How to Build a Successful Corporate Career After Years As a Stay-at-Home Mom
I did it, and you can too. Here are a few tips.
The summer after my oldest daughter’s freshman year of high school, I had a mini identity crisis when I suddenly realized my kids weren’t going to need me forever. I’d been a stay-at-home mom for 15 years and had no idea what I wanted to do or even could do. For years I had been fully focused on my kids, and my former life as an ad agency copywriter and freelance writer were distant memories. “You need to get it together,” I told myself. And I did, landing a writing position at a Fortune 100 company (Target!) – with just a handful of current writing samples, no idea how to use Outlook, and almost no experience interviewing. Getting the job felt like a freaking miracle, and entering corporate America for the first time at age 43 (!!) was both daunting and empowering.
But I did it, and you can too. Here are a few tips.
Get some experience - it’s not as hard as you think
I hadn’t worked in years, so before I started applying for jobs, I did some freelance writing for our local newspaper. It happened almost by accident: I had an idea for a story and emailed the editor. She liked the idea and suggested I write and submit it. I did, they published it, and that led to many more writing assignments. Without those published articles, I’m not sure I would have been considered for any jobs, since my other published writing samples were ancient. If you’re in the same boat, try getting current experience however you can. It doesn’t matter how small the project or organization. You don’t have to get paid for it. Just get out there and do something in the area you’re looking to get back into. Try volunteering your time at your kids’ school or reaching out to small companies or nonprofit organizations and offer to help them out. You’d be surprised by how many will say yes. (I recently did this myself - I reached out to a nonprofit organization in Seattle that really touched my heart, and I’ve been working with them doing pro bono writing for the past few months.)
Get your family on board
Going back to work will impact your whole family. Make sure they’re fully on board because it’s going to be a big adjustment and will mean more work for them. A friend with an intense career who has three kids told me that her husband, a professor, does more than 50 percent of the work when it comes to taking care of the kids and the house – and that for them, this division of labor was the only way to manage their crazy schedule. I shared this with my husband and made sure he was up for it. (He was, and his awesome support made the transition much smoother for all of us.)
Get the inside scoop from friends and connections
A friend of mine worked at Target headquarters, so before I applied for the job I reached out to her and asked a million questions. She helped prep me for my interviews by explaining how the company was structured and what the company’s culture was like. She also gave me advice on what to wear. (Three separate days of interviews meant three interview outfits! Stressful!)
If you know someone at a company you’re interested in, reach out to them and offer to take them to coffee or lunch. They can provide valuable insight and will likely be very happy to do so. Have good questions ready and be respectful of their time.
Give it six months
I was very nervous about the thought of working full time and how it might impact my three daughters. I was also afraid it might turn out to be a huge mistake. The same friend who told me to make sure my husband was on board also gave me a piece of advice that saved me. “Give it six months,” she said. That’s enough time to get over the hump and truly assess if it’s right for you. And if it’s not, you can leave. Six months felt very doable. Knowing it didn’t have to be permanent if it truly wasn’t right gave me the freedom to move forward.
Be realistic
The job I applied for and landed was a perfect fit for me, but it was also at a lower level than most people my age. And it was fine. Since starting that first job seven years ago, I have switched companies, been promoted several times, and doubled my initial salary.
Ask for help and Google like crazy
If you’ve been out of the workforce for any amount of time, you’re going to have a learning curve. An embarrassing example for me was when my boss asked me to pull together a best practices document for a project I was working on. I literally did not know what a best practices document was. But I googled it, figured it out, and got it done. Sometimes asking for help or asking questions is the right approach. And sometimes you just need to figure it out yourself.
Nancy Brandt is a Twin Cities copywriter and editor who spent years in corporate communications at both Target and 3M. She now spends her days writing, editing, brainstorming, and collaborating with companies of all sizes. She also helps high school students find their voice when writing their college application essays and does pro bono work for several nonprofits. Find Nancy at NancyBWriting.com or follow her on Instagram.
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Desk-Side: This YouTuber Shares How She Stays Motivated Through Challenging Times
If you’ve been on YouTube in the last five years, you probably already know Dani Austin.
If you’ve been on YouTube in the last five years, you’ve probably already heard of Dani Austin. The vlogger/blogger has been on the content creation scene for years, and she’s got this thing down to a science. But between running her channel, writing for her blog, and crafting the perfect Instagram post, Dani doesn’t have a lot of down time. That’s why we partnered with Glade® Essentials Room Mist to find out what keeps her going strong—and how she gets it all done in her gorgeous Dallas home! Read on to get to know Dani.
Q: How long have you lived in Texas?
A: I have lived in Dallas my entire life, and my favorite things about living here are the people and the margaritas!
Q: What’s your morning routine?
A: I wake up, cuddle the dogs, go for a run, and do my devotional.
Q: How do you set the tone for a great day at work?
A: The Glade® Essentials Room Mist in Mandarin & Mimosa makes me happy—because nothing is more powerful than smell!
Q: What are you looking forward to most this year?
A: One of the projects I’m most excited about is working on the Sassy Club tour! The Sassy Club is an app that I’ve created to help women connect all over the country.
Q: Who inspires you most?
A: My grandma, who is 92 years old, inspires me most. That chick can still drive a car and she has the best style!
Q: What’s a fun fact about you?
A: I have an extra rib!
Q: How do you stay motivated through challenging times at work?
A: When I hit a hurdle in a project in my career, I blast Taylor Swift and give myself a pep talk.
See Dani’s full interview here:
This post is sponsored by Glade.
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How to Fire Someone (Without Getting Sued)
On paper, it looked like the perfect fit.
On paper, it looked like the perfect fit. The applicant had all the experience you wanted, an engaging interview, and proficiency in three languages. But a few months (or years!) into the job, and you just aren’t feeling it anymore. That’s usually the time I get a call from the entrepreneurs I work with saying, “It’s just not the right fit. Can we fire them?”
Of course you can. But…how to do it and what the risk level is depends on the individual facts. Here’s the process I walk through with clients contemplating a termination:
Is termination fair? Does the employee know that their performance or conduct isn’t up to par? If they have violated a company policy, is the policy in writing, and has the rule been enforced equally?
Does the employee have any potential legal claims? Have they been paid properly, given mandatory meal breaks or overtime?
Consider the timing. Has the employee recently complained about working conditions or pay? Has the employee taken sick leave or had any medical issues? You want to be careful that the timing doesn’t seem retaliatory for any complaint or protected time off.
Once you’ve decided to move forward, you have to prepare for that difficult termination meeting. I can offer some pointers to hopefully make a tough transition a bit less painful:
Don’t wait.
There’s never the perfect time, and there’s always an excuse not to do it today. There’s no best day of the week or time of day that makes it easier, but waiting to notify the employees comes with the potential risk that they get injured at work, diagnosed with an illness, or even get pregnant, making the termination timing seem retaliatory. If you must wait to conduct the termination, document your decision internally and the reason that you are waiting. Perhaps draft an email to your business partner saying, “I agree we need to terminate Sally because of the performance issues we discussed. Let’s plan to do this next Tuesday when you are back from vacation.” That way, if something comes up before the termination date, you have some protection against a retaliation or discrimination claim.
Identify the best way to communicate.
Make every attempt to do it in person rather than by phone or Skype. Have a company witness present. Give the employee a chance to respond or tell their side of the story, even if it can’t change the outcome. Tell the truth about the reason for termination; don’t make it a fake layoff if you are replacing the position. Whatever you say can be used to discredit you in the event an employee does pursue legal action.
Consider any security issues.
This includes employee security, data and technology resources, and confidential company information. Be sure you have electronic access to everything you need for business continuity purposes, get any confidential material before the employee leaves the premises, and if you think the employee is prone to violence, hire security to assist.
Have the paperwork ready.
Some states, including California, require that employees be paid at the time of termination, so check the state in which your employee is located to make sure you are issuing final pay properly (including accrued but unused PTO if required by law or your policy). Also check on any state-mandated termination documents or letters that you need to give a terminating employee. You may also want to consider whether offering severance pay in exchange for a release of legal claims makes sense. It’s usually cheaper than resolving a claim on the back-end, and if you are seeking capital, it’s helpful for potential investors to know the company has cleaned up any potential employment liabilities. Check with an attorney who can assist in preparing all termination documents. The dollars spent up front are far less than those spent to resolve a claim on the back-end.
Communicate to the rest of the staff.
While you need to be mindful of employee privacy, you can’t really ignore the fact that they just watched a coworker pack up their desk or just received a text from. Address employee morale with empathy and a plan for moving forward, e.g. “I know Sally was an important part of the team, and we have already taken steps to find someone with XXX experience who we think will be a better match for the upcoming team projects.”
Sahara Pynes is an attorney at Fox Rothschild LLP whose practices focus almost exclusively on minimizing liability against lawsuits through preventative counseling on a range of employment issues. She works directly with business owners and their management teams to enhance company culture and provide practical strategies to manage human resources and risks. Sahara was named one of Angeleno Magazine’s Most Dynamic Women of 2018. If you’re a business owner who doesn’t know what forms to give a new hire, how to properly classify and pay employees/contractors, or just wants to button up their HR issues, reach out to Sahara at SPynes@Foxrothschild.com to see if she can help.
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How This Production Company Founder Is Sharing Authentic Stories in Hollywood
“you have to put yourself out there, say you want it, but also be willing to fail and accept responsibility for your mistakes and when you could’ve done better.”
Stephanie Noonan Drachkovitch didn’t always know she wanted to be in television. But after interning for a local talk show, she knew it was her calling. Fast-forward to today, and Stephanie is the president and co-founder of 44 Blue Productions, an award-winning production company leading the field in unscripted and non-fiction TV with shows like Wahlburgers and Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry.
Read on to hear how Stephanie moved up in Hollywood, her advice for women looking to work in television, and how she stays confident in a male-dominated industry.
Describe your career journey. How did you get to the position you’re at now?
My mom went to Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, was a voracious reader and talented writer, and inspired my love for magazines—between that and my infatuation with Mary Richards on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, I became a magazine journalism major at U of Oregon.
After interning through the Magazine Publishers Association one summer, I got an internship at the daily live talk show on the local ABC affiliate in Portland, Oregon, and that began my love affair with live television! I went from production assistant (my duties ranged from warming up the audience to running the teleprompter and gathering props for the weekly household hints segment) at KATU to associate producer at WPVI’s AM PHILADELPHIA to Executive Producer at WCAU, the CBS Owned and Operated station then in Philadelphia. I was their youngest EP at the time, doing a live daily issue-and-entertainment based talk show. Lots of decisions every day in the control room!
