Create & Cultivate 100: Entertainment: Diane Guerrero

Diane Guerrero has traded in her orange jumpsuit (of Netflix’s Orange is the New Black fame) for superpowers, podcast mics, and authorship. She’ll star as Crazy Jane in DC Comics’ new series Doom Patrol, premiering next month on DC Universe; hosts a podcast, How It Is, with Reese Witherspoon; and she’s just adapted her book In The Country We Love into a YA book. Below, she shares the story behind her book and what she’d do if she were president.

On when she knew she wanted to be an actor…

Well, for me I think that I’ve always had the bug. I’ve always fantasized about being on stage or on TV or singing or presenting. As a kid, we couldn’t really afford acting classes or at least steady classes so I would just take advantage of anything that was free or in the neighborhood or anything they offered after school. That was kind of my escape. I don’t think I ever realized that it was a possibility for me. I don’t think that anyone said, “You can really do this” or even myself I don’t think I believed in myself enough to say, “This is my path. This is what I want to do.”

On My Family Divided, her YA adaptation of her the story of her parents’ deportation...

This is an issue that affects the entire family, and that means children most of all. This was an issue that was always discussed in our home, a fear that we had. And that fear didn’t just start when it happened, when my parents were separated from me when I was 14, but when I was a kid. It would’ve been really helpful to have had resources and stories like my own when I was growing up—and that’s why it was so important for me to adapt the book for young readers. The new book is the same story, but it has a few more footnotes. It also has a synopsis at the beginning of every chapter. Really, the book is written in a very young voice. I already know young students who have read the [adult] book and teachers who have used the book in their classes. Now it will be easier for middle schoolers to read the story on their own.

On activism through her work...

My job as an actor is to be visible and to tell stories. I know I have a platform and a responsibility. I am representing my community, in a sense, especially given the fact that there are not as many Latino actors out there. I consider it as a way to represent a group that is underrepresented and often misrepresented. I’ve taken it upon myself to be out there fighting to represent my community in the best light possible. I hope to continue to portray characters with interesting stories, who are fighters and go-getters, who overcome challenges and are essentially superheroes in their community. That’s the kind of message I want to send out. I’m also telling stories about the American experience; brown, black, white, we’re all living that.

On what she’d do if she were president...

I would update the visa system, and I would have members in Congress who care about this issue and who want to make changes now and not people who are going to insult us and not people who are going to ignore us. Those are some of the moves I would make. I’m not a policy expert of course, but I think that from the knowledge that I do have, I would say that the visa system needs updating and then we can go from there.

This interview has been edited and condensed from multiple sources (1, 2, 3).

Photos from Diane Guerrero’s Instagram.

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 ENTERTAINMENT LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Food: Sophia Roe

For Sophie Roe, food is anything that is necessary to maintain life and grow. It’s a sort of poetry for the holistic NYC chef and self-proclaimed “food and feelings advocate,” who is on a mission to create a new sort of culture around food and wellness.

She encourages her friends and followers to explore the different relationships they have with food, while simultaneously working to renounce the all-too-common toxic narratives around food like shame or guilt. She advocates for more inclusivity in the food industry and is on a mission to empower her community through sustenance. Also note that she can explain the hell out of gluten, once and for all.

To talk to Sophie is to see holistic health in a new light. Her passion and zest is injected into every word, every meal, and every declaration of gratitude. She is helping to pioneer a paradigm shift and making space for a culture that is invested in health as wealth.

How did you get started as a chef? Did you always know you wanted to be in the food industry?

I have always had a relationship with food. Some of my favorite memories with my mother involve food. It wasn’t what I initially wanted to do right out of high school, however a string of events put food directly into my path, and I am so grateful for it!

Apart from being a chef, your bio says you’re a food and feelings advocate, and an empowerment engineer. Can you explain to us how you tie in food with feelings and empowerment?

I believe ‘food” constitutes much more than just the edible variety. Food is so deeply tied to overall consumption, I truly believe there is emotional and mental “food” –the stuff we absorb throughout the day outside of what is edible. Food is so often used as a tool for guilt, shame, pain, etc. which I find to be a travesty because we need every variety of “food” to survive. When we dive deeper, and look at our individual relationships and stories around food, what we end up with is often so a much deeper narrative than we had initially thought. So often a person may want to get their diet back on track, but it turns out they were struggling with an eating disorder, being made fun of as a child, or perhaps is dealing with deep-seeded insecurities. This is why “empowerment” is so valuable in connection to food.

If you could have a meal with someone, living or deceased, who would it be and why?

This is such an interesting question because the answer changes depending on mood and timing. Right now, I’d really love to have a meal with my father. He died before I could meet him, and I think it would be really special to have been able to share a meal with him before he passed away.

What do you crave in life?

Childlike wonder and copious amounts of HAPPY!

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

It’s my greatest hope that my work reminds people of who they are, the power they possess, and the knowledge that they can in fact be who they dream of, and more.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

“If you blame it on someone else, don’t expect it to get any better.” Ultimately, we are the keepers of our own lives. Always blaming others for what you don’t have or didn’t accomplish (victim addiction) only passes blame, and maybe makes you feel justified…but rarely resolves the issue.

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

Being on the most recent cover of Cherry Bombe magazine (issue 12)!I have been a reader of that magazine for years. Its pages have inspired me, and my career in food beyond belief, so it’s a real honor to grace the cover.

Where does your passion/drive come from?

From knowing how painful pain can feel, and how happy happiness can feel.

What keeps you up at night?

All of the hundreds of things I want to make and give to others.

It’s my greatest hope that my work reminds people of who they are.

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Whose career really inspires you?

I can’t say because I don’t know what it’s like to exist as anyone but myself. The words of so many inspire me, the actions of so may also inspire me. But to dial in on a person’s career? That’s challenging for me because to the naked eye someone’s career may be super inspiring or filled with greatness; however, I am sure behind what we all see is so much hard work, struggle, and maybe even some suffering. I am more inspired by people themselves, and not so much their careers.

What has been your biggest opportunity or biggest challenge as a young, female entrepreneur?

My own confidence has been the biggest hurdle for me. I am constantly bombarded with self-inflicted imposter syndrome. Finding a place where I believe that I actually deserve a career has been a huge struggle. I had such a tumultuous childhood, so figuring out how to maneuver those memories, and feelings as an adult seeking a career has been my greatest challenge.

What are the common challenges you've seen among women in the food industry?

I think one of the biggest problems with women in the food industry is simply proper visibility! It’s not like suddenly there are tons of women in the kitchen. So many publications talk about this new uproar of females in the kitchen. WE HAVE BEEN THERE THE WHOLE TIME! I think now you’re seeing more focus on women in food because women are paving their own ways in the industry. Women are creating their own restaurants, concepts, publications, etc. I don’t really see this as a struggle, I’d like to think women are just setting themselves free from the standards that have been put in place for so long.

It’s important when things go wrong to stay calm, assess the situation in realistic way & shift gears accordingly.

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When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road + switch gears to find success?

As long as you know and understand that at the start of every venture there will be hiccups, and bumps in the road, you sort of give yourself permission to stay calm when you’re staring face to face with one. 90 percent of what I worried would happen, never ended up happening anyway; it’s very important when things go wrong to stay calm, assess the situation in realistic way (leaving the emotion as far out of it as possible), and shift gears accordingly.

What are you most excited for in 2019?

Finishing my first book!!!!

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

Photoshoot skincare provided by Dermalogica

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE FOOD LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: STEM & Finance: Shivoni Siroya

Many of us take our credit scores—or the fact that we have them—for granted. Credit is the vehicle to financial stability and growth, yet 3 billion people around the world are currently financially underserved.

Shivani Siroya founded Tala—a tech startup providing micro-loans to entrepreneurs in the developing world—to address this disparity. Not only has Shivani paired her passion for social impact with her tech entrepreneurship, she’s disrupting the entire fin-tech industry with an unparalleled strategy: Analyze credit-seeker’ smartphones with an app that will determine how creditworthy they are. By generating data—texts, emails, GPS coordinates, social-media posts, retail receipts, and so on—Tala’s Android app is able to study a person’s smartphone behavior (literally down to obscure variables like how frequently a user recharges the phone’s battery, how many incoming text messages they receive, how many miles they travel in a given day or how they enter contacts into their phone) and use the data to predict the likeliness of a loan being repaid. Currently Tala’s repayment rate is 92 percent and the platform has reached 2.5 million people globally. Suffice to say, Shivani’s creating the blueprint to something special—something with scale, impact, and the potential to stimulate wealth everywhere. It comes as no surprise that Tala’s 2018 was explosive.

The long and short of it: Add Shivani to your CEO-inspo moodboard STAT.

Can you explain your company and your mission with Tala to our readers?

Tala’s mission is to expand financial access, choice, and control to the 3 billion people who are financially underserved around the world. Through Tala’s Android application, anyone with an Android smartphone in our markets can apply for a loan and receive an instant decision, anytime and anywhere, regardless of their financial history, so they can access customized financial services to take care of business costs, family expenses, and school fees.

And this is only our beginning—our mission doesn't end at opening access, we’ve added in financial tips and will be launching additional products this year to keep putting our customers in charge of their own financial lives.

Tell us a little about the impact Tala has on women and small business owners living in underserved financial communities.

Jenipher, an entrepreneur in her 60s, was one of our earliest customers in Kenya. She ran a food stall in Nairobi’s Central Business District and used Tala loans as working capital, to purchase ingredients in bulk for lower costs. Eventually, with the credit history we helped her build, she was able to walk into a commercial bank and secure a small business loan to support her dream of opening a restaurant. Our mission is to co-build a financial system where stories like Jenipher’s become the new reality. Our lending product opens access to financial services for a class of emerging consumers with potential that only needs to be proven.

If there is one thing you could tell our readers about Tala, what would it be and why?


Building Tala has taught me the importance of knowing and understanding your customers and their entire daily life. There’s a misconception that the people we serve are akin to non-profit beneficiaries and not a viable customer base; in actuality, they are consumers capable of being economic catalysts with significant purchasing power and reading and consuming the same content that we do. But there is no way I would have learned this without spending years living and working alongside them, learning about their personal lives and dreams for their families, and seeing them take action to make their goals a reality.

I’m also excited to share that we’re hiring! If our mission piques your interest, or if you’re ready to fix finance for over 3 billion people around the world, we’re waiting for you. See our global openings at Tala.co/careers.


You’re using your financial background to launch world-changing tech. What is your advice for women wanting to take the leap from an industry like finance to technology?


The opportunity presented by a world like tech is that it is a space where diverse interests can thrive. Though imperfect, this era of “disruption” means that there’s likely a group of people working on solving a problem you’re interested in—do your research and go out and find them! I also encourage you to find mentors that can help you learn the dynamics of the new industry, and join communities you can contribute to and grow with. Most importantly, have confidence in your abilities and your value. Trust that you have something unique to offer your new industry, and work hard to show it!


How important is it for women in tech to build communities surrounding their brands and how has it influenced you and your work with Tala? 


For women in tech, starting a new venture can be exciting, yet lonely and difficult. A community can serve as a much-needed constant in a journey that’s likely to be unpredictable.

I fully believe that community is the key to sustainable success. My family taught me the importance of being there for others, and I love sharing ideas and helping others make connections, as I’ve benefited from the help and advice others have given me.

The fellowships and communities I’ve joined are spaces where I can safely share ideas and best practices with peers going through similar hurdles. By serving as some of my first sounding boards, they’ve helped me build my platform as Tala and I have grown.

Community was a significant topic for the Tala team in 2018; we incorporated it within our team offsite, in our speaker series, in community events for our customers and also in community outreach events here in Santa Monica.

