Pro Tip: Five Things To Include In Every Scope Of Work
Yes, office hours exist for freelancers.
Today’s Pro Tip is for all of the freelancers out there! You’ve just secured your first client and have been asked to provide a scope of work…but what is that, exactly?
A scope of work (also referred to as an SOW) is a document outlining details for the deliverables you’ll oversee, the time you’ll spend and the steps you’ll take working on these deliverables, and how you will be compensated. Beyond these basic areas, there are a few additional things you'll want to cover off in your scope of work to help proactively manage client expectations and create accountability for yourself.
Here are five things to include in your scope of work (and if you're not entirely sure what an SOW looks like, I’ve got you covered! Download my free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit, here).
Office Hours
Yes, office hours exist for freelancers! If your client is in the same time zone as you, this may not be too big of an issue but it's still important to share if you have a timeframe you work within each day. This is especially the case if you have daily obligations like doctor's appointments, a side hustle or kids to pick up from school.
While we all will have to work outside of our desired times here and there, it's beneficial to express when you will be available for emails and phone calls with your client up front. If you work with clients in a different time zone, let them know when you will be available during their daily working hours and beyond in your scope of work.
Days Off
To echo the office hours section - yes, freelancers take days off! If you have a family vacation, previous commitments or just need some personal time, include those dates in your SOW. So long it doesn't conflict with any of your deadlines or obligations promised to your client, this shouldn't be a problem, but it's always better to communicate upfront.
Billing Expectations
It is so important to put any billing expectations you have into the scope of work and even more important, to have an actual conversation with your client on these expectations either in person or over the phone. Talking about money is an uncomfortable topic for some people but believe me, you want to be crystal clear when it comes to your finances as a freelancer.
If you expect to be paid every 30 days because it's what you and your client agreed to, put it in the scope of work and ask your client what you need to do proactively to make sure that happens. Once the SOW is signed, I usually follow up asking if there's anyone in accounts payable I should connect with to get setup as a new vendor. That way when I submit my invoice at the end of the month, everything is already in place and my money hits the bank a lot faster.
Number of Revisions
This doesn't necessarily apply for every type of freelancer but if you work in any form of creative field (graphic design, copywriting, video production, etc.), you will want to include instructions for the number of revisions you're willing to provide. This will help prevent you from spending extra hours going back and forth on minor requests and instead encourage your client to be very clear and detailed with their expectations and needed edits the first time around.
Extra Work
This is by far the most important line to include in every scope of work... *clears throat*
“Any work requested by the client outside of this agreed upon scope of work before, during or after the project dates will be billed at an additional hourly rate of $(your hourly rate).”
Why is this so important to include? Because you will undoubtedly be asked to do something outside of the original scope of work. Your time is valuable and if you are on retainer or working on a project fee, you need to be compensated for the extra effort.
Freelance isn't free. Remember that.
About the author: Audrey Adair is a seasoned freelance communications professional and founder of ‘The Scope’ — a platform providing resources and community to freelancers and the self-employed. Connect with The Scope on Instagram and join their email list to receive your free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit.
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Your Work Wife Deserves One of These Galentine's Day Cards
Valentines for your best deskmate.
Sure, Thursday is Valentine’s Day—but we all know the real holiday is the day before: Galentine’s Day! Below, we put a twist on traditional valentines to come up with cards that are perfect for the office (even your boss, if she’s got a good sense of humor). Don’t wanna print ‘em out? Head on over to our Instagram Stories on Wednesday to screenshot and DM ‘em to your work wife.
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We Need to Talk: I Earn More Than My Partner
Talking double standards, gender dilemmas, and female breadwinners.
The wage gap is a battle that’s yet to be won, but there are many women who are bringing home more bacon than their significant others.
Married women are more likely than ever before to out-earn their husbands. According to a Pew study in 1960 just about 4% of married women were the primary provider in their family, whereas in 2013 that percentage increased by 20%. Rising education and employment levels contribute to this stat.
Despite the upswing in changes, the same study found that 74% of adults say that the increase in working women, particularly working mothers, has made it harder to raise children and harder for marriages to succeed.
So, we need to talk. We chatted anonymously with three women who are primary household breadwinners in various life stages about how they and their partners really feel about earning less.
A single mom in a relationship.
A married woman with two kids.
And a VP living with her fiancé.
Does earning more than your significant other affect your relationship?
Single mom: It comes in waves, honestly. There are some days when I can tell he’s uncomfortable with my success or that I don’t “need” him in the traditional sense.
Married woman: At this point, no. But I wasn’t always earning more so that power switch was difficult to get used to. That’s not to say money equals power, but for a long time the person in charge of the bank account was the one making all the decisions. In most cases, that was a man. Banks wouldn’t even loan women money or let them sign for their own credit cards in the ‘70s. I don’t know why we expect this not to be difficult for men. They’ve been told and conditioned to behave one way— and there is a shift among Millennials, sure, but change is uncomfortable. If you watched your parents behave one way or the other it’s hard to break from that mindset.
VP: This is tough because he’s also successful. When I was dating there were men who wanted a woman in a more traditional role. Logical or not, there are men who want to wear those proverbial pants. I get it, I like wearing the pants too. But I’d like to think that part of the reason we’re getting married is because he values my work ethic and my success. I’d like to think it affects my relationship in a positive way. He supports me and values me.
Do you think men in general are uncomfortable with a female breadwinner?
Married woman: Yes. Like I said before this is slow shift. A long rolling after-shock. Things are moving and shaking, but in the process books are going to fall off the shelves and jars in the pantry will break. Nothing changes without a little— or a lot — of discomfort.
Single mom: In general I don't think people want to be in relationships where there is a power play happening. I can only speak to my relationship but my boyfriend doesn’t believe that income reflects power in a relationship. I agree with him and at the same time I can’t help but wonder— if I’m being REALLY honest— he would feel the same way if he made more money. Money is weird. It makes men and women act weird. I don’t know any other way to explain it.
VP: We’re slowly moving out of the mindset that men are the providers and women are caregivers. There is no longer a “traditional” role. I don’t even know what that would look like— and that's confusing to people. Men and women. Confusion and uncomfortable generally go hand-in-hand. We’re all testing out new models and there’s no one person to point to and say, "they did it right!" And when we do point to a couple that “did it right,” it’s usually someone’s grandparents who have been married for 50 years and held very “traditional” roles. Which, again, is confusing, because most people don’t want what their grandparents had.
"There is no longer a 'traditional' role and that's confusing to people."
Tweet this.
Who pays when you go out to dinner? Or when you want to go on a vacation your partner can’t afford?
Single mom: We pay for what we can afford. And if one of us is uncomfortable, we say something. Communication is more important than who earns what. That’s a really annoying PC answer, but it’s also the truth. If we go out to dinner 10 nights and I’ve paid for 9 because I can afford it, I’ll say something. I expect an effort to be made on his part in ways that he can contribute. There are ways to support someone that are not financial. When one person isn’t making an effort, that’s a bigger problem than what’s in your bank account.