I then joined Telepictures in Los Angeles as a producer of a daily news magazine, then KRON in San Francisco to EP their live daily show. At that point my now-husband and I had started our own production company with the dream of producing our own shows. We lived in the Bay Area, and he was running it while I had the steady paycheck. I got offered a job as a studio executive at Disney in LA, so we decided to jump on it as an opportunity to move our fledgling company back to LA where we could return to the center of the entertainment industry. That led to a 13-year career as a studio exec, where I went from Director of Development at the Disney division that launched REGIS & KATHIE LEE (now LIVE WITH KELLY & RYAN), then moved to Vice President of Development at Group W Productions, Executive Vice President of Development at UK indie Pearson Television (now Fremantle), back to Disney as Senior Vice President of Development (we launched WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE during that period) and finally, Senior Vice President of Development at Warner Bros./Telepictures (we launched THE BACHELOR and ELLEN while I was there). After surviving five studio jobs and working for a new boss nearly every three years, my husband convinced me to jump out of the crazy studio world and return to 44 Blue in 2003. I’ve been with our company ever since!
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
My dad taught me to go for it and “always leave it all on the field.” Never wonder “what if I’d only….?” My favorite advice to give to others: “You can’t win if you don’t play.” Which is just another way of saying you don’t get something unless you ask, so be fearless about reaching out, introducing yourself, asking for what you need—whatever form it takes. My other favorites: Everything leads to something. On time is late and early is on time. Always send a thank-you note.
What moment in your career are you most proud of?
Besides the sale of our company to Red Arrow Studios after three decades of hard work and wondering if we’d make payroll on Fridays, it would be our series MARRIED TO THE ARMY: ALASKA. As an Army brat whose mom raised three kids during the turbulence of the Vietnam War era, I was determined to tell the real-life stories of what military families were going through during the height of the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. It took five years of trying to get access from the Department of Defense, but we finally got the “yes” to allow us to embed in the lives of real-life Army wives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, ironically where my parents met. That led to our Gracie Award-winning MARRIED TO THE ARMY: ALASKA for Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network in 2012.
What do you love most about working in unscripted and nonfiction television?
It’s introduced me to so many people from all walks of life, from around the country and the world—from Army wives in Alaska to content creators in India—it’s allowed me to tell stories of people and places whose stories have not been told. It’s such a rewarding genre because you are meeting the real people who are living real lives—not fictionalized where everything wraps up neatly in an hour because you can write it that way. When we tell the stories of real people, we become part of their lives. We are thankful that they trust us with their stories and invite us in. I treasure the relationships and the people I’ve been able to meet over the past three decades!
What advice do you have for women looking to become showrunners?
If you want to become a showrunner, you have to put yourself out there, say you want it, but also be willing to fail and accept responsibility for your mistakes and when you could’ve done better. You have to be willing to learn every day, from every show and every interaction. Each series is different and teaches you something new. It’s important to realize that showrunning is not just about being creative or being a visionary storyteller. It also takes strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills. Be open to new ideas and points of view. Read everything you can about how to inspire and lead. It will show on the screen!
44 Blue is about to head into its 35th year, how does your company and its content stay relevant and fresh after all these years?
Great question! We always try to look around us, as well as down the road as far as we can and ask ourselves what else we could be doing to push ourselves to try new things, explore new worlds, teach ourselves new skillsets. For example, last year we did our first SnapChat projects and brand commercials, and this year we’ve launched a podcast initiative and are doing short-form series for IMDB. We can’t be afraid to try new things that test our creative chops and business models.
How do you speak up and have confidence when in an industry that’s so male-dominated?
I’ve never been asked that—I guess I’ve never been intimidated by speaking up, and I’ve made sure to always push myself to speak up—maybe because I grew up as a military kid and my parents always encouraged me to speak up? But that said, I do still remember at one job not wanting to be taller than my boss (I’m 5’9”) and so I never wore heels. I guess I didn’t want him to feel intimated by me. Then one day I was like “forget that!” I should be able to be as tall as I want—who cares if he’s intimidated! And out came the heels haha! Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In book is an insightful read into what we sometimes do to unintentionally hold ourselves back.
What’s next for you and 44 Blue?
I can hardly wait to see - we have an amazing team of people that inspire me every day when I walk in. Our new series Jailbirds just debuted on Netflix on May 10, our tenth and final season of Wahlburgers is currently airing on A&E, and we’re working on a new series with FOX called First Responders Live that premieres in June. We have a few more projects coming out this year - both on linear and some new initiatives in the digital space - that I can’t say too much about at the moment, but we’re incredibly excited. That’s why I love this business. Things change by the minute—the sky’s the limit!
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C&C Classifieds: Twelve NYC, Telia Agency, Hourglass Cosmetics, & More!
New job, who dis?
Need a new job? Look no further—we’ve rounded up the best openings of the week for you!
Twelve NYC - Brooklyn, NY
Assistant, Design + Development
Telia Agency - Tampa, FL
Hourglass Cosmetics - Venice, CA
Sling & Stone - Los Angeles, CA
PR Account Supervisor – Startups
Soda Pop Public Relations - Los Angeles, CA
ID Group - West Hollywood, CA
Assistant Architect/ Designer/ Hospitality Manager
Hospitality Marketing Assistant
The Media Grind - Pacific Palisades, CA
PersonalizationMall.com - Burr Ridge, IL
Merchandise Buyer - Life Stages
The Dallas Girl Gang Team - Dallas, TX
HarperCollins Publishers - San Francisco, CA
Volvo - Rockleigh, NJ
Senior Specialist, Brand Marketing
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How Living Abroad Changed My View On “Being Busy”
Work smarter, not harder.
We’re constantly connected. We use how little space our calendars have as bragging rights and idolize that “we’re just so busy” that girls’ night has to be put off for another two weeks.
Our society glorifies being busy. The hustle. The infamous “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” mentality.
I hate to be the one to break it to you, but always being busy is not sustainable or admirable.
Society has been set up to make us believe that going 100 miles an hour is what’s needed to be successful. More often than not, working until 10pm every day is what leads to burnout, breakdowns, and mental health issues that we justify and normalize.
Luckily, there’s a shift happening. When you see women like Arianna Huffington talking about the importance of sleep or the fact that the global wellness industry is worth 4.2 trillion dollars, we realize that there has to be another way.
“While everything looked great on paper, I was working too much between my day job and side business and not taking time for myself. Of course, I justified it, thinking it was normal until something changed. ”
In my case, it took having a major breakdown while I was living in New York working the “perfect job” right out of college. While everything looked great on paper, I was working too much between my day job and side business and not taking time for myself. Of course, I justified it, thinking it was normal until something changed.
It wasn’t until I had moved to Spain, did I truly unlearn what makes a good life. Here are three mindset shifts you can use to stop glorifying being busy and start truly living the life you were meant to live.
Find inspiration in the slow moments
When was the last time you did nothing and didn’t feel guilty about it?
Stepping back and proactively scheduling time to disconnect leads to personal and professional growth. When we slow down and unplug, we’re able to tap into a creative state of mind, a flow state, that allows for us to find inspiration.
In Spain, you learn how to slow down whether you want to or not. People walk slower, bureaucracy takes longer, stores are closed midday. Once I learned to embrace that, I realized that taking time to just be brings joy that later overflows into the work I do.
Making space for things that bring joy like walking in nature, listening to your favorite podcast, or taking time to eat and actually enjoy it can bring about new ideas and thought processes that you may not have if you’re always thinking about the next email you have to send.
Work smarter, not harder
Most of us believe that we’re supposed to work long days and longer nights until we hit financial freedom and retire early. If you’re a part of the Create and Cultivate collective, odds are you’re a bit more intentional and don’t want that to be your narrative.
Working is a given, but we can change the way we work. Living on the Mediterranean coast, I’ve found that when you’re inspired by your surroundings and all that you do, you learn to be more intentional with the way you work.
Think about a normal day and ask yourself how much time do you actually spend getting quality work done. Most of the time, we don’t need to be behind our computers for 10 hours a day, but we can get it all done in six hours instead.
Enter Parkinson’s law: “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” Try cutting down a couple of hours in the day and be more intentional with what tasks are necessary for growth, and you’ll find that you have more time to make space for what really matters. Tools like Toggl are great for tracking how you actually spend your time in the work day so you can see how much time you really need to get it all done and make space for living as well.
“Try cutting down a couple of hours in the day and be more intentional with what tasks are necessary for growth, and you’ll find that you have more time to make space for what really matters. ”
Schedule weekly “you time” during the week
Some people laugh at Spanish culture for embracing things like the siesta or tomando algo during the middle of the week, but there is a method to the madness.
Spain was just named the healthiest country in the world (while the US camein at #35). Many countries in Europe embrace taking time off, while Americans leave 169 million vacation days on the table each year. It has a lot to do with the mentality of what it means to take “time off” and how that will impact our lives and view of success.
One of the best ways to make sure you’re going a sustainable pace is by not waiting for your 5 days of vacation twice a year to take time for yourself. Scheduling a bit of “you time” during the week allows you to put less emphasis on the weekend and start thinking of each day as an opportunity to work efficiently, live well, and take time for self-care.
Our joy shouldn’t be confined to mimosa brunches on the weekend, but instead to start taking into account that each day has the potential to be well-rounded, spacious, and filled with what truly matters.
Unlearning what we’ve been taught for years can sometimes be difficult, especially when being busy and working hard is so normalized in our culture. While it took me a few years living abroad to truly redesign my life and start living at a sustainable pace, I was able to better understand that the more balanced your life is, the more productive, efficient, and intentional you can become.
Sienna Brown is an entrepreneur and expat thriving on the coast of Spain. Her mission is to teach others how build a life that they love. She’s the founder of Las Morenas de Espana, a platform teaching women of color how to move abroad and thrive. She also leads business development at Sun and Co., one of the leading coliving spaces in Europe. Follow her on Instagram @siempregirando and reach out sienna@siempregirando.com
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Pro Tip: 5 Ways Women Can Navigate Male-Dominated Workspaces
While it’s not women’s responsibility to change a toxic workplace culture on their own, there are ways, from within and outside of management, that women can navigate these spaces and have fulfilling and rewarding careers in the long run.