“I always think of funding rounds as a mirror to what’s happening internally—it is the best way to get lots of feedback on your business at once.”

You’ve raised one of the largest series b by a woman. When did you realize you had a product to pitch to investors? What steps did it take to get you there? 


We actually didn’t start by pitching. An investor heard my story and traction and through that process, our round came together. To get to a point where we were ready to take on investment, our small, scrappy team had already spent a significant amount of time in our markets, making sure we understood our customers, their lives, and their needs and tweaking our product offering in response. We each wore the hat of customer service advocate to make sure we were attentive to how customers were experiencing the product. When an investment opportunity presented itself, we knew immediately where we needed to focus the funds. 


Since then, we’ve learned to view funding rounds in relation to our learnings goals, from developing our data models in series A to scaling the business in series C. I always think of funding rounds as a mirror to what’s happening internally—it is the best way to get lots of feedback on your business at once. It’s important to listen and ask for feedback even if you get a no—because you’ll always come out stronger.

Any advice for women looking to take their tech to the table to raise series A or B? What was the biggest difference between the two series for you?

My advice is to do your homework and own the narrative! I cannot overstate the importance of knowing your business’s unit economics, knowing the ins and outs of your market, your customers, and your approach to the opportunity you’re addressing.

Our fundraising strategy always parallels what we are looking for in board members and advisors, and plans for the capital.

What is one app you can’t live without and why?


Whatsapp. I know it’s one that everyone uses—but for me, it’s my lifeline to keeping in touch with my family in India. We have probably over 50 different groups WhatsApp chats going at a time and it always makes me feel like we’re connected even if we’re not seeing each other in person for months.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road + switch gears to find success?


I remember the problem our team set out to solve and the people we’re solving it for. Our customers and our mission are my consistent north star, and honing in on them are extremely helpful. I have also embraced the importance of taking time off to recharge and spend time with friends and family—last year, I hiked Mount Batur, and the rigor of the experience and doing it along with close friends provided refreshment and energizing clarity.

“I never expected to be an entrepreneur – I set out to solve a problem and this was the right path to get to my goal. ”

What are you most excited for in 2019?

Our team experienced a significant amount of growth in 2018—new teammates, new product features, new markets, and increased fervor and clarity towards fulfilling our vision. In 2019, I‘m excited to see how the 2018 foundation that we set will help us create more momentum globally and excited to see us take on some very new audacious experiments and product launches!

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled? 


I’m most energized by meeting our customers, hearing their stories of what they’ve been able to accomplish with Tala, and getting their feedback on the product.

It’s just as rewarding to hear that someone used their Tala loan to open a cyber cafe in their community, as it is to hear that same person ask us to create a forum so they can trade entrepreneurial tips with other Tala customers. This tells me that what our team has built is not only working but that our customers trust us enough to share their ideas with us and with each other.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? 


Before founding Tala, an earlier boss encouraged me to “figure it out” after I shared that the data I needed for a four-month project did not exist—and I was already out of the country and needed to return to our team with answers. Being confronted with an information gap that needed to be closed led to me starting Tala and finding out about the problem that we’re focused on solving.

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?


I never expected to be an entrepreneur – I set out to solve a problem and this was the right path to get to my goal. This perspective has helped me keep a clear focus on our mission, though I occasionally have to pinch myself when I see how fast our team is growing.

What’s your superpower?

Challenging my limits. I love high-intensity workouts and strength training because there’s power in learning that I’m capable of lifting two or three times my body weight—it all comes back to believing that you’ve got that power within you to take on something new. It’s a lot easier to walk into a daunting meeting with potential investors or speak at a large conference when you’ve started your morning by accomplishing what once seemed impossible.

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

Photoshoot skincare provided by Dermalogica

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 STEM LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

From acclaimed fashion model to actor, designer to businesswoman, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has done it all. The multi-hyphenate mogul’s latest venture, Rose Inc., offers an insider peek at some of Rosie’s favorite beauty products, makeup tutorials, skincare tips, and interviews with some of your favorite beauty gurus. Rosie takes a hands-on approach to her site, with a “Memo From Rosie” section dedicated to personal notes from the founder herself.

In addition to everything she’s working on for Rose Inc., Rosie will be our keynote speaker at Create & Cultivate New York! Check out her interview below, then join us in the city to get all the advice she’s learned from launching her namesake brand.

You’ve become a household name after years of putting in hard work as a model, and some acting work. What prompted you to venture off into beauty?

Beauty has always been a passion of mine and a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember, starting as a passion and ending up in a career.  Growing up I would sit and watch my mother in awe while she would get ready for work or a night out. I loved seeing how she could transform into this striking, confident woman.  It was then that I began to understand the way makeup could alter a person’s demeanor or mood. As a teenager, I always enjoyed experimenting with makeup and trying out the newest products.

Over the last 16 years as a model, I’ve spent countless hours in the hair and makeup chair learning from all the incredible artists I’ve been lucky enough to work with.  Every time I’m in the chair I find I learn something new and creative and have made special friendships and memories along the way.

Rose Inc. for me is a place where I could bring my passion to light and hopefully create an inspiring online destination where I can highlight my favorite artists, peek inside the bathrooms of some of our favorite influencers, tastemakers and professionals, and where we could explore, interview and discuss new products, tips and tricks with the top experts in the industry.  

What was the inspiration behind Rose Inc. & its aesthetic?

In looking at the landscape of beauty websites, I thought it was important to create a space that was curated by someone who has been in the industry, sat in the makeup chair, and had firsthand experience of the impact that these products and routines can have on your life both physically and emotionally.

We have features and stories that cater to every type of woman, whether you want to know more about your favorite beauty icon or you’re in search of some serious advice for your next must-have product.  We want to reach women all around the world and hear what they have to say about the beauty space.

The brand launched in May and is taking off swiftly. How did you build that bond with your audience?

I think with any brand it’s all about authenticity and honesty. I hope that it’s clear when people come to the site or spend time with me that they can see I have a true affinity for everything beauty related. Building a bond with your audience is an ongoing process, it’s a two way street. We love to hear what our readers have to say, what they want to read or watch and then we try to deliver what it is they are asking for.

What characteristics make you successful in the beauty industry?

Passion, drive, and a clear vision.  When you embody those characteristics everything else will fall into place.

What does it take to build a beauty brand from the ground up in today’s world?

When I look at what’s happening in the beauty industry right now and see what’s working and what’s not, I see that it’s about having a clear point of view for your brand and believing in something bigger than the product itself.  Creating a sense of authenticity and dialogue with your consumer while exploring innovative and exciting products that make people feel their very best selves.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

I love meeting new people who inspire me both creatively and mentally, as this has been an ongoing learning process for me.  Seeing each of our initiatives through to completion, and hearing positive feedback from our readers, makes this all incredibly worthwhile and gives me an immense sense of pride!

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?

I feel lucky I get to talk to so many brilliant people across this industry. I think the best thing I have heard lately was about the importance of delivering something that is unique and infused with your own personal style.

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

Without a doubt, launching Rose Inc.  It certainly feels like a new chapter in my life and while it feels like an organic next step for me because it’s my passion, becoming a founder is quite the departure from modelling, I do feel some days that I’m learning a lot on the go!

Where does your passion/drive come from?

This is a question I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to articulate properly because a passion for this industry is something that has been a part of me for as long as I can remember.  An appreciation for and fascination with all things beauty related is something that struck me from a very young age.

I often find that as women, we tend to attribute a lot of our success to a fluke.  I try to remember that while I absolutely would not be where I am today without a lot of help, and certainly some luck, it really comes down to my own determination and dedication.

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What are the common challenges you've seen among female business owners and entrepreneurs?

I often find that as women we tend to attribute a lot of our success to a fluke.  I am sometimes inclined to feel this way about my own life and career, and while I try to remember that I absolutely would not be where I am today without a lot of help, and certainly some luck, it really comes down to my own determination and dedication.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road and switch gears to find success?

I think that becoming a mother has given me a completely different perspective on the ups and downs that I face in my career.  My personal life is a priority for me, so when I hit a bump in my career, I am reassured by the fact that that is not the be all, end all.  I truly believe in visualizing what you want for your future, and eventually, you can get there.

Whose career really inspires you?

Any woman who has accomplished her dreams, through hard work and determination, while remaining true to herself and a good person.

What’s next for Rose Inc. in 2019? What are you most excited for?

I’m excited to work with even more unique and inspirational people from across our industry, and share their stories with our readers.  The beauty world is constantly evolving and in order to deliver the most thoughtful, and hopefully helpful, content, we will continue to seek out exciting new products, ideas, and innovators.

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 BEAUTY LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Health + Wellness: Katie Austin

On top of serving major ab envy, Katie Austin is building a fitness empire.

The trainer, health coach, author, blogger, and model may have picked up a thing or two on how to inspire confidence through fitness from her mom—the iconic queen of spandex and home fitness tapes, Denise Austin. Katie has followed in her mother’s footsteps by building a community of fitness seekers and an app for those looking for new routines, recipes, and ways to get sore.

The former D1 college athlete knows a thing or two about conditioning the human body, and that deep-seated discipline is now powering her career. Below, the 25 year-old health expert sat with the C&C team to talk about what’s next for her digital wellness movement.

You played D1 lacrosse at USC. How has your background in sports affected your career path?

I’ve played lacrosse ever since I was 7 years old, so I think it taught me hard work, discipline, and time management from a young age. Those attributes have definitely helped me start my business and my career. I think playing sports definitely played a huge role in wanting to do fitness as a career, too. I did running/lifting tests for lacrosse since middle school, so fitness has really always been a part of my life. I love being surrounded by athletes. There’s a strong work ethic to every athlete out there that I really respect.

Being a fitness influencer is a big responsibility—what do you hope young girls and women take away from following you online?

I think being a fitness/health influencer is the best- just because you’re giving girls a positive takeaway. I really hope girls can learn how to better themselves, but in a real and practical way. It’s really important in this day and age to know that a lot of the stuff you see online isn’t attainable in real life. I want to empower girls with easy ways they can get fit, eat healthy, but still live their damn life.

If you weren’t working in fitness or social media, what would you be doing instead?

Well I am also a sports host! I co-host a Friday night show on Fox Sports West, and do some basketball hosting here and there. So I would definitely be pursuing that a bit harder!

Tell us about a time you failed, and how you turned that moment into opportunity.

Ohhh many of times!! So I have an app now, with workouts, recipes, challenges, etc., and it looks like it was super easy for me to just build something like that. Well, nobody knows that I actually built an app before.. I saved up $20,000 in college, and put it all towards an app. Long story short, it was terrible hahah. But I waited two years, and tried again!! It wasn’t a failure because I AM SO HAPPY it happened! I learned so much about what went wrong, how to make it better, and go stronger the next time. Every failure teaches me something great.

Where does your passion/drive come from?

Two answers. My parents! They both came from nothing, and grew their businesses from the ground up in their twenties. They inspire me like crazy! Then second, the girls who follow me and my workouts. I see their posts, stories, or messages to me and it makes me just want to help more and more people across the world.

What would you say to the haters who think Instagram isn’t a “real” job?

I’ve actually lost a friend over this… She would make fun of me for “instagramming for a job.” And it used to bother me, but now it doesn’t. Bring on the haters- they have no clue how much work goes into creating content, building a brand, creating and managing a blog/app/site, maintaining customer service, engaging back to your audience, pitching yourself, and SO much more. It’s funny though, because whenever a friend who isn’t a social media influencer sees the amount of work we put in they always say, “oh my gosh, I had no idea.” So I think it’s really that people just don’t understand it.

