The Career Tactic That Will Get You One Step Closer to Becoming A Boss
Guide your mentees -- and yourself -- to greatness. (It’s a win-win.)
(Credit: #WOCinTech)
“They” say those who can, do; those who can't, teach.
We’re flipping the script and calling BS on this one. Because those who “teach” in a mentorship role are doers and next-level leaders. So much so, they serve as role models to the eager protégées who learn from their wins and their fails.
We know that having a mentor (or four) is a critical component to success. It’s a two-way street, really, because becoming a mentor and imparting your wisdom on the lucky candidates under your wing will serve you in more ways than you know.
Mentorship has always been an important tenet at Create & Cultivate; in fact, the mentor sessions are a key component of the Create & Cultivate conference. And while the Bosses imparting their truths to keen attendees are at the top of their game, they are clearly honored and stoked to be advising the ladies in their mentoring sessions.
So if you’re looking to take your career to the next level, it might be time to consider becoming a mentor.
Here are 6 reasons why:
IT MAKES YOU AN EXPERT
Whether you’re meeting with your mentee(s) on the regular or serving as their mentor on the phone or via Google Hangouts, they will try to absorb every tidbit of wisdom you’re sharing. And when you’re focusing on your trade, you’re becoming an expert on the topic as a result -- whether you realize it or not.
So if the pesky feeling of Imposter Syndrome creeps its way into your psyche every now and then, kick it to the curb with your renewed “expert vibes.”
After all, even though you’re slaying career-wise, every now and then you might second-guess your path, passion or purpose. This is normal!
Sometimes our inner critic / doubter / hater gets the best of us and makes us wonder, “Have I got what it takes?” Being a mentor and the ensuing validation it offers might just be enough to give you the confidence boost you need.
IT CAN OPEN YOUR EYES TO A WHOLE NEW PERSPECTIVE
Imagine being a mentor to the next Uber founder? They might be right there, in the next batch of millennial leaders. And if you are currently mentoring a high school student, then you are likely gaining amazing insight into the generation younger than millennials, dubbed Generation Z (a.k.a. Gen Edge).
You’re getting direct access to these brilliant and ultra tech savvy minds, and this can open your eyes to a whole new business idea or new way of doing things. So enjoy and stay dialed into these a-ha moments.
YOUR PUPIL MIGHT JOIN YOU ON YOUR QUEST FOR WORLD DOMINATION (#SQUADGOALS)
As you impart your truths and help pave the way for the bright young leaders of tomorrow, you might spot a spark in one of them and realize they should join your team.
Whether they join you on a freelance or full-time basis, imagine the magic that can be created when you find the right people who share your vision and complement you in the best ways possible.
IT'S REWARDING AND FULFILLING
Throwing it back to Create & Cultivate Los Angeles this past May, where kindness was one of the key themes. All the keynote speakers emphasized the importance of being nice, and Rachel Zoe shared her open-door philosophy as a boss.
Helping someone else make the most of their career is the ultimate way of paying it forward. When you feel fulfilled and happy to help an up-and-coming dynamo, it adds to your gratitude bucket, which is a popular element in becoming successful. So make karma your kween and pay it forward by helping others as a mentor.
"Make karma your kween and pay it forward by helping others as a mentor."
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Eventually the student might even become the teacher -- the ultimate “yaaasss!” moment.
IT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED
When someone is looking to you for advice and wisdom, you need to make sure you’re up for the challenge. This is the perfect motivation to keep your expertise sharp, on-point, and always ahead of the game. After all, if they’re looking to you for inspiration, you need to make sure you’re worthy of their spotlight.
IT KEEPS YOU GROUNDED
The appreciation your mentees experience when receiving your expert advice and dedication is enough to light up your day, and give you all the feels.
Remember that you can be a mentor to different people, at different stages of their careers. This is a great way to stay on your toes and be reminded of what it’s like to be in the very early stages of your business.
As well, online platforms like Glassbreakers allow you to sign up as a mentor to modern women from diverse backgrounds, and you get matched up with women with common career goals.
READY TO MENTOR?
The whole “mentor-mentee” relationship requires chemistry, kind of like finding a partner. So try to be in tune with the people you encounter throughout your day-to-day, who might just become your protégées, pretty organically. Or seek out some lucky candidate(s) to take under your wing, with a local “Big Sister” program or mentoring organization.
However you go about it, embrace it, because being a mentor is the gift that keeps on giving.
Karin Eldor is a coffee-addicted copywriter, with a long-time love for all things pop culture, fashion and tech. Ever since she got her first issues of YM (remember that one?) and Seventeen in the mail, she was hooked on the world of editorial content. After earning her Communications degree, she spent 6 years honing her craft as a Senior Editor for AskMen.com. More recently, Karin enjoyed gramming and strategizing as Social Media Manager at ALDO. Today, she is Chief Content Writer at 818 Agency and a social media consultant.