For years, pundits have outlined the need to incorporate more diverse voices in traditionally male-dominated industries. Fields such as technology, medicine, and business leadership have struggled to recruit and retain women on their staff.
This gap exists for a number of reasons, but one of them, research has shown, exists because of the environment in which women are required to work. Women often report feeling as though they are operating in an environment that feels like a "good ol' boys club," that their opinions are not respected among male peers, and that they cannot maintain an appropriate work-life balance. Additionally, many of them deal with workplace harassment.
This lack of diversity has had extreme consequences on those industries:
Certain AI technologies have proven to have racist and sexist tendencies.
Clinical trials run by male medical staff often don’t include female patients, causing a number of negative health effects for female patients.
Companies across every industry that don’t have women on staff have proven to be less profitable.
Many male-dominated workplaces make it uncomfortable, if not impossible, for women to have long and fulfilling careers in the fields that desperately need their fresh approach, problem-solving abilities, and unique life experience.
While it’s not women’s responsibility to change a toxic workplace culture on their own, there are ways, from within and outside of management, that women can navigate these spaces and have fulfilling and rewarding careers in the long run.
Seek Out Other Women in Your Field for Support
This can help you create a support network. These women can be in your general industry, women in leadership roles within the company you work for, or other women who also work in male-dominated fields.
In a recent profile of tech giant Microsoft published by the Seattle Times, one woman noted a feeling of isolation in her position, stating “I am surrounded by men and only men in most of my meetings.” It’s this sense of isolation that can make maintaining a position in a male-dominated industry so difficult.
One solution to that problem is to actively seek out people like you who share some of your experiences. In the tech industry especially, mentorship and sponsorship are key to keeping women in these integral positions. Research shows that having a powerful female role model in a leadership position will help other women in the company feel more comfortable with the idea that they, too, can attain a leadership role within the company.
Advocate for a Better Work-Life Balance
Another reason many women struggle in male-dominated spaces is due to a culture of overwork. This is especially true for working mothers. In a number of male-dominated industries, it is common that people work overtime and after hours.
“Corporate culture is often less accessible to women for very clear historical reasons,” Liz Elting writes for Forbes. “The modern workplace was built around the assumption of a nuclear family with a working father and a stay-at-home mom, and for as much as our society has changed, that model is still assumed in workplaces across America. The result is a culture that excludes all but a specific type of employee and isn’t actually good for anyone.”
With working mothers also having the so-called “second shift” of coming home and taking care of children, no one benefits from improper work-life balance. The woman suffers from being overworked and burnt out; her children suffer from not having her full attention and energy; and co-workers suffer from decreased output and an overreliance on them to pick up the slack.
Women who work for small businesses should be especially careful to recognize signs of being overworked, as employees in small businesses are particularly prone to burnout. With fewer employees often working harder to make the business successful, combined with not having enough time to manage home life, a woman can very easily spiral into an unhealthy work-life balance.
Advocate for Yourself and Reclaim Your Space
As Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie said, “We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller. We say to girls, you can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful. Otherwise, you would threaten the man.”
Part of this can also be imposter syndrome, where the woman does not feel she is worth her accomplishments and feels like a fraud in her industry. It’s not uncommon even among high-achieving women.
Again, strong female role models can help in this regard. They can help women feel they will not fail and were hired for a reason. A lack of role models can diminish confidence, which in turn can foster imposter syndrome.
Part of being successful in the workplace is to unlearn tendencies to shrink yourself and reclaim the space that is rightfully yours. Part of combating imposter syndrome is breaking the cycle of needing to achieve to feel accepted by the company or vice versa.
While this can be off-putting to some, it’s an idea that can make or break you in male-dominated spaces.
Take Advantage of Available Opportunities to Move Up
Women are statistically less likely to apply for positions if they feel underqualified for the position. In fact, a recent Harvard Business Review Study indicates that women refuse to apply for positions unless they’re 100 percent qualified.
Despite not feeling qualified, women should take advantage of every opportunity available to them. Perfection is not necessary; having skills is. It can’t hurt to apply, after all, and should you obtain the position, other women may see that it is possible to advance, bolstering the entire workforce of women in the company.
Ask for Constructive Feedback Early and Often
Without feedback, it can be harder to improve your performance. Studies show that women are statistically less likely to receive feedback from their managers and superiors, meaning they’re more likely to be passed over for promotions.
By asking for feedback early and often, women can find out the exact requirements and expectations of the job they currently have. They also can have a better idea of what it will take to move forward in the companies that they’re in.
Women face an uphill battle in the workplace, especially in male-dominated industries. While it’s hard to fight imposter syndrome, it’s possible to find a support group of other women, especially those already in leadership roles. It’s also vital that you be an advocate for yourself when it comes to maintaining a healthy work-life balance in order to avoid burning out. Solicit feedback and use it to better yourself. Apply for better positions in the company. While you may not think you are qualified, it can’t hurt — and you might be surprised to find you have the skills necessary. From that leadership position, you can help other women, having proved you are right for the job.
Jori Hamilton is a writer from the pacific northwest. You can follow her work on twitter @hamiltonjori or her Contently.
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Five Ways To Embrace Digital Minimalism At Work
It’s easy to get swept up in work and feel like you always have to be “on.”
We live in a digital society where everything is interconnected, so it’s not possible to completely step away from your computer or phone at work. But there are ways to create a more balanced relationship with technology.
In Cal Newport’s new book, Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, he discusses how to figure out what digital communication tools (and behaviors surrounding them) add the most value to your life. In other words, he talks about how to create balance between digital and physical reality. Balance technically means even distribution; however, a work life balance means something different for everyone.
It’s easy to get swept up in work and feel like you always have to be “on.” Answer your emails quickly, work late, arrive early. It can seem like everything is coming at you a mile a minute, but the key to successfully navigating your career is creating a lifestyle that works for you. Here are five ways to embrace digital minimalism to help keep tech from impacting your life and mental health.
Make a habit of being proactive with your projects
One of the best ways to help minimize your time in a crazed digital state is to make a habit of being proactive with your projects. Instead of procrastinating and waiting until the last minute to crank out a big report, work on it piece by piece. Write part of it, then step away. Being proactive with your projects allows you to progress at an attainable pace, look at the project with fresh eyes, and maintain a healthy relationship with it so you don’t dread working on it.
If you know that you have a given deadline, start preparing for it a few weeks in advance. Look at the list of what needs to be accomplished and start putting things into place piece by piece. Is there an outline you can put together or an extra memo you can write now so you don’t have to do everything at the last minute?
Automate
The saying “work smarter, not harder” is around for a reason. We live in an era where we can automate some areas of business, and it won’t make any difference. Social media posting and email marketing are simple and easy places you can automate to save you time and brainpower.
Do you send out a weekly newsletter? Do you follow up with clients periodically? Make a list of what needs to get done each week and keep it on hand. This way you can check off various items and make sure that each task gets accomplished on time in an organized manner. If you know that something needs to be done weekly, you’re more likely to stick to a schedule and be consistent with your work.
Once you have the content, you can automate the communication plan so it sends without a second thought. By doing this, you are ensuring consistency and giving your clients the same services without having to physically be present for it. Some great tools include Hootsuite and MailChimp to schedule articles on social media and send out weekly newsletters. Another great tool is Meet Edgar. This automates how you promote your business and content on social media, and uses previous articles so that you can recycle content in order to ensure that it doesn’t get lost in the black hole that is the internet.
By putting in a bit of time to automate your communication and social media efforts, you can move away from the constant ties to digital media, save time, and put your mind to better use.
Clearly communicate that you’ll be out of office
An essential part of embracing digital minimalism is to actually take time away from the office. When you take time for yourself, it’s essential to clearly communicate that you will be out. Tell your peers and clients ahead of time when you will be unavailable so there’s no confusion, and make sure that this is marked and communicated in several locations.
People may still try to contact you, so it’s important to understand that as long as you’ve labeled and communicated your out of office status, there’s nothing more you can do.
A good rule of thumb is to put an away message on your email, record a voicemail which clearly states that you’re out along with your return date, and if you have a website, you can mark your business as “closed” for a specific time period. Most people will completely understand and even commend you for taking time away from work as long as you clearly communicate that you’re unavailable. The biggest issues arise when someone is trying to contact you because they are unaware that you’re not available. If you don’t clearly communicate your out of office status, someone may feel as though you’re ignoring or ghosting them which is never good.
Do something you love every day
Part of clearing away low-value digital noise is about being present and finding ways to improve your life. Discover something that you love and do it every day. This could be as small as walking your dog, cooking a healthy meal, or doing yoga. The point is to treat yourself and do something that makes you happy on a daily basis.
Work can be stressful and overwhelming, so getting out of your head and doing something you truly enjoy is hugely beneficial. It’s backed by science! Studies show that happiness leads to an approximate 12% spike in productivity.
Remember that most things won’t make or break you
In a society where we are completely plugged in and see every email come through, it’s easy to feel like we have to do everything right now and that every move we make is life altering. It’s not.
If you find yourself feeling like every move you make is critical, take a step back and think about five years ago. I know, it sounds weird, but just stick with me for a minute. Do you remember all the little things you were stressed out about five years ago? Do they matter anymore? Did they even make a difference? Probably not.
A good way to put things into perspective is to think about whether or not this will matter five years from now. If it’s something trivial, don’t stress about it. We tend to build things up in our head and make ourselves feel like everything is more important than it actually is. All you can do is be the best version of yourself, do the best you can, and accept that no one is perfect.
It can feel impossible to unplug and leave work at work but doing so is extremely important.
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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How This Physicist Is Challenging the Birth Control Industry
“One should always consider: ‘What is the worst that could happen, and how likely is that?’”
Elina Berglund isn’t your typical company cofounder. Originally a particle physicist, Elina was unimpressed with the birth control options offered to women, so she went about creating her own. Today, she is the CTO and cofounder of Natural Cycles, the only FDA approved digital birth control.
Below, Elina shares how she created Natural Cycles, how she transitioned from physics to business, and the best advice she’s ever been given.
What whitespace did you see in the birth control industry, and how did you go about filling it?
Natural Cycles came out of a personal need of an effective, easy-to-use, hormone free birth control method. When I did not find such a product on the market, I started reading up on the scientific literature on how the basal body temperature can indicate when you ovulate and hence when you are fertile and not. Using my knowledge from particle physics (I was currently working at CERN on what would lead to the Higgs discovery in 2012), I started crafting an algorithm that gives a green day if there is no risk of fertility that day and a red day if one needs to use protection in order to prevent pregnancy.
