Buzzy Skincare Line Summer Fridays Has Thrived During COVID—This Marketing Pivot Was Key

“We truly just started, and never really looked back.”

—Lauren Gores Ireland, Co-Founder of Summer Fridays

Just because a market is saturated doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to disrupt it. Let’s take the beauty industry for example. It’s a $532 billion market, which might seem too daunting to even attempt breaking into, but here’s the kicker: women are leading the way!

When it comes to gender equality at the highest level, the beauty industry comes out on top. In fact, it officially outranks every other profession in terms of the highest percentage of women seen on the board and in executive positions. 

Unfortunately, that number is still only 29%, so clearly, we still have a long way to go. But the good news is that women aren’t waiting for the doors to open; they’re carving out their own niche and taking a slice of that billion-dollar pie for themselves. 

Lauren Gores Ireland is one of them. The co-founder of the buzzy skincare brand Summer Fridays broke the influencer mold and turned her online community into brand ambassadors. But it’s the brand’s unique marketing initiatives during COVID that has really set them apart from their competitors.

Knowing that people would be stuck at home for summer Fridays this year, Lauren and her co-founder Marianne Hewitt decided to put the summer back into summer Fridays with comfort house calls.

We’re talking a cake collaboration with Sweet Laurel Bakery inspired by their Jet Lag face mask; a Craig’s Vegan Jet Lag-inspired ice cream called Vanilla Cloud, which comes with a mini mask; and a co-branded limited edition collage kit and photo filter with Tezza Barton. So smart!

At our recent Small Business Summit, Dell Technologies brought the co-founder of Summer Fridays and the founder and CEO of Create & Cultivate, Jaclyn Johnson, together for a conversation on how the beloved skincare brand has pivoted its marketing strategy due to COVID, why networking has been key to their wild success, and what the power of social media marketing can really do.

In fact, thanks to DWEN (Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network), Dell is enabling women entrepreneurs across the globe to succeed by helping them navigate business challenges. DWEN has a proven ability to facilitate meaningful connections and bridge access to fellow entrepreneurs and advisors, technology, new markets, and resources needed to scale.

If you missed the conversation at our Small Business Summit, you’re in luck. Below, we’ve compiled all the most memorable quotes from the session. So, get out your notebooks because class is now in session!

On launching the business right away… 

“We had the idea and, quite literally, that afternoon we were already taking steps toward creating a business.”

“We truly just started, and never really looked back.” 

On tapping into your immediate network… 

“Once you have an idea and you start asking people, even within your friends-and-family circle, a lot of times, they know someone who knows someone who can connect you, whether that’s to a lab or a manufacturing facility.” 

On knowing when it’s time to bring on a team… 

“You get to a point where you realize you can’t do everything.” 

“Once you’re with a retailer like Sephora, you can’t operate without a proper team behind you.”

On seeking out mentorship opportunities… 

“I know that we would not be where we are today without the mentors who really helped guide us.”

“Jen Atkin of OUAI was significant for us. She’s the one that introduced us to Sephora. She guided us when we had big questions.”

“Jamie Kern Lima of IT Cosmetics very kindly sat down with us for hours one day and just gave us so much information and advice, which was so incredible.”

On investing in your own business… 

“Before you’re making money, you have to put money into the business.”

On the power of social media marketing… 

“It’s remarkable what you can do in the beginning, without a ton of money, on a channel like Instagram.” 

“Trying to reach out to the networks that you have, doing gifting, sending things out to people, and investing in getting that product out to people is really helpful.” 

“Now that we have grown, whether they’re our close friends or someone that we don’t know, we do pay influencers, and that is now part of our strategy.”

“What Instagram is best for is getting out the message so people can see it and it makes them want it.”

On networking with other brands… 

“Reaching out to other brands that feel native to your brand is a really great way to grow.”

Learn more about Dell's Women's Entrepreneur Network (DWEN) at DWEN.com.

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We Answer All Your Money Questions Like “Where Should I Put My Dollars Now?”

We know first hand when women set their mind to something, they can truly achieve anything. That also applies to confidence around money.  When you have the right money mindset and you experience the role it plays in living your best life, you’ll become a formidable force. 

So it’s time to ditch all fear, obligation, and guilt that block your healthy views on money to achieve the life you’ve always wanted.

Financial educator, Catherine Alford helped us get to that place with her Morning Money Talk presented by Ally at the recent Future of Work digital conference. She shared tips for getting your finances organized at home and supercharging your savings (because we’d all like a little extra financial padding right about now!). She started her business from scratch with a $10 domain name and grew it to six figures so she knows a thing or two about managing money. 

She explained that it’s hard to focus on your job, your side business, or your incredible start up idea if you don’t have your personal finances in order. Additionally, she says the more you save in your personal life, the more freedom you have to pursue your professional goals. Read on to learn about Alford’s three-step savings strategy.

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Whenever I'm having those moments where I really don't feel like saving, I think of my three main reasons to save to remind myself why it’s important. Here they are: 

Reason #1: Personal Freedom

Personal freedom is a massive deal to me. It's why I became an entrepreneur. I like doing what I want, when I want. I like choosing who I work with and what I spend my time on. I like having a job and still being able to pick up my kids from school. When you save your money and you're smart about how you manage it, the more personal freedom you have. Personal freedom with your finances allows you to walk away from jobs and situations that don't serve you and allows you to have fun too.

Reason #2: Leaving a Legacy

How cool would it be if your great-grandkids said, “Because of Grandma Cat or Grandma Sarah or Grandma Melody, all of us went to college debt-free?” What if, because of the lessons you taught and the discipline you established in your family, it changes the way your family behaves, perceives money, and donates?”

Reason #3: Extreme Generosity

Having savings also allows you to be generous with a friend who really needs help at a certain moment. I love the idea of extreme generosity, and I like practicing with micro generous moments. Remember, the more money you make, the more you can give away and make the world a better place.

How Much to Save and Where to Stash It

I like to have a three-step strategy when it comes to saving.

1. Get one month ahead.

2. Establish a solid emergency fund.

3. Set up sinking funds. 

Get into the mindset of believing you're a warrior when it comes to savings and you are going to slash through these goals, however long it takes. If you want personal freedom, to leave a legacy, and to be extremely generous, these steps can help you get there.

Get One Month Ahead

There's a concept called mental load that's been gaining popularity over the past couple of years. It's this idea that women have to do thousands of invisible tasks, things people don't see, things we naturally take on ourselves like emailing our kids teachers or getting a birthday gift for our mother in law. No one assigns us these tasks. It's just that culturally women have taken up all of these tasks, and it is a heavy load on many days.

I don't want money to be one of those things for you, but money takes a lot of time to manage unless you get one month ahead. For me, getting one month ahead is stress-free budgeting, and here's why. When you're one month ahead, you start the month with all the money you need for the month. 

The goal is to use your paychecks from this month to pay your bills next month. And if you're thinking, “That would be nice, but that's not possible,” you have to go back to your mindset. Remember, you are a savings warrior and you absolutely can accomplish that.

For some people, they can get one month ahead today by transferring money from their savings accounts and getting started on the first of next month. For other people, it might take a few months to get there, and that’s okay. What’s important is that you start.

Establish a Solid Emergency Fund

For ten years, I've been telling just about everybody to have a three to six-month emergency fund. And this year has completely changed my view on that because now, I am a fan of having six-plus months of an emergency fund.

If you have high-interest debt, like credit card debt, start with a one-month emergency fund. Then, pay off your high-interest debt as quickly as possible and go back and build your savings to six-plus months after that.

If you have low-interest debt, like a car loan or student loans, build your savings up to six-plus months now before aggressively paying those down.

I like to keep my emergency fund separate from my regular checking accounts and my investment accounts. I keep this money liquid. That means I can access it and have it today if I need it.

Set Up Sinking Funds

Sinking funds are little baby savings accounts for all of the big events and unexpected events that might happen in your life. Three examples are car repairs, holiday savings, and vacations. 

One of the first sinking funds I ever created for myself was when I started my business, and I really wanted to get a MacBook Pro. I was in my 20s at the time, and it was the most money I'd ever saved. I would save a little bit at a time in an online savings account until I reached my goal. 

That was my first experience, and I was hooked because it feels so good to go into a store with cash that you've already saved. There's no guilt, there's no stress, and there's no regret. 

It’s the same thing with vacations. Have you ever taken a vacation that’s completely paid for up front? If so, you're not worried about getting home and looking at your credit card statement. If you save for vacations ahead of time and you have all that extra padding, you're actually able to relax. You can also use sinking funds for things like your kid's birthday party or holiday shopping. 

To make this easy, Ally Bank’s Online Savings Account offers buckets. So, instead of having five or six savings accounts for various sinking funds, now you can consolidate them into one savings account with buckets inside of it named for your savings goals. This helps you to stay organized and in control of your money. 

Bonus Tip: Automate Everything

I know a lot of people aren't fans of automation but for me, automating is everything. I automate my savings and paying my bills because it saves me a lot of brain space. It’s the easiest way to build up a savings account without thinking about it, and that is what I credit the most to being able to build up my emergency fund to what I have today. 

If you've never tried automating or it makes you nervous, just try it for a month or so and see how you feel about it. Start by scheduling a small amount of money to automatically transfer to your savings account after you get paid. I know people worry about too much money being withdrawn from their accounts. However, after many years of automating, I have only had a problem two or three times, and it was quickly fixed with a phone call. 

I hope with this three-step strategy, you can get started on your path towards financial freedom. Not only will having an emergency fund and sinking funds provide a great financial cushion but having them will also give you incredible peace of mind.

To learn more about Ally, visit ally.com

Ally Bank, Member FDIC

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A Donation-With-Purchase Might Not Be the Best Way to Support a Worthy Cause—Here's Why

Photo: Courtesy of Allyn Rose

As a member of the breast cancer community, I’ve noticed an unfortunate trend over the last few years, which is a feeling of unease surrounding what should be our most celebrated time of the year: Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Being one of the most recognized awareness months certainly has its benefits. Billions of dollars have been raised in the fight against breast cancer, leading it to become one of the most largely funded diseases in the world. But with that popularity, comes an unfortunate dark side surrounding the word “awareness.” In the month of October, one would be hard-pressed to avoid coming across anything less than a sea of pink. We see ribbons and slogans affixed to coffee mugs, tote bags, and sports jerseys.

And while many of these organizations are well-meaning and donate large portions of their product’s proceeds to breast cancer research, others have capitalized on their consumers’ ill-informed purchasing-practices. By using the pink momentum, they raise prices or sell products while donating little to no money toward finding a cure. Much of this is due to the linguistic loophole of the word “awareness” which allows companies to profit without repercussion. These pink profiteers have robbed the month of its true meaning, and those who are most directly affected by breast cancer are calling for change from “awareness” to “action.”

But how do we make that change a reality? It’s unlikely that companies financially benefiting from Breast Cancer Awareness Month are going to change their ways without a significant overhaul of the system or a watchdog organization to hold them accountable. But we, as consumers, can do our due diligence when deciding where our charitable dollars go.

Where do we start?

1. Look for recipient disclosure statements. 

Most large corporations will state on their websites whom their funds benefit. If you don’t see a charitable organization recipient, consider purchasing elsewhere.

2. Look for organizations that donate money to research (the most actionable cause), patient grants, or educational tools. 

Not sure what percentage the particular nonprofit organizations donate towards research or other topics? Check watchdog websites like Guidestar and the Foundation Center. 

3. Look for low “donation caps.”

Pay particular attention to “donation caps.” Some companies may say “25% of the proceeds of this product benefit X organization up to $10,000.” Beware of low caps. 

Following these simple steps will help ensure that your money is going towards worthwhile causes that will help bring us closer to a cure for breast cancer. And let’s not get discouraged!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a time for us to encourage those in our lives bravely battling this disease to continue fighting and to honor those who may no longer be with us. It is also a time to learn what we can do to educate ourselves on prevention.

Did you know that close to 50% of women discover their own breast cancer through practices like a self-breast exam? That’s why I’ve made it my mission to teach women how to “know their normal” by performing a monthly exam. Not sure where to start? You’re not alone. The Previvor Foundation can help you learn how! For a quick and easy tutorial, visit our Instagram.

“We, as consumers, can do our due diligence when deciding where our charitable dollars go.”

—Allyn Rose, Women's Health Advocate & Founder of The Previvor Foundation

About the Author: As a 24-year-old Miss America contestant, Allyn Rose made headlines across the globe with her controversial decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy after losing her mother, grandmother, and great aunt to breast cancer. Allyn's story inspired both celebrities like Angelina Jolie and a new generation of women alike to take charge of their healthcare choices. Determined to encourage other women to know that their scars are beautiful, Allyn boldly became the first woman with a mastectomy to model for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. She is the founder of The Previvor, a 501(c)(3) non-profit women's health platform which serves as a resource for women undergoing mastectomy, and the creator of the #SelfExamGram, a social media movement that encourages women to perform monthly self-breast exams.

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Ever Heard of a Shmask? Meet the Hybrid Mask Kids Actually Want to Wear

“I’m so motivated and so proud to make something that makes this super weird moment a bit softer.”

—Karine Nissim, Founder of Shmask

March 2020 was the month I cried myself to sleep every night. 

Between tears, death tolls, and hilarious coronavirus memes, I stewed on about what would be. On how my children's lives would irrevocably change and how ill-prepared I was to parent them in this new normal. 

It was out of despair and desperation that I wanted and needed to make this moment better for my children. I couldn't fathom mask-wearing in all its clinical glory as a reality for my family, so I created something better: the first-ever shirt with a mask attached for kids (and grownups).

It's called the Shmask! Shirt meets mask. It is super duper soft, breathable, adjustable, and just so easy to wear. 

If you know me, you know I've traveled with a pack of sanitizing wipes in my purse for the last ten years. My elaborate cleansing of all airplane surfaces around my seat is a source of embarrassment to anyone who's traveled with me.  

