How to Avoid the Social Media Comparison Game

photo credit: Jessica Bordner Photography

You’re on Instagram and notice a photo posted by a fellow creative entrepreneur of a beautiful dinner party filled with people laughing and smiling, a table covered with food and candles and a perfect city skyline in the background. A wave of envy passes over you.

Welcome to the Social Media Comparison Game. In a world where Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and many other social media platforms dominate, it is trickier than ever to not compare yourself to others. Feeling “not as good as” or “not having enough of” ultimately causes fear and self-doubt, which leads us to staying right where we are. Not ideal. We end up putting our own personal thoughts and projects on hold, and not sharing them with the world.

Even with the best of intentions to connect with new people and share your adventures in business and life, it is often unavoidable that at some point you will find yourself entrenched in this [not-so-fun] game. As someone who works persistently on keeping my eyes on my own page, here are my tips and tricks that help me navigate social media comparison.

GET GOOD AT IDENTIFYING ENVY

Start noticing how you feel when you are on social media. Are there certain people or pictures that trigger feelings of envy and jealousy? What does it physically feel like in your body? For me, I start to feel flushed in the face, a little hot around my neck and chest, and want to withdraw immediately, usually in the form of avoiding my own work. It’s important to know how envy shows up for you so that you can better recognize it and intervene before it stops you in your tracks.

FOLLOW, UNFOLLOW

Once you identify the envy, you’ve got to check in with yourself and ask if following this person on social media is good for you and your business. If you find yourself feeling down most of the time when you see their photos, it is likely a sign that you should stop following this person right now. Sure, they post beautiful photos. Sure they seem great. Sure you love their vibe. But the reality is that it is vital you treat your social media network just like your network in real life. You wouldn’t keep people around on a daily basis who zap your energy, so why allow your social media network to do it? Follow and keep people close who light you up, and inspire and motivate you to keep at it. Drop and unfollow people who don’t.

CREATE WHAT YOU ARE CRAVING

Even when your network is made up of people you admire and love, it is inevitable that you will find yourself feeling envy from time to time as people promote and celebrate their lives and businesses. Even though a part of you is absolutely happy for others’ success, you still may not be able to shake that slight feeling of jealousy. Use that feeling to understand yourself a bit more. What is it that you are craving or wanting? Let’s go back to the dinner party scenario. Instead of feeling down and discouraged after seeing the photo, you could ask yourself in your mind, what am I really wanting? It could be that you want to attend a dinner party just like that. Now it’s up to you to create what you are craving by getting out there and hosting one yourself. The key is to become intentional about the life you want to create by treating your feelings of envy and jealousy as personal-research for understanding your own wants and desires. I know it’s not an easy
process, but with time and practice it is possible to have a thriving, inspiring social media network while keeping your eye on your own page.

Jen Wille is a Certified Professional Life Coach for vibrant women who are ready for more. Her warm approach, unique flair to self-development, and desire to help people bridge the gap from where they are and where they want to be is always at the center of her work. Find her at jenwille.com and on Instagram.

The original version of this article appeared on Blog Society. 

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Brooklyn Decker On Why Tech Is More Supportive Than Hollywood

Photo credit: Smith House Photography 

When Brooklyn Decker and Whitney Casey, CEO and founder of Finery, the new online platform that's been described by users as "the Clueless closet on steroids," took the C&C stage at SXSW last Sunday, they broke down the realities of being women in tech. 

Alas, truth bombs are kind of Decker's MO. Of her friend and the company's Chief Design Officer, Casey told the Austin audience, "There is always one girlfriend in everyone’s life who will tell them the truth and that is Brooklyn Decker."

“It’s brutal,” chimed in the actor. “But it’s the truth.”

A former anchor who has won two Emmys and is a published author, Casey said she's had plenty of bad ideas before Finery. And when it came to bringing the idea to Decker, she came armed with a Powerpoint presentation. “Yes," she said, "for my own friend, because I knew she would want to know.” Decker did. (It worked.) 

What unfolded, power point by power point, was a service that might revolutionize the way women shop and dress. With patent pending technology that harvests data that already exists online, Finery skips over the manual labor part of an creating an online closet. At its simplest Finery culls through your email (and thereby every purchase you've ever made) and loads it into a virtual closet. 

“There’s all sorts of software to manage your finances, your travel, your music, but we found the millennial women will spend more than 250-300,000 dollars on clothes in their lifetime," shared Casey. "So why isn’t there something to manage your wardrobe that’s not analog? Some sort of tech that could find anything you’ve ever purchased and put into a wardrobe?” Therein is the meat of Finery, the world's first wardrobe operating system, and the reason Brooklyn came onboard.

But making a career shift is difficult for anyone-- let alone someone doing it under the public microscope. 

"Modeling to acting is the most cliché transition one can make," Decker shared about her first career switch. "The biggest challenge is that you’re making big mistakes on a pretty big stage. You don’t have the luxury of making mistakes in private or on a small scale." But in a way it prepared her for this next role. "It would be silly or ignorant of me to say that it hasn’t opened a ton of doors, but people are instantly skeptical and people instantly doubt you. I certainly don’t come from a tech background. You have to work that much harder and find women who are willing to help you along the way and teach you-- teach you how to pitch to a VC, for instance, because how does one learn how to do that?" the Austin-based actor asked. 

Photo credit: Smith House Photography 

It's something they did, first going the traditional $ route— approaching VCs. 

"It did not go well," said Casey. "One asked us to set him up on a date. So we decided to go with angel investors-- they are all women." Women like Miroslava Duma and Decker herself who is an investor in the company. “Also,” added the author, “because they wanted 30 percent of the company.”

"Luckily with women in technology— it’s an incredibly supportive environment," said Decker. "Without those women I wouldn’t have been able to make the transition.” Beta users include Man Repeller Leandra Medine and Lauren Santo Domingo.

Casey told the crowd that figuring out your bottom line when you’re first starting is all about looking into the future. “You have think about the company when it is wildly successfully,” shared the CEO. “Look at what 20 percent of that success means. You also need to think about your employees. As a startup you’re not going to be able to hire the people that you want without giving them equity. And as a startup you want everybody there to have equity because when things do go wrong you can look at them at say, ’This is your company too.' That’s our mantra. Everybody who enters is part of Finery. And the more you give to a VC the less you have to recruit really great talent. The more you keep giving away, the less your employees are gonna get. You always have to be thinking about your employees first.”

"You always have to be thinking about your employees first.”  

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"It was disheartening to realize the kind of things I needed to do to get into these VCs,” shared Casey. “Calling a friend of a friend of a friend… what if I didn’t have those friends? It should be a meritocracy. Money should be available for every good idea out there. I found that was not the case.” 

Even the connections Brooklyn and Whitney did have, didn't mean they'd it was a shoo-in. Sometimes they would't even open the Finery deck. 

“I have this crazy thing that everyone should have called MixMax. I know when you open my email and I know when you’ve opened up a link,” said Casey. This service gave the pair a competitive edge when walking into pitch meetings-- they knew if they had to start at the beginning or if they could launch into why Finery is different and why it will be successful. Their other bit of advice? Decker told the C&C crowd, “Be incredibly well-researched on the market that you’re entering. Understand it so well and it will help you prepare for any meeting.”

“You have to sit back listen. And then do your own spiel. Know every single one of your competitors so you know your value add,” said Casey. “Your value prop[ostion] is the most important.”

Photo credit: Smith House Photography 

Despite the uphill VC climb, neither women were deterred. In fact, Decker told the crowd that she's been invigorated by the community of women she's encountered. 

“Coming from the Hollywood side of things I have never seen a more supportive bunch of women than I have seen in tech. They really do come together. It’s difficult as a young female, but you can do it.” 

"I have never seen a more supportive bunch of women than I have seen in tech."

Tweet this. 

Decker brought up tech investor Jesse Draper of Halogen Ventures, an early stage venture capital fund focused on female founded consumer technologies. “She has no skin in our game, but as a female in technology she wanted to introduce us to other people. That’s what women are doing. When she [Draper] invests in a company, she tells them once you’re successful you must invest in other female-run, female-founded companies. That’s a really strong choice. And it’s a place we want to get with our company.” 

“Look we can’t all be founders, we can’t all have money to invest," Casey elaborated. "But we can all buy from women, use products that women make, and then we will all be successful.” She also told the crowd: "If I were a young woman right now I would learn how to code." Simple, but truthful advice. 94% of tech startups are male. It's up to us to change it. 

“Women are successful because they support each other,” added Decker, who also gave attendees some pertinent info. Not everyone has access to capital or app developers, but the actress explained, “There are now apps to help you build apps. They provide a standard map. It won’t be super innovative but it will show proof of concept. Also, in all of these big cities there are development bootcamps now. The whole point is to give people jobs. If you have a startup idea and you’re far enough along, I highly recommend tapping into that resource.” 

As for who Finery wants to tap? Casey wants the average woman who wears 10% of what's in her closet. Decker got a little more specific. “I don’t want to be a total cliché, but Beyonce,” the Chief Design Officer said about her dream user. “She has so many events, has her kid, two more on the way. She’s our user, she’s our girl.” 

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3 Cocktails to Help You Unwind This Weekend

photo credit: Isha Gaines 

Directions:

TO RYE FOR

1.5ox Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice

3 oz. Ginger Beer

2 Dashes Bitters

Garnish with Lime Wheel

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SXSW DELUXE

1.5 oz. Crown Royal Deluxe

.75 oz Honey Syrup 

.75 oz Lemon Juice

1 dash bitters 

Garnish with twist of lemon

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VANILLA SO SMOOTH

1.5 oz Crown Royal Vanilla 

.25 oz simple syrup,

2 dashes bitters

Garnish with orange peel

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Have an amazing weekend and cheers to all the amazing ladies in your life! 

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3 Amazing Must-Read Tips for Brides-to-Be

The weather in Austin was a little damp, but the vibe at the Simon G. Jewelry Happy Hour at Create & Cultivate SXSW was on fire. In part because of the dynamic energy of the room and the gorgeous jewels on display. But also, we had a S’mores bar y’all.

