Sarah Michelle Gellar Talks Transitioning From Hollywood to Startup Founder

photo credit: Kelley Raye.

Successful women from different careers who now run a startup. 

That’s the story behind Sarah Michelle Gellar and Galit Laiblow co-founders of Foodstirs who took the Create & Cultivate stage this past Saturday in Atlanta to an audience of over 500 attendees. They talked a lot about taking the concept from idea to reality, overcoming doubt, as well as shifting out of their previous roles. 

‘Part of being an entrepreneur,” admits Laibow, who ran a successful PR firm or 12 years, “is not being afraid.”

They made the jump after shopping for ingredients for a baking play date with their kids. “Ingredients,” says Gellar, “that had more consonants than vowels.” Thus, Foodstirs was born and switch into roles that hadn’t previously imagined for themselves. 

“As an actor I’ve watched my industry change,” Gellar explains. “When I started you were either a movie actress or a television actress or you were serious and you did theater; the three didn’t meet anywhere. Then it changed and people realized you could jump from medium to medium.” She was looking for something else when the opportunity arose. ‘Ways,” she says, “[I] could still innovate and still be creative. Also, I’m a mom now, I have two young kids at young and I don’t want to be working 19 hour days and not see my children.”

“Even when you’re a producer you still have other people to answer to. It’s not necessarily the product you intended to make. What I’ve loved,” she says about her new role as founder, “is that now when we have an idea, what you’re seeing is everything we wanted it to be, because it's up to us and only us. It’s our battle to win. It’s so satisfying in a way I’d never experienced and it’s using my reach and creativity in a new way.” 

"What you’re seeing is everything we wanted it to be, because it's up to us and only us."

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As for the partnership Laibow says she was hesitant to partner with a “celebrity.” Having come from the PR world she knew that celebrity doesn’t give a brand a fast-track to success; sometimes it's the opposite. “There are so many celebrities putting their names on things and the consumer is much more savvy. I did have a lot of reservations. I knew that if we did have a celebrity it had to be someone who was really passionate. Sarah and I had many late nights talking about it and she really believed it in. She’s a real co-founder. We both invested our own money and time and we don’t get paid right now.” 

“It’s been fascinating,” says Gellar, “you think we would have each just done what we’re good at; it doesn’t work like that. In the beginning there were days when it was just us. Neither of us knew how to HTML code so I went and learned how to HTML code our emails. They were maybe not the best or the most professional, but that’s how you start and that’s how you learning.” 

“Fail is the first attempt in learning. I don’t see failure as a bad thing. I see it as exercise. When you exercise,” adds Gellar, “you want to work out until your muscle fails so that it grows bigger and stronger. To me those are the steps in learning. That thought in your head is invaluable.”

"Fail is the first attempt in learning."

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“I always wanted the brand to stand on its own,” Gellar says, “I’m not the face of the brand, but I am the co-founder. At the end of the day you want the brand to be bigger than the person. I don’t want to first thing you think of to be me, I want the first thing you think is ‘Wow! That tastes really good.’”

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RSVP Now For The Create & Cultivate ATL Happy Hour

Create & Cultivate ATL is only a few months away, but that doesn’t mean that you have to wait until the last minute to get your plans ready for the big day!

Starting this week if you have a VIP ticket, you will be able to start selecting your mentors, and you can already get a head start on RSVP’ing for the Create & Cultivate ATL attendee happy hour on October 14th! 

The attendee happy hour is a great way for you to network and mingle with all the attendees that will be joining you at our conference the day before, and can also be a way for you to start setting your wolfpack for the big day so you’re not alone!

RSVP below for our happy hour and we will send you full details come closer to October 16th!

We can’t wait to see you all this fall, and get ready to have the best time at Create & Cultivate ATL! 

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Lenox Square, Neiman Marcus Wing
3393 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30326
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How Rachel Martino Moved From Corporate to Full Time Blogger

Rachel Martino isn't your typical blogger. She recently became a full time blogger after working corporate as Origins' community manager, and she has created an international brand with over 384k followers all before 25. For Rachel, age ain't nothing but a number.

