Last Saturday we headed to the bay to host our San Francisco conference and let us tell you, the energy and knowledge-dropping was unparalleled. Stationed on the corner of Market Street in the bustling city we all know and love, our event location SVN West held over 1,400 attendees for a day packed full of awesome panels, activations, and so much more. Prior to Saturday, we wanted to make sure we were getting connected with the SF community of influencers, movers, and shakers by holding a few pre-conference events. Shoutout to our generous hotel partner, Bei Hotel, who not only held and assisted us with events at their hotel, but also set us up for a successful weekend overall.
To ensure our team and attendees were ready for the conference, we held one of our favorite events to date at the gorgeous Assembly for an early workout session with Living Proof. Fast forward to Saturday morning, we hit the ground running with the poppin’ pop-up market, incredible speakers, and delicious food. But you know what they say? Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and our attendees couldn't have made it through without the yummy breakfast provided by our friends at Olly. Having FOMO? Don’t fret—we have a rundown of all the key learnings and happenings below, just for you! Follow along for some insane tips and memorable quotes.
Keynote: Giuliana Rancic
Panelists:
Giuliana Rancic | TV Host, Founder, Fountain of Truth Clean Skincare
Moderator:
Michelle Lee | Editor-in-Chief, Allure
On realizing what really matters...
“The hardest part of my teenage years was dealing with scoliosis. I grew up crooked and that’s hard for a young girl. I was always in baggy clothes. I was always insecure because I looked and felt a certain way. It made me really work on what’s in here.(points to herself). I was able to build a sense of humor, personality, and all these great attributes that helped me later in life. Thank God for that whole experience because I was able to create what I really needed in life and the real attributes that matter.”
“I would not change a thing about that. I would still go back to being crooked. That shaped who I was, made me realize when you don’t look a certain way you go inward.”
On her best advice...
“Your weaknesses today are your strengths tomorrow.”
“We all have talents. If you can take that natural ability and turn that into a business, look at that first. When you’re naturally good at something, you can master it at a quicker pace and it doesn’t feel like work.”
“Love what you do and what you’re good at.”
“Go with your gut. Go with your intuition. Try something different. If it’s not working, flip it on its side. Throw everything at the wall and see what sticks.”
“Ask yourself ‘where do you want to be in 10 years 20 years?’ Then reverse engineer that.”
“It’s easy to get caught up in the bad, but you have to focus on the good.”
On her definition of success…
“Success is different for every person. First step: What does success mean to you? Going out and getting it.”
“For me success is truly personal fulfilment and professional fulfillment, but the key word being fulfillment.”
On her journalism career’s inspiration...
“I thought I would do hard news. All my stories had a fun and quirky tone, so the dean of our school looked at my work and he said ‘have you ever thought about Hollywood? Maybe you should think about Hollywood.’”
“I love being in the moment, fun, silly, asking about fashion and beauty, all the fun questions. At first I was a little offended but I'm so glad he turned me on to that because at the end of the day, that's what I really love. I love pop culture, I love hearing people’s stories.”
“I love the opportunity to be able to stand there and ask those questions. The fact that I get to do what I love, which is basically asking questions and putting it out there in the world, in a field of entertainment, is a win win.”
“I had this full-circle moment recently when Barbara Harrison retired and they reached out to do a tribute video, I thought wow, this woman was my biggest inspiration who got me in the career I wanted to be in when I was seven years old.”
On her new beauty line, Fountain of Truth...
“Being diagnosed with breast cancer was a shock of a lifetime. It was a fluke and I was fortunate to have found it. It was terrifying. So, I started making a lot of changes to my life like researching what I put on my skin. It was scary what I was finding, so I started making my own concoctions at home. I was going on YouTube then whipping it up in the kitchen. Then this idea came up to create a clean, high-performance skincare line at an attainable price range. It came from a place of need then turned into passion.”
Keynote: Jenna Dewan
Panelists:
Jenna Dewan | Actress, Dancer, Author
Moderator:
Jaclyn Johnson | CEO and Founder, Create & Cultivate
On embracing authenticity and the things that light you up...
“Be you, everyone wants to see you.”
“Be authentic. It’s impossible for me to promote or speak about anything that’s not authentic to me.”
“Trust that you can be everything and anything that you want.”
“I’ve started to embrace what lights me up. I know I’m the happiest when I have a connection to something greater than myself.”
On her new book...
“It started as a poetry book and then it evolved into this personal journey of my life.”
“The book became a labor of love, a child born really. It was a way for me to give my truth because I think there has been a lot of things said that aren’t necessarily my truth.”
On advice for the not-so-great parts of life…
“You have to move through it. You have to feel it and you have to love yourself while you're feeling it. Know you're not going to feel this way forever—there are no shortcuts to healing.”
On imposter syndrome as a woman…
“[As women] we’re never just one thing. Women are able to be many different things at once.”
“There have been many times in my career and I’m really confident but I cried all morning and that's how complicated we are, we’re never just one thing.”
On being a sex symbol in the indusrty…
“I was aware that this was in my body very early on. I embrace it.”
“I love sexy people—sexy women that inspire me.”
“It’s a natural part of who we are. I think women can be mothers and can be sexy. Why can’t we be all of that and be sexy?”
On the long game...
“It took me a long time to come fully into my own. I believe you have to stick with it. It sounds so cliché but you really can’t give up. I was being clear about what I wanted to feel. When that happened the opportunities changed.”
On self-care…
“I’m the happiest when there is always some sort of movement in my life. I’m the happiest when I'm dancing. It ebbs and flows. It’s hard to find time, but you have to make it. You’ll realize how much better you feel when you do.”
Keynote: Kourtney Kardashian
Panelists:
Kourtney Kardashian | CEO and Founder, Poosh
Moderator:
Allison Statter | CEO and Co-Founder, Blended Strategy Group
Advice on money conversations...
“You’re never going to get a better deal then if you negotiate yourself. It’s much easier to have someone negotiate on your behalf. But meeting people and negotiating yourself will always be the best.”
“When someone sees you face-to-face, there’s something different. You’re an actual human with a story.”
“I like to know every detail—actually knowing the details of whatever you’re doing—because I don’t want any surprises later.”
“Find something you love to do, and figure out how to make money doing it.”
“Trying different things is okay. I’ve had so many different jobs in my life and it’s about learning as much as you can from those jobs and carrying those things with you into the future jobs.”
On prioritizing...
“It’s a lot to balance. I think it’s about prioritizing what I have to get done. There are a lot of days where every single minute is booked. I usually do not book things when I’m with my kids. But now I’ve realized I can show my kids that I work, and it’s a great thing—a lot of people have to do that.”
“Take time off when you need it in order to be excited when you come back.”
A day in the life of Kourtney…
“I don’t wake up before 7 am. We all get up at 7am, We get ready, I go work out, I come home, squeeze in a sauna, I do glam, film until six, dinner with my kids, bedtime.”
