from readers saying they tried something I shared it makes me so happy and reminds me how important it is to follow my intuition. 

What do you hope to be doing in five years’ time?

In 5 years I'd still love to be working on my site but working on a book or creating a product line would be a dream! Matthew and I will probably move in the next few years so I'm sure we'll be doing more home projects and DIYs.

What do you hope to get out of Create & Cultivate DTLA?

I hope to meet some readers and make new friends! The blogging community has been an incredible source of inspiration and comfort these past 6 1/2 years and I'm also learning new things and being challenged in a different way. Hopefully I can help out some new bloggers that are just starting out, or looking to take their blog to the next level.

What advice do you have for women who ARE starting right now? 

Do it! There's no time like the present. Also, don't worry about making it perfect. You have time! Start small and write about different things until you find your niche or passion. I know a lot of new bloggers feel this pressure to label their site before they even start, but don't! You might start wanting to write about fashion and then realize you're more passionate about beauty and hair! 

Photos courtesy of Mara Ferreira. 

Why Business Cards Still Matter & 3 Go-to Sites

Just because your entire business lives online does not mean you can’t make an impression in real life.  Business cards provide an inexpensive, customized way for you to leave your mark with a new networking connection, collaborator, or client.

And since most business cards are available online, there is really no excuse not to have cute business cards—you can create a bespoke, on-brand card in less than 15minutes and for around $20.  Check out these sites to get started. 

You can create a bespoke, on-brand card in less than 15 minutes and for around $20. 

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VISTAPRINT

Arguably the most inexpensive, basic business cards on the market, Vistaprint offers an affordable, professional way to get the word out about your brand.  You can browse their designs or upload your own logo, and the interface is very simple.  Standard cards start at just under $10.

MOO

A favorite of creatives, Moo has a clean, easy-to-use website and on-trend fonts, colors and designs. You can choose from a huge collection of the brand’s pre-designed business cards, many of which are specifically tailored to the arts, fashion, beauty and media industries.  The company also has a large collection of specialty cards, like spot gloss, raised spot gloss and gold foil.  Doubled-sided business cards start at $9.99. 

ZAZZLE

Basic business cards at Zazzle start at $21.95, so it’s a little pricier than Vistaprint or Moo. However, Zazzle offers a money back guarantee, so if you don’t like what you create, you can send the cards back for a full refund. The company offers over 50,000 custom templates, or you can design your own.

What is your go-to for business cards?  Share with us in the comments!

An original version of this article appeared on Ipsy. 

#FAQ: Should I Buy a VIP or GA Create & Cultivate Ticket?

As we get closer to May 7th and our biggest Create & Cultivate yet, we'll be answering a few of your most frequently asked questions about C&C. From where to stay, what to wear, and what to bring, we want to make sure you get the most out of the conference. That starts with a ticket. 

We offer both GA ($300) and VIP ($500) tickets. Both give you access to a full day of ground-breaking panels, the opportunity to network with peer creatives and entrepreneurs, mentor breakaway sessions, and delicious meals and sweet treats. A VIP ticket simply sweetens the deal a bit with some Very Important Perks. 

Below is a breakdown of all of the Create & Cultivate DTLA ticket offerings. Items in bold are only available for VIP ticket holders.  

#CreateCultivateDTLA VIP Perks:

Choose your Track of your liking: Get the panels & hear the speakers you want most!*

Guaranteed first selection of your (2) Mentors for the Mentor Power Hour*

VIP Gift Bag: Valued at $350, filled with the latest products and gift cards

Mix & mingle with fellows in VIP Roottop Garden* 

Receive your ticket ahead of time in the mail*

Dedicated VIP check-in line at registration*

Complimentary event VIP parking*

Plus, everything included with a General Admission ticket.

#CreateCultivateDTLA General Admission 

Access to our Attendee Happy Hour (May 6th, location TBD)

Admission to Create & Cultivate DTLA Conference on May 7th: A full day of workshops & panels with industry execs, bloggers, thought leaders, & creatives.

Create & Cultivate Starter Kit to get you prepped for the day (pens, notepads, & more)

2 Mentors Sessions in an intimate setting with a C&C Mentor (to be assigned)

Pop-up Shops: Shop on-site for exclusive deals from our partners & friends

Breakfast, Lunch by SWEETGREEN, and Afternoon Sweet Treats & Happy Hour Cocktails + Bites!