Allure editor-in-chief, Michelle Lee and Jessy Fofana of La Rue PR were in FULL convo mode, chatting everything fashion and business, but also bonded over their mutual love of  beloved NYC nail salon Paintbox. Taking the weather into consideration, both NY-based ladies smartly paired their smashing outfits with chic sneakers.

Founder of May Designs Mica May, Ashely Rose of Sugar & Cloth, and local designer Claire Zinnecker, who designed the Simon G. custom booth at the conference, couldn’t stop taking Boomerangs. Mamrie Hart, Hannah Hart and Grace Helberg cheersed their delicious custom Crown Royal cocktails. Guests were given three signature cocktail choices: To Rye For, SXSW Deluxe, and Vanilla So Smooth. (Recipes here.)

Austin-based fashion blogger Olivia Watson of Livvyland marveled at the sparkles. Jessy and Claire also couldn’t stop trying on the gorgeous jewelry that was on display.

But the toast of the evening was digital darling Jenn Im and her new (!!) finacé Ben who chatted with Simon G.’s  VP of Marketing and Communication, Brooke Brinkman about their upcoming nuptials. Brinkman, a wealth of knowledge when it comes to tying the knot, shared everything in her wedding wheelhouse. She’s a pro at picking wedding venues. Jenn was beyond excited to soak it all in. And now Brooke’s sharing with us!

Below are three of her best tips for brides-to-be.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOVECATION

Is there a place that holds sentimental value for you as a couple or your family?  If not, perhaps there is a place that appeals to your style and personality.  The location of your wedding will hold significance for the rest of your life, so it is important to choose something that is special or can be special for years to come. If there is not a place that appeals to your personality or holds sentimental value, then we would recommend you choose based on ease of travel for you and your guests.   

HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT VENUE

Obviously you want to choose a venue that will accommodate your guest list, but size shouldn't be the only criteria you consider.  While size is important, you don't want it to be too small and feel tight or to large and feel empty, you also want to make sure the venue allows you to host the event of your dreams.  The venue should fit your personality and style...if you want to have live music, make sure the venue you select will accommodate that desire.  If you want to work with a caterer you absolutely love, ensure the venue will allow for outside catering.  How about decor...do you want to transform the space or are you looking for a space that can stand on its own?  You also want to consider whether or not you want to have your ceremony and reception in the same place and if you choose separate locations, ensure they aren't too far from one another.

YOU’VE ALREADY GOT THE RING, BUT WHAT ABOUT OTHER BLING?

Traditionally, the bride receives a gift of jewelry from her groom to commemorate their wedding day.  Often the gift is earrings or a necklace that can be worn on the day of the wedding.  When choosing jewelry to complete your wedding day look, it is important to choose pieces that truly compliment the look but don't overpower. The pieces chosen should fit the style you are looking to achieve be it modern, classic or vintage and we would also recommend choosing pieces that can be worn many times over, providing a reminder of your special day for years to come.  Stud earrings and drop pendants are always a safe choice, as are tennis and bangle bracelets. A piece of jewelry with a sapphire is also a nice way to achieve your something blue should you be looking to exercise wedding traditions.  You likely will want to stay away from any rings, as your engagement and wedding ring should be the star of the show.

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C&C Classifieds Nº29: Clique Media Group, Socialfly, Veronica Beard & MORE

Photo by Smith House Photography

We are hot off the #CreateCultivateSXSW train, and we would be lying if we said we weren't missing that Texas life (aka bbq for every meal and cacti on every corner) just a bit. But, we learned SO much this weekend, and made some incredible connections. And if we came away with anything from our incredible panels, it's that finding the right job for you can be a complete game (and life) changer. And guess what? We're here to help you achieve your dreams!  See some bomb dot com opportunities below...

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CLIQUE MEDIA GROUP (LOS ANGELES, CA)

Brand Marketing Director, Who What Wear

SOCIALFLY (NEW YORK, NY)

Art Director 

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VERONICA BEARD (NEW YORK, NY) 

Social Media Manager

BRANDLINK DC (WASHINGTON, D.C.)

Public Relations Director

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ELLE PR (LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK) 

Fashion Strategist

VITAMIN T (CHICAGO, IL) 

Social Media Strategist

Want more?

FULL ACCESS TO CLASSIFIEDS HERE 

Meet the Woman Who Left Oprah to Write Her Own Story

“I feel very wrapped up in cords. As a 30-year producer, I am ashamed,” jokes Sheri Salata, former President of OWN, now co-founder of Story, a brand and media company launched nine months ago with lifelong friend Nancy Hala. 

We’re sitting in the Garden Room at Salata’s Los Feliz home. She moved in about a year ago. On the coffee table is podcasting equipment (“ordered on Amazon and here in two days,” she says) and a pile of books, including one on meditation, that aren’t there for show. They’ve been thumbed many times; covers creased, fingerprints on all pages. 

The women are on single-syllable name terms with each other: “Nance” and “Sher” as they affectionately call each other, have been friends for 26 years. They met in Chicago through Nancy’s ex-husband, Chris, who worked with Sheri at the time at an advertising agency. Chris brought her home to meet his then-wife. “Sure enough,” says Nancy, “I walked in the door, put my stuff on the table, and it was instant friendship affinity.” 

The women bonded over a love of books, stories, Bruce Springsteen, and cocktail hour, launching what Nancy calls “our 26 year conversation that we’re still having today.”

Outside of that first meeting, their story really starts with stories—a book club, in which they were the only members. “We were very serious about it,” says Nancy, recalling the first books they chose: Mona Simpson’s "Anywhere But Here" and Wally Lamb’s "She’s Come Undone." At the time Sheri lived in a tiny studio apartment and they’d walk to Barbara’s Book Store (“not there anymore”) to buy their books (“with great ceremony and ritual”) and then walk across the street to Bird Place Bar to discuss, with pen and paper in hand. “And then we started writing stories,” says Nancy. “It is the greatest joy in the world for me,” says Nancy, “to tell Sheri something, or to listen to her tell me something because we unpack it from every angle. She’s the one person in the world who does not care that I repeat myself, because I do. Sheri loves to hear all different iterations of the same idea.” 

“I do,” chimes in Sheri. “I do. I just love the details of stories.” 

Story in all its forms has been part of their “friendship DNA.” Today, they are proud to be developing a company that is “very authentically our own.” 

“We wanted to do the things we loved. Work with people we really enjoy. We wanted to spend our days happy and excited. It makes so much sense that the focal point would be storytelling. That is the one thing that we both have been orbiting in our careers for decades,” explains Hala.  

Careers, which, have been rather storied themselves. Sheri has always been a go-get-‘em worker, lapping up the midnight oil her entire life. She walked in the Oprah door in 1995, rose through the ranks to role of executive producer—the consummate storyteller, crafting one story after the next for audiences all over the world. When she made the decision to finally exit, she walked out of the door as President of OWN. These are not small-career potatoes. This is the whole Thanksgiving meal. Plus dessert. The kind of career trajectory that we champion. 

Hala has been a storyteller in her own work as well. A writer and brand storyteller, she ran her own company while raising two kids solo. A single mom by the time her children were four and seven, Hala knew that she wanted to be able to stay home. So she started what she dubs “my own little writing company.” 

“I think Sheri had anxiety for me. I didn’t have a steady paycheck coming in. I was very entrepreneurial. When you’re self-employed there is very much a dance of cash flow. So I got used to that quite quickly. I had to knock the mortgage out every month, I had two kids to raise, make dinner every night. And I had to write a bunch of articles, annual reports, and ghostwrite books so that I could keep the family going. After a while, you just get used to the shifting sands. But what I really liked that I could work 4-5 hours a day. I didn’t need to be in the office.” 

Hala also had the ability to write on subjects she and Salata joke, she knew, “nothing about.”

“You were pullin’ the rabbit out of the hat, man,” says Salata. “And quite successfully.” 

They laugh about one particular 5,000-word piece. “I was asked to write an article on commodities. As I was saying yes, I had the phone to my shoulder and I’m typing on my laptop 'What is a commodity?'” 

“I so admired her,” says Sheri. “I could see in my friend this totally fearless quality that I didn’t have myself. I was a little bit of a safe Susie, going in with my lunch pail.”  80-90 hour weeks and a 24/7 mentality were her norm. “Nancy was always the most understanding,” she says of their friendship during that time and her dedication to her career. 

It’s why they gel. “We’re in concentric circles,” says Sheri. “In the middle, we’re super alike, find the same things funny, like the same kind of storytelling, and adore one another.” In the outer parts they are admittedly different.

She refers to their initial talks as the “chardonnay dream conversations,”—the some days, the one days.

The “one day” is now. 

###

While we’re chatting Sheri can’t help but produce. “Nance,” she says, “can you scoot your chair around a little this way, just so the eye line is better for her?” she says referring to me. “It’s gonna bother me.” Nancy scoots. We all settle back in. 

Nancy has just come from a morning workout of intense interval training. As such, she’s moving “slower” than usual. It’s all part of the life the pair is actualizing at “Belle Vie.” The “name” of Salata’s new home replete with white bright walls, a lit fireplace warming the living room, a kitchen island that makes you salivate, and a pool so blue it could be called Sinatra. In the formal dining room, the co-founders have taped up their first month of content. Nancy likes to look at it on the wall; it helps them visualize and understand how the stories will weave together. Two English bulldogs (Sheri’s), a cocker spaniel (Hala’s) roam the home. 

“When she bought it she half-jokingly named it Belle Vie,” shares Hala, “which is French for beautiful life.”  Salata laughs loudly. “She’s not some fancy lady who names her properties,” explains her friend who has moved into the guest suite on the property in order to really focus on the first year of the company. They are calling this time together “A Year at Belle Vie,” and they’ve already sold a book of the same title to be published by Harper Wave. “Our agent calls it Eat, Pray, Love in your own backyard,” says Hala. 

“The dream for our company is part of the dream for our lives,” shares Sheri. “It’s not separate. It’s an integrated dream. We’re working but we’re living.” It’s all baked into the Story layers. 