On Poosh, the story behind the name, and everything in between…
“I feel like a big thing for me is to only take on something that my heart and soul is really in. I didn’t feel motivated to do something unless I was all in—if it was fulfilling, added to my life, and made me happy. That’s where Poosh came along.”
“It (Poosh) embodies my lifestyle. Being able to share so many of the things I do and my team does, we think of it as a conversation. We have an amazing group of contributors.”
“Poosh is Penelope’s nickname—that name just stuck with us.”
Favorite sister is...
“It changes everyday. Today it’s Khloe. Yesterday it was not Khloe. Yesterday it was Kim.”
From Startup to Success Story: Meet the Ladies Killing the Entrepreneurial Game
Panelists:
Rachel Pally | Owner & Creative Director, Rachel Pally
Yanghee Paik | CEO and Founder, Rael
Ellyette Gheno | Founder, BootayBag
Elizabeth Stein | Founder and CEO, Purely Elizabeth
Bianca Gates | CEO, Birdies Slippers
Amanda Baldwin | Brand President, Supergoop!
Moderator:
Maxie McCoy | Author of You’re Not Lost and Founder, MaxieMcCoy.com
Rachel Pally
On trial and error...
“In my 17 years of business, I’ve had a lot of errors and a lot of success. I was open to trying everything and seeing what worked. It’s not always the straightest line but I eventually got there.”
“I was finding that I was being pigeon-holed for so long, I’m constantly having to reinvent. I convinced people that I’m allowed to evolve.”
“You can’t control what’s coming at you but you can control how you handle it.”
Yanghee Paik
On learning from other people...
“You would be surprised how much you can learn from talking to people that have spent a lot of years in the industry, reading, and hustling.”
“We had to learn everything from scratch—passion really helped.”
On educating others on healthy choices...
“I looked at myself the past few decades, and I had been using these products without really asking what’s in them. I figured that that was a problem. We wanted to educate consumers that this can affect your health.”
“You don’t have to sacrifice performance and comfort while you make a healthy choice for your body.”
On the importance of people…
“People matter the most. The team that I built definitely helped me a lot.”
“Hiring people that are smarter than me, who know how to get things done, that’s how I started building the team.”
“I’m very inspired by seeing the team grow, and every single person we’ve brought to the company has helped the team so much.”
Ellyette Gheno
On what inspires her mission...
“That’s why I do this, the hope that my story inspires someone’s beginning.”
On starting a business from scratch...
“I Googled a lot and still Google a lot. Google is my best friend.”
“Go out and network, force yourself to go to those events. Be uncomfortable because you might make a connection.”
Elizabeth Stein
On the launch of her product in Whole Foods...
“I remember that feeling so vividly, thinking ‘oh my God, my life is about to change. This is really working, this is a real business.’”
On the importance of self-care…
“I’ve realized that if I don’t feel good, I’m not making good decisions. I think I take extra, extra self-care and realize how important that is.”
Bianca Gates
On the start of her business venture…
“The beginning of it all stemmed from community and friendships.”
“I did what most people might do, I Googled how to make slippers.”
“Meghan Markle announced her pregnancy in the Redwood Forest in her Birdies, and it was that ‘holy shit’ moment where you’re like, ‘this is big’. When I woke up that morning, sales had exploded. We had a 30 thousand- person waitlist, and what was meant to be good started becoming crazy.”
On consumer demand..
“It could sink a business if you don’t respond immediately to what’s happening.”
On advice from a friend...
“If you don’t do what your investors tell you to do you might get fired, if you do do what your investors tell you to do, you will get fired. It has to come down to what you think is right for the business.”
Amanda Baldwin
On the feedback loop and constant iteration of Supergoop!...
“It’s mission-driven. We’re here to change the way people think about sunscreen and stop the epidemic of skin cancer. Everything we do goes back to that, including the product innovation. It’s always going back to that problem and always trying to solve it.”
On the importance of people…
“At the end of the day, the change and the crazy growth we’re going through, it’s all about the people. Who you hire, who you surround yourself with—it’s everything. Every single hire is a gamechanger for the business. Everything is about finding the right people.”
On the pains of firing employees…
“As painful as it is in the moment, know it truly is the best thing for both of you.”
Swipe Up: How to Create Compelling Content in a Clickbait World
Panelists:
Kellie Brown | Influencer, Brand Consultant, and Founder, And I Get Dressed ...
Chloe Watts | Founder and CEO, chloédigital ...
Jessica Franklin | Lifestyle and Beauty Content Creator, Hey GorJess ...
Quigley | Influencer and Content Creator, Officially Quigley...
Mandy Ansari | Founder, Girl and the Bay...
Steph Weizman | Legal Advisor, Lifestyle Blogger, and Founder of Let Me Wear That...
Moderator:
Reesa Lake | Partner and Executive Vice President, Digital Brand Architects ...
Kellie Brown
On authenticity/transparency/vulnerability...
“I think that for me authenticity meant, there was a specific way that plus women were presenting themselves—I am the anti-flattering girl. The pay off in sticking to my true self resulted in a lot of press and opportunities.”
“Sticking to your guns no matter what that means to you, will put you ahead because there’s only one you.”
On creating content and diversifying content...
“I like on-the-fly content. I like the in-the-moment vibe because it’s super relatable. You get a lot more interaction.”
Chloe Watts
On authenticity/transparency/vulnerability...
“It’s really about what is the goal, what is your why? From there your why trickles down into everything you do. Because my end is to be authentic, I need to make sure I’m always doing that. I need to make sure I am connecting to my audience.”
On the decline of instagram / rising platform...
“There will always be new platforms, different social platforms, it’s always best to be an early adopter of these platforms.”
Jessica Franklin
On authenticity/transparency/vulnerability...
“When the natural hair movement started, my followers related to posting about natural hair. I experienced adult acne, so many people related to it. It’s important to realize that all of us have our insecurities and it just makes us closer.”
Quigley
On authenticity/transparency/vulnerability...
“The more vulnerable I could be on the platform the more deep of a connection I had with my audience. I think we need to stop pointing fingers at people for fake authenticity.”
“Don’t just show the good stuff,show everything! Don’t just show people the highlight reel. Show them the big picture.”
On creating content, diversifying content and …
“When Instagram first started, it was a visual platform but my strength is writing. A huge transformation for me was when I started writing captions first and then thinking about how I wanted to represent my words visually.”
On Instagram removing likes…
“Have I made a genuine connection with one person today? It’s the DMs and the comments sections that we need to focus on. If you connect with one person, you’re an influencer.”
On creating stories...
“If you can post in real time it’s better for engagement. Show up with your face. Make them as interactive as possible.”
Mandy Ansari
On authenticity/transparency/vulnerability...
“I really believe in turning our wounds into wisdom.hen we show our wounds as wisdom we inspire people to be real with themselves. There’s so many masks we are asked to wear, we’re always pressured to be something we’re not. It’s so important that we’re open about where we’re at. What’s more important than having a real conversation?”