Suddenly, I felt validated.  

If I had a dollar for every time I barked at my children not to touch anything in a public bathroom, I'd probably have an extra $30,000.  

None of this eased my nerves. I stayed home. I quit my job as a film professor. I came up with the most elaborate routines to properly cleanse our Instacart groceries and Amazon packages. My hands were so dry that I even started to sanitize the sanitizer.  

And turns out I hate Zoom. I especially hate it when the image freezes and my four-year-old daughter walks away from the screen but all her classmates get to see me in my pajamas. Without a bra on. I really hate it when it is the only means to console my grieving cousins on the loss of their father.

I put out a question on my Instagram story.  "Would you rather send your children to school in a mask or keep them at home?" 70% opted to send them in masks. The thought was unimaginable to me.  I resolved to keep mine home. Maybe. I might miss the world though, probably. 

But then time went on, and well, it turns out I suck at being a school teacher. And, frankly, after cooking three meals and three snacks a day, doing all the laundry and dishes all the time, I'm not my most awesome self. Also, my kids needed other kids and other grown-ups who know the answers to things without asking Alexa first. Incidentally, Alexa knows a lot about space.

And then, we needed to renovate. A burst pipe left brown water stains across our ceiling which was a real eyesore in every single Zoom angle. Also, my kitchen was a relic of the ‘90s, and I couldn't fathom the idea of spending another six months home-bound cooking in that cave of a room.  

An impromptu road trip meant we were suddenly doing things well outside my comfort zone. Hotels. Shared elevators. Public bathrooms. People. Lots of people. 

The kids and their masks were such a source of stress. The little one dropped hers on the street and found it 20 minutes later with evidence of heavy foot traffic. My oldest kept playing with it despite touching every surface imaginable first. And my middle son had a habit of putting his on backward.  

Photo: Courtesy of Karine Nissim

At this point, I'm out in the world, and I'm living the challenge of required mask-wearing with three young kids. I'm experiencing how that looks for my family of five and for my in-laws who were with us.  And, it's a pain in the ass.  It could be better, so I set out to make it so.

But here's the thing: aside from pouring over every Vogue issue my mom got in the 80s, and a brief stint as an intern at Harper's Bazaar, I had zero experience in fashion. I loved it though and always have. And I knew the idea was good. So good that I was afraid to tell people who could do it faster and better than me.  

And then something supremely magical happened. I started asking "friends" on Facebook questions. 

"Are any of you in the T-shirt business?" 

"Does anyone know any patent lawyers?" 

I peppered these in-between images of my dream kitchen and asking for advice on which oven range to buy.  And you know what? People answered me! Lots of opinions on kitchen appliances, but also introductions. Offers of time chatting, getting into how they run their own business, and how I could create mine.  

I would look to my husband at night—as we clacked away on our laptops with Friends reruns in the background—and I would say, "I'm not sure what good I've done in this life, but well it's nice to know people will help me when I ask." And they did.  

My friends who have ever worked in fashion or who’s input I love would come over in the evening and sit six feet apart on my patio, in their masks, and watch my children model my first Shmask prototypes. They would chime in on the pros and cons of design.  

I'll never forget the resounding theme of one of those wonderful conversations. They all agreed: comfort trumped all. A comfortable shirt meant compliance. Compliance with an otherwise alien behavior. If it was soft, breathable, and we could hear their little voices, then they would wear it. And they wouldn’t mind. Neither would we. 

So began a slew of conversations with factories, brokers, consultants, and fabric mills. This was also a pain in the ass, and not what eight-year-old me dreamed being a fashion designer would be. 

But then my kids would hear me say that they inspired me. I called them my business partners. Mostly, they were reluctant models. But really, they are my muses. It’s their soft cheeks and little noses I want to protect. It’s all of ours. I’m so motivated and so proud to make something that makes this super weird moment a bit softer. And now I hear my kids tell their classmates in Zoom that their mom created something. Something they are proud of too. 

Shmask isn’t my first business, but it’s the first time I’ve felt so supported, not just by my family, but by a community of parents who love their children as much as I do. And as much as mask-wearing has been politicized, it’s also been required. And if it’s required, then I want the Shmask to make it easier. 

I am a woman of many ideas. Many, many ideas. My husband, also an entrepreneur, will always say, “The idea is nothing without the execution,” which is true. But, also, execution can’t happen without motivation, and that motivation was ever-present as we navigated this new normal.

So during a baffling pandemic, in the middle of a stressful home renovation, on an unplanned road trip, I developed the Shmask: a shirt-meets-mask concept that guarantees a safe and hassle-free solution for families and their kids.   

The shirt has an attached-face covering made of soft and breathable fabric with enough space in the nose and mouth area for kids to breathe and speak easily. There is a dip in the back, so it can seamlessly be worn or taken off. With the attached-face covering, Shmask helps eliminate the issue of kids complying with today's mask requirements. They can't lose it, drop it, trade it with their friends, or forget it at home. 

About the Author: In addition to being a mom of three, founder Karine Nissim, is also a three-time entrepreneur, an award-winning filmmaker, and professor and the co-founder of DogVacay (which is now called Rover, the “Airbnb for pets”). Shmask started as a passion project to help keep her kids safe during this super weird time. This is the first product of a broader line of apparel for luxe family living called Karine. Super soft clothing that solves the hard problems of our new world. Think protective layers, breathable fabrics, clothes that we can all play and work in, from pick up and drop-offs, Zoom meetings, park play dates, to workouts! You and your fam can look Insta-ready and feel pajama-party good.

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Here's Why You Should Diversify Your Product Range Before You Think You Need To

Photo: Courtesy of Cathryn Lavery

My first year in business was a much bigger success than I’d expected.

My first real product, the Self Journal, launched on Kickstarter in August 2015. I’d set a funding target of $15,000, and by the end of the campaign, I’d raised $322,695 from a total of 6,531 backers.

It was a huge win that, not only validated the concept of a 13-week productivity and goal-setting journal but also launched BestSelf Co. as a business.

But it didn’t take long for this big win to morph into a problem.

If you’ve ever watched Shark Tank, you’ll know that the Sharks are reluctant to invest in a single product.

There’s a simple reason for this reluctance: one product means you have a product, NOT a business.

Even if you have a winning product, your business is vulnerable because all your eggs are in the same basket. You have a single point of failure, which leaves you vulnerable and wide open.

If something happens to that one product, you’re out of business. And so much can go wrong—2020 has been proof of that.

First up, you’ll have competitors snapping at your heels.

Back in 2015, the Self Journal was the only 13-week goal setting on the market. As the first-of-its-kind planning and productivity tool, it gained traction quickly, especially because it was backed by science and success psychology. Fast forward five years and the market is saturated with 13-week journals.

Add to that, potential supply-chain problems, inventory going out of stock, as well as alternative goal-setting solutions coming onto the market, and your steady stream of sales can soon hit a downward curve.

A single product offering also means you have to find new customers again and again. Finding customers is expensive, especially as the cost of paid ads continues to rise.

With the Self Journal accounting for 99.9% of our sales, I knew I had to diversify.

Plus, the benefits of diversifying are so many. With a suite of products, you:

• Spread your risk

• Unlock up-sell and cross-sell opportunities to increase your average order value and your customer lifetime value

• Widen your potential market

“If something happens to that one product, you’re out of business. And so much can go wrong—2020 has been proof of that.”

—Cathryn Lavery, Co-Founder & CEO of BestSelf Co.

I remember Tony Robbins asking two questions: “What business are you in?,” and, “What business do you need to be in?”

BestSelf Co. used to be a product-first company that sold goal-setting journals.

We needed to become a problem-first company that understood our customers’ challenges so well, we could create products that resolved them. We began to interview our customers in our community for information to really understand their needs.

As we transitioned to a problem-first approach, we unlocked a new creative wave in the business. Initially, we stuck with our productivity and goal-setting core.

For example, we recognized some customers felt overwhelmed by the structure of the Self Journal. They wanted to be more productive and effective in their work and their life, but they didn’t want the day-to-day detail of the Self Journal.

We created the Weekly Action Pad in response, which remains one of our most popular products to date.

Not every product innovation was a winner. There was a time when we invested in a merchandise range. Tees and hoodies didn’t sell as we expected, but we learned from that experience and used the lessons to dive deeper into the core of who we are as a business.

Eventually, we began to think more laterally about the problems we wanted to solve.

We realized lots of our customers enjoyed journaling because, through the process of self-discovery, they got clearer on the goals they wanted to set and past the roadblocks that were in their way.

Market research revealed that writer’s block was a big problem for journalers, so we created a deck of prompt cards to spark creative thinking.

And this product launched a whole new line of prompt decks.

It’s tempting to stick to what you know, especially when your product is doing so well, but you’ll never regret diversifying before you need to. You can’t know how long it will take to find another winner. Sometimes the things you think will fly become the embarrassing flops [we’ve had our share of those too!].

The secret is to keep coming back to the core problems you’re trying to solve.

Solve a real problem, and you can’t go wrong.

“The secret is to keep coming back to the core problems you’re trying to solve.”

—Cathryn Lavery, Co-Founder & CEO of BestSelf Co.

About the Author: Cathryn Lavery is the co-founder and CEO of BestSelf Co., an organization dedicated to helping people become their best selves, fulfill their potential, and lead happier lives. As an Irish immigrant with zero business experience, no personal network, and little resources, Cathryn transformed herself into a serial entrepreneur creating multiple brands and even helping others bring their ideas to life. She is passionate about showing others how to make the change and have the tools to achieve their goals.

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Eager for a career change? Check out these new listings in marketing, community management, influencer relations, social media, and more

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“Social Media Has the Power to Positively Change Our Lives If We Let It"—Here's How to Be Authentic Online

“Social media has the power to positively change our lives if we let it.”

—Allyn Rose, Women's Health Advocate & Founder of The Previvor Foundation

Keeping up with social media has always been a struggle for me. But it’s never been that I was “too busy” or that I didn’t understand the platforms. The issue was that I didn’t know how to be “authentic” online. I think that’s something that a lot of us can relate to.

How do you balance talking about intimate aspects of your life while still being professional? How do you show a “day in the life” while not fully letting on that you haven’t changed out of your pajamas? How do you talk about your relationship while being respectful and still reserving privacy with your partner? How can you share negative seasons of your life without being a total Debbie Downer? It’s also really easy to start making negative comparisons about your life and the lives of those that you follow. Do people really do their hair and put on makeup every single day? Is anyone’s house that clean all of the time? What type of relationship involves someone picking you up and spinning you around in a picture-perfect embrace on a toilet paper run?

The answer to all of those questions is: “Only the unrealistic ones.” So go ahead and breathe a sigh of relief. But social media matters. It matters because it’s a direct way of speaking to our generation… and that’s a powerful thing. 

I started becoming more active on social media in 2015. While Instagram had begun to grow in popularity, it was nothing like it is now. Back then, it was primarily an overly-edited and perfectly-filtered glimpse into the lives of a beautiful few. Today, it has transformed into a 24/7 display of people’s real lives. People now feel comfortable sharing their trials, as well as their triumphs. We see makeup-free faces, stretch marks, postpartum bodies. We see real life.

“The more I shared about the trials in my life, the more my channels began to grow.”

—Allyn Rose, Women's Health Advocate & Founder of The Previvor Foundation

And I think that represents a generational shift. We’re tired of seeing (and trying to live up to) these perfect lives. It wasn’t until I noticed things start to change that I realized just how inauthentic my online presence had become. I constantly felt like I was playing “catch up” with the trends, the lifestyle, and the never-ending display of perfection. I knew that my life looked nothing like my feed and I made a conscious effort to change that. 

I threw caution to the wind and started talking about what was really going on in my life: undergoing a preventive double mastectomy at 26. I started sharing the way that I felt about my body post-surgery, the impact that it had on my relationship, and how it would change a lot of aspects of my future. Prior to my mastectomy, I had been a Miss USA and Miss America contestant, I was a full-time model and all of that had been put on hold to proactively remove my breasts in an effort to prevent breast cancer. I did this because by the time I turned 16, I had already lost my mother, grandmother, and great aunt to the disease, and I was determined not to suffer the same fate.

I was shocked to see that the more I shared about the trials in my life, the more my channels began to grow. At first, I thought it was just the rubbernecking effect—people slowing down to look at the damage. But as the years went by, a true community began to grow. That community included women who had already battled breast cancer, those who carried a gene mutation that increased their chances of developing cancer, those who were about to undergo preventive surgery, and even those who just wanted to learn how to better support their friends or family members in the same situation. It was wonderful to be able to talk to others who had been in my shoes and those several years out who could offer me some long term perspective on what life might look like when the “dust fully settled.” 

Photo: Courtesy of Allyn Rose

What social media also did was introduce me to the struggles that many women were facing in learning about their options for breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. It got me thinking, “Why is there not a comprehensive resource for women undergoing this surgery? Why are women being forced to message strangers on the internet about these life-changing surgeries?” I put my head down and I got to work.

That’s when The Previvor was born. In October 2019, I launched my nonprofit’s website, a digital women’s health platform that allowed women to be fully informed about all of their choices surrounding mastectomy. As The Previvor grew, so did an even larger community of women who were able to support one another through this very challenging time in their lives. I couldn’t believe that something like social media, something that had given me anxiety for years, was now a vital part of my everyday life. And instead of causing me anxiety and FOMO, it was now bringing me fulfillment and a community of my own. 

As the years went by, and I began to face new challenges like trying to start a family. Because of my family’s health history and being the carrier of a known gene mutation, I opted to undergo the IVF process, followed by genetic testing with Shady Grove Fertility. Because I knew that so many women who had undergone mastectomy were also carriers of the breast cancer gene mutations BRCA1 and BRCA2, I decided to publicly share my fertility journey. I hoped that it might remove some of the “fear of the unknown” from other women who may have to go down the same road in the future. I was blown away by the love and support that I received from women around the world. After 10 months of treatment, two egg retrievals, and an embryo transfer, I’m now 18 weeks pregnant with my first child. I really don’t know how I would have navigated this incredibly emotional experience without the support I received via social media. 

