5 Black Financial Educators Who Are Empowering Us to Take Control of Our Finances
Teaching us how to budget, pay off debt, and more.
Photo: Courtesy of Tonya Rapley
Welcome to 5 for 5, where we spotlight 5 women in 5 minutes or less.
It’s no secret that Black women are not paid fairly. On average, Black women are paid 37% less than white men and 20% less than white women for doing the same work, according to LeanIn.org. But despite the stats, Black women *can* build wealth. Ahead are five financial educators who are advocating for change, empowering women to take control of their finances, and pushing these stats in the right direction.
1. Dasha Kennedy
Dasha Kennedy, a.k.a. @thebrokeblackgirl, doesn’t hold back when it comes to sharing tips for assessing personal debt, reaching a big financial goal, and implementing a financial wellness self-care routine.
2. Tonya Rapley
The “Millennial Money Expert” and founder of My Fab Finance, Tonya Rapley, is on a mission to help 100,000 people make at least one money decision they’re proud of, whether it’s buying a home or saving money on a trip.
3. Tiffany Aliche
Known as @thebudgetnista on Instagram, Tiffany Aliche breaks down big goals like building wealth, paying off a mortgage, and buying a home while paying off student debt into achievable (dare we say simple) steps.
4. Marsha Barnes
The brains behind @thefinancebar, Marsha Barnes is a must-follow for friendly reminders to engage with your finances, adjust your budgeting plan, and start an emergency fund, as well as tips on how to follow through.
5. Jamila Souffrant
The founder of @journeytolaunch, Jamila Souffrant, is all about helping people grow their savings, get out of debt, and gain financial freedom and independence. (Psst… her podcast, Journey to Launch, is a must-listen!)
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5 Clean Beauty Founders on Instagram Who Will Inspire You to Level Up Your Beauty Routine
They're must-follows.
Welcome to 5 for 5, where we spotlight 5 women in 5 minutes or less.
From an innovative founder who’s gained the attention of Vogue, Into the Gloss, and Beyoncé by redefining what it means to be a sustainable skincare brand to an Estée Lauder and Ipsy alum who’s centering South Asian beauty, these must-follow founders are transforming the clean beauty industry.
1. Gloria Noto
Former makeup artist and founder of Noto Botanics, a sustainable and ethical skincare and beauty brand, Gloria Noto is a must-follow for anyone who believes that self-care is a radical tool for resilience.
2. Priscilla Tsai
Priscilla Tsai is on a mission to bring more transparency to the beauty industry through her clean skincare brand, Cocokind. Follow her on Instagram for brand updates and launches (and very relatable baby content).
3. Abena Boamah-Acheampong
With recognition from Vogue, Into the Gloss, The Cut, Essence, and Beyoncé (NBD), Abena Boamah-Acheampong has solidified her space in the beauty industry with her sustainable skincare brand Hanahana Beauty. Stay ahead of the curve by following the industry leader on IG.
4. Priyanka Ganjoo
After working at Estée Lauder and Ipsy, Priyanka Ganjoo stepped out on her own to launch a clean makeup brand, Kulfi Beauty, that centers and celebrates South Asian beauty. Tap “follow” to keep up with the up-and-coming clean beauty founder.
5. Giovanna Campagna
As the founder of the buzzy skincare brand Joaquina Botánica, Giovanna Campagna is bringing Latin America’s best-kept skincare secrets to the masses. Hit “follow” on her IG feed for skincare tips and tricks (not to mention adorable pics of her baby).
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5 Women in Beer Who Are Inspiring Us to Crack Open a Cold One on Instagram
Grab that bottle opener.
Photo: Kampus Production for Pexels
Welcome to 5 for 5, where we spotlight 5 women in 5 minutes or less.
It’s no secret that craft beer has a diversity problem. According to a recent survey conducted by the Brewers Association, only about 7.5% of brewers are women and a staggering 88% of brewery owners are white. Ahead, we’re spotlighting five women in beer who are inspiring us to crack open a cold one on Instagram.
1. Beny Ashburn
As the co-founder of Crowns & Hops Brewing Company, a Black-owned craft beer brand and brewery based in Inglewood, California, Beny Ashburn is out here proving that Black people love beer (which just so happens to be the name of one of the brewery’s signature beers).
2. Jessica Martínez
Shortly after winning the first-ever amateur brewers competition she entered, Jessica Martínez launched her own microbrewery, Malteza Cervecería, in Mexico City. Follow the brewer on Instagram to find out which refreshing craft brews she’s currently sipping on.
3. Hannah Gohde
The head brewer at Naked Brewing, a craft brewery located in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, Hannah Gohde is a self-proclaimed #lipstickbrewer. On Instagram, she shares a behind-the-scenes view of what it’s like to brew beer from start to (sometimes) messy finish.
4. Brienne Allan
In addition to being a production manager at Notch Brewing in Salem, Massachusetts, Brienne Allan is using her platform to call attention to what it’s like to be a woman in craft beer, bringing the #MeToo movement to the craft beer industry. Something that’s, quite frankly, long overdue.