Married woman: I think it’s different when you’re married. Most successful couples have clearly defined financial roles and decide how they are going to split finances. My parents never fought about money because they had independent accounts and one account they contributed to that was a percentage of their earnings, not a lump sum. There’s no tit for tat in marriage and when there is, you’re probably getting divorced. You need to throw this notion of fair out the window. Be fair with your heart if you want your love to last.
VP: At the end of the day, if dinner is my suggestion or I’m taking him on a date, I pay. And vice versa. Does it work out to be an even split? No and I’m OK with that. MOST of the time. My love for him isn’t based in dollars. That doesn’t mean that emotions and money never get crossed. Somewhere at the intersection of the two there are arguments, feelings that get hurt, resentments. To pretend they are independent of each other would be over-simplifying.
Do you think women think of their income as “theirs,” where men have to think of their income as “ours?”
Married woman: Yes. There is a double standard 100%. Since women still earn less on the man’s dollar and are just now in the last decade or so occupying positions always held by men, I think there is this need to hoard or hold onto their income. We didn’t always have the opportunity to make money, so there’s an innate desire to keep it. Is that right? I don’t know. Women still feel the need to protect themselves.
VP: These are hard questions because I have to be honest about my relationship to gender roles. I want to be breadwinner. I like it. At the same time, I still like a man to open my door and take me on a date, and I don’t know, plunge the toilet. Men are expected to share more than women and I think women like it that way, without always reciprocating.
"I want to be the breadwinner, and at the same time, have the man to take me on a date."
Single mom: Ah. What’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is mine. Yeah, there’s definitely some of that going on. I’ve talked to many of my friends about this, who are also higher or relatively equal earners. There are mixed feelings. Nothing is ever going to be an equal down-the-middle split. If anything, I think we should take this as a lesson that shifting roles are hard for both genders and perhaps be a little less angry when it doesn’t come easy. That’s not a particularly feminist thing to say.
Do you feel more in control in the relationship because you earn more money?
Single mom: I feel more in control of my own life. I feel able and competent which, in turn, creates a real confidence in me that I think is attractive to certain men. I don’t need to be in control of someone else, but I do like being in control of my own life. Knowing that if we broke up, I’d still be OK, able to pay my rent, feed my kid, go on small vacations. I don’t have a ton of expendable income, but I do fine on my own. I think that is empowering, more so than having “control” over another person. I don’t feel better than him because I earn more, I simply feel good about myself.
"I don’t feel better than him because I earn more, I simply feel good about myself."
Tweet this.
VP: I don’t think I’ve ever admitted this out loud but, yes. I’m sure that has to do with the relationship dynamics I witnessed between my parents. I had a stay-at-home mom and as much of a job as that is, you don’t earn anything. You’re essentially paid by your husband to take care of the kids and the home. For lack of a better term, you’re a kept woman. I was never going to be for keeping, and for better or worse, money is a part of that.
Married woman: If I was younger I might feel that way, but marriage is give and take, push and pull, and I know at any point the tables could turn. I would never want him to make me feel lesser than because I lost my job, or got fired, or who knows, life is messy. Money is complicated. Gender roles are complicated. Relationships and marriage, even more complicated. Put it all in a pot and there are good days and fucking god-awful ones. Sometimes that has to do with the all mighty dollar, but if you think you’re in control because you have more money, you should be single.
Do you make more than your partners? Sound-off in the comments below and join the convo.
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Four Steps to Crafting the Perfect Job Description for Your Resume
Stop stressing over the bullet points.
As the number of applicants per corporate job opening rises, it’s important that your resume is effective at articulating your accomplishments and what you can bring to the table. This means creating an accomplishment-based resume instead of a responsibility-based resume and creating a document that is completely unique to you. When you’re trying to craft the perfect job description on your resume, it’s essential that you highlight what you’ve achieved instead of simply stating that you hold a certain skill.
Your resume is your chance to highlight what you bring to the table and why a potential employer should hire you, but if the job descriptions you include don’t do you justice, your resume simply won’t be effective at meeting your needs. This makes writing a resume sound intimidating; however, I’m showing you exactly how to craft the perfect job description on your resume!
Gather the Basics
When you’re going to craft the perfect job description on your resume, you have to start with the basics. The easiest way to do this is to start with the job description that you were given at work. Ideally, you’ll have the job description you were given by HR, (you should always keep this kind of information for future use) but if not, find a similar job description online that closely resembles your own.
Build Upon What You Have
Take the basic job description and add in other duties that you’ve taken on that go above and beyond what you’re required to do, or if your role has just evolved over time.
If you are technically ad administrative assistant, but you handle company social media accounts and oversee client engagement, that is something you’ll absolutely want to note in your job description. Any time you’re taking on responsibilities above and beyond what you were hired to do, it’s important to articulate them. Show that you’re not just resting on your laurels and that you’re willing to take the initiative to get things done.
Make a List of Your Accomplishments
Anyone can claim that they are a great employee, but very few people can actually show it. Don’t sell yourself short on your resume, and show potential employers all of your accomplishments and achievements. Provide evidence to your claims so that they can see exactly what you can bring to the table and how you will be beneficial if hired.
Ask yourself the following questions:
Have you increased sales?
Have you been recognized for your success?
Have you implemented process improvements or cost-cutting techniques?
Whatever you have done to improve your company and/or department, you want to show it on your resume.
The more numbers and specific metrics you can include, the better! Don’t be afraid to calculate numbers from your own data. As long as you can prove your calculations, you can use them on your resume.
Use the Job Description that You’re Applying for
When you’re trying to craft the perfect job description on your resume, use the job you’re applying to so you can integrate keywords and phrases to customize your resume to meet the exact position you’re interested in. When you’re trying to customize your resume to meet a job you’re applying to, the key is to highlight all of the skills and qualifications that the desired job description holds, and downplay unnecessary information.
For example, if you held the title of client relationship manager and did everything from sales to client onboarding, to office management and administrative tasks, but you’re applying for an administrative assistant, you’ll want to highlight the office management and client facing communication, and you’ll most likely want to downplay the sales aspects of your previous role.
This does not mean that you should ever “dumb down” your resume. It’s always great to highlight that you’re smart, strong, and capable, however, when you’re trying to customize your resume to apply for a specific job, you need to highlight the requirements of the given job description and show your potential employer why you will be a great fit.
Writing a great resume isn’t just about how aesthetically pleasing it is. If you have a beautiful resume that doesn’t articulate your strengths, you won’t get the traction that you’re looking for. Craft the perfect job description on your resume that highlights what you’ve accomplished and why you’re a valuable asset.
A native San Franciscan, Michele Lando is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and founder of writestylesonline.com. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves, both on paper and in person, and works to polish individuals' application package and personal style. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles presents tips to enhance your resume, style, and boost your confidence.
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This Photographer Shares How She Sets a Fair Rate
Hint: Don’t compare yourself to others.
