Hey, Savvy Savers! Here's What to Expect at Our Money Moves Digital Summit Presented by Mastercard
Rebecca Minkoff, Julianne Hough, and more.
Photo: Smith House Photo
Money. Let’s talk about it. We’re tackling the taboo topic and calling in the experts for some #realtalk about everything from building financial confidence and setting a budget to buying your first home and investing in your future. Join us on Saturday, May 15th for our Money Moves Digital Summit presented by Mastercard for a day filled with inspiring conversations, hard-hitting workshops, motivating mentor sessions, and a live competition to see three founders pitch to a panel of judges for the chance to win a $10,000 small business grant.
Like all of our C&C events, our lineup for Saturday is next-level. Venture capitalist Arlan Hamilton is taking the virtual stage to share her tips for how to secure the bag, then Rebecca Minkoff is sitting down with Jaclyn Johnson to discuss carrying a company through financially challenging times for a live episode of WorkParty, and Julianne Hough is taking the mic to talk about diversifying your income and managing multiple revenue streams. Trust us, you won’t want to miss out!
Read on to discover everything else we have in store for this jam-packed day, and if you haven’t already, be sure to buy your digital pass ASAP!
THE DATE
Saturday, May 15th, 2021
TUNE IN FROM HOME
First things first! On Saturday, May 15th, you’ll receive an email with your link and password to access the exclusive Money Moves presented by Mastercard event site. Please note: All content will go live on Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), including the launch of the exclusive Money Moves presented by Mastercard event site. To find out what time a session is happening in your time zone, use this handy time zone converter.
Money Moves presented by Mastercard is made up of pre-recorded video sessions hosted via Vimeo and live video sessions streaming via Zoom. We recommend that you have a strong WiFi connection and find a comfortable place to tune in from home. Money Moves is optimized for desktop, so it is best viewed via a computer or laptop, rather than a tablet or phone.
While the live content is specifically designed to be watched in real-time, you’ll be able to access and view it until Friday, May 21st (Insiders, you have all-access even after the cutoff via your C&C Insiders dashboard!). Tickets will be available to purchase until Wednesday, May 19th.
THE SCHEDULE
Money Moves presented by Mastercard is built just like our in-person conferences, which, of course, you all know and love. We have a stacked schedule with an A-list line-up of speakers so we suggest taking notes along the way.
Want the full lineup? Check out the play-by-play schedule to map out your big day. Please note, all times are listed in PDT (Pacific Daylight Time), as C&C headquarters is located in sunny Los Angeles. To find out what time a session is happening in your time zone, use this time zone converter.
NETWORK
Networking is a huge part of our event and our Create & Cultivate Money Moves Summit Attendees Slack Workspace is a great place to mix and mingle with your fellow Create & Cultivators before, during, and after the big day. We’ve created channels for every workshop and panel, as well as channels for international attendees, networking, and more!
Attendees will receive a link to access our Create & Cultivate Money Moves Summit Attendees Slack Workspace in our What to Expect newsletter on Wednesday, May 12th. This Slack channel will remain accessible until Friday, May 21st. Not familiar with Slack? Here are a few tips to get you started:
Download the Slack app to your phone, computer, or both
Complete your account profile with a profile photo, your name, and what you do
Public conversations will happen in the channels (ex: #networking) and are located on the left-hand side of the app. You can also start direct messages with others in the Slack workspace
Hit send too early on a message? Slack has an edit feature! Click the three-dot icon located on the right side of the message to open the drop-down of message options
We’re all about GIFs at C&C! Here are instructions on how to integrate GIPHY into your Slack account.
Our Slack workspace is a busy, happening place on the day of the event. Streamline the notifications you receive by using the “mute” feature on channels that don’t pertain to you. To mute a channel, simply open up that channel, click the three-dot icon labeled “more,” and select the mute option
Most importantly, be kind and respectful of others. If you don’t follow this rule, you will be removed from the Slack group
If you have any questions on the day of the event about navigating the schedule, accessing the workshop downloads, or anything else, you can drop them into the customer service channel in Slack.
THINGS TO PREP AHEAD OF TIME
Here are a few things to prep before the big day so it goes off without a hitch:
Make sure you have a strong WiFi connection.
Install Zoom on your desktop computer or laptop and test it out.
Zoom tips:
Find a quiet place to tune in. Try to situate yourself in a small room that does not have an echo.
Try and stay away from noisy electronics and silence your cell phone and computer notifications for an optimal experience.
When possible, limit your internet connection to solely the device you’re using for the Zoom conference.
Set your phone to airplane mode, pause your television connection, ask others in your home to pause anything that may require a strong internet connection, etc.
Be sure to download the workshop assets so you can follow along with the expert in real-time. Note: Your exclusive workshop downloads will be available starting Saturday, May 15th via the exclusive Money Moves presented by Mastercard event site.
Don’t miss the opportunity to get real-time advice from small business owners, venture capitalists, and other experts during Mentor Power Hour.
Join the Mentor Power Hour Slack Channel and peruse the list of mentors who will be answering questions in real-time in hour-long Zoom webinars and choose your mentor(s).
We have experts in everything from creating a budget to getting invested to setting financial goals. If there’s more than one mentor you want advice from, don’t worry! You can hop from session to session over the course of the hour if you’d like.
Don’t forget to jot down any questions you have for the mentor sessions ahead of time! You’ll be able to ask your Qs in real-time by typing them into Zoom’s Q&A feature.
GET SOCIAL
Stay tuned for exciting announcements and updates by following along on our social at @createcultivate. Don’t forget to tag @createcultivate and use the hashtag #CCMoneyMoves for the chance to be featured in our Instagram Stories throughout the day! (Psst… Search “Create Cultivate” on Instagram to use our custom GIFs.)
C&C INSIDERS’ PERKS
Our Insiders get a ton of perks at all our events—and Money Moves presented by Mastercard is no exception. As an Insider, you get in for FREE and you’ll have access to all of the panels, keynotes, mentor sessions, and more after the Friday, May 21st cutoff via your C&C Insiders dashboard. Not an insider yet? Well, don’t miss out—you can sign up here.
VIRTUAL GIFT BAGS
We know you want ‘em! Complete our post-event survey to receive an email packed with promo codes from some of your favorite brands, including Rebecca Minkoff, American Airlines, SoFi, ALLY, Fresh Vine Wine, Partake Foods, Melanie Marie Jewelry, and more.
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES?
Live chat with a C&C specialist on CreateCultivate.com. You’ll see a “Chat With Us” pop-up in the bottom right corner of your screen.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU ONLINE! Who are you most excited to hear speak? Which workshop are you looking forward to most? Tell us in the comments below!
MORE ON THE BLOG
“Always Have a Counter Offer”—and More Money Advice From Our Equal Pay Day Summit
Here’s what you missed.
Photo: Smith House Photo
Equal Pay Day symbolizes how far into the year women would have to work, on average, in order to match what men earned the previous year. In other words, women have to work an extra 83 days into 2021, on average, in order to get paid the same amount of money a man made in 2020. But the keyword here is “average.”
When you break the gender pay gap down by race and ethnicity, it's even wider for Black women, Indigenous women, and Latina women. To put it into perspective, this year Equal Pay Day for Black women is on August 3rd, on September 8th for Indigenous Women, and on October 21 for Latinas. Although the gender pay gap is narrower for Asian American and Pacific Islander women, AAPI Equal Pay Day—which fell on March 9th this year—was still 68 days further from December 31 than it should be.
At our Equal Pay Day Summit presented by Mastercard, we hosted a thoughtful discussion on pay equity with Blake Gifford, an attorney and content creator, Kameron Monet, an attorney and content creator, Kelly Joscelyne, the chief talent officer at Mastercard, and Brenda J. Schamy, partner and co-founder of DiSchino & Schamy, PLLC.
ICYMI, we’ve jotted down all the mic-drop-worthy moments for you, but if you’re still experiencing FOMO, you can join C&C Insiders to get access to all of the workshops, mentor sessions, panels, and keynotes from our Equal Pay Day Summit and all of our past events. (Yes, you read that correctly!).
On knowing your worth…
“If you don’t know your worth (and you should), then research it. Research your value so that you truly know your worth.” — Kelly Joscelyne
“Ask other people. No one wants to talk about money, no one wants to talk about pay. Let's talk about it. Let's bring it to the forefront.” — Kameron Monet
“Employers bank on you not talking about [your salary with your coworkers], because it helps them to hide their hands. Talk about it.” — Blake Gifford
“Make friends at work. Networking is everything. Chase relationships and the checks will come.” — Brenda J. Schamy
On negotiating your salary…
“Negotiating is not a negative it’s a healthy business practice.” — Kameron Monet
“Come in first and come in firm. It anchors the conversation in your favor.” — Blake Gifford
“Know your worth and always have a counter offer.” — Kelly Joscelyne
“Be creative in your negotiations and think outside the box. There's no such thing as no deal if you want it.” — Brenda J. Schamy
On cultivating your dream career…
“You belong in every room you are you're in.” — Blake Gifford
“What’s for you is for you, no matter how much value you give to other people it’s never going to interfere with what’s for you.” — Kameron Monet
“Do anything you want. Reach for it.” — Kelly Joscelyne
“Try it.” — Brenda J. Schamy
On the best money books to read…
“The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance—What Women Should Know by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman.” — Kelly Joscelyne
“You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero.” — Kameron Monet
“Money Diaries by Lindsey Stanberry.— Blake Gifford
“Wise Guy by Guy Kawasaki.” — Brenda J. Schamy
MORE ON THE BLOG
Mastercard's Ginger Siegel on Real Ways Small Business Owners Can Improve Pay Equity Policies
From encouraging work-life balance to eliminating compensation biases.
“Make sure that each employee is aware of expectations and those are equal expectations for equal jobs.”
—Ginger Siegel, North America Small Business Lead, Mastercard
Small businesses have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic—and women-owned small businesses have been hit even harder. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, women-owned small businesses have less optimistic revenue, investment, and hiring plans when compared to male-owned small businesses. Still, even despite these challenges, there are a number of impactful ways small business owners—even those with limited resources—can help close the gender pay gap.
To help tackle all your burning questions about how small business owners should be assessing equal pay policies, measuring compensation biases, and retaining working mothers, we tapped Ginger Siegel, the North America small business lead at Mastercard to answer your inquiries in real-time. During a virtual mentor session at our Equal Pay Day Summit presented by Mastercard, she shared some #realtalk on real ways that small business owners can improve their equal-pay policies.
In case you missed it, we’re sharing a few of the Q&As from this eye-opening Equal Pay Day mentor session. Read on for Siegel’s sage advice.
Q: As a small business owner, how should I assess my pay policies and procedures?
“When you think about the assessment of your wages and what you're going to pay, it really should be done in the context of overall employee policy. You want to think through things that are of major importance to employees. Monetary compensation is one, but it's not the only factor. You want to ensure that you create an employee policy that takes into account issues like maintaining a balance between work and family, reducing job stress, and looking at the type of health and retirement benefits you offer. Then, as you structure your performance reviews, make sure that each employee is aware of expectations and those are equal expectations for equal jobs.”
Q: How should I communicate pay equity processes internally?
“Making sure your organization has a very clear view on how you've established jobs, how you've established duties, and how you've established overall functions is critically important. You should also review employee compensation on a regular basis and separate compensation reviews from performance reviews. As a small business owner, you need to understand how your compensation is going to be built in place to provide equal pay for equal work, disclose salary ranges for different positions and levels, and, of course, advocate for your people, encouraging them to be open and honest when these discussions take place.”
Q: It's no secret that women are exiting the workforce when they have children. What policies and procedures should I put in place to prevent this from happening?
“We know discriminatory hiring practices and promotion decisions that prevent women from gaining leadership roles and highly paid positions are actually sustaining the gender pay gap. And it's not only the pay gap—but it's also the opportunity gap. During COVID, 305 million full-time jobs have been lost, many of them held by women, so this issue is critically important. As you're building out your business’ policies, ensure that there's a lot of focus on helping female employees who may be taking more of the burden in terms of the home life, by creating a work-life balance to ensure that your female workers can have the access to help they need and can also have some flexibility.”
Q: How can I actually measure compensation differences to see if there's a bias?
“In order to ensure that there isn't bias, this can't be a one-and-done situation. There has to be a constant constant focus on looking at your pay, looking at all of your employees, and making sure that these things are consistently held equal. It really starts with job descriptions and really ensuring that your job descriptions are not based on who has the job but based on the job.”
If you’re experiencing FOMO and want to know the answers to all the questions Ginger spoke to in this session, you can join C&C Insiders to get access to all of the mentor sessions, workshops, panels, and keynotes from our Equal Pay Day Summit and all of our past events. (Yes, you read that right!).
MORE ON THE BLOG
Hey, Money Makers! Here's What to Expect at Our Equal Pay Day Summit Presented by Mastercard
Prepare for empowering workshops and enlightening roundtable conversations.
Photo: Smith House Photo for Create & Cultivate
Women make up nearly half of the workforce in the United States today, yet they continue to earn much less than men. On average, women in the United States make 81 cents for every dollar a man earns. But the keyword here is “average” because the pay gap is even wider for WOC. Black women earn 63 cents for every dollar a man makes, Native American women just 60 cents, and Latina only 55 cents. And although Asian American and Pacific Islander women earn 85 cents for every dollar a man makes, on average—that’s still 15 cents less than it should be.
This brings us to Equal Pay Day, a day that symbolizes how far into the year 2021 women would have to work, on average, in order to match what men earned in 2020. This year, Equal Pay Day falls on March 24th, which means women would have to work an extra 83 days, on average, in order to achieve equal pay with men.) So, in an effort to narrow the gap and make Equal Pay Day a thing of the past, we’re hosting Equal Pay Day Summit Presented by Mastercard to bring you a lineup of empowering workshops, insightful roundtable conversations, and mentor power hours to tackle everything from salary negotiation to money management and so much more.
Read on to learn more about everything we have planned and what you need to know to make the most of it. If you haven’t already, be sure to RSVP for free ASAP!
THE DATE
Wednesday, March 24th, 2021
TUNE IN FROM HOME
First things first! On Wednesday, March 24th, you’ll receive an email with the link to access the Equal Pay Day Summit event site. Please note: All content will go live on Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), including the launch of the Equal Pay Day Summit event site. To find out what time a session is happening in your time zone, use this handy time zone converter.
The digital summit is made up of pre-recorded video sessions hosted via Vimeo and live video sessions streaming via Zoom. We recommend that you have a strong WiFi connection and update to the latest version of Zoom for the best experience. The summit is optimized for desktop, so it is best viewed via a computer or laptop, rather than a tablet or phone.
While the live content is specifically designed to be watched in real-time, you’ll be able to access and view it until Thursday, April 1st at 5 pm PDT (Insiders, you have all-access even after the cutoff via your C&C Insiders dashboard!).
THE SCHEDULE
Equal Pay Day Summit is built just like our in-person conferences, which, of course, you all know and love. We have a stacked schedule with an A-list line-up of speakers so we suggest taking notes along the way.
Want the full lineup? Check out the play-by-play schedule to map out your big day. Please note, all times are listed in PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) and EDT (Eastern Daylight Time). To find out what time a session is happening in your time zone, use this time zone converter.
It’s going to be HUGE so we recommend getting a head start on planning out your day now.
THINGS TO PREP AHEAD OF TIME
Here are a few things to prep before the big day so it goes off without a hitch:
Make sure you have a strong WiFi connection.
Install Zoom on your desktop computer or laptop and test it out.
Zoom tips:
Find a quiet place to tune in. Try to situate yourself in a small room that does not have an echo.
Try and stay away from noisy electronics and silence your cell phone and computer notifications for an optimal experience.