Watch our interview with Katie on the set of our Create & Cultivate 100 photoshoot.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

Seeing girls feel accomplished, feel confident, and feel so great about themselves!! Even if it’s just a recipe they like of mine, or a workout, if I can just make another girl happy in the slightest, I feel fulfilled!! Truly.

What are some of your hobbies outside of fitness?

Hanging out with my friends! Anyone who follows my instagram stories… first off, I am sorry. I like to have fun haha. I love my girlfriends. And Sex and the City for the 38th time.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find new roads + switch gears to find success?

I can definitely get down on myself when I hit a bump or hurdle. First off, I make sure to calm myself down and try not to be stressed out! Then I reassess what went wrong, or how I can be better. To keep up my motivation, I like creating new projects. I like to think of new creative things, guides, series, challenges, etc. I always like to switch it up with new content!

What are you most excited for in 2019?

Most excited about being 25, and really feeling like this is the first year I KINDA know what I’m doing with my life. Haha but seriously…

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

Photoshoot skincare provided by Dermalogica 

VIEW THE ENTIRE CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 HEALTH & WELLNESS LIST HERE.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Entrepreneur: Jeni Britton Bauer

THE UNICORN.

Jeni Britton Bauer makes life taste good.

And the founder of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams says that if her business was a flavor it would be Dark Chocolate: "Complex and game-changing, hard to replicate."

That's not to say others haven't tried.

But with over two decades dedicated to the scoop game, Jeni knows a thing or two about packing a pint, finding new flavors, and running a team. She started in her car, so hitting the sweet spot didn't come easy. There were learning curves, major lessons and hard, trailblazing work.

But life right now is sweet-- and well deserved. 

More from the Ice Cream biz's master maker below.  

First things first. Pink hair, don't care?

My outward expression of myself has played a big role in my career and success. I quit art school to start my first ice cream business back in 1996. I had very pale pink hair back then (I mixed Manic Panic Flamingo Pink into my conditioner to dye my platinum blonde). I always loved it— should have been born with it. I also used to wear thrifted clothes back then and punky outfits. It was all part of my thing. What I didn’t realize until I closed that business and wanted to start again is that your look can unintentionally alienate a lot of people. I was not portraying a person in charge. I simply wasn’t. We can debate about it all day, and I wish I could say that it didn’t matter, but it did. When the food critic came over, he had no reason to believe I was the one in charge, and, believe it or not, how you look helps set the tone of the conversation. That first impression is everything, and it will make the ice cream taste better or worse. Believe me. Also, your own perspective is altered by what you believe about yourself. I believed I was a counterculture artist, or wanted to be—and that isn’t very warm and welcoming to the rest of the world. Even more, I had not even done the work to earn that reputation! It was all a bullshit exterior. I was identifying with others’ work, not my own. And that is so transparent. When I started my second business, after my first failure, I wanted to convey personal strength, professionalism, humility, and self-control (literally the opposite of my former self). The ice cream was the same, but I had changed. This time the same food critic loved the same ice creams he’d written off before. I took all emphasis off of me and put it on my ice creams, and more importantly, the wide array of wonderful human beings who were potential customers. By cutting my hair short, dying it back to dark blonde, and choosing to wear a starched white shirt and apron as a uniform every day, I got into character. I was an ice cream maker and shopkeeper in a busy market. This helped me fit into the vibe there and be accepted into the community—and begin to build a brand and a company that means something to people. I put a lot of credit on this transformation for my success. It got me the important first impressions I needed to build a trusted small business in my city and beyond. It was how I put myself aside and truly got into the spirit of service. It has made all the difference in my life.

But now is different. I’ve put in the time (22 years, half my life), laid the groundwork and foundation for what I do.

"I can take risks and not risk my own credibility. I’ve earned it." 

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So the pink hair is back—so are my outfits. The lesson to me, and advice I give as I look back on two decades of hustle is to get into the character you are trying to convey— nerdy as it may be. And let it start with humility. Make the character about the work, and then focus on the work. Build equity and trust and credibility in your name, not your clothing or hairstyle. It’s the only thing you actually own.

Now. The way you talk about flavor profiles is like the way people talk about great loves. Do you think loving what you do is an important part of being an entrepreneur?

Being an entrepreneur, and more importantly, a maker is an emotional endeavor. It’s like listening to a singer delivering a beautiful song. You either feel the melody in your soul or it falls at. That comes down to whether the singer is emotionally into it enough to care about the tiniest details, and whether they are brave enough to put themselves out there—put everything on the line for it. That comes from experience, of both love and, to some extent, suffering. Making things, communicating with people, and building a culture of service is emotional just like a beautifully delivered song. It’s about making people’s lives better, even for a moment. And it’s about every perceivable detail.

For me, it isn’t that I love what I do. I am obsessed with it. I care so deeply that it feels good and also it hurts. I love being in it every day, and when I’m not, I crave it. I know it sounds ridiculous, but that is the thing. It’s emotional. You cannot build a community unless you care so deeply that you will risk everything for it. That’s not dramatic. That’s what it takes (at least for me). And no money in the world can buy that passion. You get it by building slowly on a shoestring and truly getting to know what you do and who you do it for and why. By making decisions every day based on what you believe is right. It’s about staying true to your ideas and building upon them as you learn. And never taking things at face value. You can’t teach it or explain it. You get it or you don’t. And it’s everything

What are the common challenges you've seen among female business owners and entrepreneurs?

They don’t trust themselves. But the great thing is that, as a collective, we do trust ourselves. And together we are such an incredible force. We encourage each other and inspire each other. So we can overcome our insecurities together.

Where do your drive and passion come from?

Honoring the work that I and countless others laid in those early years and that continues all over our company. When I was young and trying to figure out who I was going to be I didn’t have a strong family to fall back on. I was either going to make it or I was going to end up like so many others I knew— without power and hope. So I decided I wasn’t going to live in a basement my whole life. And I wasn’t going to blame others. And I wasn’t going to ever say, “Why me?” I was going to fight like hell and make it out or go down trying.

It literally was life or death to me. And I am grateful for it. Many kids I grew up with had safety nets and what ended up happening is that they took no risks! I had nothing. So I had nothing to lose. The jump off the cliff without a parachute was safer than the wolves on the other side. But I owe my passion and success to all of that. And I am grateful for it.

When you run into a career obstacle or a speed bump, how do you find new roads?

I nd a way over them. I like to say: “Those are not bumps in the road. They are the road.” But it’s not exactly a perfect metaphor. Roads are too predictable to be a good metaphor for a life of entrepreneurship. They are at and, once laid, they are relatively easy to travel even with the bumps.

The truth is that every entrepreneur I have ever met is really good at going up against the odds. It’s the only thing that gives you your edge over anyone else. When most people see bumps or brick walls, they turn and run. But not entrepreneurs. They are too curious about the “what if” to turn around. And, often it’s actually not that treacherous. Sometimes it is, but you just go. The hard thing is when everyone else in your life wants to jump in and save you from YOURSELF! Don’t do it Jeni! It’s too dangerous! Get back on the easy path. Nah. There is no easy path. But there are some that are greater adventures.

Speaking of roads, I've probably told a hundred women your "these aren't bumps in the road, this IS the road," quote about running a company. Have any more gems you'd care to share?

Lately, I prefer a sea analogy. To get to point B you’ve got to be brave. You’ll swerve up and down, in and out, go all topsy-turvy and still when it’s all added up, you’re moving toward your North Star. Everyone will think you’re fucking nuts. And by their definition, you are.

But remember you are the captain of your ship. You did your homework, built the ship, got to know its power. Now convince people to get on your boat and help you. And trust yourself that no matter what storm hits, you are good enough to correct course, figure it out, fight through it. Learn. Pretend you are the only one who has ever done it. Do not compare your work to others.

Don’t expect certainty. The people I know who are the most certain are the least likely to get anywhere interesting because they can’t learn and adjust and freestyle. So much of this is training yourself to be good enough to not have to think but to act correctly without thinking. That’s Jedi shit, and it only comes from testing yourself.

What are your biggest fears about running a business?

I have no fears in business anymore. I have battled the Balrog of the Misty Mountains and won. I am a white fucking wizard. My only fears are as a parent. That said, I work every day to be better, and if that’s not enough then it’s not enough.

What's the Jeni's legacy you hope to leave behind?

You know this is something we, as a company, are thinking about more and more. We want Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams to be the next great American ice cream company. In other words, an ice cream company that sets the standard for service, integrity, transparency, and deliciousness for generations to come. As Jeni the person, I just want to have a good time and make people’s lives better while I’m here.

What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?

I work constantly. I’m never not working. And I’d rather be doing that than just about anything else. For me it all starts from a place of love.

I grew up making things with my artist grandmother. While she always moved on to the next thing, I wanted to get so good at the rst thing that I could make dozens. Build inventory. Then sell them. Baskets made out of dried and dyed weeds, doll sweaters. And I was always the neighborhood organizer. We’d have a fundraiser or something. It was all play.

I’m still doing that every day now. Exactly the same feeling. Still just as fun.

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

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Black Female Founders to Receive $36 Million in Funding

 

THE WAY OF THE FUTURE. 

She watches the hell out of General Hospital, writes the ‘L Word’ fanfic twitter page @ModernLWord, but Arlan Hamilton, founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, is an emerging venture fund manager to watch. Especially since what she's trained her investor's eye on is what everyone else is ignoring. 

Here are the facts: less than 10% of all venture capital deals go to women, People of Color, and LGBT founders. Other VCs see this as a pipeline problem. Backstage Capital sees it as the biggest opportunity in investment. And they've put their money where the stats are, their second round of funding has just launched and is targeting $36 million in commitments and Arlan foresees the fund investing $1 million checks into 15-20 companies over the next three years.

Dedicated to minimizing funding disparities in tech, Arlan and Backstage Capital are investing in high-potential founders who are of color, women, and/or LGBT. Once homeless, she knows what it's like to have doors closed on you and your dreams. But, she's opening the doors. We suggest you walk through them with her. 

She's the way of the future. 

Name: Arlan Hamilton 

Instagram Handle: @arlanwashere

Business Instagram Handle: @backstagecapital

Where do your drive and passion come from for Backstage Capital?

The mission. The fact that nothing has changed from my original thought, that there needs to be more access to capital for certain people who are being overlooked and underestimated. Until that massive problem is solved, it will fuel the energy that I need to do that.

How have you successfully navigated a male-dominated field?

By asking what a male would do and just giving myself permission to not apologize for being who I am.

What are your hopes for young women looking to get into finance as investors?

I wish it were now, but I hope that the work that I'm doing and the women alongside of me are doing makes it easier for them to enter this field. That's another part that makes it worth it for me, the idea that what we're doing is making it that much easier for the next person.

What would you say is your biggest pet-peeve in business?

Politics. I think a lot is held up and not accomplished because of ego and people trying to play certain personal agendas. A lot could be accomplished if we just focused on what was important.

What are your biggest fears about running Backstage?

That we won't be enough. That we won't be able to raise more and more funding for the very deserving and viable companies that we are backing.

What's something that you would like people to know about your work with Backstage that they probably aren't aware of?

It's much, much harder than it may appear. There's a ton of work that goes into it that it's not seen. I get a lot of feedback from people who think we're okay, that we've made it. When in reality it's a day-by-day, brick by brick, thing.

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

Having a woman come up to me and say she started a company because she read something about me. Or having a woman of color tell me that because Backstage exists they knew they wouldn't be alone when they came to Silicon Valley or launched a business. So, moments likes that where I know that something is working and I'm inspiring someone.