It’s hard to imagine navigating the last five years without the people I met on these platforms. It gets a bad rap at times, but social media has the power to positively change our lives if we let it. So I encourage you to stop trying to “keep up” and start sharing your most authentic self. You never know where it might lead you. 

“I encourage you to stop trying to ‘keep up’ and start sharing your most authentic self. You never know where it might lead you.”

—Allyn Rose, Women's Health Advocate & Founder of The Previvor Foundation

About the Author: As a 24-year-old Miss America contestant, Allyn Rose made headlines across the globe with the controversial decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy after losing her mother, grandmother, and great aunt to breast cancer. Allyn's story inspired celebrities like Angelina Jolie and a new generation of women to take charge of their healthcare choices. Determined to encourage other women to know that their scars are beautiful, Allyn boldly became the first woman with a mastectomy to model for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. She is the founder of The Previvor, a 501(c)(3) non-profit women's health platform, which serves as a resource for women undergoing mastectomy and the creator of the #SelfExamGram, a social media movement encouraging women to perform a monthly self-breast exam.

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Hey Boss Ladies, Here’s What to Expect at Our Small Business Summit Presented by Mastercard

Photo: Smith House Photography

With more than 30 million small businesses across the country employing over 47% of the country’s total workforce, it’s no wonder small business is known as the backbone of America. But in the midst of COVID, small business owners and entrepreneurs need our help more than ever as they transform their Main Street mainstays into thriving digital ones, which is why we’re taking our annual Small Business Summit presented by Mastercard online and making it free to attend. Yes, free!

On Saturday, October 24th, we’re partnering with Mastercard to host a day of immersive virtual workshops, insightful panels, and intimate mentor sessions. Prepare to walk away with the tools, tips, and tricks you need to build, launch, or take your business to the next level and open your digital doors. Scroll on to find out everything you need to know ahead of the big day (spoiler alert: Kate Hudson and Tika Sumpter will be there!) and RSVP to save your spot if you haven’t already.

THE DATE

Saturday, October 24th, 2020

TUNE IN FROM HOME

First things first! On Saturday, October 24th, you’ll receive an email with the link to access the exclusive Small Business Summit presented by Mastercard event site. Please note: All content will go live on Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), including the launch of the exclusive Small Business Summit presented by Mastercard event site. To find out what time a session is happening in your time zone, use this handy time zone converter.

The digital summit is made up of pre-recorded video sessions hosted via Vimeo and live video sessions streaming via Zoom and Messenger Rooms. We recommend that you have a strong WiFi connection and update to the latest version of Zoom for the best experience. The summit is optimized for desktop, so it is best viewed via a computer or laptop, rather than a tablet or phone.

While the live content is specifically designed to be watched in real-time, you’ll be able to access and view it until Friday, October 30th at 5 pm PDT (Insiders, you have all-access even after the cutoff via your C&C Insiders dashboard!).

THE SCHEDULE

Small Business Summit presented by Mastercard is built just like our in-person conferences, which, of course, you all know and love. We have a stacked schedule with an A-list line-up of speakers so we suggest taking notes along the way. 

Want the full lineup? Check out the play-by-play schedule to map out your big day. Please note, all times are listed in PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) and EDT (Eastern Daylight Time). To find out what time a session is happening in your time zone, use this time zone converter. 

It’s going to be HUGE so we recommend getting a head start on planning out your day now.

THINGS TO PREP AHEAD OF TIME

Here are a few things to prep before the big day so it goes off without a hitch:

• Make sure you have a strong WiFi connection.

• Install Zoom on your desktop computer or laptop and test it out.

  • Zoom tips:

    • Find a quiet place to tune in. Try to situate yourself in a small room that does not have an echo. 

      • Try and stay away from noisy electronics and silence your cell phone and computer notifications for an optimal experience.

    • When possible, limit your internet connection to solely the device you’re using for the Zoom conference.

      • Set your phone to airplane mode, pause your television connection, ask others in your home to pause anything that may require a strong internet connection, etc. 

• We will be hosting three LIVE Messenger Room sessions on Facebook throughout the day, you will need to click the live link (which will be accessible via the exclusive Small Business Summit presented by Mastercard event site) at the time of the session to join:

  • This link will prompt you to view the live session. 

    • Please note: You do not need to log into your Facebook account or have a Facebook profile to join the sessions.

  • Please use Google Chrome when accessing the link for the best user experience.

  • Be sure to like, comment, and ask questions during the live broadcast.

• Be sure to download the workshop assets so you can follow along with the expert in real-time. Note: Your exclusive workshop downloads will be available starting Saturday, October 24th via the exclusive Small Business Summit presented by Mastercard event site. 

• Join the Mentor Power Hour Slack channel and peruse the list of mentors who will be answering questions in real-time in half-hour-long Zoom webinars and choose your mentor(s). 

  • We have experts in everything from building brands to raising venture capital to attracting and retaining A-List clients.

  • If there’s more than one mentor you want advice from, don’t worry! You can hop from session to session over the course of the half-hour if you’d like. 

  • Don’t forget to jot down any questions you have for the mentor sessions ahead of time! You’ll be able to ask your Qs in real-time by typing them into Zoom’s Q&A feature.

GET SOCIAL

Stay tuned for exciting announcements and updates by following along on our social at @createcultivate. Don’t forget to tag @createcultivate and use the hashtag #CCSmallBusinessSummit for the chance to be featured in our Instagram Stories throughout the day! (Psst… Search “Create Cultivate” on Instagram to use our custom GIFs.)

NETWORK

Networking is a huge part of our event and our C&C Small Business Summit Attendees Slack Workspace is a great place to mix and mingle with your fellow Create & Cultivators before, during, and after the big day. We’ve created channels for every workshop and panel, as well as channels for international attendees, networking, and more! 

Attendees will receive a link to access our Create & Cultivate Small Business Summit Attendees Slack Workspace in our What to Expect newsletter on Tuesday, October 20th. This Slack channel will remain accessible until Friday, October 30th at 12 pm PDT. Not familiar with Slack? Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Download the Slack app to your phone, computer, or both

2. Complete your account profile with a profile photo, your name, and what you do

3. Public conversations will happen in the channels (ex: #networking) and are located on the left-hand side of the app. You can also start direct messages with others in the Slack workspace

4. Hit send too early on a message? Slack has an edit feature! Click the three-dot icon located on the right side of the message to open the drop-down of message options

5. We’re all about GIFs at C&C! Here are instructions on how to integrate GIPHY into your Slack account.

6. Our Slack workspace is a busy, happening place on the day of the event. Streamline the notifications you receive by using the “mute” feature on channels that don’t pertain to you. To mute a channel, simply open up that channel, click the three-dot icon labeled “more,” and select the mute option

7. Most importantly, be kind and respectful of others. If you don’t follow this rule, you will be removed from the Slack group

If you have any questions on the day of the event about navigating the schedule, accessing the workshop downloads, or anything else, you can drop them into the customer service channel in Slack.

C&C INSIDERS’ PERKS

Our Insiders get a ton of perks at all our events—and this summit is no exception. As an Insider, you’ll have access to all of the workshops, mentor sessions, panels, and keynotes via your C&C Insiders dashboard. This content will be uploaded by November 6th, 2020. Not an insider yet? Well, don’t miss out—you can sign up here. 

VIRTUAL GIFT BAGS

We know you want ‘em! Complete our post-event survey to receive an email packed with promo codes from some of your favorite brands, including Onekind, Hello Care Package, The Caker, Summer Fridays, and more. You’ll receive the survey in your inbox on Friday, October 30th, 2020.

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES?

Live chat with a C&C specialist on CreateCultivate.com. You’ll see a “Chat With Us” pop-up in the bottom right corner of your screen. 

WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU ONLINE! Who are you most excited to hear speak? Which workshop are you looking forward to most? Tell us in the comments below!

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"Nothing Was Standardized"—How 2 Frustrated Moms Took On a $61.8 Billion Industry

We know how daunting it can be to start a new business, especially if you’re disrupting an industry or creating an entirely new one. When there is no path to follow, the biggest question is, where do I start? There is so much to do, but before you get ahead of yourself, let’s start at the beginning. To kick-start the process, and ease some of those first-time founder nerves, we’re asking successful entrepreneurs to share their stories in our new series, From Scratch. But this isn’t your typical day in the life profile. We’re getting into the nitty-gritty details—from writing a business plan (or not) to sourcing manufacturers and how much they pay themselves—we’re not holding back.

Photo: Courtesy of Perelel

 Did you know that one out of every 33 babies in the United States is born with a birth defect? In fact, birth defects are the leading cause of infant deaths, accounting for 20% of all infant deaths, according to the CDC.

So, when Tori Thain Gioia’s daughter was born with a cleft lip despite not having any risk factors or genetic link, “it really knocked me off my feet” she told Create & Cultivate. “I started looking for answers.” she continued. “I did a lot of research with my OB/GYN and learned that the type of cleft my daughter was born with is often associated with a folate deficiency.”

Shocked is an understatement because Gioia had been taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid which she thought was the same thing as folate. “I later learned that folic acid is the synthetic version of the nutrient folate and some 60% of women cannot transform it into the absorbable format, known as folate.” What’s more, she learned that folate levels during the first nine weeks of pregnancy are crucial to development. “I was frustrated to find that so many prenatals had poor quality ingredients like folic acid and saddened that there was so little education out there about what and when you really in need your prenatal.”

So, she partnered up with friend and fellow frustrated mama, Alex Taylor to change the statistics. When they first met, they had both just given birth and as two people with a lot of startup experience, they were equally disappointed by the current offering for millennial moms.

Today, they’re taking on the $61.8 Billion supplements industry—it’s predicted to reach a value of $349 billion by 2026—with their own prenatal line, Perelel vitamins to be parallel to where our woman is in her journey, there to support her when she needs it most. These supplements have been designed to adapt to your body’s changing needs throughout your motherhood journey. Using only bioavailable, high-quality ingredients at doctor-recommended doses, their formulations offer targeted nutrients for each phase.

Read on to hear more about how Gioia and Taylor are disrupting the supplements space and sparking connection and community with new moms along the way.

On the lightbulb moment…

Alex Taylor: I had also recently given birth to my first child and felt frustrated with my prenatal vitamin experience. I’ve always been incredibly health-conscious, which was only magnified when I was diagnosed with a thyroid disease about seven years ago. I’ve been fortunate to have access to incredible practitioners over the years, so when it came to pregnancy I was especially privy to the nutritional nuances associated with each phase. In a nutshell, I learned that the timing of certain nutrients was paramount.

When I began my pregnancy journey, I supplemented my prenatal vitamin with CoQ10 and additional folate while we were trying to conceive. Once I finally got pregnant, I supplemented with added calcium and iron and tracked down a separate Omega that offered both high-quality DHA and EPA, and so on. I was chasing down vitamins from Amazon, Whole Foods, your name it, piecing together what I understood to be the optimal mix of vitamins. It was a haphazard experience, to say the least. Each morning, I’d line up my various pill bottles and sort out my daily dose, which my husband found very amusing.

What made things all the more confusing was the fact that there was very little credible information online about prenatal vitamin nutrition—nothing was standardized and most of the resources I found were on community forums, which just didn’t cut it. After putting together the puzzle pieces of our challenges, Tori and I knew there had to be a better way.

What we found were three major issues with the current one-size-fits-all prenatal vitamin market:

1. Poor quality ingredients

2. Timing the introduction of certain ingredients was vital

3. Lack of information from credible sources

Appreciating we weren’t MDs, we teamed up with Tori’s OB/GYN, Dr. Banafsheh Bayati, who eagerly validated our concept (and joined as a Medical Co-Founder). Along with Dr. Bayati, we also ran the idea by a handful of other leading OB/GYNs and maternal-fetal medicine doctors who were equally enthusiastic about the need for a more targeted prenatal vitamin with a holistic approach.

From there, we knew we were onto something special, and so, Perelel was born.

“There was very little credible information online about prenatal vitamin nutrition—nothing was standardized.”

—Alex Taylor, Co-Founder, Perelel

On writing a business plan…

AT: In our own way, yes! Instead of writing a memo, we used the exercise of creating a full presentation as a way to crystalize the brand, our product assortment, our mission, and what we hoped to accomplish. We used the deck as a roadmap for the concept, how we’d get it off the ground, and what the financial architecture would be. We built a financial model that contemplates a number of scenarios and strives to ensure a path to profitability. Both exercises have been invaluable tools for us and served as compasses that we often reference and discuss.

On coming up with the name…

AT: Naming was probably the toughest part! We created endless lists of ideas but never seemed to pull the trigger. Finally, Tori called me one evening as I was driving down the 405 and said that we had to pick a name so we could incorporate the business. As luck would have it, we both gravitated toward the same name on our long list of options: Perelel. We chose this name because our goal is to always be parallel to where our woman is in her journey, there to support her when she needs it most. Plus, we loved that our version of the spelling used the root word “pere-” which means “to produce”—a nice wink to the goal of taking our products: to produce a healthy pregnancy.

As soon as we locked in the name, we secured the web domain, social handles, and applied for the trademark. From there, jumped into the formulation process with our doctors while also interviewing manufacturers that met our high quality and production standards.

On finding a trustworthy manufacturer…

TTG: While the FDA does not approve dietary supplements, we manufacture our products in accordance with the FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) to ensure quality and safety. And for good measure, we test all of our products for heavy metals, microbes, allergens, and contaminants. To find our manufacturers, we teamed up with a supplement consultant who has 20 years of experience in the space to help us find the right partners while also working hand-in-hand with our team of doctors and Medical Co-Founder, Dr. Bayati, to formulate the perfect product.