Not long after I realized what a huge unmet need this is among women worldwide for such a hormone free birth control option and that many women don’t use any birth control at all, or very non-effective methods such as the rhythm method, since they haven’t found a method that suits them.
How does Natural Cycles work? What sets it apart from other birth control options?
Natural Cycles comes in the form of an app and a basal thermometer. The user measures her temperature in her mouth when she wakes up in the morning and enters it into the app. Then, the algorithm is run in the background and returns a red day if she needs to use protection that day or a green day if she definitely is not fertile that day.
Natural Cycles is the only FDA cleared, digital birth control method. The method has been shown repeatedly in several studies published in peer reviewed journals to be 93% effective under typical use and 98% effective under perfect use (which is when the user does use protection when the app gives red days).
Natural Cycles fills the void in the family of birth control methods for women who are looking for an effective and non-invasive hormone free method. It also has the additional benefit of being able to be used for planning a pregnancy. As our average user is 30 years old, we often see women first use the app to prevent pregnancy for a few years, until they are ready for the next step and then they on average get pregnant quite quickly as they’ve by now really learned how their unique cycle and body works.
Why was it important for you to create Natural Cycles?
I think it is really important to provide women with different types of birth control options as there is no one size fits all when it comes to birth control, as different women have different needs and which also often changes throughout the reproductive lifetime.
Then, I also feel that women’s health is an under-researched and under-developed area in general, and I’m happy to make a contribution by developing the first FDA cleared birth control app, but hope to contribute even more in the future.
Your background is in physics, and you even worked on a project that received a Nobel Prize. How did you make the shift from physics into business and the tech industry?
Yes, in some sense it is very different but in another sense very similar. I still work with data and research and use programming and advanced statistics as the main tools, just with a different purpose. Then on the other hand, the business and the tech world is quite different from the world of physics and academia, so I do think I’ve learned quite a lot in the last years by changing paths.
You cofounded Natural Cycles with your husband. What has it been like being married to your business partner?
Yes, I did! I think it has mainly been a source of strength as we are almost always very aligned, and it is amazing to be able to share such a passion, which Natural Cycles is to both us. There are of course a few down sides as well, for instance it is really hard to stop talking about work in the late evening when it would probably be better for us to think about something more relaxing.
“One should always consider: ‘What is the worst that could happen, and how likely is that?’”
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given? What’s the best piece of advice you have to share?
My dad often said that “People too often let fear control their lives.” I think he is right in the sense that we often take decisions based on a too risk-averse profile, especially women.
One should always consider: “What is the worst that could happen, and how likely is that?” This is what I thought about when giving up my career in physics and not having a salary for a while when creating Natural Cycles. I thought that I had enough savings to get by for a while and hence the worst case that can happen is that Natural Cycles does not take off, but I’ve then still learned about how to develop an app, and I might end up getting a job at Google instead.
How do you hope female contraception will evolve in the future? Where do you see the industry going?
Well, I hope there will also be more options for male contraception, although I think it’s unfortunately unlikely in the nearer future.
I hope female contraception will also keep evolving, of course, but I think there is an increased need for more solutions driven by the tech industry to compensate for that the pharmaceutical industry unfortunately has cut back funding in this area.
Here in the United States, female sexuality is still pretty taboo. How do you see your company combating that stigma?
We do try to spread knowledge more generally about birth control, female sexuality, and how the women’s reproductive system works. We’ve seen that unfortunately there is a big education gap when it comes to these topics. We are trying to address that, and we do see a huge interest from our users’ side in understanding their bodies better and everything around it, which is exciting.
You have a daughter, what are the biggest lessons you hope to teach her?
Oh, so many things of course! Just like I was at her age (she is 4), she is already curious about so many things about how nature and the universe works. I am trying to spark more of that interest by answering all her questions and discussing with her.
What’s next for you? What’s next for Natural Cycles?
We’ve moved to NYC last fall, following the FDA clearance to build up a team here as we believe that the US market is and will be very important to us going forward. It’s very exciting to be here and learn about what kind of user is ideal for us here and how to best reach her.
We are also expecting a little baby brother next week, so that’s of course quite a big thing for us :)
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"I Refuse To Accept The Status Quo" — Amber Heard on Using Your Voice For Change
”Only the people who benefit from the status quo don’t want to change it.”
When actor and activist Amber Heard took the stage with I Am A Voter founder Mandana Dayani for last weekend’s New York conference keynote, we knew we were in for a powerful, enlightening conversation. But Amber delivered so much more than that, speaking passionately about her activism in a way that got us all amped up to create real change in the world. We left her keynote feeling inspired, empowered, and unafraid—and you will, too, after reading what she had to say below.
On her activism…
”It’s one thing to talk about food deserts or unlivable wages or cyclical poverty, but to see face-to-face the people that are affected by the consequences of these institutions is a whole other thing. It taught me that there’s an element of these conditions that was lost on me as a relatively privileged white kid who could get food if I needed it. The flaw is in the institutions, and not a character flaw.”
“If one person’s human rights can be violated, it means all our rights can be violated. We live in an unfair, unjust world—the same tragedies that can happen to others can happen to you. I am in a position where I can amplify voices and raise awareness for people who are forgotten. I can’t think of a more important thing to fight for than our basic human rights and right to health.”
On the importance of voting…
“If you like the way things are right now, if you’re happy earning 60 cents to the dollar, if you’re happy with how that will play out, then don’t do anything. But if you want to see things change, then break it open.”
“If you’re quiet, you’ll be ignored.”
“I refuse to accept the status quo. I refuse to stand in line.”
On using your voice for change…
“The world that’s better for someone else is going to be an inherently better world for you.”
“I want to be on the right side of history and change.”
“What I’ve learned is that at the end of the day, I’m proud of my movies, sure; but that’s nothing in comparison to the things I’ve stood up for because they were right and true—and I did it despite what it cost me. It has always made an impact, and it has always upset people.”
”Only the people who benefit from the status quo don’t want to change it.”
“Policy can’t be just wrapped up in political debates. Basic needs are universal.”
“When someone puts you in a box, change what the walls of the box are made out of.”
“We’re a generation of daughters of equality. We’ve inherited too much to accept anything less than that—it’s our burden to push it forward.”
On the patriarchy…
“Why is it my responsibility for boys and men to treat me with the respect that I deserve? Why is it my job?”
“We see these really narrow archetypes of ourselves [as women] in media. We don’t get to see real representations because we haven’t been behind the camera telling those stories.”
“We’re a generation of daughters of equality. We’ve inherited too much to accept anything less than that—it’s our burden to push it forward.”
“Visibility is crucial. That’s what we’ve seen in the wake of these social movements, that the value is in the voice, the connection we form when we hear other people say, Yes, me too.”
“We’re saying, ‘We’re loud, we’re here, and we want to change the world’ to respect and believe survivors and push the conversations even further.”
“We are a part of a vast army of voices that are not accepting silence.”
On creating a legacy…
“One day, someone other than you who hasn’t had the privilege to be able to speak out is going to be affected by the positive change that you make. You just have to choose: Which side of history do you want to be on?”
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We Asked Six Women How Moms & Motherhood Have Changed Their Lives
“The best thing I inherited from my mom is my kindness.”
How has your mom changed the course of your life? We partnered with Hallmark to host a Mother’s Day brunch with a few of our favorite women to talk about motherhood, words of wisdom, and how the women we love have impacted our lives. Below, hear from a few of our brunch guests on how their moms have changed the way they approach their careers and beyond.
“The greatest thing I’ve inherited from my mother is the ability to turn anything into a joke that we can laugh about later. I think it really serves us so well.”
- Melissa Vale
“My mom is a nurse who works all the time and doesn’t complain at all—whenever I have to work late nights, I think of my mom and how hard she’s worked for us.”
- Nita Mann
“One of the things I’m most grateful for in my mom is her kindness and her smile. She’s such a happy, delightful person to be around all the time.”
- Olivia Jeanette
“The best trait I inherited from my mom is the ability to make everyone in the room feel comfortable and not excluded.“
- Katie Sands
“Motherhood has taught me patience I never had before. My children have taught me to slow down and appreciate everything happening around me.”
- Sai De Silva
“My mom loves when I plan time together—actual quiet time with nobody else. Those are the best moments with her.”
- Cynthia Andrew
“The best thing I inherited from my mom is my kindness. I always loved how she treated other people and always wanted to inherit that as a mother.”
- Olivia Jeanette
In Her Shoes: Why Authenticity Sits at the Core of This Style Blogger's Philosophy
“We should take what speaks to us and make that a pillar for what we base our creativity on.”
Fashion influencer Katie Sands didn’t just choose her blog name (Honestly Kate) because it’s catchy. She’s on a mission to make the world a more authentic, relatable, honest place, and she means it. Below, we partnered with Jessica Simpson to catch up with Katie and hear more about her mission. Read on to hear what makes her feel confident, the women she looks up to, and how she’s embracing authenticity in a competitive industry.
What do you wear when you want to feel most confident (shoes included)?
At work: For sure a power suit! I’ve been loving all the pastel and plaid suits I’ve been seeing for spring! Pair your set with a pair of stilettos, and you’re guaranteed to get into to have that automatic confidence boost in any meeting you’re in!
With friends/IRL: My vintage skinny jeans–they just hug you in all the right places, a sexy silk top, my leather jacket that I bought used on eBay 50% off (No one loves a deal more than me!), and a pair of very high heeled booties… I’m 5’3, so anything to make me look just a tad bit taller gives me that extra chutzpah!
If you could walk in someone else’s shoes for a day, who would it be?
Patricia Fields! She single-handedly created what a New York woman should emulate in beauty, fashion, and attitude. Both in Sex and the City, and now with Younger.
Or Iris Apfel—the OG fashion icon, she paved the way for women to show their eclectic style, vivacious personalities, and has stayed true to her values to through all the glitz and the glam of it all!
Describe your style in 3 words.
Whimsical, Flirty, & Colorful.
You recently wrote about authenticity and originality on your blog. What’s the difference between the two, and why do you think it’s important to remember?