When possible, limit your internet connection to solely the device you’re using for the Zoom conference.
Set your phone to airplane mode, pause your television connection, ask others in your home to pause anything that may require a strong internet connection, etc.
Be sure to download the workshop assets so you can follow along with the expert in real-time. Note: Your exclusive workshop downloads will be available starting Wednesday, March 24th via the Equal Pay Day Summit event site.
Psst… Claire Wasserman of Ladies Get Paid is leading a salary negotiation workshop you don’t want to miss, and for more sage advice you can order her book “Ladies Get Paid” here.
GET SOCIAL
Stay tuned for exciting announcements and updates by following along on our social at @createcultivate. Don’t forget to tag @createcultivate and use the hashtag #CCEqualPayDaySummit for the chance to be featured in our Instagram Stories throughout the day! (Psst… Search “Create Cultivate” on Instagram to use our custom GIFs.)
C&C INSIDERS’ PERKS
Our Insiders get a ton of perks at all our events—and this summit is no exception. As an Insider, you’ll have access to all of the workshops, mentor sessions, panels, and keynotes via your C&C Insiders dashboard after the event. Not an insider yet? Well, don’t miss out—you can sign up here.
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES?
Live chat with a C&C specialist on CreateCultivate.com. You’ll see a “Chat With Us” pop-up in the bottom right corner of your screen.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU ONLINE! Who are you most excited to hear speak? Which session are you looking forward to most? Tell us in the comments below!
MORE ON THE BLOG
What Does It Take to Grow Your Business Successfully? 4 Entrepreneurs Share What's Worked for Them
“You need to build on where you’re going, not just where you’re at.”
Photo: Smith House Photo
So you’ve made the decision to grow your business—congratulations! If you thought that was tough, now the next big challenge begins: Scaling your business for growth. Even if you manage to sell like crazy, you’ll soon have another problem: you have to be able to deliver to all those new customers.
We all know that having a good business idea is just the beginning. It’s how you turn that idea on paper into a product that takes strategy and stamina. Building a brand from the ground up is no easy task, and building a team and culture to scale it is a whole other business entirely.
At our recent Small Business Summit presented by Mastercard, Marla Blow, the Senior Vice President of Social Impact for North America at Mastercard, hosted a conversation on what it takes to scale, grow a team, and stay on top of cash flow to see a business thrive with Arian Simone, the general partner and co-founder of the Fearless Fund, Morgan Mercer, the founder and CEO of Vantage Point, and Sharifa Murdock, the co-owner of Liberty Fairs and the CEO of ENVSN Fest.
If you missed the conversation, don’t worry, we have you covered! Scroll on to read the highlights. If you want to watch the entire chat, you’re in luck! Join Create & Cultivate Insiders to get unlimited access to all of our Small Business Summit Presented by Mastercard content.
On accessing capital as a minority entrepreneur...
“Right now, Black women are receiving .0006% of venture funds. Women of Color are still under a percent, collectively.” -Arian Simone
“There is also a lack of diverse investors. The industry is 80% white male.” -Arian Simone
“It’s going to take a lot of movement and collaboration and allies in order to move the needle.” -Arian Simone
On finding the right employees…
“I want to know that someone believes in my dream. That someone is really on top of it, and wants to be a part of it.” -Sharifa Murdock
“Bringing on the wrong people is just as bad as having the role open, if not, worse.” -Morgan Mercer
On fostering inclusivity and diversity…
“When you think about every single person on your team, they’re all an extension of your values, they’re all an extension of your mission.” -Morgan Mercer
On caring about employees…
“Once you find a good employee, you gotta keep them happy.” -Sharifa Murdock
“Be authentic about it too. Do it because you care and you really want to know how your employees are doing.” -Sharifa Murdock
“If employees feel like they can't actually voice their concerns with a project, they’re not going to voice their concerns with their role.” -Morgan Mercer
“The best thing to do is have an open-door policy.” -Morgan Mercer
On preparing to scale your business…
“You can’t just go out to find someone who will work for you for ten dollars an hour.” -Arian Simone
“You need to build on where you’re going, not just where you’re at.” -Arian Simone
On finding the right funding option...
“Make sure you have really strong allies and make sure you have really strong mentors.” -Morgan Mercer
“Whether it be VCs, whether it be startup programs and accelerator programs, whether it be grants, loans, pitch competitions, there are numerous avenues, and it’s really about finding people who align with you.” -Morgan Mercer
On having different revenue streams...
“The pandemic is a prime example of why we should have multiple revenue streams.” -Sharifa Murdock
“Have different ideas on how your one concept can do different things cause you never know what can happen.” -Sharifa Murdock
On having a mentorship program…
“People who can train you and teach you where they have been are key.” -Arian Simone
On staying on top of cash flow...
“I am the cheapest person when it comes to business.” -Sharifa Murdock
“Stay as tight as you can.” -Sharifa Murdock
On leading a team...
“Leading a team requires the desire to be a leader.” -Morgan Mercer
On finding success…
“Success is incompletion. You always want to get to that next level.” -Sharifa Murdock
Psst… If you’re having serious FOMO, join Create & Cultivate Insiders to get unlimited access to all of our Small Business Summit Presented by Mastercard content including video recordings of every panel and workshop download in C&C history.
MORE ON THE BLOG
Kate Hudson, Tika Sumpter, & More Embrace Authenticity in Business—Here's Why You Should Too
Read on for all the highlights from our Small Business Summit.
On Saturday, October 24th, we heard from some of the most innovative, forward-thinking entrepreneurs at our Small Business Summit presented by Mastercard on what small business looks like today and is going to look like tomorrow. Because if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that there’s nothing that can’t be done when people come together with unequivocal support and compassion for each other.
While the chaos and uncertainty were—and are—a lot to reckon with, the silver lining is that it’s been a major conversation starter. The pandemic helped us realize that we need to take care of ourselves a little more; there is need for change and the fight for racial equality still has a long way to go; and the election season reminds us that our voices matter. When talking about the new normal in a post-pandemic world, it’s not just about how it will look like, but what do we want and need it to look like?
So go ahead, sit back, relax, and sip on that glass of rosé you’ve been saving for just the right evening while we serve you some of the highlights from your favorites like Kate Hudson, Tika Sumpter, Lauren Gores Ireland, Morgan Mercer, and more! From creating authentic content, rethinking what it means to be an influencer, fostering inclusivity in the workplace, pivoting to digital, abandoning perfection to building a community, no leaf was left unturned!
The Three C’s: How Tika Sumpter and Thai Randolph Are Using Content, Commerce, and Community to Create a Destination for Modern Moms of Color
“
This is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”
—Tika Sumpter | Co-Founder, Sugaberry
Panelists:
Tika Sumpter | Co-Founder, Sugaberry
Thai Randolph | Co-Founder, Sugaberry
Moderator:
Jaclyn Johnson | CEO and Founder of Create & Cultivate
On being frustrated with lack of content about Black motherhood…
“There were an array of white spaces, but Black women and mothers were a second thought.” -Tika Sumpter
“When you Google ‘Black motherhood,’ when you think about images of Black motherhood, it’s so heavy, it’s so weighty.” -Thai Randolph
“Where was the joy? Where was the light?” -Thai Randolph
On finding each other and building a partnership...
“One of the things I told our mutual friends was, ‘Sure, I’ll meet with her, so I can explain to her why she should NOT go into this business.” -Thai Randolph
“The big differentiator for me was [Tika’s] emphasis on a tangible call to action.” -Thai Randolph
On marketing a brand for Black, women-identifying consumers…
“Black women make up 7% of the U.S. population but drive 40% of purchases when it comes to certain categories like baby food or packaged goods and juices.” -Thai Randolph
“We are very quick to point out that this isn’t about altruism. This is about business and really catering to a smart and capable and influential consumer.” -Thai Randolph
On putting community first...
“We are creating content that our audience and community actually cares about, and with that content, we’re creating commerce, funneling back into the community to live their best lives.” -Tika Sumpter
On launching a podcast about motherhood…
“What we want to offer to our community is the opportunity of joy through every realm of our verticals in our sight.” -Tika Sumpter
“We not only wanted to bring joy but to also bring real quality content about our bodies. We don’t really talk about IVF enough, we don’t talk enough about different ways to motherhood, different pathways.” -Tika Sumpter
On creating content that resonates with their audience...
“What has been resonating with our audience is the sweetness, and the joy, and the honesty about the interior lives of Black moms who're just mothering.” -Thai Randolph
“We’re not saying suffering doesn’t exist in our community. We’re saying our community deserves joy.”-Thai Randolph
“The idea that someone just carves out and cares so much for Black women and Black moms, and is just totally centered on them—without any sensationalism—is what’s really striking a chord. -Thai Randolph
On dealing with the challenges of the pandemic…
“A lot of wine. I’m kidding, but I’m not kidding.” - Tika Sumpter
“It’s made me realize how many things I don’t need—in life, in general—whether it’s physically or mentally.” -Tika Sumpter
“Connecting is what has allowed me to make it thus far.” -Tika Sumpter
On running a brand during the pandemic…
“It has made us truly digitally native. It has made us agile and adaptable and resourceful in a way that might have taken us longer to grow those skills otherwise.” -Thai Rudolph
“It’s made us think differently about what community means in this new context of a pandemic.” -Thai Rudolph
On supporting Black mothers during times of economic duress and racial injustice ...
“The mental premise of having to jump around from trauma to trauma to trauma is not living anymore—it’s just surviving. And we don’t want to just survive here. That’s the ultimate reason for Sugaberry: it’s to thrive and spread joy.” -Tika Sumpter
“Who stands between the gap of trauma and trauma? We want to be that. We want to stand in that gap for Black women.” -Tika Sumpter
On abandoning perfectionism...
“If you choose wrong, you can always choose again.”- Thai Rudolph
On being a mother and a business person…
“What this pandemic is showing us is that you’ll work it out.” -Tika Sumpter
On giving advice to new founders…
“Make sure you live what you do, chile! This is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.” -Tika Sumpter
“You can do it all! You just can’t do it all at once.” -Thai Rudolph
Plug & Play: How to Streamline Customer Communications for Your Business, Powered by Messenger
“The community you build online is the lifeblood of your business.”
—Danielle Nagel | Owner and Designer, Dazey LA
Panelists:
Danielle Nagel | Owner and Designer, Dazey LA
Sabrina Zohar | Entrepreneur, Sustainability Advocate, and Founder of Softwear
Gianne Doherty | Co-Founder, Organic Bath Co.
Moderator:
Jaclyn Johnson | Founder and CEO, Create & Cultivate
On being authentic with customers during COVID…
“Just being open and honest about what we’ve been going through has been huge for us.” -Danielle Nagel
“It’s important to tell your audience that you’re going through it too.” -Danielle Nagel
On building strong relationships with customers…
“I’m a big believer in asking your customers what they want from you.” -Gianne Doherty
“A lot of my clients have my cellphone number. They’ll DM and send photos, talking about how they love the product and how other people love it too.” -Sabrina Zohar
On attracting people to your business during a pandemic…
“Yes, you can go to all the big brands, but you’re not going to get someone who genuinely cares.” -Sabrina Zohar
On connecting virtually…
“We found that 90% of our customers were on Facebook, so Messenger just made sense. We can meet them where they are.” -Gianne Doherty
“Messenger allows us to chat with customers in real-time, which affects purchasing.” -Gianne Doherty
On implementing customer service…
“If I’m not prioritizing my customers and not giving them that sense of urgency that they’re number one, they’re gonna buy it from five thousand other brands.” -Sabrina Zohar
“As a business owner, once in a while, you get an unhappy customer, and you take it so heavy and so personally. Having a third party who can handle that for you so you can focus on growing the business is such a huge game-changer.” -Danielle Nagel
“Customer communication is vital for trust.” -Gianne Doherty
On using social media platforms to convert sales…
“I use the Instagram platform to show when I’m making something new to be released or launched.” Sabrina Zohar
“The community you build online is the lifeblood of your business.” -Danielle Nagel
On supporting small business...
“Embrace the fact that you’re a small business!” Danielle Nagel
From Pandemic to Profit: How to Pivot, Reposition, and Reset Your Small Business
“It’s really important for us to be mindful of our customer’s mental health.”
—Patty Delgado | CEO, Hija de tu Madre
Panelists:
Sonja Rasula | Founder, Care Package and Unique Markets
Marissa Hermer | Owner, Olivetta and The Draycott
Jess Rona | Celebrity Dog Groomer and Entrepreneur
Patty Delgado | CEO, Hija de tu Madre
Mattie James | Influencer
Moderator:
Ginger Siegel | North America Small Business Lead, Mastercard
On experiencing COVID-induced delays or disappointments…
“We are all human beings, and we have ups and downs, and I think all of us entrepreneurs have to be gentle and kind with ourselves.” -Jess Rona
“It’s all about your mindset as a business owner.” -Jess Rona
On practicing self-care and staying positive…
“I focus on meditation and self-care because when you’re good, you can handle anything.” -Jess Rona
“When I focus on the things that I do have, even if they’re teeny tiny, that is the real pivoting for me. The pivoting is actively being a puppeteer with your thoughts and pivoting into a positive mindset.” -Jess Rona
On being a DTC business in the current COVID climate…
“COVID has really pushed us to be more responsible for our own in-house production.” -Patty Delgado
“I’m really listening to the needs of my customers and adapting our business model, and all-around business decisions, based around the current climate.” -Patty Delgado
On owning and operating a restaurant during COVID…
“It’s not just about health and safety, but trust in us—in any business.” -Marissa Hermer
“We’re just not a restaurant. We’re a face and a family, and we care.” -Marissa Hermer
On pivoting to digital during COVID…
“We cultivated our community online.” -Sonja Rasula
“I truly am a fan of email marketing, so we really cultivated our email list because those are people who have given us something of value. They have given us their email address.” -Sonja Rasula
“We started talking to our email list a lot more and we are going to have a very specific plan for holiday months.” -Sonja Rasula
On pressing pause and looking ahead…
“For the last month or two, I did take a pause on doing as many things virtually.” -Sonja Rasula
“For me, I pressed pause, so that I could really focus on what the business could look like in 2021 and start to put things into place for that.” -Sonja Rasula
On changing your content strategy as an influencer…
“I noticed that all we really had to shift our story and talk about home life.” -Mattie James
“I had to be really careful that I was authentic to my story and being truthful, first and foremost, but then make sure that anything I told my audience, whether it was organic content about what I’m currently doing or even in partnership with a brand, that I was really speaking to home life.” -Mattie James
“It was really important to me to make sure that I even pivoted the language I used day to day.” -Mattie James
On launching online business courses…
“So many more people want to take online courses, want an online masterclass. Again, they are making that space to learn because people are a little bit more still right now.” -Mattie James
On making cybersecurity a priority…
“I’ve been really active in making sure that I’m paying attention to little things like my passwords.” -Mattie James
“We definitely do spend a lot of time working with the best third parties to ensure our customer and business safety.” -Patty Delgado
“I will admit that I have put the responsibility on the third parties and I guess I’m just crossing my fingers and hoping it’s okay.” -Sonja Rasula
On supporting small businesses during this time…
“The whole idea behind Unique Markets was to feature and support small and independent businesses—designers, artists, makers—who are usually bootstrapped, independent, and own their businesses. And because we can no longer do that, I thought about how I could support all of these small businesses in a virtual space.” -Sonja Rasula
“So, I came up with this idea. My mom sends me care packages. No joke, I am a woman in my 40s, y’all, and my mom sends me care packages filled with random stuff, but it’s the thought that counts.” -Sonja Rasula
“I could take all these small businesses that I support and love and put them into a box.”-Sonja Rasula
“The idea is that everything in these care packages is curated by me or small independent businesses.” -Sonja Rasula
“This year it became very clear to me that I wanted to really help all of my fellow female founders, women-owned businesses and BIPOC businesses.” -Sonja Rasula
“Over 75% of the brands that are in all of the boxes are minority-owned or female-owned.” -Sonja Rasula
On paying it forward in the midst of the pandemic…
“It’s been the silver lining to this pandemic for me and our teams to know that we are facilitating and have created a platform for people to give back to the heroes and front line workers.” -Marissa Hermer
“We’ve raised over $50,000 and it truly gives us such joy to be able to give back, but equally our heroes are more nourished knowing that people around the world are thinking about them.” -Marissa Hermer
“I think that community, even global community, now more than ever, when our country feels equally divided, it’s really really important.” -Marissa Hermer
“Spreading happiness now is the most important thing we can do when there’s just so much doom and gloom.” -Marissa Hermer
On being a source of happiness and joy…
“I play with iMovie a lot and make fun videos. I’ll buy music from iTunes and tinker and play around, and tap into my creativity. If you are finding joy through that and you are getting that little fun out of that, I think people want to follow any joy right now.” -Jess Rona
“If you’re posting something that’s joyful, people will be attracted to it.” -Jess Rona
On adapting your selling strategy…
“Since day one, we’ve always been very digitally aggressive across every channel.” -Patty Delgado
“What has changed is our messaging. It’s really important for us to be mindful of our customer’s mental health.” - Patty Delgado
“We’ve shifted our focus from selling content to more mindful and empathetic content, and I think that’s been extremely beneficial for brand awareness and just overall brand-customer intimacy.” - Patty Delgado
On building community…
“While the pandemic has been very intense for all of us, this has been a time where community really does just organically explode if you give people a reason to come together and congregate.” -Mattie James
On the future of in-person pop-up events…
“For 2021, for all types of businesses, I think creating in-person experiences that can be safe and responsible are going to absolutely thrive.” -Sonja Rasula
Click and Connect: How Technology Is Driving Community, Growth, and Innovation in a Digital World, Powered by Dell
“I know that we would not be where we are today without the mentors who helped guide us.”