Due to COVID-19, we encountered some hurdles as many supply chains were disrupted and manufacturing lines were backed up due to the shutdowns. Eventually, we found an amazing partner who met our long list of requirements. We did many reference checks and Zoom interviews. If you’re looking for a manufacturer, we suggest pulling in a consultant with a deep category experience. There are so many nuances you need to be aware of, and unless you’re an expert yourself, it helps to have the reassurance an insider can offer.

On funding the company…

TTG: We raised a small friends-and-family round, but because we’re focused on proving our concept and establishing the brand, we decided to primarily bootstrap through launch. We have plans to raise a small institutional seed round in early 2021 from the right partners who believe in the mission of the brand and an efficient path to break-even.

“

We chose this name because our goal is to always be parallel to where our woman is in her journey—there to support her when she needs it most.”

—Alex Taylor, Co-founder, Perelel

On paying themselves a wage…

TTG: Right now we’re not paying ourselves, but hope to someday soon! When we reach an appropriate scale, we will both look to take a salary, but as we bootstrap through launch, we’re not.

On the building a team…

AT: We have two primary co-founders along with an OB/GYN who is our medical co-founder. Additionally, we have two full-time employees, an amazing intern, and we have a panel of 9 experts and advisors who support us with content, community building, product review, and development.

Both Tori and I have managed larger operations and teams in the past, so hiring and building out the infrastructure came second nature to us.

On staying on top of the financials…

AT: Tori has a finance background, which spans investment banking, investing, and operations. She also has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a lot of experience building financial plans for very early-stage businesses, so we’ve leaned heavily on her savvy there for sure. That said, strategic finance and operations are a different beast than accounting, so we’ve onboarded a great partner to help us there. We want to be buttoned up and organized from the start so we don’t have to undo (or redo) a lot of work there.

On the biggest learning curve…

AT: There’s never a dull moment, especially when you’re dealing with third-party operators and have supply-chain dependencies. We’ve had to block-and-tackle as we go, making tough decisions. But honestly, the process has helped us build a strong foundation as partners. We trust one another implicitly and deeply respect each other, too.

There are so many nuances you need to be aware of, and unless you’re an expert yourself, it helps to have the reassurance an insider can offer.

—Tori Thain Gioia, Co-founder, Perelel

On having a business coach…

AT: I’ve worked with an incredible coach on-and-off for the past five years or so. He’s helped me build a resilient mindset, grow as a leader, make leaps in my career to better align with my personal values, and has equipped me with tools to not only make better decisions but also insights that have helped me become a better person, too. I am deeply grateful to him. If you can, I highly recommend finding a coach or a mentor you can regularly check in with.

On creating buzz around the brand…

AT: I come from a content, marketing, and strategy background where I’ve built many brands you might know and love today, so building Perelel came second nature to me. Part of it was pulling the more obvious levers such as social media and building our email list ahead of launch through compelling programming, but what’s been especially fun are all of the new and unconventional strategies we’ve been pursuing! Consumer habits are shifting a mile-a-minute so we’ve been focused on understanding fresh ways to engage our customers and pull her into our universe. Think outside the box!

On advice for small business owners…

AT: In the very early days of starting Perelel, I was chatting with a mentor of mine and he shared a story with me: He told me about a dinner he had with Elon Musk, who said being an entrepreneur is like waking up every morning and chewing glass. I laughed it off at the time, but it’s true. You have to be prepared to deal with a whole new set of challenges each day. And these challenges don’t ever go away, no matter how successful your business. Starting and running your own company is not a cakewalk. And it’s definitely nothing like the “girl boss” fantasy you often see portrayed in the media or founder press out there.

On the #1 piece of financial advice for new business owners…

AT: Loaded question! The first is spending the time upfront to do an honest assessment about what capital is required to break-even, even if it’s a range. Forming a point of view as to what your cash needs are in the near and long-term is crucial given there is no business if there isn’t cash. The second piece is being thoughtful about what KPIs you’re targeting to determine what success looks like. We’re trying to identify the metrics that we’ll need to achieve and not fall into the trap of cherry-picking data points to make strategic choices.

On developing a solid working relationship as co-founders…

TTG & AT: We are launching this business while also expanding our families (Tori just had a new baby and Alex is due in December). Fortunately, we are not first-time moms and fully understand what is involved in coming home with a newborn. We have great respect and understanding of what each other is experiencing, and because we are a small, nimble team, we can flex when the other needs to retreat to be with family, but we still feel fully supported by each other. We also knew we would need to have some support, so we brought on two full-time team members to Perelel to help keep the day-to-day rolling when we need to focus on family.

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Classifieds: Square, Kelly Wearstler, & BossBabe Are Hiring!

Credit: Colorjoy Stock

Ready for a career refresh? Check out these remote listings from Square, Wren, Skillshare, & more!

FEATURED JOBS

Business Development Manager, Square- Remote

Influencer Relations Coordinator, Shine Talent Group- Los Angeles, CA

Talent Manager, Shine Talent Group- Los Angeles, CA

Director of Digital Marketing, Kelly Wearstler- Los Angeles, CA or New York, NY

Social Media Manager, Kelly Wearstler- Los Angeles, CA 

Public Relations & Brand Communications Associate, Kelly Wearstler- Los Angeles, CA

LOS ANGELES  

Brand & Content Manager, BossBabe 

Digital Account Manager, Create & Cultivate

Sr. Marketing Manager, User Acquisition and Retention, MagicLinks

Sr. Marketing Manager, Lead Generation, MagicLinks

Sales & Client Relationship Executive, Eloquence

Digital Marketing Assistant, Eloquence

NEW YORK CITY

Community Manager, Edelman

Growth Marketing Specialist, Venmo

Marketing Specialist, Aesop

Content & Production Manager, TULA Skincare

Social Media Manager, Scentbird 

Product Marketing Manager, SoundCloud

REMOTE

Content Strategist , Skillshare 

Marketing Intern,  Wren

Sales Development Rep,  Replicated

Performance Marketing Manager, Vital Proteins

Project Manager, Silverline

Sr. Paid Marketing Manager, Webflow

I Launched a Non-Profit Women's Health Website With $0 and No Experience in Web Design

“The goal was to put women back in the driver’s seat of their healthcare choices and allow them to advocate for themselves (sometimes even with their own doctors).”

—Allyn Rose, Women's Health Advocate & Founder of The Previvor Foundation

This October marks 10 years that I’ve been part of what’s known as the “Breast Cancer Community.” I once heard it referred to as “the worst club with the best members.” I don’t think I could put it better. 

In 2010, I was a college senior at the University of Maryland, College Park. Like most students, I was trying to soak up the final few semesters with friends, mastering procrastination, and asking myself the age-old soon-to-be-grad question: “What’s next?” While avoiding finishing one of my final papers, I received an e-mail on my sorority’s listserv entitled “Breast Cancer Charity Pageant.” I opened it—anything to avoid another 5 pages on legal theory. The e-mail was inviting students who had a connection to breast cancer to enter a new beauty pageant, benefiting a breast cancer non-profit. I was intrigued. Something inside of me said, “Just give it a try.” 

“

I was far from what you’d consider the beauty queen type. I wore high-top sneakers, leather jackets with studs and was a former member of a punk rock band.”

—Allyn Rose, Women's Health Advocate & Founder of The Previvor Foundation

My mother had lost her second battle with breast cancer just a few years prior and I knew that she would have given anything to see me in a beautiful gown, participating in something like a pageant. But you have to understand, I was far from what you’d consider the “beauty queen” type. I wore high-top sneakers, leather jackets with studs and was a former member of a “punk rock” band. Not exactly Miss USA. But throwing caution to the wind, I filled out the form, submitted my best MySpace profile picture, and pressed send. What happened next changed the trajectory of my life forever. I ended up not only becoming a contestant but winning that pageant (which, looking back, was nothing short of a miracle). Fast-forward three years, and I would have the opportunity to compete in Miss USA and Miss America. For a punk rocker at heart, it still doesn’t feel real. 

As a Miss America contestant, I chose to advocate for preventive healthcare as part of my charitable platform. As the daughter, granddaughter, and niece of women who lost their lives to breast cancer, I knew just how important it was that I be proactive in my breast health. At that point, I had already made the decision to preventatively remove my breasts in an effort to avoid breast cancer and hopefully prolong my life. This came after a hard conversation with my father where he had looked me straight in the eye and proclaimed “If you don’t take this seriously, you’re going to end up DEAD DEAD DEAD… just like your mother.” I was only 18 at the time, but the “kid gloves” had come off. My father knew that he needed to be that brusque with me if I was going to take it seriously. It gave me the long term perspective that I needed. 

“

While I didn’t end up walking away with the Miss America crown, I was given something that, looking back, was even better—a platform to speak to my generation.”

—Allyn Rose, Women's Health Advocate & Founder of The Previvor Foundation

A few months before the Miss America pageant, I received a call from a journalist asking about my decision to undergo surgery. I happily shared my story and looked forward to having a nice newspaper clipping that I could put in my scrapbook. I wasn’t prepared for what came next. I woke up the next morning with 17 missed calls, voicemails, a barrage of unread e-mails. I was now the top trending story on every major U.S. and international media outlet with the headline: “Miss America contestant, 24, to undergo preventative double mastectomy” and my quote “I’m choosing life over beauty.” The story seemed to take the world by storm. This was prior to Angelina Jolie’s revelation and women in the “beauty industry” simply weren’t talking about things like this. Hell, most people didn’t even know that a surgery like this even existed. 

Before I knew it, I was speaking at events across the country, I appeared on all the morning talk shows, I was asked to give a TEDx talk and my world didn’t stop spinning for months. While I didn’t end up walking away with the Miss America crown, I was given something that, looking back, was even better—a platform to speak to my generation. I knew that this was not an opportunity afforded to many people, so I put my plans to attend law school on hold and began working as a passionate advocate for preventive healthcare and educating women on their healthcare choices. As the years went by, I felt driven to do something more than simply share my personal experience—I wanted to provide others with a resource to help them in their journey. 

Photo: Courtesy of Allyn Rose

At age 26, I underwent a bilateral double mastectomy, becoming a Previvor— removing both of my breasts in an attempt to “previve” breast cancer. Being so public with my surgery and having had a positive cosmetic outcome, I soon started being inundated with messages from women all over the world asking about my surgery: “Are your implants over or under the muscle?” “Did you keep your nipples?” “Do you have fat grafting?” “Do you have any sensation remaining in your breasts?” I quickly realized just how difficult it was to be fully informed on topics like genetic testing (to identify if one carries a breast cancer gene mutation), types of mastectomy, and the accompanying options for reconstruction. Even having earned an honorary Ph.D. in Google, partnered with some of the best doctors in the world, and really having done my due diligence in preparing for surgery, even I didn’t have all of the answers. This didn’t sit well with me. And one day, I said to myself, “I need to stop waiting around for things to be different. Why not just build it myself?” So, with a budget of $0.00, no experience in web design, I set off to create what would become The Previvor Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit digital women’s health platform nicknamed the “Wikipedia of Mastectomy.” 

In October 2019, The Previvor went live, becoming a one-stop-shop for women wanting to learn about ALL of their breast health options. The goal was to put women back in the driver’s seat of their healthcare choices and allow them to advocate for themselves (sometimes even with their own doctors). Breast reconstruction had become an “assembly line,” with physicians offering patients one option for breast reconstruction and “out the door you go!” I wanted women to know that there are numerous options for surgery and what’s best for one woman’s body might not be what’s best for yours. And the more informed you are prior to surgery, the more likely you are to be satisfied with the outcome. My best advice: If your doctor says no to the surgery and you think is best for your body, it’s probably time to get a new doctor. 

The Previvor continues to grow, providing additional resources, and creating a community of empowered and informed women. To learn more or to donate, please visit www.ThePrevivor.org.  

“

If your doctor says no to the surgery and you think is best for your body, it’s probably time to get a new doctor.”

—Allyn Rose, Women's Health Advocate & Founder of The Previvor Foundation

About the Author: As a 24-year-old Miss America contestant, Allyn Rose made headlines across the globe with the controversial decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy after losing her mother, grandmother, and great aunt to breast cancer. Allyn's story inspired celebrities like Angelina Jolie and a new generation of women to take charge of their healthcare choices. Determined to encourage other women to know that their scars are beautiful, Allyn boldly became the first woman with a mastectomy to model for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. She is the founder of The Previvor, a 501(c)(3) non-profit women's health platform, which serves as a resource for women undergoing mastectomy and the creator of the #SelfExamGram, a social media movement encouraging women to perform a monthly self-breast exam.

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The Best Money Advice From the Founders of ClassPass, Birchbox, Drybar, and More at the U.S. Bank Women and Wealth Summit

Photo: Smith House Photography

On Thursday, October 8th, we tapped industry-disrupting entrepreneurs and experts for the private U.S. Bank Women and Wealth Summit, a virtual event exclusive to U.S. Bank clients. Inspired by the recently released U.S. Bank Women and Wealth Insights Study, it’s safe to say we didn't hold back on discussing all the important topics around women and wealth, from exploring how women are making their mark on communities through philanthropic giving to diving into the systems that cause the gender wealth gap and how to dismantle them.

The afternoon of thought-provoking conversations was led by noteworthy female founders including Payal Kadakia, the founder and executive chairman of ClassPass; Katia Beauchamp, the co-founder and CEO of Birchbox; Alli Webb, the co-founder of Drybar and Squeeze, and more. Then, Gunjan Kedia, Vice Chair of Wealth Management and Investment Services at U.S. Bank took to the virtual stage with Jaclyn Johnson, founder and CEO of Create & Cultivate to share her story of immigrating to the U.S. to become one of America's Most Powerful Women in Finance, with her division responsible for more than $7 trillion in assets under management or administration. 

Although the event was exclusive to the U.S. Bank audience, don't worry, we wrote down all the most quotable moments for you! Read on for the highlights.