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C&C Asks: What Do You Create & Cultivate ? Part I
Everybody's cultivating community & it feels damn good.
We had our share of amazing and stellar panelists and keynotes at Create & Cultivate DTLA this past weekend. And with all of them on site, we had to pick their brains and ask them what they create and what they cultivate in their everyday lives as boss women in the digital space.
Check out Part 1 for some end-of-week inspiration!
Video courtesy of Juice Box Media.
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5 Incredibly Useful Tips from Top Startup Founders
"You want people who've watched boats burn."
photo by Irida Mete.
When Create & Cultivate founder Jaclyn Johnson took to the Shopstyle Stage on Saturday for the Startup 101 panel the first question on everyone's mind was, "Who makes that amazing chair?" (Bend Goods for the goods FYI.) The second, of course, was "What can I glean from these founders?"
From Ariel Kaye CEO founder of Parachute telling Cultivators "Being a founder is the best and worst thing ever, all the time," to Carly de Castro co-founder of Pressed Juicery joking, "I didn't know any entrepreneurs. I didn't know anything about business. And I thought well if I can learn to make juice, how hard can it be? It was really hard," there was so much note taking, nodding, and knowledge dropping. So we're recapping the best of the best to encourage and aid you with your entrepreneurial dreams.
YOU HAVE TO BE OBSESSED WITH YOUR COMPANY, OR IT WILL BURN YOU OUT.
Josh Zad, founder of Alfred Coffee told the audience, "Coffee is a timeless beverage. I opened the cafe and I became obsessed with it. I'm focussed 100% on food and beverage."
Gabby Etrog Cohen SVP of Brand Strategy at SoulCycle echoed this sentiment. "I'm not a founder," she told the crowd, "but I am SoulCycle's 5th corporate employee and helped grow the brand from four to 60 studios. We deliver service, we don't sell. It's of utmost importance for our riders to feel like family and to feel like from the moment they walk through our doors to the moment they leave they have someone who cares about them. It's why after six years I'm still so committed to the company."
"My soul," said Carly de Castro, "is part of this brand."
"My soul is part of this brand."
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KNOW YOUR BRAND AND STICK TO YOUR GUNS
If people aren't initially following or engaging, but you have a brand and a social strategy that you believe in, you can use that to carry you through until they do. Get your grid right but also stick to your vision.
"Coffee is infinitely sharable," said Josh Zad, "and the trending coffee shop phase took off at the same time as Instagram. But we had a strong social media strategy from day one. The same way we treated developing our menu and customer service strategy we had a focus on social media that we stuck to. When not that many people were following or engaging with us, we didn't get upset or change it all up. We stuck to the plan."
photo by Sarah Natasha.
CONTINUE TO ASK YOURSELF WHAT PROBLEM AM I SOLVING?
One of the most important questions you can ask yourself is "What problem am I solving?" It's a very simple question, but it's something that goes a long way. And if it's a problem that someone has already solved, ask yourself, "How am I doing it differently?"
There can be many solutions to one problem.
"We are a commodity product at the core of our business," said Ariel Kaye, "but there is also this movement around investing in yourself. One of my biggest ah-ha moments was that I didn't know where to go to buy these products and none of my friends knew where to go either. I had a brand background and I couldn't believe there weren't brands people were loving. You spend a third of your life in bed and yet none of these companies were asking me how I was sleeping at night or suggesting that I could do something differently to enhance my sleep."
"As a brand," Kaye added, "you should keep circling back to that core question."
ACCELERATORS ARE AN AMAZING RESOURCE FOR ENTREPRENEURS
Ivka Adam, founder of Iconery whose company was part of Amplify, one of the top accelerators in Los Angeles, talked about the difference between incubators and accelerators.
"Incubators" explained Adam, "give space and a little bit of money to a company with an idea to get it off the ground. An accelerator is one step beyond that. It's for a company with fully formed idea and most often you get somewhere between $50,000-$250,000 to take your idea to launch. After a year of forming the idea, we had a working prototype and our manufacturing figured out, and we were starting to sell, which is when we got accepted into Amplify. Three months later we were able to raise our seed round."
Ariel Kaye chimed in on the importance of accelerators as well, telling the audience, "I was also in an accelerator and I have to say when you are are a sole founder and you feel like you are an island of one, being with other founders who are in that grind with you is a lifesaver."
THE RIGHT PEOPLE MATTER
Key hires are part of the founder struggle. (Along with "founder depression," something Ivka Adam told the audience "is very real.")