“We have the gray days and the bright and colorful days, and it’s important to know your content doesn’t need to be in that box.”
On Instagram removing likes…
“I measure my success on how it goes down in the DM’s.”
Steph Weizman
On creating content, and diversifying content …
“I don’t believe in pigeon-holing yourself. The more diversified the better! I’m more than just the girl that posts pictures of her outfits. It’s important in this day and age to diversify. I listen to my followers and give them what they want.”
“Don’t be afraid to try new things! Find what works for you. That’s how you’ll find your voice and your aesthetic.”
On the decline of Instagram / rising platforms...
“I don’t think Instagram is going anywhere for now, but I have my blog, and YouTube channel. I don’t believe in putting all your eggs in one basket.”
Fair Game: Exploring the World of Venture & Women in Tech
Panelists:
Shilla Kim-Parker | CEO, Thrilling
Tiffany Ho | VC, Acme Capital
Angela Sutherland | CEO and Co-Founder, Yumi
Mimi Chan | Founder and CEO, Littlefund
Dami Osunsanya | Operating Group of Softbank Investment Advisors
Moderator:
Yasmin Moaven | VP of Investor Relations, Fair
Shilla Kim-Parker
On her passion for sustainable, secondhand shopping...
“The passion I have for this company is being a part of the solution—secondhand shopping and making it more accessible.”
On biases...
“No matter how woke we think we are, we all suffer from a certain amount of prejudice or bias. Most people exercise it by the selective helping, it’s that selective helping that perpetuates this system.”
Tiffany Ho
On men’s ‘social scripts’...
“Part of the reason there’s so few women backed by VC’s, is that there are very few social scripts out there that we have internalized to make connections with men quickly.”
On venture capital...
“Venture is this interesting art and science and I think it’s very people-driven”
“Being able to create trust quickly is very important.”
On equity vs. salary…
“The rule of thumb is the more risk you’re taking, the more equity you should have.”
“First, absolutely do your homework. Ask around, particularly to your investor friends and friends that have joined startups before. You want to be able to go to the negotiation table with numbers behind you. Second, you need to have that conversation with yourself, your partner, and your family to understand what your responsibilities are. Third, if you are just like me, an investor, if you’re joining a startup—you have to do your diligence to see if this company will exist / thrive three to five years from now.”
Angela Sutherland
On raising money…
“The idea has to resonate with the people in the room that are investing in it.”
On building a company that is evergreen...
“Build a company that’s good enough regardless of the season. I wouldn’t worry about the fundraising side.”
Mimi Chan
On raising money as a woman...
“Hustle, hustle, hustle. Don’t take no for an answer. It’s a numbers game.”
“As women raising money in the early stages, we don’t get the benefit of the doubt. There is no science to early stage investing. Go with your gut, so many decisions do rely on gut, and unfortunately for women, we walk into a room and we’re pitching, unconscious bias starts seeping in.”
“If you’re spending a lot of time fundraising, you’re not spending a lot of time building your business and that’s a disadvantage.”
“In order for the numbers to change, more funds need to be investing earlier.”
“I have felt less respected as a woman walking into a room and pitching. My fundraising journey would’ve been completely different pitching as a man. We just don’t get the benefit of the doubt.”
Dami Osunsanya
On advice and truths of investing..
“Be open to new opportunities and being able to take risks.”
“Take initiative to get out of your comfort zone and to get to where you want to go.What am I willing to do to get to where I want to go?”
“The people at the table making the decisions are unconsciously biased.”
Intersectionality in the Workplace: A Conversation on Diversity and the Important Role of Allies at the Office
Panelists:
Bhavagna Bhattiprolu | Vice President, Blended Strategy Group
Miatta David Johnson | President and Co-Founder, MVD Inc
Massah David | Co-Founder, MVD Inc
Ally Maki | Actor
Sahara Pynes | Partner, Fox Rothschild LLP
Moderator:
Randi B. | Diversity and Inclusion Strategist, Author, Speaker, and Trainer …
Massah David
Diversity is…
“Vital to your success, and profitable.”
On creating an inclusive space where everyone can participate…
“M sure you’re very intentional. When you’re starting an initiative you have to make sure you’re targeted.”
Importance of diversity vs. inclusion…
“I think it’s important because diversity on its own can only serve optics. Inclusion is making sure that people’s voices are being heard, being in the conversation, not just the topic of the conversation.”
Miatta David Johnson
On hiring…
“First and foremost, we’re looking for the best candidate. For us it’s extremely important that they understand our DNA. Two things that can't be taught: working hard and integrity.”
On the “why” behind DOPE AFRICANS...
“There is a need for comradery in the music space. A lot of Africans felt alienated. It has formed a sense of community in the music space for African Americans.”
On creating real change…
“Bring us in the room because it’s great for optics. But if you’re not hearing from us, then nothing is going to change.”
“If they understand this will affect their profits that’s what is going to create a change.”
On making brands a part of the conversation…
“If they say no, they’re not the brand for your company. Brands respond to statistics, they’ll respond when you start putting stats in front of them.”
Ally Maki
On her work impact the next generation…
“Truly one of my life missions now is to give the next generation of girls growing up what I'm learning now in my 30’s. I look back to when I was young and I didn’t feel worthy of being in any room or any table.”
“Providing a seat for these girls and changing the narrative inspires everything I do because I sometimes still see myself as that eight-year-old girl who didn’t belong.”
On the hostile environment of audition rooms...
“I had to start to restructure my thoughts of this room. Why did we feel like we were the enemies? I had to reframe my mindset of there's only one slot for all of you. That’s what they want you to think, that you’re sister is the enemy. It's terrible and negative and a dangerous way to think. Look right next to you—this is the woman I should be talking to. Who’s really going to have your back?”
Sahara Pynes
On social media keeping brands accountable...
“It’s a great thing that consumers have a direct line to the brands they’re purchasing. Now, if you do something wrong or right, you’ll hear about it from the people consuming the product.”
“You have to take responsibility and give a sneak peak behind how you’re doing better, how you’re remedying the problem.”
How to make real change in large companies...
“Make sure the right people are in the room. To have diversity conversations without white male founders is pointless—unless you bring the decision makers into the room, nothing will change.”
“It's easy to bring people in the door, but you have to get them to stay and feel like they’re a contributor.”
“Leadership has to start from the top. There has to be accountability at the top as well. There has to be regular check-ins.”
On creating a sense of belonging...
“The easiest way to start is in bite-sized pieces. On your teams. Making sure to include people in meetings they normally wouldn’t be a part of so you’re hearing their voices and perspectives.”
Bhavagna Bhattiprolu
On the importance of advocacy…
“Leadership lending a hand is important to the discussion. We are all a group. It’s important to me that I'm reaching out to all women, all ethnicities. I’m not boxing myself into such a narrow group that I'm ultimately not including someone else.”
“I think allies are so important. I think the way we have to look at it is we are all a group. I see it as I am a woman of color who has had a certain level of success and it’s important to me that I’m reaching out.”