You’ve seen the gorgeous photography from our #createcultivate100 list. Now, meet Annie McElwain, the woman behind the camera. Below, Annie shares her process for setting her rate, her dream client, and advice for young creatives.
How did you get into photography?
I used to be an actress and started photography as a hobby in my early 20s. I had no previous artistic background and never intended it as a career—I actually was a lot more academic in nature than artistic. However, there was something in me that has always wanted to tell stories of and share the beauty in the human experience.
What’s the most rewarding part of being a photographer?
Photos (especially portraits) often become more valuable, more cherished over time. The sentimental side of me finds this greatly rewarding.
In a dream world, who would you like to shoot?
The first female president.
What advice would you give to young artists and designers who are struggling to support themselves with their work?
It helps me to remember that without the struggle, we really wouldn’t appreciate it once we got wherever it is we want to go.
Where does your passion/drive come from?
It’s hard to say. I think everyone has drive once they find what they are passionate about. And sometimes finding this takes a lot of self exploration first.
“I do my best to live in a world where ‘likes’ don’t matter and real relationships are always more valuable than follower counts. ”
What keeps you up at night?
It varies between my ongoing to-do list, finances, and thinking about the next earthquake.
What advice do you have on knowing how to set a fair rate?
First, don’t compare yourself to what other people are charging, find what works for you in your life.
My basic approach to setting a fair rate comes from how much money I need to bring in each month and how many shoots I can handle each month. This gives a general idea of how much to charge for a shoot, though it’s not a perfect formula of course. Basically, I try to really understand the scope of the project before I send over a quote. With enough experience, I’ve come to really understand what my time is worth.
In a world where likes and follower counts are so coveted, how do you stay authentic and true to yourself/your brand?
I do my best to live in a world where likes don’t matter in the grand scheme of things and real relationships are always more valuable than follower counts.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work? How do your hobbies influence your art?
Yoga keeps me balanced, surfing reminds me to let go of control and to be present. Long walks and hikes allow my mind to wander freely. I escape with music. Travel, dinner with friends, podcasts— expand my horizons.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
If you always do your best, you will never regret anything.
When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find new roads + switch gears to find success?
I think just knowing that you WILL hit bumps and hurdles in your career makes it a bit easier to deal with them when they come. I find peace in knowing that things like this are relatively cyclical and most artists careers have peaks and valleys. I had a business coach once who really helped me with the idea of failing. She taught me that we only really learn when we fail, not when we succeed. So while it can be humbling, making mistakes or trying things out that don’t work are what make us better.
What are you most excited for in 2019?
I’m really excited to experiment more creatively and collaborate more with other artists this year.
Making Moves: New Books, Award Noms, & Netflix Movie Magic
These women are changing the game this week and beyond.
Wanna know the women who are making big moves in business this week? We’re here to make it happen. Every Friday from here on out, we’ll be sharing a list of badass women who have reached envy-inducing goals, from award nominations to development deals and everything in between. This week, we celebrate artists, editors, authors, and entrepreneurs who are making moves and takin’ names. Check ‘em out below!
Our own #createcultivate100 honoree Libby VanderPloeg was nominated for a Shorty Award for her “We Got This (Lift Each Other Up)” GIF. Watch Gina Rodriguez talk about Libby’s internet-famous GIF at last year’s #createcultivateATX.
Create & Cultivate alumni speaker & former Teen Vogue editor Elaine Welteroth dropped the cover for her new book More Than Enough: Claiming Space For Who You Are.
Amy Nelson’s co-working space The Riveter just announced five new office locations: Dallas, Denver, Portland, Atlanta, and Minneapolis.
Julia Collins, the first black woman to co-found a company valued at $1 billion or more, was featured alongside some other fabulous black female entrepreneurs who are changing Silicon Valley. Meet the new guard.
Illustrator Liz Fosslien released her first book, No Hard Feelings: Emotions at Work and How They Help Us Succeed, on Tuesday.
Do you remember the 2017 Fast Company story about Penelope Gazin and Kate Dwyer, two business owners who had to invent a male cofounder to be taken seriously? Their story is being made into a Netflix film, Lady Business, starring Brie Larson.
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Solopreneur Tax Tips: The Freelancer
“Dreams are wonderful, but they only come true if you work your ass off.”
Making your own schedule, choosing your clients, and sweet, sweet freedom—these are just a few of the many perks of freelancing. But with that freedom comes great responsibility…including being on the hook for filing self-employment taxes. Above, content creator Grasie Mercedes—who splits her time between acting, writing, directing, and blogging—sits down with Lisa Greene-Lewis, TurboTax CPA, to learn how TurboTax Self-Employed can help freelancers stay on top of their tax obligations throughout the year. Read on to learn a little more about Grasie and see how TurboTax can help you find deductions, file confidently, and keep more of your hard-earned money in your pocket. Plus, we're gifting 30 readers with a FREE TurboTax Live Self-Employed product code (valued at $169.99) below—so you can file for free this season!
To quote your Instagram bio, you “do a lot.” You’re an actor, writer, director, and blogger—what do you like most about working on so many different projects?
I love to keep busy and I love everything entertainment, so for me, it just makes sense. Now, more than ever, actors "do it all": they direct episodes of the shows they're on, they create their own series, and they continue to act in everything from commercials to TV to major motion pictures. I think it's wonderful and exciting! Blogging is something I started over eight years ago as a creative outlet to supplement my then-styling career, which was supplementing my acting endeavors. From there, I turned it into a brand/business that I can have forever (or as long as I want)! Having so many things to work on and work toward is so special to me...I never get bored "working" and that's a dream. I'm so grateful to be able to do what I love, every single day.
What’s your biggest challenge in having so many different business ventures on your plate? The biggest reward?
The biggest challenge is when the various ventures start to interfere with one another. Acting is a crazy business with an unpredictable schedule so there have been plenty of times where I have to miss an event, trip or opportunity because I have to be in town for pilot season or for a callback, etc. When that happens, I just have to weigh my options and then deal with serious FOMO when I see what I missed on social media. The biggest reward is hitting new goals in any given venture. I just signed with an amazing talent agent for writing, I'm developing my first pilot with a great production company, and my first film is still getting accepted into major film festivals! Those are all huge wins for my writing and directing careers, which I started less than two years ago!
We polled our C&C community and found that many freelancers share the same concerns as Grasie—conflicting schedules and deadlines can make solopreneurship difficult. Luckily TurboTax Self-Employed makes it easy for freelancers to track and file quarterly estimated payments, so you can focus your efforts on your work and your clients.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to go freelance but is worried about how they’ll make a stable living?
