The Truth About Eating Disorders At Work

Christina Grasso, know to IG as The Pouf, just launched a peer support network for women with eating disorders. In collaboration with Ruthie Friedlander, Special Projects Director at InStyle, the women have unveiled The Chain, the first peer-led support network exclusively for women in fashion, beauty, and entertainment struggling with eating disorders.

They co-founders connected over their shared history and the difficulty of navigating a career in fashion while actively working toward recovery. 

The below is Christina's story and strength. 

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The most challenging moment of my young life came when I, a high-achieving, seemingly together 19-year-old college student had to admit that despite my carefully-crafted pretense, I was not okay. That I, someone who seemingly had it all, was in the midst of a life-or-death battle with anorexia nervosa.

I needed help.

It baffles me to think that had it been any sort of primarily physical ailment, like a broken bone or a gaping wound, I wouldn’t have so vehemently denied it and struggled in silence for so long. But the reality is that most people hesitate to ask for or accept help because of the shame and stigma that clouds mental illness. I felt embarrassed, ashamed, and alone. Which may be why only 10 percent of those who struggle with an eating disorder ever seek help–the rest are left to their own devices to fight a disease that has the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric illnesses. And had I not gotten help, as defiant and ambivalent as I was, it’s highly likely I would have died from heart failure.

"Only 10 percent of those who struggle with an eating disorder ever seek help."

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While admitting I needed help was, as they say, the first step to recovery, I was naive to the fact that the process would require constant honesty because eating disorders thrive in the dark.

The space between that crucial moment in college and today, almost a decade later, has been turbulent. I’ve bounced in and out of treatment centers and hospitals; my earnest efforts to get better sabotaged by a ruthless illness that started to rear its ugly head at the age of 12. I would take two steps forward and several steps back, which ultimately landed me, at my worst, hospitalized with a feeding tube. Though I am now in recovery, it’s an unimaginably difficult, everyday battle to stay in recovery. And along with a solid support system, it’s been my decision to disclose my history with eating disorders–not just in the workplace but publicly—that has given me the momentum to keep going.

When I graduated college and started my first job around 5 years ago, I subscribed to the widely-held belief that drawing a line in the sand through personal and professional matters wasn’t just standard practice, but of vital importance. That line quickly faded, though, when I chose to disclose my history in a story for a major publication. The article detailed my battle with anorexia, and knowing my colleagues would likely see it, I made the choice to be transparent with them ahead of time to avoid any unnecessary awkwardness. Doing so felt backward and uncomfortable, especially as a fiercely private individual. Part of me felt like disclosing my illness would lead to the demise of a career I had just begun, but something in my gut told me it was what I needed to do. Stepping out of my comfort zone and into the vast unknown was terrifying, but I knew it had to be better than standing in secrecy and fear for the rest of my life.

The response I received from my peers and colleagues was, and continues to be, overwhelmingly positive. After spending months—years, even—catastrophizing over what people would think, I was mostly met with empathy, curiosity, and support. In a way, it has kept me accountable in my recovery because since most people I’ve worked with are at least somewhat aware of my history, I know I can’t get away with disordered behaviors without it being somewhat obvious. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s always easy. Because my job requires a great deal of social functions, and ones that often involve food, I’ve really had to learn to embrace the discomfort, which is ever-present. Over the years, something that has helped me tremendously is repeatedly giving myself to situations that are anxiety-provoking. While that may sound slightly masochistic, I remind myself to “fake it ‘til you make it,” and that doing the things of which we’re fearful is what breeds growth. And over time, I have grown a great deal and it really has gotten easier.

"Doing the things of which we’re fearful is what breeds growth."

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It has also opened up a whole new window of meaningful opportunities and relationships.. About 5 years ago, shortly after that article went live, I connected with Project HEAL, a non-profit that provides financial assistance to those battling eating disorders who cannot afford treatment. Today, I sit on their board and lead their public relations efforts, speak at schools about my recovery, and most recently have been privileged to consult with them on the new Netflix film, To the Bone. Together, these have been some of the most rewarding and energizing experiences which reaffirm both my recovery and my vulnerability in being open about it.

photo credit: Christina Grasso @thepouf 

About The Chain: The Chain is a New York-based, not-for-profit peer support and mentorship program for women in the fashion and entertainment industries who are struggling with, or recovering from, an eating disorder. Founded in December 2017 by Christina Grasso and Ruthie Friedlander, both in recovery from anorexia, The Chain aims to create a safe space for this population to share their experiences and gain insight through conversation, support, and community building. For more information, or to become a member, please visit the-chain.us. 

Christina Grasso is a 20-something year-old writer and activist originally from the Midwest. She has worked with Nylon, Huffington Post, Obsessee, Bullett, P.S. I made this, Thrive Global, Oscar de la Renta, Nanette Lepore, and celebrity makeup artist, Robin Black. She currently leads social media for StyleCaster and appeared on Season 18 of Law & Order: SVU. In addition to her work in fashion and beauty, she serves on the boards of the Glam4Good Foundation and Project HEAL. She has been involved with Project HEAL since 2012 as the founder of the New York City chapter, director of the PR and social media team, and creator of its viral "What Makes Me Beautiful" campaign. She is a frequent speaker on her own recovery from anorexia, and volunteers her free time to doing arts and crafts in hospitals, shelters, and assisted living communities throughout the New York City area. She lives in Manhattan.

Inspired by Christina's story? Share with us below for an open dialogue about this important topic. 

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How to Handle Yourself at Work Drinks

It’s finally happened.

You’ve been asked to WORK DRINKS. (#workparty.) After weeks of back and forth and fiddling with your schedules to make it work, the day has arrived. If you’re a little nervous, you’re not alone. First work drinks can feel like a super awkward odd first date. Are we friends...are we acquaintances...are you a spy and have plans to tell my boss everything I say? You never know.

So, what does it mean? What can you talk about? You’re still working, but it doesn’t have to be so buttoned up. This isn’t a conference call-- and there’s no hold music (prayer hands). To help you prepare we hit up our friends at Diageo to suss out some appropriate work drink convo starters. Think of these as your cue cards to success.
 

HUMANIZE YOURSELF

Hey you, yes you. You’re a human. Not a robot behind a computer with super emailing skills. Many of us have only every connected over email. Don’t start the convo off digging into proposals or ROIs. Talk shop… about yourself. You don’t need to over-divulge. Your new acquaintance is not your new therapist. Rather, talk about something you’ve done recently that has nothing to do with work. For instance, a book you read. An article that you enjoyed. “Did you happen to see that piece on The Cut…?” It’s a super easy, informal way to start that makes all parties feel at ease. If the answer is yes, bond over the content. If the answer is no, fill them in and see what they think.