"We’re working but we’re living.”

Tweet this. 

“For part of our year at Belle Vie, which is foundational to the first year of our company, I’ve brought in the experts, just like the Oprah Show days,” explains Sheri. “We have a love coach and a sex therapist who is part of the team. We do private sessions that we’re chronicling. I think that, honestly, great love is on his way.” Of “those days,” Sheri has nothing but positive feelings, aware that she learned from the best; studied soul with a woman who built an empire. Now she wants to build her own. 

“We realized that to build and sustain a Story Empire, which is what we really want to do, we have to be firing on all cylinders,” Nancy says. “So then we started thinking about getting in the best shape of our lives, focusing on spirituality and happiness, meditating twice a day, eating a clean plant-based nutritional program, working out furiously, losing weight, and again, freedom, growth, and joy.”   

“And,” adds Salata, “to call in soul mate love.” An essential they will not sacrifice. 

But what about the nose to grindstone work? The kind that Sheri spent over two decades of her life committed to? They’re not about that life. At least anymore. 

Set to launch at the beginning of May, Story, will be an umbrella brand. As a daily practice they focus on what they call their “pillars” (Spirituality and Happiness, Soul Mate Love and Great Romance, Health and Wellness) and are considering this their year of radical self-care and transformation. With a print division, a production studio named Orange Dragon, and media company, they’ve have already optioned The Gilded Razor, developing the Sam Lansky novel for TV with Nate Berkus, whom Sheri has known from the Oprah Show, and his husband Jeremiah Brent. In fact, Sheri married them at the New York Public Library. Orange Dragon was launched during the middle of a dinner (ordered by neighborhood favorite Little Dom’s) in Salata’s backyard. “We said, ‘Do you want to throw in with us?’ And they said, ‘Yes.’” A few weeks later they found their first book. 

If this all seems too simple and easy to be true, it’s not. “I come from the school of hard work,” says Sheri, “I worked my ass off. But I don’t think I was right about that. If you are willing to let some things germinate and let timing come together and gather momentum, build from the inside out, I think there is a much easier process that we’re exploring now. It’s really illuminating to me,” she says. “After a fabulous career, I see that I have much more to learn about creativity and innovation and divine timing. There is a freedom and a joy that I’m unpacking that startles me.” 

“It startles me too,” adds Hala. “I’ve known Sheri for a very long time. In Chicago we were really best buds and I think that I had lunch with her twice in maybe 20 years because she wasn’t available for lunch. She’s the kind of person who packs up her lunch pail and reports to duty every day; she takes her job very seriously. She has a mid-western sensibility.”

But now they are in the “land of dreamy dreams.” And damn that time-clock mentality because they are dreaming. Throwing caution to the jasmine-scented LA wind, the pair quit their jobs, sold their homes in Chicago, and leapt without fear. “There’s something in the air out here,” says Hala. “There’s a creative vortex swirling around.” 

Contrary to everything you’ve heard about startup life, Sheri says, “Honestly, we’re not setting out with this huge gigantic strategy. It’s very organic, very ‘let’s see,’ ‘let’s look through our offers here.’” Explaining that the need to make her “mark” in her early twenties, “almost ruined me.” 

“I thought I needed to hurry up and get my business cards printed and get my proper title… in moments of reflection, I tap my younger self on the shoulder and say ‘easy there, it’s all going to come together, it’s all going to be fine. Have fun right now.' ” When asked if she could have come to this realization earlier, she’s frank: “Well, I didn’t.” 

“It’s easy for me to say,” says Salata, “so I’m saying it, because I’ve already made all those mistakes and now I’m in my mid-50s and an entrepreneur for the first time in my life and loving it and seeing things through a different set of lenses. I wasn’t like that when I was younger. At all.” 

She encourages young women to, “Really find out what you like to do. What you’re really looking for is happiness. All of the accolades, accomplishments, and achievements are really going to end up feeling very, very thin if you haven’t made happiness job one.” 

“All of the accolades are going to end up feeling very thin if you haven’t made happiness job one.” 

Tweet this. 

She says there is “no question,” that she's missed out on a bit of her own story, but also has a no regrets policy. “I wouldn’t do it differently, but it’s instructive,” she shares. “I get to do it differently today. Because that’s what I have: now.” She also admits that she was never able to achieve the illustrious work/life balance, but it’s a concept that won’t be her part of her life strategy. Instead she’s focused on a fully integrated life. 

“People say you can’t have it all,” says Hala. “I think that is complete rubbish. I think you can have it all and you should have it all. I believe that I can have great romantic love and great business success and great friends and family around me all the time, and the body I want and the life I want.” 

“I totally agree,” nods Sheri, though that “all” never included biological children for the new entrepreneur. For a while she considered adopting a baby from China, but it never came to be. She’s happy as a “dog mom.”  

Both women are reframing with Story, filled with excitement at this entrepreneurial moment in time.  

“Nancy is a gamer, a let’s go, jump off the cliff, Thelma and Louise drive the car right into the canyon,” says Salata. “I like that. I like that all of that is being awakened in me.”

“I’m living this one golden joyride opportunity,” she continues. “Sure, there’s a lot going on, but I feel so alive and I'm becoming so much better at what I do.” Nancy agrees. “You can tell your own really inspired story about what it means to be a fully actualized mother, who is madly in love with and devoted to her children, and also be a force to be reckoned with professionally. You can be the kind of woman who walks into the room and leads the discussion and listens intently, adds value, is super creative and aware of her surroundings, and a shape-shifter. You can be that.”

Cheers to that.  

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Find Out Why This CEO Risked All of Her Money

Would you be willing to risk it all for you biz? That's what Aussie expat Koel Thomae, co-founder of Noosa Yoghurt did. And it's a route we hear many entrepreneurs take. As they say, without passion and risk, there is usually no reward. 

Thomae, alongside co-founder Colorado dairy farmer Rob Graves, launched Noosa in January 2010, with the idea of bringing the sweet, tangy and full-fat yogurt of Australia to America. 

But yoghurt is one the world's oldest man-made foods. So what made Thomae think she could do it better? Considering Noosa was profitable within one year and acquired within four, trusting her tastebuds is only part of the tale. 

Hers is an inspiring success story that includes heart, risk, and yes, getting acquired. But even after acquisition, Thomae stayed on in a different role. Read more about her journey below. 

As someone who bootstrapped her company, was there a part of you that wanted to see how far you could go on your own? How did you know it was the right time to take on an investor?

Koel Thomae: Absolutely. There was part of me that wanted to defy the normal path that most start-ups take with having to take outside investment. It certainly meant we were risking all of our own money but that made me even more determined to work hard to see this become successful. It also gave us the ultimate autonomy in how we grew the business and even though we certainly had our missteps we defined what success was and could take risks that others might not have had the stomach for. By the end of 2013 we knew we had created a real business with legs and that the growth curve wasn’t slowing. We were running the business incredibly lean on the executive level and knew that to protect all of the blood, sweat and tears (and money) that we had invested that it was time to think smarter and faster. The only way to do that was with real capital. The trick was to find someone absolutely aligned with our vision and we’ve been successful in doing that.

Especially as someone who didn’t have to give up a stake early on, was it a hard decision to make?

KT: When you’ve invested your life savings, endured many sleepless nights but can see that your vision has become a reality it can be hard to know when is the right time to give up some of that control. When we welcomed Advent into the Noosa family in 2014, it was a strategic decision that allowed us to grow to scale and get noosa into the hands of more people. It really is a partnership and they’ve allowed us to evolve the brand in a way that stays true to what we set out to do, which at the end of the day is to make bloody delicious yoghurt!

Why do you think it’s hard for startups to get traditional business funding?

KT: There is so much risk in startups that traditional lenders typically shy away from these types of investments. But I think that there can be paths to finding traditional financing through networking and establishing strong banking relationships early on. Noosa is fortunate to be based in Colorado where there is a strong entrepreneur culture in the food realm and both local banks and national banks with strong local branches have really started to become aware of the opportunities in food startups.  

How was the initial transition? And why did you decide to stay on?

KT: The initial transition was very busy as I was still managing sales and marketing. It took time to find the right people to take over these roles and I wanted to see both Noosa and my new teammates succeed so it was a gradual and thoughtful transition. I had given everything to see Noosa become successful and I wasn’t ready to walk away from the next chapter. I’ve been given an incredible opportunity to continue learning and to have endless fun with my ‘baby’ so to speak. 

What is your role in the company now? 

KT: Along with my co-founder Rob Graves, I’m still very much involved in the day-to-day at noosa. In passing the baton on for sales and marketing I’ve been able to re-focus on my true passion which is product and flavor innovation. I love everything about food and it is so fun to stay on top of food and cultural trends, It’s like being a food anthropologist! I’ve created my dream job - I get to travel, eat and dream big!  

Was there ever a point where you thought, I’ve made a massive mistake. And how what did you do?

KT: I think there are very few entrepreneurs who haven’t made some big mistakes. The trick is surviving the financial impact and learning in real time how to recover and make better strategic decisions. Noosa had so many inbound retailers interested in carrying us early on and we didn’t have a firm strategy on how we would grow outside of our home market. You can become giddy in the early days and say yes to every opportunity. Launching with a retailer in a region on the other side of the country where we had zero brand awareness coupled with very few resources to build this awareness and other supply chain challenges was a recipe for disaster. After 6 months and almost $100,000 in losses we pulled out. In many ways I’m thankful that this mistake came early on. It did not sink us and we were forced to stop and think very hard about what was the right strategy to grow Noosa.

"There are very few entrepreneurs who haven’t made some big mistakes."

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How did you successfully navigate a shifting role?

KT: I like to think of my time at Noosa as a working MBA. I have worn so many hats since we launched the business, some things I was good at and others I was completely in the deep end. I think the trick is to understand what your strengths are, learn to leverage others who can fill in for your weaknesses and always have a thirst to learn from your mentors and the good old internet came through in many occasions.

What would you tell young female entrepreneurs about the startup world?