This is a tough question. I think you have to weigh your options and responsibilities. When I decided to quit my day job and move to LA to be an actress/creative, I was in my late 20s with zero obligations. It was easy to just go for it because it was just me. No kids, no mortgage...not even a pet! If you have that freedom, then just GO FOR IT full throttle! Do whatever it takes to pay the bills (legal things only, of course). Wait tables, get a temp job, be a barista...all the while, make sure you are working on your creative endeavor daily. If you're responsible for more than just yourself, I would say keep your day job as long as possible, save money where you can and again work on your creative endeavor daily until it's bringing you enough money to quit your day job. The only difference between these paths are that the first one usually gives you more time and freedom to pursue your dream. But regardless of which path you take, the most important thing is to WORK HARD and WORK EVERY DAY on whatever it is that you want to be doing! Dreams are wonderful, but they only come true if you work your ass off.
What are you most excited about for your business in 2019?
Excited to revamp my blog and to work as a writer and director more! Acting will always be "my first born" and something I'll never stop doing, but creating my own work (TV shows/films) is my number one priority at the moment.
Want more tips for tax time? Check out our guides for side hustlers and C corp entrepreneurs! or Or you can dive into TurboTax Self-Employed here—and enter to win a free TurboTax Live Self-Employed code below!
Our friends at TurboTax were nice enough to share a giveaway with Create & Cultivate readers so you can file your taxes for FREE this season!
30 readers will receive a FREE TurboTax Live Self-Employed product code (valued at $169.99). Simply fill out the form below to enter to win. The winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via email. Good luck!
Not quite a full-time freelancer?
If you’ve got a side hustle and need help with filing taxes, be sure to check out last week’s guide. Stay tuned for next week’s post for more solopreneur tax tips—and enter to win a free TurboTax Live Self-Employed code below!
This post is sponsored by TurboTax.
Does My Career Determine My Self Worth?
Nah or yah?
New expectations have begun to haunt women each day. In a world, full of Elaine Welteroth’s, Bozoma Saint John’s, and Sophia Amoruso’s — we feel the pressure to be our own badass career woman.
Scrolling through our social feeds to find these amazing women living out their dreams has altered our reality. Though encouraging and liberating for women in this generation, it can also be discouraging. Quotes such as “choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life” can become discouraging to some when you’re constantly working towards choosing the job you love but you remain stuck in the job you have. You begin to look at yourself and start to believe that you must be doing something wrong (even though you're doing everything in your power to do everything right).
We are hungrier than ever to accomplish our goals and to take the career world by storm. Yet, our expected achievements don’t meet our timelines. We have done everything we can, from cold emailing to going door to door, but somehow, we can’t quite get to the girl boss level we’ve been working our ass off for. Some of us, such as myself, have played it by the book and have gone to college to retrieve that fancy (and expensive) piece of paper.
Now what?
After graduation, I acquired a job that most people would consider “a dream job”. And it was — until I hit a wall. I began to realize that I was not going to learn more than I was taught and a promotion was not coming my way for a while. I felt stuck and devalued. I knew in order to get to the place I wanted to be professionally, I had to make a change. I quit my job, packed up my bags, and moved back home with no job in sight. I took a leap of faith as all the enthusiasts like to encourage dreamers to do. Little did I know, this would be a full year of doors being slammed in my face.
"I knew in order to get to the place I wanted to be professionally, I had to make a change."
Months of applications, cold emails, networking, and going door to door turned into days of no callbacks and “you’re just not the right fit for us”. Other than the retail job I had to get me by — I was practically jobless. After a year of being jobless, I hit rock bottom and depression began to flood my veins. Was I not good enough? I had several internships in the past and over 2 years of professional experience yet I was not worthy enough to be hired.
The lack of success in my career hit me hard. I have always been labeled the go-getter and people looked to me for career advice. I felt my expectations and the expectations of others weigh down on me. Family, friends, and everyone around me saw my constant success for years and when I no longer had that, my identity faded. I realized that I correlated my worth with the success and pace of my career.
I had no desire for a love life, I happily accepted my singleness, and my career became the love of my life — this was my happy reality. Believe it or not, the Sex and the City and Cashmere Mafia lifestyle was #goals for me. Through this year of being jobless, I began to love myself less. What I valued most about myself was non-existent. If I’m not good enough to get a job after a full year, was I good enough at all?
At exactly a year, I finally got hired.
It wasn’t the job I dreamed of but it was a good start. Though back on my feet — I still felt incomplete.
This job did not match my vision. I molded a perfected version of my career since I was a young girl and that dream began to slowly slip away along with my worth. The power woman I thought I was and could potentially be slipped away with my lost worth.
Though I’d given up on myself, I knew that I would hate myself forever if I didn’t try picking myself back up. I couldn’t let my career slide to the waste side. After a month of feeling down – I picked myself back up and decided to keep moving forward. My career isn’t over and I am still worthy.
I began attending networking events again, cold emailing my career idols, and searching for freelance work that would help me stand out during my future job searches. I realized that I could never give up on myself and my dreams. My success does not determine my worth. Most importantly, I had to make opportunities for myself. Your current full-time money making job might suck but don’t limit yourself to that primary source of opportunity. Use your current sucky job as a stepping stone for something better. Make a gradual plan to your dream job and reach out for outside opportunities to spruce up your resume and to gain more experience in the meantime. That’s what you call grinding.
My success does not determine my worth.
Word of advice to ladies who are out there making it — share your struggles with others so that your fellow go-getters won’t feel alone. We need to know that this feeling won’t last forever. That’s more encouraging than cheesy quotes and fantasy pictures. For the ladies who are still trying to make it—think smart, keep working, and don’t lose sight of yourself when your dreams begin to break your heart.
And yes — one of my dreams was to write this very article for this amazing organization. If I can do it, you can too.
Epiphany Ciers is a Houstonian tackling the world of fashion. From writing to creating content, Epiphany has her hands in everything. Though determined to make it in the fashion world, Epiphany also has a passion for encouraging and motivating women. Follow her on IG @epiphany.ciers as she navigates the fashion industry and explores the world around her.
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Best Buy - Richfield, MN
American Express - New York City
The Body Shop - Orlando, Florida
WeWork - Seattle, WA
Verizon - Atlanta
Pandora - Atlanta
Procter & Gamble - Grand Rapids, MI
Journeys - Las Vegas
Depop - Remote
We Can All Relate to These Hilarious Workplace Comics
Liz Fosslien’s new book will have you cracking up at your desk.
Some weekday mornings can be rough, even if you love your job. We’ve all had days when we’d much rather keep lounging in bed than get up, throw on a professional (see: uncomfortable) outfit, and fight our way through traffic. Luckily, No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work, out today, is a handy guide to motivating yourself even on the most dreary days. We’ve put together seven hilarious comics by the book’s co-author and illustrator Liz Fosslien that will have you cracking up at your desk.
Some days it can feel like you’re stuck on the project that will never end, working with a team that can’t stop scheduling meetings. But remember: this too shall pass.
The upside to having to wake up super early once in a while? It keeps you grateful for your relative sleeping-in privilege.
Why do passive-aggressive bosses seem to love sending emails so much? One tip to deal with a grumpy manager is to watch for patterns in their mood. If they’re always grouchy before their first cup of coffee, make sure you schedule meetings with them after 11am.
