Letter from the Founder

Welcome to a new chapter of Create & Cultivate.

Hi everyone, it’s Jaclyn the founder of Create & Cultivate. I am so thrilled to be back at the helm of Create & Cultivate alongside our new CEO @MarinaaMiddleton. How did we get here? It’s complicated.



I’ve always prided Create & Cultivate on being a place of transparent conversations and “real talk”. It's been in countless posts, signage, podcast episodes, and even my book.



Business on its best days is extremely rewarding, on its worst very heart wrenching. Selling a majority stake in Create & Cultivate in 2021 was one of my proudest moments as a business owner and yet personally challenging to navigate. This is a brand I, like many of you and your businesses, love. The community is what got me through each and every hard moment of being an entrepreneur. So when the opportunity presented itself to rebuild Create & Cultivate back alongside my partners, I took it. Why?



Since its launch in 2016, Create & Cultivate, has been a driving force and unmatched resource for women entrepreneurs and small business owners. By offering insightful content, fostering a loyal community, and hosting best-in-class events, C&C has helped countless women create & cultivate the careers of their dreams. We’ve witnessed tremendous growth for women in the workplace from massive IPOs to women in the US generating a staggering $1.9 trillion annually. However, venture funding remains at an all-time low for female-led businesses, layoffs are abound and the burden of the family still lies with working moms.

The first Create & Cultivate stage



We know there is more ground to cover. As the world shifts, so does Create & Cultivate.

We’re glad to be here.

Welcome to the new C&C.

xoxox

Jaclyn Johnson

@jaclynrjohnson

Danielle Bernstein Opens Up About Her Life But Be Warned, This Is Not a Fashion Story

INTRO

We’re pretty sure you’ve heard of Danielle Bernstein. If that still isn’t ringing a bell right now then you definitely know her as We Wore What on Instagram—you and 2.4 million others.

On getting personal…

I've been doing this for 10 years and people definitely think they know who I am through my social media but there's so much more to me than fashion, so I finally felt ready to share my full story. From my successes and failures in both relationships and business ventures, I'm hoping that my readers not only learn more about me but gain inspiration and motivation to go after what they want.  

On landing a book deal…

I didn’t have an agent; I was introduced to my publisher through a friend. One of the things that got me excited was how they encouraged me to be involved creatively.

On the writing process…

I originally started writing this book five years ago but decided I wasn't ready to share my story. Almost a year ago, I picked it back up and worked with a co-writer to create This is Not a Fashion Story. I was surprised by how vulnerable writing made me feel and how much work it actually took.

On the biggest lesson readers will take away…

There's so many, whether it's how to pick business partners, spot a red flag guy, or to follow your gut. 

On her favorite chapter…

That's like asking to pick your favorite child!!

On the most rewarding part of launching a book…

I've become even closer to my audience by writing my book. Being able to talk to my readers directly while hearing their thoughts and feedback has been amazing. The most challenging part, I knew when writing the book there would be a lot of criticism coming my way, and dealing with any negativity is always challenging, but something I know comes with the territory.

On COVID-19 interrupting her book launch plans…

I'll be doing a few nights of a digital book club at the beginning of June, where I’ll discuss the book with readers and be able to have a more intimate discussion with them. 

On advice for fellow authors…

I'd say to make sure you're ready and make sure that your story has a purpose!