KT: The best advice I’ve ever received was to surround yourself with a good group of mentors. I’d advise young entrepreneurs to do the same. Look for your own network of women who you can learn from and who can help support you. 

How do you see your role at Noosa continuing to evolve?

KT: I am so fortunate to work with an amazing and smart group of people who realize the unique opportunity we have at Noosa. As I said before, I have the best job in the world. I am excited to continue to help push the boundaries on innovation all the while making sure we stay true to our core – and that’s to make bloody good yoghurt.

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On This Day: 4 Ways Your #TBTs Can Motivate Present-You

photo by Allison Norton 

This post originally appeared on Shine. 

Written by: Felicia Fitzpatrick

It’s 7:45 A.M., and I am squinting at my phone as I turn off my alarm. I instinctively open up Facebook’s push notification in a half-asleep daze to look back on the memories that I’ve apparently shared with 26 different people “On This Day.” Halfway through the scrolling, I cringe.

“On This Day in 2010…”

“On This Day in 2010 my friend and I took an completely awkward photo with a stranger who started talking to us on the bus so I could prove that I was having fun as a freshman in college.”

It terrifies me that on any given day I can stumble upon the Ghosts of Felicia’s Past. 

It’s like the virtual version of running into former high school classmates at Target while home for the holidays. These digital time-turning apps have made me run into my first love that broke my heart, friends I don’t talk to anymore, and a version of Felicia that didn’t fully understand herself. 

While there’s always something sentimental about naivete, the overwhelming sense of insecurity I felt back then also creeps up. It’s a lot to feel, especially at 7:48 A.M.

In some instances, I get jealous of my past self. “Damn, 2010, 2012, AND 2014 Felicia was seizing the hell out of this day! Oh, but 2017 Felicia had a bad day at work. I’ll never amount to anything.” 

How have these apps made me competitive with myself?! And is that a positive or destructive behavior?

Studies have shown that “feelings of envy can then lead to Facebook users experiencing symptoms of depression,” so how do we make these morning reflections of social media nostalgia pleasant and motivational? 

Here are four tips on how to use the days of yore to push towards a happy, successful, and fulfilling future:

1. Write Out How It Makes You Feel

If these virtual look-backs have you feeling some type of way, it’s time to break out a journal, scratch paper, or even your phone’s notepad, and get ready to ask yourself (and answer) some questions. 

What is your gut reaction to these memories?

Embarrassed? Vulnerable? Angry? Jealous? Sad? Identifying feelings can be tough because it may bring up emotions you’ve been trying to avoid, but writing down a list of the different emotions can help you break through barriers.

How does that make you feel? 

Are you embarrassed because you accidentally sent a ‘reply all’ email at work? Are you vulnerable because you opened up in a relationship? Are you angry, jealous, and/or sad because your friends have been hitting their life goals and you feel like you’re still just treading the proverbial achievement-waters? 

Write down your current emotions and compare to the list of memory-driven emotions. Note the similarities between the lists, because there may be patterns and habits you have developed. 

What do you want?

Making a list of goals can feel lofty and overwhelming, so decide on your framing. Maybe you want to think big picture: what is the one BIG goal you’d like to achieve eventually, and work your way down to one goal you can achieve in the next year that will help you get to the BIG goal, one goal you can achieve this month, and one goal you can achieve this week. 

Alternatively, you can start small -- creating basic habits that you can do each day and next thing you know, you’ve created a lifestyle change. Regardless of how you frame it for yourself, determine what you want.

What lessons from the past can use you in the present?

Nostalgia can sometimes help us identify what we crave in our current lives. Do you miss the community feel you used to have with your soccer team? Do you miss the English teacher that pushed you to create your best work? 

"All of the experiences you’re having now will help you get to where you want to go". 

Tweet this. 

All of the experiences you’re having now will help you get to where you want to go.
Think about how you can apply that in your current life. Maybe you become the social chair of your office and plan happy hours for you and your colleagues. Maybe you ask your manager for more consistent feedback, or seek out a mentor. Looking to the past can help you build upon your foundation to achieve what makes you happy.

2. Embrace Nostalgia and Reach Out to Old Friends
It’s okay to think back fondly on memories of your life -- recalling the pure excitement as you embrace future adventures, the pure fear as you stepped into the unknown. 

I often see my younger self taking full advantage of days of carefree bliss, before phrases like “student loans” and “apartment security deposit” were in my vocabulary. Moments like this can often leave you sentimental and longing for the past. Instead of a solo wallow sesh, reach out to the people that were surrounding and supporting you at that time. 

Acknowledge the people that have seen you through everything: braces and pimples, your Lizzie McGuire phase, your bumper sticker decal obsession. They were most likely the ones that were there when you were building your dreams, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they were looking for support from their longtime friends too. 

Who knows, you might create even more memories.

3. Take Note of Your Progress

Sifting through these memories, you may find yourself laughing at inside jokes in the making, smiling at dreams being formed, and head-shaking in that annoyingly all-knowing way at significant goals being achieved. 

You have a new perspective. Appreciate your growth by making a list of your accomplishments, because even if you feel like you’re stuck now, a visual list can remind you how far you’ve actually come and how many possibilities are in your future. Hope you still have that pen and paper out.

What goals have you achieved?

If you’ve set goals for yourself in the past, this list will be fairly simple to produce. Did you achieve what you wanted to achieve? Finally got verified on Twitter? Became a council member for your town? Great! If you haven’t been an active goal-setter, think big picture about the life and habits you’ve imagined for yourself. 

Were you a small town gal with big city dreams, and now you’re thriving in the Big Apple? Did you hope that one day you would be able to spend weekends hiking with a backpack full of trail mix? Those count, too. 

What fears have you overcome?
 

"Appreciate how far you’ve come and how many possibilities are in your future."

Tweet this. 

Appreciate how far you’ve come and how many possibilities are in your future.
This does NOT mean you need to submerge yourself in a vat of cockroaches and reenact an episode of Fear Factor. Can you now give speeches when you used to feel like Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries? Have you publicly shared some of your creative work when the thought used to give you hives? You may not have developed specific goals around these fears, but it’s worth noting that you’ve spent time conquering ideas and notions that used to scare you.

What could you not have done a year ago that you are capable of now?

While this list could look similar to the lists above, ask yourself, what would I not have been able to do a year ago? This list may be filled with more unexpected and spontaneous achievements -- maybe it’s bench-pressing a certain amount of weight, or maybe belting a high C. What skills have you developed in the past year?

4. Authentically Live in the Present
My friend Tyree Boyd-Pates has a signature phrase, “trust the process.” You can have an end goal or destination -- but don’t think that there is only one path to get there. 

Your journey may be winding as hell, have multiple forks with no munchkins guiding you, but everything you encounter along the way will only strengthen you. Don’t focus so much on the future that you can’t take in life lessons in the moment. 

All of the experiences you’re having now will help you get to where you want to go, and perhaps more importantly, where you need to be. And that’s exciting, because I can only imagine what achievements will deserve an annoyingly all-knowing head shake in the years to come.

Felicia Fitzpatrick is the Social Media Manager for Playbill. When she’s not teaching Broadway performers how to use Snapchat, you can find her eating spaghetti, listening to Christmas music and rewatching Gilmore Girls seasons 1-4.

C&C Classifieds Nº28: The Infatuation, The Spare Room, Amazon & MORE

photo from White & Wander

Happy Humpy Day everyone! To get you through the rest of the week, we've assembled some BOMB-DOT-COM opportunities just waiting for you to check out. You have two more days until the weekend (ouch!) so you might as well make them count. 

And since today is a very special Wednesday (aka #InternationalWomensDay), we thought it appropriate to share with you some badass quotes from some of our favorite women. Seriously, you will not be disappointed with your decision to read this! 

Happy #InternationalWomensDay! 

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THE INFATUATION (LOS ANGELES, CA)

Social Media Producer 

THE SPARE ROOM ( LOS ANGELES, CA) 

Catering Operations and Sales Manager

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SWARM AGENCY (ATLANTA, GA) 

Digital Strategist

BH COSMETICS (LOS ANGELES, CA) 

Social Media Coordinator

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AMAZON (SANTA MONICA, CA)

Creative Director (Amazon Original Content)

VSCO (OAKLAND, CA) 

Business Marketing Manager

Want more?

FULL ACCESS TO CLASSIFIEDS HERE 

If you have signed up for access to the C&C Classifieds before, click here.

Ladies Clap Back: A Roundup of the Raddest, Baddest Feminist Merch

Image credit: Glamour Mag 

While feminism is far from a new phenomenon, interest around it is at an all-time high. And we are here for it. When Dior’s Paris show last fall featured “We Should All Be Feminists” T-shirts as part of its Spring 2017 collection, the (political) statement took on a whole new meaning. And to give the T even more gravitas, Dior announced that it’s donating a portion of the proceeds to Rihanna’s non-profit organization, the Clara Lionel Foundation (which supports and funds effective education and health programs around the world).

Some background about that T-shirt: Dior collaborated with writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who penned an essay of the same name as an adaptation of Adichie’s 2013 TEDx talk. And if you haven’t yet had the chance to hear the TEDx talk, you might recognize this line: “Feminist: A person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes,” as it appears in Beyonce’s “Flawless.”

Natalie Portman was seen rocking the “We Should All Be Feminists” T-shirt at the Women’s March in L.A., while RiRi stepped out at NYC’s March with a pink THIS P**SY GRABS BACK hoodie, designed by Victoria’s Secret model Leomie Anderson and created by LAPP The Brand.

Even Karl Lagerfeld had a huge feminist-inspired moment in September 2014, when he staged a feminist rally starring the likes of Gisele and Cara, megaphones, and posters of the “He for She,” “Ladies First” and “History is Her Story” variety.

But while Chanel’s “women’s protest” back in 2014 felt like a throwback to a bygone era (and almost felt theatrical in its grandeur), the groundbreaking Women’s March this past January was all too real. And all too necessary in an era where we need to make our voices heard as much as possible. Because this year, shit’s getting REAL.

Consider feminist-inspired gear our way of clapping back to 2017; a way of flexing our feminist muscles and using our voices -- so even if you aren’t heard (and shame on the world if you aren’t), you will be seen. After all, fashion has always been a form of self-expression.