This is topic I’m very passionate about, as I feel it’s important for creatives to understand that not everything they do needs to be completely “original”. In fact, almost nothing we do can be original, as we had to be influenced by something in order to come up with our ideas in the first place. Instead of trying to say something completely new, we should aim to say something in our own authentic way. We should take what speaks to us, and make that a pillar for what we base our creativity on. If you think about it, is anything truly original? I remember having this conversation in college after reading Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and comparing it to She’s the Man (I majored in Theater, so I took a lot of literature classes). Essentially, they have the same plot – one is just a more modernized version of the other. Instead of seeking to be original, She’s the Man garnered influence from Twelfth Night and authentically portrayed the same characters and themes. Authenticity and creative concepts do not derive from originality; they come from emulating notions that already exist. To make them authentic, you’ve got to apply your own experience and unique perspective to them.
It’s important we shift our focus from “I need to create something new” to “why does this speak to me”, I think there are infinite possibilities of what we can conceptualize and create. For someone who works in fashion and beauty, I have been influenced by so many designers, stylists, movie stars, and fashion icons, that it feels almost impossible to create any sort of new style. But when I combine my influences into something that feels uniquely and authentically me, that’s when I feel like I’m doing my best work. That’s when my creativity soars.
Love Katie’s look? Shop her pieces from Jessica Simpson here, and get $10 off any purchase of $50 or more with code create10! One use per customer.
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Ashley Graham on Representation, Knowing Your Worth, and Her Media Empire
“Your body is yours. Nobody else has ownership over it. This is truly your own journey.”
If you only know Ashley Graham for her modeling work, it’s time to catch up. The activist, entrepreneur, and media mogul has been busy these past few years, and we were so excited to catch up with everything she’s been working on (including her amazing podcast, Pretty Big Deal) during her keynote conversation at our New York conference! Read on for Ashley’s wise words on inclusivity, internet trolls, and why she thinks we should be sharing our salaries with other women.
On body positivity…
“It’s really all about getting through the hurdles and building up your confidence, no matter what you’re doing.”
“It doesn’t matter what size or shape you are, you can be healthy.”
“My mom told me my body was going to change someone’s life. And here we are, with so many different women saying, ‘I am represented.’”
“Your body is yours. Nobody else has ownership over it. This is truly your own journey.”
“It’s not just about our size. It’s about our mind, our heart, our emotions. We get so wrapped up in this size conversation.”
On inclusion & representation...
“I’ve been modeling for 20 years and have seen how slow this has been—and now we’ve accelerated into the body positivity movement. Within the course of three years, we’ve got girls in movies, on magazines, in campaigns, on blogs—yes, this is what needed to happen, but we need to be careful, because things that happen so quickly can be brushed away so quickly.”
“Here I am, a white woman who has been given a platform for a body that’s now quote trendy. But here are so many women of color who have always had this body type and have been celebrating their own bodies for so long—it’s wild that we haven’t given women of color the same platform that I as a white woman have, and i really want to see more representation for women of color in this space.”
“We gotta talk about the word diversity. I’ll be on a campaign and it’ll be one black girl, one curvy girl, one Asian girl… The word diversity does not mean one—it means a group.”
“The word diversity does not mean one—it means a group.”
On internet trolls...
“I make troll moments into teachable moments. I say, ‘You’re right, ma’am, my cellulite is hanging out of my pants...and I am sexy AF!’ Why are we gonna give so much room to trolls? I don’t have time for that.”
On knowing your worth...
“Talk to each other about how much you’re making and what your goals are. When I started talking to other models about what they made, we all started realizing we were making such a vastly different amount of money, and we knew we could build a portfolio on how much we each made and how the plus size industry was going to change. The agents we shared it with were so blown away.”
“Talk to your colleagues about how much you’re making. You need to know your worth in the workplace—there’s nothing wrong with building each other up, having these conversations, and taking it on together.”
On building confidence...
I’ll have moments when I leave the bathroom and look in the mirror and say to myself, “You are fine, you are beautiful, you are brilliant, and you are bold.”
On brand partnerships...
For me, everything I do is authentic—I know, I know, you keep hearing it everywhere—but this is really what authenticity is. If I’m posting what sports bra I love on Instagram, it’s because I really love it.
On how she designed her lines...
I don’t really have to switch hats because I am the customer for my lines. There were so many things I saw firsthand as a model that I got to go and change on my own. I couldn’t find a bra or a string bikini. Where i saw a hole, it was like, boom, I’m gonna go fill that up.
Her guilty IG follow…
“Dr. Pimple Popper!”
A woman she admires...
My mom! And Cindy Eckert—she created the female version of Viagra and sold it for a billion dollars. They did nothing with it and gave it right back to her. So now she’s helping women startups progress into bigger companies.
Face compliment to receive...
“You are kind.”
On what keeps her centered…
“Waking up and having 15 minutes of my own time. It’s not my agent’s time or my husband’s time, it’s my time.”
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4 Ways This Summer Retreat Will Help You Level Up Your Biz Goals
Double your biz goals under the sun this summer.
Tell us, what is better than a summer getaway with your girls? We’ve got the answer, and it’s a full-blown retreat full of hard-working bosses and baddies looking to disconnect and collaborate under the sun.
Multi-cultural brands The Baddie Brunch Series and The B is For Boss are joining forces to host “Baddies and Bosses Take Cancun,” a retreat for millennial women of color going down in Cancun, Mexico July 25-28. Here are four reasons why this investment will be worthwhile.
1. Bosses
The B is For Boss is a community for millennial women who are working towards building their empires. Whether that means: taking charge of your career, starting a business, or a blend of both, the blog is for you! Joining The B is For Boss community in Mexico will be a live experience of everything The B is For boss stands for. If you’re an alpha female ready to learn from, connect with, and be inspired by other boss women, while gaining skills on branding and business - you need to hop on this flight and join us for much needed R&R.
2. Baddies
If the bosses didn’t speak to your soul, the Baddies most definitely will.
The Baddie Brunch is an organization created to bridge Baddies together through brunches, mixers, and social soirees! Hosting over 1000 Dallas, Houston, and Austin professional women of color, the goal is to Celebrate, Collaborate, Slay, and Socialize -- channeling our Black Girl Magic and using it to inspire one another! The Brunch Series is an incredible display of female empowerment through conversation, education and service. Women of color come together, engage in conversation and create productive Baddie tribes. This is the energy we all need summer 2K19 and beyond.
3. You need a brain break
If you’re living the 9-5 and 5-9 life, sitting at a computer screen, basically putting in a postmates order for every lunch and canceling your girls nights out every other weekend…. you definitely need a break girl. A weekend fully planned out and organized by someone else that’d be fully dedicated to giving you maximum relaxation is just what you need. When you join the Baddies and Bosses Take Cancun retreat, you’ll enjoy all-inclusive luxury accommodations at the Now Jade Riviera in Cancun, Mexico for 4 days and 3 nights.
“Each guest will leave with a renewed sense of self-confidence, a girl gang to support them on their journey, and feeling recharged and ready to take their career and personal brands to the next level.” - The Retreat Team.
4. Content alert
Last, but most definitely not least– content alert! What is a better time to curate some content your personal socials and or business feeds. Stage some flat lays, pose for a lifestyle shot or two and get your summer time fine shine on, girl.
Honestly, what else can we say?
Go to Mexico babe, you deserve it.
For more information or to sign-up for the ultimate summer getaway, check out Baddies and Bosses here.
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Behind The Stage: How The C&C Team Built Our Desert Pop Up Event
It takes a team of amazing women to get things done.
Putting on a Create & Cultivate event takes some serious teamwork. From the first idea to the last panel, from setup to the final IG post, the C&C team has to stay in constant communication to keep production, talent coordination, brand partnerships, and marketing efforts on track. And we know our situation isn’t unique—all teams thrive when they have great communication and collaboration systems in place.
That’s why we’re partnering with Microsoft Teams to show you how we bring events like our Desert Pop Up to life. Our Teams documentary gives a behind-the-stage look at what it took to put the pop up together—and how we used Teams chat, file sharing, and video conferencing to make it all happen.
Heading back to Palm Springs was a big homecoming for us—the first-ever Create & Cultivate event was held in Palm Springs, with just 50 attendees! We’ve grown juuust a bit since then: more than a thousand people attended this year’s event. See how we did it bigger and better this year in the mini-doc below!
How We Use Teams To Bring Events To Life
0:55 - Our production, accounts, and digital teams work closely on campaigns. To keep things organized, we keep all our brand briefs, deadlines, and working files in shared PowerPoint docs. Teams makes it easy to share those files between coworkers.
1:20 - Well before events take place, our production team is on the ground scouting venue options. Our senior producer, Lainey, put together a floor plan for the event to present to the team in an online meeting to make it easy for everyone to understand their roles at the venue.
1:42 - While much of our team is on-site, the others are back in LA working on prepping digital assets. Team chat and online meetings make it easy for us to stay in touch in real-time—we can even send a quote from a speaker back to our designer to illustrate before the panel is even over.
2:40 - Our partners are located all over the country—sometimes we don’t ever meet our contacts in real life! So when we need to collaborate with them on pop-up designs or digital campaigns, we add them as guests to our chats so they can review PowerPoint presentations and creative documents. Feedback is easy, communication is smooth, and both our sponsors and our team leave happy and ready to tackle the job.
Need to streamline your team’s processes and create a collaborative hub for your business? Download Microsoft Teams today to get a jump start on teamwork success!
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C&C Classifieds: HarperCollins, Personalization Mall, Blended Strategy Group, & More!
Need a new gig? Start your search here!
Need a new gig? Start your search here!
HarperCollins Publishers - San Francisco, CA
Personalization Mall - Burr Ridge, IL
Merchandise Buyer - Life Stages
Blended Strategy Group - Los Angeles, CA
VP of Operations & Client Services
Sling & Stone - Los Angeles, CA
PR Account Supervisor - Startups
Indie Lee - New York, NY
Thrillist - New York, NY
Editorial Assistant, Travel & Local
Spotify - New York, NY
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission - Austin, TX
She Reads Truth - Nashville
Apple - Cupertino, CA
iHeartMedia - Atlanta, GA
LA Clippers - Los Angeles, CA
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Martha Stewart on Growth, Imposter Syndrome, and How She Wants to Be Remembered
“Be a strong, willful, self-possessed person. You have to be if you’re going to be in business for yourself.”