ASK THEM ABOUT THEMSELVES

Once you’ve broken the ice with a little cocktail, ask how they got started in their current position. It’s a great way to get to know about their past and their work history, without flat-out asking about their day-to-day. While they’re talking about their past, present, and future, figure out a way you can help them out… if it makes sense. One of the best ways to make a good impression during a work drink meet up is to find common ground and goals. For instance, you might have someone you can introduce them to who can help them out. Maybe their company is looking for a new web designer and you happen to know the perfect person. Allow the convo about work to flow naturally, and you might end up being able to help them (and your friend) out. It’s a win-win.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

You don’t want to order #thesame. You want to show that you make your own decisions and are self-sufficient, that includes your cocktails. It’s the little things. Do your research before going out

to drinks so that you can make an educated decision and order your cocktail confidentially.

Some great cocktail choices include: the Crown Royal Old Fashioned, Crown Royal Vanilla and Hard Soda or Crownberry.

THEN BE DIRECT

Once you’ve done them a mini favor, bring up how you can better serve each other. If it’s going well and this is someone you can see yourself working with, don’t be afraid to put that on the table with a simple, “We should figure out how we can work together.” You’ll be able to read their vibe if they want to work with you as well. There’s no reason to side-step around the ask, whether it’s for your full time job or a side-hustle you’re working on, be direct.

Take charge.

And remember: Even if your boss or drinks-mate orders another cocktail, only ordering one shows self-discipline and maturity so make sure you sip slowly and drink plenty of water.  If you do however, want to go home a make yourself a celebratory ‘job well done’ drink, we’ve got a couple of recipes (below) for you. Cheers to that!

Vanilla Mule

•1.5 oz. Crown Royal Vanilla
•2 oz. Ginger
•1 oz. Soda
•Lime

Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a copper mug and garnish with a lime.

CHEERS! 🥂

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4 Ways to Revive Team Meetings

Our Mondays are booked solid. We’ve got meetings and conference calls back-to-back. In fact, our weeks are booked solid. And even though we love our #dreamteam, gathering in conference rooms or in drab offices, can really suck the joy right out of a creative brainstorm session. If our pain is your pain raise your hand. *raises hand.*

But drab is not the C&C way. 

Which is why we’re listing out 4 ways to bring more energy and excitement to your weekly team meetings. 

Bring food. 

Ordering food from a place that has something for everyone on your team, like Flower Child, is a great way to get everyone excited.  Flower Child caters to those with dietary restrictions offering an entire menu devoted to veggies, grains, fruits and healthy proteins – the things our bodies and minds need the most. Healthy eating gives you more energy and keeps you focused through the day. Add some brain food to the meeting mix and we can guarantee the idea board will be filled in no time.

Take the meeting on the road.

Who doesn’t love a team field trip? Off-site meetings have been proven to boost morale. Adding regular off-site meetings can give the team something to look forward to. Try a fun new location once a month. Visit a bowling alley with conference room availability. Find a restaurant with private dining space, that’s great to book out for a team gathering. 

Share your weekly #goals.

Break the ice before getting straight down to brass tacks. Have everyone around the room share what they want to accomplish that week. It doesn’t necessarily have to be work-related. Maybe someone on your team wants to eat better (see above solution from Flower Child). Maybe someone wants to time-manage better. By sharing goals, it relieves some of the work week stress and gives us an opportunity to share excitement for their joys for the week. It also helps remind us that Sally in HR might be just as bad at time-batching as we are. It’s important to remember that we all respond to stress differently. Taking the time to share goals with each other gives the team an opportunity to reframe the week. 

Sharing goals relieves work week stress.

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Take a funny break.

Laughter reduces stress levels and triggers the release of endorphins. We all love those endorphins, right? Try sharing something funny in between brainstorm sessions to give everyone a quick ‘lol’. It’ll be so worth it. Most of our personal favorites usually come from SNL. 

Have any tips or tricks to revive work meetings? Let us know in the comment section!

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Links From Our Group Chat: Uma Thurman, Mid-Life Crises & Mid-Terms

photo credit: Tanja Heffner

Welcome to the first February Sunday of 2018. What are you up to? Have a spare hour to catch-up on some news and goofies around the web?

We got you while you wait for the Super Bowl. 

Women set to run in 2018. Hey-yo. 

Are you having a mid-life crisis in your thirties too? Yah. We aren't either. 

Do you know about the banana trick at the market?

Why getting in "proposal shape" is a problem. 

February horoscopes! What's in your future?

This is why Uma Thurman is angry. 

What are you reading? Share in the comments below so we can all get smarter. 

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5 Reasons you Need to Wear Sunblock to Work (every damn day)

Repeat after us: I work in an office and I wear sunblock every damn day. 

This is your new mantra. 

Why? We’ve rounded up the five reasons with the help of Supergoop on why you need to slather on the sunblock, even if you’re not outdoors. Call it #SPFgoals. 

1. You’ve got to think about how you’re traveling to and from your office. 

Do you travel to work on an underground railway that never sees the light of day? Didn’t think so. Most sun damage occurs through short doses of exposure. When you are walking to the office or driving in your car, you are being exposed to the sun.

2. UVA rays penetrate windows.

Forget worrying if your boss has spyware on your computer, you should worry about UVA rays sneaking in through your office windows. One in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime, and 90% of the visible signs of aging are caused by UV exposure. Sunscreen everyday all day is a no-brainer. Yes, that means for you, the workaholic who never leaves her office. UVA rays penetrate windows! 

3. Have you ever heard of an ROS report?

No. It’s not something you need to hand in to HR at the end of the week. Reactive Oxygen Species AKA ROS are free radicals that attack the proteins in healthy skin cells and cause oxidative damage. Say what? Say, yah. Not good. Pollutants are everywhere. Even the air in your office. 

ROS leads to the breakdown of elastin and collagen, which help keep your skin firm and smooth. Oxidative damage in your skin leads to signs of aging like wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, dullness and loss of elasticity. Oxidation increases in skin cells as you get older and your skin gets weaker, diminishing the skin’s ability to repair itself. That means that it’s more effective to prevent the signs of oxidation than to try reverse them once they appear. Thankfully Supergoop has a product for that too. Their City Sunscreen Serum is an awesome first step in a pollution-protecting skin care routine. 

Images from @streicherhair + @kerrently

4. Blue Light damage is a thing.

Guess what? According to Supergoop and science, blue light, which is emitted from our computers, reaches deeper into the eye than most lights and its cumulative effect can cause damage to the retina. Not a good thing. Supergoop has the perfect product for that. Unseen Sunscreen is a totally invisible, weightless, makeup-gripping daily SPF with blue light protection. Perfect.

5. OK. But I really don’t leave my desk. 

First, come on! That’s sad. You need to take a break from your #saddesksalad and go for a walk. Really. Talking a walk has proven your ability to refocus and come up with better ideas. And if you’re actually getting outside you’re going to be hit with both UVB and UVA rays. Don’t let bad sun happen to you. Make sure you reapply when you get back into the office, Supergoop it up. Don't let your makeup be your excuse either, this mineral setting powder reduces shine and refreshes your UV and environmental protection all in one swoop. 