Now, Rachel is putting all her focus on making sure her blog continues to thrive and living her true calling to the fullest. We caught up with Rachel as we get ready to have her at Create & Cultivate ATL this fall, and had her tell us a little about her experience moving from the corporate world to a full time Francophone blogger. 

Make sure to catch Rachel on panel this fall - get your tickets now here!

Francophone American YouTubers are a very rare kind to run into on the internet. What was the ah-ha moment where you thought, "I’ll do both an English and French YouTube channel"?

Yes we certainly are a rare breed! When I was in college I had started my US YouTube channel and was loving the interactions with girls all over the country. As a French major gearing up to study abroad I thought to myself, "I wonder if French girls make beauty videos?" And of course they do. I started watching French YouTubers to practice my French learning and listening skills. I decided to try out a video, and I was hooked! For me it was such a fun way to engage with girls on the other side of the ocean! 

You mentioned you studied abroad in France for a while. What are some of the lessons that you learned abroad that you have applied to your brand today?

Taking chances! I first studied abroad in high school and that experience changed my life. I felt I could step outside my comfort zone and try new things. Studying abroad forces you to push yourself! I can't recommend studying abroad enough. In college I was able to spend 9 months on France really learning the language and culture and it really changed my life. 

From a young age, you were creating your brand while helping Origins develop their digital footprint as well. What are some of the things you have learned as a digital influencer and a strategist for a corporate environment that have translated into your own business strategy? What are some of the differences?

Working in a corporate environment for a large beauty brand was an incredible experience that helped shaped my business and my life. While at Origins, I learned how a brand operates on every level. Launching and growing the @OriginsUSA Instagram was a highlight of my professional career. I leveraged my knowledge of Instagram from my experiences growing my own audience @RachMartino to help propel our brand's IG to success. Through running a corporate IG I learned the importance of consistency, quality and engagement. 

"Through running a corporate IG I learned the importance of consistency, quality and engagement." 

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Last year you made the decision to leave Origins as their community manager, to become a full time blogger. How did you come to this decision?

It wasn't an easy one! There were so many things that I loved about my job at Estée Lauder. Working with a team, a daily routine, feeling like a part of a bigger goal not to mention a steady paycheck and benefits. But as more and more exciting projects started to come in, especially travel projects I realized I was at a crossroads. I could continue to dedicate myself to my full-time job and move up in the company, or I could forge a different path and focus on my blog and YouTube channels. I thought about it for a long time but once I made the decision I knew it was the right one. It was certainly scary, but worth it! I gave a long notice, 6 weeks, so I could wrap up loose ends and help find a good replacement, which was so important to me after three years in the position. Now it's been a year and I've never looked back!  

What is a piece of advice would you say to anyone who is in a corporate setting who is aspiring to be a full time blogger?

Learn everything you can! Working full time in a very corporate setting taught me so much about business and helped me become the successful blogger I am today. It can be really hard to focus on your blog and a full-time job! It's important to make a schedule for yourself to stay organized. I would often film videos early in the morning before work and shoot blog looks on the weekend, it's all about maximizing your time. If you truly have the passion for blogging that work won't seem so tedious. Also save, save, save! If you want to go full-time freelance you will be in much better position financially if you save money while at your corporate job. It's tempting to buy thousands of dollars worth of clothes, I know, but becoming a blogger can be stressful because you're not getting the weekly paycheck anymore. I saved all the money from my blog and a percentage of my corporate salary when I was working 9 to 5, so when I did decide to make the move to freelance I still felt secure. 

"If you truly have the passion for blogging that work won't seem so tedious."

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The brands that you partner with are always in line with the brand that you have created for yourself. And as you have grown as an influencer, you surely get tons of requests to collaborate. How do you know which brands to decline and which to say yes to to maintain the integrity of your brand?

This is always difficult. As a blogger it is so important to stay true to yourself and your brand but as a business it can be hard to say no to incoming offers that pay the bills. I always try and think "would I buy this?" IF it's something I would pay the money and buy, then it's a good fit. And sometimes it's about infusing your own style into a brand you may not have considered before. They have chosen you because they think your look can align with their brand! But always, always be true to who you are. 

What are some of the challenges that you have run into while creating an international brand?