Photo Booth Access Fun: Snap shots with friends & fellow attendees

All Day Glam Bar: Hair, nail & beauty treatments in between panels & at breaks

A Gift Bag: Valued at $200, filled with the latest products & gift cards

Unlimited coffee, fresh pressed juices, & healthy snacks all day

Happy Hour to socialize & engage with fellow attendees

*indicates VIP-only Perk

We're constantly adding and updating what you'll experience at Create & Cultivate DTLA, so sign-up for our newsletter or check back for updates! 

So which will it be? Tickets are selling out fast, so get your GA or VIP ticket at createcultivate.com and tweet us or use our hashtag #CreateCultivateDTLA to let us know you're coming! 

The 6 Personality Types Every Startup Needs

Your startup is your tribe.

You spend more time with them than you do with your family (#sorrymom). There are shared lunches and late hours and at certain points, you all wear every single hat. Because when you’re working to build something together, you switch hats, pants, shoes; the words “I can’t do that,” are not part of your vocabulary. In many ways each of you is the "ideal worker"-- something that gender and labor scholars have identified as the person who shows up early, leaves late, never says no, never gets sick, answers emails morning, noon, night, weekends, makes every meeting, is a go-getter, ad infinitum. These are employees who work hard and challenge themselves on a daily basis. In a dream world, every team member of your start-up is that person.

Here on earth however, there are specific people that fit better into certain roles and make the squad function like a well-oiled machine. 

THE VISIONARY 

Often the CEO. They think big and small, they see far ahead but also catch the tiniest of details right in the moment; the little things you would never even notice. Nothing gets past them, but it's because the Visionary knows how they want to see their vision executed. Thinking outside-the-box is one part of their supernatural abilities. They are highly-functional, fast-paced, and fastidious. "The ways in which people consume everything," says Jaclyn Johnson, Founder and CEO, "has changed significantly. So if we are not evolving, we are not doing our job. We want to help advance the new creators, the thinkers, the other dreamers. And we've only just begun. We don't want to create a pipeline of new workers, we want to burst open the whole channel and see what happens." 

"We don't want to create a pipeline of new workers, we want to burst open the whole channel." 

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THE CLOSER 

The Closer has perseverance and structure like you wouldn’t believe and solutions to any problem. In part it's because they’ve "been, there, done that"— and bring experience from many industries to the table. They know how to work a conversation to their advantage. They are great at team management and turning ideas into action items— especially at executing the vision of the dreamer. Bess Wyrick, Senior Events Producer at Create & Cultivate is our Closer. "It's just not an option," says Bess, "to not get it done. And if you have that attitude at work, don't expect to go very far. You take an idea, or you have an idea, and you make it happen. If it doesn't look or feel right, you do it again. We've nixed entire concepts day-of the conference because it wasn't perfect. I mean, look, there's no wrong way to enjoy a glass of wine, but there is always a smarter way."  

THE UNICORN

Part social butterfly part go-getter. The unicorn of the the bunch is known for making magic, and doing it with pep and a smile. Hope Evans, Accounts Director. is as gregarious and unicorn-like as workers come.  From meeting with clients to working with talent, she's the ultimate team player. Because part of that sociable charm is the inherent caregiver— keeping team morale up even as stress rises. "It's not magic," says Hope, "it's about chemistry, about making a room feel at ease by making every person feel taken care of-- from talent, to speakers, to sponsors, to everyone who has purchase a ticket. If you treat everyone as an individual, your company will standout as a whole. Especially day of the conference, it's a runaway train that you just have to ride, and make sure everyone is riding along with you. No one falls off this train. No one."  

THE NO-NONSENSE TYPE

Follow-through is one of the main traits of the no-nonsense employee. Enthusiastic but firm, the no-nonsense type is a bit like sandpaper— firm, tough, but smooths out anything. For C&C that’s Steph Chang, Director of Events. She’s a nose-to-the-grindstone, no-nonsense worker that will always be crystal clear on what she needs-- especially if she doesn't like the way you're doing something. "When you're planning events you are dealing with so many vendors, sponsors, the venue, parking, food, people, everything--  everything where you can't see the work, a ton of work went into it. So you have to be firm, tenacious, get everything in writing. If you miss one detail, Rome topples. And we've already learned that lesson. From big picture, to the nitty-gritty, nothing is falling apart on my watch, even if it means a sternly worded convo, or two." 