On diverse representation...
“I grew up in a world where I consumed so much content showing people that didn’t look like me. It’s really exciting to be in a time where people have different perspectives represented.”
On holding large companies accountable...
“It’s not just getting people in the door and retained but getting them into the higher level positions.There is the optics of getting someone in the door, but it's about putting in the work to get people past that.”
“Get people trained so they can handle these roles.”
Status Quo No Mo: A Conversation on the New Work/Life Balance for Working Women
Panelists:
Taylor Sterling | Founder and Creative Director, Glitter Guide
Amy Nelson | Founder and CEO, The Riveter
Katie Hinz-Zambrano | Founder, Mother and In Good Company
Anne-Sophie Stock | VP, Chandon
Ali Fedotowsky | TV Personality and Lifestyle Blogger, AliManno.com
Nicole Lapin | Anchor, author, and businesswoman, NicoleLapin.com
Moderator:
Chloe Watts | Founder and CEO, Chloe Digital
Nicole Lapin
On the start of her career...
“I started in TV news at the bottom and then I was offered a job as a business reporter.”
“In school, we don’t learn how to do a budget or taxes or a business plan. The last thing I ever thought I would do was work in business or finance. I totally ‘faked it till I made it.’”
“I was super clueless, but I just figured out how to love what I did.”
On self-care…
“Self-care is the biggest asset or liability in your career.”
“Balance, happiness, whatever you wanna call it—leads to success. Not the other way around.”
“I’m so over this ‘busy’ badge of honor. I think we’re burning out like crazy. Just because I'm stressed out doesn’t mean I’m important.”
“I come up with a few really tangible goals for the day and connect them to what my long-term goals are.”
“I know I can feel the difference if I don't start and end the day with gratitude.”
“I encourage you to think about the top five things you value and check to see if you are on that list.”
On being a girls girl...
“I’m an ultimate women’s woman at work.”
“I’m not getting married anytime soon. I put a ring on it myself.”
Ali Fedotowsky
On building a brand....
“Team up with other people and other women. Support each other.”
“Don’t look at your competitor as a competitor—look at them as your best asset.”
On work/life balance...
“I just think do whatever works for you. If hustling is what makes you feel accomplished at the end of the day, do that.”
“If the answer isn’t ‘hell yes’, it’s no.”
“You have to say no to things so that you can focus on what’s truly important to you.”
On having your own spin on your business...
“If you’re doing what somebody else is doing, that’s okay too. Nobody else is doing it like you.”
On sharing your knowledge with others...
“People are going to want to go to your company or follow your brand if you have a service that serves them. I’ve found that when I open up and share my secrets, my business grows. Share your knowledge and share your secrets.”
On her best advice…
“If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.”
On being a mother...
“I had this big fear that once I became a mom, my career was over. Don’t be afraid of becoming a mother because you just figure it out.”
“I feel like the universe is like, ‘well you’ve been in labor, so you can take more!’”
Amy Nelson
On starting your own business...
“Starting a company is a one-way door—once you walk through it, you don’t stop.”
On work/life balance...
“The idea of balance is bullshit.”
“All of our lives are going to look different and we have to do what’s best for us.”
On building a business...
“Building a business is so hard. I had no idea how hard it would be. But I would do it over, and over, and over again.”
“If I didn't have that ‘why’, I wouldn’t have been able to do it. You have to dig into that ‘why.’”
On Create & Cultivate...
“We would all be remiss if we didn’t talk about the champion, Jaclyn Johnson. She’s helped my business. She really walks the walk and connects people and builds networks.”
On no’s…
“Learn how to hear ‘no’, and know it’s not about you 100%. ‘No’ today doesn’t mean ‘no’ tomorrow —so keep asking.”
Anne-Sophie Stock
On living life in the moment...
“It’s about the small wins.”
On work/life balance...
“You need to have perspective on what you’re doing and what you need to accomplish. And from there, really prioritize.”
“The moment you really prioritize what you want to do, it’s life-changing.”
On the separation between work and self…
“I am not my work. What I produce is not me.“
Katie Hinz-Zambrano
On work/life balance...
“The word ‘balance’ is super loaded. We’ve swapped the word balance for juggling. Some things are up some things are down and some things you drop on the floor. We’re all juggling, it’s fine.”
On establishing the ‘why’ behind your business...
“I care about women, I care about mothers, they’re raising the next generation—that’s my ‘why.’”
On her best advice…
“Keep building your network.”
Taylor Sterling
On goal setting and fulfillment...
“Success will only last for a short amount of time and it’s something you have to continually strive for. It’s not paying attention to what is ‘successful’, it’s paying attention to what fulfills me. Usually, success will follow.”
“Having three to five things at a time is kind of all I focus on. I’ve gotten into the mindset, where I’m like, ‘if this is all I accomplish in one day, that’s okay with me’.”
On carving out time for self-care...
“As a business owner and as a mom, you feel the pressure to be available for everybody at all times. For me, I needed to re-work my business so I could feel that I have mental space left and that I’m taking care of myself. I had to get really crazy about boundaries.”
On women supporting women...
“I wouldn’t have been able to do any of the things I do without a supportive network of women.”
On her best advice...
“Stop feeling guilty.”
Strong Foundation: Meet the Women Disrupting the Fashion & Beauty Economy
Panelists:
Catherine Gore | President, Biossance...
Nicole Farb | Vice President of Clean Beauty, Grove Collaborative...
Anne Maza | Co-Owner and VP Sales and Marketing, Olivia Garden...
Jill Layfield | Co-Founder and CEO, Tamara Mellon...
Jenn Acito | Director of Retail Sales, Living Proof...
Moderator:
Sacha Strebe | Editorial Director, Create & Cultivate
Catherine Gore
On longevity…
“Not many people know this, but we sell our ingredients back into the beauty industry. We’re that proud of the ingredients that we want to help others get on board.”
“In four days, we’re launching an initiative called Clean Academy which is an educational tool that will help debunk a lot of confusion and will help elevate the conversation. We’re hoping clean academy will just bring more knowledge and hopefully make all beauty clean beauty”.
On creating a brand with meaning…
“We align our brand with people that are on the same mission.”
“Have that deep, deep connection with the consumer.”
On advice for entrepreneurs…
“Don’t get drunk at the business party. You can spend a lifetime building your reputation and only 30 seconds losing it, so be consistent with your image.”
Jenn Acito
On Living Proof hiring scientists…
“Living Proof looks outside the industry because we want progress and we want a solution. Our scientists can look at things differently coming from outside the industry. Looking outside the industry is our secret sauce.”
“93%of our scientists are women and I’m really proud of that.”
On longevity…
“To switch the consumer’s mindset you need to find your purpose.”
On advice for entrepreneurs…
“You have to take chances, you have to believe in yourself every step of the way even when you’re having doubts.”