Working at an international level is so exciting for me! I love having an audience all over the world, especially in my beloved France. It can be difficult, however, when working with international teams. There is a language barrier, different customs and sometimes opposing work styles. I always make sure to get everything in writing because calls can be stressful in another language. 

Even at an audience level I have made some mistakes. For example, a few years back I made a few Halloween tutorials on my French YouTube channel including a 'Lana Del Ray' costume makeup. I got all these really negative comments and it really upset me. It wasn't until later that I realized in France, if you're going to dress up, it's really only as something scary. For them I was making a mockery of Lana Del Ray! So you have to learn as you go and do research when you can. 

"Learn as you go and do research when you can."

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Can you let us in a blogger secret that all bloggers know but their audiences are unaware of? 

We do have lots of secrets! People always ask me 'how are you so photogenic in photos?' Look at my camera roll and for one photo posted on IG there are 100 that I didn't post! Getting the perfect photo is a bit of an art that required patience, proactive and great filters. Also most bloggers shoot maybe 3 looks in one session - I'll meet with a photographer and have 2 more outfits in my backpack and then change in a public bathroom (very sexy, I know) One time I met with my friend Noelle, who is also a blogger and we each packed 6 swimsuits and a pop-up tent and headed to Rockaway Beach! We changed in the tent which was blowing around like crazy in the wind! But by the time we were done we each had 6 different swimsuits photographed! 

"Getting the perfect photo is a bit of an art that required patience, proactive and great filters."

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If you weren't a digital influencer or community manager for a beauty brand, what would you be doing today?

That's a tough one. As a kid I always wanted to be an actress. I think I've always had that urge to 'out myself out there' which is probably why I ended up as a blogger/YouTuber.

Can you teach us french, sil-vous plait?

Oui! :)

Ayesha Curry Explains The Major Key To Her Business Strategy

ayeshacurry.com

Motherhood and being a business woman isn't any easy feat, but for Ayesha Curry, it's a challenge she was born ready to tackle. Today, the wife and mother of two has her YouTube channel Little Lights of Mine with over 435k subscribers, is getting ready to launch her first cookbook The Seasoned Life this fall as well as launch her own meal-kit company GATHER. 

We caught up with Ayesha as we get ready to have her on panel this fall at Create & Cultivate Atlanta, and got to hear about how she balances motherhood, the importance of transparency in her brand, and what her strategy is when making important business decisions.

You've created a brand that puts family and wellness at the forefront - how do you make sure that yours stands out among other culinary and family brands?

I think for me personally when I started my journey in the culinary world, I wanted to be accessible. I think that is what’s missing a lot these days in food. People love transparency and so I wanted to be honest, easy and approachable when it came to the way that I presented myself and the way that I cook. Nothing is perfect, and I want people to know that it's okay and that we're all in this together. 

"Nothing is perfect, and I want people to know that it's okay and that we're all in this together."

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100 recipes is a LOT for a cookbook. We're sure you had a lot of inspiration to create The Seasoned Life - where did you find it?

I found inspiration through my family and just everyday life. Most of the recipes are things I've created over the years through trial and error, some are family recipes that have been passed down. I even have recipes in there that I recreated from my favorite restaurants. I simplified them for the home chef. 

Fans know you as a supportive wife and devoted mother, but how do you assert your sense of self within and outside that role? How do you make sure that your brand stands alone? 

I think for me it's been a matter of staying true to myself. I don't compromise and I've learned to say no... a lot. Again, it's the transparency. When I stay true to myself, I am automatically staying true to my brand. I only hope that people can see that. 

"I don't compromise and I've learned to say no...a lot. It's all about transparency."

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What’s the first dish you ever created? 

The first dish I created was a sweet and savory mango shrimp dish on my 13th birthday! I had a cooking party and invited all of my friends and cousins over. It was a blast!

What is one of the toughest challenges being a culinary entrepreneur and being a busy mom and wife?

Balancing it all has been the toughest challenge for me. I seem to be in a constant state of mom guilt. It’s hard. I am lucky that I have a supportive husband who encourages me and wants me to succeed. It keeps me going.

Your blog touches on food, wellness, and family. Are there any other topics that you think you might delve in later on the blog?