Have any more sun protection tips for your office work flow? Let us know in the comments!

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C&C Classifieds: House of Taylor, Buzzfeed, Facebook & More

It's the last Wednesday of January 2018. It's the last day in January of 2018. How did we get here? Nobody knows. It feels like this January 74th. 

But February is on the horizon and so are new job opportunities, one of which is to work for the House of Taylor. As in Elizabeth Taylor. As in Liz Taylor. And as Liz says, "I feel very adventurous. There are so many doors to be opened, and I'm not afraid to look behind them."

Go forth and don't be afraid. It's only the future out there. 

House of Taylor - Beverly Hills, CA

Brand Manager

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The Novogratz - LA, CA

Content & Marketing Manager

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Domain Integrated - NY, NY

Sr. Account Executive

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Buzzfeed - LA,CA

Social Media Editor

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NBCUniversal - NY, NY

Original Video Producer

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Facebook - Chi, IL

Client Solutions Manager

FOR SIGN UP FOR OUR FULL CLASSIFIEDS CLICK HERE. 

WHY AREN'T YOU READING THIS?

7 Beauty Bloggers Dish How to Deal with Winter Skin

It’s winter, which means, snowy banks, cute puffy jackets, and dry skin. It’s the only season that has a skin issue named after it: winter skin.

It affects us all. Luckily, there's Clinique, founded by a dermatologist and a Vogue editor, their products are tried, true, and trusted. 

So, at our CC x Clinique Brunch in Chicago, a snowy city where the ladies know a thing or two about keeping their faces bright and dewy, we asked brunchees their go-to tricks from keeping their skin bright during the drier months of the year. 

Photos by Jennifer Claire Photography

Monique, founder of Ambitious Kitchen

“My winter skin trick is to mix rosehip seed oil with almond moisturizes day and night." 

Carleigh Thomas, founder of the Carleigh Thomas Blog

“My go-to for any beauty recommendation is the Skinny Confidential.” Ah. Shoutout to Lauryn Evarts who yes, always has the dewiest most beautiful skin.

Anna Jane Wisniewski, founder of See (Anna) Jane

“The first and most useful winter beauty tip I ever received, is to use toner. It is highly underrated.”

Natalie Craig, founder of Natalie in the City

“Currently I’m using the Moisture Surge and Sonic Cleanser from Clinique.” No wonder she’s so glowy.

Johanna Grange, founder 101 Things I Love

“My favorite winter skin care tip-- this is one that my grandmother taught me. I use olive oil as a facial moisturizer. I also have three Clinique favorites, the under-eye cream, the toner, which I can’t live without, and sometimes I steal my husband’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. 

She also tested out Clinique’s Moisture Surge, perfect for wintertime. Formulated in '80s, Moisture Surge just got an update. “The moisture surge is not oily and absorbs super fast,” she says, “which is key for oily skin.

Helen Berkun, founder Helen Berkun

“My best tip for winter skin is moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. And if you drink wine, follow it up with water. And I always looked to my mama who looks phenomenal. She’s 65 and looks 50. She told me to always wash my face before bed because if you don’t it’s the same thing as not drinking water for 24-hours."

Ali Stone, founder Those White Walls

"Exfoliate often and don’t forget to moisturize your neck." Got it! 

Do you have tips! Share below!

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The Importance of Putting Pen to Paper in the Digital World

To prove the title of this post true… ya know, that we’re really not joking around about the importance of this post, I wrote it out by hand before I typed it. It felt tedious at first. A little finger crampy. Do I even know how to spell words like committee or entrepreneur on my own, I wondered. (Not a proud thought.) It was tricky, tricky, but yes. 

Because look, the irony of typing a post about the importance of putting pen to paper, was not lost on me. Typing is definitely faster, easier to share with colleagues, but it’s not necessarily better. 

Here are some reasons why, and our friends at Blue Sky are no stranger to this concept:

Slow Down, You Crazy Child.

 
If you caught on to our Billy Joel reference, you might also know that Vienna waits for you. What does that have to do with writing, pen and paper? A lot! We are TIED to our computers and our screens. No matter what kind of “healthy” relationship you have with your tech, humans aren’t meant to always move this fast. It’s crazy. The internet can wait for you while you make notes *gasp* in a notebook. 

Writing slows you down, makes you think about what you really want to say, instead of what comes flying off your fingertips at 90 WPM. 

The challenge: Next time you go into a brainstorming meeting, leave your computer closed. Take notes with your colleagues on paper and see what kind of magic you come up with. There’s so much note-taking variety out there – from personalized notebooks (in small, medium, and large sizes depending on your preference), to grid notes, lined notes and more. The options are virtually ENDLESS. (And if you don’t believe us, virtually (literally) personalize your very own here.) The ease of planning can start online – but the act of writing, pen to paper, is where you’ll see the benefit.

The Mid-Sleep Ah-HA! 

It used to be common to wake up in the middle of the night and scribble an idea down on a piece of paper by your bedside. In the morning, when you awoke, it would be there, staring you in the face. More and more we hear of people doing this with their phones. However, there are two reasons this isn’t the *best* way to 2am brainstorm. 

First, all of the science proves that the blue light from your phone disrupts good sleep. Opening your phone in the middle of the night to jot something down, is way more disruptive to sleep than a pen and paper. 

Second, a note taken in your phone in the middle of the night is essentially buried. It’s buried beneath texts, IG scrolling, checking the news and your email. However, a note on your bedside table smacks you right in the face in the morning. That idea gets to be the first thing you consider upon waking. It might be the best consideration you have all day. 

The challenge: Instead of writing a note on your phone and disrupting your sleep, write in on a pad of paper or notebook beside the bed. The personalized To-Do notebook by Blue Sky makes this feel like second nature for those thoughts that just need to be jotted down – at any hour, any day. Literally: just write your to-dos, must-dos and have-tos all in one reliable spot, and stop. your. worrying.

There’s a reason we like notes on the fridge.

A handwritten note or goal gives us clarity and focus. Typing goals is fine, dandy, and speedy, but by handwriting goals, you might slow down (see point #1) and find new insight. Writing down goals gives you a kind of direction that a laptop can’t.

The challenge: free write your goals--speed write if possible, and see what ends up on the bottom of the page. It might totally surprise you! The benefit of a Blue Sky personalized notebook? You have tons of white writing space for all of the goal-setting and forward-thinking you want. And the best part? Don’t just hit the ‘delete’ button when you’ve reached a milestone. Cross off each goal (literally) when you’ve accomplished it. And remember, Blue Sky was with you on the journey to that moment.

Have reasons you like handwriting vs. typing? Share in the comment section below!