Lauren Gores Ireland | Co-Founder, Summer Fridays
Panelist:
Lauren Gores Ireland | Co-Founder, Summer Fridays
Moderator:
Jaclyn Johnson | CEO and Founder, Create & Cultivate
On launching the business right away…
“We had the idea and, quite literally, that afternoon we were already taking steps toward creating a business.”
“We truly just started, and never really looked back.”
On tapping into your immediate network…
“Once you have an idea and you start asking people, even within your friends-and-family circle, a lot of times, they know someone who knows someone who can connect you, whether that’s to a lab or a manufacturing facility.”
On knowing when it’s time to bring on a team…
“You get to a point where you realize you can’t do everything.”
“Once you’re with a retailer like Sephora, you can’t operate without a proper team behind you.”
On seeking out mentorship opportunities…
“I know that we would not be where we are today without the mentors who helped guide us.”
“Jen Atkin of OUAI was significant for us. She’s the one that introduced us to Sephora. She guided us when we had big questions.”
“Jamie Kern Lima of IT Cosmetics very kindly sat down with us for hours one day and just gave us so much information and advice, which was so incredible.”
On investing in your own business…
“Before you’re making money, you have to put money into the business.”
On the power of social media marketing…
“It’s remarkable what you can do in the beginning, without a ton of money, on a channel like Instagram.”
“Trying to reach out to the networks that you have, doing gifting, sending things out to people, and investing in getting that product out to people is really helpful.”
“Now that we have grown, whether they’re our close friends or someone that we don’t know, we do pay influencers, and that is now part of our strategy.”
“What Instagram is best for is getting out the message so people can see it and it makes them want it.”
On networking with other brands…
“Reaching out to other brands that feel native to your brand is a really great way to grow.”
Building Big: How to Scale and Grow a Team and Business Successfully
“Leading a team requires the desire to be a leader.”
Morgan Mercer | Founder and CEO, Vantage Point
Panelists:
Morgan Mercer | Founder and CEO, Vantage Point
Arian Simone | General Partner and Co-Founder, Fearless Fund
Sharifa Murdock | Co-Owner of Liberty Fairs and CEO of ENVSN Fest
Moderator:
Marla Blow | SVP of Social Impact for North America, Mastercard
On accessing capital as a minority entrepreneur...
“Right now, Black women are receiving .0006% of venture funds. Women of Color are still under a percent, collectively.” -Arian Simone
“There is also a lack of diverse investors. The industry is eighty percent white male.” -Arian Simone
“It’s going to take a lot of movement and collaboration and allies in order to move the needle.” -Arian Simone
On finding the right employees…
“I want to know that someone believes in my dream, that someone is really on top of it, and wants to be a part of it.” -Sharifa Murdock
“Bringing on the wrong people is just as bad as having the role open, if not, worse.” -Morgan Mercer
On fostering inclusivity and diversity in the workplace…
“When you think about every single person on your team, they’re all an extension of your values, they’re all an extension of your mission.” -Morgan Mercer
On caring for employees…
“Once you find a good employee, you gotta keep them happy.” -Sharifa Murdock
“Be authentic about it too. Do it because you care and you really want to know how your employees are doing.” -Sharifa Murdock
“If employees feel like they can't actually voice their concerns with a project, they’re not going to voice their concerns with their role.” -Morgan Mercer
“The best thing to do is have an open-door policy.” -Morgan Mercer
On preparing to scale your business…
“You can’t just go out to find someone who will work for you for ten dollars an hour.” -Arian Simone
“You need to build on where you’re going, not just where you’re at.” -Arian Simone
On finding the right funding for your business...
“Make sure you have really strong allies and make sure you have really strong mentors.” -Morgan Mercer
“Whether it be VCs, whether it be startup programs and accelerator programs, whether it be grants, loans, pitch competitions, there are numerous avenues, and it’s really about finding people who align with you.” -Morgan Mercer
On having different revenue streams...
“The pandemic is a prime example of why we should have multiple revenue streams.” -Sharifa Murdock
“Have different ideas on how your one concept can do different things cause you never know what can happen.” -Sharifa Murdock
On creating a mentorship program…
“People who can train you and teach you where they have been are key.” -Arian Simone
On staying on top of cash flow...
“I am the cheapest person when it comes to business.” -Sharifa Murdock
“Stay as tight as you can.” -Sharifa Murdock
On leading a team...
“Leading a team requires the desire to be a leader.” -Morgan Mercer
On finding success…
“Success is incompletion. You always want to get to that next level.” -Sharifa Murdock
A Keynote Conversation With Kate Hudson
“The great leaders are the ones who listen to their team.”
—Kate Hudson | Actress, Author, and Entrepreneur
Panelist:
Kate Hudson | Actress, Author, and Entrepreneur
Moderator:
Aya Kanai | Head of Content and Editorial Partnerships, Pinterest
On finding the right vision for your business endeavor...
“I like being a part of something that everyone can be a part of.”
On connecting with Fabletics…
“It just spoke to me authentically.”
“It was affordable, cute activewear at a time when being involved in something that was affordable—as a celebrity—was considered not cool.”
On defining wellness…
“There’s no other beauty secret other than internally being healthy.”
“It starts with not putting too much pressure on ourselves.”
On creating the right wellness products for INBLOOM…
“How do you get people, in general, to feel excited about feeling good and not daunted by the things you need to do in order to be healthy?”
“We need to be able to educate people about wellness in a way where it feels like, ‘Oh, that’s easy enough. I can start there.’”
On being an authentic entrepreneur…
“I’d rather roll up my sleeves and get involved in the business.”
“I’d rather be proud of what I’m putting out there and fail than make money from something just because it’s an opportunity that I have. I like the long game.”
“I’d much prefer to build than just model.”
On being an empowering leader…
“The great leaders are the ones who listen to their team.”
“Anyone who’s gonna succeed leads with openness and availability in transparency.”
“You have to create a positive workspace.”
On being confident while running a business…
“I’m usually asking for business advice.”
“You gotta love what you’re doing cause people can feel it.”
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Hey Boss Ladies, Here’s What to Expect at Our Small Business Summit Presented by Mastercard
Kate Hudson, Tika Sumpter, and more.
With more than 30 million small businesses across the country employing over 47% of the country’s total workforce, it’s no wonder small business is known as the backbone of America. But in the midst of COVID, small business owners and entrepreneurs need our help more than ever as they transform their Main Street mainstays into thriving digital ones, which is why we’re taking our annual Small Business Summit presented by Mastercard online and making it free to attend. Yes, free!
On Saturday, October 24th, we’re partnering with Mastercard to host a day of immersive virtual workshops, insightful panels, and intimate mentor sessions. Prepare to walk away with the tools, tips, and tricks you need to build, launch, or take your business to the next level and open your digital doors. Scroll on to find out everything you need to know ahead of the big day (spoiler alert: Kate Hudson and Tika Sumpter will be there!) and RSVP to save your spot if you haven’t already.
THE DATE
Saturday, October 24th, 2020
TUNE IN FROM HOME
First things first! On Saturday, October 24th, you’ll receive an email with the link to access the exclusive Small Business Summit presented by Mastercard event site. Please note: All content will go live on Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), including the launch of the exclusive Small Business Summit presented by Mastercard event site. To find out what time a session is happening in your time zone, use this handy time zone converter.
The digital summit is made up of pre-recorded video sessions hosted via Vimeo and live video sessions streaming via Zoom and Messenger Rooms. We recommend that you have a strong WiFi connection and update to the latest version of Zoom for the best experience. The summit is optimized for desktop, so it is best viewed via a computer or laptop, rather than a tablet or phone.
While the live content is specifically designed to be watched in real-time, you’ll be able to access and view it until Friday, October 30th at 5 pm PDT (Insiders, you have all-access even after the cutoff via your C&C Insiders dashboard!).
THE SCHEDULE
Small Business Summit presented by Mastercard is built just like our in-person conferences, which, of course, you all know and love. We have a stacked schedule with an A-list line-up of speakers so we suggest taking notes along the way.
Want the full lineup? Check out the play-by-play schedule to map out your big day. Please note, all times are listed in PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) and EDT (Eastern Daylight Time). To find out what time a session is happening in your time zone, use this time zone converter.
It’s going to be HUGE so we recommend getting a head start on planning out your day now.
THINGS TO PREP AHEAD OF TIME
Here are a few things to prep before the big day so it goes off without a hitch:
Make sure you have a strong WiFi connection.
Install Zoom on your desktop computer or laptop and test it out.
Zoom tips:
Find a quiet place to tune in. Try to situate yourself in a small room that does not have an echo.
Try and stay away from noisy electronics and silence your cell phone and computer notifications for an optimal experience.
When possible, limit your internet connection to solely the device you’re using for the Zoom conference.
Set your phone to airplane mode, pause your television connection, ask others in your home to pause anything that may require a strong internet connection, etc.
We will be hosting three LIVE Messenger Room sessions on Facebook throughout the day, you will need to click the live link (which will be accessible via the exclusive Small Business Summit presented by Mastercard event site) at the time of the session to join:
This link will prompt you to view the live session.
Please note: You do not need to log into your Facebook account or have a Facebook profile to join the sessions.
Please use Google Chrome when accessing the link for the best user experience.
Be sure to like, comment, and ask questions during the live broadcast.
Be sure to download the workshop assets so you can follow along with the expert in real-time. Note: Your exclusive workshop downloads will be available starting Saturday, October 24th via the exclusive Small Business Summit presented by Mastercard event site.
Join the Mentor Power Hour Slack channel and peruse the list of mentors who will be answering questions in real-time in half-hour-long Zoom webinars and choose your mentor(s).
We have experts in everything from building brands to raising venture capital to attracting and retaining A-List clients.
If there’s more than one mentor you want advice from, don’t worry! You can hop from session to session over the course of the half-hour if you’d like.
Don’t forget to jot down any questions you have for the mentor sessions ahead of time! You’ll be able to ask your Qs in real-time by typing them into Zoom’s Q&A feature.
GET SOCIAL
Stay tuned for exciting announcements and updates by following along on our social at @createcultivate. Don’t forget to tag @createcultivate and use the hashtag #CCSmallBusinessSummit for the chance to be featured in our Instagram Stories throughout the day! (Psst… Search “Create Cultivate” on Instagram to use our custom GIFs.)
NETWORK
Networking is a huge part of our event and our C&C Small Business Summit Attendees Slack Workspace is a great place to mix and mingle with your fellow Create & Cultivators before, during, and after the big day. We’ve created channels for every workshop and panel, as well as channels for international attendees, networking, and more!
Attendees will receive a link to access our Create & Cultivate Small Business Summit Attendees Slack Workspace in our What to Expect newsletter on Tuesday, October 20th. This Slack channel will remain accessible until Friday, October 30th at 12 pm PDT. Not familiar with Slack? Here are a few tips to get you started:
Download the Slack app to your phone, computer, or both
Complete your account profile with a profile photo, your name, and what you do
Public conversations will happen in the channels (ex: #networking) and are located on the left-hand side of the app. You can also start direct messages with others in the Slack workspace
Hit send too early on a message? Slack has an edit feature! Click the three-dot icon located on the right side of the message to open the drop-down of message options
We’re all about GIFs at C&C! Here are instructions on how to integrate GIPHY into your Slack account.
Our Slack workspace is a busy, happening place on the day of the event. Streamline the notifications you receive by using the “mute” feature on channels that don’t pertain to you. To mute a channel, simply open up that channel, click the three-dot icon labeled “more,” and select the mute option
Most importantly, be kind and respectful of others. If you don’t follow this rule, you will be removed from the Slack group
If you have any questions on the day of the event about navigating the schedule, accessing the workshop downloads, or anything else, you can drop them into the customer service channel in Slack.
C&C INSIDERS’ PERKS
Our Insiders get a ton of perks at all our events—and this summit is no exception. As an Insider, you’ll have access to all of the workshops, mentor sessions, panels, and keynotes via your C&C Insiders dashboard. This content will be uploaded by November 6th, 2020. Not an insider yet? Well, don’t miss out—you can sign up here.
VIRTUAL GIFT BAGS
We know you want ‘em! Complete our post-event survey to receive an email packed with promo codes from some of your favorite brands, including Onekind, Hello Care Package, The Caker, Summer Fridays, and more. You’ll receive the survey in your inbox on Friday, October 30th, 2020.
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES?
Live chat with a C&C specialist on CreateCultivate.com. You’ll see a “Chat With Us” pop-up in the bottom right corner of your screen.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU ONLINE! Who are you most excited to hear speak? Which workshop are you looking forward to most? Tell us in the comments below!
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Cyber Attacks Cost Small Businesses an Average of $200,000—Here's How to Avoid Them
We’ve got you covered.
Even before COVID hit, small businesses were prime targets of costly cyber attacks. On average, cyber attacks cost small businesses as much as $200,000 in 2019. By the numbers, 28% of small businesses experienced a data breach within the last 12 months, of which 37% suffered a financial loss, 25% filed for bankruptcy, and 10% went out of business. Now, as small businesses rapidly shift their brick-and-mortar shops online to accommodate consumers’ accelerated adoption of e-commerce, they’re even more vulnerable to cyber threats.
To learn more about how small businesses can safely and successfully pivot to digital during COVID and beyond, Create & Cultivate partnered with Mastercard as the presenting sponsor to host an eye-opening cybersecurity workshop led by none other than Ginger Siegel, the North America Small Business Lead at Mastercard, at our recent Future of Work Summit. Below, we’re sharing some of the most valuable takeaways from the information-packed session. If you missed the workshop (or just want a quick refresher course!), scroll on—and be sure to grab a pen because you’re going to want to commit this info to memory!