Food is definitely the focus. I love splicing in bits of family and wellness because it's the biggest part of my life and just makes sense. In a dream world I'd love to dive into more lifestyle and home decor. Unfortunately I am quite possibly the most disorganized person on the planet. 

In two years, you have been able to grow Little Lights of Mine's YouTube channel to 435K. What has been your growth strategy from day one? How has it evolved?

My growth strategy has been quality over quantity. I never want to put out content just because "it's been a while". Everything I put out needs to make sense and be true to myself and my brand. 

"I never want to put out content just because 'it's been a while.'"

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You share a lot about your life on your social channels, but do you feel there's a need for privacy within the media and the digital world? Are there things that you make sure to keep to yourself and your family?

I think the biggest thing for me and learning process has been knowing when to involve my girls and husband and when not to. People are so quick to take advantage and it's been difficult deciphering what makes sense and what doesn't. I'm getting better at it. For me, I feel like the media is quick to take small irrelevant matters and turn them into big false beasts. It's tough at times but it comes with the territory. We just make sure we don't bring the outside noise into our home. It keeps everyone happy and normal. 

Aside from your book release this fall, what else is in the pipeline?

There’s lots of things in the works that i’m super excited about. Aside from the book release, this summer, I’ll be launching my very own meal-kit company, GATHER. GATHER will be delivering fresh ingredients based around my favorite recipes right at your doorstep. I’m also currently working on rebranding my olive oils and aprons. I also recently partnered with ZÜPA NOMA which is soup in bottle - soup reimagined.

So exciting to hear that you'll be launching GATHER soon! What are some of the things that you have learned in building a subscription business from the bottom up?

It’s been such a fun process. The main thing I’m trying to infuse is real world solutions. I set out to create a meal kit that I would use myself to make putting a delicious, nourishing meal on the table easier and less stressful. I’m learning that my ability to customize that experience is what’s going to really set it above and beyond what’s being offered by other meal kit companies. That’s where I’m really focusing my efforts. I can’t wait to share it with everyone. 

What is your funniest parenting story to date?

My husband and I went to our daughters parent teacher conference and one feedback was that she needed to work a little bit on her listening skills (like any 3/4 year old). When we got in the car, we explained to her what we had learned and what she needed to do. She threw her hands on her head and said "I just can't handle this anymore." We had no words. We definitely have a drama queen on our hands. 

What’s one thing completely unrelated to what you do now that you want to do or learn?

I would LOVE to learn how to ride English Style and compete. It's always been a dream of mine. 

What is your process when making crucial business decisions, whether it involves your career or your family?

I always do a pros and cons checklist. I look at it from a time and financial standpoint, and if I'm passionate about the opportunity. It's really hard to turn down opportunities, but again, quality over quantity. If I don't feel moved and passionate about the project, I pass. I'm a firm believer in intuition and gut instinct. It has to feel right. 

"If I don't feel moved and passionate about a project, I pass. It has to feel right."

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How Jessi Malay Took Her Creative Power Back With Her Blog

mywhitet.com

From a young age, Jessi Malay is no stranger to hard work and dedication. It has been engrained into her daily life since she began performing at 8 years old, which has ultimately led to her success now as a musician, dancer, and blogger today. 

But working in the music industry has been no easy ride, especially when you want to make sure that your brand and creative vision stays true to you. We caught up with Jessi to see what she has learned from being in the music industry from such a young age, how it has led her to take back her creative power with her blog mywhiteT and have her become the ultimate multi-hyphenate creative business woman she is today. 

Also, make sure to catch Jessi on panel this fall at Create & Cultivate Atlanta! Click here to get your tickets now! 

You started working at a very young age. Can you talk a bit about your different path and why this was the right move for you?

From the time I could walk, I was begging my mom to take me to dance classes. At 2 years old, I started studying ballet, jazz, and tap, and by 8 years old had joined a performing group, started singing, and was touring internationally. At 14 years old, I auditioned to be in a girl band, and by that evening, recorded my first song. Within weeks we were signed to Jive Records (Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Chris Brown) as ‘No Secrets’ and spent the next three years recording, rehearsing, performing, and touring. We put out a self-titled album that sold 300,000 copies and were #1 on the Billboard Heatseeker charts.