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Poppin' By: In the Gorgeous Venice Studio of Designer Sophie Monet

Introducing "Poppin' By" a Create & Cultivate profile series in Partnership with Chandon. Every month this year we're profiling a female entrepreneur, popping by their work space and enjoying a bit of bubbly. Here's a cheers to amazing, working women!  

SOPHIE MONET.

For designer Sophie Monet, business is a family affair.

The jewelry maker, who currently designs all pieces out of wood, works out of a former gas station, purchased and remodeled by her sculptor father in the '80s. There is a full woodworking shop. The family dog roams about. And her father's work hangs on the walls. 

It was during a break home from college that Sophie asked her dad to teach her the ways of the workshop. Though she spent time in the shop as a kid, it was during her college years that she started to really hone her own skills, sanding and cutting pieces that would soon become recognizable as Sophie Monet pieces. She handcrafts each one, spending quiet mornings in the workshop by the sea-- ocean sunsets only blocks away from the space in Venice, CA. Using wood, stone, and metal, Sophie continues the process she began in 2009, when she crafted her first ring while playing around with her dad's drill press. 

Today, her office is upstairs-- a space she also shares with her sister, who runs a recruiting business. Currently, Sophie runs her entire operation, from production to inventory to sales to all photoshoots, out of the space. 'It's really amazing to have our family under one working roof," she says. "We all help each other out." One of her bigger clients is Anthropologie. 

After graduating from The New School, Sophie learned the fashion ropes while working at a fashion tech startup in Santa Monica. At the time, she was side hustling on her jewelry line and specifically worked it into her contract that she'd have every other Friday off to fulfill orders. "I think," she says," when we pop by the studio, "it's because my boss was a woman, and really understood the need." That boss, was Erin Falconer, half the duo of Leaf TV and an entrepreneur in her own right. "I was so inspired by her," says Sophie, explaining that Erin and her business partner Geri Hirsch were the first two to convince her to get on Instagram. Erin and Sophie still connect at least once a week. 

In 2013 Sophie decided to take the leap, leaving her role at the fashion startup, but taking the know-how learned on the job about fashion and marketing with her. Though she knows it was a risk, she's committed to growing and expanding the Sophie Monet brand. 

"If you want it all, you can do it all," says Sophie. We agree.  

More from the designer below.

What is the most exciting part of your job?

I get the biggest smile on my face when I see someone wearing a piece of jewelry I made. Knowing they appreciate the art of it and meeting people face-to-face is the best part of what I do.

Do you like/love/hate when people pop by the studio?

I absolutely love it. My studio is always open to creative friends and neighbors. I think it’s really important to take breaks and enjoy the space we work in. Our family art studio is a place we can all get together, talk about our ideas, and share the tools we have.

What your favorite part of your workspace?

We just finished our roof top deck. My dad made a beautiful table for it to watch the beachy sunsets from.

"Sometimes the most rewarding part is having patience and letting things come slowly."

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How long did it take you to learn all the machinery and how to use it?

I’m constantly learning. It never stops. I have mastered a few of the tools we have but would love to work more with a lathe. 

Who is your biggest influence?

My family. They are my foundation from which I get all my inspiration. 

What do you want women to feel when they wear a Sophie Monet piece?

I want women to feel empowered, successful and comfortable when they wear my jewelry. Accessories are meant to stand out and feel special because they add something to your outfit. When I put on a pair of earrings with a simple pair of jeans they instantly make me feel happy and a little more confident.

What has been the most surprising element of entrepreneurship for you?

Having your own business there are surprises and new learning experiences almost every day. Sometimes it’s hard to make time for yourself when you’re juggling a lot of different roles. I’ve learned how hard it is say no when you really really, really want to say yes to everything. Sometimes the most rewarding part is having patience and letting things come slowly.

For more of Sophie's work click here.

Follow her on IG here. 

Be sure to check back next month for the next installment of Poppin' By. 

Photo credit: Anna Maria Lopez

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C&C Classifieds: DBA, Tesla, The Little Market & More

This past Monday we released our second annual C&C 100 list. This list is 100 women across 10 categories who have all made tremendous waves in their careers. 

One day, that could be you. (Seriously, a former C&C attendee made the  list. 

Check out our newest Classifieds below and get a jump start on making your own waves. 

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The Little Market - Santa Monica, CA

Photography Intern

Marketing Manager

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DBA - LA, CA

Coordinator, Talent Management

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MML PR - Santa Monica, CA

Account Assistant, Fashion

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Tinder - LA, CA

Senior Product Manager

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Tesla - Fremont, CA

Product Manager

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FOR OUR FULL LIST OF CLASSIFIEDS CLICK HERE. 

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Create & Cultivate 100: Food: Natasha Phan

PHAN-FREAKIN-TASTIC.

Whomever said “No Guts, No Glory” must have heard Natasha Phan’s story.

As the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants who owned and operated an Echo Park supermarket, Phan is no stranger to the LA food biz. After graduating from UCLA and accepting a digital advertising position with Martha Stewart, Phan seized an opportunity to pursue her true passion. During a panel discussion with culinary mogul Roy Choi, Phan went out on a limb and asked her future-boss for employment. Despite initial rejection, Choi ultimately accepted. Now the Director of Business Development for Choi’s Kogi Group, Phan is shaping the future of Korean-American food.

More from Natasha below. 

Name: Natasha Phan

Instagram Handle: @natasha_phan

Business Instagram Handle: @eatatpot @kogibbq

Where do your drive and passion come from?

My parents. They came to America at the end of the Vietnam War with very little and figured things out pretty quickly. For over 30 years, they independently owned and operated an Echo Park supermarket that brought immigrant families together. My career is an extension of their story. 

Your journey begins with a 'no.' You in person cold-pitched Roy Choi. And he said no. What did that moment feel like?

Total rejection and confusion. I believed there was a spiritual force that led me to meeting Roy, so I trusted my gut and put myself out there. The last thing I expected was to be told “no.” It didn’t make sense because everything felt so intentional.

And what did it feel like when he emailed you later that evening?

Pure joy and relief. My instincts were right! I was supposed to meet him and I was supposed to introduce myself! I remember feeling anxious because I knew that my life was going to change very quickly.

What did that teach you about being persistent in biz?

It taught me the importance of checking in with your gut. As business owners, we often let facts, data, and others guide our decision-making. But I’ve learned it’s crucial to take a pause, or two or three, and give time for your brain to align with your instincts.

"It’s crucial to take a pause, or two or three, and give time for your brain to align with your instincts."

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What did working with Roy teach you? And how did you take those lessons and turn them into Commissary?

Working with Roy has taught me to never get too comfortable. If you start feeling like everything’s at ease then there’s likely something wrong or something you’re not paying attention to. In the last 10 years, I’ve been trained to look deeper and deeper, corner to corner, and more often than not, I’ve found something else to make better. 

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

Many people don’t know that I’m heavily involved in the creative development of all our businesses. I work closely with Roy on ideation as well as vet and guide all the designers, photographers, and artists we collaborate with.