The Trends Pushing Small Businesses to Go Digital
Trend #1: Contactless Payment
With social distancing evolving into a long-term norm, continued reliance on delivery, pick-up, and alternative points of sale will push small businesses to adopt more versatile payment methods, making the market for contactless payment methods such as tap on phone adoption, says Siegel.
“We already expected to see an increase in contactless spend, but COVID-19 has really accelerated this behavior and made consumer demand shift quicker than anticipated,” she explains. “46% of global consumers have swapped out their top-of-wallet card for one the provides contactless functionality, and about 74% of consumers said they will continue using contactless post-pandemic.”
Trend #2: E-Commerce
As consumers increasingly rely on e-commerce solutions, getting the basics of business operations online will be essential for small businesses’ survival, explains Siegel. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, e-commerce in April and May made up 22% of all retail sales in the U.S., which is up from 11% in 2019.
Put another way? More money was spent online in the U.S. in the span of two months than the last 12 Cyber Mondays combined. If small businesses don’t keep pace, they may lose the opportunity to meet market demands in the future. “82% of small businesses have actually changed the way they send and receive payments and 51% have been transitioning their clients to digital methods,” notes Siegel.
Trend #3: Digital Services
While online card payments have seen an increase of 60% during the pandemic, the use of cash and checks has decreased by 34% and 24%, respectively, according to a recent survey conducted by Mastercard. “67% of small businesses said that one upside to the pandemic is that it prompted them to upgrade their digital payment solutions,” notes Siegel of the trend.
“Small businesses plan to stick with digital business payments, even as the pandemics subsides,” says Siegel, pointing to increased customer satisfaction as the driving factor behind the shift. About 70% of small businesses say that they're willing to invest in the technology required to advance their payment systems and 73% say digital payments are the new normal for their business going forward, she notes.
The Top Cyber Threats to Small Businesses
As small businesses rely on digital payments to serve their customers and digital means to communicate with employees, cyber threats are becoming more and more prevalent in the small biz community. 43% of cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses, but only 14% are prepared to defend themselves, according to Accenture.
Here are two common types of cyber threats to small businesses:
Threat #1: Ransomware
In this scenario, bad actors gain access to data from a small business and demand a ransom payment in order to return the stolen and now-encrypted data.
Threat #2: Compromised email
In this case, a bad actor gains access to a small business employee’s email account and sends an internal email impersonating the employee making an urgent request for funds to be transferred to them.
The Steps for Getting Started With Cybersecurity
If you don’t know where to start with cybersecurity, you’re not alone. According to Keeper Security, 60% of small business owners do not have a cyberattack prevention plan. “81% of small businesses tell us that they really wish that someone would proactively alert them to changes in the cybersecurity landscape and provide best practices for small business,” explains Siegel.
Which is why Mastercard is developing dedicated cybersecurity solutions and educational resources for small business owners through their Digital Doors center, a curated set of resources to help guide, grow, and protect small businesses during these difficult times as well as through recovery. For more information on navigating COVID-19 as a small business, head to Mastercard.com.
“
67% of small businesses said that one upside to the pandemic is that it prompted them to upgrade their digital payment solutions.”
—Ginger Siegel is the North America Small Business Lead at Mastercard
About the Expert: Ginger Siegel is the North America Small Business Lead at Mastercard. Most recently, she was a senior manager in the financial services group in Deloitte where she was a member of the highly ranked payments practice and also focused on fintech and bank partnerships, small business, and commercial banking opportunities in the areas of strategy development, process design, and operation model transformation. She brings 30 years of industry leadership experience as an executive at large multinational and regional banks in the areas of small business, business banking, and retail with a focus on strategy, leading execution, payments, treasury management, SalesForce optimization, branch optimization, and revenue growth.
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4 Small Business Owners on How to Pivot to Digital and Navigate the Future of Retail
“Remain agile and have multiple avenues through which you can bring in revenue.”
Photo: Smith House Photography
It’s no secret that COVID is challenging small businesses everywhere to rethink the brick-and-mortar business model. With physical retail locations temporarily closed and e-commerce on the rise, it’s crucial for small businesses to pivot to digital to weather the pandemic.
In a Mastercard study of small businesses across North America, 76% say the pandemic prompted them to become more digital, with 82% changing how their business sends and receives payments. 70% say they are willing to invest in the technology required to advance their payment systems and 73% say digital payments are the new normal for their business going forward.
To learn more about how small businesses can successfully pivot to digital during COVID and beyond, Create & Cultivate partnered with Mastercard as the presenting sponsor to bring together four powerhouse entrepreneurs who are expertly navigating the increasingly virtual future of retail at our recent Future of Work Summit on Saturday, September 12th, 2020.
Ginger Siegel, the North America Small Business Lead at Mastercard, led a conversation with Michelle Cadore, small business owner and designer, Amber Tolliver, founder and CEO of Liberté, Sherly Tavarez, founder of Hause of Curls, and Whitney Rife Becker, fashion influencer and entrepreneur, to delve into the topic. Read on for some of the most noteworthy sound bites from the discussion.
On knowing when to strike out on your own…
“I always said that by the end of the year, I’d be a full-time entrepreneur.” - Michelle Cadore
“Really think about laying out your exit plan. Lay out the steps, lay out the financial foundation, to move forward.” - Michelle Cadore
“I moved without any savings, I just took the leap. I just knew it was going to work out. Just have faith in your business and try.” - Michelle Cadore
On the self-funding and bootstrapping processes…
“It’s really important to show a desire in the market for your product or service.” - Amber Tolliver
“The more you’re able to show proof of concept within your space, the better of you’ll be when you go to bring on outside investment.” - Amber Tolliver
On knowing what to look for in a partnership…
“Bringing on VC and angel investors, it's really like a marriage. You need to have a firm understanding of what they're bringing to the table, and it really should be about more than money.” - Amber Tolliver
“You really have to take a diligent look at the parts of your business that need assistance, and look for a partner that can fill in those gaps.” - Amber Tolliver
“You want to partner with people who will expand your name and help you reach people who you wouldn’t usually be able to reach.” - Amber Tolliver
“The only way to get through this and to come out of it better than we were when we first went in, is together.” - Amber Tolliver
“Bringing new products, bringing something different that their customers haven’t seen yet, as well as expanding our reach.” - Amber Tolliver
On launching your own company…
“I invested just $300 and a dream” - Sherly Tavarez
“Once I realized that so many people related to my story attached to the T-shirt, I knew I had to make it a business.” - Sherly Tavarez
On reaching a wider audience digitally…
“Thinking more digitally, how have we been able to keep our community connected.” - Michelle Cadore
“Hashtag everything, share everything, work with influencers.” - Whitney Rife Becker
“Teaching yourself and doing your due diligence so that everything you’re putting out onto the internet has a direct link back to you.” - Amber Tolliver
On crisis-proofing your business…
“Remain agile and have multiple avenues through which you can bring in revenue.” - Amber Tolliver
“At any moment in time, you can say that doors closed, but we’ve got the window and we’ve got the back door. We’ve always got people to connect with the brand in a way that's still driving revenue and keeping that community connected and engaged with you.” - Amber Tolliver
On money tips for small business owners…
“Only buy products you love, it’s easier to sell those products.” - Whitney Rife Becker
On what COVID-19 has taught them…
“That we are unstoppable. Even when you have to sit down for six months and be on pause as a business, it gave me the space to really plan and grow my business. Taught me to keep going, keep pushing.” - Michelle Cadore
“It taught me to pivot.” - Sherley Tavarez
On the future of work…
“It’s ours. Brands are trusting us, influencers, and businesses are trusting the world. We have everything we want at our fingertips.” - Whitney Rife Becker
“Digitally, you can do anything, there are no limits to what we can do and what we can achieve, I think it's a really incredible time to be an entrepreneur.” - Amber Tolliver
“The future of work is adaptable, you have to be flexible and move with whatever changes are coming and stay innovative.” - Michelle Cadore
Psst… If you’re having serious FOMO, join Create & Cultivate Insiders to get unlimited access to all of our Future of Work Presented by Mastercard content including video recordings of every panel and workshop download in C&C history.
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Hey, Hustlers! Here's What to Expect at Our Future of Work Summit Presented by Mastercard
Spoiler alert: Cameron Diaz will be there.
Photo: Smith House Photography
As society re-emerges, we’re all navigating what it means to “get back to business” in this new normal. That’s why our biggest virtual event of the year will be all about the future of work. From hard-hitting conversations about pivoting to digital and navigating remote leadership to reimagining retail and making the most of social media marketing, our Future of Work Summit presented by Mastercard has it all, and so much more. It’s time to re-examine our big-picture strategy, so let’s put our creative caps on and plan for what’s next, together!
Our line-up for Saturday, September 12th is stacked with capital B bosses. Jenna Lyons is kicking off the day with an inspiring conversation on how to turn what you love doing into a successful business, then Hillary Kerr is taking the virtual stage with Camila Alves McConaughey to talk about how she switched lanes from model to media mogul and community leader, and Katherine Power and THE Cameron Diaz are taking the mic to share how they bonded over wellness and wine and built a clean wine brand from scratch. Trust us, you won’t want to miss out!
Read on to learn more about everything we have planned and what you need to know to make the most of it. If you haven’t already, be sure to buy your digital pass ASAP!
Psst… Insiders get access for free. (Yep, free!) Not an Insider yet? Read up on all the perks and sign up here.
THE DATE
Saturday, September 12th, 2020
TUNE IN FROM HOME
First things first! On Saturday, September 12th, you’ll receive an email with the link to access the exclusive Future of Work site. Please note: All content will go live on Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), including the launch of the exclusive Future of Work site. To find out what time a session is happening in your time zone, use this handy time zone converter.
Future of Work is made up of pre-recorded video sessions hosted via Vimeo and live video sessions streaming via Zoom. We recommend that you have a strong WiFi connection and update to the latest version of Zoom for the best experience. Future of Work is optimized for desktop, so it is best viewed via a computer or laptop, rather than a tablet or phone.
While the live content is specifically designed to be watched in real-time, you’ll be able to access and view it until Friday, September 18th at 5 pm PDT (Insiders, you have all-access even after the cutoff via your C&C Insiders dashboard!). You’ll be able to RSVP up until Tuesday, September 15th at 12 pm PDT.
THE SCHEDULE
Future of Work is built just like our in-person conferences, which, of course, you all know and love. We have a stacked schedule with an A-list line-up of speakers so we suggest taking notes along the way.
Want the full lineup? Check out the play-by-play schedule to map out your big day. Please note, all times are listed in PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) and EDT (Eastern Daylight Time). To find out what time a session is happening in your time zone, use this time zone converter.
It’s going to be HUGE so we recommend getting a head start on planning out your day now.
THINGS TO PREP AHEAD OF TIME
Here are a few things to prep before the big day so it goes off without a hitch:
Make sure you have a strong WiFi connection.
Install Zoom on your desktop computer or laptop and test it out.
Zoom tips:
Find a quiet place to tune in. Try to situate yourself in a small room that does not have an echo.
Try and stay away from noisy electronics and silence your cell phone and computer notifications for an optimal experience.
When possible, limit your internet connection to solely the device you’re using for the Zoom conference.
Set your phone to airplane mode, pause your television connection, ask others in your home to pause anything that may require a strong internet connection, etc.
Be sure to download the workshop assets so you can follow along with the expert in real-time. Note: Your exclusive workshop downloads will be available starting Saturday, September 12th via the exclusive Future of Work site.
Join the Mentor Power Hour Slack channel and peruse the list of mentors who will be answering questions in real-time in hour-long Zoom webinars and choose your mentor(s).
We have experts in everything from personal branding to building start-ups from scratch to raising funds.
If there’s more than one mentor you want advice from, don’t worry! You can hop from session to session over the course of the hour if you’d like.
Don’t forget to jot down any questions you have for the mentor sessions ahead of time! You’ll be able to ask your Qs in real-time by typing them into Zoom’s Q&A feature.
GET SOCIAL
Stay tuned for exciting announcements and updates by following along on our social at @createcultivate. Don’t forget to tag @createcultivate and use the hashtag ##CCFutureOfWork for the chance to be featured in our Instagram Stories throughout the day! (Psst… Search “Create Cultivate” on Instagram to use our custom GIFs.)
NETWORK
Networking is a huge part of our event and our C&C Future of Work Attendees Slack Workspace is a great place to mix and mingle with your fellow Create & Cultivators before, during, and after the big day. We’ve created channels for every workshop and panel, as well as channels for international attendees, networking, and more!
Attendees will receive a link to access our Create & Cultivate Future of Work Attendees Slack Workspace in our What to Expect newsletter on Wednesday, September 9th. This Slack channel will remain accessible until Friday, September 18th at 12 pm PDT. Not familiar with Slack? Here are a few tips to get you started:
Download the Slack app to your phone, computer, or both
Complete your account profile with a profile photo, your name, and what you do
Public conversations will happen in the channels (ex: #networking) and are located on the left-hand side of the app. You can also start direct messages with others in the Slack workspace
Hit send too early on a message? Slack has an edit feature! Click the three-dot icon located on the right side of the message to open the drop-down of message options
We’re all about GIFs at C&C! Here are instructions on how to integrate GIPHY into your Slack account.
Our Slack workspace is a busy, happening place on the day of the event. Streamline the notifications you receive by using the “mute” feature on channels that don’t pertain to you. To mute a channel, simply open up that channel, click the three-dot icon labeled “more,” and select the mute option
Most importantly, be kind and respectful of others. If you don’t follow this rule, you will be removed from the Slack group
If you have any questions on the day of the event about navigating the schedule, accessing the workshop downloads, or anything else, you can drop them into the customer service channel in Slack.
C&C INSIDERS’ PERKS
Our Insiders get a ton of perks at all our events—and Future of Work is no exception. As an Insider, you’ll have access to all of the workshops, mentor sessions, panels, and keynotes via your C&C Insiders dashboard. This content will be uploaded by September 25th, 2020. Not an insider yet? Well, don’t miss out—you can sign up here.
VIRTUAL GIFT BAGS
We know you want ‘em! Complete our post-event survey to receive an email packed with promo codes from some of your favorite brands, including Parade, UOMA Beauty, Hause of Curls, Tonic Site Shop, Amanda Kolbye, and more. You’ll receive the survey in your inbox on Friday, September 18th, 2020.
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES?
Live chat with a C&C specialist on CreateCultivate.com. You’ll see a “Chat With Us” pop-up in the bottom right corner of your screen.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU ONLINE! Who are you most excited to hear speak? Which workshop are you looking forward to most? Tell us in the comments below!
MORE ON THE BLOG
“The Most Success Is in the Ability to Pivot” and More Small Business Advice From Our Mentor Session With Mastercard’s Ginger Siegel
How to rewrite the rule book and map out a new path through this “new normal.”
If there’s anything 2020 has taught us it’s our propensity for resilience and agility as we switch lanes, change plans, and pivot to accommodate this ever-changing landscape. And small business owners are at the forefront of this movement. With over 30 million small businesses in the U.S they create 1.5 million jobs annually (that’s 64% of new jobs created), so it’s critical that we provide the support and resources they need to get through this unprecedented time.
So, how do we rewrite the rule book and map out a new path through this “new normal”? Mentorship is key to helping the small business community to pivot and move forward to not only survive but thrive right now and in the future. To help, we tapped Ginger Siegel, the North America small business lead at Mastercard to answer your questions in real-time during a digital mentor session at our recent Self-Care & Beauty Digital Summit.
In case you missed it, we’re sharing some of her impactful answers from the mentor session below.
When launching a new brand how do you decide how to allocate your limited financial resources?