After 3 years, the group broke up and I went on to signing a solo deal with Warner Bros Records. My time at WBR was a completely new experience for me. I went from a world of pop and relatively quick and easy success with my girl band, to having to learn how to hustle more for myself and play the politics of the music industry. I toured from radio station to radio station, working the mix show market and negotiating with DJ after DJ for airtime. It was grueling, and definitely a man’s world that I had to learn how to conduct myself in a way that could be taken seriously and respected.

"Working in man’s world that I had to learn how to conduct myself in a way that could be taken seriously and respected." 

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At Warner, there was no pop division at the time. They were pretty Rock heavy and had a budding Hip-Hop and R&B department, which is where they placed me. I had very little say in the production of my project. I collaborated with people like Young Joc, E40, opened up for Three Six Mafia, and Wiz Kalifah used to open for me. Needless to say, the branding was a bit off…

The label used to also get on my case all the time about my look, telling me I had no style and wanting me to be more eccentric like Nicki Minaj or Lady Gaga, and that’s just not me. I always appreciated more pedestrian style, streetstyle, and it was this time that spawned the desire to start a fashion blog, a bit to show and prove and explain my personal aesthetic in a way that could be understood and appreciated.

"I started a blog show and prove and explain my personal aesthetic in a way that could be understood and appreciated." 

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We talk about work/life balance a lot. Is there anything you learned being signed as a teen and touring the world that has helped you with work/life balance as an adult?

Work/life balance will always be a struggle for me because I love working so much and grew up understanding how much work and sacrifice goes into anything that is worthwhile. I think that in itself was the lesson through all of my years of being signed as a teen and touring, just knowing what to expect. I’ve made sure to surround myself and work with the people I love most so we can be in each other’s lives on a regular basis, and we really love what we do. We’ve managed to figure out a way to make a living off of what we’re passionate about, and because we all have a common goal, we keep each other balanced. We work really hard so we can play harder, and set benchmarks and big picture goals for ourselves so we can keep everything in perspective, which can be hard to lose site of when working for yourself.

Despite your early success you made the choice to get a college degree? Why was this important to you?

Getting a college degree was really important to me, especially after all of my years spent focusing on my music career as a teen because I just wanted to be a more well rounded person. I had other interests, talents, questions I wanted to explore and develop. Everything I learned during school really helps me to adapt quickly and think outside of the box which is vital in a job where you have to create and share new content every day, multiple times a day, in a way that is authentic and true.

"We work really hard so we can play harder."

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How do you balance your creative side with your entrepreneurial side?

I have to compartmentalize time for each because they come from very different places. If I’m focused too much on the business aspect of the blog or music industry, it’s hard to be creative because I start to only think of my work from a marketing standpoint, of what’s going to sell or get the most likes, and that’s not where great art stems from. So if I’m going to do something creative like sit down and write a song, get in the studio and choreograph, or location scout and shoot something really beautiful for a brand I’m working with, I have to separate myself from that business side of me, let loose, and let my mind flow. I get myself there usually by doing physical activities like taking a dance class, going for a run, browsing through my dad’s old art books, or going out and hearing live music.

mywhitet.com

Let’s break down the behind-the-scenes of the blog. How much time are you putting into it? What goes into crafting your editorial calendar?

The blog is my LIFE! Lol. It’s my business, my diary, a forum for my readers and I to share ideas and comments, and just my place to document my daily life, travels, and passions, so I spend most of my time either conceptualizing, shooting, or writing for the blog. At the beginning of the month, I sit down and fill my calendar with all of the brand collaborations I’m working on, which days I’ll be shooting them, which days I’ll be editing them, their 1st draft due dates, final assets due dates, and posting dates for both blog and socials. If I don’t lay this all out at the beginning of the month it’s impossible to keep track of. It’s also very important to stick with your deadlines because if you’re late for a brand, you could really screw up their whole marketing strategy.

Because I also create and post about music, travel, now food, and soon to be fitness, I work those posts into my editorial calendar as they come. Those categories are a bit more free form and at the moment, passion projects that I just enjoy doing and sharing with my viewers.

How are you coming up with content that’s both authentic and monetize-able?