Creating the right team takes time, patience, and sacrifice, but it will also make all the difference in your business. Gabby Cohen shared "We like to say, if you have the right people on the bus, it doesn't matter where the bus is going. You change direction every 90 days." Ariel Kaye said something similar, "With hires you don't always need people to reinvent the wheel. You want people who've watched boats burned."
Hiring practices: "You want people who've watched boats burned."
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"Spend the money on talent," said Josh Zad. "Do not lose that person that's maybe a little more expensive. It will payoff in the long run."
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How to Host a Tasting Party Like a Boss (And Invite Her Too)
Patina Catering gives us the best (and most useful) tips.
Summer is coming! Which means great weather, soirees as the sun goes down, and outdoor gatherings with friends (and yes, sometimes colleagues.) A wine and cheese tasting party is a lovely way to enjoy the season, but if you haven't quite perfected the "art" of the party we have you covered.
Patina Catering, part of Patina Restaurant Group, is dedicated to creating memorable menus and experiences for so we asked for their best tips on how to host a summer wine and cheese party. They know with longer days right around the corner white or sparkling is the way to go-- and they're also spilling best practices for hosting your boss or co-workers.
JUST HOW MANY WINES SHOULD YOU HAVE?
And just how do you serve them? According to Patina, it's best to keep the tasting to around 5 different wines. Any more than that might overwhelm the palette.
It's also OK to mix reds and whites, but you should serve in order from lightest to darkest.
WHAT ARE THE BEST PAIRINGS?
- IF YOU'RE SERVING CHEESE:
- Cabernet Sauvignon with a nutty cheese such as Parmigiano-Reggiano
- Sauvignon Blanc with soft goat cheese or French Roquefort
- IF YOU'RE SERVING CLASSICS
- Champagne with smoked salmon
- Chardonnay with gratin
- Pinot Noir with stone fruits and cured meats
HELP GUESTS IDENTIFY WHAY THEY'RE DRINKING AND EATING
Gold-plated place cards are a simple and chic way to let guests know what they're tasting. You can also choose a theme related to and stating each region/wine available with flavor notes.
Extra tip: Make it pretty because the details matter. If the wine has "notes of cherry," decorate that wine's tablescape with a bowl of Rainier cherries and cheeses like Chevre or Brie that work well with the pitted fruit. Display it with floral arrangements and the notecards. Each little "tasting" section can have its own gorgeous theme.
WHEN IT'S SOCIAL & WORK
It's called a tasting party, not a tipsy party. It's great to let your hair down and enjoy yourself, but if you've invited your boss, clients, or co-workers, make sure that you don't go overboard.
A night out with the girls is much different than socializing with your boss. Quick rule of thumb: the same things that make you stellar at the office, are the same that make you stellar at home. (At least when those higher-ups are present.)
Images courtesy of Patina Catering.
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6 of Rachel Zoe's Most Inspiring Create & Cultivate Takeaways
A truly uplifting convo between friends.
Photo by Irida Mete.
Rachel Zoe may have popularized such phrases as "I die," and "Bananas," but the multi-hyphenate who credited launching The Zoe Report as one of her smartest business decisions this past Saturday at Create & Cultivate DTLA, had much more knowledge to drop. Interviewed by friend, fellow businesswoman, and jewelry designer Jen Meyer, the impeccably dressed maven shared her savvy with the audience of 500. She also blushed crimson when Jen asked her how she works with her husband, Rodger Berman who was in the audience, and still goes home and f*cks him. "I just want you to know my nephew is here, so shh," Rachel laughed. Adding her signature, "I'm going to die right now."
"Rachel," said Jen before getting into the meat of their talk, "is quite possibly one of the most supportive friends, people, business women on the planet. When I started my jewelry company, one of the first people to support me and say 'I'm going to be everything I can for people to see it,' was Rachel."
Here are 6 of the most inspiring takeaways from Rachel and Jen.
They talked work ethic. What keeps her going?
"I love it. As I've grown from stylist to everything else, I am driven by the passion. It started with me wanting to be a great stylist and after that it was following my gut and instinct for what felt right." Later in the talk Rachel said, "I don’t think you can be good at something if you don’t love it."
What resonates through the Rachel Zoe brand?
"At the core of my brand I've always wanted to speak to, empower, and motivate young women. Give them confidence to do whatever they want to do in life. The mantra of my brand has always been: Provide aspiration and inspiration, and always be accessible. Never be intimidating. When someone shows a 20,000 dollar coat on a runway, I'm not ever saying that's what everyone needs to wear in order to look good."
Pre-panel snap in the Green Room. Photo by Irida Mete.
What is she like as a boss?