I think what's most important here is to have a business plan upfront and really prioritize what you want to do with your brand. That becomes your roadmap for how to spend the financial resources that you have.
One of the most important things these days is to make sure that you can sell your brand, sell your product, or service through the right channels. We know that digital is the way everything's going especially during COVID so having that business plan and prioritizing it will really guide your path.
While some states are allowing restaurants, gyms, and shops to reopen, many small businesses are still struggling financially. What tips can you share on how to stay afloat during this time?
Where we've seen the most success is in the ability to pivot. We know that there's about 30% of small businesses that are not online today. The pandemic has seen more people choosing to do things digitally—to buy things online and sell things online. So number one, make sure you pivot to digital.
Number two, there are a lot of resources out there. There are organizations called Small Business Development councils, and they are available in just about every town and city that most of you are probably in. Contact them! There are more grants available than you would imagine.
There are also community development financial institutions. Google that in your area. Many of those institutions have grant money available. Take a look at your expenses and decide what you absolutely have to keep spending on and the things that are maybe’s. You should curtail those as well.
How do you create a selling strategy for a truly luxury brand and what's the difference between a mass-market strategy and a luxury strategy?
People's definition of what a luxury item is different. So, really understand your market. It's really important to understand how your product and service fit into a number of different groups. Could you make the brand more every day, especially in this environment?
What are the key changes that small businesses will need to make in order to succeed?
The number one thing is to have different channels. We have found that a lot of businesses were just catching the storefront and did not have a way for people to buy online. So, how can you reach your customer base in a number of different ways whether it's online or virtually?
Another thing we are very focused on at Mastercard is how people want to pay. Giving someone the option for checks and cash is not optimal. A lot of people want to stay away from that now. So, focus on contactless payments, and make sure you’re able to take payments over the phone or digitally through something we call “card on file.”
Make sure your customers can keep their card on file so they can make repeat purchases easily. The other thing is contactless payments. If they do come into your store or restaurant, whatever type of business you have, this method allows the customer to keep hold of their card and just tap to pay.
Mastercard just built and rolled out a program called Digital Doors because we want to help businesses get online and digitally transform their business. Through this platform, we’re helping small businesses build and protect their online presence with end-to-end digital resources like cybersecurity vulnerability assessments and digital skills curriculum.. We bundle all that together because we think getting online and being digitally enabled is really going to be the most pivotal change that small businesses need to make.
I want to support my local small businesses. Do you have any tips on how or where can I find out which businesses are open right now near me?
This question is near and dear to my heart. We actually just launched something called “Shop Openings” which is a customer-facing website where you can search geographically for small businesses in your area. It will tell you if it's open and if they accept contactless payments. So we're really proud of it. We think it's a wonderful way to drive people back into small businesses and we absolutely encourage all of you to use it for your local small businesses as well.
Besides loans, what can be helpful or beneficial to small businesses?
Grants. There are a lot of organizations out there. I mentioned the community development financial institutions earlier and the Small Business Development councils, but there are organizations like Hello Alice that we partner with as well.
If you just go online and look in your local area, you will see a lot of organizations that do have grant money available. I happen to live in Westchester, New York. There's a fantastic organization that I'm on the board for called The Women's Economic Development Council and they definitely have grants available and a lot of free resources to help, so I encourage all of you to do that.
What advice do you have for someone who's thinking of taking their side hustle full-time and or starting their business during this time?
One of my favorite books for people that want to start a business is called The E-Myth Revisited and I'll tell you why I love it. It talks about the fact that if you're someone who has a side hustle—whether it's baking or building apps on the side—there's a tremendous opportunity to take that and make it into a business. But so many entrepreneurs don't get into business to do all the tough stuff. That's not as much fun right? Dealing with the financials, actually managing overall finances and getting customers—those are all things that aren’t as much fun and the E-Myth walks you through that.
Because even though you went into it to do something you love, you have to be willing to like something you don't love and that's the other side of the business. I think it’s really important to make sure that when you go into this, you go into it with your eyes open. When it's a side hustle a lot of times you don't think about that.
What are the top three actions I can take to build a network of other small business owners and advisors to learn from during these times?
This might sound like a broken record, but one of the things that I'm most passionate about is LinkedIn. LinkedIn provides the opportunity to join groups with people who probably have very similar businesses like you and very similar problems. Joining these groups will really provide a very broad support system.
The other thing is associations. Whether you're in the restaurant business or the beauty business, there are a lot of associations out there and not-for-profits that are built to help businesses like yours today. These are both great resources to build a network.
Female entrepreneurs are looking to network with other female entrepreneurs and that's why we're so passionate about the space. We really build communities around this to help further knowledge, advice, and guidance so that people don't feel alone these days.
How can I ensure my evolving brand story resonates with customers as I pivot and reinvest my business?
Create a following of people that love your brand. You're not pivoting away from your brand, you're pivoting the message to your customers. Always stay true to your brand. That’s critically important. Stay true to the things that really made you what you are today. And when you talk about pivoting it's really around the channels, or it might be some of the products you're selling but your brand needs to stay the same because that's what you built yourself on.
If I'm going to reopen, what do I have to do?
There are some very excellent guidelines out there from the CDC around reopening. I had the opportunity to speak with some amazing women in the industry and one of the things that they really hit home is that when they were looking to reopen, they really focused on the safety and health guidelines. That's really important because you want your customers to feel safe. So I think step one is to really make sure you're looking at the recommendations and guidelines that are out there from the scientific community like the CDC.
Secondly, really take a look at your product set. Is everything that you offered before going to be important going forward and do you have to pivot some of the things you were offering? So, again pivoting not necessarily around your story, but around the things that you've offered in the past. I think that's really important.
Do you have any easy, go-to tips on how to improve and manage cash flow as a small business owner?
If cash flow wasn't a problem for you before, then COVID has really created some difficulty. Interestingly enough the average small business owner only has 27 days of cash on hand. The other thing that I would say is that a lot of businesses are still using Excel. So there are a couple of things I want to recommend to you. Number one is to make sure that you have the right financial systems in place.
Now is the time to step back and do some improvements in your business. I encourage you to look at things like QuickBooks and some of the accounting software programs out there. We know that about 70% of small businesses actually send out manual invoices. So there's a great opportunity now with some of the accounting software packages out there to actually digitize your invoices. Because if you can get an invoice out in a day versus a week, imagine how that can really increase your cash flow.
So, understanding your cash flow, understanding what money you have coming in, and getting that money to come in quicker (and also the money you have going out) to make sure you really understand the billing timing. When you match the money coming into the money going out, that's really what cash flow is and there's a great opportunity for many businesses to manage it even better.
What are the biggest financial mistakes you've seen small businesses make since the COVID-19 crisis hit?
There’s a couple; one of them in regards to cash flow. I find that a lot of businesses haven't really gotten their financials in order so when they did need to get loans or some type of credit, they really weren't prepared to tell their financial story. That's why I believe so strongly in making sure that you have the financial tools in order to do that.
A lot of people were hoping that this crisis would just go away. That's why we're really encouraging businesses to look at things like online and creating a digital storefront to get your services and your products online. You have agility as a small business and you can zig and zag much better than some bigger companies so keep that agility moving constantly, make the changes and get the help that you need quickly to make them. When you are willing and able to move quickly lots of things can happen in a really good way.
What advice do you have to plan and pay for a reopening?
Unfortunately, in some areas businesses were allowed to reopen, and then due to a resurgence, they closed again. I believe that for some businesses when things go backward they tend to get paralyzed. Now is the time if you haven't reopened to think about and plan for when you do. What are your safety and security plans? What do you have to do differently in terms of re-setting up your business? It is going to be like opening for the first time but remember, this time your customers already know you so you're not starting from scratch, you’re not starting from square one, you're starting with a brand that people in your community love. I encourage you to use social media. We think that there's a lot of focus on social media.
What resources and publications should I work into my daily routine?
To stay up to speed on trends and pivoting during the pandemic, check out the various online resource centers. We set up one called the Mastercard Main Street Resource Center that really gives you access to a lot of tools and resources. And our partners like Create & Cultivate who has a tremendous resource, Hello Alice, or the SBA. So I would encourage you to Google some of these Resource Centers. They have a wealth of information for free to really help push you through this.
I think one of the best-kept secrets is organizations like the Small Business Development Centers, they all have websites, and if you take a look at those websites and you can actually call them. I think a lot of them are either back in the office or working virtually. So there are a lot of resources available. Sometimes people get paralyzed and think “I'm out here alone” but you are not out here alone.
As a self-funded founder, should I stop paying myself during this time to keep my employees?
That’s a tough question. You have to know what your financial situation is and look at the length of time that you can survive with the cash flow that you have. I think it's a really difficult time and it's hard for me to say without looking at your financials. But I encourage you to work with your bank and work with your CPA to really understand where you are. And if you've been self-funding up till now, and you want to keep operating that way, then you might have to give thought to some additional sources of funding.
Do you think rent forgiveness is going to happen again?
It's easy to focus on the things that you can't control and that's one of them so, I encourage everyone to think about it. If in fact, rent is not forgiving, what will you do then? You have to really look at both sides of the story and be prepared for either one. It goes back to the agility story that I mentioned earlier.
I operate a social impact business that supports living wages for women in Ghana. What is the best way to create corporate partnerships and are there specific departments or job titles I should seek to identify the right person in a company?
I tell you one of the reasons I'm so proud to work for Mastercard is that we are very focused on doing well by doing good and I think that most companies that feel that way will put that out there. We have done a tremendous amount of work for our center for inclusive growth. I think that financial inclusion is two words that you can Google in terms of different corporations.
If you are looking to partner with a company, you want to make sure that they have the same values as you do. That is why we at Mastercard are able to attract such amazing partners, like Create & Cultivate because we all believe in the same thing, which is helping others do well by doing good. So I would encourage you to look through financial inclusion.
Look at some of the major corporations in your area, and really dig in and look through their annual reports. Look at the kinds of things they talk about. These days there are a lot of great companies out there that are doing really great things.
I love your partnership with Create & Cultivate. It feels really authentic. How do you choose your partners?
Mastercard has a very strong focus on doing well by doing good so we look at partners that believe in that, too. It's really important to us. When we partner with organizations like Create & Cultivate we need to know that there's an authenticity, that they do care about small business, that they do care about minority entrepreneurship. It's also important to us to not just have people who say it but also show it and so we look at the work that's being done. We look at how that company represents itself.
We tend to attract really great companies that do that, too. So the partnerships that I mentioned before like Salesforce and Microsoft, are all great organizations that have a very strong approach to financial inclusion and caring. That's why we're really proud to be able to partner with them.
What are the three most important things to remember when first opening a business?
This is one of my favorite questions. Number one is to read The E-Myth book. That's really important because a lot of people when they're looking to open their business are thinking about the thing that they love. So for example, if they love making ice cream or they love making specialty cakes or creating candles at home, think about the other parts that you have to do when you run a business, make sure that you can manage your financials, and create the right business plan.
Making sure that you have a plan B should something happen like the pandemic. Really make sure you have a business plan that has the fullness to it—all the information that you need—and then really think about how you're going to fund it. Is it going to be self-funded? Is it going to be funded through friends and family? Are you going to get an angel investor?
When do you think is the right moment to open a business credit card?
Well, first of all, one of the things that I really encourage is to talk to your bank. And if you don't have a bank, it’s really important to get someone who can give you financial advice. Someone who can look over your financials to really help you decide when it's the right time. You know, we have many small businesses that might have started out with a consumer card, but now they need to separate out their business expenses. So, as soon as you can do that, really think about talking to the right people, whether it's a bank or some other great organizations that can provide credit cards for you.
We encourage people to work through those partners to decide when is the right time. It’s important to know that you’re not in this alone. There are some great credit unions, community financial institutions, and banks. There are many fintechs out there too that are able to provide credit cards. So, I would look at one of them.
Really focus and bring the right questions to the table so that you can decide. It’s probably not a decision that you're going to make alone. You're going to want someone to help you with that assessment of where you're sitting financially.
What are some of the smartest financial moves you've seen small businesses make in the midst of the pandemic?
Number one is this concept of pivoting. You know, how do we pivot during this time? And I think some of the successful businesses that I've seen did not wait. The other thing is having different channels. So, if you know that you deliver your products and services one way today, what are some of the channels that you could build in the future? Online is a very, very important channel. So I think it's really important to pivot and look at differentiated channels.
Any tips on how to embrace positive energy during this time?
I think it comes back to passion. I have been working with small businesses my entire career. I go to sleep at night feeling very sad sometimes because of the trouble and trauma that a lot of small businesses are going through but I wake up every day knowing that I have at least 10 hours to be able to think of something that could make a difference. I think that's where my positive energy comes from—the belief that I can make a difference, that I can spend an hour with all of you and hopefully you can walk away with one or two tips where you'll either feel better or do something different.
Energy is critically important. This has been just a terrible, terrible time, but we will come out of this. We will come out of this on the other side strong because small businesses, all of you, whether you're in a small business or whether you're thinking of a small business, you are here today because you believe there's something more to learn. I would encourage all of you to continue to think positively, to continue to believe in what you're doing because what you're doing will help.
MORE FROM THE BLOG
“Passion Isn’t Enough” and More Real-Talk From Our Beauty Summit Small Business Roundtable
A Priceless conversation with leading industry disruptors.
Photo: Create & Cultivate
Before COVID-19 hit, the beauty industry was valued at $532 billion and on a rapid upward trajectory. Now, however, in the midst of a global health crisis, experts predict that global beauty-industry revenues could fall by as much as 20 to 30% in 2020. But despite these discouraging stats, the beauty industry is resilient. During the 2008 financial crisis, spending in the industry only fell slightly and fully bounced back within two years.
To gain insight into the current state of small business, specifically within the beauty industry, and to find out what the future holds for the category post-COVID-19, we partnered with Mastercard as the presenting sponsor to bring together four powerhouse founders who are at the helm of next-generation brands and disrupting beauty and wellness verticals at our recent Digital Beauty & Self-Care Summit on Saturday, July 25th. Mastercard recently surveyed the small business community with an eye toward championing diversity and learned that 41% of respondents started their business to set a positive example for other aspiring entrepreneurs.
Ginger Siegel, the North America Small Business Lead at Mastercard, led a conversation with Shontay Lundy, founder of Black Girl Sunscreen,Tai Beauchamp, co-founder and CBO of Brown Girl Jane, Rochelle Graham-Campbell, CEO and co-founder of Alikay Naturals Africa Miranda, author, host, and founder of Beauty by Africa Miranda, to dive into the topic. Scroll on for the most memorable real-talk moments from the conversation, and prepare to write these down because you’re going to want to add them to your vision board, stat.