"Consider feminist-inspired gear our way of clapping back to 2017; a way of flexing our feminist muscles."

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In honor of International Women’s Day, we rounded up some of our favorite feminist-inspired goods: best enjoyed the other 364 days of the year.

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE

photo credit: Otherwild 

Those “The Future is Female” sweatshirts spotted on Cara Delevingne and girlfriend St. Vincent in October 2015 have become an Insta phenomenon (and spawned similar merch like pins and baby onesies). While they might seem like a recent political statement, there is feminist history behind them. According to a New York Times article, the OG “The Future Is Female” T-shirt design was worn by Alix Dobkin in 1975, when photographer Liza Cowan took a picture of Dobkin (her girlfriend at the time) for a slideshow she was working on.

Thirty years later, Rachel Berks, the owner of LA-based shop / graphic design studio Otherwild spotted the photo on the Instagram account, h_e_r_s_t_o_r_y. Berks made 24 T-shirts, which sold out in two days. She made another batch and decided to donate a portion of the proceeds to Planned Parenthood. Soon she introduced the sweatshirt design, and the rest is literally, her-story, as the T has taken on a life of its own.

NASTY WOMAN 

Photo credit: @AlfieFriday 

Get yourself a “Nasty Woman” T-shirt or reusable bag, made by Amanda and Cameron of Google Ghost (50% of the T-shirt’s proceeds go to Planned Parenthood; 20% of the bag’s proceeds go to the ACLU).

NEVERTHELESS, SHE PERSISTED 

photo credit: Casetify

Studio15 is a socially responsible fashion brand geared towards millennial women and founded by total boss lady, Jia Wertz. The company supports female entrepreneurs in developing countries by donating a percentage of proceeds to fund women-led businesses in Uganda. The brand launched “The Future Is Female Collection” on Presidents' Day to make a statement against the current administration's comments about women, immigrants and refugees.

For International Women's Day, Casetify released an ENTIRE "Nevertheless, She Persisted" Collection.  Protect your rights. Protect your phone. All in a day's work. CAN YOU HEAR OUR FEMINIST VOICES NOW??

STRONG FEMALE LEAD 

photo credit: bando 

One of our favorite “girl gangs” ban.do created this “Strong Female Lead” sweatshirt, among its wide array of other femme-perfect swag.

Stay warm when taking down the patriarchy. 

LET'S CALL THEM, ACCES-HERIES 

Check your self-ie. Protect your phone with these “Nasty” cases by Casetify. 

We’re having our cake and eating it too. Feminist blogger slash baker Lyndsay of CocoCakeLand.com whipped up these delicious messages on her sweet creations and was featured in the resistance-leading mag, Teen Vogue, as a result. 

Wear your feminist flair with enamel pins, buttons and patches from the likes of jewelry brand Bing Bang NYC (50% of “girl power” swag’s proceeds are donated to women’s organizations) and our favorite “Girls’ Only Club,” The Wing. We love the Bang Bang Bad Bitch Circle Patch or the Girl Power Button Starter Pack.  

Speaking of NYC-based The Wing, its feminist merch is a call to arms, especially “The Self Supporting Tote.” The tote's text comes from a call to action written by Anna Cardogen Etz in the early 20th Century. The letter, "Self Supporting Women of Hornell" argued for the creation of a women's club and was printed in the local newspaper in Hornell, New York. (A tote that literally carries the weight of women’s issues.) Or wear your feminism on your keychain. 

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So let’s make sure feminism is more than simply “a mainstream trend,” and actually becomes the norm. Instead of proclaiming to “Wake up like this,” let's stay woke. Happy International Women’s Day, ladies.

Karin Eldor is a writer specializing in career, fashion and lifestyle. After several years in the corporate world as the Social Media Manager and Copywriter at ALDO, she took her side hustle full-time and is now living out her dream as a contributor for COVETEUR, Levo, Shopify, 818 Agency, and of course Create & Cultivate. Her mission is to offer guidance and mentorship to women by aligning with brands that value self-expression, integrity and impact. Follow her on Insta @alwayskarin. 

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11 Badass Women Share Their Thoughts on International Women's Day

Future is Female poster designed by Kimothy Joy

We asked 11 women the following question in anticipation of International Women’s Day (today!!), a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

Q: If you could steer the conversation around International Women’s Day, what would that dialogue be about?

These are their badass answers.

LAUREN MILLER ROGEN 

Oh man, so many important things! I think there are many conversations worth having. But, I think one of the biggest issues that women still face is breaking gender stereotypes that have been laid out for them for generations and generations, so for me I love to celebrate women who really broke the mold whether it be Eleanor Roosevelt, Malala, Beyoncé, or Kamala Harris. Women are doing AMAZING things and I think that there are so many worth highlighting to inspire women everywhere by examining the choices trailblazers made along their way.

DAYA

As women, we need to focus more on building each other up rather than tearing each other down. We need to lead the way to change and we are not going to make progress unless we focus on bringing other women with us so we can rise together.

FRANCHESCA RAMSEY 

I'd encourage more women to be intersectional in their activism. It's important to acknowledge our privilege and remember that there are all types of women from a variety of walks of life that face challenges that we do not. If you're truly committed to advocating for women you have to be willing to stand up for all women regardless of race, sexuality, physical ability, religion, class or gender identity, not just ladies that look like you.

CONSTANCE ZIMMER 

Equality. I find it unbelievable that a woman doing the same job as a man is not making the same amount of money. That's mind boggling to me.

SANAA LATHAN

I want us to focus on anything around mentoring and empowering young girls-- from body image to cultural pride to self-esteem and self-worth.

NICOLE BYER

That all women are beautiful, smart, strong as fuck and special. We also have to listen to each other and remember to be inclusive. There's feminism and intersectional feminism.

LAUREN CONRAD  

I think the progress we've made in recent years is fantastic, but we still a lot of work to do. As women we should do all we can to support each other and continue to move in the right direction. We are always stronger together.

LAUREN PAUL 

I would hope that the conversation is well rounded and that it would make every woman feel celebrated.  Whether you are a politician, CEO or a mother. There is no specific definition to what a strong, empowered woman looks like because that varies for each person. To define that, ultimately creates exclusion because we are all different. In this beautiful chapter where feminism and girl bosses are highlighted (yay!) I really want stay at home mothers to feel celebrated and reminded that they too are hard-working HEROS.

PIERA GELARDI

The world is sitting on a huge untapped natural resource: billions of women who have not been able to reach their full potential. I’d love to create a vision statement and paint a picture of what the world would look like — what greatness we could unleash by bringing Women’s Equality and Empowerment to the forefront. And show that there’s a huge business case for doing this.

MANDY MOORE

I hope the dialogue continues around gender equality and recognizing the need for a larger political, cultural and social shift when it comes to pro-women policies on a global level. When women and girls are empowered, educated, healthy and free of violence, they can recognize their full potential and make an enormous impact on their communities and ultimately the world economy.

SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR

I hope to see more women supporting other women. I have always believed that when women work together we can do anything. So often we are pitted against each other instead of remembering we are a big tribe.

What do you hope for today? Share below!

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Totally Unstoppable: The Rise of Zoey Deutch

Image credit: Isaac Sterling

THERE ARE THREE COFFEES ON THE TABLE. TWO WATERS.

“We have many beverages,” jokes actress Zoey Deutch, “and not enough time.” We’re sitting in the shade at a popular Silverlake restaurant initially made famous by its jam, and though she’s kidding, one glance at her schedule over the last two years, and it’s clear that there’s truth in the comedy.  

Before I Fall, a book adaptation in which Zoey plays the lead, is in post-production. She’s currently filming Why Him?, a comedy in which she plays opposite James Franco and Bryan Cranston. And this month she secured the highly sought-after role of Oona, in the J.D. Salinger biopic, Rebel in the Rye. For Rebel in the Rye. Oscar nominees auditioned for the part. Deutch landed it. 

Working professionally since 14, Zoey candidly acknowledges this hasn’t always been the case; her career thus far has been full of ebbs and flows. “There are so many factors that you can’t control,” she says. “I did a movie called Beautiful Creatures, I didn’t work for a year. I did a movie called Vampire Academy, I didn’t work for a year. I’ve seen both sides.” 

She’s also quick to admit that at the moment she finds success more complicated than failure. “I was surprised by my own reaction after SXSW, I was worried. To be a part of something that people really love… damn. Pressure’s on.”

She’s referring to the reviews for Everybody Wants Some!!, the latest film from darling director Richard Linklater set in the early 1980s when tie-dye t-shirts were still a thing. Zoey was one of the first to secure a role in a movie that’s been likened a spiritual follow-up to cult-classic Dazed and Confused, and as a career-maker for the ensemble cast. The film follows a group of baseball bros navigating life at a small Texas university. There’s not a lot of baseball. And there aren’t a lot of women. Zoey plays the role of Beverly, a strong-minded theater geek whose role is more than simply to get laid. The New Yorker calls her performance "the only female presence of any depth in the story, but wise beyond her years, and so beautifully played."

It’s an attribute that mirrors IRL Zoey: resolute, sagacious, opinionated, not timid around men. “I tend to peacock,” she says. She’s also a nose-the-grindstone worker. She’s headed back to Austin to do more press for the movie the next morning.

Zoey as Beverly in Everybody Wants Some!!

“Even in the last two weeks,” she says in between bites of brioche toast, “I wouldn’t call myself a workaholic, but you can probably see that I don’t say no. There’s a lot of yes, yes, yes.” 

Yes. She’s right. Zoey is in perpetual motion; it’s hard to throw a stick in her river. But despite her twenty-one years, she understands that you work when the work is there, and when it’s not you “work even harder.” 

****

Two weeks prior to meeting up in LA, we were on a plane back from SXSW. Complete, though welcomed, happenstance. Walking through the airport, a teen whispered to her friend, “She’s famous, OMG.” However, that afternoon, Zoey in long, tan-suede coat, was not the most famous person to board the aircraft. That was Jenna Lyons. Creative Director and President of J. Crew. Business woman extraordinaire with international acclaim. 