When you come across a difficulties or bumps in the road, how do you approach them?

I've always been able to self-motivate by seeing into the future and what I think the future might be. Anytime something is rough, which happens a lot. We might be told we were getting $100,000 investment and then the day the wire is supposed to hit, it doesn't. That's a big deal for us. On those kind of days I just think about the fact that I was homeless and I would imagine myself as a VC. There was no question to me that I would be able to make Backstage happen. You have to keep reminding yourself to keep going, you can do this. The way that you fail, is to stop. That is certainty. If you keep going, there's that potential that you win.

If you were to trade jobs with anyone, who would it be?

I think Ellen has a fun job.

At what point in your career did you find the ability to take charge and become the leader that you are today?

I had to have that mentality with everything. When I was working part time doing data entry, working at a pizza shop. I had to have that "I'm the boss" attitude to get through it so I don't know that it happened recently. It started with my mom telling me I deserved to be in any room and shouldn't shrink myself to make someone else feel better about themselves.

"It started with my mom telling me I deserved to be in any room and shouldn't shrink myself to make someone else feel better about themselves."

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What is the best piece of advice or #realtalk you've ever been given?

The best piece of advice that I take in come from music. Anyone from Nikki Minaj to Casey Edwards.

What song do you sing in the shower when you've had a really shitty day?

Can You Stand The Rain x New Edition.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Food: Natasha Phan

PHAN-FREAKIN-TASTIC.

Whomever said “No Guts, No Glory” must have heard Natasha Phan’s story.

As the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants who owned and operated an Echo Park supermarket, Phan is no stranger to the LA food biz. After graduating from UCLA and accepting a digital advertising position with Martha Stewart, Phan seized an opportunity to pursue her true passion. During a panel discussion with culinary mogul Roy Choi, Phan went out on a limb and asked her future-boss for employment. Despite initial rejection, Choi ultimately accepted. Now the Director of Business Development for Choi’s Kogi Group, Phan is shaping the future of Korean-American food.

More from Natasha below. 

Name: Natasha Phan

Instagram Handle: @natasha_phan

Business Instagram Handle: @eatatpot @kogibbq

Where do your drive and passion come from?

My parents. They came to America at the end of the Vietnam War with very little and figured things out pretty quickly. For over 30 years, they independently owned and operated an Echo Park supermarket that brought immigrant families together. My career is an extension of their story. 

Your journey begins with a 'no.' You in person cold-pitched Roy Choi. And he said no. What did that moment feel like?

Total rejection and confusion. I believed there was a spiritual force that led me to meeting Roy, so I trusted my gut and put myself out there. The last thing I expected was to be told “no.” It didn’t make sense because everything felt so intentional.

And what did it feel like when he emailed you later that evening?

Pure joy and relief. My instincts were right! I was supposed to meet him and I was supposed to introduce myself! I remember feeling anxious because I knew that my life was going to change very quickly.

What did that teach you about being persistent in biz?

It taught me the importance of checking in with your gut. As business owners, we often let facts, data, and others guide our decision-making. But I’ve learned it’s crucial to take a pause, or two or three, and give time for your brain to align with your instincts.

"It’s crucial to take a pause, or two or three, and give time for your brain to align with your instincts."

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What did working with Roy teach you? And how did you take those lessons and turn them into Commissary?

Working with Roy has taught me to never get too comfortable. If you start feeling like everything’s at ease then there’s likely something wrong or something you’re not paying attention to. In the last 10 years, I’ve been trained to look deeper and deeper, corner to corner, and more often than not, I’ve found something else to make better. 

What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?

Many people don’t know that I’m heavily involved in the creative development of all our businesses. I work closely with Roy on ideation as well as vet and guide all the designers, photographers, and artists we collaborate with.

IYO-- How can we stay original when we are so saturated with other people's work?

I stay original by engaging in a world that’s not curated by a set of algorithms. I actively seek out tastes and ideas that aren’t easily acquired or accepted by the mainstream and pop culture. 

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

What makes me feel the most complete is that there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing than feeding people. It’s more than a career, it’s my life’s purpose. I know this is my calling.

If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?

Oprah is my ultimate inspiration. She is beyond the beyond.

"Oprah is my ultimate inspiration. She is beyond the beyond."

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At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?

When I left my job at Martha Stewart to work for a taco truck.

When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?

I talk it through with my advisory council – my best friends, mentors, and therapist.

What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?

"Dancing on My Own" by Robyn.

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

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Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Shiva Rose

THE NON-TOXIC NINJA.

Shiva Rose is holistic and happy. 

Almost a decade ago Iranian actress Shiva launched her beauty platform, The Local Rose, a platform celebrating a holistic, healthy life style without sacrificing taste & glamour. 

She's dealt with divorce, major health issues, including lupus and other autoimmune disorders, and the grief of being told she only had a year to live at 26, but Shiva's personal agenda and holistic messaging includes taking responsibility for her own health. And her life. She's been a fighter from the beginning. Raised in Iran until the age of ten, Shiva and her family were forced to escape to Paris. They then moved to Los Angeles, where she remains today. 

Now the wellness-and-beauty entrepreneur heralds her brand Shiva Rose Beauty, which creates 100% toxic and chemical free skin, body and beauty products, handmade in California and Oregon, USA

Her book Whole Beauty is coming out next Spring. 

More from the Shiva goddess below. 

Name: Shiva Rose

Instagram Handle: @localrose

Business Instagram Handle: @shivarosebeauty

What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty is what we choose to see, how we choose to live, what we want to cultivate in our lives on a daily basis. The ability to see beauty in the most simple moments, and to live in that is the ultimate gift.

Do you remember a moment when you first felt beautiful?

I think I have always felt most beautiful when connected to the natural world. There have been moments when I've been soaking in some wild hot springs with dear sisters, and have felt totally divine and in my feminine beauty.

"I have always felt most beautiful when connected to the natural world."

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Where do your drive and passion come from?

From my connection to the source. From being in nature. From wanting a better world for my daughters.

What was the impetus for launching The Local Rose?

I started my holistic lifestyle brand before wellness was becoming mainstream. I began it 9 years ago to document my path towards healing from various autoimmune issues. I felt at the time there were not many sites that showed wellness and holistic living in a chic, modern way. I wanted to also bring some love to the many wonderful artisans and healers I was meeting.

What are your biggest fears about running a business?

I try not to think or live in fear. It's a daily practice to substitute love for fear but it can be done with conscious thinking and meditation. I would say some challenges that I do come across are having the stamina and strength to deal with the heavy load. We must create strong nervous systems so we can hold the space for success and abundance.

"I try not to think or live in fear."

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What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?

That I do most everything from writing the posts on my site and making many of my products by hand. I also handle the day-to-day dealings.

IYO-- How can we stay original when we are so saturated with other people's work?

Listen to your unique, authentic intuitive guide. Truly don't do something just to make others happy, but something that lights you up in a deeply powerful way.

Don't do something just to make others happy, but something that lights you up in a deeply powerful way.

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

When I receive emails from people who have tried the line and see that it works for them. Also from the comments on my blog about certain stores that have touched them. My book Whole Beauty is coming out next Spring and that makes me feel pretty complete, at least for the moment.

If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?

To be honest I love what I do and truly don't want to trade with anyone. I would just like to create more of this and bring some healing to people in pain. I have been in the depths of despair from divorce, from health issues, from childhood traumas and I want to just let others know that there is a light at the tunnel, once you realize you are the light.

At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?

I feel it was a gradual journey where I began to listen to my inner voice and guide. I did have a light bulb moment after a Kundalini class to create my beauty line. It wasn't so much confidence, but rather deep knowing that this was something I would do. I feel when we open ourselves in meditation, our egos get out of the way and our spirits or souls will guide us.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?

I Say Yes to life and life says Yes to me!

When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?

I take a moment a feel the bump fully. I then will take some time away to refuel myself with the love I receive from mama earth and father sun. I also will try to take a Kundalini class by one of my teachers. These things will usually realign me and help me get back on my path.

What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?

Usually mantras! If not mantras then I love the music of Van Morrison, Dan Dyer, Zeppelin, classical and the blues.

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

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Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Megan Lytle

THE GLOW UP.

U Love Megz. 

For vlogger Megan Lytle, aka ULoveMegz, embracing herself—and her natural hair—has been a lifelong journey. With her (new milestone!) of over 50 million YouTube viewers, Lytle’s mission of harnessing beauty as a means of “self-expression and mental wellness” is far from small. Beloved for her contagious positivity, inspirational tutorials, and real talk, Megz recently surprised followers with the announcement that she was retiring relaxers and celebrating her natural hair. After posting the “big chop” to her channel, Megz told her audience she felt relieved and liberated. “There are a lot of things that happen behind the scenes when it comes to the beauty world and even more when it comes to being an African American influencer,” she says.

Get the full “Megz experience” below.

Name: Megan Lytle

Instagram Handle: @ulovemegz

You've captured the hearts and attention of 40 million women. What do you think it is that draws women to you?

I've actually made a new milestone of catching the love of over 50 million lovies on Youtube alone. Sometimes I wonder to myself why are people watching or what makes someone want to watch me? It's truly a blessing because I never thought that I would be where I am today back when I started late 2009. If I could think of what it might be, I think its because I'm completely myself and I love talking and being a girly girl with all of my homegirl friends online. I don't act like I'm above and beyond anyone because I am just like them because we can relate to one another. I'm their best friend, sister, their auntie, daughter, cousin, etc.

I imagine it's a great feeling. To be able to positively impact the way someone feels about themselves. To help other women feel beautiful...

It's an amazing feeling, and I always get emotional when I think about it. I never intended to have any of what I've gained over the years! I started my channel when I was lost about what I wanted to do with my life and trying to figure things out and to know that I'm helping women all over the world truly warms my heart. While I'm sharing videos about how I'm trying to be my best self, it was rubbing off on those who watch to be their best selves.

What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty means choosing happiness. Being happy with the person you are right now and most of all having a positive attitude! Say if you aren't feeling the best, bettering yourself in some way is beauty to me because we all have to work on that from the inside out.

Do you remember a moment when you first felt beautiful?

I think the first time I TRULY felt beautiful was this year. I always knew I was beautiful but knowing your beautiful and feeling beautiful are two different things. This year I've found my way to happiness within myself and to know that I am the bomb just the way I am. I started doing things that make me feel good about me!

Where do your drive and passion come from?

My drive and passion come from all the love and support from my online beauty homies. Being able to connect and help people all over the world when it comes to beauty drives me to continue and grow and build. They've really encouraged and motivated me during some tough times that they aren't even aware of! The support of my family plays a major role also.

What are your biggest fears about running your brand?

I have no fears. Fear holds you back, and I plan to go all the way to concur my goals for a better me and a better brand. If I fail at something I just dust myself off and try again.

What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?

It's not all just lipgloss, edge control, and the perfect selfie. It's hard work to continue to stay afloat and on trend with whats going on. There are a lot of things that happen behind the scenes that people would be surprised about when it comes to the beauty world and even more when it comes to being an African American influencer.

IYO-- How can we stay original when we are so saturated with other people's work?

Being yourself makes your content original. When you bring yourself to your content even though it might be the same genre, it already becomes different from someone else's because people watch for mainly YOU. They tune in to get the "Megz" experience.

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

I feel the most complete when I see that I've helped someone or when I'm told that I gave someone joy by putting them in a happy mood with laughter. That's the biggest reward for me!

If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?

I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

"Give someone a hug and sing 'oooooh cchhhillllld, things are gonna get easierrrrrr!'"

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At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?

