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3 Lessons I Learned Throughout Entrepreneurship That Made the Biggest Difference

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Like many things in life, being a business founder, business owner, business creator, whatever you want to call it, is hard. And I learned very quickly that the experience can be really hard on your mental health as well. I left the security and comfort of a consistent income, my potential career trajectory, and my 401(k) contributions to step out into the crazy world of business because I wanted to try to build something worthwhile. So many people questioned my decision to quit my job and thought that perhaps I was going through a phase, and honestly, sometimes so did I. Was I [sure I wanted to do this]?

In addition to dropping my job security, there was the burden and overwhelm of trying to figure out how to actually build my business, Clever Girl Finance, which sometimes felt like the burden of the entire world was on my shoulders. There were also the hideously depressing metrics about business startup failures, which were a constant reminder that I was most likely to fail even when I was making progress. And then there was my imposter syndrome that constantly had me questioning my abilities and doubting myself…

That being said, I’ve learned a few things on my journey that have allowed me to pursue my life as a business owner on my own terms. Things that in turn have helped me manage my mental and emotional health, as well as that annoying imposter syndrome. I want to share those things with you now.

1.  Don’t believe the work-life balance myth

Let’s start with the all-so-popular idea of work–life balance. Umm, yeah, that’s a lie. Work-life balance is a lie. There’s no balance. It’s called making it work, however you make it work. There’s no background music playing over my day showcasing me as the perfect wife, mom, entrepreneur, and Superwoman like you see in the movies. It’s simply me making my life work every day. And in order to make things work, I have learned to prioritize what matters most, put some things on the back burner, and let some things just fall off completely.

Yes, my business is important, but my family is non-negotiable. I delegate a lot (I will not be the bottleneck), and I rely on my amazing team to get work done for my business. Some days I don’t answer calls, reply to emails, check Instagram, or respond to text messages because I want to spend time with my family or because I don’t want to deal with anything or anyone else. Other days I utilize mobile productivity apps on my phone, like the Bank of America app,  to help me multitask when I’m not sitting directly at my desk. I no longer try to be Superwoman or chase the mythical idea of “work-life balance”. I give myself the grace to not be all the things, all the time. 

2. Embrace your emotions

Next up is my mental health. I’ve learned that fully embracing the emotions I’m feeling as opposed to trying to ignore them or push them aside really helps me manage my mental health. Sometimes that means I just need to take that deep sigh and have a good cry. It’s inevitable that you’ll get feedback you hate. Your customers will hate your product. Investors will tell you your business sucks. Friends will think you’re going through a phase. You’ll be too broke to buy that thing you really want, when if you had a “real job” it wouldn’t even be a question. So yes, sometimes, crying is necessary. However, just because it’s okay to cry doesn’t mean you let it become a crux. 

3. Don’t let imposter syndrome get the best of you

And finally: Let’s talk about that damn imposter syndrome, which pops up at the most inconvenient times, making you feel less than good enough, uncapable, and unworthy. It promotes that negative self-talk and self-judgment…I’ve experienced imposter syndrome a ton and let me tell you, it never goes away. It’s always right there, the annoying uninvited guest, rearing its ugly head just before every milestone and every accomplishment. However, I’ve come up with ways to tackle it and minimize its impact in my life. I’ve found that sharing my mindset challenges with my husband, my business advisors, my friends, and my business peers can be incredibly helpful, especially when it comes to reminding me that I’m being totally irrational with those thoughts of feeling less than who I am.

I also started keeping a list of all my business and life accomplishments (no matter how small) because they remind me how far I’ve come and what I’m capable of doing. I wrote down being at my kids’ Kindergarten graduation, and attending their class plays. I’ve written down every media opportunity I’ve had….I wrote down being featured in a dedicated [television] segments. [I wrote down being a] four-time published author. Yes. That was me. Take that, imposter syndrome! I don’t believe your lies. I’ve got the real facts!

The truth is, no amount of preparation can get you totally ready for the rollercoaster that is the business-building journey….It’s all about making it work in the way that works for you, giving yourself the grace to accept that doing your best is enough, and reminding yourself why you’re amazing and more than capable of achieving success.

Excerpted with permission from the publisher, Wiley, from Choosing to Prosper by Bola Sokunbi. Copyright © 2022 by Bola Sokunbi. All rights reserved. This book is available wherever books and eBooks are sold.

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This Career Coach Shares 4 Ways You Can Combat Work-Induced Stress

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Are you one of the 70% of Americans who say they experience work stress, and that work is your number one stressor over family or even financial issues? How to deal with work stress may seem stressful itself. As it is the harmful, physical, and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of your job do not match your capabilities, resources, or needs. In essence, stress sets in when there is a lack of fit between an employee and their work environment.

Work stress eventually results in physical and mental health issues if left unaddressed. In some extreme cases, toxic work stress can ultimately result in traumatic experiences. The most straightforward way to address it is often to find aligned work, but that isn’t always an option for everyone.

If this sounds a bit like what you are currently experiencing, here are four things you can do if you're currently unable (or not ready) to pivot into doing aligned work. 

1. Identify your triggers

Start by clarifying what stress feels like for you so that you're able to identify your triggers. How do you know when you’re stressed? What thoughts do you have? What happens in your body? 

Pay attention to how you feel at work for a week or two. How do you feel physically in your body, emotionally in your heart and mind, and mentally? Then, record any situations, events, and people that lead to you having a negative physical, mental, or emotional response.

During each entry in your records, answer these questions: 

  • Who was involved in the situation?

  • What was your reaction?

  • How did you feel before, during, and after?

After two weeks, evaluate. You might find obvious stressors or patterns, and notice subtle but persistent stress causes such as specific work tasks, interactions with particular people, or an uncomfortable workspace. 

2. Set non-negotiable work boundaries 

The fact is work never ends. There’s always something to do, and if you’re already experiencing stress at work, it’s important that you become very clear and strict about your boundaries. 

I know a lot of times, it can feel uncomfortable to set or establish boundaries. Still, it’s important to remember that you show up better for everybody when you are healthy, whole, and happy. And when you don’t have clear boundaries, you experience more work stress. So you show up as a lesser version of yourself. 

It’s also important to remember that it is your responsibility to hold your boundaries and not other people’s. People will always try to push your boundaries; your job is to ensure they are not successful. 

Whether it’s boundaries around work hours, communication, the tasks you take on, or whatever that looks like for you, identify where you are experiencing stress at work and set clear boundaries for yourself, and those around you.

3. Adopt strong conflict resolution practices

Another major cause of work stress is the relationships and interactions we have at work, with colleagues and managers. If after identifying your triggers, you notice that your work stress is mostly coming from relationships, then it might be time to evaluate your communication practices.  

Do you speak up when you feel like your values have been violated? Do you speak up when your boundaries have been violated? Lastly, do you advocate for yourself? If you’re not doing any of these things, they might lead to conflict and thus causing you to experience work stress. In this case, you’re going to want to develop clear conflict resolution and communication skills that allow you to advocate for yourself.

Here’s a simple process to follow to help you address workplace conflict:

  • Identify what exactly the conflict is.

  • Meet with the source of your conflict.

  • Communicate the situation (and remember, communication involves talking and listening).

  • Identify a solution.

  • Enforce the solution. (see no. 2 above)

4. Be proactive with your restoration practices.

When you’ve been in a work situation that has been stressful for an extended period, there’s a high chance that your stress response systems are overwhelmed. And when your stress response systems are overwhelmed, that’s when trauma sets in, along with your ability to cope goes out the window. 

If you’ve been experiencing chronic toxic stress that your body hasn’t been able to manage well, your brain changes on a fundamental level. It changes how you interact and see the world, and collapses the time between event and reaction in your life. You might find yourself “overreacting” to certain situations at work, or getting stressed quicker and more intensely than you’d expect.

Mindfulness can help you rewire your responses and interaction with the world. It can help you feel psychologically safe and perceive the world as is, and not through your stress lens. Note that mindfulness is not a treatment for clinical trauma but simply a coping strategy you can use to navigate work stress. If you’ve been experiencing chronic work stress for years, an important component of your healing is going to be therapy.

On a final note, at some point, it’s no longer about stress management, or about coping strategies and preventing stress. If you’re doing unaligned work, you will experience stress and there’s nothing you can do about it. It might be time for you to start making your exit plan and finding something else to do. 

If you're looking for a sign, here's four to look out for that say it might be time for you to find a new job.

  • You dread the work you do.

  • Your energy is drained.

  • Your physical and mental health is being impacted.

  • You’re not growing professionally.

  • You make “enough” money and are still unhappy at work.

About the author:

Dr. Tega Edwin (pronounced tay-gah) is an award-winning career development educator, researcher, and speaker. She is the owner of Her Career Doctor, where she coaches women who are unhappy at work to exit soul-sucking jobs and find a fulfilling career that allows them to thrive in their zone of genius, live on purpose, and get paid a value-aligned salary. She developed the VISA Career Clarity Framework that has helped women across four continents in over 20 industries clarify their aligned career paths.