Nicole Farb
On building trust with customers…
“Trust is something that sounds really hard but when you bring it back to the basics it’s doing what you say you’re going to do. Trust for us is publishing our standards. We’re super transparent about why we chose to include or not include ingredients in our products.”
“Beauty products are expensive. So, what’s the brand’s story and do we believe in it?”
On changing the conversation…
“It starts with the way it talks to us as women. We’ve been told for decades that if you want to look like her you should use this product, it’s not about looking this way it’s about feeling this way. We feel good because these ingredients make us feel good. I’m most excited about changing the conversation”.
On advice for entrepreneurs…
“Don’t play the middle. You’ll capture more people but won’t make anyone happy. Play to the extremes and you’ll get people loving what you’re doing.”
Jill Layfield
On making your brand stand out…
“The product is exclusive but the brand’s inclusive.”
“What I learned was that it wasn’t enough to make just a brand story. Investors are looking for technology stories.”
“Our marketing is rooted in feminism—knowing her worth and owning her health”
On taking risks...
“Culture is the way you get the work done, the behavior that’s acceptable and behavior that’s not. The culture is a reflection of the CEO and if you’re clear on how you want your employees to behave.”
On having young women coming into the company...
“They have to own their voice and that it matters just as much as ours.”
On advice for entrepreneurs...
“The risky way is the safe way. You’ve got to go for it because actually, that is the safest bet.”
“The next great group of companies are not going to be built in the same channels we have today.”
Anne Maza
On disrupting the market...
“We’re constantly trying to come up with the next innovation—get ahead of a problem you see customers might be experiencing”.
“There’s a lot of pride in coming out with a really good product”
“How can we do this better? If we’re not going to do something better than someone else, we don’t want to be a part of it”
On longevity…
“We’re extremely detailed in what we do. Plan is great but things change and opportunities might come your way that you didn’t expect. You have to readjust.”
“Staying true to your principal and never wavering from that, and if that means your product launch gets delayed because it’s not up you your standards that’s okay”.
On creating a brand with meaning…
“It’s so important that all your teams speak with the same voice. Make sure the people you’re working with really understand where you’re coming from and can use your voice.”
On advice for entrepreneurs...
“Enjoy the journey as much as you’re going to enjoy the rewards.”
Fireside Chat: Gail Becker, Caulipower Founder & CEO
Panelists:
Gail Becker | Caulipower Founder & CEO
Moderator:
Sacha Strebe | Editorial Director, Create & Cultivate
On not hiding the healthy ingredients…
“We’re so proud of being a vegetable, we put it in our name”
“We like to celebrate the magic of the vegetables.”
On starting Caulipower…
“Why did I wait so long to do what my heart wanted me to do”
“Caulipower was born out of the convergence of this realization that I needed something more meaningful, and my own frustration of trying to find more foods that are gluten-free.”
“Why can’t we all share from the same plate? That’s the ethos behind Caulipower.”
“When you care about something so much that you’re willing to risk everything for it, there’s nothing you wouldn’t do. There’s no amount of hours of sleep you wouldn’t give up.”
“It’s more rewarding than anything I could’ve ever dreamed.”
“It does take a toll. I want to be super honest about that. There’s a lot of blood, sweat, and literal tears behind all of that. People never talk about that part.”
On how to hire the right people...
“You need people who are as passionate and care as much as you do.”
“Every single person at caulipower today feels like it’s their company, and that’s how it should be. Those are the kind of people you should hire.”
“You need people that are going to be as passionate and care as much as you. I hired people who wanted to take a leap, too.”
”They have to really have the passion to try to make the world a little bit better.”
On raising capital...
“To grow a business, you have to have money, and you have to have some sales before you raise money, ideally.”
“Don’t let the thought of raising money get in the way of actually building your business.”
On the brand..
“Everything about the brand is accessible. Accessible in the way it looks, the way it tastes, the stores it’s sold in, the fact that we donate to teaching gardens.”
The Truth Serum: Sourcing Trustworthy Skincare Advice in a Click-Bait World
Panelists:
Lauryn Evarts Bosstick | CEO and Founder, The Skinny Confidential
Dr. Anna Guanche | Dermatologist
Moderator:
Jaclyn Johnson | CEO and Founder, Create & Cultivate
The last thing I googled was…
Lauryn: “Can you jade roll your tits?”
Dr Guanche: “WorkParty.”
My favorite anti-aging hack is…
Lauryn: “Facial massage.”
Dr Guanche: “Use retinol every single night.”
The weirdest home remedy for skin I’ve tried is…
Lauryn: “Order olive oil from room service to remove my makeup.”
Dr Guanche: “Bird-poop facial. The geishas used to use this. It has enzymes in it to exfoliate your skin.”
Dr. Anna Guanche
On what happens to skin as we age...
“You reduce your elastin production once you're born, your collagen is decreased. Your skin can no longer compensate for the skin damage that has happened to you since you were born.”
On the most common questions and concerns regarding anti-aging…
“They want to know what really works and the active ingredients that do reverse aging.”
On retinol and anti-aging...
“Retinol is a vitamin A derivative and is naturally found. It exfoliates and as you keep using it it keeps your skin looking dewy. Retinol is the quickest way to get retinol on your skin—it’s milder than retinae.”
On tips for getting good skin…
“Drink plenty of water, don’t stress out, get lots of sleep, sleep on your back, have a low-salt diet, and wash every single drop of makeup off every night. Good skin takes discipline.”
On how long it takes to see results from a new product…
“Four to six weeks of consistent use.”
On empowerment and self-love…
“Try the empowered approach. There’s no shame in wanting to be beautiful. I was very hard on myself when I was young. Try to love yourselves. Actively try to overcome the things you don’t like about yourself and be empowered by putting your best foot forward.”
On best self-care tips...
“I try to sleep at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning. You need to have routine and you need to have discipline. Try to manage your stress, meditate, wear your sunscreen every day, wash your face completely at night, and take good care of yourself.”
Lauryn Evarts Bosstick
On the topics shared on her podcast...
“We’ve talked about everything, from vagina steaming to boob jobs, I feel like there isn’t anything we haven't talked about.”
“People do have these questions that they’re embarrassed to ask. I’m trying to create a space where we can talk about these taboo topics.”
On carefully selecting partnerships…
“I’m really specific and strategic. I’ve left a lot on the table because it wasn’t the right fit. I’m really careful with what I promote.”
On being inspired by other people’s routines...
“I’m really inspired by other countries. I like to observe and see what they’re doing differently—it's a lot of oil and facial massage. I feel like Americans have a very more is more approach. I really try to watch and observe what other people are doing and implement it into my routine.”
On self-care…
“We’re in a day and age where women don’t want to look like someone else, now everyone wants to be the best version of yourself and I think self-care is that.”
On the importance of suncare…
“I am batshit crazy about the sun. I wear driving gloves in my car and sunscreen on my hands, chest, and ankles.”