THE HEART 

You know the person. They're always saying yes. They are there to talk out an idea with you, jump in, give you their thoughts, and share their best ideas-- all the while grinding out what's on their own plate. The Heart sticks on brand and is less concerned with credit than with crafting the right message. At times our Heart, Director of Social Media, Priscilla Castro is a headphones on and head down worker. But tap her shoulder and she's right there with you. "A startup like ours is about the collective, so even though my job revolves around spreading the word, it's important that everyone else on the team is on message as well. Which, yes, means breaking from my to-do list and jumping in where I'm needed."  

THE PISTOL 

A bit of a worker bee that’s self-motivated, the Pistol is a straight-shooter that fires off ideas, and gets work done at the same speed. The Pistol doesn’t wait for ideas to come to them, nor do they second-guess themselves. Editorial Director, Arianna Schioldager says, "We don't take what we're doing lightly, and the idea that our conferences and content are encouraging young entrepreneurs to take major leaps fuels our days and nights, but that responsibility means we have to always be innovating. Always providing the best. That means tons of ideas. Plenty of which get thrown out. But you have to keep shooting, and shooting straight or we lose the trust of our audience and attendees. We shoot the moon every single day, and even though this makes for tough moments, no one ever said landing the moon was easy."

"We shoot the moon every single day, but no one said landing the moon was easy." 

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Small but Mighty PR Duo Is Transforming Marketing & Advertising

Small Girls: Bianca Caampued, left; Mallory Blair, right. Photo credit: Scott Furkay. 

Small-bodied, big brained, big city. 

When Bianca Caampued and Mallory Blair launched Small Girls PR in 2010, the duo decided that part of their "sauce" would be working with friends.  As the agency of record for GE and Panasonic, we'd say they've made some friends in high places. But while some of their clients are corporate, their strategy is anything but. From the gate they tossed pre-packaged ideas out of the window from their office in Brooklyn, successfully proving that a PR "stunt" can actually shift into a sustainable business strategy; they are one of the most successful boutique PR firms in New York. 

They don't issue press releases or BCC hundreds of people at a time. Their messaging is crafted, creative, and gets people buzzing. In a 2011 blog post celebrating their first year, Mallory wrote, "Small Girls PR is a happy accident balancing carefully on the precipice of fear & hard work. What I’m saying, Dear Internet, is that I am a fraud. Maybe a diligent one, but a fraud nonetheless."

At this point, we beg to differ. 

We checked in with the small but mighty duo to get the low down on their SG game. 

Can you tell us a little about your backgrounds and why PR was the right move for your careers?

Bianca: I started out working in promotions and advertising at Lucky Magazine out of college and I really loved the creative activations that were being done for advertisers. I eventually ended up doing in-house "PR" at a thrift store where I did it the way that made sense to me - inviting my friends who were bloggers and downtown 'cool kids' (what I guess you would call "influencers" now) to the store to create content for and around the store's socials. I ran the Tumblr, Twitter, and Facebook, produced lookbooks and shoots for the special things that came into the store, threw events, and even occasionally pitched an outlet if a writer's interests were in line with the brand and it caught my eye. 

Mallory: Bianca and I met right when I was graduating college, while still working long hours at a small, four-person brand consultancy whose clients were tech giants like Apple. When I saw what Bianca was doing, I thought it could make sense to merge surfacing trends in technology with creative campaigns. That's how we built Small Girls PR in the beginning - taking all of the ways she was playing with new media & events at the store plus the positioning & trend-jacking I'd gleaned from the consultancy. We leveraged our mutual blogger networks as talent, tapped our friends as tastemakers before the word "Influencer" was a thing, and called it the new PR. 

Bianca: I still run the team that handles these kinds of projects at SGPR, though we now have 3 entire hubs dedicated to press strategy and media relations as well. Even when it comes to more "traditional" comms work, we use the same spirit of creativity and personalization.

Small girls. Big business. What does that mean, respectively, to each of you? 

Mallory: To quote me quoting a tumblr meme quoting Shakespeare, "Though she may be but little, she is fierce."

Bianca: It literally means we are small girls (5'0" and 5'3") and we're capable of doing big business.

"To quote me quoting a tumblr meme quoting Shakespeare, 'Though she may be but little, she is fierce.'"

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You’ve worked with brands like Google and GE, both at SXSW. What is it about a startup, and yours in particular that you think is compelling to larger corporate brands? 