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This Black-Owned Company's CEO Is Disrupting The Beauty Industry

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When Piersten Gaines set out to learn if other women were having negative salon experiences like herself, she had no idea that she’d end up interviewing 300 women with traumatic stories. There was a consensus that they all had to deal with stylists not trained in textured hair, all while being a demographic who already spends nine times more than others on hair care, according to her. Gaines saw this as a huge gap in the market, and sought out the opportunity to build the black-owned business taking over Dallas, Texas, Pressed Roots.

Today, the business school graduate is a full-fledged entrepreneur and CEO for Pressed Roots, a brand of salons with trained stylists that are combatting a well-known problem with the beauty industry--not having enough diversity. It's the blow-out bar for textured hair women. From pop-ups where she learned about the customers and what they really needed, to raising 3.1 million in funding, Gaines is creating a more inclusive space for BIPOC women. Click play below to see how she used her background in business marketing to build a brand that has expanded in Dallas.

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How Female Entrepreneurs Are Leading The Way Out Of The Pandemic

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There’s no denying that post-pandemic, female-owned businesses are on the rise. In fact, in 2021, women started 49% of businesses, up from 28% in 2019. That shouldn't come as a surprise when you think about the way women do business. Men tend to be very transactional when it comes to business. They focus on data and analytics, and place more emphasis on whether a product or service is a top seller over feelings. Most women are the opposite of that. We are relational and want to create a business that's purposeful, mission-driven, and that we’re passionate about. 

When the pandemic hit and we were all isolated in our homes, we experienced a sudden loss of connection with people worldwide. During this time, people realized how important that connection was. We all craved to intereact with people again, not only with our loved ones but also with the people and companies we buy from. This was when many women stepped up and said, “I'm not just going to sell it to you, I'm also going to connect with you too."

Women are meeting the changing needs of consumers as we come out of the pandemic. Here's how:

1. Women Are Selling Differently 

During the early days of the pandemic, so many of us turned to the online world to connect in one of the only ways we could. We watched videos, joined online groups, and took online courses. We turned to the internet for entertainment and information. 

Many female entrepreneurs stepped into this space and filled that need for connection. As the owner of two businesses, Framed by Sarah and Launch Your Box, I was able to serve and sell online. I spent time cultivating relationships with our online audiences and shared my passions with them. So many of us experienced growth in our businesses as a result. 

The pandemic changed us and our buying habits. More than ever, people want to be part of something bigger than themselves. They want to feel good about where they spend their money. Yes, we all appreciate Amazon’s ability to deliver what we need quickly and conveniently. But we also want to support the artisans and female founders who are passionate about what they do, and spend time sharing that passion and building relationships with their customers. 

2. Women Are Creating Flexible Work Environments

Women have a way of looking at things differently as business owners. That perspective helps us in building teams and hiring employees. For example, during the pandemic, my number one goal was to figure out a way to keep the women I employed. During that time, many women across the country had to choose between homeschooling their children and keeping a job. The experience reframed our idea of work-life balance. Now, post-pandemic, many female leaders continue to adjust their companies for their employees, rather than the other way around.  

Many women business owners are prioritizing positive work environments and cultivating a culture where women can find balance. It's not a nine to five anymore. In my business, we’re working from home, working during school hours, and taking Fridays off. I’m proud to create an environment that allows each member of my team to feel good about being a mom AND having a career or job. 

3. Women Are Natural Adapters 

Women wear so many hats in their daily lives. This natural ability to multitask serves us well in our roles as entrepreneurs. We are several steps ahead, can plan for what’s next, and are able to manage multiple priorities at the same time. We are natural problem solvers. 

In many families, women act as the “glue” of the family, keeping everyone and everything moving in the right direction. We bring those same skills to our businesses. So much has changed since the beginning of 2020 and the way we do business has changed, too. The structure of our workdays, the role social media plays in our businesses, and the way we sell our products and services have all changed. As women, and especially as mothers, we can adapt to changing priorities and unexpected challenges at home. That flexibility served us well during the pandemic and continues to be an asset as we adapt to doing business in a post-pandemic world. 

While none of us can predict what the future will hold, I believe a day will come where female entrepreneurs have outnumbered men. I don't know how long that will take, but the shift will come. As women continue to lean into who we are and what we can bring to the table, we will get there.

About the author:

Sarah Williams is the CEO and Founder of two 7-figure businesses, Framed by Sarah and Launch Your Box, where Sarah has worked with thousands of subscription box owners and those wanting to start a subscription box, providing in-depth training that takes them through each step of starting, launching, and growing their business. She is also the host of Launch Your Box Podcast, which launched in February 2021. Connect with her on Facebook @subboxwithsarah.

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Former Harvard Meditation Advisor Shares Steps On How Entrepreneurs Can Overcome Doubt

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Doubt: It’s one of those one-syllable feelings that can feel catastrophic as an entrepreneur. About four in ten newbies and business owners experience this all-too-common emotion, but its ubiquity doesn’t make it any less challenging. According to former Harvard Meditation Advisor Kassi Underwood, the present moment has a lot to offer uncertain entrepreneurs—even if, in this very moment, it’s hard for you to believe that sitting with your doubt is the way to go. 

An author, podcaster, and entrepreneur, who holds a Masters of Divinity from Harvard, has come against her fair share of self-questioning. Below, she offers her perspective on what doubt actually is, why it may manifest more often for women and non-binary entrepreneurs, and what to do when you find yourself in the grips of this emotion. 

So, what is doubt? And why does it run more rampant among women entrepreneurs

Underwood has a simple definition: “Doubt is fear. It’s that simple,” she says. “A lot of things that we label with more complex terms are just fear. Guilt is fear. Doubt is fear. Doubt is, 'I don't know if I can do that,' which is another way of saying, 'I'm afraid I can't do this. I'm afraid.'” Mic drop, right? 

Understandably, this doubt (aka fear) doesn’t target all people equally. Women and non-binary entrepreneurs—and particularly those who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) —are up against discrimination that makes the fear more readily available. Since women-founded startups receive just 2.3 percent of venture funding and the funding gap is even bleaker for founders of color, it makes sense that you may constantly be asking yourself questions like, “Can I do this?” and “Are the steps I’m taking leading me toward success?”

What’s more, as women, we may be more likely to question our leadership skills in the C-suite. “Those of us who grew up as girls are programmed with the beliefs that we should be quiet, or we're going to come across as bossy or rude or demanding,” Underwood says. “We're taught that we're not supposed to care about money, or that if we do that, we're a gold digger or we're too masculine. There are so many insults that come with being a female entrepreneur.” If any of this sounds familiar, know that your experience is normal (which is not to say it’s acceptable or fair that you have to deal with it.) 

Over time, systematic change like more funding going to women entrepreneurs will hopefully take the burden of doubt off all of our shoulders (or, okay, at least lighten the load). In the meantime, however, Underwood has five steps to help you approach doubt with mindfulness. So go ahead: Plug into the present moment. 

1. Meditate (for one minute!) in the morning to reduce your overall quantity of fear triggers

No surprise here! Diffusing doubt doesn’t start the moment you begin to feel uncertain; it starts the second you open your eyes. If meditating for 20 minutes feels daunting to you, never fear. Underwood has designed a one-minute, daily meditation that you can do in the morning to head off doubt before the day has even begun, so you have less “Ahhh!” moments later in the day. 

2. Identify and put words to your fear

“If a fear comes up, first of all, identify what you’re afraid of in the moment. Like, ‘I'm afraid that I'm going to send this email, and they're going to say no,’” Underwood shares. Once you’ve taken a pulse on what it is that has your heart racing, you can start working through it, which leads us to…

3. Identify the “lie you’re telling yourself”

“In fear, there's always a lie that I'm telling myself,” Underwood says. “One of the most prominent lies that women tell ourselves is, 'I can't handle that. If this goes to shit, I won't know what to do next.' And, of course, that's not true. You're gonna figure it out like you're a badass woman and you're gonna know in the moment, what to do next, but you can't solve a problem that's not even happening.”

Find your lie. 

4. Write out the worst-case scenario and the best-case scenario

Now that you’re holding your fear in one hand and your lie in the other, you’re ready to plan. “The next thing to write down is, 'how would I handle the worst case scenario with courage? What's that look like?' And then what's the best case scenario? What news do I want to create for myself, my life, and life in general?”, says Underwood. 

For example, if the worst-case scenario is that you lose a client, the best-case scenario may be that you now have an open slot for a cool new client that aligns with your values. Bam. 

5. Keep the fruits of this exercise nearby

“You can put some of those lines up on your fridge or in your office,” Underwood advices. “They will start inspiring you and help you cut through those moments of doubt. So you'll be in doubt, but you have already done the exercise. You're like, ‘Oh, right. I don't believe that anymore. Like I actually can handle this. Even if the bad sh*t happens, I can handle it.” You absolutely can!

Written by Kells McPhillips

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3 Tips To Manage A Work-Life Balance As A Momtrepreneur

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Motherhood is universally known as one of the most difficult jobs in the world, and when you mix that with entrepreneurship, a whole new myriad of challenges are born. Both jobs are all-consuming and unpredictable, throwing off your work-life balance. Add to that the internalized (mom & entrepreneur) guilt for pushing everything not urgent to the back burner, difficulty asking for support, feeling like you have to be everything to everyone all at once, and having no time left to take care of yourself. For female entrepreneurs who are mothers, aka momtrepreneurs, trying to do “it all” can sometimes feel like an unwinnable, work-life, balancing act.