If this illustration resonates a little too much, it’s time to finally pull up the email that’s been sitting in your inbox forever and start typing a reply. We know, we know, it’s so hard! But you’ll feel a lot better once you’ve hit SEND.
On particularly endless days, it’s okay to call in your work BFFs for a quick coffee break (aka a good “I need to get out of this office for a moment” excuse).
Speaking of work BFFs: having good friends at work keeps us positive and healthy. So take a moment to switch over to your private Slack channel and send your favorite colleagues a quick “Thank you for existing!”
Finally, don’t forget to carve out time for yourself. If you’ve been feeling overworked and exhausted all week, it’s okay to leave that networking happy hour ASAP.
Want more relatable workplace comics? Snag a copy of Liz’s new book here!
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5 Steps to Building Your Personal Brand
Build your brand and make your move.
Whether you know it or not, you have a personal brand that you’re cultivating every day through your online presence. Trust me, I get it—it doesn’t feel natural to tell people “I’m building my personal brand.” It might even feel a bit vain.
The reality is, social media and our online footprints aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Your story and who you are is your personal brand.
I respect those who build their following to step into the influencer space and monetize their following. But right now I’m talking to all of you ladies who are hustling hard in the corporate world, starting businesses, transitioning back into the workforce, growing in their careers and looking to take the next step. There are ways you can be more intentional about how you utilize social media and your presence online to position yourself for your ideal opportunities.
Where should you start? Here are 5 steps for you to start building your personal brand today:
STEP 1: Let’s do a quick social media audit of your channels: 1) Do you have a professional looking headshot & is it updated across all your social accounts? 2) Do you have a consistent username/URL across all your accounts? 3) Do your social bios have your updated work info and link out to a personal website/portfolio or LinkedIn? 4) Is your LinkedIn up to date with current work info, cover image, profile image, and bio? If you answered no to any of these, let’s get them updated now!
“Before we dive in, you need to answer this question:
Where do you want to be this time next year? ”
STEP 2: Before we dive into strategy, you need to answer this question: Where do you want to be this time next year? Do you want to be at the same company, but in a higher position? Do you want to transition industries? Do you want to start a new job? Or maybe you simply want to grow your network? Whatever the answer may be, focus on that goal when building your personal brand. Identify key topics that relate to your goal and create a plan to regularly provide commentary on them online.
STEP 3: Choose two platforms to focus on at a time! Don’t try to do the same thing on all the platforms at the same time. Identify the two platforms that make the most sense for your industry and make a goal to focus on building up those accounts.
STEP 4: Identify key people to follow—industry leaders or people you’d like to be your mentor. When I first joined Twitter back in the day, I was in awe of the fact that I could follow all the people I look up to and learn from them firsthand. You have that same opportunity now, but with even more platforms. Just make sure you don’t clutter your feed—research your current field and dig deeper than the obvious people you should follow. Then build up a genuine relationship through conversations around topics and posts that feel natural (don’t force it).
STEP 5: Create a content calendar and plan ahead! Identify key dates within your industry/desired industry. For example, if you work in fashion, you better be posting/talking about/engaging in the conversation around Fashion Week. If you work in tech, then Apple’s Keynote announcements are important moments for you to be sharing your thoughts and opinions. When you plan ahead, you’ll be able to show up consistently and build your profile within your community.
“When you plan ahead, you’ll be able to show up consistently
and build your profile within your community. ”
I launched Be Digable with the hopes that I could help more female professionals and executives build their personal brands, position themselves as thought leaders, and raise their visibility. I believe more women should be moving into those corner offices! You don’t have to be an influencer to build a personal brand—it’s all about being authentic, sharing your story, and engaging with your community to connect and grow.
For more personal branding tips, you can follow Be Digable on Instagram and sign up for our free email course: 3 Days to a Standout Personal Brand.
Lindsay Williams is the Founder of Be Digable, a personal brand strategy firm dedicated to inspiring female executives to discover and be confident with their voice in order to authentically share their personal narrative. Lindsay is committed to motivating professionals to step into their own greatness, helping clients position themselves as thought leaders in their field, network within and out of their industries, and share their unique story to leverage greater opportunities.
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#GirlCrush: 5 Small Business Owners We're Loving This Month
We’ll take one of everything, please.
Here at C&C, we’re always coming across truly amazing women who are running cool, creative small businesses and shaking things up in their respective industries. Starting today, we’ll be sharing monthly roundups of these budding entrepreneurs, so you can get in on the party and support their work.
See who we’re inspired by right now below!
Jessica Young, Bubble
Jessica was working as a chef and head of product at meal delivery service Daily Harvest when she started building Bubble, a direct-to-consumer health food company. “Think Farfetch meets Erewhon, but available to everyone in the USA,” she says.
Ally Maki, Asian American Girl Club
After realizing that none of the clubs she was in as a child had any members that looked like her, Ally knew she wanted to create that community. She launched AAGC, an apparel company that redefines what it means to be an Asian woman. (We love their clothes, but we’re pretty obsessed with their marketing, too.)
Anishka Boozer, Gypsy BK
Jenna launched Vichcraft shortly after turning down her dream job in packaging design to pursue her own business full-time. She’s built quite the empire, working on projects for clients like Instagram, NPR, and Hillary for America on top of hosting workshops and selling apparel, prints, and accessories on her shop.
Liz Eichholz and Lindsey Johnson, Weezie
When Liz asked Lindsey an innocent question: "what towels do you use?" Lindsey responded "I actually hate my towels." And thus began Weezie, makers of the softest towels we’ve ever touched.
Come back next month to read all about our February girl crushes!
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Day in the Life: Rachel Krupa of The Goods Mart & Krupa Consulting
The genius behind our favorite little shop tells all.
Welcome to the first installment of our new monthly series, Day in the Life! Through this Q&A series, you’ll get an inside look at the day-to-day lives of some of the most inspiring women in business.
To kick things off, we sat down with Rachel Krupa, a true force of change in the health food and wellness industry. At her PR agency, Krupa Consulting, Rachel promotes food and wellness brands through press, social, and events. Her newest venture, a “healthy convenience store” called The Goods Mart, puts her knowledge of that same space to work through what The New York Times calls “A 7-Eleven for all you organic people.” Read on to hear Rachel’s take on routines, self care, and the best snacks at her shop right now.
Are you a night owl or a morning person? When do you do your most important work and why?
Honestly, I’m both… I love getting up early and hammering through emails or taking calls before 9am, and then I get my second wind at 5 or 6pm. I love the quiet, calm feeling in the mornings and the energy that the just post-dusk evening brings. I live for the the sunrise and fall peaks of each day.
What time do you get up? What’s the first thing you do upon waking?
I wake up around 5:45-6:30am – it just depends on my day! But every day, I wake up and roll right into a workout class – Pilates or yoga!
What does your morning, pre-work routine look like?