It starts with really having a strong understanding of your brand, what kind of products and other brands are in line with yours, and only accepting jobs that fit and you believe in, otherwise your audience won’t trust your voice anymore. From there, it’s easy.

What is your biggest current concern as a blogger?

Because blogging is so much more than just a job, it’s truly a lifestyle and all encompassing, I’ve started to become concerned with how I will eventually balance kids and a family and still accomplish all I’m doing now and everything I still want to do professionally. It was really encouraging to hear women like Rachel Zoe and Jessica Alba at CreateCultivate DTLA this past May speak about how they became ultimately more focused and productive after having children. I also have great friends who are bloggers that have kids and are making it look easy…so much respect for those ladies!

What is your approach to business? Slow and steady or jump in and go for it? 

Jump in and go for it, absolutely! I know no other way. When I want to do something, I become obsessed and don’t think too much about how I’m going to do it, just that I want to do it, and I’ll figure it out along the way. The hardest part of business is just starting.

"The hardest part of business is just starting."

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What sets you apart? 

I think my music is definitely what sets me apart. I’m an artist first and singing, dancing, and performing will always be my heart. I think people really connect with me that way because I’m a lot more vulnerable and open through my music.

Find Out Whitney Port's Key To Success

whitneyport.com

Whitney Port has come a long way since her days on The Hills. At 21, she was interning with Teen Vogue and Kelly Cutrone’s People’s Revolution. At 24, she took the leap to becoming her own boss and launched her own fashion line Whitney Eve, which was a Create & Cultivate Chicago darling last summer. 

Now, at 31 she’s taking everything she’s learned as a businesswoman throughout the years and is restructuring her brand, with plans to make it even bigger and better than before. 

We chatted with Whitney as she gets ready for her third Create & Cultivate appearance this fall in Atlanta. She told us that in the midst of changing your brand, you have to embrace change -- even if you think you might fail. It's all part of the process in becoming a better version of yourself.

Make sure to catch Whitney on panel this fall and grab your tickets for Create & Cultivate Atlanta here now!

What is the biggest lesson that you've learned as a young entrepreneur?

The biggest lesson I have learned, though extremely cliche, is that when one door closes, another really opens! It is easy to get all bent out of shape as a young entrepreneur because so many of the trials and tribulations we deal with are the first we have ever had to deal with, and thus we have no coping mechanisms. It is important that we take deep breaths and allow initial shock and horror to pass before we get all worked up when we're hit with hardships. 

whitneyport.com

What is a common misconception that people have about you as an entrepreneur? What do you do to break away from those notions?

I think people have thought that since being on The Hills I have just put my name on things and simply been a face for my businesses when actually I have micromanaged everything. I'd love people to know that I actually grew up in the fashion business and have been behind every business decision that has been made for me! I do that by continuing to take an active role in my businesses and always making personal connections. Nothing gets by me these days. 

"I continue to take an active role in my businesses and always make personal connections. Nothing gets by me these days."

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What would you say to the 21 year old Whitney just getting started at Teen Vogue?

I would tell myself to really nurture my relationships there and absorb all the lessons all the amazing people that worked there had to offer. In your early 20’s, you sort of think you know everything or you are too busy to make connections. I should have taken time out of filming to form relationships with the likes of Lisa Love and Amy Astley who could have been amazing mentors for me at the time and even now.

"Nurture your relationships and absorb all the lessons all the amazing people you work with have to offer."

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What kind of boss would you describe yourself?

In three words, I would describe myself as decisive, pragmatic, and motivational. 

Overall, I think I am a pretty cool boss! I want to drive those working alongside of me to reach their fullest potential and motivate without feeling like I am their superior. 

You are currently going through some brand restructuring - what are some of the keys that you are holding on to make sure it's the smoothest transition?

I make sure that every collaboration and partnership makes sense for my brand. That I am working alongside good and like-minded people and that I am really taking the time to think about things without making rash decisions. 

whitneyport.com

One of the pieces of advice we like to follow is recognizing your fears and leaning into them instead of running away - what are one of your biggest fears that you've had to lean into no matter how scary they were?