Zoey and I start talking gender-bias. She spent the previous day doing press for Everybody. “I’m in this movie full of men,” she says, “and they’re all being asked questions about Rick and their roles, and the first question I’m asked is if I’ll go to prom with someone in the audience.” She pauses. “And of course that’s what Deadline and other outlets pick up.”

"What do you think people are asking Jenna Lyons?" we ask. 

“Oh I don’t know,” she says. “I’m sure she spends the day trying not to be defensive about female-centric questions. But I have no fucking clue.” 

Naturally, we take this as the cue to push on about the hot-button, oft-highlighted gender-bias in Tinsel Town because from an outside perspective, and taking cues from the current press regarding these issues, Hollywood is at a crossroads. While actresses like Jennifer Lawrence are penning open letters regarding equal pay, and the NY Times is running pieces on the pervasive sexism in the industry, Zoey has a slightly different opinion. “I don’t feel like this is the first time it has come up, nor do I think it’s the last time.”

She mentions a documentary she recently watched about the Oscars. “Women who were accepting their awards in the ‘40s were brilliant, hilarious, outspoken— they weren’t timid the way we’ve painted them to be,” she says. “And now, ALL of a sudden, we have our Amy Schumers and Jennifer Lawrences and we act like there is a new breed of woman. I don’t find that to be true. There have always been funny and brilliant women.” 

"THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FUNNY AND BRILLIANT WOMEN."

Tweet this. 

Yet she’s hardly blind to the bias. “I see the sexism in Hollywood. I see it. I understand it. I know it’s there. But we’re working toward something better.” Her voice upticks here, slightly unsure if this is the right thing to say; she proceeds regardless. “I sometimes wonder how much talking about it does. Or when might be the right time to shift the conversation.” Adding, “It’s so much easier to say the wrong thing, than the right thing. But I don’t know if 'media-trained Zoey’ is a role I want to play.” 

Image credit: Isaac Sterling

As for women getting paid less in general? She doesn’t mince this thought. “It’s fucked.”

She recalls a wrap party in Canada last year, where a drunk crew member approached her and said: “I know some people are taken aback by how you carry yourself on set, but I really love the way you handle yourself like a man.” 

Does she think this a good thing? It’s unclear. “I’m trying not to be defensive in my life, because it’s really an easy reflex. So I asked him, ‘What does that mean? Really what does that mean?’”

She explains that his answer was as follows: you take no bullshit, you stand up for yourself and other people, and you’re not worried about making sure everyone likes you. “I took it as a compliment,” she says, while recognizing the inherent bias of having someone respect you for ‘acting like man,’ for acting like yourself.

"I DON'T KNOW IF 'MEDIA-TRAINED ZOEY' IS A ROLE I WANT TO PLAY."

Tweet this. 

“I was lucky to be raised by people who embraced that element of my personality, and who never tried to break that spirit, but why that has to be classified as ‘acting like a man?’ I can see the issue there.”

What the actress also recognizes is that Hollywood has a representation problem — across the board, and that the way people in the industry get paid, is “very disproportionate.” It’s something she says she’s talked about with her mom. “Second, third, fourth, on the call sheet, you’re not making the eight-figures people think you are. The pay-scale is incongruous — not just for women.”

She thinks people would be surprised to learn that on a big movie, many actors are making $1500 compared to a star's millions. "But no one talks about it. You don’t want to get fired, you don’t want to lose an opportunity.”

She has a slightly different attitude about role discrepancy as well. “Here’s the truth: we hear a lot of people saying, ‘There aren’t enough strong female characters in film, which I don’t agree with. The problem is we don’t have enough real, complex, fucked up, human characters.” 

Though her career is certainly on the rise — Vogue just called her “Linklater’s newest dream girl,” she doesn’t pretend that she’s at a point where she can pick and choose roles with a feminist comb. “I want to work,” she explains. “So I can't sit here and pretend yet that I only pick the parts that portray women in shining lights.” 

This is another moment where she gives the, maybe I shouldn’t have said that look. It’s a self-awareness and honesty most often attributed to press darlings Jennifer Lawrence and Shailene Woodley. 

“The irony of an actor being in the public eye,” she says, “is it’s the opposite of what should happen. Actors are fucking crazy, and vulnerable and emotional. To expose those people on a grand scale is comical.” She quickly adds, “To me. I’ve never done an interview in print where I didn’t think, ‘well, that came across poorly.’” 

Well. There’s a first time for everything and everybody. 

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The original version of this story was published on April 3, 2016

Arianna Schioldager is Create & Cultivate's editorial director. You can find her on IG @ariannawrotethis and more about her on this site she never updates www.ariannawrotethis.com 

Wondering What to Send? There's a Bouquet for Every Career Occasion

Florals have been adorning tabletops for years, but bringing a little bloom to your career is also a good look. And not just for spring.

There are plenty of career occasions where flowers not only spruce up a space, but might even help you get ahead.

And if you’re thinking about sending flowers to a boss, a colleague, or your #workwife, but don’t know where to start, our friends at UrbanStems, the floral brand with fresh blooms delivered to you in minutes, are dishing on the best bouquets for every career occasion.

There's a flower for every occasion. 

THE INTERVIEW FOLLOW-UP

Worried that you’ll seem overeager? You don’t need to send the biggest bunch your potential employer has ever seen, but a unique arrangement that shows you pay attention to trends but are also able to think “outside the bouquet” might just be the edge that gets you the job. And if it doesn’t you will have left an indelible impression, that  might lead to something down the road. .

Opt for: The Blanc: Striking a balance between memorable and professional is key and super chic tulips are always a safe bet. The wow factor gets upped a bit with an unusual variety: “peony” tulips — lush, fluffy blooms that are the spitting image of their coveted late spring namesake.

THE CONGRATS ON YOUR RAISE

Haven’t you heard? The energy you put out is the energy you bring in. If a friend gets a promotion or a raise, congratulate them with a beautiful arrangement that includes a “thriller” flower, because a flower-filled celebration is in order.

What says congrats best: The Tango. Bold colors are the best way to get the party started! The Tango is full of fiery shades of orange and red, and funky stems like ranunculus and parrot tulips make it feel extra special.

THE BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME

It’s inevitable. There are career highs and lows. But when a colleague or good friend really takes a hit, opt for  a thoughtful gesture that will be much appreciated when they’re in the doldrums. Send your pal flowers and a note to remind them that you don’t get flowers without a little rain.

Keep ‘em smiling through the pain with: The Dino. A good laugh is the best way to beat the blues and this quirky dino succulent planter pretty much guarantees a smile. Succulents are easy to care for and super sturdy, so they’ll outlast any rough patch.

THE 'THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY' GIFT

If someone goes out of their way to facilitate an intro, an interview, or patch you in on a deal, a thank you bunch goes a long way. Especially if it’s someone you don’t know very well. They will be all the more willing to help you out next time if you show your appreciation.

Make yourself memorable with: The Mimosa. Garden roses are absolutely fabulous in their own right, but striking colors like yellow and green are completely unexpected. Mixed with feather eucalyptus and dainty wax flowers, it’s sweet and earnest — just the kind of gratitude you want to convey!

THANK YOUR BOSS WHEN THEY DO A GREAT JOB

It’s not as easy to be the boss as it seems. You have a company and salaries and bringing in dollars to worry about all the time. And when you’re the boss, you don’t have someone above you patting you on the back when you do a good job. In fact, it’s a little thankless.

Make your boss smile with: The Cathy. Your boss has enough to worry about, so an ultra low-maintenance air plant is the perfect way to show them some love without adding to their to-do list. Air plants can take a lot of neglect and need almost no water to stay fabulous-looking.

Want more? Head to UrbanStems to find the perfect floral for any function. 

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5 Quick and Easy Ways to Hack Your Work Week

photo credit: Sarah Derweiler

Sure, it's Sunday night and the work week ahead doesn't look appealing. But we want to give you a case of the Mon-yays with a few easy hacks that will start your week off right. 

They're simple, take virtually no time to implement and allow you to get right back to your regularly scheduled evening. 

1. SET YOUR ALARM WITH AN AFFIRMATION

It's easy to moan, groan, and snooze when your alarm goes off Monday AM. After a lazy weekend of sleeping in and waffles at noon, a 7am wakeup call can feel, well, like torture. But you need to head into your week with a positive outlook-- that's the first step to positive outcomes. So, set your alarm to go off with an affirmation. Something that makes you excited to start the day. It's super easy, especially with an iPhone. Instead of keeping the "Label" as "Alarm," fill in a positive saying that gets you rolling out of the right side of the bed. 

That's what we call #mondaymotivation. 

2. LOG OUT OF YOUR PERSONAL INSTAGRAM BEFORE YOU GO TO SLEEP 

The endless Instagram scroll is a hard habit to break, but adding a second barrier between you and the social media time suck might be the pause button you need to not waste time on Monday.

We all do it. Especially when we're supposed to be getting back on our grind. But try something different and start this week not lost in the IG black hole. It's hard to pick up the momentum lost.  

You can log back in Monday night. We promise, you won't have missed anything massive.

3.  DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT MONDAY

The energy you put out is the energy you get back. If you want to have a bad work week, go ahead, complain. We suggest that instead, you jot down a quick list of items you're looking FORWARD to attacking this week. Not all tasks are fun, but pay attention to the ones you feel connected to, and train your focus there. When we accomplish items we are emotionally connected to it gives us the fuel we need to make it through tasks that are mundane or daunting. 

4. MEAL PLAN YOUR WEEK 

It's all too easy to fall into the weekly rut of waiting to eat until the last moment possible. But just as sleep is crucial to productivity, so is food. Without brainfood, you've got brain mush. If you're used to Postmating your meal at the last minute, this is for you. Spend 15 minutes planning out what you want to eat for lunch this week. Reports show that only 1 in 5 workers are taking adequate lunch breaks, but it's not making us better workers.