She has an open-door policy in her office-- but she rarely spends time in it. "Roger keeps threatening to close my office because I never go in it." She likes being in the middle of the creative energy and talking to everyone in the office. "We are so synergistic throughout the company-- everyone talks, and one part of the brand could not exist without the other." As for the members of her team, she had this to say: "Don’t micro-manage people. I think if you hire talented people, you have to let them be. Let them govern their time."
"Don’t micro-manage people. If you hire talented people, you have to let them be. Let them govern their time."
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What are the rules she lives by?
"It's about being honest, kind, and forthcoming. Internally and externally it's what we put out and it's how I govern my business and my life." Also adding, "Follow your gut and your instinct. I know what I know, but I know what I don't know. "
According to Jen, Rachel is a pro a balancing her life. How does she do it?
"Before I had children I felt I was very imbalanced. I was so obsessed with my career that I couldn't see anything else. I missed every birthday. I missed every holiday. I missed everything that mattered outside of work. And then weirdly when I had my first son I feel like I became better at my job. I was better able to focus, prioritize, look at really important things in a different way, and handle them in a much more sane way. I don't get worked up about things the way I used to and that has helped me achieve some balance."
But acknowledged, "Every day is different and a struggle and there is guilt on both sides when you're a working mom. You have to know you can't plan every day. It's never going to turn out the way you think it will. The ultimate goal is to be present when you're with your children and present when you're working."
What are some lessons she learned as a stylist that she's applied to her businesses?
"Really learning about people is the thing in styling that actually overrides all of the styling. You have to have patience, a true understanding that everyone is different; it's not a formula. These are not mannequins, they are people like you and me. They have problems and insecurities. Styling has really taught me that you have to work so hard for what you want in life. That this business is not always glamourous. And it helped me as a designer to know what women want and don't want."
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Dove and Create & Cultivate Host Top Influencers at #BeautyIs Dinner
Go behind-the-scenes with our favorite boss ladies.
Images by Sarah Natasha and Laura Dee
On Friday night Create & Cultivate DTLA kicked-off with a Speaker Dinner hosted by Dove at The Line Hotel. The guests gathered on the Breezeway to celebrate and dine on cuisine from famed LA chef Roy Choi.
Of the Dove partnership Jaclyn Johnson, founder of C&C told attendees, "When I started this company, what I was looking for was real advice, from real women. Those who had knowledge and ideas to share. Women who could inspire me. This is a notion that runs through all Dove campaigns. It’s at the core of their business."
Dove boasts a near 60 year heritage in helping women to reveal beautiful, radiant skin, believing when women look and feel their best, they feel happier.At the dinner Dove unveiled their new product collection that offers a beautiful way to celebrate the women in our lives. For the first time in nearly 60 years, Dove transformed its iconic Beauty Bar with the words love, kind, care, and real engraved for a limited time. Dove Dermatologist Dr. Mona Gohara encouraged attendees to think of a woman in their life who embodies one of these words and to let her know what a positive impact she’s made by tagging her in a post using #BeautyIs.
At the dinner Kellee Khalil, founder of Lover.ly told us, "One of the most influential women in my life is my business partner, Peggy Fry. She is a twenty year media executive and she inspires me every day to be a better leader. But also a powerful woman who is able to get stuff done, but do so with grace."
Guests sat to a simple and chic tablescape, played with flash tattoos supplied by Dove, and in line with Dove's #BeautyIs campaign, chatted about what beauty means to them. To lead-off the evening Dr. Gohara told us, "Beauty is having confidence in yourself and appreciating your inner core and what makes you unique. It’s about celebrating each other and the strong, powerful women in our lives who have helped us along the way whether it be your mom, grandma, sister friend or mentor."
Gabby Etrog Cohen, VP of PR at SoulCycle said, "Beauty is a feeling of strength and feeling like the best version of yourself no matter what you have on. Frankly, I feel the most beautiful when I’m sweaty and dripping post class, whether that’s a dance class or a SoulCycle workout. I feel the most beautiful and the strongest when I am sweaty."
For a behind-the scenes look at the dinner and to hear what beauty means to some of the other guests, like Paola Alberi of Blank Itinerary and Nicolette Mason, browse the below gallery. We invite you to celebrate the woman who inspires you by tagging her using #BeautyIs.
Images by Sarah Natasha and Laura Dee
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How To Design Your Day and Plan Well In 4 Steps
Tips to design your life with productivity.
With Monday here, we know how busy life can get. Between meetings, appointments, set commitments, work or school and a social life, it can be hard to find the time to manage it all.
The Best Way to Balance? Plan Well, with Focus and Intention.
Our friends at Blue Sky create dated planners, calendars and notebooks that help people manage their time and organize their lives, effectively and fashionably. They were able to team up with Whitney English, creator of the iconic Day Designer & Create & Cultivate DTLA panelist, to create a collection of planners, calendars and accessories that offer stylish solutions to busy women all over the world. And if you didn’t notice, they brought the buzz to our Create & Cultivate DTLA gift bags too!