A lopsided work-life balance can have a negative impact on your personal life, professional life, and on your mental and physical health. The importance of cultivating a work-life balance is echoed by countless female CEOs, take these wise words from Bumble’s Whitney Wolfe Herd for example. “It’s incredibly important, regardless of how tired, or busy, or overloaded you are in your day-to-day; you must take time to call your grandparents, or call an old friend, or take an afternoon off to spend time with your parents.” 

Are you a momtrepreneur struggling to manage your work-life balance? Here are three tips to help manage and sustain a work-life balance. Bring your balancing act to an equilibrium, which will thus increase your productivity and happiness.

1. Organize

Most things regarding our children and our business are not in our control. Taking control of controllable things allows a momtrepreneur to have agency, which releases stress and provides feelings of empowerment and accomplishment. The best way to take control is to be hyper-organized. 

Every evening before bed, create a detailed daily plan for the next day. Incorporate a work-life balance into your plan so the following day begins with a balanced intention. Next, add all your tasks to your calendar (Yes, all of them!), from conference calls to workouts, and even self-care. When time is physically blocked out on your calendar, you will more likely stick to a well-timed schedule. This will help your day flow smoothly and allow you to execute each task. 

2. Ask for help and delegate

While it can be difficult to relinquish control over certain aspects of your life, help from a colleague, partner, or friend can be an immeasurable asset to re-configure your work-life balance. The most successful momtrepreneurs know that asking for help and delegating tasks makes them stronger at both jobs. Sara Blakely, billionaire Spanx founder and CEO, is happy to accept help when she needs it. Blakely relies on her assistant to be her right-hand man. “…She can solve and figure out anything. She has actually gotten my child a passport and gotten him out of the country without being the parent. I don’t know how she does it,” Sara shared.

Never feel guilty about utilizing help if you can afford it. Such as asking a parent to extend your child’s playdate to get more work done, or using an app to order groceries. That is perfectly fine! While being a mom and an entrepreneur can feel lonely at times, no one truly does it all alone. It takes a village and asking yours for help can guide you to a greater work-life balance.

3. Practice severance

The new Apple TV show ("Severance") may a bit extreme, but it’s on to something. The series examines the topic of a complete separation of your work life from your personal life. When managing your work-life balance, it’s essential to separate the two and stay in the present moment. Obsessing about work while you’re in mom-mode, and vice-versa, guarantees that your attention will be elsewhere. You have to draw the line somewhere because this makes you more prone to mistakes at work, and mentally absent during important family moments.

It’s easier said then done when thinking multi-tasking while being present will make things better. A mindfulness or meditation practice is a great way to cultivate the art of presence and bring moderation to your work-life balance.  

Written by Abby Stern

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C&C Classifieds Nº279:  Alleyoop, Newsette, Vice Media Group, and More Are Hiring!

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August is here, and as a new month arrives, you might be feeling a wave of change in your career as well. 

Kick off the month with a fresh batch of job listings for you to apply from our good friends at Alleyoop, The Honest Company, Vice Media Group, REED Public Relations, and so many more!

To post a new job, just click HERE. Good luck! 

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How One Woman Used TikTok To Land a Job Promotion

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It was the beginning of the pandemic, and while the world was trying to figure out how to navigate the new norm, a woman named Natalie was learning TikTok. In those early days of 2020, she posted everything from humorous musings on dating to corporate America jabs. To her surprise, the corporate videos resonated with her audience, so she dubbed herself Corporate Natalie, and the rest is history. To date, she's got over 148K followers and 18M likes on her TikTok channel.

So, it should come as no surprise that her following and knack for connecting with people also helped her nab a promotion. Yep, her media empire is a side-hustle, and she's still putting in hours at a 9-to-5 job, but her fame led to a position change at her corporate job. She not only got an opportunity to switch to a completely different department, but that meant she'd be getting a promotion and more freedom to be creative and lead. If you're also looking to land a job promotion or use social media to build your brand, click play below to hear Natalie speak on how she got to where she is, and what the future looks like for her full-time job and Corporate Natalie.

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4 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Start a Business

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Last year, a record-breaking 5.4 million people filed to form new businesses in the United States. The entrepreneurial spirit is clearly in the air, and that’s never been more evident than when we gathered creators, CEOS, and entre-precurious folks from all different backgrounds together at our LA conference last month.

In one chat, aptly named “So You Want To Start a Business,” four powerhouse business women served up their best advice for starting, funding, and growing a new business. Those panelists were…ready? Roll call: 

•Bola Sokunbi | Founder & CEO, Clever Girl Finance
•Chelsea Clarke | Founder, HerPaperRoute
•Kayla Gonzalez | SVP, West Merchant Region Executive, Bank of America
•Natalie Cofield | Assistant Administrator, SBA Office of Women's Business Ownership
As well as our moderator, Ginger Seigel | North American Small Business Lead, Mastercard

As you can probably imagine, the four of them had plenty of wisdom to share with anyone who’s in the “Should I?” stage of launching a business endeavor. And luckily, we’ve collected that knowledge and put it into a checklist below to help you decide whether your idea is ready for take-off. 

1. Does my business have the qualities of a great (and lucrative) business idea? 

Once the initial jolt of “OMG, I have an idea!” passes, you’ll need to determine whether or not your business holds water. In her role at Bank of America, Gonzalez has done her fair share of mentoring founders—something that you can tell is incredibly rewarding for her.

“Small businesses are so exciting!” she shared on stage. “There’s so much passion that comes from small business owners. Every time I get the opportunity to go in and visit a small business at their place of business, it’s exciting. The pride is coming off those small business owners and there’s nothing more rewarding.” 

The most important thing to consider before you start, says Gonzalez, is ambition. “We talk about COVID-19 and what just happened there, and it was hard for a lot of our business owners,” she says. “You really have to have that ambition, that excitement for what you do each and every day regardless of what’s going on around you.”

The other key ingredient? A plan! Gonzalez explains you need to do your research on your business: Who is your competition? What is the scope of business? Where are you going to be most successful? What is your plan for success? While so much goes into a great idea, if you can lock in your ambition and know your business like the back of your hand, you’re off to a great start.

2. Am I owning and evolving my relationship with money?  

Sokunbi, whose business Clever Girl Finance provides resources and support for financial freedom, has made her fair share of money mistakes. While she’s been super transparent about her own personal experience, she notes one common financial gaffe she sees tons of new founders make. 

“We let our mistakes push us into a corner where we start to feel embarrassed or disappointed, but we want to own those mistakes because these mistakes are opportunities for us to assess what went wrong, what we didn’t like, and how to position ourselves next time,” she says. After that, you're ready to toss that mistake in the trash and keep the lessons close to you. 

3. Does my business story stand out? 

As a business owner, you’re going to tell your story a lot. Just think about how many times you’ve heard the origin story of Steve Jobs working out of his parents’ garage. Developing a narrative for yourself and a business takes some workshopping, but don’t worry: Gonzalez shares the secret sauce.

“Your passion needs to radiate so everyone feels it,” she says. “It’s not just what you’re doing, but it’s how you’re going to make it different. Everyone can have the exact same idea, but it’s you that will make the difference about whether that idea can be successful.” In case you’re looking for a recipe, personal passion plus a killer business idea equals a compelling business story.  

4. Do I have my banking in check?

Getting your finances in order is an essential step towards feeling confident and competent, while you bring your idea to fruition. That’s why it’s important to get all your financial ducks in a row, and Bank of America’s small business platform can help you set up the tools you need—like checking accounts and company credit cards. Book an appointment with a banker to discuss your unique needs and your specialist can provide advice and guidance that you need to make a plan for your business.

Sokunbi recommends checking out the Small Business Administration (SBA) website for resources on funding, licensing, and learning as your business begins to germinate. And remember: The team at Create & Cultivate is here for you too!

Grab a glass of vino and watch the full playback of the panel here. 

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Turning Grief Into Purpose With Aaliyah In Action Founder Elizabeth O'Donnell

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“I’m sorry there’s no heartbeat.” Those were the words I heard on November 28, 2020, at just between 31 and 32 weeks pregnant, and after what I was continuously told was a “textbook” pregnancy. Nothing can ever prepare you to hear that as an expectant parent, someone who is so excited to soon meet their child. That day was the start of my life changing completely, and turning grief into purpose was what helped me push forward.

Aaliyah Denise arrived into this world looking like any other baby that was just delivered, perfect and with a mass of curly black hair. We were given no reason for her passing except being told by staff that “sometimes babies just die.” These words are heard too often for families in The United States and I didn’t realize this until I experienced it for myself. To be exact, about 23,000 families experience a stillbirth a year. The truth is, the truth isn’t being spoken about. Those stillbirth numbers are pretty shocking, right?

I can’t tell you what else was happening that day in November, to the day I left the hospital the afternoon of December 1. What I do remember was being immediately thrown into a public battle with my employer about paid family leave, and their nonexistent definition of “birth of a child.” 