The way you spend your lunch break affects how productive you are for the rest of the day. When you're eating, do nothing but eat. Multi-tasking when you're supposed to be refueling is the wrong way to go about it. 

5. TRY GOING COLD TURKEY

If you find yourself easily distracted by the internet and all its wiles, you're hardly alone. But there is a difference between checking something for work and checking out entirely. If your concentration level on Monday falls between zero and zero plus, consider using Cold Turkey. It’s a website that temporarily blocks you from going to sites that are distractions and is highly customizable to your needs. 

Have other hacks? Share in the comments below and give everyone a shot a wonderful work week. 

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How to Turn Freelancers Into a Stealth Startup Team

Most startups start in homes. In apartments. There aren't fancy offices or conference rooms. Therefore it's likely that you have a team that's a bit scattered-- everyone working from home or in a different city. You meet up on Google hangs and your group text chains are miles long. And then one day you realize, you need a office. You need to bring your team together if you want to grow. 

Transitioning those first employees to full-time in office employees is part of the business growing pain. And it's tricky for both ends. 

Here are 4 steps you need to take.  

1. APPROACH YOUR FREELANCERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY 

You won't get an answer if you don't ask. It can be hard convincing someone who works from home to make the switch to come into an office. We take our little freedoms where we can. But, if it makes sense (like if they're in the same city) you want to give the opportunity to the people who have been there from the start. 

It's important that contracted freelancers feel like they are part of the conversation. Never make them feel like dispensable hired help. That said,they might not want to join the "team" and that is totally OK. Don't take it personally and don't burn the working relationship bridge. You never know when you might need their skills.  

Some of them may enthusiastically want to join up FT. Those are the employees you want on your squad. 

You shouldn't have to convince someone to come and work for you. It may start out well but if they didn't want it in the first place, the chances are high that they don't want it longterm. The last thing you need as a new company is to deal with rapid turnover. You want lifers and people who believe in the idea without hesitation.  

2. ASK THEM WHAT THEY WANT OUT OF A CAREER

Make sure the opportunity is a good fit for both of you. This is super important. You might assume that because you're giving them a full-time opportunity that they want it. Some people don't work well in office environments. 

They may be a great graphic designer, but they also might like working on multiple projects. They may thrive in the chaos of juggling multiple clients. Consider that they might be freelance for a reason. Again, no matter how much they know about your company, the last thing you want is an employee who doesn't want to be there. 

So ask: what is it that you want? Where do you see your career going? Have you worked in a "traditional" office setting before? And if you're a small team, are you really OK with a startup environment? A lot of people glamorize the rise and grind of the startup world, but the hours are long, the nights longer, and you burn the midnight oil way more often than you're out on the town. 

It's not always pretty and it's not for everyone. It's a big jump to go from spending most of your time in your living room to hardly ever seeing it. 

3. THIS ONE IS HARD, BUT DON'T BRING FRIENDS ON FULL-TIME 

Many business owners get their idea off the ground by asking the people around them for help. If you're BFF is great at social media, maybe you asked them to help you out. But a freelancing friend is a lot different than an employee friend. You need to consider that it might be time to cut the working relationship cord. It's rough, but not impossible. 

Take them to lunch. Have an honest conversation about the company growth and tell them your concerns. It's incredibly hard to have a boss/employee structure with someone you've known forever and want to keep in your personal life.

"Turn your employees into family, don't turn your family into employees."  

Tweet this. 

The goal is to turn your employees into family, not turn your family into employees. It might be hard at first, but they will thank you in the long run. 

4. CONSIDER THE WORK HABITS YOU ALREADY KNOW 

Don't overcomplicate the process. You may not know what someone is like IN an office, but you do already know HOW they work. When and how they respond to emails or urgent matters, for example. 

If one of your freelancers is amazing at what they do, but notoriously bad with deadlines or doesn't interface well with clients, that isn't going to change once they are in an office environment. You need an A-team from the gate. 

In a way you've already done the SUPER hard work of vetting people. Use this knowledge to your advantage. 

Want more? Check out the Marriott Hotels "Like a Boss" series. Where we shared Why Surrounding Yourself with the Best People Matters. 

Create & Cultivate partnered with Marriott Hotels, to profile local woman entrepreneurs who are bringing their ideas to life where they live and to create a space to foster the ingenuity of an inventive class who know that success is never final.

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Write That Down: One CEO’s Major Hacks for Managing the Hustle

photo credit: May Designs 

When Mica May, CEO and founder of May Designs, couldn’t find a pretty and practical notebook to take to client meetings she started making her own— literally stapling pages together. A woman’s gotta do what a woman’s gotta do. The designer did it so well that her clients starting asking where they came from, giving May the confidence boost that she was on to something good.

Now, May Designs offers customized notebooks (and more!) that easily fit into your purse. It’s a lifestyle brand that believes in the power of writing it down to get it done.

Here’s why:

HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE & WRITE IT DOWN

You may not be surprised to learn that CEO and founder of May Designs, Mica May, abides by the write it down policy— a habit many of us have abandoned. The abundance of apps, notes in our phones, and the landscape of the multi-screen economy may have you thinking, paper? Who needs it? 

But don’t give up on pen and paper just yet. When you write something down, it not only helps you commit that task or goal to short-term memory, but it keeps you accountable to yourself and others. It also helps you manage the day-to-day minutiae. After all, the devil isn't in the details, the devil is the details. Luckily he doesn't like notebooks.  

"The devil isn't in the details, the devil is the details."  

Tweet this. 

Part of that management strategy includes determining what you need to handle over the course of your day and the tasks that you can let others handle. For a long time, May Designs was a one-woman show, but now the CEO makes the point to ask herself, “‘What is on my list today that is something that only I can work on?’ Then I do those things first,” she shares.

That requires writing said “things” down. If you don’t have something to check-off or cross off, you’re using up valuable brain space attempting to keep track of it all. It may be impressive that you can remember everything, but it’s not using your talents wisely. Free up your thinker to come up with brilliant ideas, instead of keep track of tasks. May says, “Writing things down clears your mind and allows you to set clear priorities.”

DECIDE WHAT YOU ARE EMOTIONALLY CONNECTED TO

Speaking of priorities…

There are *obviously* parts of every job that don’t tug on your heartstrings and there are tasks throughout the day that no one will feel an emotional connection to (does anyone LOVE going to the bank?), but finding the joy in your job is an important part of success. There have to be points in your day where you get excited or you will burnout.

“Writing things down clears your mind and allows you to set clear priorities.”

Tweet this.

Mica May, founder and CEO May Designs. 

“When I only had a couple of employees and three babies and my husband was still working full time, we asked ourselves, ‘How are we going to get through a single day?’” May recalls. “So, I wrote down literally every single thing that had to happen on each day of the week—get the kids dressed, take them to school—and put a name by it. I asked myself, ‘Am I emotionally connected to this task? Someone needs to drop Madelyn off at art class at 3 on Wednesday. Do I care if that’s me? Nope, but I want to pick her up because she’s excited to show me what she did, and I can stay and chat with her art teacher at the end of class.”

Consider it finding the joie de vivre in your work day. YES! It exists. The happier you are, the better your work.

DON’T REINVENT THE WHEEL

Overcomplicating the process is not going to get your anywhere. The point isn’t that “writing it down” is new advice, it just so happens to be a crucial step we skip. Getting back into the habit is the hardest part.

May advises blocking your time in 15-minute increments or using a paper calendar paired with a digital "Google Calendar" to help you provide a visual representation of your days and week ahead.

She also says sustainable habits are the key to success. “Truly look at your current habits and be honest with yourself,” shares the CEO. “Do you love the way you are spending your time? What small changes can you make that will maximize your work time vs. your personal life?”

We call that working the write way.

To see everything that May Designs has to offer, click here. And then tell us what your goals in the comments below! Consider it your first step to holding yourself accountable.

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This Bed Can Talk to Your Fitness Tracker

If there was something that could make you smarter, healthier, and happier, you’d be into it, right?

It’s what we’re all in search of: the secret life hack that gets us on track and well on our way to greatness. So what if we told you that secret was in your sleep?

The connection between sleep and productivity has been documented by multiple studies. But what if there was something that could take you beyond good sleep? Something that would help your career goals long term...

“it” exists. 

UP IN YOUR ROOM, WORKIN’ ON YOUR SLEEP

During all stages of sleep, your mind is hard at work, processing new memories, placing them into long-term brain storage, and integrating the new knowledge with past experiences. It’s during this downtime when we allow ourselves to rest that so much crucial brain work gets done. During deep sleep our brains actually drain toxins that have built up over the course of the day. They also consolidate memories, restore energy stores, and solidify knowledge.

And we all know, knowledge is power.

The short of it is: If you don’t downtime you won’t download— which is a critical cog in your internal career machine. Without sleep you aren’t as likely to come up with creative ideas, problem solve, or focus.

“If you don’t downtime you won’t download.”

Tweet this.

A lack of good sleep means a lack of good ideas.

BUT ALSO, WORKIN’ ON YOUR FITNESS

Countless athletes credit sleep as one of the most crucial parts to their success. In fact, many sports professionals have sleep coaches in addition to their regular coaches. For those of us who don’t have a #sleepsquad at our beck and call, there are options.

The “it bed” by Sleep Number is smarter than your average bed. Beyond using its proprietary algorithm and predictive tech to figure out what your sleep “number” should be, it can talk to your fitness tracker. Why does this matter?

It can give you insight into your workout that will allow you to sleep better, which in turn will allow you to function better throughout the day. For instance, if the it bed sees that you ran 5 miles but didn’t sleep well, it will tell you how to improve your workout, which will in turn, improve your sleep. It is constantly sending data to a SleepIQ app you can download. Pete Bils, VP of Sleep Science and Research at Select Comfort says, "Our research found: people who used SleepIQ technology experienced improved sleep quality and more restful time in bed."

Consider “it” the sleep coach you can’t afford.

GET YOUR BRAIN OUT OF FIRST GEAR & INTO FIRST PLACE

The research is in: the link between sleep and productivity is real. Why do refuse to believe it?  No one is the sleep outlier. It’s not the enemy and you certainly shouldn’t do it when you’re dead. Romanticizing the notion of not sleeping is a cultural epidemic. It’s time you shut that idea down and shut your brain off.