5. Alisa Bowens-Mercado
Noticing a lack of craft lagers on the market, Alisa Bowens-Mercado founded Rhythm Brewing Co., a New Haven, Connecticut-based beer company specializing in unfiltered lagers, which is something of an homage to her grandmothers, who were both beer drinkers.
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5 Travel Founders Who Are Giving Us Serious OOO FOMO on Instagram
Put that PTO to good use.
Photo: Spencer Davis from Pexels
Welcome to 5 for 5, where we spotlight 5 women in 5 minutes or less.
We don’t know about you, but we’re currently daydreaming about signing out of Slack, setting our OOO emails, and getting far, far away from our WFH desk situations. Ahead are five travel founders who are seriously fueling our OOO FOMO and inspiring us to submit a PTO request, stat.
1. Katalina Mayorga
As the co-founder of El Camino Travel, an off-the-beaten-path travel company, and Casa Violeta, a private villa located in Granada, Nicaragua, it’s no surprise that Katalina Mayorga’s feed is filled with beautiful beaches, colorful streets, and unreal sunsets.
2. Marta Tucci
Travel photographer, writer, and co-founder of Naya Traveler, a travel company specializing in tailor-made journeys to destinations spanning Spain, Morocco, Argentina, and more, Marta Tucci documents her travels to everywhere from Bahia to Bali and Kashmir.
3. Cheraé Robinson
Cheraé Robinson, the founder of Tastemaker Africa, a platform that connect travelers with a range of unique tours and experiences created and hosted by artists, creators, and makers, shares swoon-worthy snaps from Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Cape Verde, and more.
4. Achiraya Thamparipattra
The co-founder of Hivesters, an award-winning travel social enterprise created to preserve and help Thai culture flourish, Achiraya Thamparipattra often posts photos from her adventures in Phuket, Ayutthaya, Phang Nga, and more destinations throughout Thailand.
5. Phaka Dludla Hlazo
As the founder of Zulu Nomad, Phaka Dludla Hlazo is providing curated experiences in East and Southern Africa. Her IG feed is an enviable travel bucket list, featuring photos from UNESCO World Heritage site Maloti-Drakensberg Park in South Africa, Stone Town of Zanzibar, and more.
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5 Mental Health Advocates to Follow on Instagram
A friendly reminder to take care of yourself.
Welcome to 5 for 5, where we spotlight 5 women in 5 minutes or less.
As we navigate yet another year of pandemic-induced #WFH life, it’s no surprise that burnout and Zoom fatigue are setting in. In fact, more than 70% of employees report being burnt out. In light of this staggering stat and in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re sharing five mental health advocates to follow on Instagram.
1. Elyse Fox
The founder of Sad Girls Club, a nonprofit organization committed to providing mental health resources for Black women and POC, Elyse Fox is creating much-needed space for women of color in wellness.
2. Esmé Weijun Wang
On the page and on social media, New York Times bestselling author Esmé Weijun Wang is an advocate for people living with chronic illness and schizoaffective disorder.
3. Anna Zoe
Anna Zoe speaks up for mental health, autism, the LGBTQ+ community, and more. Her powerful posts address important topics such as how the mainstream education system fails neurodiverse people.
4. Larissa May
Founder of #HalftheStory, an organization that empowers people to reevaluate their relationship with social media, Larissa May is bringing digital wellbeing to the forefront of the broader mental health conversation.
5. Bunny Michael
Think of artist Bunny Michael’s posts as friendly reminders to treat yourself with kindness, take care of yourself, express yourself, and, most importantly, love and accept yourself. Because you are worth it.
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5 Career-Focused TikTokers Who Are Making Us Lolz
Tik Tok, love it or hate, it is here to stay.
Welcome to 5 for 5, where we spotlight 5 women in 5 minutes or less.
Tik Tok, love it or hate, it is here to stay. The platform has seen explosive growth from consumers and creators alike, creating new celebrities and a new distraction for all of us with endless scrolling. In true Create & Cultivate fashion, we love a self-deprecating work meme as much as anyone else and these ladies are doing Oscar-worthy work.
1. Corporate Natalie
Natalie, who actually has a corporate job, nails the hilarity and awkwardness of the Zoom-era with her quippy TikToks. And did we mention she is part of the Create & Cultivate family? Yep! She spoke on our micro-influencer panel at Content Camp. FOMO? All good, check out our membership here.
2. The Shift Creative
Entrepreneur and creative Alexis Andra runs her fabrication and creative studio The Shift Creative with her team in Los Angeles. She brings the real talk to TikTok with her hilarious BTS of her day to day and life as a busy business lady. Bonus? she was on our C&C 100 list year and you can learn about her business here.
3. Nikki Mansch
Nikki, like many of us, is working hard to give her dog the life they deserve… and she is cracking us up along the way. Her relatable memes are giving us life as she pokes fun at emails, co-workers, and more.
4. Kameron Monet
Content creator and lawyer, Kameron Monet, is serving up nothing but piping hot confidence! Her feed is chock full of all the money and “me” motivation you need to get you through the week! We subscribe.
5. Loe Whaley
With over 160k tiktok followers and 6.6 million likes, Loe Whaley, is carving her own path on TikTok. The Canadian content creator is giving us all the “we are going back to office” feels. AHHHHHH!