Fireside Chat With U.S. Bank's Gunjan Kedia, Vice Chair of Wealth Management and Investment Services 

Panelist:

Gunjan Kedia | Vice Chair of Wealth Management and Investment Services, U.S. Bank 

Moderator: 

Jaclyn Johnson | CEO & Founder, Create & Cultivate

On being a leader…

“Leadership is fundamentally about everyone but you.”

“I very humbly believe that your title comes with your career, but leadership comes with your point of view.”

On entering a successful company in a high-powered role… 

“First, seek to understand, then seek to change.”

On being empowered by your finances...

“Being on top of your money affairs is so empowering. It gives you so much confidence that it’s worth investing in.”

On paying it forward by working in the finance industry… 

“It is hugely satisfying personally to see someone smile a little bit because you helped them through a difficult decision.”

On managing your money…

“I’m not going to make you believe it’s the most fun thing you do, but I want you to believe it’s not optional.”

On saving, saving, saving…

“‘I save first, and I spend second’ is a mindset that’s very important.”

On getting started… 

“You have to invest in educating yourself.”

“Don’t fear making terrible decisions. Just don’t make huge terrible decisions.”

“Think about what $5 a day does for you 30 years from now if invested wisely.”

On making smart money moves during COVID...

“Right now, interest rates have come down very dramatically so if you have debt you should look at it and see if you can restructure it.”

On maintaining your income… 

“Income continuity is very important to building wealth.”

On cultivating a healthy mindset around money…

“Money is a way to achieve what you want to do with your life.”

“Know it, manage it, don’t fear it, and don’t let it control you either.”

On switching industries to spend more time with her family…

“If anyone thinks that motherhood doesn’t disrupt a career, I’d have to respectfully disagree.”

On giving advice to working moms…

“Don’t give up, stay in the game.”

“Life works out, but you never plan it.”

Keynote Conversation With Actor and Entrepreneur Tracee Ellis Ross

Panelist: Tracee Ellis Ross | Actress, CEO, and Executive Producer 

Moderator: Jaclyn Johnson, Founder and CEO, Create & Cultivate

On becoming an actor..

“Acting gave me access to everything about myself—everything was at play in the world of acting and I felt completely alive and could use all aspects of myself.” 

On how the industry has changed…

“There are so many different ways to discover talent, and to have your gift and talent be seen.”

“There is a democracy in the industry now, that people are able to not just be one thing.” 

On aging in Hollywood…

“I have always wanted to get older. I am always excited about birthdays. You get wiser, more comfortable in your skin. I am grateful at this age to be able to have at my fingertips what I have at my fingertips because I know what it means to me and what I want to do with it.” 

On starting her business, Pattern Beauty…

“It is a task and a half to be a founder and CEO of a company. A successful company is not based on good intentions or even good ideas, it has to be combined with a really good operational process and strategy.” 

“I retain majority ownership, I have full creative control, it is my brand, it is my idea and that means I get to run it the way I want.”

“I believe in shared power. I believe in a table filled with voices, I believe in people bringing their whole selves to work.”

“I believe in a business that doesn’t just make money but also gives back to the community.”

On confidence around money…

“I have always been an outspoken individual but I did not know how to negotiate on my behalf and I did not know how to talk about money.”

“Culturally, women are not taught to talk about money. We have been taught that women are not meant to take up space and not rock the boat. We have also been siloed off from each other particularly as Black and Brown people so we don’t share information with each other and you always think you are alone. And when you think you are alone, it is very scary to show up for yourself because you don’t know; you have nothing to compare it to.”

“Don’t be afraid to ask for support and ask for help. You can be transparent. If you go somewhere to ask for support and they make you feel wobbly, try somebody else.”

“I believe in people being paid fairly and equally for the jobs that they do.”

“I strongly believe in women and WOC fighting for equity—for having a stake in what they create.” 

On sharing the table with other women…

“My confidence has come from the collective energy of other women. They have taught me how to navigate my life—not on my own as this siloed individual, but with this collective spirit and information of all of us.” 

“You want to have people in your circle who are steps ahead of you and steps behind you.”

On advice she’d give her younger self…

“Things take longer than you think they are going to take.”

“Trust the process.”

“The questions are more important than the answers but there is such a sense of fulfillment when you stop looking for that answer and it just appears on your plate.” 

Investing With the Heart: Building Thriving Communities by Combining Social Responsibility With Charitable Giving

Panelists:

Ruby Pediangco | Senior Philanthropic Advisor, U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management

Arian Simone | General Partner & Co-Founder, Fearless Fund

Shiza Shahid | Co-Founder, Our Place

Rebecca Minkoff | Co-Founder & Creative Director, Rebecca Minkoff, and Co-Founder, The Female Founder Collective

Moderator: 

Sacha Strebe | Editorial Director, Create & Cultivate

On being a woman and a philanthropist…

“We are nurturers. We are givers. We multiply anything that is given to a woman.” - Arian Simone

“It’s no longer a luncheon activity. It is an activity of smart women who want to maximize their capital and do good at the same time.” - Rebecca Minkoff

On being inspired by your upbringing…

“My parents instilled in me the concept of sadaqah jariyah, which is this idea that you should do something in your life that will live long after you’re gone.” - Shiza Shahid

“I’ve learned from my work what happens when you help a woman earn a dollar: She invests 80-90% back for her family and her community. It is typically 30-40% for men.” - Shiza Shahid 

On finding new solutions to old problems...

“Anything that puts you out of the status quo gives you a deeper perspective and allows you to be far more creative in solving challenging issues.” - Shiza Shahid

On using life experiences to inspire giving back …

“Working at a nonprofit is very close to my heart, however, I believe that if we’re to solve the most pressing challenges, we need businesses to step up.” - Shiza Shahid 

On providing education, access, and connection to the female founder community…

“I was tired of seeing the same few women being asked to speak on panels and then being asked, ‘What's it like to be a female founder?” as if we were polar bears.” - Rebecca Minkoff

“Founders teach founders best. We've been through it.” - Rebecca Minkoff

On influencing positive change in our communities…

“I'm the answer to my problem.” - Arian Simone 

“Black women are the most founded, yet the least funded.” - Arian Simone

“We are the first Women of Color fund that is built by us, for us.” - Arian Simone

On investing your wealth into your personal values, ideas, and perspectives…

“It's very rare that I've invested in anything that's been owned and operated by a man because I am putting my money where my mouth is.” - Rebecca Minkoff 

“Take the time to do some self-reflection and think, ‘Why am I passionate about education for children?,’ ‘Who influenced me?’ Once you do that reflection, you begin to have a story to tell and it ignites a fire.” - Ruby Pediangco 

“It's that laser focus on what's important that really has flourished all of their endeavors.” - Ruby Pediangco

On finding mentors and providing advice to others…

“It's one thing to give somebody capital. It's another thing to equip them with the skills in order to put that capital to work.” - Arian Simone

“Rather than putting it into Google, you are able to talk to another woman and say, ‘Hey, how did you do this?’ and it doesn’t mean it’s high-to-low, it’s side-by-side.” - Rebecca Minkoff

On ensuring your values align with your philanthropic efforts… 

“Take a sheet of paper, draw a line down in the center, and think of three things that are important to you other than your family. And on the other side, think of charities that you have given to or wherever you’ve invested your money to. Look at that sheet to see if there is alignment between the two.” - Ruby Pediangco

 On encouraging more women entrepreneurs to consider philanthropy…

“It’s absolutely fine if you can’t give today. You can give in the future.” - Ruby Pediangco

On creating connection, impact, and community…

“Women of Color, by nature, bring to the table an element of social impact. By nature, that is just what is happening.” - Arian Simone

On making charitable giving an active part of one’s life…

“I’m not just handing over my money. I am handing over my time.” - Rebecca Minkoff

On finding a thoughtful approach to help build thriving communities…

“There is no trade-off between deep ambition and trying to do the right thing. It’s more and more complimentary.” - Shiza Shahid

“What we have to do, in this moment, is think hard about what we stand for and then be consistent in it. Not just when it’s fashionable.” - Shiza Shahid

“Speak with someone older than you to inform your perspective.” - Ruby Pediangco

Closing the Gender Wealth Gap: A Conversation About the Multibillion-Dollar Disparity

Panelists:

Divya Gugnani | Co-Founder & CEO, Wander Beauty

Katia Beauchamp | Co-Founder & CEO, Birchbox

Alli Webb | Co-Founder, Drybar & Squeeze

Lindsey Boyd | Co-Founder, The Laundress

Moderator: 

Beth Lawlor | President of Private Wealth Management, U.S. Bank 

On experiencing the gender gap early on…

“The minute I got out of college, I told myself, ‘I don’t want to be financially dependent on anyone but myself.’” - Divya Gugnani 

“Early in my career, I was really naive about the gender gap. In my mind, as a young person just starting a career, I thought, ‘But we’re doing the work, we’re closing the gap.’”- Katia Beauchamp

“I wanted to learn and earn that right [of having a voice in the room].” - Katia Beauchamp 

On starting a business despite challenges... 

“I surrounded myself with people who are smarter in ways I’m not and can help bridge that gap for me.” - Alli Webb

“You have to follow what you’re excited about doing.” - Alli Webb

On finding the right market to thrive in...

“There was a major void in the market for proper cleaning products seventeen years ago.” - Lindsey Boyd

“I was excited about getting out of the house, getting away from my kids, and doing something for me, which turned into, ‘Oh my god, there is a massive hole in the marketplace,’ and, ‘Why isn't anyone doing that?’” - Alli Webb

On raising money and learning about finances through experience... 

“We called on people that we knew and believed in us.” - Lindsey Boyd

On investing in female-founded companies…

“We really have to change the entire ecosystem.” - Divya Gugnani

On empowering your employees… 

“Allow people to do what they're passionate about within your organization.” - Lindsey Boyd

On simultaneously being an empowered mother and successful entrepreneur…

“Entrepreneurship prepared me to be a stronger mother and motherhood gave me a perspective that is so needed and useful as an entrepreneur.” - Katia Beauchamp

On working hard to create sustainable growth…

“I was always the person that was working a bit too hard and everyone was like, ‘You’re making us all look bad.’ I expected that from everyone else around me.” -Alli Webb

“A good seven, eight years I worked like a dog. I loved it, but I was exhausted.” - Alli Webb

On empowering other women to overcome financial obstacles…

“We had interns that are now in VP positions.” - Lindsey Boyd

“We’ve done classes for our employees to give them the ability to do more than what they went to school for or what they thought they were able to do.” - Lindsey Boyd 

“Get smart [about money] and share it with everyone.” - Divya Gugnani

On taking control over your financial future…

“It’s about figuring out how to be financially fluent and become financially literate.” -Divya Gugnani

“We shouldn't be ashamed of what money can do.” Katia Beauchamp 

On having money conversations openly...

“Make it an okay thing to talk about at a girl’s dinner.” - Divya Gugnani

“Socializing the conversation around investment needs to happen!” - Divya Gugnani 

On being and finding a mentor…

“[Mentorship] is going the change the landscape on every level.” - Lindsey Boyd

“Men help each other and have each other’s backs, and it’s with money.” - Katia Beauchamp

 On being money-savvy in male-dominated spaces…

“Come to the table as strong as a man.” - Alli Webb

“We need to see more female investors writing checks.” - Divya Gugnani 

“Always come prepared for any review or employee conversation.” - Lindsey Boyd 

The Future Is Female: A Conversation on Building Generational Wealth for Women

Panelists:

Jesse Draper | Founding Partner, Halogen

Sarah Kunst | Managing Director, Cleo Capital 

Payal Kadakia | Founder & Executive Chairman, ClassPass

Moderator: 

Jaclyn Johnson | Founder & CEO, Create & Cultivate 

On empowering women to invest with confidence…

“We need more women creating billion-dollar businesses, then investing back into the ecosystem.” - Jesse Draper

On being an angel investor… 

“If you can buy a Birken, you can angel invest.” - Sarah Kunst 

On taking ownership of your finances...

“Don’t think you can be smarter than the market.” - Sarah Kunst 

“You should only invest in things you understand.” - Jesse Draper

“Money is not something that limits you, but energizes you.” - Payal Kadakia

On bridging the generational wealth gap…

“Investing in women solves all of our problems.” - Jesse Draper

“It’s my job to carry the torch forward to help other women succeed as well.” - Payal Kadakia

“The biggest thing I want to be able to invest in is people and to create wealth for other people.” - Payal Kadakia 

On finding female founders to invest in…

“You already have a network and you already know who you want to invest in. I promise you do.” - Sarah Kunst

“I literally just slide into their DMs, and I say, ‘I really want to learn more about your business.’” - Sarah Kunst 

On taking risks with money…

“It’s about making those trade-offs about what matters and what doesn’t.” - Payal Kadakia

“Women assess risk at a completely different level from men, so you are already derisking your investments, I assure you.” - Jesse Draper

On working toward financial freedom… 

“My thought is always, ‘How do I make more money?’ Not, ‘How do I ask someone to give me more money?’” - Sarah Kunst 

On creating wealth that improves the lives of future generations...

“There are organizations like the Los Angeles Ballet that wouldn't exist without female philanthropists at all, so I see that as a major component of what I do: Give back to my culture and performing arts.” - Payal Kadakia

“Invest in stuff you can’t afford to not see in this world.” - Sarah Kunst 

On growing with the market… 

“Your goal is just to keep money in the market and grow as the world generally grows.” - Sarah Kunst 

On learning from the mistakes of others… 

“I started studying the Vanderbilt House, they were one of the first formative families in America, and they lost all their money. They tried to hold on to it, and that is a risk.” - Jesse Draper

On building wealth with purpose… 

“My main conclusion is that it is a lot harder to oppress people with money.” - Sarah Kunst

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"Treat Every Dollar Like It's Your Last": How My Hispanic Heritage Helped Me Bootstrap and Self-Fund My Business

Written by Stephanie Montes, Founder and CEO, Nue

When it comes to my finances, I've always been a perpetual saver. Since my first job (as a sales associate at the mall), I started putting money aside. I didn't have a specific goal in mind for my savings, but when it came time to start my brand, I knew just where to turn for funding. 