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

I stay original by engaging in a world that’s not curated by a set of algorithms. I actively seek out tastes and ideas that aren’t easily acquired or accepted by the mainstream and pop culture. 

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

What makes me feel the most complete is that there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing than feeding people. It’s more than a career, it’s my life’s purpose. I know this is my calling.

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

Oprah is my ultimate inspiration. She is beyond the beyond.

"Oprah is my ultimate inspiration. She is beyond the beyond."

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

When I left my job at Martha Stewart to work for a taco truck.

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

I talk it through with my advisory council – my best friends, mentors, and therapist.

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

"Dancing on My Own" by Robyn.

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

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

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Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Shiva Rose

THE NON-TOXIC NINJA.

Shiva Rose is holistic and happy. 

Almost a decade ago Iranian actress Shiva launched her beauty platform, The Local Rose, a platform celebrating a holistic, healthy life style without sacrificing taste & glamour. 

She's dealt with divorce, major health issues, including lupus and other autoimmune disorders, and the grief of being told she only had a year to live at 26, but Shiva's personal agenda and holistic messaging includes taking responsibility for her own health. And her life. She's been a fighter from the beginning. Raised in Iran until the age of ten, Shiva and her family were forced to escape to Paris. They then moved to Los Angeles, where she remains today. 

Now the wellness-and-beauty entrepreneur heralds her brand Shiva Rose Beauty, which creates 100% toxic and chemical free skin, body and beauty products, handmade in California and Oregon, USA

Her book Whole Beauty is coming out next Spring. 

More from the Shiva goddess below. 

Name: Shiva Rose

Instagram Handle: @localrose

Business Instagram Handle: @shivarosebeauty

What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty is what we choose to see, how we choose to live, what we want to cultivate in our lives on a daily basis. The ability to see beauty in the most simple moments, and to live in that is the ultimate gift.

Do you remember a moment when you first felt beautiful?

I think I have always felt most beautiful when connected to the natural world. There have been moments when I've been soaking in some wild hot springs with dear sisters, and have felt totally divine and in my feminine beauty.

"I have always felt most beautiful when connected to the natural world."

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Where do your drive and passion come from?

From my connection to the source. From being in nature. From wanting a better world for my daughters.

What was the impetus for launching The Local Rose?

I started my holistic lifestyle brand before wellness was becoming mainstream. I began it 9 years ago to document my path towards healing from various autoimmune issues. I felt at the time there were not many sites that showed wellness and holistic living in a chic, modern way. I wanted to also bring some love to the many wonderful artisans and healers I was meeting.

What are your biggest fears about running a business?

I try not to think or live in fear. It's a daily practice to substitute love for fear but it can be done with conscious thinking and meditation. I would say some challenges that I do come across are having the stamina and strength to deal with the heavy load. We must create strong nervous systems so we can hold the space for success and abundance.

"I try not to think or live in fear."

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

That I do most everything from writing the posts on my site and making many of my products by hand. I also handle the day-to-day dealings.

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

Listen to your unique, authentic intuitive guide. Truly don't do something just to make others happy, but something that lights you up in a deeply powerful way.

Don't do something just to make others happy, but something that lights you up in a deeply powerful way.

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

When I receive emails from people who have tried the line and see that it works for them. Also from the comments on my blog about certain stores that have touched them. My book Whole Beauty is coming out next Spring and that makes me feel pretty complete, at least for the moment.

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

To be honest I love what I do and truly don't want to trade with anyone. I would just like to create more of this and bring some healing to people in pain. I have been in the depths of despair from divorce, from health issues, from childhood traumas and I want to just let others know that there is a light at the tunnel, once you realize you are the light.

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

I feel it was a gradual journey where I began to listen to my inner voice and guide. I did have a light bulb moment after a Kundalini class to create my beauty line. It wasn't so much confidence, but rather deep knowing that this was something I would do. I feel when we open ourselves in meditation, our egos get out of the way and our spirits or souls will guide us.

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

I Say Yes to life and life says Yes to me!

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

I take a moment a feel the bump fully. I then will take some time away to refuel myself with the love I receive from mama earth and father sun. I also will try to take a Kundalini class by one of my teachers. These things will usually realign me and help me get back on my path.

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

Usually mantras! If not mantras then I love the music of Van Morrison, Dan Dyer, Zeppelin, classical and the blues.

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

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

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FULL 2018 CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 LIST BELOW. 

Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Megan Lytle

THE GLOW UP.

U Love Megz. 

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

Get the full “Megz experience” below.

Name: Megan Lytle

Instagram Handle: @ulovemegz

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

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

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

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

What does beauty mean to you?

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

Do you remember a moment when you first felt beautiful?

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

Where do your drive and passion come from?

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

What are your biggest fears about running your brand?

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

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

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

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

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

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

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

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FULL 2018 CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 LIST BELOW. 

Create & Cultivate 100: Food: Gem & Bolt

THE MEZCAL FIRECRACKERS.

The ladies of Gem & Bolt are wild.

Before alchemist-artist duo Adrinadrina and Elliott were Gem & Bolt, they almost ran off to join an eccentric Mayan circus in the Yucatan backwoods. The unorthodox makers of the plant-based “clean spirit” are on a mission to restore personal elevation to the art of celebration.

Produced by fourth generation master distillers in Oaxaca, Mexico using a sacred herb called Damiana, Gem & Bolt is organic, sustainable, and rooted in the mystical. Because mezcal chooses you, you don’t choose it—discover how the founders were seduced by this radical, healing elixir.

Join their party below. 

Name: Adrinadrina and Elliott Coon

Instagram Handles: @adrinadrina @elliottcoon

Business Instagram Handle: @gemandbolt

"Positive life elevates consciousness." What does that mean to each of you?

We're dedicated to conscious evolution and find that teaching innovative ways to celebrate and creatively express oneself is fundamental to a positive life.

And how is that ethos imbued into the spirit of Gem & Bolt?

Positive forms of celebration and a clean plant-based botanical spirit elevate rather than deplete the human experience. Damiana is a connective and expansive herb connecting heart and mind which helps people celebrate in a more holistic manner. We call it Spirit in the Spirit.

How did you know that you wanted to launch a mezcal company?

They say Mezcal chooses you and you don't choose it. We were called to mezcal as artists, to bridge art and plants through celebration.

How did you know you wanted to do it together?

We were an artist duo and decided to create a project bringing together our shared passion for art and plants - born and raised together in a radical community of artists and visionaries, we share a deep-seated trust in one another and core values. It's the well-spring of all our cocreations.

Where does each of your respective drives and passion come from?

Bringing people together through art plants and celebration.

What are your biggest respective pet peeves?

That creative roles within companies are not always appropriately valued or honored. But this does seem to be changing. The most pioneering and successful new companies are those that do understand the value of balancing creative within the business.