If you’re sleeping less, you might *technically* be getting *more* done, but if you’re not sleeping you’re not operating at max capacity. Getting a good night's sleep improves health and thinking. Not sleeping impairs cognition, attention, and decision making. Bils shares, "Quality sleep affects every aspect, every role of your life. Better mood, disposition, attitude and outlook." 

So make a great decision and opt for 7-8 restful hours per night. Your career (and workout) will thank you.

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C&C Classifieds Nº27: Cult Gaia, Eloquence, GirlGaze & MORE

photo credit: Jessica Bordner Photography

The week is half over, what have you crossed off your to-do list? If looking for a new job is still lingering at the bottom of your list, this could be the day you cross it off for good. We've got an amazing group of companies, all looking for qualified, responsible candidates just like you. All you have to do is fine-tune that resume, hit send, and you are well on your way to landing the job you've been daydreaming about for weeks. Oh, and since we have your attention: here are 6 tough interview questions you might face during your job search. 

You've got this. 

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ALLYSON CONKLIN PR (FORT COLLINS, CO)

Senior Public Relations Coordinator

CULT GAIA (LOS ANGELES, CA)

Wholesale Specialist

Apply by email to careers@cultgaia.com

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J PUBLIC RELATIONS  (SAN DIEGO, CA)

Account Supervisor 
 

GIRLGAZE (LOS ANGELES, CA)

Executive Assistant
 

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ELOQUENCE (LOS ANGELES, CA)

Sales and Client Executive

C. BLACK CONTENT (LOS ANGELES, CA)

SEO Developer

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Baby & a Biz? Why Mom-to-Be Whitney Port Launched This New Company

She's about to be a new mom, so why was now the right time for fashion veteran Whitney Port to launch a new career? 

Port announced Thursday that she’s teaming up with friend and now business partner Laurenne Resnik to run the creative side of Bloom2Bloom, a two-year-old fashion-foward flower brand that takes a farm-to-table approach to sending beautiful bouquets. The two met last summer at a charity event for Wish Upon a Teen, a non-profit the brand now partners with, and they have big beautiful plans for growing the brand. "There’s something special about giving and receiving flowers for no reason at all," the co-founders share, noting that their favorite occasion to give flowers is "just because." 

We talk to a lot of co-founders and always want to know how and why they chose each other. Laurenne, you’re a floral expert, so why was Whitney the right co-founder?

LR: When Whitney and I met last summer, we started doing some charity work together and immediately hit it off - it really seemed like the perfect fit, especially as Whitney was looking to transition to something outside of the fashion industry. I wanted to work with someone who understands how to build a brand that is timeless, and that seamlessly fits into consumers' everyday life. Whitney is just that person, and flowers were the answer! Whitney has a great eye for design and beautifully translates that talent to flowers and Bloom2Bloom as a lifestyle brand.

Whitney, why was now the right time to switch it up? You successfully navigated the fashion world… what about a bloom business appealed to you?

WP: As Laurenne said, I was looking to transition to something not directly related to the fashion industry and, after meeting and hitting it off with her at a charity event for Wish Upon a Teen last year, I knew it’d be a great fit.

How does a background in fashion lend itself to developing a flower brand?

WP: My favorite part of fashion is the creativity required to build a brand and make a visual statement. This is just as necessary for flowers as it is fashion.

We think a lot about local and sustainable as it relates to food. What kickstarted the curiosity of “where” flowers come from?

LR: When you go to the grocery store, you know where your milk or produce comes from. But how much do you know about your flowers? A significant amount of flowers purchased in the U.S. come from overseas, meaning that you are getting flowers that can be five to seven days old by the time you receive them. We are behind the American Grown flower movement. By working with local, U.S. flower farms, we’re able to turn that time into 24-48 hours max, meaning you’re getting the freshest flowers possible, straight from the farm. We also believe it’s our duty to take care of Planet Earth, and work with farmers who believe the same and take actions to be sustainable where they can.

"We are behind the American Grown flower movement."

Tweet this. 

photo credit: Cole Moser 

What have you learned since starting?

LR: We measure success in impact. And in this flower business, we have tremendous opportunity for impact, which is really inspiring. We impact local farmers and everybody who works with them. We have a chance to improve the flower-buying experience for consumers, empowering them with knowledge and making flowers an everyday item, not just a luxury purchase. And we have a chance to impact our community through our give-back program with Wish Upon A Teen. If we are continuously challenging ourselves to make a positive impact wherever we can, then we are moving in the right direction and creating something that matters. We’ve grown a lot since developing this brand and we are learning new things every day!

So can you walk me through the order process? It’s basically a farm-to-table approach to flowers right? How are you choosing who you’re working with and how do you guarantee what’s getting delivered?

LR: Yes! When you order Bloom2Bloom flowers online, they are straight from the farm to your doorstep! I have been working with flower farmers for over five years now. We work closely with the farms to make sure our flowers live up to the Bloom2Bloom brand standard, and we constantly implement a variety of measures for quality control. Under Whitney's amazing creative direction, we create bouquet designs unique to Bloom2Bloom, and work directly with bouquet teams on the farms to hand arrange each arrangement of flowers that are picked, and ship them out to our customers. Because of these close and trusted relationships, we’re able to secure high-quality, beautiful flowers with every order.

I read on the FAQ page that if someone wants monthly blooms to contact you. Are you thinking of expanding into the subscription model at some point?

WP: We have already started a variety of subscription packages, many of which are customized based on customers' needs and who the customer is. Stay tuned for some really unique offerings, from individuals to our great corporate partners. We are here to make it easy for you to get beautiful flowers, whenever you want!

Whitney, you’re about to be a new mom (congrats!!). So how do you think you’ll juggle a new biz and a new baby?

WP: Thank you! I have a lot of strong and balanced women in my life that I’ll be getting advice from and probably leaning on throughout this process. It’s a new experience for me, but I know I’ve got the best support group possible and they will be a key part of balancing these two parts of my life.

I love the idea of partnership with Wish Upon a Teen— it makes a lot of sense. Hospital rooms are one place where people always bring flowers. But this goes beyond just flowers. So why was it important to you both? What about this non-profit spoke to you individually?

Flowers are not a necessity - they are not food or water. They are, though, no matter who you are, a reminder that you are thought of, that you matter, and that someone wants you to smile, right now. And that gesture is utterly human and so invaluable. These teens, they spend so much of their time receiving things they need to survive and to feel well. When we work with Wish Upon A Teen to design a hospital room, it's a chance to give these teens something that reminds them that they are thought of, and that we want them to smile. It's a way to keep that gesture going. When you give the gift of flowers, or treat yourself, it's extra meaningful to know that gift keeps on giving. We believe that bringing happiness to others helps spread happiness elsewhere and that’s what we’re about at Bloom2Bloom - we’re where happiness grows!

"It’s important to offer flowers that fit your sense of style, just like a dress or pair of shoes would."

Tweet this.  

photo credit: Cole Moser 

Whitney, as an entrepreneur embarking on her next business venture, what business advice do you have for our readers who are looking to launch?

1. Find a good partner - You hear a lot of people say things like you need to find “the yin to your yang.” As cliché as it might sound, it's totally true! We each bring unique strengths and perspectives to this project. I wouldn’t have dared dive into flowers without Laurenne, who’s a flower industry veteran.

2. Have a clear vision - For us, ‘Fashion-forward flowers for your everyday life’ is our main focus right now. Having a clear vision is key to creating a cohesive, memorable brand and essential when re-launching in such a fast-paced environment.

3. Be part of your community - A value that’s extremely important to us at Bloom2Bloom is supporting the economy. All of our flowers are U.S. grown and farmed locally to ensure that not only does the customer receive their bloom freshly picked, but that it’s created with safe, ethical practices too!

4. Give back in any way you can - Build in social impact wherever possible. We’re so happy to have our partnership with Wish Upon a Teen for our brand. To take the meaning of your work to the next level, you should find an organization that you are passionate about, and come up with ways to collaborate.

Laurenne, what are you most excited about in terms of the building the brand?

LR: I am most excited about our focus on fashion-forward flowers. As a brand, we think it’s important to offer flowers that fit your sense of style, just like a dress or pair of shoes would. We want our flowers to fit into your space and make them uplift the style that already exists.

Favorite arrangement you’ve ever received:

WP:  I didn’t use to like yellow flowers, but one day my husband Timmy showed up and surprised me with yellow flowers and I loved them ever since.

LR: Even though I’ve been working with flowers for years, my husband never misses a chance to surprise me with a bouquet! It’s always a good feeling when he does that. It never gets old.

Flower of the moment:

LR: I love Irises right now. They’re featured in “The Lovely” bouquet we have right now and I can’t get enough of them.

WP: I always love succulents!

A bloom that always makes you smile:

WP: Dahlias - it’s hard not to love their deep colors and lush petals.

LR:  Daffodils always have that effect on me. They remind me of my father and my family so a smile is a guaranteed effect.

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C&C Classifieds Nº26: Tappan, Create & Cultivate, Thrive & MORE

photo credit: Jessica Bordner Photography 

Want to experience the joy of a three-day weekend? Then you need a job! And even though it's a short work week, we're back at it with a ton of awesome listings from companies just waiting to hear from you. So get those resumes polished, send off, and then read up on the nine steps to NAILING an interview. 

YOU GOT THIS.

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TAPPAN (LOS ANGELES, CA)

Sales Manager 

Apply by email to: nadia@thetappancollective.com

CREATE & CULTIVATE (LOS ANGELES, CA)

Production Intern

Apply with resume & cover letter to: stephanie@thereisnosubject.com

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VEVO (LOS ANGELES, CA)

Campaign Manager

THRIVE MARKET (MARINA DEL REY, CA)

Social Acquisitions Coordinator

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ROKU (NEW YORK, NY)

Graphic Designer, Advertising

THE MUSE (NEW YORK, NY) 

Editor, Branded Content 

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