I have this little trick I use to keep myself in line: I keep only what I need and am willing to spend in my checking account and squirrel away everything else in my savings. Of course, when emergencies arise, I transfer funds as needed, but for the most part, that savings account remains as untouched as possible. The illusion of a small dollar amount in my checking account makes me think twice about spending—it actually tricks me into thinking I have less money than I really do.

While I credit my growing savings to this tried-and-true method, I believe I ultimately owe my money-saving ways to my mom. She made a comfortable salary at a job she's held since before I was born but never lived beyond her means. While she and my dad put my two siblings and me through private school until senior year, we lived a fairly frugal lifestyle. We rarely ate out, especially if there was food to be made at home, and we never wore name-brand clothing. 

I don't know if it's generally something all first- and second-generation immigrant families experience, but many of my Hispanic friends grew up the same way too. They ate dinners according to a schedule, usually repeat meals that could feed the entire family affordably. (And everyone knew you ate what mom made, whether you liked it or not.) They wore hand-me-downs from older siblings and cousins, none of which were expensive, and those were then passed down to younger relatives.

My mom even drove a beater car when I was in middle school and only upgraded when she absolutely had to—again, not because she couldn't afford it, but because she strongly believed her money was better in the bank. When I asked her why she chose to live so modestly, she told me she believes it came from her own upbringing. With nine siblings (the average size of Hispanic families from her generation) and a widowed mother, she and her brothers and sisters all began working young. At 16, she was finally able to buy her own school clothes and save her money to buy a car one day, but more importantly, she learned the value at an early age. It clearly stuck, not just with her, but with me too.

I'm a 30-year-old woman, and I still hear my mom's voice in the back of my mind asking, "do you really need that?" when considering a big purchase. And while sometimes I want to splurge on an expensive bag without feeling guilty, I'm glad I've inherited this desire to save.

When it came time to fund my brand Nue, I had a healthy amount sitting in my savings account. I wrote Nue Inc. a $10,000 check to get it off the ground debt-free and without outside investment to dilute my stock. The teller practically had to pry it out of my hands, because like with any investment, this was a major gamble, but I slept a lot better at night knowing that I wasn't up against interest rates or, worse, risking the hard-earned money of a friend or family member. When it was all said and done, though, it felt so damn good to say that I was able to do it on my own! 

The money went quickly. I spent my initial investment on filings (like trademarks and corporation registrations), product, packaging, web design, graphic work, and Nue's first photoshoot. All along the way, I treated it with the same caution as I do in my personal accounts. I splurged where it was important and penny-pinched when necessary. For example, Nue's packaging is a bit more expensive because it boasts a soft texture on the outside that feels silky to the touch. This was important because it helps give the product a luxury feel, exactly the vibe I wanted to convey from the very beginning. On the other hand, I knew I couldn't afford to launch with additional shades and product offerings. Since manufacturers have such high minimum order requirements, I had no choice but to scale back my original plan to launch with five skin tones and settle for three instead. The truth is, this is the smarter route anyway. As the demand grows, so will the shade and product offerings.

“When it was all said and done though, it felt so damn good to say that I was able to do it on my own! ”

As Nue has gained traction in the last nine months, profits are again, cautiously reinvested into the company. While I initially couldn't afford PR, growing sales have provided a bit of a budget to hire the help of an agency in Q3. I've also made multiple reorders of products to keep our shelves stocked, all at the company's expense and not my own.

I've heard from fellow founders that product-based businesses are a money suck and constantly required further investment. So far, my philosophy of treating every dollar like it's your last is proving to be successful. Think twice about where you spend it, be frugal, know your budget, and don't live beyond your means.

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5 Ways Fear Can Propel You as an Artist

“

When you use your greatest fears to guide you in your creative work, you uncover the deepest, most genuine pieces of yourself—in your life, and in your art.

—Meera Lee Patel, Artist and Author of “Create Your Own Calm”

Shifting your perspective toward fear and approaching it as something that can help you, rather than harm you, is key in allowing fear to move you forward. When you pull fear towards you and listen to it more closely, you discover that as an artist, it’s one of the most useful tools you have. Here’s why.

1. Vulnerability connects you with others.

Making work that is honest, straight from the heart, and that allows others to see you for who you are is terrifying.

It’s not easy to feel exposed, and especially when unveiling yourself means inviting others to judge and critique you. You trim your words and soften your emotions, creating work that is watered-down and accessible, not realizing that you’re doing yourself (and your work) a disservice.

The truth is that the world wants your raw, unfiltered work—writing that bites, paintings that elicit emotion, films that cause you to question the thoughts you think and the actions you take. Vulnerability is a road that brings you closer to others, and when you make art that reflects who you are, it brings you closer to yourself, too.

2. Creating from pain encourages healing.

The fear of letting go is rooted in a fear of the unknown and a belief that anything you haven’t experienced yet will negatively affect you. Your brain is designed to protect you, and that often means staying in the same place—after all, what you haven’t discovered can’t hurt you.

Focused on self-preservation, your brain refuses to acknowledge that beauty lies in the unknown. If you draw your pain closer, you can creatively draw from your well of history to create art that is healing for you and for others. Eventually, you’ll find that you’re shaping a whole new future filled with surprise and delight.

3. Self-reflection leads to the best work.

The fear of looking within is scary, and you might be unsettled by what you find. What if your imposter syndrome begins to take over? What if you uncover painful memories that haven’t yet healed? As artists, we procrastinate because we think we need to be the perfect version of ourselves to make perfect art.

Art isn’t perfect, though. In fact, the best work has visible flaws, marks, and outlines that explain who the artist is and how the artist thinks. The stories that you have hidden inside you are the ones other people want to see, and the only way you can share them is by taking the time to uncover them.

4. Honest work draws a loyal audience.

How often have you created something that you thought another person would like, instead of drawing the lines or choosing the colors you were actually pulled towards? It usually takes a long time (and building up a well of confidence) to realize that when you make the work you’re meant to make, the people who connect with it the most will find it and support it because they find themselves in it.

5. Failure is a door to creative growth.

As an artist especially, it’s tempting to continue to creating work in the same voice or style that has become comfortable, brought you success, or that already resonates with your audience. The fear of failure can convince you that any step in a new direction will be a mistake and one that will erase any progress you’ve already made. The chance for failure is the chance to learn something new—to begin again. As an artist, it’s a beautiful opportunity for growth.

If you welcome failure into your creative process, you’re inviting more than the opportunity for success or learning new skills into your life—you’re inviting creative evolution. The more open to failure you are, the more chances you will take in your art. You can try new techniques, experiment with media, and try on different creative voices until you find the one that feels most authentic to you. Nothing is more important than continuing to grow as an artist. 

As an artist, you have a responsibility to respect yourself and your work by making sure it is an honest reflection of who you are and how you interpret the world around you. When you use your greatest fears to guide you in your creative work, you uncover the deepest, most genuine pieces of yourself—in your life, and in your art.

About the Author: Meera Lee Patel is a self-taught artist and the author of “Create Your Own Calm.” She creates work to inspire and encourage others to connect with themselves, each other, and the world around them. She lives in the northern woods of Nashville, Tennessee.

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Cyber Attacks Cost Small Businesses an Average of $200,000—Here's How to Avoid Them

Photo: Christina Jones Photography

Even before COVID hit, small businesses were prime targets of costly cyber attacks. On average, cyber attacks cost small businesses as much as $200,000 in 2019. By the numbers, 28% of small businesses experienced a data breach within the last 12 months, of which 37% suffered a financial loss, 25% filed for bankruptcy, and 10% went out of business. Now, as small businesses rapidly shift their brick-and-mortar shops online to accommodate consumers’ accelerated adoption of e-commerce, they’re even more vulnerable to cyber threats.

To learn more about how small businesses can safely and successfully pivot to digital during COVID and beyond, Create & Cultivate partnered with Mastercard as the presenting sponsor to host an eye-opening cybersecurity workshop led by none other than Ginger Siegel, the North America Small Business Lead at Mastercard, at our recent Future of Work Summit. Below, we’re sharing some of the most valuable takeaways from the information-packed session. If you missed the workshop (or just want a quick refresher course!), scroll on—and be sure to grab a pen because you’re going to want to commit this info to memory!

The Trends Pushing Small Businesses to Go Digital

Trend #1: Contactless Payment

With social distancing evolving into a long-term norm, continued reliance on delivery, pick-up, and alternative points of sale will push small businesses to adopt more versatile payment methods, making the market for contactless payment methods such as tap on phone adoption, says Siegel.

“We already expected to see an increase in contactless spend, but COVID-19 has really accelerated this behavior and made consumer demand shift quicker than anticipated,” she explains. “46% of global consumers have swapped out their top-of-wallet card for one the provides contactless functionality, and about 74% of consumers said they will continue using contactless post-pandemic.”

Trend #2: E-Commerce

As consumers increasingly rely on e-commerce solutions, getting the basics of business operations online will be essential for small businesses’ survival, explains Siegel. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, e-commerce in April and May made up 22% of all retail sales in the U.S., which is up from 11% in 2019.

Put another way? More money was spent online in the U.S. in the span of two months than the last 12 Cyber Mondays combined. If small businesses don’t keep pace, they may lose the opportunity to meet market demands in the future. “82% of small businesses have actually changed the way they send and receive payments and 51% have been transitioning their clients to digital methods,” notes Siegel.

Trend #3: Digital Services

While online card payments have seen an increase of 60% during the pandemic, the use of cash and checks has decreased by 34% and 24%, respectively, according to a recent survey conducted by Mastercard. “67% of small businesses said that one upside to the pandemic is that it prompted them to upgrade their digital payment solutions,” notes Siegel of the trend.

“Small businesses plan to stick with digital business payments, even as the pandemics subsides,” says Siegel, pointing to increased customer satisfaction as the driving factor behind the shift. About 70% of small businesses say that they're willing to invest in the technology required to advance their payment systems and 73% say digital payments are the new normal for their business going forward, she notes.

The Top Cyber Threats to Small Businesses

As small businesses rely on digital payments to serve their customers and digital means to communicate with employees, cyber threats are becoming more and more prevalent in the small biz community. 43% of cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses, but only 14% are prepared to defend themselves, according to Accenture.

Here are two common types of cyber threats to small businesses:

Threat #1: Ransomware

In this scenario, bad actors gain access to data from a small business and demand a ransom payment in order to return the stolen and now-encrypted data.

Threat #2: Compromised email

In this case, a bad actor gains access to a small business employee’s email account and sends an internal email impersonating the employee making an urgent request for funds to be transferred to them.

The Steps for Getting Started With Cybersecurity

If you don’t know where to start with cybersecurity, you’re not alone. According to Keeper Security, 60% of small business owners do not have a cyberattack prevention plan. “81% of small businesses tell us that they really wish that someone would proactively alert them to changes in the cybersecurity landscape and provide best practices for small business,” explains Siegel.

Which is why Mastercard is developing dedicated cybersecurity solutions and educational resources for small business owners through their Digital Doors center, a curated set of resources to help guide, grow, and protect small businesses during these difficult times as well as through recovery. For more information on navigating COVID-19 as a small business, head to Mastercard.com.

“

67% of small businesses said that one upside to the pandemic is that it prompted them to upgrade their digital payment solutions.”

—Ginger Siegel is the North America Small Business Lead at Mastercard

About the Expert: Ginger Siegel is the North America Small Business Lead at Mastercard. Most recently, she was a senior manager in the financial services group in Deloitte where she was a member of the highly ranked payments practice and also focused on fintech and bank partnerships, small business, and commercial banking opportunities in the areas of strategy development, process design, and operation model transformation. She brings 30 years of industry leadership experience as an executive at large multinational and regional banks in the areas of small business, business banking, and retail with a focus on strategy, leading execution, payments, treasury management, SalesForce optimization, branch optimization, and revenue growth. 

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I Had a Double Mastectomy at the Age of 26—Here's Why You Need to Know

“B

reast cancer screening, at any age, is vital to the health and well-being of women. However, it’s one of the latest victims of the COVID-19 pandemic.

”

—Allyn Rose, Women's Health Advocate & Founder of The Previvor Foundation

The novel coronavirus has impacted our world in ways many of us could never have imagined. But women undergoing treatment for breast cancer, including those trying to prevent it, have faced a unique set of challenges. 

Having a mastectomy can be life-altering. As someone who underwent a preventive double mastectomy at the age of 26, I know firsthand the physical and emotional repercussions of this type of procedure. I chose to preventatively remove my breasts because, by the time I turned 16, I had already lost my mother, grandmother, and great aunt to breast cancer, with my mother discovering her own breast cancer at 27. Her diagnosis was the result of an early mammogram, which she only received after months of persuading her doctor and being repeatedly told that she was “too young to have breast cancer.” Her first mammogram identified an invasive tumor measured at the size of a golf ball. By the time it was removed, only a few months later, the tumor had grown to the size of a grapefruit.

The sad reality is that my mother’s story is not unique. Young women are often denied screening. And by the time cancer is discovered, it’s too late. This is why breast cancer screening, at any age, is vital to the health and well-being of women. However, it’s one of the latest victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Access to life-saving screenings like mammograms, MRIs, and breast ultrasounds has been deemed “non-essential” in a COVID-19 world. These screenings afford women the opportunity to catch breast cancer early (when it’s most curable) or give them the information they need to save their own lives through preventative surgery. By postponing annual screenings, the healthcare industry is primed to receive an onslaught of late-stage breast cancer diagnoses, increasing the ever-expanding burden women face during this pandemic.

“B

y the time I turned 16, I had already lost my mother, grandmother, and great aunt to breast cancer, with my mother discovering her own breast cancer at 27.”