The law, at that time, did not explicitly state that paid family leave did not include the healing of a woman’s body after birth. My then employer made a choice to read the law as if it was for bonding only. I refused to accept that my employer could create the definition of “birth of a child” when there was no clear definition, and when other city agencies chose to provide the leave after stillbirth cases like mine.

I fought back and it went as far as making it on the national news after an Instagram photo of me & Aaliyah went viral. This led the DC Council to pass an Emergency Bereavement Bill, granting parents of stillbirth 10 days paid leave. Which, for many not in this position may sound like a win. However, my argument was never about time to grieve the death of my daughter. It's always been about the time it takes a woman’s body to heal after birth, whether or not the birth is live.

Winning that battle wasn’t enough as that wouldn’t bring Aaliyah back. Waking up every day and grieving her death was my norm. I decided to join Facebook groups, specifically for mothers who have experienced loss, and that allowed me to hear people's stories and the horror in this country as it relates to the treatment of birthing people after stillbirth. Whether it’s hospitals with staff that are not adequately trained to deal with loss, the misunderstanding others seem to have of “yes, I still delivered my baby,” or the differences in family and cultural understandings after a loss like this, it’s overall tough. It’s hard to manage the outside world when on the inside you feel like giving up. 

I knew I needed to do something for the mothers I connected with, and also to create a strong legacy for my Aaliyah. Turning grief into purpose, Aaliyah in Action was born.

From my experience, tangible bereavement support was minimal or nonexistent. Some hospitals, if you’re lucky, provide you with a memory box for your baby. We love to talk about “self-care” in society, yet I found very little of it in this pregnancy and infant loss space. I decided to take all of the parenting I was saving up, and pour it into Aaliyah in Action. 

Our nonprofit supports women, birthing people, and families after they have experienced perinatal, neonatal, or infant loss, by providing self-care packages and support books that’ll help them start their grief journey. The packages are distributed to hospitals and those who request them, to provide immediate, tangible, and bereavement support. A box includes small items such as fuzzy socks, aromatherapy shower steamers, and candles. For what I call a “griefy” day, this is a small gesture to make one comfortable during their stay in the hospital, post birth. Packages also come with a support book for the birthing person, and support books for partners and living children if appropriate.

Pregnancy and infant loss can make you feel so alone. But the reality is you’re far from alone. My love for Aaliyah and the passion behind this organization will elevate Aaliyah in Action to be a standard bereavement response after pregnancy or infant loss. Through continued hospital partnerships nationwide, I hope to reach as many women and birthing people as I can-the immediate response is key when starting the grief journey.

Aaliyah in Action is also supporting small, local, women and black-owned businesses. We are proud to purchase items and support books directly from the vendors. Not only are we proud to help families in need, but we are able to help small businesses too.    

If we haven’t experienced it ourselves, we all know someone who has experienced the trauma of a pregnancy or infant loss. I see the work that Aaliyah is doing every single day in the emails I receive, phone calls, DM connections, and relationships I’ve been making since becoming an advocate. Our goal as an organization has always been to connect on a deeper level with those we provide for, and those who support our mission.

About the Author: Elizabeth O’Donnell, or Aaliyah’s Mom as she prefers, is the Founder & CEO of the nonprofit Aaliyah in Action. She is a fierce stillbirth advocate helping people navigate loss through Aaliyah in Action, and working toward ending preventable stillbirth with PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy as their Co-Director of Communications.

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The Best Way to Learn How to Invest in Your Future? Practice It.

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For far too long investing has been too confusing, too exclusive, or too intimidating. But if you’re looking to build wealth, especially as a woman, investing is one of the best money moves you can make. 

​​At our recent conference in sunny Downtown LA, we tuned in to a candid conversation with Maya Sudhakaran, Head of Growth and Acquisition of Plynk, who made it clear that investing is very achievable—and something that can be started immediately if you’re hungry for the financial future you deserve.  

Her first piece of advice? Ditch perfectionism, and just get started. 

“One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that perfection is the enemy of good. There is so much intimidation and fear associated with dipping your toes into the world of investing, that most people don’t do it,” says Sudhakaran. That first step is already one step closer to financial independence and confidence. 

Plynk encourages people to get started by rewarding them for learning more about investing within their app—then using that knowledge to make a trade. Sudhakaran and her team have added tools to help identify investments best suited to your style and align with your interests. Instead of waiting for novice investors to catch up, Plynk leads with education to further build an ecosystem that’s easy to use and approachable.  

By removing this barrier to entry, and redirecting focus from the “perfect” move for instant wins to learning by doing, investing becomes more achievable! More like online shopping and much less like Wall Street Trading, an experience everyone deserves! Oh, and did we mention that you can now learn and trade crypto (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash) with Plynk!

Think you’re ready? (Spoiler: Of course you are!) Here’s your homework. Download Plynk, create a profile, and invest in a fellow, women-led business. Happy investing!

Article produced in collaboration with Digital Brokerage Services LLC. Crypto services offered through Paxos Trust Co.
Keep in mind that investing involves risk. Limited time offer. Terms and conditions apply. For more information on the Sign-Up Bonus & Learn and Earn Investment Match Offer, visit plynkinvest.com/disclosures/promotions. Plynk is free for the first 3 months, after which a $2 monthly subscription fee applies. Plynk is a service of Digital Brokerage Services LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC.

Article produced in collaboration with Digital Brokerage Services LLC. Crypto services offered through Paxos Trust Co.
Keep in mind that investing involves risk. Limited time offer. Terms and conditions apply. For more information on the Sign-Up Bonus & Learn and Earn Investment Match Offer, visit plynkinvest.com/disclosures/promotions. Plynk is free for the first 3 months, after which a $2 monthly subscription fee applies. Plynk is a service of Digital Brokerage Services LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC.

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Understanding the Metaverse And Your Part In The Inclusive Internet

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My vision for an inclusive internet is two-fold. First, it will drive more equal access to the discovery of information. Second, it will celebrate every human’s uniqueness. 

A more equal society benefits everyone, not just those who have been systematically oppressed. The same can be said for our digital society which is now so intricately linked to “real” world events. When I think of an inclusive internet, I see digital products taking proactive (and not reactive) measures to look after the people on their platform. I see algorithmic bias as a top priority, and not a factor that further drives inequity. In the inclusive internet, I see a place with more ownership of our experiences and control over what we’re influenced by. It’s a place where moderation tools do not further victimize people. 

You’ve likely heard the buzz around the metaverse lately. The metaverse presents an interesting lens for us to consider what an inclusive internet could look like because it’s still in the beginning stages. If the last 15 years have proved anything, it’s that we can no longer afford to be naive when it comes to building new spaces for humans to connect. 

For those interested in the hype around the “metaverse,” but aren’t sure where to start – don’t worry. Even though the term took to the masses when Facebook rebranded itself as Meta, it was a term first coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 sci-fi novel, Snow Crash. The novel depicted the metaverse as a 3D virtual world where people walk around as avatars and interact with each other, and computer-generated characters. This depiction has framed what a lot of technologists, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs are thinking when they picture “the metaverse.” If you’re thinking, “How did I miss all of this?” — fear not because metaverse doesn’t actually exist yet (only fragments of it do).

It also won’t be some sci-fi futuristic land that results in none of us interacting IRL. My vision for it is purely additive versus an alternate reality to our daily lives. The reason I’m mentioning any of this is that the metaverse is an evolution of our understanding of the potential capabilities of the internet. As with any evolution, this provides an opportunity for reflection. 

So, if the dawn of a new type of internet is upon us, how can you play a part in making it inclusive? 

1. Advocate for better moderation tools.

Consent should be built into all features across any platform. This should not be an afterthought or a list of terms and conditions that no one reads. Digital privacy commonly affects women, similar to how physical privacy affects women in our real world, and the tools needed to prevent harassment and enable consent do not currently exist in a meaningful way online. While there will always be bad actors, existing platform moderation tools have often been reactive. As it stands, the status quo for report/block tools looks a lot like someone telling me to “walk in well-lit areas” and “don’t wear short skirts.” These tools are inherently biased (They’re mostly made by men.), and not protective enough. They further place the burden on the victim to protect themselves, and they rarely hold the harasser accountable. 

There's a huge opportunity for technology to do better here. As we build these new platforms in the metaverse (three-dimensional or otherwise), it is important to consistently advocate and demand better moderation tools. If you want to get more involved, check out the Center for Humane Technology. 

2. Find your people.

Social platforms have become too big and too broad. While platforms like Facebook and Instagram became known as social gathering spaces, they are now marketplaces for small businesses to launch and advertise products to millions. Platforms shouldn’t make you work to find the things you want to read in favor of their own monetization strategies. Be more intentional with how you spend your time, find platforms for all the different interest areas you have, and hang out with people in those places.

3. Be wary of sensationalist content. 

Algorithms favor “hot takes.” The content you see on your Twitter feed is typically sensationalist content that drives more views, and when there are more views, Twitter gets more ad dollars. Are you caught in the hype? Do you find yourself negatively impacted by the content you’re viewing? Does the content you’re reading seem wildly speculative? Stop yourself! 

Platforms that contribute to an inclusive internet will better align their financial models with their user base instead of monetizing off said users. For example, it is possible that platforms in “the metaverse” can create business models via tokens that provide monetary incentives for sharing higher-quality content. This will hopefully create more aligned financial models that benefit both the platform and humans on the platform.