My biggest fear in work was that my clothing line would fail and people would then look at me as a failure. But I have learned that nothing is a total fail, or fail at all for that matter, that change is a great, great thing and we truly need to learn from these changes and use them to become better versions of ourselves.

"I have learned that nothing is a total fail, or fail at all for that matter, & that change is a great." 

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What is next in the pipeline for your brand? 

I am working on multiple collaborations that you will start to see out there in the fall! One of which is an activewear collection! I am also continuing to better myself as a writer and content producer on WhitneyPort.com

Favorite hashtag?

#cleanskinisin or #nofilter!

A Double Take With The Beckerman Twins

Twins: they share the same birthday, the same room growing up, and sometimes, they even share the same clothes. For Cailli and Sam Beckerman, it’s all that and more. 

As OG bloggers since 2009, the Beckerman twins have shared their eccentric style with the world via Beckerman Blog. And although their style may stray away from being serious, these girls mean business in the world of fashion, online and offline. 

We spoke to the stylish and eccentric twins from the 6ix on their move from designers to bloggers, splitting the finances of their blog, sibling rivalry, and how they make blogging look so easy. (Spoiler alert: it’s not.)

Also, make sure to catch them on panel and as mentors this fall at #CreateCultivateATL. Grab your tickets now! 

You’re designers turned bloggers. Both are tough businesses, capital T. Why did you decide to cross-over?

We were always photographing our own look books and making our own video's for our clothing line. We also kept fashion scrapbooks, pictures of our fittings and fashion shows, and journaled everything!  So blogging was really the next step for us. It was just putting it all on an online platform so everyone could see!

Any plans to go back to the design world?

Never say never! We both have our BFA’s, but really enjoy blogging! 

What’s another area you’d like to expand into?

We are writing and illustrating a children's book! 

If you went your separate ways, what would that look like? 

That's a cute question, and one that is very hard to say! Because we were wombmates, we enjoy hanging out and working together. However, we both have our separate things and hobbies we like to do.

For college kids looking for internships— you both landed some pretty stellar gigs, with Bottega Veneta and Marc by Marc Jacobs. How do you stand out as in intern candidate? What did you do to land the jobs?

We both cold called them and gave them our resumes! It was a lucky situation, but when Cailli interned for Oscar de la Renta, it was through F.I.T (Fashion Institute of Technology) that she did for credits for a class. 

How do you keep your blog life and your real life separate?

We keep our boyfriends and dating life not on social media. It makes it easier to have something personal. That's not to say, it's always going to be like that, but it makes it easier to have a relationship. 

Since you have a blog together, how does it work from a creative perspective? Who vetoes what? 

We both are always 1000% in to what we do and talk a lot about our opportunities together. 

What was the first big fashion invite where you screamed— internally or externally— with excitement? 

When we got invited to Dubai with Chanel to see their resort show! It was a trip of a lifetime!

You’ve been blogging since ’09. What some changes in the blogging world that took a minute to get used to?

It really depends on what apps are being created and how social media keeps changing! Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Snapchat changed everything when they came out. So always being in the know of the new apps! 

Where do you see the fashion blogger world heading? 

It's really an exciting time for bloggers and influencers! The possibilities are endless! 

In defense influencers, what do you have to say people who think you don’t work hard?

The only way people really know how hard a blog is to keep and maintain is when they start one themselves. It's a real compliment when people think we don't work hard because it means we make it seem effortless. It is a lot of fun!

Who is someone you’d kill (with kindness obviously) to work with?

We are working with our most favorite people and friends already! Wait... does Ryan Reynolds count? 

Sibling rivalry, ever? Or nah?

Naaaaaaaah! It's too much energy to fight!

Favorite social platforms?

Instagram, Snapchat and Pinterest

Life After Reality TV Is Real Good for Courtney Kerr

Reality check time: Courtney Kerr is not your typical reality star. In fact the days of reality TV are behind her, and the Southern charmer is now calling all the shots. 

After the premiere of Most Eligible Dallas in 2011, Courtney’s life landed on the national stage, but that was just a jumping off point. Today, the Dallasite has created her own brand, become her own boss, and is focussing on expanding her digital presence with her online publication KERRently.com and her YouTube channel. 