Whitney, who spoke this weekend on “She Means Business: The Balancing Act of Mother and Mogul” created the collection in response to her own desire for a planner that was both functional and beautiful.
“I envisioned a planner that would be simple to use yet robust enough to handle the modern woman's busy, chaotic, challenging - yet ultimately rewarding – life,” notes Whitney.
“An efficient planning system was truly the key to helping me, and busy women all over the world, find focus, create balance and live a more inspiring life.
Essential Steps for Living Your Best
Each Day Designer planner offers four easy steps (and special pages) for you to define your values, envision your goals and live your best.
Start with the Big Picture: Your big picture is a combination of your dreams, ideas about the life you want to live, and your vision of what the coming year could be. Use this space to brainstorm. Include thoughts about the people in your life and the kind of people you’d like to surround yourself with. Think about the non-negotiable activities and events in your days, weeks, months and years. Usually, you can start by thinking about what you spend your time and your money on as an indicator of what matters most to you. Challenge yourself to not only dream big on this page, but also to dream better. You can always come back to this page throughout the year and add to it, so don’t feel like you have to fill it out all at once.
Set Your Goals: Looking at your big picture list, ask yourself this question: what do I have the time, money, energy, knowledge, and network to start working on right now? That’s the question that tells you which of those big ideas are the most realistic to move forward on in this moment. Break your goals into categories to achieve a balanced life: family & friends; heart & spirit, business & finance, health & fitness, etc. Finally, assign dates to have your goal achieved by. If one goal feels too big, break it down into lots of little goals and space your milestone dates out to help you create progress and momentum toward achieving your goal.
Design Your Days: Be intentional. Each day is a unique reflection of you. Morning and evening routines should help you start each day energized, and finish with a sense of accomplishment. Your routine needs to work for you, but don’t fear challenging yourself to change it up every now and then.
Your routine needs to work for you, but don’t fear challenging yourself to change it up every now and then.
Stay on Course: Review your goals throughout the year. The checkpoint interval is not important. Some people review their goals daily, some review weekly, some choose the monthly or even quarterly option. The important thing is to remember to review them and make sure you’re on course, as well as celebrate successful milestones along the way.
Your Life, Well Designed
The line of planners, calendars and desk accessories empowers women to manage their busy daily lives with creativity and style.
The collection reflects Whitney’s sophisticated aesthetic with classic patterns, colorful floral accents, stripes and touches of gold to dress up any desk or life space. In addition to planners and calendars, the collection includes pencils, washi tape, a pen and clipfolio.
Each planner in the Day Designer for Blue Sky collection is designed to guide thoughtful, effective planning. Smart page layouts are available in weekly, monthly and daily formats to help you plan according to your needs and preferences.
With use, each Day Designer x Blue Sky planner becomes a reflection of the confident, empowered woman who designs her days and lives in balance.
Happy planning!
Top Career Advice from Chelsea Handler at Create & Cultivate DTLA
Photo by Irida Mete.
On Saturday night when Chelsea Handler took the stage at #CreateCultivateDTLA, we knew that comedienne would slay. From telling the audience how sick she is of answering how she feels about being "the only woman in late night" to talking about her own fears, she was every bit the boss we expected. Her life advice can be applied to business and vice versa.
Below find our nine favorite takeaways.
1. ON HER NEW SHOW (WHICH, IS SET TO PREMIERE May 11 on Netflix.)
"There are eleven men doing the same exact thing every fucking night. Used to be two. Now there are eleven. I’ll break every rule to make it more interesting."
2. WHEN AN AUDIENCE MEMBER ASKED HER ABOUT BEING FEARLESS
"I’m scared right now. I could fail on a global level. But I don’t think I will, because I embrace my fear. I’m not fearless. I live in fear. I just want it to go away, so I’m constantly trying to swim toward something, with floaties on. "
3. ON BEING CONFIDENT IN HERSELF
"You have to be so into what you're saying that you can convince someone to send you to Peru to take ayahuasca."
4. ON ROOTING FOR OTHERS' SUCCESS
"I want people to move past me, I want to help them, and have them succeed on their own."
5. ON GETTING OUT OF HER COMFORT ZONE
"I don't wanna go to Russia, but I'm interested in going, because I don't wanna go."
6. ON HATING FILTERS
"The important thing for women is to not use filters. I’m not filter friendly. I’m 41 now and I want to be a real person. And tell people, this is what it looks like, and that’s how powerful I can be."
7. ON HONESTY BEING THE BEST POLICY
"Every time we don’t tell the people that we love what we really think, we’re putting their lives off for another five years."