I would say a lot of the confidence that I have gained came from taking a step back and taking time out for myself in my personal life. I'm still learning and growing so much so I would say once you are comfortable and happy with yourself it will spill over into your career.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?

I get daily advice from my Dad, and I would say one of the best pieces of advice or what we live by is to never make excuses but to make things happen.

When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?

Honestly, I just figure it out. I feel like with everything that I've ever been through I just stayed positive and figured things out. Things don't always go our way or are always full of sunshine, but those bumps get smooth eventually! Pimples pop, the scare fades away with a little tender love and skincare. That's how I look at it.

What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?

The Five Stairsteps - Ooh Child I scream sing this song all the time and it puts me an inspirational good mood. I sing that really loud when people try to annoy me or when someone else is frustrated or trying to be negative. Give someone a hug and sing "oooooh cchhhillllld, things are gonna get easierrrrrr!" It works!

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

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Create & Cultivate 100: Food: Gem & Bolt

THE MEZCAL FIRECRACKERS.

The ladies of Gem & Bolt are wild.

Before alchemist-artist duo Adrinadrina and Elliott were Gem & Bolt, they almost ran off to join an eccentric Mayan circus in the Yucatan backwoods. The unorthodox makers of the plant-based “clean spirit” are on a mission to restore personal elevation to the art of celebration.

Produced by fourth generation master distillers in Oaxaca, Mexico using a sacred herb called Damiana, Gem & Bolt is organic, sustainable, and rooted in the mystical. Because mezcal chooses you, you don’t choose it—discover how the founders were seduced by this radical, healing elixir.

Join their party below. 

Name: Adrinadrina and Elliott Coon

Instagram Handles: @adrinadrina @elliottcoon

Business Instagram Handle: @gemandbolt

"Positive life elevates consciousness." What does that mean to each of you?

We're dedicated to conscious evolution and find that teaching innovative ways to celebrate and creatively express oneself is fundamental to a positive life.

And how is that ethos imbued into the spirit of Gem & Bolt?

Positive forms of celebration and a clean plant-based botanical spirit elevate rather than deplete the human experience. Damiana is a connective and expansive herb connecting heart and mind which helps people celebrate in a more holistic manner. We call it Spirit in the Spirit.

How did you know that you wanted to launch a mezcal company?

They say Mezcal chooses you and you don't choose it. We were called to mezcal as artists, to bridge art and plants through celebration.

How did you know you wanted to do it together?

We were an artist duo and decided to create a project bringing together our shared passion for art and plants - born and raised together in a radical community of artists and visionaries, we share a deep-seated trust in one another and core values. It's the well-spring of all our cocreations.

Where does each of your respective drives and passion come from?

Bringing people together through art plants and celebration.

What are your biggest respective pet peeves?

That creative roles within companies are not always appropriately valued or honored. But this does seem to be changing. The most pioneering and successful new companies are those that do understand the value of balancing creative within the business.

What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?

That the biggest responsibility we have as founders is to keep the heart and soul of the brand vital and vibrant in every respect, every day.

IYO-- How can we stay original when we are so saturated with other people's work?

Our perspective is that information is a gift and it's all about how you filter it through your own lens. We grew up outside of conventional society and we learned how to observe culture anthropologically and to curate our personal sources of inspiration and then reflect it back to the world.

What about your careers make you feel the most complete?

COLLABORATION !! & The fact that we've been able to take a heartfelt creative concept and turn it into a brand that reaches such a large audience.

If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?

In the early stages of GEM&BOLT we were very close to joining an eccentric Mayan circus in the backwoods of the Yucatan. We often fantasize about the path that may have taken us down. So, perhaps we'd trade places with a past possibility of ourselves.

At what point in your careers did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the women you are today?

Yesterday. And every day.

"We recommend singing and dancing throughout the day as a preventative measure to bad moods."

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What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?

"Lead your team from within" - Bobby Klein, friend, healer, and advisor to GEM&BOLT

When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?

We learned early on to reach out to advisors and mentors for perspective & also the power of creating our own realities, as well as our own roads. Bumps in the road are a phenomenal opportunity to revise and refine the vision.

What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?

We recommend singing and dancing throughout the day as a preventative measure to bad moods.

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE FOOD LIST CLICK HERE. 

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Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Jen Atkin

THE MANE EVENT.

No one can stop her, she's all the OUAI up. 

But for real. Jen Atkin, the celeb hair stylist and founder of Ouai Haircare and Maneaddicts.com is really at the top of her game. 

The number of mag covers she's styled is beyond impressive. From Kim K.'s Forbes cover (#notbadforagirlwithnotalent) to Gwen Stefani's Vogue and Nylon covers to Lorde's Rolling Stone cover, there are few places her magic hands haven't touched. From Bella to Chrissy, Kendall to Kaia, Jen's made a name for herself as one of the industry's most sought-after. 

Instead of riding the celeb gravy train, she launched a company. Ouai Haircare has minimalist packaging with cheeky messaging. Her frizz sheets come in a white "cigarette box," with the phrase Frizzy Hair Kills, on the side. The #OuaiSquad is strong. 

And honestly, she's just cool. And calm. Even though she's straight running shit, we've never seen her lose hers. It makes sense that the hair boss says, "One of the biggest keys to success is try to say YES instead of NO."

More from Jen below.  

Name: Jen Atkin

Instagram Handle: @jenatkinhair

Business Handle: @theOUAI & @ManeAddicts 

Part of your success can be attributed to the fact that you didn't listen to people in the beginning. You had your own ideas, your own vision. Was it ever hard to stick to your guns?

Two major things come to mind that people told me not to do and I stuck to my guns.

1. Once I started working with certain clients I had my peers and agents worried about who I was working with and didn’t think it would be good for my career. I’ve always chosen to work with people who have ambition and are inspiring and lovely to work with. I always trust my gut.

2. When I decided to not call my haircare line “Jen Atkin”. I was adamant about creating a line for real women and it was never about ME or how I do hair. I wanted to create a cool brand that could live on its own and have people like it regardless if they knew I was behind it or not.

Where do your drive and passion come from?

I grew up with a working Mom. She taught me how to juggle and she never skipped a beat. I realize as I grow older that I try to emulate a lot of what she instilled in me about hard work and being a kind person. I also take pride in how many of my girlfriends are entrepreneurs in fashion, beauty, and tech. I get so much inspiration from watching all of them and the way they push boundaries every day.

At what point did you realize, woah, this big! And how did you handle and manage your success?

My a-ha moments in my career for sure have to be when I got the cover of Vogue with Gwen Stefani when I got to work with John Galliano and assist on Guido’s team at PFW when I launched Mane Addicts when I launched OUAI. In my classes, I try to tell my students: Be humble, work hard, and don’t try to compete with anyone else. There’s enough to go around for all of us to be successful. Don't expect success overnight. It takes years of hard work to start to build a long-standing career. And no matter what, remember we are in a service industry and it’s never about us it’s about our clients and them feeling comfortable and pretty.

"There’s enough to go around for all of us to be successful. Don't expect success overnight."

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When did you know it was the right time to launch OUAI?

I struggled to find a haircare brand that I identified with or spoke to me or my clients. A brand that engaged with its consumers, a relatable brand. I was starting to feel like there was a major lack of realistic communication with haircare. It’s always been my dream to have my own hairline. I’ve been listening to my clients and followers for years and they all have the same complaints- they want healthier hair and they have a lack of time. I created OUAI as a real line for real life- it’s for the girl on the go that only has 5 minutes to do her hair. No more unrealistic hair campaigns- just multi-use products that cut styling time and nourish hair health. We are trying to create a brand, but also a culture. We are fighting against conformity, against boringness, against drudgery. More than a product we are selling an idea- a spirit.

What was the learning curve like in the beginning?

I think in the beginning I was so naive about what was needed to create OUAI. Looking back it's insane that nothing went wrong. Production, the messaging, packaging, etc... We are still such a small team and the whole HQ is full of amazing hardworking multitasking people. I’m excited to see whats next for us.

You've said that every client and every girlfriend has been part of the process for OUAI. Why is it important to you to be surrounded by other strong women?

I think that more brands are trying to empower women to learn how to do their own hair and creating tools, products, and content that make that easier to do (without a stylist). From a social standpoint, women are most active on social because we tend to share things more. We are changing the conversation in business and beauty!

What is your biggest pet peeve?

A "no" person. One of the biggest keys to success is try to say YES instead of NO. Or people letting their fear and doubt keep them from fulfilling their goals.

What are your biggest fears about running a business?

Now with social media, there aren’t boundaries when it comes to product. My biggest fear is not getting our product to consumers in a swift enough way. Supply and demand is always the root problem in business. Its hard to come up with, make and market a product, but then the challenge of getting it to the people who want it, when they want it- is one of my biggest concerns.

What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?

Working as a hairstylist isn’t just about doing hair. There is a lot of scheduling and politics involved when you’re working with multiple clients. You also have to be up with current trends, etc.

IYO-- How can we stay original when we are so saturated by other people's work?

I think everyone is inspired by every genre, era, etc. I think there is so much out there with Pinterest, Instagram, Magazines that we are foolish if we don’t get inspired by it all. Also, don’t be scared to try new things it may be the next big trend.

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

Making women look and feel good about themselves.

If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?

Honestly, I have always wanted to be Sade. It’s so random. But I dream of being as cool as her and having that voice.

At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?

I listened to my gut and have always been super proactive. I never shy away from hard work and my parents thankfully instilled confidence in me from a young age. I was always taught to write down and accomplish goals.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?

Serge Normant said not to be threatened by your peers, but be inspired by them. I truly believe there is enough work for all of us to go around and we should support and encourage each other. And Tracey Cunningham always says “Rejection is Gods protection”.

“Rejection is God's protection” - Tracey Cunningham

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When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?

I always try to look at the bigger picture and consider all options available.

What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?

I don’t sing in the shower, I brainstorm.

I don’t sing in the shower, I brainstorm.

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Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE BEAUTY LIST CLICK HERE. 

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Create & Cultivate 100: Entertainment: Yvonne Orji

THE BREAKOUT STAR. 

When Insecure actress Yvonne Orji says, "I feel good as a woman in Hollywood. I feel good as a black woman in Hollywood," you can tell she means it.

And she doesn't think her job would be easier if she were a man. "No, because I like being a woman. I think there is beauty and benefit to being a woman. I like being able to go into male-dominated spaces and blow people’s minds away."

That’s not to say she is blind to the discrepancy in Hollywood. Race issues. Age issues. Wage issues. There’s no way to avoid them.

"I like being able to go into male-dominated spaces and blow people’s minds away."

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Her journey through Hollywood certainly hasn't been without sexist moments. Having first made a name for herself on the stand-up circuit, Orji says there was always a moment where the  announcer would prep the crowd. "Are you ready for a woman? are you ready for a woman?" they'd ask. These are the micro-aggressions that continuously diminish women at work. "They never do that for man," she says and it's no laughing matter. "Apparently," says Orji, "there are rules as a female standup comic. You can’t be pretty, skinny, and funny. Pick one. You can’t be all these things. To be funny, you have to be overweight, and you have to be dirty with your jokes." That's not the case for Orji. "I do clean comedy and just really want to make people laugh in a positive way. Yes, I know how to work out and put on makeup. Why are there so many fractions in order to make people laugh as a woman? You don’t hear this from guys. You can just be funny."

But she's never let those intros deter her or hold her back. "I stand my ground and stand my own. This is me. I am not backing down. You may not know me now, but by the time I finish my set, you’re going to think I’m incredibly funny."