What. A. Legend. When we found our we’d be graced with the presence of the one and only Martha Stewart as one of our keynote conversations at our New York conference, we may or may not have collectively lost it at the C&C office. And, of course, Martha did not disappoint. Though she admitted she doesn’t suffer from imposter syndrome (LOL, can you share your secrets, Martha?!), she did offer some sage advice that only a woman who’s been killing it in business for decades could know. Read on for her tips on growth, hiring, and what she wants her legacy to be.
On whether print is dead…
“Even though magazines are now, again, failing and closing, due to the digital world—we still produce a beautiful magazine every single month.”
On having more than 8,000 products in her line…
“We found that even though we were giving people the how-to ideas, many people wanted the product, so it was a perfect way expand into product development. We continue to do products in many different categories.”
“I want to see which method of selling works the best. Can we improve those ways of selling?”
On the longevity of her product line…
“We’ve been making beautiful, useful, well-made products for a long time, and I want to continue to do that in a big way. We want to be where the customer wants and needs us.”
Advice for women looking to grow a team and find their forever employees…
“Find someone who is competent, exciting, curious. And you have to be able to train people and spend time with a new employee.”
On imposter syndrome…
“Take the reins. Be a strong, willful, self-possessed person. You have to be if you’re going to be in business for yourself. You have to be able to let stuff run off you—you can’t dwell on the problem.”
“I have a silly little motto: When you’re through changing, you’re through. You have to be able to change and swerve to adapt.”
Advice for younger self…
“Stay true to your beliefs.”
“Be a strong, willful, self-possessed person. You have to be if you’re going to be in business for yourself.”
Last text to Snoop…
“I wished his mom a happy birthday!”
Life hack for busy working women…
“2-3 housekeepers.” 🤣
Where she gets her energy…
“Green juice!”
On her legacy…
“I want to be remembered as a good woman who is a good teacher; one who is fun and has accomplished a lot.”
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Desk-Side: This Fitness Influencer Shares Her Best Tip To Grow Your Following
“Always remember that comparison is the thief of joy. You are you, and that is your power.”
Katie Austin’s energy is infectious. The fitness personality and TV host genuinely wants to make people feel good—including herself—and that work all starts in her home office (where she keeps a set of weights, of course). Today, we’re partnering with Glade® Essentials Room Mist to share the story behind Katie’s successful brand. Read on to hear what motivates her and what she loves most about her job.
Q: Where’s home to you?
A: I was born and raised in Alexandria, VA, so I’m an East Coast girl at heart. But I went to USC, so I now live in Los Angeles. I’ve been working here for approximately three years post-grad and am absolutely loving LA.
Q: What is self-care to you?
A: So it might seem a little bit cliche, but the thing that I love to do for self-care, and my definition of self-care is obviously taking care of my body inside and out.
Q: What’s your go-to treat for a productive day?
A: I like to make myself a smoothie to keep me energized throughout the whole entire day.
Q: What productivity tips do you have?
A: My number one tip for productivity is to wake up early in the morning. I always feel more ambitious. There’s just something about a morning vibe where you just get stuff done. I also love to keep my home office fresh to keep my mind up to par. I like natural light, I can’t have clutter, and I love the Glade® Essentials Room Mist to keep my space always feeling fresh.
Q: What have you been working on lately?
A: So I am currently working on some new app updates for my membership program, which is a new workout every single day. So if you haven’t checked it out, make sure you check it out! Plus, I am always working on revamping some of my activewear line, which is always entertaining and fun.
Q: What’s the hardest part about being an influencer?
A: The hardest part is definitely scrolling through Instagram and comparing myself to other girls and other influencers out there. So always remember that comparison is the thief of joy. You are you, and that is your power.
“Always remember that comparison is the thief of joy.
You are you, and that is your power.”
Q: What advice do you have for someone looking to grow their following?
A: The advice that I would give to someone trying to grow their following is just to stay authentic and true to yourself. Plus, that consistent content will always take you far.
Q: You keep weights at your desk—why?
A: Yes! I like to just pump it up every now and then when I feel like I’m getting in a little bit of a work rut. It helps boost your brainpower actually.
Q: What would you do if you had more free time?
A: If I had more free time, I would definitely be traveling more (as if I don’t travel enough already). But that’s definitely on my list. Plus I love sports a lot so I want to be involved in more sports any way I possibly can. Anything recreational or club, even ping pong.
Q: What do you think you would do if you weren’t a fitness influencer?
A: I would have to say what sets me apart, why I’m different is my bubbly personality. So in my next life I would have to say that I would be a pop star because I’m an amazing shower singer, I love to dance, and I love to be the center of attention. Just kidding!
Q: What’s the best part of being an influencer?
A: I would have to say the best part about my job is being my own boss, which is so fun. But at the same time that means I have to keep myself accountable 24/7, which can be kind of hard to stay motivated that much. Then I’d have to say the most rewarding part about what I do is helping other girls live their best life. It’s so gratifying to hear when other girls have gained that confidence and gained that self-love.
See Katie’s full interview below:
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How to Protect Yourself on Social Media
What don't you want a complete stranger to know?
photo credit: Vibe Tribe Creative
Social media is arguably the most powerful tool currently circulating in our society. Whether you use it for marketing, networking, business or personal pleasure it’s a part of our daily life. For me, I use it for all of the above – every single day of the year. I spend hours a week ensuring that what I post is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and that my followers gain something by reading the caption / link attached.
Recently, an incident occurred that I wanted to bring to light in hopes that you will never find yourself in a similar position -- or, if you do, you will know the proper steps to take.
I was sitting in the middle of a work lunch when I got a Facebook notification from an acquaintance that I hadn’t spoken to in well over a year. Intrigued by what she could possibly have to say, I threw my table manners aside and opened up the message. To my surprise I saw the words “Cosmetic Dentistry” plastered next to my smiling face. I thought to myself “what in the bleep is this?!”
Click link
New web browser opens: Yoursmilebecomesyou.com appears
I see the below.
At first I thought HEY! THAT’S ME! and then I thought wait, that’s me…
As I sat there staring at the website like a deer in headlights I didn’t know what question to ask first. How did they get my picture? Where did they get my picture from? Is that legal? Shouldn’t they have asked my permission? Do I call them? Do I call my mom? Do I call anyone? Am I being a baby for feeling completely freaked out that my face is being splattered across a major association’s website without my consent?
Pause.
For the record: I have never, ever, had any version of cosmetic dental. This smile of mine is au naturel and I would like to take this moment to thank my parents for blessing me with it.
Once I cooled down I put my business hat back on and broke down the appearance of this matter. Here I am, an author of a blog and face behind a growing brand with a smile to reflect my positive outlook on life. How in the world is it going to look to have a young woman who consistently preaches positive life reminders yet hides the “fact” that she went under the dentist’s drill.
To be honest, before that moment I had never given serious thought to safety issues when it comes to social media. All of my social media accounts are public: Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, Pinterest – you name it, you can see it. I let my followers into my life on a daily basis. From traveling across country to visiting my boyfriend to candid moments with my best friends. From huge career steps and everything in between-- it’s all there when you type in @MillennialMiss. The thing is, I want it to be there. There as in my social media platforms or the sites I've given permission to use my image and link back. But not to a company that has ripped my picture off my photographer's Pinterest page without acknowledging me as a person, let alone asking for my consent.
So I did something that I had never done before in my entire life – I called a lawyer. After I brought him up to speed, he hardly batted an eye lash before telling me that using my photo to promote cosmetic dentistry without my permission was against the law. The following day we dove head first into procedural steps to file a lawsuit.
To be crystal clear – this post is not about me standing up for my rights as a person let alone a person with a brand attached to her name but instead I want to take this unfortunate situation and use it as an opportunity to provide some simple tips on how to stay safe on the internet. The truth of the matter is, you never know where your picture may end up. Scary thought, huh?
I know that to the naked ear this all may sound a bit silly, but social media holds a lot of power. It is crucial that we, as women, know how to protect ourselves.
Combining research with personal experience, I have compiled a list of tips of safety measures to take when using social media:
1. When creating social media accounts make sure to use a password that is stronger than your pets name. Use a password that no one would be able to crack and keep it private!
2. Provide minimal information about yourself as possible and stay away from publicly listing your address. Always double think when filling out these forms, what wouldn’t you want a complete stranger to know?
3. Even though “check ins” are of the norm, be cautious of when you do so. Tagging your exact location (i.e: where you’re brunching) in real life gives a further glimpse into your whereabouts which, can lead to someone easily following you. Enjoy your time with the ones you’re with and save your posting for afterwards.
4. If you tend to use a public, work, or friend's computer log out of your social accounts after each use.
In hopes this post served as an eye opener to consistently be mindful of what you post online and that every single one us is entitled to exercise our rights.
Tag me,
Chels
Chelsea Briche runs the popular blog The Millennial Miss. A platform for young women surviving their twenties with grace and a lot of humility. The platform is Chelsea's "pledge to you, the ones who haven’t quite figured it all out yet. That we, together, will immerse ourselves in every single thing possible; explore, love a lot, love a little, and never touch the ground."
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"Your Message Is Yours, and That Is Your Power” & Other Mic-Drop Moments From Our NYC Conference
You came, you saw, you networked the hell out of our conference this weekend!
OMG. NEW. YORK. CITY. You came, you saw, you networked the hell out of our conference this weekend, and we were so grateful to share the day with you! From panels on raising funds and building brands to mentor power hours and making new friends at happy hour, you made our NYC conference an incredible experience. If you weren’t able to make it this year, we’re so excited to share some of the best takeaways from each of our panels below—be sure to check back later this week for recaps of our keynotes, too!
RAISE UP:
Venture capital, negotiation and bootstrapping your business
Panelists:
Yasmin Moaven, Senior Director of Investor Relations at Fair
Angela Du, Investor at SoftBank Vision Fund
Ginger Siegel, North America Small Business Lead at Mastercard International
Jordana Kier, Co-founder of LOLA
Marah Lidey, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Shine
Moderator:
Sherry Jhawar, Co-Founder, Blended Strategy
Yasmin: The moment I had a seat at the table, I began to think bigger and ask for more. This is the time for us to rewrite the narrative. Take the opportunity to be at the table as a way to stand up and find your route. Men are not afraid to ask, so why should we be?
Ginger: Investors aren’t investing so much in your business as they are investing in you.
Marah: All risk is relative.
Ginger: People get paralyzed because they think an idea has to be perfect. Your first step is not going to be perfect, but you ideate from there.