—Allyn Rose, Women's Health Advocate & Founder of The Previvor Foundation

Now let’s imagine for a moment receiving a breast cancer diagnosis in 2020. 

If you’re thinking: “Surely cancer patients must have access to care during the pandemic”—well, you’d only be half right. Women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and have undergone a mastectomy are also being denied access to breast reconstruction surgeries—now classified as “elective procedures.” However, affording women the ability to reconstruct their breasts is not elective, it is simply the completion of their medical treatment. And while breast reconstruction may look different for every woman, it is often vital to the health and well-being of those faced with a mastectomy. By denying access to this important part of medical care, we are likely welcoming a myriad of other health issues as a result. While we all take the necessary precautions to eliminate the spread of coronavirus, the healthcare industry should take particular caution in avoiding myopic restrictions impacting the health and well-being of women. 

As such, I would encourage all women to take time to learn what they can do to be proactive in their breast health. Small things, such as learning how to correctly perform a self-breast exam can be vital in early detection. Implementing this five-minute ritual once a month could save your life! Interested in learning how? A step by step tutorial (and other helpful tips) can be found on Instagram, YouTube, in blog form or you can tune into Create and Cultivate’s “Self-Care Sunday” on IG Live on October 11th at 10 AM PDT for a live demonstration. See you then!

“

I would encourage all women to take time to learn what they can do to be proactive in their breast health.”

—Allyn Rose, Women's Health Advocate & Founder of The Previvor Foundation

About the Author: As a 24-year-old Miss America contestant, Allyn Rose made headlines across the globe with the controversial decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy after losing her mother, grandmother, and great aunt to breast cancer. Allyn's story inspired celebrities like Angelina Jolie and a new generation of women to take charge of their healthcare choices. Determined to encourage other women to know that their scars are beautiful, Allyn boldly became the first woman with a mastectomy to model for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. She is the founder of The Previvor, a 501(c)(3) non-profit women's health platform, which serves as a resource for women undergoing mastectomy and the creator of the #SelfExamGram, a social media movement encouraging women to perform a monthly self-breast exam.

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24 Hard-Working Womxn Share The One Productivity Tip That Truly Changed Their Life

Regardless of your industry, job title, or goals, you probably have a to-do list that seems never-ending. Yet, with so many tasks vying for your attention, it can be easy to get to the end of the day and feel as though you really haven’t accomplished anything.

To help, we tapped into the brilliant minds of 24 female leaders to learn the one productivity tip that has changed their life and freed them up to work on what matters most. Try one or try them all! The real impact comes from finding what works best for you.

Sarina Virk Torrendell

Founder & Career Coach of withSarina

1.Get an Early Start

I am most productive two to three hours before my day actually starts. Even if I woke up at 8 a.m., I always found myself feeling rushed and scattered throughout the day. The moment I started waking up two to three hours earlier, it gave me the quiet time and space I needed to build out lists and goals for my day and get work done without any distractions. Even if the rest of my day turned out to be unproductive due to things outside of my control, having those hours in the a.m. within my control has been a game-changer for my productivity. 

TeLisa Daughtry

Founder & Chief Technology Officer of FlyTechnista

2. Utilize Automations

People might think that I’m a superwoman, but my real super power is utilizing automations. I started building them when I was working in Corporate America to help me and my team complete repetitive and mundane tasks more efficiently and accurately.

As a solopreneur and consultant, I've integrated bots and automations whenever and wherever possible for the things I don't like doing and don't want to spend my time doing. I love using automation software like IFTTT for my emails, social media posts, contact forms, automating responses, and beyond. Specifically, it has been a game-changer for managing my calendar and my emails. 

Melinda Wang

Founder of MWProjects

3. Focus on the Big Picture

With dozens of active projects, at any given moment, across different industries, I found that the most important thing for my productivity and effectiveness has been to set aside time to take the big picture view of those projects as well as how I would like my businesses to grow.  

At least once a month, I schedule a three-hour appointment with myself! My appointments have allowed me to review the wins, challenges and forward paths on active projects. They also give me space to be intentional about my goals for my companies, and not only business growth, but also how we can contribute to our communities and foster equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Lori Mihalich-Levin

Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Mindful Return

4. Do Your Most Important Task First

Learning about Daniel Pink's "Most Important Task" has been a game changer for me. The idea is that you pick one most important task for the day, and do that first thing in the morning. Particularly during this COVID work-from-home era, distraction is so prevalent that it's tempting to dig into the easiest task when I sit down to work. This isn't, however, always the most important task. 

Now, I pause before I go to bed at night and write tomorrow's most important task on an index card. I put that card on my computer, and that's the first thing I do when I sit down to work.

Trisha Okubo

Founder & Creative Director of Maison Miru

5. Prioritize Tasks With High ROI

Focus first on the tasks with high return of investment (ROI). This simple philosophy governs how you would invest your money, and you can do the same thing with your time. Focusing on tasks that give you high returns, like automating processes, will allow you to reinvest your time and energy to give you even more "bang for your buck" so to speak.

When I first started my company, it was just me at my kitchen table doing everything from product design, finding manufacturing partners, branding, photographing, setting up my e-commerce site, emailing and social marketing, etc. I learned to focus on tasks with high ROI first as a matter of survival. I'm a former product manager, so I learned early on the importance of prioritizing tasks. Between having my priority list and focusing on tasks with high ROI, I was able to get the company off the ground and find the product/market fit I needed in order to be able to start hiring.

Victoria Repa

Founder & Chief Executive Officer of BetterMe

6. Practice Breathing Exercises

While I like meditation and think it does a lot of good, personally, I’ve been an adherent of practicing pranayama (breathing exercises for relaxation and focus) daily for years. I find that pranayama is more effective at clearing your mind and preventing your emotions from interfering with your decision-making.

Managing my team remotely, while staying inside during quarantine, I’ve noticed that people have started paying much more attention to their inner state. In fact, I feel like our awareness and attitude towards mental health is experiencing an important global shift overall. 

Anna Gabriella Casalme

Chief Executive Officer of Novelly

7. Meditate in the Morning

The first thing I used to do in the morning, even before getting out of bed, was to check my emails and other notifications. I found myself getting stressed and overwhelmed from the moment I woke up, and this set the tone for the rest of my day. 

Now, I disable my alarm and immediately hop into a 10-minute morning meditation using the Insight Timer app. A daily 10-minute morning meditation in bed has never asked too much of me in terms of my time and effort. This habit kicks off my day with grounded and peaceful energy which has actually helped me be more productive at work.

Mary Clavieres

Founder & Chief Executive Officer of The Transitions Collective

8. Plan Your Day the Night Before

After having kids, my mornings felt hectic and disorganized. So, I plan my week on Sunday evenings, and then each weeknight, I review and prepare for the next day. I’ve found it game changing to review the next day’s activities, identify priorities and pack up any items the night before.

When I wake up the next morning, I feel organized and ready to start the day. It helps to save time and also allows us a little extra time for the unexpected things that can happen in the morning. 

Brooke Taylor

Founder of Brooke Taylor Coaching & Consulting

9. Practice Essentialism

I practice Essentialism: it is the rigorous prioritization of only the most essential projects in my business. Any business opportunity that does not forward my three priorities for the quarter gets deprioritized or delegated. 

When I was experiencing entrepreneurial scatterbrain, I quickly pivoted to Essentialism which increased my focus and my bottom line. When I coach female executives and leaders, the first practice is to the three most essential business priorities to communicate to their team and three other essential life priorities to communicate to their family and manager. The process of choosing which three initiatives to prioritize in and of itself is clarifying and strategic. 

Rahama Wright

Founder and CEO of Shea Yeleen

10. Take Short Breaks Often

I started taking breaks every two hours even if it was just for 10 minutes. I used to work non-stop with little breaks thinking I could get more done. The problem was most days I was working 12 or more hours resulting in major burn out. Taking short breaks every two hours has been a game-changer because it allows me to rest my eyes, take a few deep breaths, or get a snack, giving me a needed boost.

Jes Osrow

Co-Founder & DEIBA Specialist at The Rise Journey

11. Utilize Gmail Tools

It is a combo of two simple Gmail tools: the scheduled send and the snooze. I'm a very action-oriented person. and if I don't take action quickly, things can fall by the wayside. The scheduled send allows me to write that followup email ASAP after the call, but plan it to go out at a time that is appropriate. The snooze feature is a fantastic way to not let emails get lost in your inbox and even let you file them away and pop up when you need a reminder.  

It has been a staple of my work to stay organized, on top of my work, and feel confident that I'm working on the right pieces at the right time. There is very little that makes me feel worse than accomplishing something, feeling great, and then realizing that I had missed much more impactful and bigger priorities on my plate.

Nikki Goldman

Chief Executive Officer of I/O Coaching

12. Force Yourself to Brain Dump 

Before diving into anything that requires creativity or thoughtfulness, I put a four-minute timer on the clock to free write about it. I force myself to use the entire four minutes and just write whatever comes to mind. Lots of it is gibberish, but quickly, once I get through that, I end up surfacing thoughts and ideas I otherwise wouldn't have if I had just dove right in.

I am a speed demon and a task master. I grew up in start-up land, so "done today is better than perfect next month" has been the name of my game. I think it's a strength of mine, but it also lends itself to multi-tasking which just isn't productive. By spending four minutes to slow down and just think about this one task, I'm able to speed up in the end because my ideas are much more developed and baked.

Jessi Greenlee

Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Good Impact Network

13. Start With Delegation

Start your week with delegation instead of action item overwhelm. As you write out your to-do list for the week, think critically about every item on the list and if it is critical that you be the one doing it. If you don't have a team to help absorb tasks, look into virtual assistants and interns that can take over your more time consuming, recurring tasks. This will leave you with more time and energy to focus on important tasks that relate directly to your big picture strategy.

This has been revolutionary for my business by giving me back time and mental space to focus on strategy and prioritize tasks that directly result in forward movement. Delegation has directly led to increased revenue by allowing me more capacity to take on additional clients.

Willow Hill

Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Scout Lab

14. Invest in a Meditation Practice

Daily meditation has transformed my life and allowed me to be more focused, more calm and able to get much more done. I started meditation because I have ADD which, as an entrepreneur and creative director, is both my superpower and my achilles heel. I draw a lot of creativity from my natural energy but it can leave me scattered as well. 

Implementing a meditation practice has allowed me to slow down and approach my work with calm intention. It is a practice that must be cultivated constantly but it has been worth the investment in time because it ultimately saves time when I am not rushed or forgetful.

Tamara Laine

Chief Marketing Officer of A.Lynn Designs

15. Walk and Jot

I call it the Walk and Jot. I am sure it is not the formal name, but for me, it stands for walking and dictating the majority of my writing work into my phone. 

It started by happenstance; as a field reporter, I was always running from story to story and needed to write in-depth articles on the go. I found dictating my first draft into my phone, not only saved time, but it allowed for a better free flow of thoughts to shine through. Now, most mornings I walk and dictate into my phone pieces and creative inspiration that I am working on. First drafts are always hard to get on paper, but this way, I don't waste time thinking of the perfect word. This process has enhanced creativity, time management, and productivity all at the same time.

Callie Schweitzer

Senior News Editor, Marketing at LinkedIn

16. Prepare Well For Meeting Someone New

When meeting someone new, prepare well; the conversation will feel more like a second than a first.

Time and attention are precious, and meeting fatigue is a very real thing. When you're meeting new people, it can be exhausting to spend 15 minutes on each person's backstory, and you'll find your 30-minute meeting is over before it feels like it really began. When I meet with someone, I want to be able to jump right into why we're connecting instead of spending the majority of the conversation telling each other things that would surface in a quick internet search. I do a lot of research before I meet with people: I look at their LinkedIn, what they’re posting and engaging with on social media, things they’ve written, and recent news about them or their company to get up to speed on what’s out there. You might find a mutual friend or something you have in common and be able to connect on a deeper level.

Nina Kong-Surtees

Founder and Chief Art Advisor of smART Advisory

17. Devote Time to Critical Tasks

Blocking at least one 90 minutes session in my schedule per day to devote time on the most critical task has been a game-changer for me. I've implemented this new productivity habit as I used to feel overwhelmed by never-ending to-do-lists, and I was always juggling multiple things. On the contrary, multitasking actually slowed me down and hindered me from achieving something that really mattered. During this 90-minute session, I am laser-focused and able to finish a project ahead of schedule.

Miraya Berke

Founder of Dessert Goals

18. Utilize Asana

I use Asana to project manage all my tasks, both for personal and work. At any time I can be planning 3 or more events, so each event has its own project with sub tasks. I can easily share the tasks, communicate with people I work with, and everything is tracked. I have all the tasks archived for years of events!

Kari Clark

Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Breakout

19. Create a “One Day” List

I created a “One Day” list : a place for me to put all of the great ideas that I wanted to do “one day.” Every few weeks, items from this list graduate to my actual priority list. I am an idea person which can be a huge distraction because working on a ton of ideas means you don't make meaningful progress on any. Having a place to store the potential distractions allows me to stay focused on my priorities while still capturing the new directions.

Lauren Tanaka

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Global Garbs

20. Focus on 1-3 Big Tasks a Day

I only focus on 1-3 big tasks a day. I used to have a never ending to-do list, but instead of writing out a million things for each day I only focus on 1-3 big things. It's been a game-changer for me because I am pretty much a full-time mom running two businesses and have very few hours a day to get things done.

I had to figure out a better system to feel less overwhelmed and also help me feel like I've actually accomplished something. Sometimes I also write a "done" list at the end of the day rather than "to-do" list which feels like I accomplished even more - even if it's simple tasks like ordering more business cards.

Kristy Runzer

Founder & Chief Executive Officer of OnRoute Financial

21. Remove the Pressure to be Productive

The more I remove the pressure to be productive, focus on my biggest priorities, and trust that I'm moving at the right pace, the more productive I become.