8. ON DEALING WITH SEXISM IN THE WORKPLACE
"What do I do? I’m fucking sexist right back. I say, 'You guys are idiots. And you’re fucking lucky I’m here.'"
9. ON SUPPORTING OTHER WOMEN
"It’s so important for women to know that they can rely on other women. Because there’s nothing worse than a fucking bitch. If it's a woman you don't like, just pretend. If it's a man, go off on him."
#CreateCultivateDTLA Quotes To Inspire You This Sunday
Inspiration from amazing boss women at #CreateCultivateDTLA.
Image by Irida Mete.
Can someone take us back to yesterday? Thanks to you and all of our amazing speakers, this Create & Cultivate is definitely one for the books. And even with a little bit of gloomy weather in the AM, Hudson Loft radiated beams from all the inspiring and motivating women that were there to support one another as bosses yesterday.
To keep up with the inspirational vibes from yesterday, we've rounded up some of our favorite quotes from yesterday's panels.
Join us for the #CreateCultivateDTLA Attendee Happy Hour!
Join us in kicking off this weekend's festivities at WeWork DTLA!
What would a Create & Cultivate conference be without our attendee happy hour? We're beyond excited for this weekend's festivities, and we're kicking it all off tomorrow at WeWork's Gas Tower location in DTLA!
If you're ready to put your networking skills into action right before the conference, join us! Full details below:
WeWork Gas Tower, DTLA
555 West 5th Street, 35th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90013
6PM - 7:30PM
Beer, wine, light snacks, and valet will be provided. Also, a photobooth from Flipbooth will be on site!
To enter, make sure you have your badge or a print out of your ticket confirmation, and you're all set! (This event is reserved for Create & Cultivate DTLA attendees ONLY.)
See you tomorrow night LA!
Go Behind the Scenes of Our Brunch with Topshop
A brunch full of babes to kick-off the weekend!
Not even a little morning drizzle could dampen the mood at the kickoff Create & Cultivate x Topshop brunch at Estrella on Sunset in West Hollywood. It was florals and fun when the sun came out, and speakers, influencers, and bloggers enjoyed a preview of Topshop's Summer Collection as Carly Kuhn AKA @thecartorialist live-sketched illustrations of the fashionable brunchers. Click through the gallery below for snaps of ladies like Paola Alberi from Blank Itinerary, Teni Panosian, Marianna Hewitt from Life with Me, and some scrumptious "Bread Pudding" French toast.
Images courtesy of Irida Mete.
Here's All The OOTD Inspo You Need For #CreateCultivateDTLA
This should help you with deciding what to wear this weekend.
We are only two days away from #CreateCultivateDTLA this Saturday - are you ready LA?
You may or may not be packing for this weekend's festivities, and if you're still debating on what you should wear to the conference, we've got you covered. We've picked some of our favorite outfits from our past attendees for some major outfit inspo for this weekend, and if you missed it, here is an outline of all the things you should bring in your bag. Rule of thumb: be comfortable and wear comfy shoes! It's going to be a long day!
Share your OOTD's this weekend on social and make sure to tag us and #CreateCultivateDTLA to show us your outfits! We'll be sharing our favorites!
Enter to Win a SoulCycle Ride with Your Favorite C&C Boss Women
Squad up.
CALLING ALL CREATE & CULTIVATE + SOULCYCLE ENTHUSIASTS.
We're kicking off Create & Cultivate DTLA with a SoulCycle ride with some of favorite boss women (not to mention, the C&C social and editorial team). If you want to join, enter below for a chance to find your soul with us. The ride takes place Thursday, May 5th at 5:30pm at SoulCycle's newest DTLA location. If selected, we'll send you all the details!
We hope to see you there. In love, sweat, and soul! xx Create & Cultivate
ENTER TO WIN:
Maximize Your #CreateCultivateDTLA Break Next Weekend
Visit all the pop-ups next week and enter to win a trip to our next Create & Cultivate conference!
We're officially a week away from #CreateCultivateDTLA next Saturday, and we cannot wait to see you all next week! This might just be our biggest Create & Cultivate to date, and with all the pop-ups and activities on site, you bet that there are tons of things to do during your break next week. Just to give you a taste of what to expect, here are all of our amazing sponsors that will be having great activations for you on site next week:
Who What Wear Book Signing with Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power
Also, during break, you will be given an activity card to check out all of our sponsor pop-ups. When you visit all of the pop-ups make sure they stamp card your card to show that you visited their booth. Once you've checked out all the booths, turn in your card to the Create & Cultivate pop-up to enter to win a round trip to our next Create & Cultivate city! The winner will be announced right before Chelsea Handler's keynote!
Good luck, and see you next Saturday!
What's In Our Bag: Everything You Need for Create & Cultivate DTLA
A fully loaded bag perfect for this fully loaded day.