Angela: You do not have to sell your business to make money. There is capital everywhere. There are investors all over who are looking for your dynamic.
Marah: Find the people who believe in you from the start. They don't necessarily have to be the same race, gender, etc. You want people who are in it to win it with you. Ask yourself: Do they align with my values?
Jordana: Don't be afraid to share your plan with mentors and informal investors even if it's not 100% final—their feedback and tough questions only makes your case stronger.
Sherry: It is just as important for the founder interview investors. You can call other portfolio companies to ask, “What was it like during hard times? How did they react?
MODERN ACTIVISM:
Exploring the role of diversity, inclusion and politics in the workplace
Panelists:
Nabela Noor, Content Creator, Activist and Public Speaker
Hunter McGrady, Model & Activist
Denise Bidot, Model & Activist
Lindsay Peoples Wagner, Editor-In-Chief, Teen Vogue
Nikki Ogunnaike, Style Director, ELLE
Moderator:
Heather Records, VP of Marketing, Create & Cultivate
Lindsay: We have to talk about culture and what women really need. If we’re not doing that, we’re not doing our jobs.
Nikki: The onus to effect change often falls on women of color, but women who’ve helped me most are the whole women in the room who’ve said, ‘No, this is not OK.’ It’s not just on the people of color to bang down that door, it’s really on the people who don’t look like us to bring us along with them.
Lindsay: Pretty much every meeting I go into, most people know I’m the only black editor-in-chief in the US. That’s really hard because there really isn’t leadership above me that has done what I’m trying to do. There isn’t a blueprint. You just gotta push.
Denise: Before, models were just models, and now we’re activists. We should be held accountable for our actions.
Hunter: It takes a monumental shift in how we think about things to make change. We have to say, I’m not changing for you. I don’t care if you call me a whale 500 times on Instagram—I’m the proudest whale out there, then.
Nabela: There’s this saying, “Ignore the bullies.” I don’t believe in that or think it’s helpful for the world to change. I’m going to face them head on and tell them I love myself.
Lindsay: When I grew up reading Teen Vogue, I didn’t see myself in its pages. My mom always says, Be what you needed when you were younger. If I do it, other companies and brands will be encouraged to follow as well.
Lindsay: Everything you do is with intention, whether you think so or not.
Nabela: There’s no way you can be happy and mean. Happy people don’t say hurtful things.
Lindsay: There were a lot of people that told me, 'You talk about diversity too much, you complain too much, you make things a big deal and should just be grateful.' But if I don’t say something or speak up, no one else will.
Nabela: Who you choose to align yourself with is a really big indication of what you believe.
Nikki: People need to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. and I think corporate America isn’t there yet. There aren’t a lot of people at the top who aren’t white males. My biggest marching order for myself is to help diversify that space.
IN GOOD COMPANY:
The women creating, collaborating and cultivating community
Panelists:
Katie Sturino, Founder, 12ish Style & Megababe
Marie Forleo, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and Host of MarieTV
Gabby Bernstein, International speaker & #1 NYT bestselling author
Suzy Batiz, Founder, Poo-Pourri
Pauline Lhote, Director of Winemaking, Chandon
Betsy Patel, Chemist at Living Proof
Moderator:
LaTonya Yvette, Author, Stylist, & Writer
Suzy: You don’t have to know shit, you just have to be passionate. You can Google anything.
Marie: The world needs that special gift that only you have. You have every right to put out the product or service with so much pride, and to make that money.
Gabby: Our rock bottom is the catalyst for our greatest purpose and change. If you’re in a moment in your life where you feel like this is the bottom—congratulations, because it’s only up from there.
Pauline: Always champion your ideas. Having that confidence is really important to succeed.
Suzy: People are here to support you and help you. This whole belief about competition is not true. People want you to make it.
Marie: You can’t say yes to everything, but you can say no with compassion and kindness.
Gabby: If you feel a calling to write, start and the pressure will be off. Just write. Get it onto the page.
Suzy: Energy is your greatest currency.
Gabby: Don’t be afraid of the tough stuff, because it will reveal the great stuff.
Marie: Don’t let people put you into a f*cking box. Don’t let people tell you what you can and can’t do. Do let anyone define you. You define yourself.
Gabby: If you say you don’t have time to meditate, you have time to feel like shit. If you’re not taking the time to align, even for five minutes, then you set yourself up to fail.
Pauline: Stay true to what you believe in—for me, that’s quality. Make sure what you’re putting in the market is what you envisioned it would be.
Gabby: Small miracles, added up, form the way you see your life.
Suzy: My goal never changes: It’s to reach my highest evolution in this lifetime.
Marie: Simplify to amplify. Growth for growth’s sake is a sickness. Learn to say no the the pressure to keep climbing if it’s not your direction.
POD SQUAD:
Meet the ladies killing the podcast game
Panelists:
Noor Tagouri
Becca Tobin
Julie Kramer and Emma Diamond
Mamrie Hart and Grace Helbig
Ahyiana Angel
Moderator:
Tyeal Howell, Marketing Manager, Create & Cultivate
Ahyiana: Start somewhere! Don’t feel like you have to have it all together. I didn't start with switch pivot and quit, so I made a switch with a name. Do what you gotta do. Just make sure you’re being consistent. Don’t get caught up thinking you have to be perfect.
Noor: The foundation of our podcast was rooted in vulnerability. That is the only way that our community will be served justice.
Becca: When you’re partnering up with friends for your podcast, it’s important to figure out the dynamic and learn how to separate personal stuff from busy.
Ahyiana: You need to be real to break through to people.
Noor: I recognize the power of going into spaces and asking, “How will someone be impacted by this experience?”
Mamrie: Don’t be intimidated by starting a podcast because it’s something new, because you don’t have the numbers, or because you don’t have a production company.
Ahyiana: Do something that you can manage consistently to connect with your audience. For me, it’s Instagram Live.
Becca: Don’t please everyone! You have to have a strong point of view. That’s how you attract your tribe. By trying to please everyone, you alienate yourself from everyone.
Ahyiana: People come to your podcast to get something so make sure you give them what they want.
Noor: Go into an interview with a mutual exchange. Before a camera goes on, I spend time getting to know the person. Remember the story is bigger than you.
Emma: Being able to divulge something very personal goes a long way! People appreciate that.
Noor: Stay true to your voice and don’t be afraid.
LAUNCHPAD:
How to build your brand and bring it to market
Panelists:
Robert Schaeffler, CEO Devacurl
Carmen Tal, Co-Founder, Moroccanoil
Fiona Parkin, Advertising Creative Director, GoDaddy
Sharifa Murdock, Co-Owner of Liberty Fairs and Founder of Envision Festival
Asa Siegel, CEO and Founder, STAMBA Superfoods
Babba Rivera, Founder & CEO of next-gen brand marketing agency bybabba
Moderator:
Maxie McCoy, Author & Speaker
Sharifa: It’s important to bring those that follow behind you, up with you.
Babba: Things are better done than perfect. Be comfortable with the good enough!
Robert: If you’re in a space where there’s a lot of competition, that means you’re doing something right.
Sharifa: Never let someone else dictate who you are supposed to be.
Babba: Nothing is static! You can alway ideate—I launched my brand without a logo.
Sharifa: We live in the best time of our lives to do whatever the hell we want.
Robert: Let’s grow the pie together—it’s about partnering.
Sharifa: Nothing is ever easy. At the end of every process is gratitude.
Robert: Think about what your bring to the table that’s unique. Ask yourself, what do you stand for?
Carmen: If you know who you are as a brand at your core, no one can come for you, and competition will affect you less.
Carmen: We focused on the fact that we thought our idea was amazing, and we stuck to that—we were stubborn and did not listen to other people.
Maxie: It can be done, you just have to stick with it.
THE PERSONAL IS PROFESSIONAL:
How to build a personal brand you love that brands want to work with
Panelists:
Justine Marjan, Celebrity Hair Stylist and Brand Ambassador, GHD
Mari Mazzucco, PR and Influencer Marketing Manager, Olly
Laura Minch, Digital Brand Manager, Biossance
Wendy Nguyen, Founder & Blogger at Wendy’s Lookbook
Dr. Dendy Engelman, Dermatologist
Moderator:
Tiffany Reid
Wendy: Think of three rules that ground your brand. Our rules allowed us to build out the brand voice we really wanted.
Laura: What is your superpower? Why should people listen to what you have to say? The beauty of building a really powerful brand is that you can switch careers and industries while still building a really successful brand.
Dendy: The easiest way to start is to decide who you are not, or who you don’t want to be. Who you want to be will come out of that.
Justine: On social media, consistency is key. Come up with a color scheme and stick to that palette.
On building an authentic social media presence:
Wendy: What is your added value? Why would people want to follow you?
Laura: What’s the element of difference you can bring so people have a reason to come back to you?
On making a difference…
Laura: Having a personal brand is necessary, whether you believe it or not. Even if you don’t want to be in the spotlight, you still need to think about the image you’re projecting into the world, and think about what you’re passionate about that’s making the world a better place.
On what she looks for in influencer partnerships:
Mari: Is engagement there? Are people commenting and asking good questions? That’s one of the most important brands look for. It’s not all about followers.
Dendy: When you get brand partnerships, know that that’s a relationship that can easily be broken. It’s a small industry. When you’re great to work with, brands will come back.
Amber Heard
in conversation with Mandana Dayani
Only the people who benefit from the status quo don’t want to change it.
We’re a generation of daughter of equality. We’ve inherited too much to accept anything less than that—it’s our burden to push it forward.
We’re saying we’re loud, we’re here, and we want to change the world to respect and believe survivors and push the conversations even further.
We are a part of a vast army of voices that are not accepting silence.
When someone puts you in a box, change what the walls of the box are made out of.
I refuse to accept the status quo. I refuse to stand in line.
I know that it can sometimes be overwhelming with the increased connection we have and the awareness of injustices, but we are an army of voices that have been silenced for so long. You just have to choose: Which side of history do you want to be on?
BRAND LOVE:
How to build companies with kindness at their core
Panelists:
Camilla Ruth Marcus, Founder of Westbourne
Teressa Foglia, Hat Designer and CEO at Teressa Foglia
Kristy Lewis, National Marketing Director at Hallmark
Katie D’Amato, Director, Brand & Social Activation at Alaska Airlines
Moderator:
Amina Smith, Reporter & Host
Kristy: You have to make consistency a habit.