Putting pressure on myself left me feeling rushed and behind like there was never enough time to get things done. By shifting my energy to trust that everything will get done and to focus on what's actually important, I can go through my day with more ease while still moving forward in a meaningful way.

Dominique Mas

Director of Coaching at Medley

22. Be Aware of Your Level of Energy

The most valuable thing I've learned is to build awareness around my level of energy in different domains and consistently take tiny steps to replenish it throughout the day.

I started doing this after doing research for a client. As a coach, I'm always trying to understand what's best for those I serve. When I tried it for myself, it was life-changing! It allows me to feel much more present and intentional with everything I do which means cutting out distractions and therefore working much more efficiently. In addition, it's a perfect way to feel aligned with my values of positivity, simplicity, growth, and challenge. 

Kori Estrada

Co-Founder of RiseWell

23. Utilize Time Blocking

I am a firm believer in time blocking my calendar for both work and personal tasks. Scheduling chunks of time helps me to keep focused during tasks and block out distractions. This ensures I don’t spend too much time on one thing and can get to everything I need in a day to feel productive. 

You can also easily get into a routine with daily time blocks and better manage your time as you learn how much time it takes to get certain tasks done. Calls are at my desk in the morning, all meetings are made mid-day, and afternoons are spent with branding opportunities and catching up with the team.

Kimberly Brizzolara

Founder of Brands That Get You

24. Try the 33-Minute Trick

The most legendary, crazy, prolific, productive copywriter of the twentieth century, Eugene Schwartz, would set a timer on his desk for 33 minutes and 33 seconds. During that time, the only thing he could do was the task at hand.

This 33 minute trick really forces you to focus on what you're doing by—removing any and all distractions—and breaks up your day into digestible chunks. Plus, it turns out to be a perfect nugget of time pressure: long enough to get something very meaningful done but not so long that it feels like a chore. 

About the Author: All womxn featured in this article are members of Dreamers & Doers, a private collective for extraordinary entrepreneurial womxn supporting one another in achieving audacious dreams. Dreamers & Doers mission is to catalyze the success of womxn leaders and their ventures through community and mutual support.

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I Paid Off $30K in Credit Card Debt in 6 Months — Here’s How You Can Too

Written by Kiok Kang, Founder, Glowing PR

What is your relationship with money? Do you love to save and budget for the future, or are you all about enjoying that hard-earned money and prepared to go into debt for it? Either way, we need to get better at talking about it if we ever want to be better at managing it, and eventually having more of it. Especially when you consider that globally, women control upwards of $20 trillion in annual consumer spending. But sadly, when it comes to managing money and planning for their financial future, women aren’t as independent as you’d expect. A recent study found that more millennial women cede control to their husbands than women of older generations. Well, our new series, The Money Files is set to change all that by helping women become masters of their own finances so they can manage their money and their future.

Photo: Sarah Shen

Before launching my own company, Glowing PR, I was a corporate employee at a well-known beauty conglomerate. I often felt frustrated by the bureaucracy of a corporate environment, as well as the self-serving motives of other employees (instead of goals that would benefit the company as a whole). Eventually, I decided to take all of my experiences and launch Glowing PR Agency at the end of 2017, and I can honestly say, I haven’t looked back since. I identified a crucial need from brands—a concierge PR agency that genuinely understood their goals and created organic opportunities, secured tangible and relevant coverage, and aligned themselves with the best influencers for their target audiences.  

Our first client, KNC Beauty was just at the beginning of an amazing start. Since then, we’ve focused heavily on indie beauty brands, which heralds back to my own roots in the beauty industry 10 years ago. While the business was thriving, there were costs that were rapidly accruing. For example, I secured an office space in Koreatown that was beautifully designed by Maison Trouvaille but I didn’t forecast a budget properly—launching a business, paying for attorney’s fees, renovating and designing a new office space, and all of the miscellaneous daily business expenses that were keeping the lights on.   

I started my business without enough knowledge of credit card interest rates, cash-flow management, and being able to look at the company’s finances from a bird’s eye view. Before I knew it, I had over $30,000 in debt. This amount was only for the business and didn’t include my personal debt, like my student loans. I immediately felt the weight of this mental and financial burden, like I was drowning with no relief in sight. But I wasn’t alone. The average American now has about $51,900 in personal debt, including mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, auto loans, credit card debt, student loan debt, and other debt, like personal loans. The US comes in at #6 of the top 10 countries with the most debt (Debt-to-GDP ratio: 127%). 

“Before I knew it, I had over $30,000 in debt... I immediately felt the weight of this mental and financial burden, like I was drowning with no relief in sight. But I wasn’t alone.”

Photo: Sarah Shen

Serendipitously, I spoke on a panel at a women's networking event and met Anna Choung, our wonderful financial advisor and now our accountant. She touched on the launch of her FSMamas (aka Financially Savvy Mamas), a community that empowers women to become more financially independent by educating them on financial management. Afterwards, I decided to dive into my finances and tackle them head-on. It was an extremely humbling experience, to say the least., However, Anna was able to provide comprehensive advice on both business and personal financial decisions that were also tax-efficient.  

The first step of my financial journey was to educate myself on basic concepts—reviewing my financial history to assess the situation, understanding the holistic picture of my debt, as well as strategizing on a clear payment plan to move forward.  Quite frankly (I kick myself because it seems so obvious), the simplest takeaway from all of this was to not accumulate debt, especially high-interest credit card debt, in the first place. I learned that there’s a wise way of allocating money in your bank account without earning extra interest.

With that in mind, I started to pay off my debt with the highest interest rate first. It’s as simple as coming to grips with the financial issues at hand and resolving it as quickly as possible. And don’t be afraid to ask for help—it was eye-opening to sit down with my financial advisor to discuss a debt payment strategy.  

I wish I knew then what I know now—hindsight really is 20/20. Hopefully my story can help someone else, too. So, here are my tips to pay debt off as quickly as possible and grow a healthy business:

1. Understand Financial Concepts 

Get to know some basic financial terms, such as the rate of return and Rule of 72 which uses a simple formula to calculate the number of years it will take for your money or debt to double, given a certain rate of return—it can actually work for or against you. In my case, it worked against me. For example, if my credit card debt was $10,000 with an interest rate of 30% and I made no payments towards the debt, it would then double to $20,0000 in 2.4 years (72/30 =2.4 years).

Not paying off the debt with the highest interest on the credit card was hurting me because it was generating additional interest (rapidly) on top of my original debt. Tallying up the total interest costs and doing the math frightened me into taking action. Ultimately, wouldn’t you rather save those additional charges to grow your business rather than to grow another financial institution’s wealth? 

2. Use Financial Apps and Tools

We’re living in the age of technology and there’s an abundance of incredible apps out there that can assist with debt repayments, budgeting, saving, and investing. Most of these tools are either free or only charge a minimal fee. Loan calculators, such as UnBury.Me or Debt Tracker Pro, can assist you in building and implementing the most suitable debt reduction strategy.  Budgeting tools, such as Mint, show all of your bank account activity in a concise way.

They’ll break everything down in easy-to-read pie charts and graphs to show you where your revenue is coming from and how you’re spending your money. You can then set budgets and financial goals to help you pay off your debt and never, never, never let yourself pay late fees on debt. I recommend setting up automatic minimum payments for your credit cards to avoid any pesky, unnecessary late fees. Don’t be afraid to do some research and find the most suitable fintech tools to use for your business and your personal finances.

“Take a hard look at your business financials and make sure that they’re accurate. Numbers are the basic language of business, and it’s telling you a story.”

Photo: Sarah Shen

3. Manage Your Cash Flow and Get a Great Accountant  

Take a hard look at your business financials and make sure that they’re accurate. Numbers are the basic language of business, and it’s telling you a story. What is your business’s story? Is your business carrying too much debt? Are your clients not paying you in a timely manner? Do you have too many expenses? Is your revenue falling flat? After analyzing your numbers, re-strategize your business plan and reallocate your resources. Tracking your numbers closely and accurately, as well as performing budgeting and forecasting for your business, will lead you to efficient business growth.

Not only will you be able to identify problems and eliminate them from the start, but you’ll be able to manage your business’s liquidity and maintain your bank balances more smoothly. After all, liquidity is what will keep your business afloat.  And if you’re not proficient with bookkeeping and generating accurate business financials, outsource it to a trusted accountant/CPA. I was fortunate enough to have a financial advisor that also has a background in accounting and taxes. Not only is she helping me with debt management, but she’s also my go-to person for my business finances, tax planning, and compliance needs.

4. Tax Planning and Compliance

Understanding your business’s tax needs and being compliant with various tax deadlines (including payroll taxes) will help you avoid unnecessary penalties and will get more money back into your own pocket. This can then enable you to pay off your debt quicker and invest more into your own business. Why pay more than your fair share of taxes?

“No matter what, pay yourself a salary—your time is worthwhile.”

Photo: Sarah Shen

5. Invest in Yourself

As a business owner, not only should you build the proper foundation for your business, but also for your own finances. No matter what, pay yourself a salary—your time is worthwhile. There are statistics that say that many people expect a business to fail, with 50% of businesses actually failing within 3-5 years. You won’t get that investment back if you don’t pay yourself from the start. Get into the habit of investing in your own future and retirement plans as your business grows.

It’s wise to consider and plan for this before having a family, as well. Increase your own wealth with some concrete business projections (i.e., how many clients are necessary? How much revenue is needed?) to reach your goals. Later on, your salary can also be set aside towards a retirement fund to concretely save and invest in your own future. There’s a common misconception that small businesses won’t offer solid retirement options in comparison to big corporations’ 401(k) plans, but there are actually several retirement fund options for small businesses and yourself. If you do more research, you’ll find that there are a lot of plans that are suitable for your business and any unique situations.

6. Education and Quarterly Maintenance

Get familiar with financial terms and set a clear budget for a road map of your business. Identify and invest in the areas that will allow your business to expand. 

Although the journey to becoming debt-free can be different from person-to-person, the most important thing is to take an honest assessment of your situation and face it head-on. Debt is a dirty word that has such an emotional pull. I’ve learned firsthand that debt seems to snowball and you feel completely out of control. The best way to avoid being in as much debt as possible is to understand basic financial concepts, manage cash flow, and avoid costs like buying lunch and shopping for the latest handbag.

Up Next: 10 Money Questions to Ask Yourself (So You Can Afford the Life You Want).

This post was originally published on August 26, 2019, and has since been updated.

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My First 2 Businesses Failed—Here's How I Turned It Around

Photo: Courtesy of Jonne Amaya

Growing up, I was told that everything is possible. I remember having a conversation with my dad when I was about seven years old. He would ask me to name what I’d like to be when I grew up, and then he would respond with, “How is that a career option?” I told him that I loved plants, and he said, “You’ll own a winery.” When I was young, I was not attached to the idea of a college experience or a common career path. And since my parents encouraged me to follow my passion, I felt free to experiment and explore.

I became intrigued by jewelry when I was just eight years old. My mom would allow me to order pieces from the Jewelry Channel on TV and then return them after I saw the pieces in person. When I was ten, my parents got me a 0.05-carat diamond ring for Christmas. I was always obsessed with jewelry, but it became a career prospect when I started creating pieces myself at bench jewelry classes in Barcelona. Deep down, I always knew that I would have my own company at one point in my life. 

I launched my first brand when I was twenty-one years old. It was a Renaissance-inspired, edgy jewelry line. I was working for a young L.A.-based jewelry designer at the time, and her marketing strategy was to take photos of local, It girls wearing her pieces. She was very successful, and I naively assumed that I could emulate this business model and achieve the same kind of success. But in eight months, I sold three pieces and received zero interest from stores or showrooms. I was so confused. I had cool designs, great imagery, and all the right assets.

I started my second company when I was twenty-five while working for Vrai & Oro (now known as Vrai). I was really impressed with their timeless design aesthetic, direct-to-consumer business model, and transparent pricing. I was convinced that the reason Walk the Chapel failed was due to my wholesale approach and the fact that the jewelry was not for “every day.” So this time, I went the D2C route and created modern, unisex pieces. 

A year into this venture, I was still not finding success. I was really frustrated. Around this time, I started taking custom orders from clients. When I would pick up the finished pieces from my jewelers in Downtown L.A., I saw all of their other work: it was an endless stream of generic jewelry, largely “replicas” of other designers’ pieces, produced in mass.

When I saw the amount of production the other brands had in comparison to the single, custom-designed pieces I was making, I realized that I didn’t want to contribute to this waste. When I was just starting out in the industry, I equated huge wholesale orders with success. Now, I have started to see mass production as the problem. 

Not only did the artistic process of jewelry design get lost through mass production, but it was also extremely unsustainable. I pivoted my brand strategy to demonstrate the value of repurposing and really dove deep into why it was important for consumers to change their buying behavior when it comes to jewelry. 

When I found my purpose, that's when I started seeing my luck turn around. Sharing my message and brand became my main priority. I understand now that when starting a business, it’s important to create a foundation around a core vision and purpose. Once you establish that and remain consistent, it all lines up from there.  

When I was younger, I undervalued the message behind my brand and overvalued the product itself. I see a lot of start-ups making the same mistakes, and they’re missing the most important part of the puzzle. It’s very clear to me now that there isn’t a single path to finding your way to success. Now, I mainly focus on getting my message heard by the right consumers who share my values.

“When I found my purpose, that's when I started seeing my luck turn around.”

—Jonne Amaya, Fine Jeweler and Founder of Jonne

About the Author: Jonne Amaya is an emerging fine jeweler who hyper-focused on sustainability. Born in Mexico and based in L.A., Jonne creates custom fine jewelry with intention and never designing in bulk. Through a personal, intimate process, she works with her clients, one-on-one, to create new designs or transform existing pieces into the jewelry of their dreams. Jonne began her jewelry design career by learning benchwork and then studying gemology in her native Mexico. She created her first piece by repurposing a family heirloom with sentimental value that had gone unworn. By giving the piece new life, she discovered her love of sustainable, intentional jewelry design.

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