I like to have a structured morning…wake, workout, and after the workout, I mediate when I get home, drink a liter of water, listen to music, dry brush, oil pull (while showering), take my Chinese herbs, collagen, and sprinkle on some essential oils with quick glance at emails to see what’s coming in…I try to swing by the store before heading into the office if I don’t have a meeting.
What’s your commute like? Do you listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks? Any current faves?
During my commute, I’m either listening to music or rolling calls. I keep it simple — KISS FM, or still listen to Pandora (so old school ☺). Right now I’m obsessed with the “Dreamy Snowy Day” channel.
You own a consulting business and also run The Goods Mart. What’s the best and worst part of running two very different businesses?
Crazy enough, my two business actually compliment each other. Krupa Consulting is a PR agency focusing on food and wellness. We work with incredible restaurants (Shake Shack, Milk Bar, maman, Hanoi House, Monty’s Good Burger, byChloe), the tastiest CPG brands (MatchaBar, McConnell’s Ice Cream, Vital Farms, Good Catch, This Bar Saves Lives), and the best wellness brands (goop Wellness, Clean Market, WTHN, Fleur Marche). Our goal is to build media and consumer awareness and we often discuss how to drive more traffic to their stores, studios, and sites by sharing the cool things they are doing.
With The Goods Mart, I’m pretty much doing the same thing but it’s my own brand.
I’m never not learning something! I’m able to see what consumers are talking about in the store and share it with our brands. It’s FUN to get real time feedback from real customers!
The worst part - I wish there was more time in the day to get more done! And juggling two inboxes can get a little crazy at times.
What are some exciting projects you’re working on this month?
Last week, I was at Fancy Food in San Francisco, a very large specialty food and beverage show where we got to see and taste the new products and trends in food. We had a handful of clients exhibiting, and then I walked the show to find cool new products to bring into The Goods. Also this week, Monty’s Good Burger just launched the Impossible Burger 2.0, we’re doing desk sides with Fleur Marche in New York, and I looked at a few new spaces to potentially open another store!!!
We just signed a few new clients, Kiito (an incredible plant-based protein drink) and Juneshine (a hard Kombucha), so this week we’re in planning mode with them. It’s our time to get really creative and present our ideas. We’re also doing a farm visit with our client Roam, a female-centric cannabis vape company. I love how transparent our clients are and how they welcome us to see all parts of their business. I’m jumping on a red eye on Wednesday (I’m not excited about that), but on Thursday, I’m speaking on a panel. The Goods Mart will be curating all the snacks for the event and we’re bringing in our slushie machine! I’m excited for the event guests to try our kombucha slushies!
Do you ever reach inbox zero? How do you handle the constant influx of inquiries and communication entrepreneurs are so familiar with?
In my dreams, my inbox would be at zero! Earlier in my career, I couldn’t sleep if I had unread emails, but boy, times have changed. Now, I actually mark emails as unread if I need to keep them on my radar.
I also believe email is not always the best method of communication. Slack has been a lifesaver for internal communication for both Krupa Consulting and The Goods Mart. It helps to streamline communication and greatly reduced office chit chat!
What product are you currently most excited about selling at TGM? Why?
It’s really had to narrow them down!
Rind – it’s a local Brooklyn brand that dries fruit with the skins on. The persimmons and kiwis are ridiculously good.
We just brought in a new spice soda called Dona – the pink peppercorn lemon is so refreshing!
I’m also a fan of Laiki (they taste like a Bugle, but with only 3 ingredients) — we’re the first to carry their new Vegan Cheese flavor.
Little Secret Wafers (hello, better-for-you Kit Kat)!
Delish Fish — they taste like a Swedish fish but without all of the artificialness)
Dang Sticky Rice Cakes — I just polished off a bag.
…and last but not least.. our pineapple kombucha slushies!
What are some work habits that help you stay healthy, productive, and on track to reach your goals?
At our office and in the store, I believe you need to create a mood to be more productive and keep energies high – it’s about the smells, the music and the energy of the work environment.
We always have aromatherapy on (or burn incense). In the office, we alternate playlists to coordinate how people are feeling, while in the store, we have some really rad playlists created depending on the time of day.
At Krupa Consulting, we try to step away from our computers during lunch so we’re not eating and working. Each team meets on Mondays to discuss the goals for the week for our clients and then meets again on Thursday or Friday to discuss how the week went. It keeps the communication flowing!
And I’m a believer in getting out of the office during the day to walk around and clear your mind. Every day at 4pm, I walk to get a matcha. It’s my time to clear my mind so I can finish the day strong. It’s also important to add small hints of wellness into your day – rub on a dab of essential oil, think about breathing, talk about something really random to make yourself and other laugh. We all work REALLY hard, but you need to break it up, even if it’s for a minute.
Any favorite apps you use regularly?
Top used apps currently are: Slack, Dropbox, Delta, Square, Instagram, Insight Timer, and Sleep Cycle.
What are you reading/watching right now?
I need to read more books… I have Howard Schultz “Pour Your Heart Into It” on my nightstand.
Before I go to bed, I need to watch an easy show it helps transfer my mind away from emails. My guilty pleasures are The Magnificent Mrs. Maisel, New Amsterdam, and You.
How do you spend an average evening?
An average night is spent doing more emails from home. I turn the lights low, blare some tunes, and spend some quality time with my inbox. But at least two nights a week, I make plans with friends/clients to have dinner and catch-up sessions.
I’ll also toss in, weekends are very much a time for self-care. I regularly get massages, acupuncture, and IV drips. I need to give my body some TLC because I know I push it hard.
When do you go to bed? What’s your “optimal” # of sleep hours?
I tried to be in bed by 11pm, but normally it’s closer to midnight! I aim for at least seven hours a night, but I feel good as long as I have more than six hours.
What’s the most rewarding part of your day?
Going to work! I love what I do and the people I get to work with daily. The teams at both Krupa Consulting and The Goods Mart are stellar; they put their heart and soul into it. I’m inspired by them daily. We also get to work with so many outstanding brands.
At The Goods Mart, we’re able to introduce new, better options to our customers and have them leave with smiles on their faces. Shopping can be FUN!
Solopreneur Tax Tips: The Side Hustler
Learn what it takes to file taxes when you’ve got a full-time job and a side hustle.
The side hustle economy is real—37 percent of the workforce has a side hustle (and more than half of the Create & Cultivate staff has one!).
Having a side gig is exciting—you’re about to make more money, after all! But what you might not be prepared for is tax time. Above, our very own C&C employee Tyeal Howell—who moonlights as a podcast host at Bosshood—sits down with Lisa Greene-Lewis, TurboTax CPA, to learn how TurboTax Self-Employed can help side hustlers run their business more efficiently in preparation for April 15. Read on to learn a little more about Tyeal and see how you, too, can use TurboTax to file with confidence. Plus, we're gifting 30 readers with a FREE TurboTax Live Self-Employed product code (valued at $169.99) below—so you can file for free this season!