Right to Desire: Conversation With Rumer Willis and Cindy Eckert
Panelists:
Cindy Eckert | CEO, The Pink Ceiling
Moderator:
Rumer Willis | Actress and Advocate
Cindy Eckert
On her biggest lesson...
“To get back up. You’re going to be underestimated. You can pull back and either doubt yourself or see the underestimation as an invitation to impress people.”
My message to women is ...
“Own it. Get a piece of the pie. Own your sexual desire. You have the right to desire, to start your own company, to have your own voice.”
“Speak up, stand up, and lock arms with other women who share your passion.”
On sex advice...
It’s a priority. It’s so beneficial overall for your health. Just f*cking do it. Have more sex!
“It’s about owning it and owning ourselves.”
On hard statistics…
“Only 3% of pharma companies are run by women.”
On changing the narrative of sex and supporting other women...
“The goal was changing the narrative and about women having the choice”
“Starting to remember our inherent value is a key part of changing this conversation.”
“If things go wrong with men in the bedroom, we say it’s biology. But with women, it’s psychology.”
“I’m a huge crusader for women’s health. If it broke down in the bedroom it broke down at the breakfast table.”
The New Disruptors: Meet the Women Making Moves in the Modern Marketplace
Panelists:
Jesse Draper | Founding Partner, Halogen Ventures
Shawntee Reed | Inclusion Diversity Lead, Square
Alicia Jager | VP, Mastercard
Diana Hilson | Product Marketing Manager, Intel
Shannon Race | Associate Director Brand Relations, Vital Proteins
Samantha Fulgham | Chief Creative Marketing Officer, Bumble
Moderator:
Sherry Jhawar | Co-Founder, Blended Strategy Group ...
Jesse Draper
On investing...
“It doesn’t matter if it’s $100 or $1000, put your money to work, take risks with your money.”
“How are you going to learn how to build money if you don’t take the risk?”
“The data is there that women will invest back into the female ecosystem.”
“Put your money to work, ladies!”
On prioritizing your side hustle...
“If your side hustle is your passion, and you really want to go after it and you want to quit your day job—work as much as you can on your side hustle.”
On what she looks for when investing in a new company...
“I like it to be very disruptive, the first or second in the space.”
On starting a business in a saturated market...
“If you’re entering a busy space, be sure you know how to differentiate yourself.”
Shawntee Reed
On making waves in the market..
“Create those strategies that really does disrupt how we think.”
On women being a big part of inclusivity...
“We took to the market place internally to learn from women to ensure we have an inclusive work environment. Women are very instrumental in that.”
Alicia Jager
On hiring...
“I think it’s really important for us women to be thinking about hiring a diverse team.”
On her best advice...
“Help young women hone their skills and become leaders.”
On being the only woman in the room...
“When you’re not the minority, you don’t really notice.”
“I was almost always the only woman in the room.”
“It's been very encouraging for me, a woman, to feel like there is a place for me at the top”
Diana Hilson
On her best advice on growth and building a great company...
“Listen to consumers, do research, think about what’s the next big thing.”
“Look for the diversity.”
Shannon Race
On her best advice...
“Don’t get caught up looking left and right—look up and far beyond.”
“Don’t get sidetracked about what everyone else in the space is doing.”
“Look for inspiration from brands that are completely outside of the space.”
On C&C...
“You have such a deep-rooted community, I want to find ways to mimic that.”
Samantha Fulgham
On the importance of innovation...
“Every single time our consumers think we’ve done something super innovative, it’s really not that innovative—we really just listen to our users. We listened to feedback after feedback and started Bumble BFF. Some of our most innovative ideas have come from our interns.”
“Our goal was to create an app where women make the first move.”
On giving women a fair chance...
“There's an inequality right now and we need to bring women up.”
On Bumble’s founder setting examples...
“Women can run companies and run them successfully, and balance that with dating.”
On waiting for the guy to text you back...
“It wasn’t written in the rule book and it wasn’t written on the wall. So why did we do it?”
No Fear Zone: How to Cultivate Your Craft and Turn Your Passion Into a Career (Pottery Barn)
Panelists:
Monica Bhargava | EVP Design & Product Development, Pottery Barn...
April Gargiulo | Founder, Vintner’s Daughter...
Caitlin Flemming | Interior Designer and Founder, Caitlin Flemming Design...
Gray Malin | Photographer, Author, Founder, Gray Malin ...
Orland Soria | Interior Designer, Author, and Visual Artist, Founder Homemaker.com ...
Moderator:
Sacha Strebe | Editorial Director, Create & Cultivate
Monica Bhargava
On getting her start in design...
“I grew up in India and I came to the U.S. when I was 17 years old because I wanted to explore education in the United States. Design and development was in my DNA. My earliest memories are jumping on piles of rugs or looking at empty documents, or visiting my family and seeing all the colors, that's where my passion for design came from.”
On leading a team and vision at Pottery Barn…
“When I think about the trust that these women have placed in me, it’s empowering. The platform that I have access to, I feel like I have the opportunity to build the American dream. We’re a very large company that operates like a very small company. The design process is invigorating. I cannot think of a platform where I have felt more empowered.”
“It’s a very collaborative process. You need to deliver the product to have a vision. You have to solve a lot of your creative problems at home. It is a complex procedure and it’s collaborative. That vision comes together from a lot of different places.”
Gray Malin
On his start and mission...
“I excelled in photography in high school, my parents advised me to. I got really into film. Everyone around me thought I was such a success, but I felt like such a failure. It wasn’t until I told my parents I wanted to do fine art photography that everything began. I learned that people weren’t feeling accepted by the gallery world, so I set out on a mission to make photography that was relatable.”
“I think when you launch a brand and start to think about growth—it starts internally. What brands do I have a connection with? We learned that photography didn’t have to live on a two dimensional space on the wall. I felt like travel is a part of this brand and we were in talks with a big brand and they just didn’t get it, but then we got a call from AWAY and they got it. It was an authentic connection. Collaboration works in different ways, you just have to ask yourself if it’s authentic.”
Orland Soria
On rocky beginnings...
“I had a super rocky road to get to where I am. It’s rare to be put into a space with someone that you have such a connection with (on working with Emily Henderson). I had years and years of applying for jobs and not getting them. Literally couldn’t get a cashier’s job. It was a long road to get on that show.”
“It taught me that there is a lot of success that has to do with luck and happenstance and you can’t beat yourself up too much for not being where you want to be because so much is out of your control. I can finally say I deserve to be here and I worked for it.”
On sustaining motivation...
“In order to maintain excitement and interest I always have to have a new goal.”
April Gargiulo
On her mission…
“I was somebody who had struggled with my skin all my life and I had been using what I thought were all the finest products. One day, I was pregnant with my first daughter and I started looking at ingredients.”
“Luxury to me is knowing that it’s safe. I created a skincare product that is built on that same concept.”
Caitlin Flemming
On starting her business...
“I love to look fear straight in the face. When I went to college and got a business degree. I graduated right before the recession and it put so much fear in me.”