4. Embrace your uniqueness. 

Algorithms are as biased as the people who build them. The inclusive internet has the opportunity to not celebrate everyone looking exactly the same. Due to many platforms’ focus on photo-sharing, algorithms have forced us to present ourselves in a very unnatural way that doesn’t celebrate our individuality at all. To share “successful” content on the platform requires you to bow to the algorithm being pushed to people who already elected to follow you. Look to engage with platforms that go below the surface level, platforms that focus on everything apart from your appearance – like your unique knowledge, stories, or experiences.

5. Share your shadow.

Life online is a partial representation of the people we actually are. As a result, we ignore the darker sides of life in favor of “social peacocking.” Play a part in defining the inclusive internet by questioning the content you’re sharing, and practice being more authentic with what you share. Our move towards the metaverse could enable this more successfully, especially with the emergence of digital identities. 

Remember: Being yourself is one of the most powerful things you can do online. Don’t ignore the less sunny side of life; it's what makes you human. 


About the Expert: Emma Bates is the Co-Founder and CEO of Diem, a social networking platform created for women. The social media alternative is a search engine powered by an incentivized community of female & non-binary knowledge-sharers.

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Prerna Gupta on Social Media, NFTs, & the Creator Economy in the Age of Web3

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LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

ABOUT THE EPISODE

Serial entrepreneur, Prerna Gupta, is the Founder & CEO of Telepathic, the umbrella company behind Hooked, the #1 storytelling platform in the world reaching 100 million Gen Z viewers. She has reached over one billion consumers with her apps, where she harnesses the power of tech to do good.

After garnering over a decade of success building Web2 apps, Gupta has recently embarked on a new initiative, launching a music video NFT social platform, Mysterious, with a diverse group of founding artists.

Telepathic's investors include Ashton Kutcher, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, and Joe Montana just to name a few. Prerna has also been named one of the Most Influential Women in Tech by Fast Company, and her writing has been featured in New York Times, Vogue, and TechCrunch, among others. Needless to say this woman is an incredible powerhouse whose story will inspire you!

On this episode of WorkParty, Prerna is sharing her experience being on the forefront of the Web3 revolution, the future of social media and short form video in the metaverse, and the importance of getting more women and non-binary people involved in the space.

IN THIS EPISODE WE TALK ABOUT:

  • Her early passions and childhood aspirations

  • Using technology to create products that change the way we interact with culture

  • Rethinking the social media landscape in the wild world of Web3

  • The importance of evolution, adaptability and increasing market volatility

  • How music videos will draw mass audiences to Web3

  • Why culture is becoming increasingly global in the digital age

  • How Web3 is changing the economic business model for digital content

  • The rise of decentralization and giving control back to users

  • Non-linear success and trusting the trajectory of your career

RESOURCES

SHOW OUR SPONSORS SOME LOVE !

  • Face Foundrie | Use code PARTY at checkout for $20 off your first service or online order. Visit facefoundrie.com or @facefoundrie on Instagram for more info!

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  • Gusto | Join more than 200,000 new and growing businesses that are using Gusto to build a great workplace for their employees. Right now, Gusto is offering our listeners 3 months FREE at gusto.com/party. Get easy payroll, benefits, HR, and a happier team!

OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE . . .

Revolutionizing an Untapped Market with Liz Lange, Iconic Designer & CEO of Figue

Introducing Create & Cultivate's New CEO, Kate Spies!

Pietra COO, Tala Akhavan on Balancing Work, Motherhood, and Access to Female Entrepreneurship

Using Technology to Drive Social Impact with AllVoices Founder, Claire Schmidt

Live from Austin Pop-Up: How to Define Goals and Rise to Your Potential with Payal Kadakia, Founder of ClassPass and Author of LifePass


20 Books To Add To Your 2022 Summer Reading List

So many books, but so little time. Don’t worry, because we’ve rounded up 20 of the best books of the year so far. Whether you’re a thriller lover, a hopeless romantic, or anything in between, there’s something for everyone! One, two, or maybe twelve of these incredible books should definitely be added to your to your summer reading list.

Ramón and Julieta by Alana Quintana Albertson

We’ve heard the story before; enemies turn to lovers or friends. Julieta and Ramón share a kiss on Day of the Dead, and Ramón is determined to find his new love. What he doesn’t know yet is how his father stole Julieta's mother’s taco recipe, which has been detrimental to Julieta’s restaurant. With Ramón now her new landlord she tries to push away the romantic tension. Will Ramón be able to win over Julieta, or will their parent’s rivalry keep them apart?

Red Thread of Fate by Lyn Liao Butler

After Tam and Tony find out they’ve been accepted to adopt a young boy from China, Tam is hit with the worst news possible. Tony and his estranged cousin Mia have been killed in an accident. While coping with this pain and grief, Tam finds out she now is the guardian of Mia’s five-year-old daughter Angela. Now Tam must become a parent to a girl she doesn’t know well and decide whether to still adopt from China. When a long-kept secret comes to light, Tam must dig into Tony and Mia’s past, and she ultimately learns the true meaning of love and family. 

The Lifestyle by Taylor Hahn

In the best retelling of Emma since Clueless- meet Georgina Wagman a young lawyer with a seemingly perfect life. But, when she finds her husband sleeping with a junior associate, she’s shocked and divorce was never something that crossed her mind. In an effort to save her marriage she and her husband become swingers. Her friends Felix and Norah (and their partners) are all in with her. Her own marriage might be falling apart but, Georgina is determined to get Felix and Norah together. Then Georgina reconnects with her college ex and must decide whether to follow her heart or her head, all while trying to keep her perfect life-well perfect. 

The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Julia Baxter’s wedding veil was given to her great grandmother by a mysterious woman on a train in the 1930s. It has brought the women in her family good luck ever since, but in her heart, Julia knows the veil isn’t enough to make her marriage last, so she runs to the Virgin Islands on the morning of her wedding. Meanwhile Julia’s grandmother, Babs, still mourning the death her beloved husband, reconnects with an old flame and is forced to dredge up complicated emotions from the past. Then the reader is transported back to 1914 where they meet socialite Edith Vanderbilt, who’s struggling to maintain the grandiose Biltmore Estate after her husband’s untimely death. Edith is also committed to helping her free-spirited daughter Cornelia prepare to inherit the iconic house, despite the family’s financial troubles and Cornelia’s dream to live outside Biltmore’s gilded gates. How could this long-lost heirloom, the wedding veil, be the thing that connects these four remarkable women?

The Christie Affair by Nina Gramont

This re-imagination of one of the most talked-about unsolved mysteries will have readers completely immersed. What did Agatha Christie discover in those eleven days she went missing in 1925 London and how is her husband’s mistress involved? Miss Nan O’Dea took a liking to Archie Christie and became his mistress, and the only thing standing in her was Archie’s wife Agatha. But, why destroy another woman’s marriage and why hatch a murder plot years in the making?

One of Us is Dead by Jeneva Rose

Revenge is something everyone can relate to, but for the women in Buckhead it may mean life or death. When Shannon is dumped by her famous politician husband Bryce, and replaced by Crystal, it is sure to stir some community drama. Meanwhile, Olivia is planning to take Shannon’s place as queen of Buckhead. But it is Buckhead’s best hairdresser, Jenny, who knows all her clients’ secrets and their darkest desires. What secrets could these women be hiding and who will end up dead?

Hotel Portofino by JP O’Connell

Let’s take a step back in time to the Roaring Twenties on the breathtaking Italian Riviera. After a British family, led by matron Bella Ainsworth, opens Hotel Portofino, they quickly realize the high-class guests may be too demanding for them to handle. And while Bella desperately tries to satisfy her Italian guests, she also juggles saving her marriage, helping her children recover from the repercussions of the Great War, looking for love for her son Lucian, and keeping a local politician from sabotaging her and her success. But despite her best efforts, things don’t go according to plan in this enchanting historical fiction perfect for fans of The Crown and Downton Abbey.

Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim

Matchmaking: some love it, and some think it’s fraudulent. For Sophie Go, it’s her profession, and she can’t wait to get back to work after returning to Toronto from a three-year trip to Shanghai. But when it’s revealed that Sophie never went to matchmaking school, she loses her credibility in the highly competitive market and becomes an outcast. Desperately in need of clients, Sophie stumbles on a club in her complex called the Old Ducks, a group of seven elderly Chinese bachelors who never found love. Determined to help the most difficult-to-match men of her career, Sophie learns the depths of heartbreak, loneliness, and what true love actually is as she puts her skills to the test. 

We Lie Here by Rachel Howzell Hall

Yara Gibson is a young TV writer visiting home in California to host her parents' 20th-anniversary party. When she receives a text from her mother’s estranged childhood friend Felicia begging to speak to her “before it’s too late,” Yara chooses to ignore it. She didn’t realize ignoring Felicia’s text would lead to her body being found in Lake Palmdale. But before she died, Felicia left Yara a key to a cabin, where she finds files on a tragedy from 1998. This new information leaves Yara with big unanswered questions, and the more she digs for answers, the more she realizes this information will change her life forever… Or end it.