On disrupting an outdated industry…
“A cosmetic product is supposed to make you feel good and look good.” - Shontay Lundy
“There is a myth that Black people don’t need sunscreen and we’re here to bust that myth.” - Shontay Lundy
On finding whitespace in a market…
“Pivoting is never easy, but oftentimes it’s about recognizing a void in the market and an opportunity to have an impact.” - Tai Beauchamp
On finding your purpose…
“Passion is not enough. Passion is necessary. Passion helps fuel the energy that you need to go at times when you don’t have the resources, capacity, or bandwidth. However, what should inspire you is finding your purpose and being clear about your intention.” - Tai Beauchamp
“The same way that a business has a manifesto and a mission statement, you should have your own personal mission statement, you should have your own personal manifesto, and then align that as you’re looking for opportunities in the market to build.” - Tai Beauchamp
On building a community…
“If you remain authentic with your audience and take them along on the journey with you, I believe that it builds loyalty that cannot be broken.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
“I’ve shared my wins, I’ve shared my pitfalls. We’ve cried together, we’ve celebrated together. It’s a “we.” It really is a community.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
“If you are a business owner or a brand owner, you have to figure out if you want the responsibility of a community because you owe them more. You have more of a social responsibility to them and you have more of a responsibility to make sure that the actions that your brand is taking are not just a reflection of your own beliefs but also the beliefs of the community as well.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
On finding whitespace in the market…
“Create something with your story and your approach. That does not exist. There will always be a space for that if you stay true to that.” - Africa Miranda
On learning along the way…
“Respecting the process is a big part of the entrepreneurial journey. If you don’t respect the process, then being an entrepreneur may not be for you.” - Shontay Lundy
On breaking into a controversial category…
“Being a Black-owned business focused on centering Black and Brown women, there are so many stigmas that exist within our community around CBD and a lack of knowledge and education.” - Tai Beauchamp
“A part of our business model is that a portion of all our proceeds goes to support nonprofit and for-purpose organizations that center women of color around their mental health and wellness and the over-criminalization of Black and Brown people who have been incarcerated because of cannabis and marijuana.” - Tai Beauchamp
On running a business…
“There’s a big difference between starting a business and running a business.” - Africa Miranda
On raising money for your business from your network...
“Utilize your network. There may be someone in your circle of family and friends who has been watching your journey and may be very willing to give you a small loan or a small gift to help you get started.” - Africa Miranda
“We think that we need $10,000 or $100,000 to get started, but sometimes $1,000 or $500 can be the difference between an idea and actually starting a business. Be open to nontraditional sources of support.” - Africa Miranda
On just going for it…
“I didn’t overthink the process and I didn't focus on my launch needing to go the perfect or traditional route, I just went for it.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
On running a self-funded business…
“We decided that, instead of focusing on what we couldn’t have, let’s focus on what we were making and just make sure that we manage our business finances just as strictly as we do our personal finances.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
“For every dollar that we spend, we have an ROI.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
“Every dollar I spend, I need it back.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
“If anyone is considering starting a business and self-funding, understanding your cash flow management is something that is extremely important. As early as you possibly can, hire an accountant or a CFO.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
On prioritizing e-commerce and DTC channels…
“A mistake that a lot of product-owned businesses make is they focus more on the retail channels and then they neglect their e-commerce. Your e-commerce is your direct connection to your people—to your customers and to your tribe—and you have to make sure that you’re nurturing that because retail can disappear at any time.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
On their Priceless money tip for small business owners…
“The first hire is a bookkeeper, accountant, or CFO.” - Tai Beauchamp
“Know what you’re spending and be very intentional about it even as you’re building a business.” - Tai Beauchamp
“You should be very dangerous in every department, so know a little bit about a lot of things.” - Shontay Lundy
“Fire yourself from every position other than CEO. Once you get your company to the point that you’re able to, it’s really important to take a step back and delegate to other people on your team.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
“As CEO you need to focus on money-making or brand-building and driving activities and not answering an email or filling out a form.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
“Prioritize. If you know you don’t have a large pot to pull from, then really look at where your dollars can go the furthest.” - Africa Miranda
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"Self-Care Isn't Selfish" and More Boss Quotes From Our Digital Beauty & Self-Care Summit
Wise words from Tyra Banks, Miranda Kerr, Michelle Pfeiffer, and more.
Photo: Create & Cultivate
On Saturday, July 25, we hosted our Digital Beauty & Self-Care Summit presented by Mastercard. Thousands of attendees from all around the world (India! Puerto Rico! South Africa!) joined us for a day of networking (our Slack channel was hot), learning new skills (search engine optimization, anyone?), and listening to thought-provoking conversations with a diverse lineup of leading industry disruptors.
We touched on everything from bootstrapping a business to developing a marketing strategy to growing a podcast. Miranda Kerr, Tyra Banks, Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Michelle Pfeiffer, and more bosses taught us a thing or two about scaling a business, raising capital, and being an entrepreneur. If you missed out or if you just want to relive the highlights, scroll on because we captured the most memorable moments for you!
(Psst… If reading this is giving you serious FOMO, join Create & Cultivate Insiders to get unlimited access to all of our Digital Beauty & Self-Care Summit content, including video recordings of every panel and workshop download in C&C history.)
Morning Keynote: A Conversation With Miranda Kerr & Sacha Strebe
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If you’re not able to give 150% then you shouldn’t even think about having your own company.”
—Miranda Kerr
Panelist:
Miranda Kerr | CEO & Founder, Kora Organics
Moderator:
Sacha Strebe | Editorial Director, Create & Cultivate
On launching a clean skincare line...
“Certified organic skincare is so much more than just clean skincare—it’s more potent, powerful, and results-driven.”
“I don’t want to put something on my face just because it’s clean. I want to put something on my face because it’s really going to fill my skin with nutrients to be healthy and glowy and full of vitality. That’s why it’s important for me to be Certified Organic.”
On focusing on your strengths…
“You can’t be everything so it’s important to focus on your strengths.”
“One thing that is not my strength is finance—putting a P&L together, understanding cash flow, making projections, and re-adjusting our revenue is something I’ve had to learn.”
“Still, to this day, I haven’t taken a cent out of the company.”
On self-funding over investors…
“I want to keep it as my baby for as long as I can because I’m very specific about the way I want it to be. I didn’t want anyone else coming in to water down my ideas or make the products less potent.”
On raising money…
“I’ve always been open to those conversations and I might need it at some point but I’ve been lucky that I haven’t yet. Hopefully, I won’t.”
“Our team understands that for us, this is more than just selling skincare. This is about helping people build their confidence—it’s a holistic perspective.”
“I lead with my heart. When I’m in that heart space, all the answers come.”
On being an entrepreneur...
“It’s a full time job plus plus. It’s like raising a child. You love and care about your business just like you do your child. It requires consistent love and nurturing from you, the founder.”
“If you’re not able to put that in and give 150%, then you shouldn’t even think about having your own company. It takes a specific type of person who is willing to give that without expecting much in return—just giving it for the love of it.”
“It’s not easy and there are things you have to do that you don’t like doing like hiring and firing or going through each line of the P&L—it’s a lot! You can’t turn a blind eye to anything when it’s your own company.”
Small Biz, Big Dreams: Meet the Women Building the Next-Gen of Beauty & Wellness Brands, Powered by Mastercard
“There’s a big difference between starting a business and running a business.”
—Africa Miranda
Panelists:
Shontay Lundy | Founder, Black Girl Sunscreen
Tai Beauchamp | Co-Founder & CBO, Brown Girl Jane
Rochelle Graham-Campbell | CEO & Co-Founder, Alikay Naturals
Africa Miranda | Author, Host, & Founder, Beauty by Africa Miranda
Moderator:
Ginger Siegel | North America Small Business Lead, Mastercard
On disrupting an outdated industry…
“A cosmetic product is supposed to make you feel good and look good.” - Shontay Lundy
“There is a myth that Black people don’t need sunscreen and we’re here to bust that myth.” - Shontay Lundy
On finding whitespace in a market…
“Pivoting is never easy, but oftentimes it’s about recognizing a void in the market and an opportunity to have an impact.” - Tai Beauchamp
On finding your purpose…
“Passion is not enough. Passion is necessary. Passion helps fuel the energy that you need to go at times when you don’t have the resources, capacity, or bandwidth. However, what should inspire you is finding your purpose and being clear about your intention.” - Tai Beauchamp
“The same way that a business has a manifesto and a mission statement,you should have your own personal mission statement, you should have your own personal manifesto, and then align that as you’re looking for opportunities in the market to build.” - Tai Beauchamp
On building a community…
“If you remain authentic with your audience and take them along on the journey with you, I believe that it builds a loyalty that cannot be broken.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
“I’ve shared my wins, I’ve shared my pitfalls. We’ve cried together, we’ve celebrated together. It’s a “we.” It really is a community.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
“If you are a business owner or a brand owner, you have to figure out if you want the responsibility of a community because you owe them more. You have more of a social responsibility to them and you have more of a responsibility to make sure that the actions that your brand is taking are not just a reflection of your own beliefs but also the beliefs of the community as well.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
On finding a whitespace in the market…
“Create something with your story and your approach. That does not exist. There will always be a space for that if you stay true to that.” - Africa Miranda
On learning along the way…
“Respecting the process is a big part of the entrepreneurial journey. If you don’t respect the process, then being an entrepreneur may not be for you.” - Shontay Lundy
On breaking into a controversial category…
“Being a Black-owned business focused on centering Black and Brown women, there are so many stigmas that exist within our community around CBD and a lack of knowledge and education.” - Tai Beauchamp
“A part of our business model is that a portion of all our proceeds go to support nonprofit and for-purpose organizations that center women of color around their mental health and wellness and the over criminalization of Black and Brown people who have been incarcerated because of cannabis and marijuana.” - Tai Beauchamp
On running a business…
“There’s a big difference between starting a business and running a business.” - Africa Miranda
On raising money for your business from your network...
“Utilize your network. There may be someone in your circle of family and friends who has been watching your journey and may be very willing to give you a small loan or a small gift to help you get started.” - Africa Miranda
“We think that we need $10,000 or $100,000 to get started, but sometimes $1,000 or $500 can be the difference between an idea and actually starting a business. Be open to nontraditional sources of support.” - Africa Miranda
On just going for it…
“I didn’t overthink the process and I didn't focus on my launch needing to go the perfect or traditional route, I just went for it.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
On running a self-funded business…
“We decided that, instead of focusing on what we couldn’t have, let’s focus on what we were making and just make sure that we manage our business finances just as strictly as we do our personal finances.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
“For every dollar that we spend, we have an ROI.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
“Every dollar I spend, I need it back.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
“If anyone is considering starting a business and self-funding, understanding your cash flow management is something that is extremely important. As early as you possibly can, hire an accountant or a CFO.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
On prioritizing e-commerce and DTC channels…
“A mistake that a lot of product-owned businesses make is they focus more on the retail channels and then they neglect their e-commerce. Your e-commerce is your direct connection to your people—to your customers and to your tribe—and you have to make sure that you’re nurturing that because retail can disappear at any time.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
On their Priceless money tip for small business owners…
“The first hire is a bookkeeper, accountant, or CFO.” - Tai Beauchamp
“Know what you’re spending and be very intentional about it even as you’re building a business.” - Tai Beauchamp
“You should be very dangerous in every department, so know a little bit about a lot of things.” - Shontay Lundy
“Fire yourself from every position other than CEO. Once you get your company to the point that you’re able to, it’s really important to take a step back and delegate to other people on your team.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
“As CEO you need to focus on money-making or brand-building and driving activities and not answering an email or filling out a form.” - Rochelle Graham-Campbell
“Prioritize. If you know you don’t have a large pot to pull from, then really look at where your dollars can go the furthest.” - Africa Miranda
A Conversation With Glow-Getter Courtney Shields, Powered by TULA
“You can have it all, but you can’t have it all at once.”
—Courtney Shields
Panelist:
Courtney Shields | Founder, CourtneyShields.com
Moderator:
Maya Allen | Digital Beauty Editor, MarieClaire.com
On launching a beauty blog…
“I love helping women feel more confident.” - Courtney Shields
On cultivating inner beauty…
“Inside out, outside in.” - Courtney Shields
On the importance of getting started...
“You can always pivot as you go, but just start.” - Courtney Shields
On forging ahead during COVID…
“You can look at 2020 two ways. One way is you can choose to complain and feel stuck and frustrated, or you can use 2020 as an opportunity for growth.” - Courtney Shields
“There’s power in our perspective.” - Maya Allen
On not paying attention to the number of followers, likes, or comments…
“If you are seeking outside validation, you’re never going to be happy.” - Courtney Shields
On seeking work-life balance…
“You can have it all, but you can’t have it all at once.” - Courtney Shields
On prioritizing self-care…
“Go for the walk, take the bath, do whatever fills you up, otherwise you’re pouring from an empty cup.” - Courtney Shields
On standing out in a saturated space…
“You have to do what you’re passionate about.” - Courtney Shields
“Standing out in a saturated space is all about being yourself and being authentic.” - Courtney Shields
“If you start trying to emulate what everyone else is doing, you’re on an uphill battle.” - Courtney Shields
“Looking inward, figuring out what feels good to you, and then doing that full-force is so important.” - Maya Allen
On navigating negativity and naysayers…
“I’m not a jar of Nutella, I can't please everyone, no matter what I do.” - Courtney Shields
On the best advice she’s ever received…
“Don’t procrastinate. You’ve got to get it done eventually, so might as well do it now.” - Courtney Shields
On her purpose…
“Walking through hard shit and showing people that you can still do hard things with a positive attitude and come out on the other side.” - Courtney Shields
The New Disruptors: Meet the Women Shaking Up the Beauty, Fashion, & Wellness Business
“To follow your passion, sometimes you have to make really difficult decisions.”
Panelists:
Monique Rodriguez | Founder & CEO, Mielle Organics
Lauren Chan | Founder & CEO, Henning
Babba C. Rivera | Founder, ByBabba
Beatrice Dixon | CEO & Founder, The Honey Pot Company
Barbara Paldus | Founder & CEO, Codex
Moderator:
Ashley Dunn | Host & Entertainment Journalist
On switching lanes after establishing a career…
“I worked as a registered nurse for 8 ½ years before stepping out on faith and starting something that I love and that I was truly passionate about.” - Monique Rodriguez
“Even though I always had the burning desire to be an entrepreneur, I never thought that it was something that was attainable.” - Monique Rodriguez
“You can’t be what you can’t see.” - Monique Rodriguez
“My vision was not to create a hair care brand. I was looking to just talk about something that I love and am passionate about with other women who look like me.” - Monique Rodriguez
On launching a size-inclusive fashion brand…
“I was surrounded by fashion all the time and I wanted to participate but I couldn’t because I had a bigger body than everyone else.” - Lauren Chan
“I grew sick of the disadvantage for being plus-size. I grew sick of being unequal.” - Lauren Chan
On leaving a steady paycheck…
“To follow your passion, sometimes you have to make really difficult decisions.” - Babba C. Rivera
“Not making a decision is also a decision.” - Babba C. Rivera
“I couldn’t stand to continue as an employee because of this inner voice.” - Babba C. Rivera
“I had to just do it and trust that I would figure it out.” - Babba C. Rivera
On launching a brand with confidence...
“The reason I started the company is because I had issues with my own vagina. The mother of invention is often necessity.” - Beatrice Dixon
“I always knew that Honey Pot would be a household name, as synonymous as Tampax and Kotex and Summer’s Eve and Vagisil.” - Beatrice Dixon
On scaling quickly and sustainably…
“You want to be efficient in everything that you do because, at the end of the day, you want to make sure you’re having profits in your business.” - Monique Rodriguez
“Make sure your books are in order and make sure you understand your margins and profits.” - Monique Rodriguez
“You have to know your numbers. You have to know what you’re bringing in and what you have to spend.” - Monique Rodriguez
“Every challenge is an opportunity to rise higher.” - Monique Rodriguez
“You’re going to have obstacles, you’re going to have challenges, you’re going to not know, and you’re not going to have anybody to ask those questions to, and you've just got to figure it out and do it afraid.” - Monique Rodriguez
“No successful person has made it to the success or level that they have without making stupid mistakes—but they didn’t give it up.” - Monique Rodriguez
On bootstrapping over seeking venture capital…
“I thought I could do it better and faster if I had no one to answer to but myself.” - Lauren Chan
“I set the prices. I set what we pay for cost of goods to insure that it is high quality.” - Lauren Chan
“I went out and proved that there is a plus-size luxury market. My average customer spends $2400 dollars with us in a few seasons. Our average order value is $750. Now I have that to back me up.” - Lauren Chan
“I was being told that you can’t make things that expensive for this market, that the customer does not exist.” - Lauren Chan
On hiring and managing a team as your grow…
“Management skills have expiration dates. As we face new generations, we have to adapt our management skills.” - Babba C. Rivera
“Everyone is different and the only way to figure out what drives them is to have those conversations on an ongoing basis.” - Babba C. Rivera
“For each piece of negative feedback you give someone, you have to give them more positive ones.” - Babba C. Rivera
“My time as a boss is better invested in focusing on what they are doing really well and how can I create a greater space for them to do more of that.” - Babba C. Rivera
“When people get the space to focus more on the things that they’re really good at, they tend to have more fun at work, they tend to become more loyal, they tend to stay longer, they tend to recommend their friends to come and work for you, it has so many trickle affects and it becomes more than just a job.” - Babba C. Rivera
On giving back during COVID and beyond…
“My philosophy is: To whom much is given, much is required.” - Monique Rodriguez
“One of the key things that defines success is: How many opportunities do you create? How many people do you build up? How many people do you motivate, do you inspire?” - Monique Rodriguez
“People first, then product.” - Monique Rodriguez
On launching new product despite the pandemic...