Designed for the 7am-10pm lifestyle, the 15” Tote from Dagne Dover is the ultimate day-to-night carryall, made with sneaky compartments to keep your essentials in place. And since your day at Create & Cultivate DTLA is going to jam-packed from when you first arrive to when Chelsea Handler takes the stage at 8pm, you want a bag that’s working for you while you work it.
We’re breaking your day, and just what should be in your bag. Sorry, no hot sauce needed.
8:00 AM: You’ve been waiting for this forever!! And it’s finally check-in time! If you already have your badge, head upstairs where you’ll receive your track card, notebook, and pen. Slip that notebook into one of the side pockets. You’ll need it, but right now it’s time to grab some breakfast. Fuel for the day ahead is vital.
9:00 AM: You’ve got your coffee and your track. Find your seat and set-up for the first panel. Pull your phone from the phone compartment, snag a shot of the empty stage, and then get ready for some amazing boss-piration. Which means, grab your notebook, your pen-- from one of the three pen loops, and get ready to put facts to paper.
12:00 N: You’re either heading to your mentor session or to lunch. If you’re going to meet with your mentor pull out your tablet (there’s room for an 11”) and record it. Seriously, this is advice you can’t get anywhere else and you might not be able to shorthand as fast as they’re doling out the goods. If you’re heading to lunch, tuck everything away, and get ready to shake the hand of the creative peer next to you.
2:30 PM: In 15 minutes it’s panel time again. Which means that notebook and pen are about to get another workout.
5:00 PM: Break time! There is so much to during the break. You’ll definitely want to pull out your phone from its pocket, take some Instagram shots (we #regram our favorites) and visit the multiple pop-ups, beauty bars, grab a juice and put it in your bag. We’ve got three keynotes ahead, so you’re going to want something to sip on while they spill their business secrets. There’s a pocket for a “water bottle holder.”
6:00 PM: Jessica Alba takes the stage in conversation with Katherine Power and Hillary Kerr. Pull out that phone and start live Tweeting NOW.
6:30 PM: Rachel Zoe takes the stage in conversation with Jen Meyer. Keep the inspirational Tweets coming. It’s maje. Bananas. Ah-mazing. All of it.
7:00 PM: HAPPY HOUR! Tuck everything away and head to the roof to grab a cocktail, pass out a few business cards from that zip pocket, make a few moves, and use one of the side pockets for the cards you’re collecting.
8:00 PM: Everyone’s favorite comedienne and all-around shero, Chelsea Handler takes the stage. You’re probably going to want to write down everything she says.
9:00 PM: You came, you saw, you conquered-- maybe in heels. It’s a very stylish crew at C & C. If your feet are killing you, grab the sneakers you tucked into the bag. (Yes, there’s room for sneakers) and slip them on. Grab your gift bag, and head home full of knowledge, a side pocket of new contacts, and plenty of info on that tablet.
7 Ways to Maximize Your C&C DTLA Experience
It's a full day. We're breaking it down.
We’re officially two and a half weeks out from Create & Cultivate DTLA, and we can’t contain our excitement! As we get closer to May 7th, we want to make sure you’re set for the big day, as this is our biggest Create & Cultivate yet! So here are the 7 ways to make sure you’re prepped and ready to make the best out of your Create & Cultivate experience next month.
PACK THE ESSENTIALS
You don’t need to load up a giant backpack for Saturday, but you do need to make sure to pack the bare necessities. That includes: a government issued photo ID (you will not be allowed entrance without one), your badge (if it was sent to you), a portable charger, camera, comfortable shoes, business cards, and an eager mind! You don’t have to worry about bringing a pen or notebook, we’ve got you covered. And snacks? We’ve got tons waiting for you when you arrive. Including gluten-free options.
CREATE YOUR C & C DTLA SQUAD
We’re so excited to have partnered with our friends at WeWork for this year’s Attendee Happy Hour. To make sure you make the best out of your entire Create & Cultivate experience, don't skip out on this event on May 6th at WeWork Gas Tower in Downtown LA. This is your chance to network, sip, and mingle with other attendees before the conference. If you are rolling to town solo (shoutout to attendees traveling from out of state), or want to grow your network for the conference, here’s the opportunity to create your C & C squad or meet your next business partner.
Beer, wine, light snacks, and valet will be provided, so make the most of this awesome networking opportunity before the conference. Bring your business cards and a strong handshake.
VALET + PARKING
If you are a VIP ticket holder, you have complimentary valet parking thanks to our friends at Luxe. Be on the lookout for an email from us to give you more information on how you can redeem your free valet parking from Luxe.
If you are a GA ticket holder, we have three different parking close to the venue that has all-day parking for $10. Click here to see the map of available lots that are reserved exclusively for Create & Cultivate attendees. Be sure to bring cash and read the parking signs!