“I started Sacramento Street because I needed a creative outlet. Then I started to get a few clients and I couldn’t maintain it. I worked full time with a side hustle for five years.”
“My parents have always taught me to go for what I always wanted.”
On developing aesthetic...
“I’ve always known my inner aesthetic. You can always compare yourself to someone else, but you have to think about what is true to myself and your brand. My aesthetic has been crafted since I was a little girl.”
“Put down your phone when you’re traveling, look up. Keeping your eyes open will help you develop your own aesthetic.”
Getting Niche: Finding an Untapped Market and Creating a Unique Brand
Panelists:
Aleksandra Zee | Influencer, Entrepreneur, and Author, The Way of the Woodshop...
Barb Paldus | Founder, Codex Beauty...
Colleen Stauffer | Global Business Marketing, Pinterest...
Mari Mazzucco | PR & Influencer Marketing Manager, Olly ...
Jen Cohen Bogan | CEO, BlueJay Bikes...
Rachel Dealto | Chief Dating Expert, Match...
Moderator:
Sacha Strebe | Editorial Director, Create & Cultivate
Mari Mazzucco
On the importance of the consumer...
“We want to make sure our consumer is empowered.”
On the successes from a brand’s point of view on influencer marketing...
“Influencer marketing has always been a really important channel of marketing for Olly. Influencers have a been a really valuable asset to help us tell our story.”
“Influencers have been a really valuable lever for PR.”
On types of influencers to work with...
“At each tier there’s a benefit. Mid-level are great for engagement and micro-influencers help us convert customers.”
Jen Cohen Bogan
On the benefits of electric bikes...
“There’s something super magical about a bike that can ride up a hill and go anywhere.”
On self-funding your vision...
“When it’s your money—every little decision—you feel it.”
“I feel that it’s a blessing because it forces me to be very focused. I have limited resources, I have to stay very focused to create what we need to have for this next generation.”
Aleksandra Zee
On making art that stands the test of time...
“I don’t want to make art that’s not mine forever.”
On starting a new venture...
“It was definitely learn as you go—‘fake it til you make it.’”
“I am self-funded as well, so every dollar does count.”
On making your side hustle your main hustle...
“I remember that feeling of being able to pay my rent with my artwork, which really blew my mind and still blows my mind today.”
“Do a day job that doesn’t take away from your creative space. Leave that creative space intacct.”
On sustainable purchasing...
“I want to encourage being intentional with your purchases.”
Colleen Stauffer
On finding inspiration on Pinterest...
“It’s a good place to do a gut check.”
Rachel Dealto
On the ways of dating in the modern world...
“We’re calling bullshit on dating today. Match is trying to fix part of the problem, trying to shift the way we think about dating.”
“Only 10% of Gen Z and Millennials are heavily dating. That means 90% are looking.”
On the multifaceted aspects of dating...
“The principles you apply to dating, you can apply to every other aspect of your life.”
“If you're in charge of your dating life, then you can be in charge of your professional life as well.”
Barb Paldus
On bringing her spin on clean products into the marketplace...
“If I don’t try, the world will not be a better place.”
On the importance of raising money...
“The moment you take venture capital money, it means massive growth and profitability.”
On taking time to make the right products...
“We really wanted to take the time to do the science right.”
Brand Equity: How to create a brand that lives beyond the social bubble
Panelists:
Angela Tafoya | Editorial Director, Lonny
Tanesha Awasthi | Influencer and Designer, Girl with Curves
Julie Solomon | Founder, The Influencer Podcast, Pitch It Perfect and The Influencer Academy
Katie D'Amato | Director of Brand and Social Activation, Alaska Airlines
Rachel Curry | Director, Marketing, Owned Channels at Volvo Car USA
Moderator:
Maxie McCoy | Author of You’re Not Lost and Founder, MaxieMcCoy.com
Angela Tafoya
On connecting with audience...
“We’re writing about a feeling. We never losing sight of what that feeling is and apply that to how we want to connect with our audience.”
“Consider mindful interaction and purpose.”
On vulnerability…
“Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. Doing so opened up a lot of areas for me.”
Tanesha Awasthi
On going into fashion...
“Really early on I wanted to be a fashion designer. I made the connection that what I was wearing really boosted my confidence.”
On her most important lesson...
“Be yourself. All you can ever be is yourself.”
“I valued my connection with my audience so much and what I realized through fully opening up and being real, is that we’re all going through so many of the same things.”
On a multi-dimensional brand...
“Your online business is going to spearhead the success of your offline business.”
On connecting with her audience...
“Real, authentic, and open communication with your audience. Not only are we trying to tap into a market that is underserved, I want to get my curvy girls exactly what they want.”
Julie Solomon
On brand growth...
“When you are creating and growing a brand, it’s a reflection of your own purpose and your own ‘why’ to the audience you're serving. First, you have to be able to answer for yourself, ‘why do you want to pick up your phone and post every day?’ The second is who are you talking to? If you’re talking to everybody, you’re essentially talking to nobody. You have to be very clear on who you’re talking to.”
On what she’s gotten wrong…
“I spent so many years in that affiliate rat race. If you’re not trying to build your own brand and your own activations, you’re missing out. Now I’m able to show up and really be a solution provider to my audience.”
On mentors...
“Align with the people you aspire to be or aspire to work with. Make sure that you’re following the people that inspire you, educate yourself and it will take you to the next step.”
On being unique…
“It’s not about what makes you different, it’s about what makes you unique. You have to get yourself out of that special snowflake syndrome. What is your unique spin on something. People don’t buy information they buy results. What unique angle do you have to get them to the results they need?”
On having clear goals…
“Clearly define your goals so you can eliminate your excuses. Break it down into really tangible goals. Really get clear on those steps.”
Katie D'Amato
On brand definition…
“The relationship a product or company has with the consumer.”
On human connection at Alaska Air...
“People are coming on board with a hundred different situations and our people are really important in developing that relationship.”
On brand mission and success...
“Know who you are. We pay attention to what we do really great at and stay in that lane.”
“What do you want to be known for and then go do that. Build a reputation out of that thing.”
Rachel Curry
On asking for help...
“It’s okay to find somebody who is really good at it and ask them for help.”
“Some of it will be self preservation some of it will make you fitter, better, faster.”
On growing as a brand…
“We stay pure to what we were founded on—safety and scandanvian design. But, we find ways for people to experience the brand in a new way and that’s why social is so important.”
On Volvo and storytelling…
“Buying a car is not always that exciting, so you have to wrap some storytelling around it—storytelling to help communicate why these features are important.”
Priceless Conversations: Meet the women making an impact
Panelists:
Deepica Mutyala | Founder and CEO, Live Tinted...
Taylor Jay | CEO and Founder, Taylor Jay Collection (Small Biz Mktplce)...
Payal Kadakia | Founder and Executive Chairman, ClassPass...
Victoria Pettibone | Managing Director, Astia...
Jennifer Marcou | General Manager, Relationship Marketing and Privacy, Microsoft...