From reality TV to entrepreneur, we caught up with Courtney to chat in anticipation of #CreateCultivateATL where she'll be joining us on stage! 

Coming from the world of traditional media, what would say are some of the things you had to adapt when going digital?

Going to digital, you have to figure out clever ways to tell stories and weave your personality into your content. Everyone can take pretty pictures these days, but it is more difficult to infuse your personality and tell your specific story. This is something that not only readers want to see and feel, but clients who choose to have you represent their brands do as well. 

If clients just wanted a pretty picture, they would hire a professional model. Clients want to push product and engage your readers with an emotional "OMG I HAVE TO HAVE THAT" feeling attached to their product. You as the influencer are responsible for delivering that. 

Everyone can take pretty pictures, but it is more difficult to infuse your personality and tell your specific story.

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Was there ever hesitation about sharing yourself with the world? 

Well, once you get in a hot tub on reality television, the hesitation to share is out the window, and I have Bravo to thank for that! (LOL)

As I have grown and my brand has developed, I have definitely learned to edit what I share with the world. I have purposefully kept my romantic life private because I have to have something that is mine...something that I choose to not share. Granted, if the day comes and I get married, you'll probably hear about it. But for now, it's not something I'm ready to offer up.

You’ve had multiple platforms where you are able to voice your opinions and show who you are as a brand. Have you ever felt restricted?

No. I have never felt restrictions because I own KERRently. It’s mine and it is my space to do with as I please. As long as my readers, audience and clients are pleased, then I am happy!

What would you say was the push that convinced you to launch Kerrently.com this year?

Readers constantly wanted content that I knew didn't fit into a traditional style site. They asked about my beauty regimen, where I was traveling, what I was cooking, etc., so I knew there was definitely an opportunity to expand. Thankfully, there's been nothing but incredible feedback. Still, I know I couldn't have done this if their trust wasn't there to begin with. Luckily they trust me, and that's valuable to me.

If I’m starting my Instagram tomorrow, what should I focus on? Should I go hashtag crazy? How do I stand out? 

PHOTO QUALITY IS EVERYTHING! No one wants to look at a blurry picture, and no one cares what you ate for breakfast (leave that for Snapchat). Understand that in addition to your site, your Instagram is an online portfolio easily accessed by anyone and everyone. 

"Understand that in addition to your site, your Instagram is an online portfolio easily accessed by anyone and everyone."

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You've touched on everything from fashion, lifestyle, travel, beauty, and shopping. What is another topic you’d like to cover?

Entertaining is something I’d like to share on my site eventually. I LOVE throwing parties and hosting friends, so finding a way to incorporate those into my site without making my friends feel like they are being subjected to be on KERRently would be a fun move!

Describe your brand in three words.

Realistic, Trustworthy, Colorful. 

What is the smartest business decision you've made thus far?

Hiring a team of employees whom I trust and knowing when to delegate something to them.

Flip side— what’s the craziest business decision you’ve made thus far? 

Honestly the smartest business decision I have made was also the scariest/craziest for me. Since launching my blog in 2011, I have always been a one woman team, so sharing the work load, delegating tasks, and having multiple people represent me and my voice was a scary thing to me. 

You’ve been blogging since 2011, and KERRently.com just went through a rebrand 6 months ago. Where do you see Kerrently.com in 5 years?

I see KERRently continuing to grow as a destination that people trust as a go-to resource for fashion, beauty, travel, and shopping. I would also love to bring on more team members to help enhance each category of the brand. 

A lot of entrepreneurs tell us that if you can’t answer a simple ‘why?’ you’re on the wrong track. What’s your ‘why’?

So why do I do what I do?! I do it because I found something that: 

1. Inspires women 
2. Pays my bills 
3. I really freaking love. (I mean, I get paid to play dress up and help women feel more beautiful. What else could I want?! )

Are you more of a ‘go with your gut’ or ‘go for it”? business woman?

I definitely 'go with my gut' everyday! My friends and family tell me that I would be a horrible poker player because you can read every single emotion I have on my face! Trust me, if I feel it, it shows, so I can't possibly ignore my gut!

Make sure to catch Courtney on panel this fall at Create & Cultivate ATL - grab your tickets now before they sell out!