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

That the biggest responsibility we have as founders is to keep the heart and soul of the brand vital and vibrant in every respect, every day.

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

Our perspective is that information is a gift and it's all about how you filter it through your own lens. We grew up outside of conventional society and we learned how to observe culture anthropologically and to curate our personal sources of inspiration and then reflect it back to the world.

What about your careers make you feel the most complete?

COLLABORATION !! & The fact that we've been able to take a heartfelt creative concept and turn it into a brand that reaches such a large audience.

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

In the early stages of GEM&BOLT we were very close to joining an eccentric Mayan circus in the backwoods of the Yucatan. We often fantasize about the path that may have taken us down. So, perhaps we'd trade places with a past possibility of ourselves.

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

Yesterday. And every day.

"We recommend singing and dancing throughout the day as a preventative measure to bad moods."

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

"Lead your team from within" - Bobby Klein, friend, healer, and advisor to GEM&BOLT

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

We learned early on to reach out to advisors and mentors for perspective & also the power of creating our own realities, as well as our own roads. Bumps in the road are a phenomenal opportunity to revise and refine the vision.

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

We recommend singing and dancing throughout the day as a preventative measure to bad moods.

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

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

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FULL 2018 CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 LIST BELOW. 

Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Jen Atkin

THE MANE EVENT.

No one can stop her, she's all the OUAI up. 

But for real. Jen Atkin, the celeb hair stylist and founder of Ouai Haircare and Maneaddicts.com is really at the top of her game. 

The number of mag covers she's styled is beyond impressive. From Kim K.'s Forbes cover (#notbadforagirlwithnotalent) to Gwen Stefani's Vogue and Nylon covers to Lorde's Rolling Stone cover, there are few places her magic hands haven't touched. From Bella to Chrissy, Kendall to Kaia, Jen's made a name for herself as one of the industry's most sought-after. 

Instead of riding the celeb gravy train, she launched a company. Ouai Haircare has minimalist packaging with cheeky messaging. Her frizz sheets come in a white "cigarette box," with the phrase Frizzy Hair Kills, on the side. The #OuaiSquad is strong. 

And honestly, she's just cool. And calm. Even though she's straight running shit, we've never seen her lose hers. It makes sense that the hair boss says, "One of the biggest keys to success is try to say YES instead of NO."

More from Jen below.  

Name: Jen Atkin

Instagram Handle: @jenatkinhair

Business Handle: @theOUAI & @ManeAddicts 

Part of your success can be attributed to the fact that you didn't listen to people in the beginning. You had your own ideas, your own vision. Was it ever hard to stick to your guns?

Two major things come to mind that people told me not to do and I stuck to my guns.

1. Once I started working with certain clients I had my peers and agents worried about who I was working with and didn’t think it would be good for my career. I’ve always chosen to work with people who have ambition and are inspiring and lovely to work with. I always trust my gut.

2. When I decided to not call my haircare line “Jen Atkin”. I was adamant about creating a line for real women and it was never about ME or how I do hair. I wanted to create a cool brand that could live on its own and have people like it regardless if they knew I was behind it or not.

Where do your drive and passion come from?

I grew up with a working Mom. She taught me how to juggle and she never skipped a beat. I realize as I grow older that I try to emulate a lot of what she instilled in me about hard work and being a kind person. I also take pride in how many of my girlfriends are entrepreneurs in fashion, beauty, and tech. I get so much inspiration from watching all of them and the way they push boundaries every day.

At what point did you realize, woah, this big! And how did you handle and manage your success?

My a-ha moments in my career for sure have to be when I got the cover of Vogue with Gwen Stefani when I got to work with John Galliano and assist on Guido’s team at PFW when I launched Mane Addicts when I launched OUAI. In my classes, I try to tell my students: Be humble, work hard, and don’t try to compete with anyone else. There’s enough to go around for all of us to be successful. Don't expect success overnight. It takes years of hard work to start to build a long-standing career. And no matter what, remember we are in a service industry and it’s never about us it’s about our clients and them feeling comfortable and pretty.

"There’s enough to go around for all of us to be successful. Don't expect success overnight."

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When did you know it was the right time to launch OUAI?

I struggled to find a haircare brand that I identified with or spoke to me or my clients. A brand that engaged with its consumers, a relatable brand. I was starting to feel like there was a major lack of realistic communication with haircare. It’s always been my dream to have my own hairline. I’ve been listening to my clients and followers for years and they all have the same complaints- they want healthier hair and they have a lack of time. I created OUAI as a real line for real life- it’s for the girl on the go that only has 5 minutes to do her hair. No more unrealistic hair campaigns- just multi-use products that cut styling time and nourish hair health. We are trying to create a brand, but also a culture. We are fighting against conformity, against boringness, against drudgery. More than a product we are selling an idea- a spirit.

What was the learning curve like in the beginning?

I think in the beginning I was so naive about what was needed to create OUAI. Looking back it's insane that nothing went wrong. Production, the messaging, packaging, etc... We are still such a small team and the whole HQ is full of amazing hardworking multitasking people. I’m excited to see whats next for us.

You've said that every client and every girlfriend has been part of the process for OUAI. Why is it important to you to be surrounded by other strong women?

I think that more brands are trying to empower women to learn how to do their own hair and creating tools, products, and content that make that easier to do (without a stylist). From a social standpoint, women are most active on social because we tend to share things more. We are changing the conversation in business and beauty!

What is your biggest pet peeve?

A "no" person. One of the biggest keys to success is try to say YES instead of NO. Or people letting their fear and doubt keep them from fulfilling their goals.

What are your biggest fears about running a business?

Now with social media, there aren’t boundaries when it comes to product. My biggest fear is not getting our product to consumers in a swift enough way. Supply and demand is always the root problem in business. Its hard to come up with, make and market a product, but then the challenge of getting it to the people who want it, when they want it- is one of my biggest concerns.

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

Working as a hairstylist isn’t just about doing hair. There is a lot of scheduling and politics involved when you’re working with multiple clients. You also have to be up with current trends, etc.

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

I think everyone is inspired by every genre, era, etc. I think there is so much out there with Pinterest, Instagram, Magazines that we are foolish if we don’t get inspired by it all. Also, don’t be scared to try new things it may be the next big trend.

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

Making women look and feel good about themselves.

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

Honestly, I have always wanted to be Sade. It’s so random. But I dream of being as cool as her and having that voice.

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

I listened to my gut and have always been super proactive. I never shy away from hard work and my parents thankfully instilled confidence in me from a young age. I was always taught to write down and accomplish goals.

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

Serge Normant said not to be threatened by your peers, but be inspired by them. I truly believe there is enough work for all of us to go around and we should support and encourage each other. And Tracey Cunningham always says “Rejection is Gods protection”.

“Rejection is God's protection” - Tracey Cunningham

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

I always try to look at the bigger picture and consider all options available.

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

I don’t sing in the shower, I brainstorm.