Can’t Look Away by Carola Lovering

Sexy suspense and the kind of obsessive love that keeps you coming back – Carola Lovering never disappoints. In 2013, Molly was a twenty-three-year old barista with dreams of being a writer who locked eyes with lead singer Jake Danner at a concert. Nearly ten years after their full and deep romance in which Jake wrote a hit song about her, the two are living their own separate domestic lives. But Molly is struggling and lonely. When she meets Sabrina, a newcomer in town, Molly feels relieved to finally have a friend. But there’s a reason Sabrina sought out Molly, and both of their secrets start to bubble to the surface and ask themselves: what happens when life doesn’t turn out like you thought?

The Blue Butterfly by Leslie Johansen Nack

1915 in New York, Broadway, and secret love stories galore! Marion Davies is a shy 18-year-old dancer when she meets William Randolph Hearst. Seduced by his riches and dedication to make her a movie star, Marion begins a courtship with Hearst. Then things start to go downhill after Hearst goes through a divorce with his wife and has a baby with Marion. Over the years they keep the baby a secret and gradually fade away from each other. But in 1937 during the height of the Depression, Marion lends Hearst $1M, even as she has a secret love with Charlie Chaplin. Now Marion and Hearst must work together to confront a movie that could ruin Marion’s career: Citizen Kane.

Set on You by Amy Lea

Crystal Chen is a curvy fitness influencer known for ignoring all the trolls that come her way while she conquers her workouts. After a tough breakup, the gym has brought her comfort – until Scott Ritchie walks in. Scott is a firefighter (and a Chris Evans look-alike, by the way) and goes out of his way to steal Crystal’s favorite squat rack, quickly sparking a heated competition between the two. Then Crystal is shocked to find Scott at her grandparents’ engagement party, where she gets a glimpse of how Scott’s surprisingly soft heart and the two of them form a new bond. That bond is then put to the test after the internet trolls find a picture of them together that goes viral, threatening their budding relationship in this steamy enemies-to-lovers rom-com. 

On Gin Lane by Brooke Lea Foster 

In this captivating historical fiction novel, Everleigh “Lee” Farrow seems to have it all. An incredible fiancé named Roland, a trust fund, and a beautiful Bronxville home. When Roland whisks Lee away to the Hamptons to show her the most incredible engagement present a woman could think of, a beachside hotel located on Gin Lane, things seem perfect. But internally, Lee struggles with dark memories of her old life, where she grew up at the Plaza, taking care of her mentally ill mother. Lee attempts to ignore the flashbacks and spend the summer doing things she loves: drinking poolside, playing tennis, attending luncheons, and taking photos. But on the hotel’s opening weekend, tragedy strikes, and Lee’s seemingly perfect world begins to fall apart. Lee must decide if this life is truly what she wants, and if she even knows who she truly is.

For Butter or Worse by Erin La Rosa 

Nina Lyons is an incredible chef whose talents have been overlooked in the male-dominated culinary world. As a co-host on a competitive reality TV series, she has a chance to truly make a name for herself. Just one problem. She can’t stand her co-host. Leo O’Donnell is a restaurateur who never meant to irritate Nina. It just happened as a result of the anxiety and stress he deals with in his work. But when he takes a joke too far, and Nina quits the show on live TV, Leo is unprepared. With both of their careers on the line after the show’s dramatic ending, Nina and Leo discover a “secret romance” may be the most beneficial thing for both of them. They just have to pretend not to despise each other. Easy, right?  With the perfect amount of tension, spice, and banter, Erin La Rosa whisks up a delicious enemies-to-lovers romance.

You’re Invited by Amanda Jayatissa

After Amaya receives an invitation to her former best friend’s wedding in Sri Lanka, she’s a little hurt and very surprised after years of silence. When she discovers that Kaavi is marrying Amaya’s ex-boyfriend, she’s determined to stop the wedding, no matter what. But when the wedding week commences, and rumors start to fly about Amaya’s past, she begins to feel like someone at the wedding is out to get her. When Kaavi goes missing and is presumed dead, Amaya is the main suspect. However, as each wedding guest’s dark secrets and hidden agendas come to light, it’s clear that Amaya is not the only one with a score to settle against the bride. 

Corinne by Rebecca Morrow 

Corrine Callahan has left behind the fundamentalist church and family she grew up with and built a good life for herself. While Corrine is free from the things and people that hurt her, she can’t help but miss the love she walked away from. Enoch Miller has always held a piece of her heart, and Corrine will never be truly free of him. An intimate story spanning over fifteen years, Corrine jeopardizes everything she’s created for the one man she knows she can never have.

The Marriage Box by Corie Adjmi

Casey Cohen is a sixteen-year-old Middle Eastern Jew living in New Orleans during the 1970s. After getting in trouble, her parents relocate them back to their home, the Orthodox Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn. In this unfamiliar world, men thank God they aren’t women, and lavish parties are held at the Museum of Natural History. The Marriage Box is an actual place, a deck where teenage girls showcase themselves for potential husbands. Casey is revolted by this lifestyle, until she meets Michael. Looking for a sense of belonging, Casey marries him at eighteen, expecting to adapt to the Syrian ways. However, when she discovers that Michael is against the idea of her going to college, and instead wants her to have a baby, she begins to question her choice and her future. Will Casey be able to merge her two different worlds, or will she be forced to walk away from one in order to discover who she is? Pre-order this Summer of 2023 must-read today!

Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner

For a hundred years, Bloomsbury Books has been run by men and directed by the manager’s fifty-one unbreakable rules. That is, until 1950, when three girls at the shop have ideas to keep the bookstore going amidst a changing world. Vivien Lowry, a World War II widow, has a long list of justified grievances, the most significant being Alec McDonough, the Head of Fiction. Grace Perkins is a wife and mother of two sons, working hard to support her family while her husband struggles post-war. Grace grapples with balancing her family responsibilities and her own dreams. Evie Stone, a student in Cambridge’s first degree-earning female class, lost out on an academic position to a less qualified male rival, and now works at Bloomsbury Books as she plans her future. These three women all strive for a future that gives them more opportunities than what society currently permits while navigating their personal relationships, goals, and dreams.

Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour

At sixteen-years-old, Sara Foster ran away from home, and the trusting girl she used to be got left behind as well. Now an in-demand bartender living in Los Angeles, Sara is known for her creative cocktails and the mystery surrounding her. Emilie Dubois is living across the city where her Creole grandparents fostered a beautiful community she craves but can’t commit to. Emilie impulsively takes a job at Yerba Buena, a glamorous restaurant, and begins an affair with the married owner. There is an instant connection between Sara and Emilie when they first meet at Yerba Buena but both women have pasts that draw them apart time and time again. As Sara’s former life catches up to her and upturns everything, Emilie finally discovers her own purpose, and the two must determine if the love they hold for each other overpowers their pasts. 

Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier

Paris Peralta’s celebrity husband is dead in a bathtub and Paris is standing in front of him, covered in blood and holding a straight razor. She’s arrested on the spot and knows she will be charged with his murder. However, what worries her most is the media attention that now surrounds her, and Paris fears someone from her dark, hidden past will recognize her and rip apart the new life she has built for herself. Twenty-five years prior, Ruby Reyes, referred to as the Ice Queen, was found guilty of a similar murder in Canada. Ruby knows the truth about Paris and when she is suddenly released from prison, she threatens to reveal all the secrets Paris has worked to bury. Reaching a dead end, Paris is forced to face the murky past she left behind. Because even though a murder charge is bad, it’s better than two murder charges.

Image: Courtesy of Spark Point Studio

About the author: Avion Wick is a student at Arizona State University studying Journalism and Mass Communication. He is from Washington D.C but is loving the warmer weather Phoenix has to offer. Outside of being a full-time student, Avion can be found going to the movies at least once a week.

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How My Experience as an Investor Prepared Me to Be a Founder

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It’s difficult to think of anything in my life that has required a wider or more dynamic skill set than founding and running a company. Unlike the way founding is sometimes described in pop culture and media, you can’t just have great ideas for products and services. You have to be capable of building a healthy company culture, understand how markets evolve, and anticipate what consumers will want in the future. Personally, the last year and a half have honed a higher tolerance for uncertainty, an irrepressible curiosity about our market and users, and the ability to communicate exactly what the company is trying to achieve to inspire all of our people. 

While there’s nothing quite like running a start-up, I’m grateful that I had an opportunity to work at a venture capital firm before taking the helm of my company Meet Cute. Because VCs work directly with founders every day, they need to be capable of seeing the world from a founder’s perspective, which means identifying gaps in the market, crafting the right narratives about promising companies and ideas, gathering a lot of information from disparate sources, and making informed decisions in the face of incredible uncertainty. Due diligence is the central task for VCs, but they also have to be willing to take risks on the companies they believe in. 

Investors and founders are on the same team. The best partnerships are often described as a marriage. That analogy rings true especially because of the ups and downs of founding over the years, which requires an intense trust in the people you work with that they will be there when you need it. Aligning on the direction of the company, personnel, and emerging market opportunities is critical. Ahead, I’m sharing some of the many lessons I learned as an investor that have also served me well as a founder.

Lesson #1: It all starts with curiosity.