These are also stereotypes she’s been working to break with Insecure, which is about to begin filming its highly-anticipated third season on HBO. Orji plays BFF Molly (a high-powered DTLA attorney) to Issa Rae's character, Issa. The show has been properly aplauded for being an important show with great roles with great roles for women as well as one that tackles social and race issues while avoiding cliches. "Molly can be insecure. Everyone can be insecure. And that happens in life. You have one thing set and then you don't. You’re dating someone, but then you want a new job. You have the job, but you don’t have the relationship. There are always things that aren't working." 

It's this kind of material, and the specifically multi-faceted role she's currently playing, that makes Orji love being a woman in this town. "Especially now," she says. "With the type of content we put out there and the content creators that are allowed to have their voices expressed." She brings up Living Single. “There were shows that were popular in the ‘90s that featured strong black characters, and then that fell off for a minute. There was a gap in programming." But shows like Living Single allowed for the progress and next iteration of strong black female-led comedies. i.e. you can be a high-profile black, female attorney who also doesn't have it all together. It's the true Millennial experience, where women, and here specifically black women, are more than one thing. 

When asked about the latest success of Wonder Woman and Gal Gadot (a fellow C&C 100 honoree), Orji quotes an article that talks about how true success will be when a female-led movie is allowed to fail and Hollywood will still make another. “Men have been failing for years. And they are still given development deals and big deals with studios. There is so much pressure on women. ‘Oh if this fails, Hollywood will NEVER make another movie like this. It HAS to be great.” It’s a dangerous setup. For Orji, “Divide and conquer doesn’t work here,” she says. Not if Hollywood wants to make progress. "Women helping other women is the way." And it's why she explains, "It’s so important for Issa and I and why we work really hard at it. It’s also more comfortable to look around a set and see a female sound tech, a female executive producer." She brings up award-winning director extraordinaire Ava duVernay, a champion for diversity in Hollywood. “It’s the same thing with directors like Ava. When people say, 'I don’t know another black actress.' Ava will say, 'Well, how about her?'” We bring up the all-female set of Zoe Lister-Jones’ movie Bandaid. “Ooh, checkmate, Hollywood,” she says. Except Orji isn’t sitting around waiting for Hollywood to make its move. She’s making her own. Taking her future into her own hands— a space where she is clearly comfortable. 

"I came to Hollywood as an intern in the writer’s room and I didn't really know what that meant, but I saw how much power exists in there. With First Gen [her semi-autobiographical sitcom that that draws loosely from Yvonne's stand-up routines and real life experiences] maybe I didn’t know structure, but I knew people. And you have to be willing to take the risk. At least for me. It was up to me to take this into my own hands." Thats’s the kind of go-getter she is. And that part is so crucial.

"I stand my ground and do my thing as me. I can go toe-to-toe with the next guy."

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"I stand my ground and do my thing as me. I can go toe-to-toe with the next guy. There is strength and power in being a woman: we are smart, we are creative, and we are compassionate. Are there great women out there doing amazing things, with a guy coming in not doing anything extravagant and everyone thinks what he’s doing is amazing, but yet she has to prove herself? Yes, that does still exist and it does still suck, but not to the point where I want to be something other than an African immigrant black woman. No, no, no! I’ll take my portion, I like it." 

She also notes there has to be more diversity because the women at the forefront of society are more diverse. “Who is going to play the First Lady (Michelle Obama), who is going to play Oprah?” she asks. (#Oprah2020.) Good questions.

We have a strong feeling she'll be in the running. 

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE ENTERTAINMENT LIST CLICK HERE. 

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Create & Cultivate 100: Fashion: Jennifer Meyer

COOL. CALM & TOTALLY KICKASS.

"You know when it’s a Jen Meyer piece. Her pieces have an identity.” So says stylist Karla Welch of jewelry designer Jen Meyer. A top-seller at luxe stores like Barney's New York, there is no mistaking when someone is rocking a Jennifer Meyer piece. Whether that someone is Jennifer Aniston or Gwyneth Paltrow, both of whom support the designer who has been hard at work since 2005 when she launched her jewelry line.  

Now over a decade later, she remains Hollywood's go-to red carpet jewelry designer as well as the designer women look to for casual, every day jewelry. Her versatility and ease is part of her charm. And it doesn't hurt that she's always rocking her own pieces-- she believes in them. It's the kind of jewelry you can wear on a first date. The kind of jewelry you can sleep in. Something you'd be proud to gift a friend. 

Kind, smart, creative, and opening her first boutique in LA... read more below. 

In addition to being one of THR's top 20 red carpet designers this year, you have two kids. You're busy. Is that why you haven't watched a show since Sex and the City?

I haven’t watched a show since Sex and the City, until Big Little Lies. I’m obsessed with Big Little Lies and I think the next show I will watch will be Reese and Jen’s new project because I love them both so much!

What's your secret sauce to getting it all done and doing it well?

It’s all about balance! I have an amazing family, support system and an awesome team at work! It’s important to prioritize each day. What needs that little bit of extra attention? Is it work? Kids? A best friend? You stop and concentrate on the things that need it most.

What's your biggest pet peeve?

I have to say dishonesty and cattiness. Nothing is more important to me than being honest and supportive of one another – in all aspects of my life.

What would you consider your superpower?

As a mom of two, a CEO and someone who loves margaritas with her friends, I shock myself how well I function on such little sleep!

When you run into a career obstacle, what drives you forward?

I look at obstacles as learning experiences. I always try to take my time and assess the situation and respond with a clear head. What drives me forward is knowing where there’s a problem, there’s a solution.

Speaking of superpowers, if you had to build an apocalypse team of 5, who would be on it and why?

My dad – he always knows what to do and say. My kids Ruby and Otis – of course, I can’t live without them! My two favorite Sara(h)’s: Sara Foster and my sister Sarah Meyer – for moral and comedic support and the balance they bring to my life. And probably Nobu Matsuhisa – for the best sushi… we gotta eat!

Not to go too dark, but who would be the last one standing?

This is the ultimate team – we would all stand together. No one would be left behind!

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Let's go back to biz. What's been the most challenging part of running a company with your name attached to it?

As the company grew, I had to let go of being involved in every single moment and decision, but lucky for me I have an incredible team behind me that represents the brand beautifully.

What would you like people to know about your job and day-to-day that they might not know?

I love that I get to start my day by taking my kids to school and end it with family dinner. In between, I collaborate with my amazing team, have business meetings, attend important events, and have weekly taco dates with my girlfriends. I have a lot of balls in the air and somehow manage not to drop too many. My kids remind me when I start the day and end the day that I have everything in the world to be grateful for. I try and remind myself, and those around me, that your day to day attitude determines the outcome of it all!

Any other exciting projects you're working on that you can tell us about?

Yes! I’m so excited to be designing and opening my first boutique in Los Angeles. It’s always been a dream of mine and watching it actually happen is beyond exciting. I finally feel like I’m giving my jewelry a home.

How do you continue to engage the Jennifer Meyer Jewelry audience in this digital age?

Social media is key, which is no surprise! I love to oversee our Instagram, so my team and I come up with all of our content. I find it really important in this age of social media to be authentic, and I think my audience is savvy and able to tell the difference. I’m just as excited to post a great earring shot, as I am a picture of my best friends. It’s all part of the brand. It’s me. It's my life. When you see me and my friends, my family, my quotes, etc… that comes straight from the heart and is exactly what I want to share at the time.

As someone who grew up in LA before the dawn of IG. Do you feel like you understand digital and social media well?

I’m learning something new every day! Lucky for me, I have smart, young awesome people on my team that know a lot more about digital and social media than I do – they give me lots of tips!

What's your favorite piece of biz advice you've ever received?

Be kind always. And my dad has always said to me: “Assumption is the mother of all fuck-ups”

What's a piece of biz advice you ignored, but you kinda wish you hadn't?

I never ignore good advice!

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE FASHION LIST CLICK HERE. 

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Create & Cultivate 100: Entrepreneur: Lisa Sugar

THE DIGITAL PIONEER

Lisa Sugar is as OG as a digital pop culture trailblazer can be.

As founder and president of POPSUGAR, the eponymous global media empire she started with her husband “when social media wasn’t a thing and the iPhone wasn’t invented yet,” Sugar oversees the business side of company she built from the ground up.

With a global audience of over 400 million and 3.1 billion views, POPSUGAR is an addictive information destination for the digital generation, spanning entertainment, fashion, beauty, fitness, food and parenting. “I took a risk and started something completely different on my own,” says the former ad exec, noting that managing excel spreadsheets and budgets were not her calling.

For more on how this internet maven made it, read on below.

Name: Lisa Sugar

Instagram: @lisapopsugar

You were an internet trailblazer. A pop culture digital pioneer. What was it like in the early days?

It was a blur of writing, writing, writing — digging for the next story and writing some more. I became so addicted to how fast I could write and finding something first. I had to force myself to take breaks. I also knew I needed to stay in touch with my readers to maintain momentum and I was addicted to the feedback and the thrill of cultivating an engaged community. We spent so much time in the comments and creating forums for our most passionate and active users. Everything was so new and there was no playbook yet!

We had to test and try new things all the time and figure out what our audience responded to the most and do more of it. We had such an amazing time finding stellar talent. There are so many creative people who are passionate about learning more about their fields and becoming experts. I also loved partnering with similar sites and working together in ways that were considered totally taboo by traditional companies. We had to exude our passion for what we were creating at POPSUGAR so investors, employees or partners would feel confident and take the risk to work with us! Oh, I also had my first daughter, Katie, in the midst of the first year launching POPSUGAR. It was a family affair — I started the company with my husband, Brian, and some very close friends joined us early on. We were such a tight group — we still are. Katie was born literally on our first official day of team training. Those first few years, she was in the office with us every day. POPSUGAR was a creative explosion we were all caught up in.

What from your past prepared for such a massive undertaking?

So many experiences from growing up prepared me to become a leader. Most impactful was seeing how much my father loved his job and how well he treated every person in his office. He greeted the mail room attendees, the receptionists and his assistants with the same smiles, hugs or handshakes as he did his partners or his own bosses. I loved seeing that. I was an avid soccer player growing up and loved team sports. I learned not only to play at the top of your game but also how crucial it is to encourage others and to collaborate. I also married young and moved across the country three months after to a place where I knew no one but my husband. Starting life over was a challenge. Not only did I make new friends that are like family, but I was also able to get my self-confidence strong enough to take a risk to start POPSUGAR with Brian. We became a husband-wife team who could tackle anything together.

Did you have a feeling it would be huge?

I had a feeling we were on to something when I saw the audience grow so quickly. Within a year of starting POPSUGAR, I had 1 million readers, and that felt incredible! That said, if you had told me when we started that I was founding a company with 360 employees and a global audience of 300M, I’m not sure I would have believed you ;)

What are the common challenges you've seen among female business owners and entrepreneurs?

Being an entrepreneur is extra challenging for a woman, so it’s important to not go at it alone. In my case, I built POPSUGAR with my husband, Brian, but for others just starting, it’s about finding support through a community that includes anyone you think may be helpful. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, recommendations and connections from those you think would be interested or helpful. Another obvious challenge is the everyday juggle of family and work. When you find a job you love so much, you want to spend time investing it in, but you also love your family more than anything imaginable. That is a tough push-pull that never goes away, and unfortunately, it also is the basis for the larger gender bias that exists around the world. We all need to be more conscious of it. I am personally very tuned in to the challenges of balancing a family and a career, and at POPSUGAR, we have worked hard at making the transition back to work as easy as possible. In my life, and in many women’s lives, balance is important but often hard to achieve. I find it helps to be very present wherever you are at any given time.