Mallory: We're neophiles so we're always thinking about what's next, testing out new platforms, and meeting up with rising bloggers. Our entire team is in the same tech-savvy, marketer-aware audience that brands are trying to reach by participating in things like SXSW or launching a web series on a VR platform or creating an Instagram treasure hunt (all things we've been hired to execute and do PR for).

You both put yourself front and center for certain campaigns. Why do you think it’s important for bigger companies to brand themselves in relation to people? Are corporations people too? 

Mallory: This has gone so far that brands are now dipping into the uncanny valley, using 'bae' and 'fleek' more than 'discount code' and 'click to purchase'. I love brands playing into this weird twitter apocalypse and hope it never ends. [insert hands praying emoji]

This will be your 3rd year at SXSW, what is it about the festival that’s so exciting and appealing to such a wide audience?

Bianca: This is actually my 7th year at SXSW and Mallory's 8th! Prior to starting Small Girls, I helped Tumblr with their first SXSW event in 2009. I was also a regular attendee of the music portion of the festival for a while. Since then, Small Girls has produced SXSW events for clients ranging from Google to GE to The Dutch Consulate.I think that the most exciting and appealing thing about SXSW is the fact that it brings so many people across tech, music, and film together in one place. You can meet new people who are also working on interesting, creative things and spend time with them in a way that jumpstarts a friendship or even a business partnership. Hopping from panel to activation to party (to after party to the hotel lobby) gives you the opportunity to get to know people quickly & outside of just what they do for a living. 

Piggybacking on that, how do you get a brand to stand out when there are so many onsite activation points?

Bianca: This is such a tough question because there is so much noise in the space. Producing an activation in 2016 is not like what it was throwing a party in 2010. You can't just book a venue, slap an open bar on the invite, and get a DJ to get people excited; brand participation is saturated so it's crucial to give guests something to interact with, learn about, or experience for the first time- something they won't want to miss. All of this means partnering with the right brands or talent that can help draw attention to the experience and knowing the corners of the Internet where the people who would genuinely be interested in the project you're working on are hanging out. 

Mallory: Last year, we spent months in advance strategizing the amplification of GE's BBQ Research Center (debuting a 12-foot tall intelligent brisket smoker). We thought through every part of the experience from a media standpoint as well as the kind of content we could generate that would actually compel people to share or cover, whether data visualization of barbecue or tweeting gifs to attendees of their brainwaves reacting to brisket flavors (tracked via an EEG headgear set!). It was one of the most talked about SXSW events, with spots on ABC News, NPR, Fast Company & Nightline, earning over 1 billion media impressions. 

What’s the most exciting part of your job? 

Bianca: Making charts. 💹

Mallory: Making those charts go up and to the right. #TEAM

What are you most excited for at SXSW 2016? 

Bianca: Our client KnowMe is doing a keynote & event with the founder Andrew Jarecki and JJ Abrams (who is an investor). I love Star Wars and am a very active user on KnowMe outside of doing their PR, so I can't wait to work with them down there! 

Do you really believe that there is no such thing as “bad press?”

Mallory: Kill this myth! The wrong messaging can be damaging (even if merely by being confusing). That said, when there is "bad press" the fun is the coming up with a game plan to overcome the challenge.

"The wrong messaging can be damaging."

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If disruption was the buzz word in 2014. And Innovation was 2015. What’s the word for 2016?

Mallory: Downround

Bianca: Spiritual (sub words - The Force & CrystalMagic)

What one song sums up your current office vibe? 

Mallory: RAC made a track for people to play with down at Deloitte Digital's Interplay lab at SXSW (a concert-meets-mad lab space with indie musicians). We've been playing the track on repeat as we work on the project. :)

Arianna Schioldager is Create & Cultivate's editorial director. You can find her on IG @ariannawrotethis and more about her at www.ariannawrotethis.com

 

#Facts: What Beyonce Did Right That Kanye Got Wrong

In the music world (and the world in general) it's a widely accepted fact that Beyoncé is Queen. It's not just her music, her sweet dance moves, her all female drum line, and that hot sauce in her bag, she's a proper shrewd business woman who understands how to werk online and offline engagement in ways that boost her brand and staying power. Remember when she banned photographers from her world tour after unflattering images emerged? That image is locked up. 

ON THE OTHER HAND.