Successful VCs are always on the lookout for companies that capture and hold their interest and users’ trust. Founders should want to work with investors who have thoughtful questions about their products and services, understand their industry, think differently, and believe in the founding team. It isn’t just a matter of cutting a check and hoping for a quick return. In turn, VCs should add value by thinking creatively about what the market will look like in the future and advising the company. I learned from shadowing partners at USV that the best VCs were also the best listeners, and think of VC as a service industry. 

This starts with genuine curiosity about what a company does and what impact it could have on the world with the right guidance and resources. The average holding period for VC investors is eight years. This is a reminder that investors need to be mission-aligned as they will work with companies over the long term and are investing in the sustainable success of their portfolio companies. 

VCs and founders should establish open lines of communication right at the outset. I’ve never been afraid to ask questions or contact experts who know more than I do about a subject, and these skills served me well as an investor and a CEO. 

When I was at the VC firm, the best way to learn about early-stage companies was to work directly with them on forecasting, marketing strategy, fundraising, and other issues and consult with experts outside of the company to bring new perspectives to the table. The same collaborative mentality is an essential part of the culture at Meet Cute today. If we need to talk to an expert about something specific, we are not shy about asking and learning. Time and time again, smart people in the industry who we look up to make time for those who are genuinely curious. 

Lesson #2: Make the best decision possible with incomplete information.

Early-stage investing offers unique benefits, such as the ability to identify innovative companies before other investors, help steer those companies in a positive direction, and ultimately secure more growth over time for taking on a much larger risk. These are all reasons why it’s no surprise that early-stage VC investments have surged over the past decade from $14 billion in 2011 to just over $47 billion in 2019. Early-stage investing is on pace to set a record this year. The first quarter alone saw greater deal value than the entire year in 2011.  

Early-stage investing also comes with quite a few obstacles, and a lack of information is one of the biggest. Early-stage investors don’t have as much data about a company’s growth, operational efficiency, etc., so many of their decisions are based on pattern recognition and intuition. The founders of early-stage companies face similar constraints. There’s no playbook for what many of these companies are doing, so we have to be comfortable making decisions with limited information. Just as investors need to accept the fact that they will sometimes make the wrong call, founders should be willing to fail. If everything is going too smoothly, you should ask yourself if you’re scaling ambitiously enough. 

All of that said, founders and VCs should be as fastidious as possible in their research. Due diligence as a core focus means putting in the time to learn and develop opinions and perspectives. But due diligence always has to be placed in the context of the realistic constraints you face, especially in building something completely new, and knowing what level of risk you’re willing to tolerate. 

Lesson #3: Always tell your story

A company’s story is integral to its identity, and it serves as one of the most effective ways to reach your audience and let them trust our brand, galvanize employees around a common message, and attract the best investors. As an investor, I frequently told stories about innovative companies to convince my colleagues that we should back them, often in the form of an investment memo or a short and sweet presentation in a team meeting. I also helped start-ups craft their stories when they launched fundraising rounds or needed to prepare for board updates. Storytelling is the most powerful tool we have as humans and we know that the emotions of a story are remembered far better than facts.  

Moreover, I’ve realized how sharing your story internally is vital to improving morale and helping employees rally around a consistent set of values and objectives. Gallup reports that only 27 percent of employees strongly believe in their company’s values, while less than half say they strongly agree that they understand what the company stands for or what sets it apart. By telling the company story and vision often and consistently, the team can rally around what they’re working toward and why it matters. 

Reflecting on the last year, there is a significant overlap between my experiences as an investor and a founder. By making a conscious effort to understand how my experiences tie into and bolster one another, I hope that I can show where founders and the VC firms that support them can build stronger relationships and thereby more unique and impactful products in the world. 

About the author: Naomi Shah is the founder and CEO of Meet Cute, a venture-backed media company that has produced over 300 original light-hearted romantic comedies in podcast form. The company celebrates human connection and the full spectrum of love with the core mission of having every person feel like they are reflected in Meet Cute stories. Since its inception in February 2020, the podcast has had over two million listens across over 150 countries and has been featured in the top 10 of Fiction on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 

Before starting Meet Cute, she was a member of the investment team at Union Square Ventures, a technology venture capital firm in New York, where she spent most of her time talking to companies in the consumer and well-being space. Prior to that, she was a macro equities trader at Goldman Sachs and studied mechanical engineering and human biology at Stanford University.

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3 Tips to Engage Your Newsletter Audience

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There are two types of people when it comes to email notifications. There’s the type of person who has thousands of unread emails in their inbox and the other type of person who immediately clears any notification they receive. While these two types of people are on the opposite sides of the spectrum when it comes to managing their inboxes, they do have one thing in common: they do not tolerate junk mail. 

Junk mail is exactly what it sounds like – GARBAGE! Content that nobody wants or asked for. As a marketer, the last thing you want is for your email newsletters to land themselves in the junk folder. However, unopened emails are just as bad, because either way, no one is consuming your content. To keep your email out of the junk folder, your newsletter must have engaging and/or useful content that your audience truly wants to read. 

Be Fun and Have Some Fun 

While it could be considered a feat of internet technology, the word “email” has such a generally negative tone. No one wants to think about opening their inbox when they're relaxing on a Sunday night. Some people might even actively dread it (Sunday scaries anyone?). Email has become a place of work, a place of bad (and hopefully good) news, a place of stress, and so much more. With 87% of marketers using email marketing in 2020, inboxes have become a burial ground for unwanted emails. That’s because, at the end of the day, consumers know that most of these newsletters are supposed to drive them to purchase something, making that “delete” button feel even more justified to click. 

Studies have even found that people receive rushes of dopamine from clearing an inbox. So how do you compete with that? Give them that same rush of dopamine by making your newsletter pleasurable to read. 

So the key rule for successfully crafting a newsletter, or any consumer-facing material for that matter, is to ask yourself what your target audience will get from reading what you sent. Will they get that ‘button clicking’ rush? If the answer is no, I wouldn’t recommend pressing send.

But what if you’re a new brand, or, harder yet, a brand that’s been around for a while whose newsletter content has gotten stale? Here are three tips to better engage your newsletter audience: 

1 There’s No “I” in “Newsletter” 

The magic of this new age of digital marketing is the capability of real human interaction. It has completely shifted and transformed the relationship between marketers and consumers. The potential for immediate response between one another is not just available, but it’s fast, and maybe even expected. If you send out something the consumer doesn’t like, you’re able to hear about it almost in real-time, and you will. 

Receiving negative feedback might feel frustrating and disappointing at the time; however, it’s an incredibly productive and actionable customer response. Feedback from your audience can guide you in providing your core audience with a better brand experience. Typically, that’s exactly what they’re asking for with any type of negative response. 

Email was originally intended to be a two-way street. Try to start or return to that model as a brand. The best way to find out what content your audience wants is by asking them. You’d be shocked at how many well-known brands come to our agency to answer these content questions and haven’t yet surveyed their audience in any way. 

One way to elicit an actionable content response is through your newsletter. Ask your list a specific question and ask them to reply directly. One word of caution, make sure you’re not using a “no reply” email address which would create a bad user experience for your audience. It would be like asking for help and then responding with a jk don’t care. Not a good look for any brand. As a note, we have also tested no reply vs. personal email as the sender for the Elevate My Brand newsletter, and the open and click rates are almost always better than the latter. When you think about it, it makes sense, people connect with a person at a company especially if you’re a small business so a more personalized approach will almost always get a better response. Once you’ve figured out where you are sending your emails from, integrating a link to a survey, or even better, building a poll into your newsletter will help you satisfy even the most creative conversation and build brand loyalists who will now feel like they’re a part of your journey. 

While A/B testing is great, finding out what your audience wants to see directly from their mouths (or keyboards), is pretty easy and effective. Once you find out what your audience wants, give it to them, and watch as your open and click-through rates soar. 

2 Your Emails Shouldn’t Look Like a Bill

Emails have come a long way. Nowadays you can send virtually any attachment you’d like. A picture, a video, a verification code, etc… So use them! There are only 26 letters in the alphabet, so people see them a lot. But pictures and videos are unique. Give people a break from those mundane letters and numbers and show them something they’ve never seen before. People consume with their eyes so make your content delicious! 

Incorporating new mediums into your newsletters is a great way to differentiate your emails and catch the eye of your readers driving them to read your content and engage with your brand. If you can squint and not tell the difference between your newsletters and the last bill in your inbox, I’d say it’s time to switch things up. 

3 Give Them a Reason to Come Back 

Another great way to engage your audience is to include your audience in the newsletters themselves. User-generated content or UGC is getting better, more organic traction than ever. Somewhere in your next newsletter, include a section that requests a quote or image from your audience. Then, in the following newsletters, create a section that showcases that UGC. Don’t just make your emails for your audience, but make it about them too. 

Incorporating audience features in the body of your newsletter not only gets you a direct response but gives them a reason to stay on your subscriber list, and keep reading until they see themselves in your content. 

Final Thoughts 

These three tips are not the only strategies out there that can increase engagement rates from your newsletter audience, but they’re a great place to start. One more tip is to ensure that your newsletter has a cute or clever name. If your newsletter is called newsletter, it’s time to rename it. Consumers are smart so delivering something to them that is playful or at least clever will make them stop and read and not delete, unsubscribe or send you spam. At the end of the day, when you click send, you should feel that same dopamine rush that your audience should get because you know your content delivers. So get creative! 