"Being an entrepreneur is extra challenging for a woman, so it’s important to not go at it alone."

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Where do your drive and passion come from?

Our audience and fans and my family continue to drive me to keep going, whether it’s challenging us to reevaluate our content, to think differently, or to get excited about a new product or site launch. The beauty of being such a young company is our jobs have grown and changed so much over the years that every day seems like it’s a new job. I want to make sure it’s also just as much fun and fulfilling for our new hires as it is to those who have been with us for the entire 11 years.

When you run into a career obstacle, what drives you forward?

So much of the media industry involves change. I learned early on you need to keep moving forward and innovating to survive. When we started, social media wasn’t a thing and the iPhone wasn’t even invented yet. Now, new platforms and mobile are an extremely important outlet for us. We can reach millions of more people thanks to them. It also means we have to think about how to budget more efficiently or adapt content for various audiences. As much as we’ve grown and changed, one thing I draw the line at is our voice and tone. I protect our supportive and kind POV. That's built into POPSUGAR’s DNA and it’s here to stay.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

I am the person who would give you a look of death if you were tapping your pen in class. I can’t stand annoying small noises when I am trying hard to concentrate.

What are your biggest fears about running a business?

Maintaining our success, of course, is always on my mind. Brian and I have so many people and their families depending on our continued growth. From there, fostering an atmosphere where people can thrive and are really be happy is a perpetual thought. I want to make sure kindness is part of everyone’s experience at POPSUGAR and I’m vigilant about banishing any whiff of a Mean Girls culture from taking hold. :)

What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?

What people don’t know is that I am a total beauty junkie! I love beauty products and have to test items for our Must Have subscription box and also for our upcoming beauty line, Beauty by POPSUGAR. It’s one of my favorite “work” demands :)

Every day there is someone in your shadow. How can we stay original when we are so saturated with other people's work?

We see ourselves as a family and I do my best to be really supportive of all of our entire staff. We’re successful because we let our great staff shine and find their unique voices. Every writer is original, and that’s why people keep coming back to us. If our competitors are imitating us, it’s a compliment, but we will continue to be first, purposeful and feel-good as always. Also, it’s extremely important to take the extra time to figure out the unique angle — what is the POPSUGAR POV for each story? We make sure our team works smarter to avoid going down the most obvious route.

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

Our team! I love growing up with them. We started this company when I was 29. It’s been such a wild ride. It’s been so fulfilling to watch so many of our early staff members grow into tremendous, confident leaders. I love that. It makes me feel great. Our company mantra is “work hard, play nice,” and seeing that infuse every aspect of POPSUGAR makes me go to sleep with a smile on my face.

If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?

Oh, this is a fun but tough question. I love the idea of a day in the life of Victoria Beckham. To be able to design clothes, create a beauty line, be a mom to 4 adorable kids and a wife to David Beckham seems like a dream job ;) I’d say the same of Drew Barrymore too — wine, beauty line, clothing line, plus entertainment — seems like the best variety of ways to be creative. These women have worked hard and created their own paths in life to success. They continue to be creative in new ways and juggle new challenges each year.

You've said that one of the reasons you saw success was because you learned to speak up. At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?

I spent the early years of my career in advertising and it didn’t exactly foster a speak-up environment. I knew it wasn’t for me. Managing multimillion-dollar budgets in various Excel charts was not my calling. In my spare time, I was writing reviews, testing beauty products and taking any work breaks to search online and go down rabbit holes to be the first to know something new. Ultimately, it led me to speak up in a totally new way — through my writing by starting POPSUGAR. I took a risk and started something completely different on my own, and that was the first step toward truly finding my own voice. Since we started the company from scratch, I was comfortable speaking up and made sure all new employees felt the same way. It was always very collaborative. I’ve had to rend my voice as we’ve grown or my job has taken me down new roads to do more keynotes, panels, and presentations to complete strangers. This was scary at first, but I find the more I do it, the more I feel confident in who I have become today.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?

The best advice I’ve ever received was from my dad when I was little: he told me to do what I love. It sounds so simple, but it’s not and sadly most of us don’t. His advice has never failed me.

What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?

Ha, I’m not much of a sing-in-the-shower girl, but I am happy to always blast music in my kitchen or working out. If I’m having a bad day, I’d probably throw on “Freedom!90” by George Michael, Rihanna’s “Must Be Love on the Brain” and/or “May I Have This Dance” by Francis and the Lights featuring Chance the Rapper.

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Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Myleik Teele

THE QUEEN OF CURLS. 

If you didn’t know that America’s first black millionaire was haircare entrepreneur Madam C. J. Walker, now ya do. And yet, despite the well established buying power of women of color, the market for black beauty is still shockingly scarce.

Myleik Teele, creator of Curlbox, aims to give black women options. With her subscription box of curly hair products, Teele is making the “black hair experience fun and beautiful for black women” by creating a service that lets women experiment with multiple products for the price of one. “The hardest part of launching curlBOX was convincing brands how important and needed this service was,” explains Teele, of the industry’s close-mindedness. “We aren’t always at the top of the marketing budgets though we're spending a lot.”

More the Myliek below. 

Name: Myleik Teele

Instagram Handle: @myleik

Business Instagram Handle: @curlbox

What was the impetus for starting the CurlBOX?

I wanted make the black hair experience fun and beautiful for Black women.

We love the advice you've doled out on Medium. Specifically, do the worst first. What was the "worst" or the hardest part of launching CurlBOX?

The hardest part of launching curlBOX was convincing brands how important and needed this service was.

The beauty industry seems a little split-- there's natural and there's contour. And there doesn't seem to be a lot of in between. What direction do you hope the industry is heading?

I hope the industry is heading toward freedom and options. A woman should be able to do whatever she sees fit.

And how will CurlBOX be a part of that convo?

We are here to provide women with another option. If a woman chooses to wear her hair in it's natural state, we have something for her.

Where do your drive and passion come from?

I am deeply passionate about creating solutions for women of color. Seeing those things come to fruition and seeing women who have long been neglected excited about their hair is what keeps me going. I'm here to make things better.

What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty is being comfortable in your own skin.

Do you remember a moment when you first felt beautiful?

I can't recall the exact moment but I'd say around 19 or 20 when I found ways to enhance my features

What are your biggest fears about running a business?

I don't really have any fears running a business. I'm here to do my best and in the event, my services are no longer needed I'll move on to something else.

What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?

I am an advocate for women of color. While the business has gotten popular over the years, I've spent a lot of time explaining our process (what we want to buy, how we want to feel, how we'd like to be sold) to companies. We aren't always at the top of the marketing budgets though we're spending a lot.

IYO-- How can we stay original when we are so saturated with other people's work?

While it's OK to be inspired by others, there's someone out there that's looking for the original you. Someone is looking for you so that they'll have permission to be themselves. Why be a second-best someone else when you can be YOU?

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

My company is ran mostly by women. The future is female and we are proof.

If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?

I'd love to trade jobs with Guy Raz, the host of "How I Built This" podcast. He gets to talk to some amazing entrepreneurs. I love hearing stories of success because there's always a hurdle and love hearing how each person made it over.

At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?

I spent about three years as an executive assistant to a high prole PR VP and after working with her and learning the ropes, I felt like I had something to offer. Once I learned a skill I was unstoppable.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?

The best piece of advice I've ever been given is to network with people who are currently on your level. Don't break your neck to befriend the CEO if that's not where you are. You and your peers will rise together.

When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?

A bump is an opportunity to learn a new skill. I'm excited to find ways to get over it. I'll either knock it down or build a bridge around it but I won't be stuck.

What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?

"No Weapon" by Fred Hammond.

TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE BEAUTY LIST CLICK HERE. 

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Create & Cultivate 100: Content Creator: Denise Vasi

MINDFUL AF.

Denise Vasi has it Maed. 

The actress (lead on the hit show Single Ladies) mother to Lennox Mae, wife to director Anthony Mandler, and founder of Maed, the soon-to-be launched lifestyle site committed to impact. Self-care tops her list of priorities. As does fostering open and honest convo, whether that's with Lennox, or her hundreds of thousands of IG followers. Denise is constantly dolling out her truth with her own spin on old adages.

"One day, or day one. You decide." 

"The past is a place of reference. Not a place of residence." 

"Be soft, kind, and loving. But also take nobody's shit." 

She doesn't settle and she doesn't want you to either. She has it "made" because she made it herself. A Brooklyn native, Vasi signed to Ford Models at the age of 12. "For modeling they said I was too tiny, I wasn’t Caucasian enough, I wasn’t African American enough, I wasn’t Latina enough.  They kept saying no but I kept moving forward and fighting my way in everyone’s door."

And we're glad she did. 

More from Denise below.

Name: Denise Vasi

Instagram: @densievasi

Where do your drive and passion come from?

Launching Maed has always been about creating impact. Surely there will be shifts while the brand evolves but Maed strives to inspire others and that will always remain the heart of my brand. Being impactful is the force that drives me.

When you run into a career obstacle, what drives you forward?

I used to be easily stymied by obstacles, so I had to change my way of thinking. Knowing that any challenge at hand was actually an opportunity to educate myself, a chance to dig deeper, ask myself more questions and that ultimately from it all I would grow--- holding on to that is what pushes me through.

"Any challenge at hand is a opportunity, a chance to dig deeper." 

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What is your biggest pet peeve?

People who don't deliver all that they say they will.

What are your biggest fears about running a business?

Letting my mind get in my way of my creative process.

What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?

That it's not a job it's a passion project. I love what I am creating and I love the community that I'm creating it for.

IYO-- How can we stay original when we are so saturated by other people's work?

I think because of the access we have today, it's hard to say 100 percent that we are not somewhat informed by others. That's not necessarily a bad thing. I do believe that the past informs the present and that to be great at what you do, you should study those that came before you. That being said there's a slippery slope between being influenced by and imitating someone's work or style. For me, I stay original by sticking to what I immediately gravitate to and staying true to my creative eye. When something does inspire me, I look at how I can dig deeper or build on the concept. Adding value to something is the most positive way to pay homage IMO. Also, you should always give credit where credit is due!

Being impactful is the force that drives me.

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

That the path laid out for me is my own.

If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?

OPRAH... need I say more?!

At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?

I've always been on the journey to becoming the woman I am today whether I knew it in those exact moments or not. Things definitely changed after I gave birth to my daughter. Soon after, I figured out I wasn't ready to go back to acting. While I didn't exactly know what was next for me I felt so incredibly empowered-- I knew I could do anything.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?

Build meaningful relationships and look at others in your space as potential partners. Rather than viewing them as competition try to create dynamic ways to collaborate.

When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?

I sit back and evaluate the situation, then I make a list of all the possible solutions. Writing things down really helps me work thru things. I also have a group of 3-4 people that I reach out to when I need to brainstorm.

What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?

Whichever nursery song I listened to 72 times the night before while putting my daughter to sleep :)

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE CONTENT CREATOR LIST CLICK HERE. 

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Create & Cultivate 100: Health & Wellness: Lauren Ash

NAMA-SLAY.

photo credit: Deun Ivory

Lauren Ash is putting the OM in HOME. 

A wellness visionary, yoga and meditation teacher, creative writer, and founder of the culture-shifting lifestyle brand synonymous with black women’s wellness—Black Girl In Om, Lauren is creating safe and honest space. 

A space where women of color can close their eyes and feel surrounded by sisters. 

Through BGIO, Lauren creates and cultivates meaningful experiences and content for a hugely marginalized community. From the BGIO podcast—which has reached more than half a million listeners—to holistic self-care retreats, Lauren considers her work an act of compassion, belonging, and ultimately a space she once needed and didn’t see.