PICK YOUR MENTORS NOW
If you’re a VIP ticket holder, make sure that you have selected your mentors.
As a VIP ticket holder, one of your perks is your choice of mentor, so don’t miss out on tailoring your C & C experience to your business needs and goals. If you haven’t familiarized yourself with our amazing mentor lineup, click here to get to know all about them.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BREAK
We have so much in store for you during the break. From visiting the beauty loft for your complimentary treatment, checking out the sunset on the rooftop, grabbing some ice cream courtesy of our friends at Coolhaus, juice from Pressed Juicery, and cupcakes from Sprinkles, you deserve it all. Rolling Greens is doing a succulent workshop. Shopstyle is holding monetization workshops for those of you looking to capitalize on your content. The RealReal will be playing a game called "Real or Faux." Count us in. Bar III Clothing is doing something special (!!)l with Paola from Blank Itinerary. Put it on yours. Who What Wear's Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power will be signing copies of their brand new book, "The Career Code," for the first 100 attendees that stop by the booth. It's first come, first serve-- and they are going to go fast.
Be sure to get glammed up by either TopShop Beauty, Honest Beauty, or BeGlammed.
You'll also be receiving an activity card on site. It's sort of like C&C Bingo. Here's how it works: visit every pop-up on site, get the sponsors to punch your card to show you've visited their activation, and then turn your card in to our C&C pop-up. You'll be automatically entered to win a trip to our next Create & Cultivate conference! Don't forget to put your name and email on the paper. We'll be announcing the winner before the end of day.
SHARE ON SOCIAL!
Each corner of Create & Cultivate DTLA is filled with amazing photo opps, so take tons of photos and share them on social! We love seeing all of your photos, and even #regram some of our favorites. So bring your camera, your photographer's eye, and take tons of amazing photos. Don't forget to #CreateCultivateDTLA so we can see your shots.
(Hint: It's also a great way to connect with people post-conference. Scroll the hashtag, see who was there, and slide into those DMs.)
GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
To make the most of the conference, you have to step out of our comfort zone; network with speakers, mentors, and attendees. It's the C&C way.
Start by setting some goals: Raising your hand and asking a question at the end of at least one panel, giving away all the business cards you came with, and/or leaving with as many business cards as you gave away. If you see yourself someday working with one of the brands at our pop-ups, feel free to introduce yourself and exchange info.
There are so many people to meet, and who knows - maybe your next career opportunity is waiting for you right at Create & Cultivate DTLA.
More from our blog:
#CreateCultivateDTLA: Gift Bag Sneak Peek
Just just like we like to have major keynotes, we also keep the same standard for our gift bags.
We are only a few weeks away from Create & Cultivate DTLA, and with keynotes like Chelsea Handler, Jessica Alba, and Rachel Zoe, it's safe to sat that this is our biggest conference to date yet. But just like we like to have major keynotes, we also keep the same standard for our gift bags.
This time, we have a fully loaded gift bag with tons of amazing product from our sponsors, that we just hope we can fit it all in one Parachute Market tote!
From amazing hair and beauty products, to even a month trial of our favorite at-home barre exercise company, we've got you covered DTLA. Here is a sneak peek at the companies you can expect to find:
Dove
Smashbox Cosmetics
Kevin Murphy
Yes To Carrots
Beyond Yoga
Fromm Beauty
Physicians Formula
Topshop
Lorac Cosmetics
Honest Beauty
First Aid Beauty
Blue Sky Planners
Paper Mart
beGlammed
Framebridge
Gorjana
BKR
Iconery
Tulip
Darling
French Connection
H2O Plus
Bai
Goldpress Paper
Shahida Parides
Barre 3
Zola
Privilege Clothing
SoulCycle
Thrive Market
Consort Design
Belong Mag
Murad
Sprinkles Cupcakes
Judy B Swim
Lulu & Georgia
Emu Australia
Foreo
Laurel & Wolf
Herbivore Botanicals
May Designs
Bobeau Collection
Amanda Marmer
Kestrel Bags
Olive & June
Psyche Jewelry
Cityseat NYC
Love Tatum
SoleSociety
Olio e Osso
Limonada
Be Good
Minted
Dagne Dover
Origins
Brunette the Label
Uptown Sweats
Get excited DTLA! Just a few more weeks til showtime!
10 of Our Favorite Chelsea Handler Quotes
Caustic and clever, two of our favorite qualities.
Chelsea Handler has a way with words. From reminding us that we're powerful to breaking down social situations with a bit of bite, the comedian always seems to know just the right "wrong" thing to say. And since she's our keynote for #CreateCultivateDTLA, we're sharing a few of our favorites.