“We wanted to keep fighting. We didn’t want to lay down.” - Lauren Chan
“If the independent’s don't survive, then consumers will lose many a plus-size option and they will lose mostly the options that are well-made, high-quality, ethically made, fairly sourced, sustainably minded, and what we’d be left with is the giant corporation that could stand to survive this time and i just couldn’t stomach that regression in size-inclusive fashion that we’ve been building on for a decade plus now.” - Lauren Chan
On being in the midst of planning a product launch during COVID…
“My team and myself have been hard at work during the lockdown prepping for a big launch we have coming up this fall. We are in the process of launching a clean hair care brand rooted in Latin heritage.” - Babba C. Rivera
“For me, it’s much more than a business, it’s part of a mission that I’ve been on throughout my career to create space for women, and in this particular case, really bringing up the Latin woman.” - Babba C. Rivera
“We live in a world where the Latinx community accounts for 20% of the country yet most brands are speaking to a predominantly white demographic.” - Babba C. Rivera
“Latinas spend the most on hair care products. They spend 46% more than their white counterparts, and I’m like, ‘Where are the brands that are talking to me and my friends and my family?’” - Babba C. Rivera
“Only 0.4% —less than half a percentage—of venture funding goes to Latina founders.” - Babba C. Rivera
“Only 58 Latina women have ever raised $1 million in capital.” - Babba C. Rivera
On expanding to markets beyond the U.S.…
“By going outside of the U.S., we can set the new standard for what natural, effective, sustainable, and ethical beauty should be.” - Barbara Paldus
On seeking the right investors for your company…
“As an investor, you can be a partner to that entrepreneur for five to seven years. It’s like a marriage and you really need to have a relationship that is like a two-way street.” - Barbara Paldus
“Make sure you really want to go the VC route and then really figure out which VCs you want to work with.” - Barbara Paldus
“See if the VC really understands the business and you because they’re going to make or break your company.” - Barbara Paldus
Work It Out: A Conversation on Why Brands and Consumers Are Jumping on the Health, Wellness, & Fitness Boom
“If you’re not uncomfortable, you’re not growing.”
Panelists:
Katie Dunlop | Founder & CEO, Love Sweat Fitness
Zehra Allibhai | Founder, The FitNest
Lora Haddock DiCarlo | Founder & CEO, Lora DiCarlo
Maryam Ajayi | Energy Healer, Entrepreneur, Writer, Activist, & Speaker
Devi Brown | Wellness Educator, Energy Healer, Author, & Founder, Karma Bliss
Remi Ishizuka | Founder, Rrayyme
Moderator:
Faith Xue | Editorial Director, Byrdie
On cultivating a thriving community…
“Everyone’s journey is unique. I want to help inspire and empower other women to figure out and create what healthy looks like for them because it’s very personal.” - Katie Dunlop
On overcoming feelings of self-doubt…
“Who cares what other people think as long as I'm helping the people that I set out and have intention to help, that really gave me a sense of belonging.” - Zehra Allibhai
On driving innovation in the sexual wellness industry…
“I wanted to change the conversation around mastrubation.” - Lora Haddock DiCarlo
“Disruption was a part of the business plan very early on.” - Lora Haddock DiCarlo
“There are almost 250 parts in our product, whereas most products in the sex-tech space have about 20 to 30 parts.” - Lora Haddock DiCarlo
On producing products to help people feel more confident…
“Our mission is to strive for a world where folks can feel more comfortable in their identity and their sexuality.” - Lora Haddock DiCarlo
“Confidence is what empowers the greatest of us to go out and change the world each in our own way.” - Lora Haddock DiCarlo
On changing the narrative of the wellness industry…
“We’re in real time changing the trajectory of the wellness industry and making it one that’s inclusive for everybody, for BIPOC, for LGBTQIIA+, for people that are differently abled.” - Maryam Ajayi
“If you’re not uncomfortable, you’re not growing.” - Maryam Ajayi
“Growth is messy and hard, but on the other side of that is fulfillment.” - Maryam Ajayi
On navigating self-acceptance…
“Your level of self-acceptance is what informs every other relationship you have in your entire life and what informs everything that you do in the world.” - Devi Brown
“We are the stars of our own life. The point of being here is finding yourself, remembering yourself, coming into a space of wholeness. There is nothing more important you can be doing with your life. No work is more important than the work of you.” - Devi Brown
On starting the journey to self-acceptance…
“If you find yourself not able to do a lot of self-care, investigate why. Is it because it’s uncomfortable to be in the mirror with yourself? Is it because it’s uncomfortable to touch your own self? Or to just spend time in your own body without outside stimulation or conversation?” - Devi Brown
On being consistent…
“You need to be consistent to see improvement in your fitness, your nutrition, your wellness, and it’s the same in business. You have to show up consistently and know what it is that drives you and motivates you.” - Remi Ishizuka
On championing diversity in the wellness industry…
“People of color created wellness. All of the things that we do in the wellness industry—every technique, every time you’re doing breathwork, every time you’re doing a yoga posture—it was all created by people of color in different cultures, globally.” - Devi Brown
“It’s really dangerous when we’re learning to democratize and decolonize our wellness practices from other white individuals—that only upholds white supremacy.” - Maryam Ajayi
“For any wellness leader, influencer, company, step one is hiring black indigenous women of color to help them unpack the systems of oppression that they’ve learned to uphold.” - Maryam Ajayi
“Start to decolonize your individual wellness practices and how you spend your dollars.” - Maryam Ajayi
“White people can act in solidarity by supporting BIPOC businesses in wellness.” - Maryam Ajayi
“If we’re going to champion diversity and inclusivity, we also need to understand that intersectionality involves diverse passions, preferences, anatomies, regardless of gender, identity, expression, sexuality, ethnicity, age, relationship status, disability or even socioeconomic status.” - Lora Haddock DiCarlo
On working with brands…
“I probably end up working with10% of the brands that reach out.” - Katie Dunlop
“It’s really important that the product is something that I personally already use and love.” - Katie Dunlop
“Following your intuition is so important. If something feels off, it’s probably off for a reason.” - Maryam Ajayi
“Make sure you know what you stand for and why you stand for it. Integrity goes a really long way. You may have to say no to a lot of money and a lot of deals, but in the long run, you’re going to be ahead of the game if you’re a person of integrity who’s putting yourself and your community first.” - Maryam Ajayi
“Once I accept a brand deal, I put as much value into it as possible so that my audience is getting the same amount of value from a branded post as an organic post.” - Remi Ishizuka
Mid-Morning Keynote: A Conversation With Tyra Banks & Jaclyn Johnson
“Different is better than better.”
—Tyra Banks
Panelist:
Tyra Banks | Entrepreneur & Supermodel
Moderator:
Jaclyn Johnson | CEO & Founder, Create & Cultivate
On being an entrepreneur…
“I’m such an entrepreneur at heart.”
“For me, if it doesn’t hurt, it’s just not worth it.”
“I’m a business person. I want to own something. I get so much pleasure being in a meeting with my team. I love the process.”
On finding whitespace in a crowded market…
“Different is better than better.”
On doing the research and putting in the work…
“When you are trying to get that job, do as much research as you can about that company.”
On being the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue…
“I went from being a well-known model in the fashion industry to a household name walking down the street.”
“I did know that it was bigger than me. I did understand that being a Black woman on that magazine cover was impactful.”
“I think that it did some things for the industry but a lot more for public perception of Black women's sexuality and beauty. That we can be the girl next door who just happens to be Black. That we are American.”
On knowing the difference between hate and healthy critique…
“Hurt people hurt people.”
“Is this hate, or is this healthy critique? You have to learn the difference.”
On managing finances…
“Cash flow is everything.”
“It is so important that, if you are starting a business, to be as modest as you can.”
On navigating COVID-19…
“Don’t stop thinking about different things that you can do.”
“If the dream is there, you can get there.”
“If your business went away, that doesn’t mean you can’t start another one.”
“Investors always say they don’t invest the product, they don’t invest in the idea, they invest in the person.”
On making an impact…
“How many People of Color can I give an opportunity to that not just changes their life but changes the trajectory of their legacy for generations?”
On being an entrepreneur and a mother during COVID…
“I have so much respect for stay-at-home moms and I have so much respect for teachers because this is no joke. The only thing that helps me is I know we’re all in this together and trying to figure this out because it’s not easy.”
Holding Space: The Women Leading the Way for WOC in the Health & Wellness Industry, Powered by Califia
“The answer to wellness is not always a purchase.”
Panelists:
Latham Thomas | Celebrity Doula, Maternity Wellness Expert, Author, “Own Your Glow”
Koya Webb | Founder, Get Loved Up Holistic Health and Yoga School
Gianne Doherty | Co-Founder, Organic Bath Co. and Founder, WELL Summit
Jenné Claiborne | Vegan Chef, Author, YouTuber, and Founder, Sweet Potato Soul
Moderator:
Sonja Rasula | CEO and Founder, Unique Markets
On making space for WOC and BIPOC in wellness and beyond…
“Amplifying our voices and coming together to make a change is the way we’re going to see massive change in the future.” - Koya Webb
On rest as a form of resistance…
“Rest is how we reclaim our peace, it’s how we reclaim our mental health and no matter what you’re passionate about and what you stand for, if you are not well rested you are going to drive yourself into the ground.” - Gianne Doherty
On diversifying wellness…
“There is a misperception that wellness, and wellness as most of us think of it now, is for people who have more money, for white people, for women and that leaves a lot of people out of the conversation, and out of wellness.” - Jenné Claiborne
On improving health outcomes…
“It doesn't just affect Black people, but it affects Black people disproportionately, so if we focus our energy on solving the problem for Black folks first, everybody’s going to improve.” - Latham Thomas
“We’re serving everybody, but we’re especially equipped to serve those who we know may fall through the cracks.” - Latham Thomas
On visibility and representation in wellness…
“We’re creating our own spaces and those spaces are allowing us to heal from the trauma that we’ve experienced from living in a world that’s cloaked with white supremacy and oppression.” - Koya Webb
“When we take care of ourselves, we can start change, we can start getting out there to vote, changing the systems, and coming together to make change that we want to see in the world.” - Koya Webb
On cancel culture…
“I’m not a fan of cancel culture. I don’t really think that helps people evolve and I don’t think it solves a lot of problems. I think we need to invite people to the conversation and we can’t shy away from these conversations.” - Gianne Doherty
On voting with your wallet…
“As consumers, we vote with our dollars, we have so much power.” - Gianne Doherty
“I think it is important to actively divest in brands who are not part of this conversation. Not just spend your money over here, but stop spending your money over here.” - Latham Thomas
On creating wellness brands and spaces that reflect the community…
“Hire the people who are in positions of leadership in their communities, in organizations doing this incredible work already. Bring them in to help so that you don’t make mistakes and you don’t misstep and then when you’re designing spaces you’ll be designing for who’s most marginal, who’s going to benefit the most.” - Latham Thomas
“If we’re designing from our space of privilege, then we’re never going to consider the needs of people who are underserved or underestimated.” - Latham Thomas
On making space at the table...
“I hate this metaphor about bringing people to the table. I don’t need that. I don’t need people to bring me to a table. I can build my own stuff. We need to expand that table so it can fit everybody or we need to completely dismantle it and build something new that is actually inclusive of the needs of everybody who’s involved, especially the most marginalized.” - Latham Thomas
On finding your place…
“Just me being me, my presence, is a protest.” - Koya Webb
“Me dealing with all of the pain and trauma is worth it because it’s inspiring other women to do the same, that they can do it too.” - Koya Webb
“Just show up the best that you can, being the best version of yourself, and knowing that that is enough.” - Koya Webb
On coming together to make change…
“Together we can make a difference but it can’t be all put on Black people—we all have to bond together and really change the systematic racism and systematic oppression that we see in the world today.“ - Koya Webb
On wellness for all…
“Wellness is what you need, where you are, with what you have.” - Gianne Doherty
“The answer to wellness is not always a purchase.” - Gianne Doherty
On self-care doesn’t cost money…
“It’s part of our culture to think that we need to buy something to satisfy. You don’t really need anything. Really take an honest look at what you’ve got around you and what you can utilize.” - Jenné Claiborne
On ending systemic racism in wellness and beyond…
“I’m not in resistance, I’m in a dance with joy towards liberation.” - Latham Thomas
“What we are calling for is people who are non-Black to show up in a bigger way with dollars, with access, pick up the phone and make the calls, get out to vote, but stop putting the burden on us.” - Latham Thomas
Self-Care Nation: Why Taking Care of Yourself Has Cultivated a Major Following
“Confidence isn’t an end point. Confidence is something you have to chip away at daily.”
Panelists:
Coco Bassey | Content Creator
Hunter McGrady | Model & Designer
Christina Grasso | Content Creator & Co-Founder, The Chain
Candice Nikeia | Content Creator & Motivational Influencer
Candice Kumai | CEO, Writer, NYTimes Bestselling Author, and Chef
Moderator:
Kristina Rodulfo | Women's Health Beauty Director
On slowing down and making time for rest...
“It’s important to make sure that you’re okay, that you are taking care of you before you take care of other people.” - Candice Nikeia
On confidence...
“Confidence isn’t an end point. Confidence is something you have to chip away at daily.” - Hunter McGrady
On self-love…
“Self-love to me looks like peace. I think being at peace with yourself no matter where you are in that journey, no matter what your size is, no matter what you do, being at peace with you in that moment.” - Hunter McGrady
On the power of vulnerability…
“If we don’t share our story in the most authentic way with others then we’ll never actually be able to connect.” - Candice Kumai
On her approach to wellness...
“Just understanding that we are enough as we are, no matter what it is that we’re wearing, no matter what we have on our skin, or whatever people are selling to us.” - Coco Bassey
On supporting women...
“I would love for more women to support more women and love women.” - Candice Kumai
“We have to stand up for each other and learn to love a little bit deeper and practice empathy, compassion, kindness. Those are the three most important things in wellness.” - Candice Kumai
On her #AllWorthy movement…
“We’re all worthy of success, of feeling beautiful, of feeling valued, of feeling important, we’re worthy purely because we exist.’ - Hunter McGrady
“It’s about holding brands accountable and saying this is what I want to see, this is what I’m going to support, and I’m not going to support this, my dollar doesn’t go there anymore and then the domino effect can happen.” - Hunter McGrady
On the self-care movement…
“When you look at the voices now in social media, they’re really breaking ground, making changes, and really being raised up.” - Coco Bassey
“It’s okay to show your less perfect days, it’s okay to show that even if you’re trying out a skincare brand that your skin isn’t perfect but that you're a work in progress just like every other person.” - Coco Bassey
On the comparison trap…
“Comparison is the thief of all joy” - Candice Nikeia
On ending the shame…
“It’s okay to not be okay, and it’s okay to love yourself as you are and if you gained 10 pounds you gained 10 pounds, it’s not the end of the world.” - Hunter McGrady
On getting out of the negativity spiral...