Creating a consistent newsletter is very time-consuming. If you’re looking for more support testing and crafting the most engaging newsletter for your audience, Elevate My Brand is currently offering Digital Mindmap sessions where we can come up with the best strategies for your audience. 

Contact us here to set up a meeting today!

About the author: With a J.D./M.B.A. from Rutgers University, Laurel Mintz has created an agency serving both startups and blue-chip global brands like Facebook, Verizon Digital Media Group, PAW Patrol, and Zendesk. Laurel sits on the Board of Directors for NFTE (Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship), the Women Founders Network, and the UCLA Restaurant Conference. She is a mentor for The Women’s Global Leaders Initiative and advises LAVA (Los Angeles Venture Association). Her published work can be found in Entrepreneur, USA Today, The American Marketing Association, and C-Suite Quarterly Magazine. Laurel and the agency have recently won the W3 Silver Award for the PAW Patrol Road Patrol Campaign, the 2017 Patrick Soon-Shiong Innovation Award, the LABJ Women in Business Award, Comerica, and LA Lakers’ Women’s Business Award, amongst others.

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3 Content Repurposing Steps To Boost Your Marketing Game

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It’s a tale as old as time (digitally, speaking) – a hard-working business owner and content creator extraordinaire, looking to work smarter and not harder… 

Ah yes, I’ve heard it time and time again (no pun intended). And the truth? It is possible to minimize your content workload, if you know how to maximize your current assets. Now, I’m not talking about the shiny baubles in your drawer or the wheels parked in your “reserved” spot at the office. No. I’m talking about all of that content you’re cranking out, day in and day out, jumping out of one content meeting and into the next Zoom room, quite literally trying to reinvent the wheel! 

This can be so draining on our creative juices, not to mention a complete energy suck. 

So instead, try this.

1 Consolidate content planning meetings (and become biz besties with the voice note)

Unless you’re launching a new product, monthly content strategy meetings are more than sufficient. Spend an hour with your team, or whoever supports you with content (even if it's just you!) and nail down one main idea of focus for that month. 

This should be a general idea of something you feel expert in and also comfortable talking about – something that’s multi-faceted enough to speak on in a variety of ways. This is also the time to start thinking about where you feel the most confident in showing up to talk about your topic of choice. 

Are you a writer? Great on camera? Or is Clubhouse more your “scene?” 

In the interim? “Siri, record it!”

2 Figure out where you want to show up

In the social media golden age, it can be downright overwhelming trying to decide, “Instagram? No, Tik Tok. But wait, what about Youtube??” 

Some of you may have a solid understanding of who your customer or ideal client is, and millions of kudos to you if you do – that is a huge weight off of the marketing shoulders if you know your person(s). 

If you don’t know your target audience yet (like most business owners starting out), that's ok! Take what you do know, and start slow. My advice is to focus on the big 3 – a video or audio platform, a long-form written avenue, and then a social media platform of choice. 

That could look something like this:
1. Youtube > 2. Email Newsletters > 3. Instagram or 1. Podcast > 2. Blog > 3. Pinterest 

The idea here is to focus first on the platform that would require the most energy to create that first main piece of content – in my example, either a Youtube video or a podcast episode. Then, break that initial finished content piece up into smaller slices, say four weekly emails or a bi-weekly blog. And finally, take that secondary piece of sliced up content, and break it up into even smaller bits, say 2-3 posts each to Instagram or Pinterest.

Bonus tip: Send those audio notes out for transcription! Or, download the Otter app. 

3 Map it out 

Whether you’re a project management software geek (oh, hey there!), or you go gaga over spreadsheets, mapping out your process is key. 

My absolute favorite place to create and maintain content plans is Airtable. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s like a Google sheet on steroids. It’s very user-friendly and a great way to share content across a small team. You can literally house your entire marketing strategy here. 

This is a great way to also track your analytics and see what’s working and what’s not, so you can pivot when necessary and refocus energy into a possible new place (hmm, maybe Tik Tok is the way to go after all…)

If you’re still not convinced why repurposing your content is the cat’s pajamas, just think about how much time you’ll save NOT creating new content, and where you could be focusing that creative energy instead. Perhaps creating new offers? New products? Building up partnerships? Or maybe even reinvesting in yourself with additional education. 

If you need a content strategy that puts you ahead of your content, be sure to check out copy.edit.design, your one-stop shop for all things content. 

About the author: Emily Oberman is a writer, visual designer and founder of copy.edit.design., a creative studio helping content creators amplify their brand visibility through content repurposing strategies, systems & organization. You can follow her on Instagram @copyeditdesign.

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Leveraging a Long-Term Tenure with Who What Wear's Kat Collings & Brianna Mobrem

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LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

ABOUT THE EPISODE

Hey listeners, welcome back to WorkParty! I’m so excited for today’s episode—I’m chatting with not one but TWO trailblazers in fashion media who have played integral roles in shaping fashion’s digital presence. 

Kat Collings, editor in chief of the premier fashion website WhoWhatWear.com, and Brianna Mobrem, President and CFO at Clique Brands, are at the helm of their industry, changing the way women feel about fashion and beauty.

Under Kat’s leadership, Who What Wear received Digiday's most innovative publisher award, readership grew 117%, and sales driven from content had a meteoric rise of 230%.Top line revenue grew 1500% over the course of Brianna’s tenure, while her financial expertise and deep knowledge of the business has been instrumental in leading multiple fundraising rounds for Clique Brands. 

Both lead the company and its goal of championing the idea that style is inclusive and attainable by all. Today we’re talking about their path to success in style, and the moves that set them ahead of the rest. 

IN THIS EPISODE WE TALK ABOUT:

  • A day in the life working in a major leadership role for Clique Brands / Who What Wear

  • What steps each of them took to land their dream jobs in fashion media

  • Why patience is so crucial when it comes to planning the trajectory of your career

  • How to take a non-traditional approach to breaking into the fashion industry

  • How to get exposure to emerging brands and industries early on

  • Importance of employee personal brands and social media presence in the digital age

  • How to cultivate company loyalty and the perks of staying in it for the long-haul

  • Why you should always go where you are valued, and leave where you are tolerated

  • The essential questions you need to be asking yourself before fundraisinig for your biz

RESOURCES

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Revolutionizing an Untapped Market with Liz Lange, Iconic Designer & CEO of Figue

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The Key to Innovation with ADP's Ruth Davis

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LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

ABOUT THE EPISODE

Today’s guest is entrepreneurial executive, Ruth Davis. As the General Manager of SBS Digital Solutions and Business Development for ADP, she’s at the forefront of one of the leading providers in human resource (HR) software solutions and outsourced services. She has spent most of her career building, launching and running digital businesses, and is now responsible for ADP’s newest flanker brand, Roll by ADP.

Ruth started her career as a strategy consultant and then moved into industry where she led web channels and various lines of business at SAAS based companies. Prior to joining ADP, she also spent five years in corporate venture development, launching startups within large corporations including EY TaxChat, a direct-to-consumer assisted tax preparation business that’s delivered through a mobile app. From venture-backed startups to Fortune 500 companies, this woman’s breadth of experience spans a wide range of industries.

Ruth is not only a particularly savvy business woman, but she’s also a dedicated leader, team builder, and has mentored teams of 60+ people including product, marketing, operations, creative, and more. She is a highly technical business leader known for leading cross functional teams to develop and deliver transformational results.

Thankfully, Ruth is here today to share her insights with us! From digital solutions and innovations for small businesses, to female mentorship,  tax preparation and more, she’s dishing out all of her best tips, tricks, and advice on this episode of WorkParty.

ADP | Make payroll easy with Roll by ADP, the only chat-based payroll app built for small businesses. New users get 3 months FREE when they visit getroll.com/workparty and download the app. Terms and conditions apply.

IN THIS EPISODE WE TALK ABOUT:

  • How she started her career during the early internet days before the rise of online businesses

  • Fostering ideas, creating something that doesn't yet exist, and finding a way to make it happen

  • How Roll by ADP is providing a one-of-a-kind digital payroll solution for small business owners

  • The importance of a proactivity vs. reactivity

  • Why small business owners should almost ALWAYS outsource tax filing and payroll

  • Her best innovation practices for taking an idea from start to finish

  • Why failing is not only okay, but crucial for learning when launching a new product or business

  • Choosing will over skill when it comes to the hiring process

  • Diversity's ability to enable and drive innovation

  • The importance of communication, connection, and understanding in leadership

  • Intentional mentorship, and putting in the time and effort to get what you want

  • Why success has everything to do with experience and nothing to do with accolades

RESOURCES

OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE . . .

Revolutionizing an Untapped Market with Liz Lange, Iconic Designer & CEO of Figue

Introducing Create & Cultivate's New CEO, Kate Spies!

Pietra COO, Tala Akhavan on Balancing Work, Motherhood, and Access to Female Entrepreneurship

Using Technology to Drive Social Impact with AllVoices Founder, Claire Schmidt

Live from Austin Pop-Up: How to Define Goals and Rise to Your Potential with Payal Kadakia, Founder of ClassPass and Author of LifePass