I don’t sing in the shower, I brainstorm.

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Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

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

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Create & Cultivate 100: Entertainment: Yvonne Orji

THE BREAKOUT STAR. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

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

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FULL 2018 CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 LIST BELOW. 

Create & Cultivate 100: Fashion: Jennifer Meyer

COOL. CALM & TOTALLY KICKASS.

"You know when it’s a Jen Meyer piece. Her pieces have an identity.” So says stylist Karla Welch of jewelry designer Jen Meyer. A top-seller at luxe stores like Barney's New York, there is no mistaking when someone is rocking a Jennifer Meyer piece. Whether that someone is Jennifer Aniston or Gwyneth Paltrow, both of whom support the designer who has been hard at work since 2005 when she launched her jewelry line.  

Now over a decade later, she remains Hollywood's go-to red carpet jewelry designer as well as the designer women look to for casual, every day jewelry. Her versatility and ease is part of her charm. And it doesn't hurt that she's always rocking her own pieces-- she believes in them. It's the kind of jewelry you can wear on a first date. The kind of jewelry you can sleep in. Something you'd be proud to gift a friend. 

Kind, smart, creative, and opening her first boutique in LA... read more below. 

In addition to being one of THR's top 20 red carpet designers this year, you have two kids. You're busy. Is that why you haven't watched a show since Sex and the City?

I haven’t watched a show since Sex and the City, until Big Little Lies. I’m obsessed with Big Little Lies and I think the next show I will watch will be Reese and Jen’s new project because I love them both so much!

What's your secret sauce to getting it all done and doing it well?

It’s all about balance! I have an amazing family, support system and an awesome team at work! It’s important to prioritize each day. What needs that little bit of extra attention? Is it work? Kids? A best friend? You stop and concentrate on the things that need it most.

What's your biggest pet peeve?

I have to say dishonesty and cattiness. Nothing is more important to me than being honest and supportive of one another – in all aspects of my life.

What would you consider your superpower?

As a mom of two, a CEO and someone who loves margaritas with her friends, I shock myself how well I function on such little sleep!

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

I look at obstacles as learning experiences. I always try to take my time and assess the situation and respond with a clear head. What drives me forward is knowing where there’s a problem, there’s a solution.

Speaking of superpowers, if you had to build an apocalypse team of 5, who would be on it and why?

My dad – he always knows what to do and say. My kids Ruby and Otis – of course, I can’t live without them! My two favorite Sara(h)’s: Sara Foster and my sister Sarah Meyer – for moral and comedic support and the balance they bring to my life. And probably Nobu Matsuhisa – for the best sushi… we gotta eat!

Not to go too dark, but who would be the last one standing?

This is the ultimate team – we would all stand together. No one would be left behind!

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Let's go back to biz. What's been the most challenging part of running a company with your name attached to it?

As the company grew, I had to let go of being involved in every single moment and decision, but lucky for me I have an incredible team behind me that represents the brand beautifully.

What would you like people to know about your job and day-to-day that they might not know?

I love that I get to start my day by taking my kids to school and end it with family dinner. In between, I collaborate with my amazing team, have business meetings, attend important events, and have weekly taco dates with my girlfriends. I have a lot of balls in the air and somehow manage not to drop too many. My kids remind me when I start the day and end the day that I have everything in the world to be grateful for. I try and remind myself, and those around me, that your day to day attitude determines the outcome of it all!

Any other exciting projects you're working on that you can tell us about?

Yes! I’m so excited to be designing and opening my first boutique in Los Angeles. It’s always been a dream of mine and watching it actually happen is beyond exciting. I finally feel like I’m giving my jewelry a home.

How do you continue to engage the Jennifer Meyer Jewelry audience in this digital age?

Social media is key, which is no surprise! I love to oversee our Instagram, so my team and I come up with all of our content. I find it really important in this age of social media to be authentic, and I think my audience is savvy and able to tell the difference. I’m just as excited to post a great earring shot, as I am a picture of my best friends. It’s all part of the brand. It’s me. It's my life. When you see me and my friends, my family, my quotes, etc… that comes straight from the heart and is exactly what I want to share at the time.

As someone who grew up in LA before the dawn of IG. Do you feel like you understand digital and social media well?

I’m learning something new every day! Lucky for me, I have smart, young awesome people on my team that know a lot more about digital and social media than I do – they give me lots of tips!

What's your favorite piece of biz advice you've ever received?

Be kind always. And my dad has always said to me: “Assumption is the mother of all fuck-ups”

What's a piece of biz advice you ignored, but you kinda wish you hadn't?

I never ignore good advice!

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

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Create & Cultivate 100: Entrepreneur: Lisa Sugar

THE DIGITAL PIONEER

Lisa Sugar is as OG as a digital pop culture trailblazer can be.

As founder and president of POPSUGAR, the eponymous global media empire she started with her husband “when social media wasn’t a thing and the iPhone wasn’t invented yet,” Sugar oversees the business side of company she built from the ground up.

With a global audience of over 400 million and 3.1 billion views, POPSUGAR is an addictive information destination for the digital generation, spanning entertainment, fashion, beauty, fitness, food and parenting. “I took a risk and started something completely different on my own,” says the former ad exec, noting that managing excel spreadsheets and budgets were not her calling.

For more on how this internet maven made it, read on below.

Name: Lisa Sugar

Instagram: @lisapopsugar

You were an internet trailblazer. A pop culture digital pioneer. What was it like in the early days?

It was a blur of writing, writing, writing — digging for the next story and writing some more. I became so addicted to how fast I could write and finding something first. I had to force myself to take breaks. I also knew I needed to stay in touch with my readers to maintain momentum and I was addicted to the feedback and the thrill of cultivating an engaged community. We spent so much time in the comments and creating forums for our most passionate and active users. Everything was so new and there was no playbook yet!

We had to test and try new things all the time and figure out what our audience responded to the most and do more of it. We had such an amazing time finding stellar talent. There are so many creative people who are passionate about learning more about their fields and becoming experts. I also loved partnering with similar sites and working together in ways that were considered totally taboo by traditional companies. We had to exude our passion for what we were creating at POPSUGAR so investors, employees or partners would feel confident and take the risk to work with us! Oh, I also had my first daughter, Katie, in the midst of the first year launching POPSUGAR. It was a family affair — I started the company with my husband, Brian, and some very close friends joined us early on. We were such a tight group — we still are. Katie was born literally on our first official day of team training. Those first few years, she was in the office with us every day. POPSUGAR was a creative explosion we were all caught up in.

What from your past prepared for such a massive undertaking?