Tell us a little about your podcast, Bosshood. What inspired you to start the pod?
My best friend Ryan and I launched our podcast Bosshood to give young professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs access to people, resources, and information on accomplishing their career goals and working their way into the positions they aspire to be in. When we were graduating from college back in Ohio, we didn’t have the connections or resources we really needed to launch our careers in New York City and Los Angeles, so we created them ourselves and finessed the glow up. Bosshood is a fresh spin on adulting for millennials who obsess over professional development books, love coffee, and hangout at rooftop parties in cool cities.
What’s your biggest challenge in having a side hustle? The biggest reward?
The biggest challenge is definitely time management. After spending Monday through Friday 9-6 looking at my phone and my computer while sitting at my desk for my day job, the very last thing I want to do is more work. The biggest reward comes after that extra work is done for Bosshood and people text and DM us about how inspiring and encouraging it was for them to hear our stories. It’s even cooler when we travel and people come up to us like, “I loved your podcast interview with Johnathan Jackson on Bosshood! I was inspired and encouraged."
Tyeal’s not alone—we’ve heard from our C&C community that time management is a common problem for many side hustlers. The great thing about TurboTax Self-Employed is that it uncovers industry-specific deductions personalized to your line of work, so come tax time you won’t be racking your brain to think them up yourself. Your purchase also comes with a free year of of QuickBooks, which makes expense tracking effortless—so you have more time to focus on actually building and growing your business.
What advice would you give to would-be side hustlers who don’t know where to start in getting their business off the ground while working at a 9-to-5?
I’d say dedicate one of your weekend days where you’re completely free of work obligations to just brainstorm. Sit at a cafe, write out all of your ideas, and just envision what you want those side hustle dreams to manifest into. Then find someone to hold you accountable for the next steps. Start by starting! And read WorkParty the book!
What are you most excited about for your business in 2019?
I’m most excited to continue learning new things, failing at things, adjusting my strategies, and producing the content. Season 2 of Bosshood will be coming soon and you can subscribe now on iTunes or listen on Soundcloud! Boss up!
Want more tips for tax time? Check out our guides for full-time freelancers and C corp entrepreneurs! or Or you can dive into TurboTax Self-Employed here—and enter to win a free TurboTax Live Self-Employed code below!
Our friends at TurboTax were nice enough to share a giveaway with Create & Cultivate readers so you can file your taxes for FREE this season!
30 readers will receive a FREE TurboTax Live Self-Employed product code (valued at $169.99). Simply fill out the form below to enter to win. The winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via email. Good luck!
This post is sponsored by TurboTax.
Do You Have One of the 50 Best Jobs in America?
Software engineers rejoice.
Are you are data scientist, marketing manager, physician assistant, or recruiter? If so, congratulations—your job is one of Glassdoor’s 50 Best Jobs In America!
According to the list, the most in-demand job is that of a software engineer (with a staggering 49,007 job openings nationwide!) while software engineering managers make the most money with a salary of $153,000. Data scientists have the highest job satisfaction, with a rating of 4.3 out of 5.
The Glassdoor Best Jobs list is determined based on earning potential (median annual base salary), overall job satisfaction rating, and number of job openings.
See the full list here.
C&C Classifieds: Kate Spade, RGI Events, Covet PR, Heartbeat & More!
Dream jobs ahead.
It is time to bid your current job adieu? You’re in luck—check out the positions below to find your new gig.
Kate Spade - NY
Create & Cultivate - LA
RGI Events - Washington, D.C.
Annie Campbell Inc - Los Angeles
Aha! - Remote
Earthjustice - Seattle, WA
Bonobos - Seattle
Netflix - Los Angeles
IVY - NYC
The Creative Group - Nashville
Slow Stories: Introducing the Slow Stories Column
“For all intents and purposes, I was busy—but I sacrificed the energy and resources that I needed to implement sustainable systems for my business long-term.”
Phoebe Cheong for The Style Line
They say that time flies when you're having fun (and getting a lot done in the process), but as I look back on the years of building The Style Line from a Tumblr blog to a website to a boutique content company, I've only just started to realize how fast my life accelerated as a result of this path. And even with all of the boxes I've checked over the years, sometimes it's hard to shake off the feeling that things just aren't growing or moving quickly enough.
As a small business owner, I know that I'm not alone in feeling overwhelmed by the constant inundation of articles, content, and expectations set forth for female founders to "make moves" (and move quickly) in the workplace. For a while, I understood this as something that's just part of the game and I followed the unwritten rules of modern entrepreneurship. I networked, I applied for the accolades and awards lists, I secured press, I built my personal brand, I hired and evolved my team, and I created SO MUCH content for both The Style Line and our CONNECT(ED)ITORIAL agency clients. For all intents and purposes, I was busy — but even as I continued to fill the "slower" periods with projects or events to demonstrate the company's continued momentum, I sacrificed the energy and resources that I needed to truly implement sustainable systems and expectations for my business long-term. And as a content business, this obviously played a role in thinking about how to continue approaching storytelling in a deeply meaningful way.
If you're familiar with The Style Line, you know that we pride ourselves on producing thoughtful, original content. Inevitably, the stories we publish on the site catalyzed us to pivot the company into a service-based business with the introduction of our agency CONNECT(ED)ITORIAL. Since we started the agency in October 2015, we've been discerning about working with brands who value quality, longevity, and creativity in their storytelling — all things that are part of what is now being called the slow content movement. This idea is something that we've taken a position on here at CONNECT(ED)ITORIAL through our client work and also internally with the introduction of our new podcast Slow Stories which deep dives into this movement through candid conversations with brand builders and founders.
With all of that said, I'm so thrilled to be able to bring this important topic to the Create & Cultivate community in Slow Stories' namesake column here on the C&C blog. Each month, we're going to be assessing slow content's important role in our constantly changing business climate along with exclusive insights from industry innovators who share their take on "slow content," exclusive snippets of our Slow Stories podcast, and much more. It is my hope that these stories equip you with the tools and guidance you need to create content with longevity. Because if I've learned anything from adopting this thoughtful approach, it's that slowing down our content doesn't mean we're missing out on opportunities, but instead, creating the space we need for creativity, innovation, and happiness to help us tell the stories that matter.
Ahead of our next article, here are a few things to look at when thinking about what slow content means to you and your business.
1. Establish What Slow Content Means to You
Terms like "slow" or "sustainable" don't necessarily have a uniform definition, and are often put into practice in unique ways depending on individual circumstances. We'll explore this idea more in our upcoming stories, but in this context, it's good to think about how to incorporate slow content into your marketing strategy so that you don't overextend yourself and your company's resources. If you're unsure where to start, ask yourself questions such as: Is it about slowing down and creating a realistic posting schedule that your brand's current team can handle? Is it a matter of only sharing content that fits within a particular theme, color palette, or medium? Thinking about these things can help identify the critical pillars around the kind of content that aligns best with your brand, which in turn, can shape a content strategy that is thoughtful, consistent, and focused for the long haul.