Camilla: How you say no is more important than how you say yes. Yes is easy, no is hard.
Katie: The amount of touch points a brand has to control that delivers the right results for customers is endless.
Teressa: Starting with a brand strategy is the most important thing when starting a business.
Camilla: You can’t learn unless you take one step. Take a step every day both personally and professionally and you will feel better about where you’re headed.
Teressa: Don’t make compromises for things that aren’t worth it.
Kristy: Live the same culture that you expect.
Camilla: Don’t be afraid to grow while saying no. As a leader in business, your no is more important than your yes.
Katie: Be okay in the middle space—the discomfort that comes dealing with tough stuff will take you far.
Camilla: Just do something—take that one set, do that one thing that you’re afraid of. You have to take a risk in small and big ways every single day.
MARKETING MASTERCLASS:
Showing up in the social, offline and online world
Panelists:
Tezza Barton, Creative Director & Influencer
Cynthia Andrew, Attorney & Content Creator at Simply Cyn
Hilary Sloan, Director of Business Development at ShopStyle
Rachel Curry, Director of Marketing Owned Channels at Volvo
Jacey Duprie, Content Creator at Damsel in Dior
Naomi Jacobs, Director of Social Strategy at QVC
Moderator:
Reesa Lake, EVP of Brand Partnerships at Digital Brand Architects
On staying on the forefront of social:
Hilary: We’re the only influencer platform where you can see the revenue share that your earning. We believe that information empowers influencers to make decisions about their businesses and tell their brand story in a different way.
Cynthia: The platform may change and the media may change, but what I create, I own. Content is king. I do try to be aware of the different ways I can get what I’m creating out there, but I have stories I want to tell and there are people who want to hear them, and that’s what I care about most.
Tezza: Your message is yours, and that’s your power.
Rachel: Think outside the box in who you follow every day.
On getting a partnership:
Jacey: Start in your closet and vanity with what you already use and own. You have to stay true to your voice. If it’s fake, it’s fake, and people are going to sniff you out on it.
Tezza: It’s such a saturated market now and can be daunting to ask how you’ll be different. The best way to do that is to ask the people around you what they think you’re good or come to you for advice on. If you can speak to something, it’ll carry your brand as you go.
Cynthia: I really try to make sure that as I go through my feed, I feel good about the decisions I’ve made.
What they look for in influencers:
Rachel: The power for our partnerships comes from the partnership itself. We met Jacey at a C&C event and found out she was looking for a new car. There’s so much power in the relationship and makes it more authentic.
Reesa: Be a good nice person. It take no money, no effort, no investment. Just be a good person.
PRICELESS CONVERSATIONS PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD:
Meet the women making an impact
Panelists:
Kelsea Gaynor, Founder, East Olivia
Bliss Lau, Founder, Bliss Lau
Brianna "Breezy" Dotson, Co-Founder, Coco and Breezy
Piera Gelardi, Co-Founder, Refinery 29
Jaclyn Johnson, Founder & CEO, Create & Cultivate
Moderator:
Cheryl Guerin, Mastercard
Jaclyn: You have to start saying, “This is a business, and I’m going to take it seriously.” It completely changed the trajectory of all things Create & Cultivate for me.
Piera: You do need a strategy, but it doesn’t always need to be a five-year plan. Agility and following our intuition has allowed us to deliver what our audience is looking for, going on new platforms that didn’t previously exist, and working with brands as well.
Breezy: Coco and I had anxiety about raising capital. As black women, we were afraid to ask for money. When we started this company we didn’t know sh*t, and we made it work.
Breezy: Our goal is to take away the anxiety from asking from funding and share our knowledge with everybody else. Know that you are worth it, and it’s OK to ask for money.
Bliss: If there’s one thing I’ve always done, I always knew exactly down to the penny how much money I wanted to make.
Kelsea: I funded my business off relationships and intuition. It was really about staying true to what the brand meant to me. My PTO days were my funding.
Piera: It’s critical to maintain majority control of your business. When you give away 80% of your business, you lose the ability to move your business in the direction you know it should go.
Jaclyn: You have to know exactly how you’re going to spend that money. What are you doing with that $2M? If you’re going to go the self-funded route, there’s a big level of sacrifice. I didn’t pay myself for a very long time. You are the driving force, you are the one keeping an eye on cash flow, but you’re also the one who takes all the flack when things go wrong.
Breezy: If you don’t know something, ask. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to be your mentor.
Kelsea: We’re pretty expensive, but when you hire us, you know you’re supporting a company who does things like offer their employees health insurance.
Breezy: Don’t be afraid to fail. Have that self-awareness so that when you do fail, you know how to do better next time.
Kelsea: Confidence comes from knowing your worth. When you get turned down, you know it’s not because of you, but because it’s a good fit.
MEET THE MOGULS:
The people dominating the fashion and beauty game
Panelists:
Lilit Caradanian, Content Creator and CEO at Elcie Cosmetics
Lisa Price, Founder of Carol’s Daughter
Kate Walsh, Actor & Founder of Boyfriend Perfume
Holly Thaggard, Founder & CEO of Supergoop!
Anastasia Soare, Founder & CEO of Anastasia Beverly Hills
Moderator:
Cyndi Ramirez, Founder & CEO of Chillhouse
Lisa: Dream bigger and let go of the little stuff. After meeting Oprah, I no longer had the luxury of worrying about the label being straight on bottles. I had to think big picture.
Holly: It’s the storytelling and the passion that sell when you’re a leader. People buy authenticity.
Kate: When in doubt, go slow.
Lisa: You have to believe in what your product. That’s how you get through the tough times. If you’re doing it for money don’t do it— you just won’t make it.
CHANGEMAKERS:
The women breaking boundaries and building businesses
Panelists:
Tamara Mellon, Co-Founder of Jimmy Choo and Tamara Mellon
Rebecca Minkoff, Founder of Rebecca Minkoff
Jaime Schmidt, Founder of Schmidt's Deodorant
Deepica Mutyala, Founder & CEO at Live Tinted
Gwen Whiting, Co-Founder, Laundress
Moderator:
Anne Fulenwider, Editor in Chief, Marie Claire
Deepica: I want our vegan, cruelty-free standards become the industry standard. Brands shouldn’t be standing for these things—it should just be the norm.
Rebecca: There are challenges every single day—I can’t think of a single person who is able to coast.
On staying authentic on social media:
Deepica: We always show the successes, but what about the hardships?
On selling to Unilever...
Gwen: Our goal was always to sell the company. We had a reality check of what we could manage, but we believed in our brand and knew we were making product that people needed. We expected to sell to a giant company from the beginning. Unilever saw our purpose and our vision and it was a great match for us.
Jaime: When I started the business, I had zero intentions of selling. I was just the girl at the farmer’s market. But when I was getting a really strong response, it became clear we were a real player in not only the natural industry but we were really taking on bigger brands, too. When we were at the point we were getting POs from Costco for 300k units of deodorant, we decided it might be time to chat with investors. Unilever was the perfect match. We had very similar visions for the company, so it made sense.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
in conversation with Michelle Lee
I think anyone that’s in startup life would agree that you’re wearing many hats, rolling your sleeves up and getting down and dirty. You can see where the needle moves, and celebrate success together as a small team.
Rose Inc. is so much of a passion project for me; I wake up and I’m excited to get into the office and work with these women. If it turns out to be bigger than a passion project, that’s great.
I very much have always managed to differentiate between my life as a career woman and my personal life—when I come home from work, I just want to be the partner, mom, friend, and at the office I’m in my blazer ready to go.
I don’t have any advice for new moms! I need to be asking for advice from you all. What is the balance? How are you doing it? It’s such an individual and personal thing, but what I’m trying to really focus on is that when I’m with my family, I give them 100 percent, and when I’m at work, I give it 100 percent.
I’m not sure there’s such thing as perfect balance, but I’m certainly keen to strive for it.
What’s in store for Rose Inc:
We’ll be doing our second masterclass here in NYC. We’re continuing to partner with great brands and product beautiful content. Our YouTube channel was something I was hesitant about doing—it’s taken me some time to warm up and feel comfortable doing it—it’s very intimate. But now I shoot videos in my own bathroom. It’s a great way to connect with our community.
Building Rose Inc has been the most fulfilling job. I’ve been lucky to work for so many years, with so many highs and lows — I think a lot of times people look at a career and see just all success but there were times when the phone wasn’t really ringing, and in those times I would find myself inspired to think about what I really wanted to do. I’ve never been really comfortable waiting for the phone to ring. I’ve always had a feeling I wanted to build something with my own two hands and my own brain.
3 beauty products every working woman should own:
A great concealer or foundation - I love Bare Minerals loose foundation powder
A red lipstick - so multipurpose and makes you feel powerful
A great mascara - I love the new Marc Jacobs one!
What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
It’s OK to say no. Since turning 30 and becoming a mom, I’ve found my voice and know what I’m not willing to compromise on.”
Martha Stewart
in conversation with Jaclyn Johnson
On the longevity on her product line:
We’ve been making beautiful useful well made products for a long time, and I want to continue to do that in a big way. We want to be where the customer wants and needs us.
On imposter syndrome:
Take the reins. Be a strong, willful, self-possessed person. You have to be if you’re going to be in business for yourself. You have to be able to let stuff run off you—you can’t dwell on the problem.
When you’re through changing, you’re through. You have to be able to change and swerve to adapt.
I want to be remembered as good woman who is a good teacher who is fun and has accomplished a lot.
Ashley Graham
in conversation with Jaclyn Johnson
On body positivity & representation:
Here I am, a white woman who has been given a platform for a body that’s now quote trendy. But here are so many women of color who have always had this body type and have been celebrating their own bodies for so long—it’s wild that we haven’t given women of color the same platform that I as a white woman have, and i really want to see more representation for women of color in this space.
On equal pay:
Talk to your colleagues about how much you’re making. You need to know your worth in the workplace—there’s nothing wrong with building each other up, having these conversations, and taking it on together.
On brand partnerships:
For me, everything I do is authentic—I know, I know, you keep hearing it everywhere—but this is really what authenticity is. If I’m posting what sports bra I love on Instagram, it’s because I really love it.
On building confidence:
I’ll have moments when I leave the bathroom and look in the mirror and say to myself, “You are fine, you are beautiful, you are brilliant, and you are bold.
Missed out on this conference? Stay tuned…we’re sharing some super exciting news about our next conference this week!
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