More from Lauren below. 

Name: Lauren Ash

Instagram Handle: @hellolaurenash

Business Instagram Handle: @blackgirlinom

Your site says, “Black Girl In Om creates space for women of color to breathe easy” what does breathing easy consist of?

Consider what it takes to breathe easy in the physical body: clean and safe air, lack of mental stressors causing you to breathe at a constricted, accelerated rate, and perhaps even the removal of constricting external forces on your chest, belly, and throat. Women of color are disproportionately faced with a greater number of challenges, ranging from economical and social, to health and psychological, so breathing easy is often a task much more complicated for us. However, when we remember that wellness is our birthright, and not some new, elite thing reserved only for the privileged, we begin to shift our paradigm and realize the possibilities that come with approaching breathing easy through simple, accessible practices such as compassionate exchanges with each other, a few moments of silence during the middle of a stressful day, and arming self-talk. Preventative and holistic self-care and selflove allows us all to breathe a little easier and slowly but surely it can become a lifestyle. This is what Black Girl In Om is all about.

What is your definition of holistic health for women?

Holistic health for me refers to experiencing wholeness in mind, body, and soul. Sometimes we feel fractured, and that’s okay. It’s important that we experience those fractures to know what wholeness feels like.

It’s important that we experience fractures to know what wholeness feels like.

When you were launching your platform what fears or doubts did you have to move past?

The fear that I would get in my own way. I experienced a tremendous amount of support from an intimate group of people who mattered a lot to me in the very beginning. I experienced some external fear and doubt from those who didn’t know what great resolve and determination I had and I allowed that to only fuel me. I believe that I’ve always known that the only force that could stop me would be me.

What’s the legacy you want to leave on your community?

The same legacy that my Grandmother Lillian Lazenberry-Martin left for me and everyone blessed by her presence: the feeling of true affirmation and support; the power of resilience and determination; the beauty in good vibes, a brilliant smile, and how good it feels to be taken care of. Also, a feeling of belonging and deservedness. Thanks to technology, I’m able to reach even more women than my Grandmother and continue to be an extension of the amazing legacy she left.

What advice do you have for women working towards cultivating the career of their dreams?

Don’t leave your Self out of the equation. When you dream up your ideal career, ensure that it involves prioritizing your energy, your spirit, your personal development. Approach your career from a holistic perspective.

"When you dream up your ideal career, ensure that it involves prioritizing your energy, your spirit, your personal development."

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What is your biggest pet peeve?

When someone interprets someone else’s glow-up as their downfall. Can’t we all shine together?

What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?

I work in my pajamas and headscarf more than half of the time.

What about your career makes you feel the most complete?

That at thirty years old, and in my third year of being a creative entrepreneur, I finally feel empowered and equipped to thrive in my career while simultaneously thriving in my wellness journey. It’s been an ebb and ow thus far, but I’ve made recent decisions, changes, and investments and 2018 I’m making it all happen. The amazing thing is that this moment has been so tremendously supported by my team, our incredible global community, and my close friends and especially my Mother. This goes back to what I said earlier: only I can stand in the way of my own growth and potential!

If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?

I feel enormously blessed with my path and wouldn’t trade it for the world. However, if you absolutely forced me to, I would swap with Issa Rae. She, like me, cultivated a very specific platform, Awkward Black Girl, on her own terms for quite some time. She did so with limited resources because she knew it was a narrative worth telling and knew that there was a community of people longing to see themselves represented. Now, she has overwhelming support and resources at her fingertips to continue to do what she’s always done. And she keeps it real. She is unapologetically Issa. On and off the screen. Always. I love her for that.

At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?

Honestly, I’ve always been confident. Thankfully, from a young age, my family poured encouragement and affirmation into me and supported my creativity and expression. But I think that the confidence level has boosted from the stories of women in my community who has been inspired by my work and the mission of Black Girl In Om. Ranging from how BGIO has inspired them to prioritize their wellness and seek out support to how I have personally inspired them to become a yoga teacher or dramatically change their career to be in alignment with their values, it is these stories that remind me that I can be confident in my purpose and my path because it is quite literally transforming countless women’s lives. That’s what it is about. I’m simply a vessel; a vessel of inspiration and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?

My Grandmother always told me “don’t take any wooden nickels” which basically means don’t put up with bullshit, ha! Seriously, though, she was speaking to a certain level of spiritual discernment and intuition which I’ve always tried to hone. My best friend Chelsea shared with me years ago what remains to be my favorite mantra: what is for you can’t be taken from you. This helps me time and time again as it reminds me to let things go, trust, and move on.

"What is for you can’t be taken from you."

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When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?

Challenges breed innovation and creativity. I try to embrace challenges as opportunities. This is a must for anyone who wants to be in it for the long haul as a creative entrepreneur. My strategies include meditation and yoga, talking about the “bump” with people outside of my industry, and (importantly) not freaking out.

What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?

Jamila Woods’ “LSD” (and any song off of her HEAVN album!) because it’s such a beautiful reminder of self-love, my divinity, and my worth.

TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE WELLNESS LIST CLICK HERE. 

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Create & Cultivate 100: Fashion: Jasmin Larian

THE CULT (GAIA) LEADER.

Meet Jasmin Larian, the LA-based designer behind Instagram’s coveted crescent-shaped bamboo “Ark” bag.

As founder of Cult Gaia, a lifestyle label known for its feminine yet sculptural silhouettes, Larian created an accidentally iconic handbag beloved by blogger babes and Beyoncé. But before there were sold out carryalls, there were festival-favorite flower crowns. Handmade by the FIT grad, it was boho-headwear that first put her on the map.

While the internet has a tendency to make success appear as though it happened overnight, it actually took two years before the Ark compelled anyone to bite. “Start with one iconic product and be patient. I think it takes much longer than one season for a 'it' item to reach critical mass.”

More from Jasmin below.

Name: Jasmin Larian 

Instagram: 

You side-hustled flower crowns before they hit critical mass. We're always curious about trendsetting and trendsetters. What made you think, this is gonna be a thing?

It was an easily recognizable piece which is what makes it iconic. It also had an emotional element to it where it made you feel special in one way or another when you were wearing it. I think those are two important things that are built into our brand DNA.

What kind of a kid were you? Creative? Outgoing? Dressed yourself?

All of the above!

What was your fave book as a child?

Richard Scarry's "Best Storybook Ever."

What most inspires you now?

Nature and vintage chairs are often a source of inspiration, but I nd inspiration in almost everything.

Obviously having a celeb like Jessica Alba helps brand recognition. But it's so much harder than that. What would you like people to know about launching an "it" bag and brand that they might not?

Start with one iconic product and be patient. I think it takes much longer than one season for an 'it' item to reach critical mass if happens organically, which is ideal. I also think content and imagery are key to having people understand how they can pull a piece off.

"Start with one iconic product and be patient." 

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And now, you've expanded into full ready-to-wear. As a business owner how did you know it was time?

I was making my own clothes my whole life, and people were asking me if they could purchase them anywhere. I also didn't want to do any shoots with other brands clothes so decided it was time to round out the lifestyle aesthetic of our Gaia girl.

What do you think is your secret weapon?

Product innovation, restlessness, and my team.

As a woman in the world of fashion, what are some obstacles you've come up against?

I'm learning to be a better manager, leader, wife, daughter, friend, communicator, and creator all at once and there's a lot of pressure as a woman to do it all gracefully- but I'm learning.

What are you most excited for in your industry?

Less waste, less seasons and more focus.

Photo Credit: @davisfactor

Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai

TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE FASHION LIST CLICK HERE. 

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Create & Cultivate 100: Music: Lion Babe

LIVING OUT LOUD.

Hear her roar. 

Never has the name of a musical group so perfectly encapsulated it's lead singer. 

Jillian Hervey is Lion Babe.

One half of the electro soul duo hailing from NYC, the singular songstress is enigmatic both vocally and visually. She is king of her jungle. After Pharrell watched one of the duo's first music videos on his phone, he flew Jillian, and band producer Lucas Goodman to his Miami studio. 

That song, "Treat Me Like Fire," released in 2012 was only the beginning of Lion Babe's spark. With songs like "Wonder Woman," which talks about female empowerment. Jillian has soul in her DNA. The daughter of singer/actress Vanessa Williams and music manager Ramon Hervey II (Babyface, Natalie Cole), she was raised listening to the likes of Chaka Khan. 

She fierce, fresh, and unapologetic, recently explaining, "I honestly think that any women or person that says you should be dressing [or behaving a certain] way to avoid unwanted sexual advances, or else, is inviting negative behavior . . . Please, I have no time for it.”

But man, do we have time for her. (And you should too.) 

More from Jillian below. 

When you first made the jump from dancer to singer, was it as smooth as your voice? (JK but not really. We jam to your music in the office all day.)

Thank you for the love, I definitely know my dance experience informs my rhythms and influences. The transition to singing was actually pretty drastic for me. With dance, you are moving through large spaces with lots of light, bodies, and sweating, whereas with singing, it's more introspective, still, and you're usually creating in dark small spaces. I've never been one to sit still, so that was hard to adjust to. The creative space is crucial to me.

Your mom was the first black Miss America but had her titled unfairly taken away. And then went on to have an amazing career. What has she taught you about resiliency and strength?

She has taught me that we come from a long line of strong individuals. She always told me and my siblings about women and men in history who are black that have paved the way because of their resilience. It's in our blood. But mainly her teaching is by example. She always stays true to herself. She always takes risks and does the things she wants to do, because she knows she can. She has that will and believes in herself.

You've been compared to the likes of Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu. What does that feel like?

It doesn't really feel real still, those two women, in particular, have such a special place in my upbringing, that it's too nice of a compliment. I wanted them, The Spice Girls and Brandy to join a supergroup. The only thing I think people really are comparing is the feeling. Both women have super unique tones, flows and artistry and a very strong sense of self. Those are definitely attributes that I value and try to do for LION BABE.

What do you know about self-love today that you weren't so sure of ve years ago?

5 years ago I was just getting out of college, so I was still very scattered and was just beginning to dive into myself. I now know through more experience, practice, break ups and time, that I have a formula that when it's honored I am good. Staying creative and dancing always gives me confidence, traveling always keeps me grounded and allows me to experience and know myself differently, and gratitude for the things from the littlest to the biggest helps to put it all into perspective. The more your honor your spirit and soul, the more that energy grows around you. Also, I remind myself that life is always transforming, each moment, so there is always the opportunity to change.

"The more your honor your spirit and soul, the more that energy grows around you."

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When you come across a career obstacle what drives you forward?

The vision. If you can see something, the battles aren't so scary, you just have to adjust your map on how to get there.

What makes you feel powerful?

Being on stage is powerful because it is pure energy.

What would you call your superpower?

My intuition.

Did you always know you wanted to be a performer?

I have been performing since I was little so it was just a part of me. I didn't know exactly how it would manifest but I have always loved it.

What's been the hardest part of the music industry world for you?

The number of egos, fear, and pressure that get created for no reason.

Since the beginning, you've chosen to work with and be represented by a group of women. Why did you make this decision?

Being a woman, and writing as a woman, I can't help but think of our perspective so it just came naturally. I've always wanted to lift women up. Lucas aka Astro Raw and I are LION BABE together though, so I think there is just as much of a male presence as well. Our goal is to be universal and inclusive.

What's your favorite time of day to write?

Anytime after 3pm. I need my sunlight.

What do you sing in the shower?

Warm ups, jazz or Christmas songs (when it's in season.)

TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE MUSIC LIST CLICK HERE. 

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