Moderator:
Ginger Siegel, North America Small Business Lead, Mastercard
Deepica Mutyala
On starting your brand..
“Going down makeup isles and never seeing myself represented. Ever since then, I wanted to create an inclusivity brand.”
“Waiting for someone to do it so you can do it, but then you think, ‘why not me?’”
On being an entrepreneur...
“One day you have the highest high and the next, the lowest low.”
“It was important to me to start as a community-first brand.”
On flipping the script on investors...
“You realize you don't want investors who don’t understand what you’re building. When I heard a ‘yes’, I realized that was truly the right partner for me.”
Taylor Jay
On how her brand stands out in the marketplace...
“We stand out by being loyal to the woman that wears it.”
“We’re definitely slow fashion, we’re consistent, and we push comfort and style.”
“It was an organic twist, I had a product that people responded to in a positive way. I pretty much built on that. Community was important. Having a community of women you impact in a positive way, that pushes you to do things you had no clue you could do.”
On starting a new venture...
“I didn’t allow the insecurity of me not being a trained designer to hold me back.”
“I watched people that I was inspired by myself and watched what they did.”
“I believed in what I had and what my ideas were.”
“It was the hard hustle that pushed me through and still pushes me through, and faith.”
“You have to practice what you preach. If you operate that way, operate that way. If you don't, you don't.”
On tailoring her brand to the modern woman...
“As women, our lives change from day to day. My life is different every day, and I wear my brand literally every day.”
“It doesn't matter how you wake up feeling that week, the clothing is there for you.”
Payal Kadakia
On the power behind women starting businesses...
“I know other women out there are going to raise more money than I have.”
“We want women to build companies that are timeless. I want this to last hundreds of years, and that’s what gets me up in the morning.”
On what her secret sauce is...
“What I realized was that people didn’t have a way to stay active in an easy functional flexible way. We’ve been able to tap into people’s time. It’s about changing behavior.”
“It’s a behavioral change that we’ve created, it’s hours of people’s lives that are now spent getting off the couch and doing something they love.”
“It’s a mission I feel grateful to work on everyday. I never feel done.”
On wise words...
“Most things that we are passionate about take time.”
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
“We started out to change the world. Sign up for something that’s big. You’re going to take it to the grave. I hope I never feel like I’m done.”
“You have to realize that starting a company takes time. The important thing I learned is to stay the course, keep the mission and vision always in mind—that’s what helps me in those moments. Surround yourself with a great team that you can go to in those moments when you have to make those hard decisions.”
On eliminating competition with copycats...
“I had to get out there and become a leader.”
Victoria Pettibone
On inclusifying funding...
“When we focused on women, we were missing women of color. We’ve become much more intentional about it ourselves.
“That’s what we’re doing and what I’d like to see more of in other organizations.”
“.0006% of funding is going to black female founders.”
“There's a lot about venture that’s broken and we are trying not to replicate it.”
On fighting for investments...
“Don’t take no for an answer. There will be a lot of no’s but don’t take no for an answer.”
“We have a process that takes away a lot of subjectivity where we screen the deals and look beyond the geography of Silicon Valley. We put the entrepreneur first, and often were the first call the entrepreneur will make when they’re having trouble navigating a situation.”
Jennifer Marcou
On how Microsoft is continuing to meet needs in the ever-changing tech landscape…
“The customer is the number one priority.”
“Being close to the customer and staying close to the customer is number one.”
“To me, it’s the most customer-focused thing you can do. Be transparent with customers on how you’re using their data, giving them choice.”
On creating a sustainable team as an individual…
“First is creating a group of comradery. Second is building a skillset. And I think the most important thing is allyship. ”
On the top down mentality...
“We cannot make the changes we need to as women to change the percentage of investment in women’s groups unless we change things from the top down.”
The Industry of Influence: Meet the Women Building Businesses and Brands Through the Power of Personality
Panelists:
Megan Roup | Creator, The Sculpt Society (Diageo / Ketel One)...
Lauryn Evarts-Bosstick | CEO and Founder, The Skinny Confidential...
Arielle Vandenberg | Comedian, Actress, TV Host, and Influencer...
Jessica Ricks | Founder and Creative Director, Hapa Time ...
Ashlee Margolis | Founder and CEO, The A List...
Moderator:
Jaclyn Johnson | Founder and CEO, Create & Cultivate
Megan Roup
On her journey for building a brand...
“It was my personal journey before it was my personal brand. Once I found a new sense of confidence and strength within myself, my why became really clear, really fast for me. I wanted to create a space for women to feel empowered. I attended a create & cultivate conference, and 2.5 years later I'm on the stage.”
On confidence…
“Practice, practice, practice.”
On business advice…
“Work smarter, not harder”
“Everything doesn’t happen in one day”
Lauryn Evarts-Bosstick
On making blogging a business…
“I came into it with the intention not to immediately make money. Bloggers have to go into it and provide value and I went into it knowing it wouldn’t make money for three years. Refine your intention for why you’re doing it.”
On thinking strategically about partnerships and content...
“You have to be really strategic with who you’re working with. I like to use it for a month at least. I like to find what’s unique about it. I think of my audience as influencers, I think A to Z. Are they going to go to happy hour and tell five of their friends? Is this something they’re going to keep going back to? Think five steps down the line. It’s a full 360 approach. It has to be a win, win, win—in for the brand, win for me, and win for the audience.”
On entrepreneurship...
“With an entrepreneur you have to learn to embrace the chaos. You have to wear 100 hats and be fine with it. Hire smart. You have to be your own crusader.”
On confidence…
“If you’re not keeping promises to yourself it reflects outward.”
Arielle Vandenberg
On being yourself and the rest will follow…
“I have never been one to be embarrassed or worry about what people think about me. Being on social media, there is a lot of haters and haters gonna hate but if you’re truly yourself you don’t need to think about that. You’re you and you’re perfectly you and no one can change that. I’m into anything that brings me joy, but I still try to keep it real. I just want to be myself even if I look crazy. I taught myself how to use premiere pro and direct and edit and light my own shit, I taught myself everything I needed to know.”
“If you’re truly yourself you don’t need to care about what anyone thinks about you.”
“I’m into anything that brings me joy but I still try to be real.”
On doing being successful on her own terms...
“My confidence was shot until I started doing it my way.”
Jessica Ricks
On the unknown territory of blogging…
“I had no idea, blogging has changed so much and it’s been a crazy journey figuring it out as we go.”
“No one knew what blogging could become.”
“It ebbs and flows… you really never know what can happen if you follow your dreams.”
Ashlee Margolis
On refining your focus and looking ahead...
“Don’t look at your competitors and don’t let that bring you down. Everyone is hustling, everyone is doing things differently. Keep your eyes on the prize. Stay focused on what you’ve got going on.”
On standing up for yourself and knowing your worth in business...
“Know your worth and stand for it. Walk them through why you’re commanding more money, be honest with your clients. Explain where your value is.”