So many experiences from growing up prepared me to become a leader. Most impactful was seeing how much my father loved his job and how well he treated every person in his office. He greeted the mail room attendees, the receptionists and his assistants with the same smiles, hugs or handshakes as he did his partners or his own bosses. I loved seeing that. I was an avid soccer player growing up and loved team sports. I learned not only to play at the top of your game but also how crucial it is to encourage others and to collaborate. I also married young and moved across the country three months after to a place where I knew no one but my husband. Starting life over was a challenge. Not only did I make new friends that are like family, but I was also able to get my self-confidence strong enough to take a risk to start POPSUGAR with Brian. We became a husband-wife team who could tackle anything together.

Did you have a feeling it would be huge?

I had a feeling we were on to something when I saw the audience grow so quickly. Within a year of starting POPSUGAR, I had 1 million readers, and that felt incredible! That said, if you had told me when we started that I was founding a company with 360 employees and a global audience of 300M, I’m not sure I would have believed you ;)

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

Being an entrepreneur is extra challenging for a woman, so it’s important to not go at it alone. In my case, I built POPSUGAR with my husband, Brian, but for others just starting, it’s about finding support through a community that includes anyone you think may be helpful. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, recommendations and connections from those you think would be interested or helpful. Another obvious challenge is the everyday juggle of family and work. When you find a job you love so much, you want to spend time investing it in, but you also love your family more than anything imaginable. That is a tough push-pull that never goes away, and unfortunately, it also is the basis for the larger gender bias that exists around the world. We all need to be more conscious of it. I am personally very tuned in to the challenges of balancing a family and a career, and at POPSUGAR, we have worked hard at making the transition back to work as easy as possible. In my life, and in many women’s lives, balance is important but often hard to achieve. I find it helps to be very present wherever you are at any given time.

"Being an entrepreneur is extra challenging for a woman, so it’s important to not go at it alone."

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Where do your drive and passion come from?

Our audience and fans and my family continue to drive me to keep going, whether it’s challenging us to reevaluate our content, to think differently, or to get excited about a new product or site launch. The beauty of being such a young company is our jobs have grown and changed so much over the years that every day seems like it’s a new job. I want to make sure it’s also just as much fun and fulfilling for our new hires as it is to those who have been with us for the entire 11 years.

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

So much of the media industry involves change. I learned early on you need to keep moving forward and innovating to survive. When we started, social media wasn’t a thing and the iPhone wasn’t even invented yet. Now, new platforms and mobile are an extremely important outlet for us. We can reach millions of more people thanks to them. It also means we have to think about how to budget more efficiently or adapt content for various audiences. As much as we’ve grown and changed, one thing I draw the line at is our voice and tone. I protect our supportive and kind POV. That's built into POPSUGAR’s DNA and it’s here to stay.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

I am the person who would give you a look of death if you were tapping your pen in class. I can’t stand annoying small noises when I am trying hard to concentrate.

What are your biggest fears about running a business?

Maintaining our success, of course, is always on my mind. Brian and I have so many people and their families depending on our continued growth. From there, fostering an atmosphere where people can thrive and are really be happy is a perpetual thought. I want to make sure kindness is part of everyone’s experience at POPSUGAR and I’m vigilant about banishing any whiff of a Mean Girls culture from taking hold. :)

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

What people don’t know is that I am a total beauty junkie! I love beauty products and have to test items for our Must Have subscription box and also for our upcoming beauty line, Beauty by POPSUGAR. It’s one of my favorite “work” demands :)

Every day there is someone in your shadow. How can we stay original when we are so saturated with other people's work?

We see ourselves as a family and I do my best to be really supportive of all of our entire staff. We’re successful because we let our great staff shine and find their unique voices. Every writer is original, and that’s why people keep coming back to us. If our competitors are imitating us, it’s a compliment, but we will continue to be first, purposeful and feel-good as always. Also, it’s extremely important to take the extra time to figure out the unique angle — what is the POPSUGAR POV for each story? We make sure our team works smarter to avoid going down the most obvious route.

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

Our team! I love growing up with them. We started this company when I was 29. It’s been such a wild ride. It’s been so fulfilling to watch so many of our early staff members grow into tremendous, confident leaders. I love that. It makes me feel great. Our company mantra is “work hard, play nice,” and seeing that infuse every aspect of POPSUGAR makes me go to sleep with a smile on my face.

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

Oh, this is a fun but tough question. I love the idea of a day in the life of Victoria Beckham. To be able to design clothes, create a beauty line, be a mom to 4 adorable kids and a wife to David Beckham seems like a dream job ;) I’d say the same of Drew Barrymore too — wine, beauty line, clothing line, plus entertainment — seems like the best variety of ways to be creative. These women have worked hard and created their own paths in life to success. They continue to be creative in new ways and juggle new challenges each year.

You've said that one of the reasons you saw success was because you learned to speak up. At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?

I spent the early years of my career in advertising and it didn’t exactly foster a speak-up environment. I knew it wasn’t for me. Managing multimillion-dollar budgets in various Excel charts was not my calling. In my spare time, I was writing reviews, testing beauty products and taking any work breaks to search online and go down rabbit holes to be the first to know something new. Ultimately, it led me to speak up in a totally new way — through my writing by starting POPSUGAR. I took a risk and started something completely different on my own, and that was the first step toward truly finding my own voice. Since we started the company from scratch, I was comfortable speaking up and made sure all new employees felt the same way. It was always very collaborative. I’ve had to rend my voice as we’ve grown or my job has taken me down new roads to do more keynotes, panels, and presentations to complete strangers. This was scary at first, but I find the more I do it, the more I feel confident in who I have become today.

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

The best advice I’ve ever received was from my dad when I was little: he told me to do what I love. It sounds so simple, but it’s not and sadly most of us don’t. His advice has never failed me.

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

Ha, I’m not much of a sing-in-the-shower girl, but I am happy to always blast music in my kitchen or working out. If I’m having a bad day, I’d probably throw on “Freedom!90” by George Michael, Rihanna’s “Must Be Love on the Brain” and/or “May I Have This Dance” by Francis and the Lights featuring Chance the Rapper.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Myleik Teele

THE QUEEN OF CURLS. 

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

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

More the Myliek below. 

Name: Myleik Teele

Instagram Handle: @myleik

Business Instagram Handle: @curlbox

What was the impetus for starting the CurlBOX?

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

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

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

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

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

And how will CurlBOX be a part of that convo?

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

Where do your drive and passion come from?

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

What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty is being comfortable in your own skin.

Do you remember a moment when you first felt beautiful?

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

What are your biggest fears about running a business?

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

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

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

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

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

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"No Weapon" by Fred Hammond.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Content Creator: Denise Vasi

MINDFUL AF.

Denise Vasi has it Maed. 

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

"One day, or day one. You decide." 

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

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

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

And we're glad she did. 

More from Denise below.

Name: Denise Vasi

Instagram: @densievasi

Where do your drive and passion come from?

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

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

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

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

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What is your biggest pet peeve?

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

What are your biggest fears about running a business?

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

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

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

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

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

Being impactful is the force that drives me.

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

That the path laid out for me is my own.

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

OPRAH... need I say more?!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

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

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