While there are some who believe Kanye can do no wrong, there are others who think Ye's methods are spastic, unedited, and unpredictable, but not in a business savvy way. Though there is much more to Yeezy than shoes and strange Twitter outbursts, his lack of self-control is one of the reasons he's *maybe* $53 million in debt. 

From a marketing perspective we're breaking down #facts.  

Pressing the Button When It’s Hot

Did anyone see Formation coming when it dropped on us that week like a gift from the heavens? Probably not. Beyoncé has mastered the art of surprise by releasing music without marketing it at all. With loyal and powerful fans like The Bey Hive, they flock to anything Queen Bey drops. Everything she touches is essentially gold, and her marketing strategy is making sure that it drops at the right time. There’s no teasing - no keeping you waiting. However, as we saw with Formation, releasing the video right before the Super Bowl was the perfect opportunity to have millions of eyes glued to their screens that Sunday and start a conversation that is still keeping some people a little salty.

Kanye on the other hand…

For months now, Kanye has been tweeting endlessly about his album The Life of Pablo (formerly known as Waves, formerly known as SWISH). Okay, we get it Kanye, you can’t make up your mind. It’s ironic that the new album talks about things that were just trending a month ago, however, we can see that timeliness is not Kanye’s forté when it came to releasing TLOP. We kept waiting…and waiting…until finally, he released it. Last time I remember, the album was supposed to be released on February 11th, but Kanye must have missed the calendar alert and remembered that he needed to release three days later. Trust us, we understand the need for perfection, but we're not sure if stalling is the best strategy to keep your fans waiting, especially when you’ve been hyping it up for months.

The Medium Is Not the Message

Formation is on Tidal. The Life of Pablo is on Tidal. Guess who’s not forcing us to listen to their music on Tidal? 

It seems like everyday Kanye is force-feeding Tidal to us, but is Beyoncé forcing us to listen to Formation on there? No. It makes us think, was The Life of Pablo truly the masterpiece that Kanye has been getting us ready for the past two years, or was it just an album to get people to give in to Tidal? Kanye keeps stressing how “cool and great” Tidal is, but Beyoncé released the video, left it for streaming on Tidal, and her work was done. With the song and video released and a mind-blowing performance that started a very heated nationwide conversation, it was evident that Beyoncé’s message extended far beyond that “hot sauce in my bag” lyric. Beyoncé is well aware of the power her name and brand holds, and doesn’t need to constantly push her fans, because she knows how they will react. 

Although Kanye is authentic and speaks what’s on his mind with no filter, he doesn't consider the reaction his fans and followers will have to anything he says, endorses, or releases. Granted, it is his brand, however, the lack of strategic marketing and awareness of what his fans respond well to can definitely dilute the power behind the brand. Kanye is essentially a persistent salesman that won’t stop knocking at your door, but he needs to face the #facts, and learn that nobody likes it when they’re being sold.

Lack of strategic marketing & awareness of what his fans respond well to can definitely dilute the power behind the brand.

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Is All Press Good Press?

Safe to say that most of the times that Kanye is on a headline, it doesn’t put him in the best light. And after Formation, press for Beyoncé has seen the good, bad, and ugly. However, both Bey and Ye know that everything that they do is under a microscope when it comes to press, and both have reacted in significantly different ways. 

Just yesterday, Kanye made headlines ranting about Taylor Swift, his album, and oh what a surprise, Tidal. There's a vicious circle to the Kanye show because everything he says or tweets is bound to make headlines. More often than not, it’s not positive. However, he’s very well aware of this, and only continues to fuel to fire. But noise for the sake of noise?  At a certain point people will change the station. What is he truly talking about besides himself? Is he really using the press to show that he is the next Pablo, or are we missing the real masterpiece? 

In Beyoncé’s case, although there’s been both negative and positive comments about Formation and the Super Bowl performance, she has directed the conversation to address a much bigger societal issue about race and the importance of being unapologetically black. She has ignited an important discussion, whereas Kanye’s message gets lost in translation.

She has ignited an important discussion, whereas Kanye’s message gets lost in translation.

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Queen vs. King aside, if there' s one we've learned it's that staying cool, collected, composed, and savvy a la Beyoncé is the way to go. Know the power behind your brand, use it strategically, yet always be unapologetically *professionally* you.

In the words of Formation, “always stay gracious, best revenge is your paper.”

"Always stay gracious, best revenge is your paper." -Beyoncé

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