2. Plan a Content Calendar
Once you've established the above details, logistically one of the most effective ways to slow and streamline your day-to-day content tasks is to plan ahead. Implementing a content calendar three, six, and even twelve months in advance can help create a bigger picture around what you're trying to say through your content and storytelling efforts. Having this framework mapped out will also allow you to make more informed decisions about what resources you'll need to bring that content to life. By doing this, you and your team now have a sustainable system in place which creates more time and energy to create the content itself with clearly defined goals and timelines.
3. Create a Content Budget
Finally, when talking about slow content in the past, the idea of quality vs. quantity has arisen more times than I count. So, when considering the above two points, one other important factor in crafting a slow content strategy is to think about the production and creative costs associated with creating "quality" content. Implementing this will ultimately force you and your team to be strategic when it comes to budgeting for these resources — and if anything, engaging in this is an exercise in slowing down and thinking big picture in itself. Stay tuned for more on all of this in next month's article!
Rachel Schwartzmann is the Founder and CEO of The Style Line LLC. She created The Style Line in late January 2011 via Tumblr and has fostered The Style Line’s brand in its growth since then. Rachel has been featured in esteemed sources including Forbes, Refinery29, and MyDomaine and has also spoken at Create & Cultivate and Columbia University on establishing a unique brand point of view and entrepreneurship. On October 1, 2015, Rachel took The Style Line in a new direction as a boutique content company with the introduction of its slow content agency CONNECT(ED)ITORIAL.
Meet Our New York Conference Speakers
Get your notebooks ready, ladies.
Do you have your tickets for our New York conference yet? We have some ah-mazing speakers in store for you. Scroll through to read up on the incredible women you’ll get to learn from at our NY event on May 4th!
First things first—we cannot wait for our keynote with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley! The acclaimed fashion model, actor, designer and businesswoman will be chatting with Allure editor-in-chief Michelle Lee (another one of our idols!) on all things business, beauty, and striking out on your own. Rosie launched a new site, Rose Inc., last year, so she’ll come to the event full of advice on launching a brand from the ground up. You’ll also hear from:
Lisa Price, founder of Carol’s Daughter. Lisa founded Carol’s Daughter in her Brooklyn kitchen in 1993 and has since built a haircare empire she sold to L’Oreal.
Rebecca Minkoff, fashion designer. In 2001, Rebecca designed a spinoff version of the “I Love New York” t-shirt. The piece appeared on the Tonight Show and Rebecca has been a household name in fashion and accessories since.
Holly Thaggard, founder & CEO of Supergoop! When Holly’s close friend was diagnosed with skin cancer, she decided to focus her career on sun protection people actually want to wear. Her products are now available in stores nationwide.
Noor Tagouri, journalist. When Noor was younger, she was told she would never be the TV news anchor she dreamed to be if she continued to wear her hijab. Today, she’s a successful journalist covering identity, culture, and politics—and she’s a Tedx alum.
Gabby Bernstein, speaker & New York Times bestselling author. As a motivational speaker, yoga teacher, and meditation expert, Gabby has been featured on Oprah’s SuperSoul Sunday and is a regular expert on The Dr. Oz Show.
Marie Forleo, entrepreneur & host of MarieTV. Marie gave up her 9-5 job security to follow her passion: coaching others to find theirs. Today, her online training programs are beloved by thousands.
Jaclyn Johnson, founder & CEO of Create & Cultivate. When Jaclyn saw a gap in conversations, resources, events, and community for female millennial entrepreneurs, she launched Create & Cultivate to fill that gap. She’s since built it into the conference and digital platform we know and love today.
Katie Sturino, founder of The 12ish Style and Megababe. Katie launched her blog, 12ish Style, to fill the fashion industry void between size zero and plus size. Then she launched Megababe to fight thigh chafe and boob sweat in style. Today, both the blog and the brand and powerhouses in body positivity.
Erin Silver, head of social media at Volvo. After stints at Burberry, Rebecca Minkoff, and Ralph Lauren, Erin took her social smarts to Volvo, where she’s changing the game in influencer relations and strategy.
Jaime Schmidt, founder of Schmidt’s Deodorant. Jaime turned her hobby of making natural deodorant into a wellness empire—the brand became so successful, she sold it to Unilever in 2018.
Nabela Noor, content creator and activist. As a beauty vlogger, Nabela is breaking barriers around body positivity and self-love. Her nonprofit Noor House provides housing, education, and food and water access for Bangladeshi families.
Nicole Tollefsrud, influencer development manager at ShopStyle. With more than a decade of experience in influencer relations, Nicole has a unique look at the intersection of brands and social amplification.
Cynthia Andrew, attorney and blogger. Attorney by day and lifestyle blogger by night, Cynthia’s career is anything but traditional. She’ll share how both gigs have influenced her path as an entrepreneur.
Tezza, creative director and influencer. Tessa Barton is the ultimate multi-hyphenate. As a musician, creative director, stylist and traveler, she’s building an influencer empire via her own personal brand.
Hilary Sloan, director of business development at ShopStyle. Previously at SheFinds and PopSugar, Hilary has an inside look at how commerce and content intersect.
Maxie McCoy, motivational speaker and writer. In 2010, Maxie realized she wasn’t happy at her corporate job—so she left. Today, she’s a motivational speaker who inspires others to “build a deep sense of self belief and the rest will follow.”
Tamara Mellon, fashion designer. Tamara cofounded Jimmy Choo in 1996—and then left the company to do it all again under her namesake brand, Tamara Mellon. This time around, she’s doing it minus the markups and high prices.
More speakers coming soon! Keep checking back for updates—and grab your tickets for the New York conference here!
Create & Cultivate 100: Our 2019 Launch Party
See what you missed at this year’s 100 launch party!
This week, we celebrated 2019’s epic #createcultivate100 launch with a killer celebration in LA! Along with our amazing partners Chevrolet, OM Booth, and Found Rentals, we hosted the party of the year—complete with a palm reader, amazing music, and even a doorbell you could ring for champagne and cookies!
We were so excited to see so many of our 100 honorees there, from Hilary Swank and Whitney Port to Tess Holliday and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. We loved putting together this list—our honorees buck tradition, break barriers, and pave the way for so many women that come after them. We’re inspired by them every day.
Check out photos from the event below!
C&C Classifieds: The Shops at Park Lane, The Brand Guild, Blended Strategy, & More!
Find your next big break.
Whether you’re actively on the job hunt or just seeing what’s out there, find your next big break below!
Blended Strategy - Los Angeles, CA
The Shops at Park Lane - Dallas, TX
The A-List - Los Angeles, CA
The Brand Guild - Washington, D.C.
Create & Cultivate - Los Angeles, CA
Poshmark - Remote
The Creative Group - Gallatin, TN
Amazon - TN
Hulu - Seattle, WA
Splice - New York
Ogilvy - New York
Hearst - Charlotte, North Carolina
Harper + Scott - New York