“When someone is in that realm of tearing someone else down, they’re really projecting that they haven’t healed yet.” - Candice Nikeia
“What you see in other people is really what you see in yourself.” - Candice Nikeia
“The best thing for me to do is figure out who I am, the things that I love about myself, and use them to heal and to develop myself instead of looking at the lacks in my life.” - Candice Nikeia
On striving for change…
“We’re seeing that when you’re loud, things can change—so, stay loud!” - Hunter McGrady
On being yourself and telling your story…
“Regardless of who you are or what you look like, your own story matters.” - Coco Bassey
“Be yourself. You are enough, you are interesting as you are.” - Coco Bassey
Beyond the Filter: How to Launch, Scale, and Grow a Brand from the Ground Up
“
We don’t sell diversity and inclusivity, we sell authenticity and self-love.”
—Sharon Chuter
Panelists:
Lauren Bosworth | Founder & CEO, Love Wellness
Katie Sturino | Founder, Megababe
Sharon Chuter | Founder & CEO, UOMA Beauty
Courtney Adeleye | CEO & Founder, Mane Choice
Bobbi Brown | Founder and CEO, Beauty Evolution
Moderator:
Kayla Greaves | Senior Beauty Editor, InStyle
On turning a home-based hobby into a thriving beauty empire…
“The biggest form of marketing you can receive is customer service and word of mouth. So, for me it was always about exceeding the customer expectations. If that’s the foundation of your company, it’s much easier to grow.” - Courtney Adeleye
On ditching the fear to start all over again…
“Anything you do as an entrepreneur you could either look as scary or as an opportunity.” - Bobbi Brown
“I am incredibly naive, I’m not afraid, and I don’t think what I’m going to do is necessarily going to be a success but I don’t worry that it’s not going to work out.” - Bobbi Brown
On ditching unrealistic beauty ideals to redefine beauty…
“We don’t sell diversity and inclusivity, we sell authenticity and self-love and the ability to be unapologetically yourself and that’s what makes us different.” - Sharon Chuter
On the challenges that come with scaling a business…
“If you want to scale your business, the entire thing is a challenge so what are you going to do about it? Not everyone is built for it. But you have to roll right through it, and learn from your mistakes, and keep rolling.” - Courtney Adeleye
On the challenge of being an “overnight success”...
“It takes 14 years to blow up overnight.” - Sharon Chuter
On hiring the right team…
“Hire slowly and fire quickly as you build your team because team is everything.” - Sharon Chuter
“Everything is a challenge but I would urge every entrepreneur to not underestimate the value of the right people around you, especially when you are in the fast growth phase.” - Sharon Chuter
“The strength of our business is that the people who are in it are the brand.” - Sharon Chuter
On following your own path...
“I will never do what’s popular, I will always do what’s right to me.” - Sharon Chuter
“Be strong enough to defend the values of the business because, at the end of the day, throughout whatever growth and as you scale, if the foundation is not right the house is going to collapse.” - Sharon Chuter
On tapping into her community for R&D...
“We take the feedback from our community and we put that back into the research and development and we evolve. We give the people what they want.” - Katie Sturino
On raising capital…
“Talking about capital and raising money has really been romanticized over the past few years. There’s this element of glamour. But it’s really important to realize that you don’t have to go out and raise money like that.” - Lauren Bosworth
“If you are starting a business, I would really think about exploring traditional, old-school routes of raising money, which is a bank loan, or raising from friends and family instead of being convinced that you have to go down this investment path.” - Lauren Bosworth
““If you choose to bring on investors and bring people into your business it’s like a marriage and a lot of people raising for the first time don’t quite realize the depth of those relationships with these people.” - Lauren Bosworth
On starting The Generational Advantage Fund...
“When I started my company with $500 we went from zero to 60,000 doors within two or three years. No credit card, no line of credit, no loan, no investor, it was, literally grow as you go.” - Courtney Adeleye
“Here I am, having sold over $100 million worth of products and I still have to prove myself in the finance world. There’s still a lot of discrimination that’s going on. We can’t get the funding, we can’t get a loan, we can’t get a line of credit. There’s no one speaking up for us as an African American—as a business owner we are automatically exiled out of things, there are grants that don’t apply for us, so for me this really hit home.” - Courtney Adeleye
On creating a diverse brand…
“It was really important to me that there was a color for every woman that came to the counter.” - Bobbi Brown
“We should always have room for diverse people because it makes the conversation richer, it makes your products stronger, it makes your management approach better and overall it creates a healthier business.” - Sharon Chuter
“Diversity is reality, at the end of the day. It’s what makes the world turn.” - Courtney Adeleye
On switching career lanes…
“First and foremost, you have to make peace with how you feel about yourself and how you feel about how other people perceive you. And then it’s figuring out how you tell your story. You have to figure out how to market yourself.” - Lauren Bosworth
Redefining Beauty: A Conversation With Self-Love Advocate Nabela Noor, Powered by OGX
“You are beyond any size, measurement, tag, label, or anything that’s trying to put you into a box.”
—Nabela Noor
Panelist:
Nabela Noor | Content Creator, Founder of Zeba, & OGXpert
Moderator:
Jaclyn Johnson | CEO & Founder, Create & Cultivate
On launching her YouTube channel...
“When I started to make videos, it was really because I saw other people doing it and felt so inspired by them and they represented so many beautiful diverse communities.”
“I realized that I can do this for my community. I can do this for Brown girls everywhere. I can make videos about my complexion and share tips for people like me and anybody who wants to celebrate beauty.”
“It all started from seeing that there wasn’t something there yet for people like me and then making it happen.”
On embarking on a self-love journey…
“I grew up, and still live, in a very conservative, predominately white town, and I did not see myself represented in the world around me. Not just in the media, not just in entertainment, not just in beauty and fashion, but also physically in the world around me.”
“I grew up with a lot of insecurities and not feeling beautiful in my own skin and not knowing that I am beautiful and that those differences that I’m reminded of daily actually are beautiful and should be celebrated.”
On being a champion for diversity and inclusion…
“This isn’t something that’s a fad right now, this is our truth. We have, for our entire lives, wanted to be seen and represented.”
On navigating negativity in the comments…
“If you are happy and successful, the likelihood of you going online and saying horrible things to someone else is very small.”
“Happy people don’t say hurtful things. With joy comes kindness. It’s offered me peace in times when I’ve wanted to cry and believed the things that people say about me.”
“It’s helped me, it’s freed me, because there was a time where I was constantly shaping my understanding of myself based on what other people were saying about me.”
On collaborating with Elf Cosmetics…
“I’ve had opportunities to do other collaborations but I chose Elf for my first-ever collaboration because I come from very humble beginnings, I'm a daughter of immigrant parents who came to this country with nothing, and I know what it’s like to want to look and feel your best but not have a big budget.”
On choosing which brands to partner with...
“A brand that loves and values me and has an incredible product is a brand that I’m going to want to work with.”
On being an OGXpert…
“I started my self-love journey by picking up a bottle of OGX shampoo and deciding I’m not going to listen to what other people say about me and my body, I’m going to try to find the things I love about myself and start there—and it was my hair.”
On holding brands accountable...
“I’m really looking for people and brands who are championing diversity from the ground up, from their business internally outward.”
“Are you actually doing the things internally within your company and with your actions to really reflect what you’re saying to the world?”
“We want to feel seen and heard in a way that’s authentic and in a way that includes us.”
“If we’re not having diverse people in these conference rooms, if it’s just a bunch of white people talking about how they can be more diverse, how is that actually authentically seeking diversity?”
On becoming the first-ever Bangladeshi-American cover star for a major magazine...
“Me having the Glamour UK cover, hopefully inspires another brown girl—another Bangladeshi girl—to reach for her dreams to try something because she saw that somebody can do it too.”
On cultivating confidence…
“When you make a conscious effort to be in love with yourself, it really helps you be more confident and feel like you can take on things that are tough or difficult or uncomfortable, because you know, at the end of the day, you can sit with yourself and be proud.”
On launching Zeba, a self-love movement and a size-inclusive brand…
“We are challenging the idea that beauty is something that can be defined by one institution or by society and we’re constantly encouraging others to redefine beauty standards to include them rather than changing themselves to fit within someone else’s standards of beauty.”
“You are beyond any size, measurement, tag, label, or anything that’s trying to put you into a box.”
On creating an inclusive community online…
“When you’re building your own community, really figure out ways to champion conversation rather than you on a stage—that’ll make the difference.”
“Are you talking at people or are you talking with them?”
“I create posts that I think invite people to share their stories—and people want to share their stories.”
WorkParty Podcast: Tia Mowry-Hardrict on the (Many) Benefits of Having More Than One Career
“Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself. Don’t be afraid to get the answers that you’re looking for.”
—Tia Mowry-Hardrict
Panelist:
Tia Mowry-Hardrict | Actress, Author, Producer, Co-Founder, Anser Supplements
Moderator:
Jaclyn Johnson | CEO & Founder, Create & Cultivate
On believing in yourself…
“You have to ignore the naysayers.”
“It starts with you believing in yourself, believing who you are.”
“When you know who you are and you believe in who you are, then you become this strong pillar, and the outside noise or wind or turbulence doesn’t affect you because you’re strong in who you are.”
On listening to your body and navigating a broken healthcare system…
“Don’t give up. Don’t listen to one doctor. You know your body, you know what’s going on, and don’t give up the fight.”
“Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself. Don’t be afraid to get the answers that you’re looking for.”
On taking care of yourself…
“Self-care is not selfish.”
“How can you be the best mom, how can you be the best sister, how can you be the best entrepreneur, how can you be the best friend, if you do not take care of yourself?”
“It’s okay to take care of yourself.”
On launching her wellness brand Anser…
“I wanted to encourage women to take charge of their health and wellness.”
“When I was on my personal wellness journey, I did not see representation. I did not see Women of Color, I did not see women of diversity, and that bothered me. I wanted to change this narrative. That’s why it was so important for me to come out with a brand that spoke to consumers that did not feel involved, that did not feel included.”
“DNA doesn’t vary when it comes to ethnicity, but where it does vary is with lifestyle, culture, awareness, and education.”
“My goal with this brand is to continue to educate, to continue to bring awareness, to continue to inspire, and to encourage people to reach their potential when it comes to their wellness. You deserve it!”
“You are in control of your health and your wellness. You have that responsibility, don’t put that responsibility just on a doctor.”
On selling products at affordable price points…
“It hurt me to the core when I was out there on my personal journey and I saw that wellness was only designed or made for one type of customer. That’s not fair; I wanted to change that narrative.”
“My goal is definitely to make sure that Anser is accessible without sacrificing the quality and the integrity of the product.”
On where entrepreneurs should focus their financial resources…
“Product, product, product is the most important thing.”
“You want to make sure that you put a lot of your coins on the product.”
On carrying a business through COVID-19…
“The key to being a great entrepreneur is learning how to pivot, learning how to adjust.”
“The key in times like this is to communicate with your audience—what are they thinking, what do they want from you, what’s going in their minds—and deliver.”
On leading a team…
“You can’t do everything on your own.”
“I look at it like a song. You cannot have a beautiful song with just one person, or one instrument, one note.”
“Trusting your team and building a team that knows how to take care of your weaknesses—because we all have weaknesses—you start to build this beautiful symphony and the music is harmonized and it’s beautiful.”
“You have to be very vocal in vocalizing what your goals are and what your vision is, unapologetically.”
On the advice she’d give to her younger self…
“You are enough. You can do anything that you put your mind to.”
“Make sure that you continue to stay steadfast, believe in yourself. Trust the journey.”
“Look at yourself in the mirror every single day and tell yourself, ‘I love you! You are worth it.’”
Evening Keynote: A Conversation With Michelle Pfeiffer & Jaclyn Johnson
“When you start a business, you want to serve a need that nobody else has served.”
—Michelle Pfeiffer
Panelist:
Michelle Pfeiffer | Actress & Founder, Henry Rose
Moderator:
Jaclyn Johnson | CEO & Founder, Create & Cultivate
On moving past the negativity and forging ahead…
“Initially, it was a lot of ‘no,’ ‘this will never work,’ ‘you’re going to fail,’ ‘nobody’s going to buy genderless fragrances,’ ‘nobody wants to hear about celebrity fragrances.’”
On launching a business in a brand-new category…
“I am equal parts naive and courageous. Often, I’ve thrown myself into a situation without really thinking it through because of my courage and then I find myself in the deep end and I can’t swim.”
“When you start a business, you want to serve a need that nobody else has served.”
“The problem is, because no one has treaded that path yet, there are no guidelines for you and you have to make it up as you go along.”
On developing a clean fragrance line…
“Between IFF’s restrictions Cradle to Cradle’s restrictions EWG’s restrictions, our perfumers went from a typical palette of 3,000 ingredients to 250.”
“Everybody put their egos aside and set about making this happen.”
“Throughout the process I learned that there are some safe synthetics that are safer for the general population than these concentrated plant-based materials.”
On pursuing 100% transparency…
“When I went to the cosmetics industry to develop this with them, it was much too soon. Nobody was willing to look at the safety at a deeper level in the products that they used and nobody wanted to be 100% transparent.”
“Everybody’s afraid of trade secrets and getting their formulations ripped off, which I understand, but with reverse engineering you can pretty much find out what’s in anything.”
On navigating COVID-19…
“We’ve had to pivot along the way and the good thing about being a direct-to-consumer product is you aren’t really affected by retail closing down and you can pivot quickly.”
“We had our supply chain disrupted a couple of times and we had our labs closed down in the middle of working on things for holiday, so there are some things that won’t happen this year that we wanted to happen, but at the same time, we still have so much work to do on awareness of our fragrance line.”
On finding the right partners…
“The hardest thing is finding the right partners, whether it’s your partners in developing your product, doing your packaging, your PR, and building the business.”
On advocating for environmental health…
“The consumers really believe that whatever is on those store shelves is safe because they believe that their government has looked at the ingredients and know them to be safe, and they have a right for that to be true.”
“The FDA right now doesn’t have the authority to demand to know what’s in the product, to demand to recall the product, they have no jurisdiction.”
Don’t miss Sophie Monet, Steffi Lynn Tsai, Blair Armstrong, and more at our digital Making It With Madewell summit on Saturday, August 15. RSVP for free here.
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Hey, Glow Getters! Here's What to Expect at Our Digital Beauty, Self-Care, and Wellness Summit
Psst... Miranda Kerr, Nabela Noor, and Tia Mowry are taking the virtual stage.
Photo: Smith House Photography
Taking care of your mind, body, and spirit has become a trillion-dollar industry, and we’re coming straight to your home to tackle it all. From energy healing and acupressure sessions to informative workshops and inclusive conversations with leading industry disruptors, our Digital Beauty Summit presented by Mastercard has it all—and we’re not holding back. Prepare yourself for a jam-packed day full of panels, keynotes, live podcasts, wellness experiences, and everything else you’ve come to know and love about our Create & Cultivate digital events.
As always, our lineup for Saturday, July 25 is stacked. Pound Fitness is kicking off the day with a heart-rate-raising cardio class, then Miranda Kerr (yes, THE Miranda Kerr!) is taking the virtual stage to talk about switching lanes from supermodel to clean beauty entrepreneur, Nabela Noor is taking the mic to share how she’s redefining beauty and launching a self-love movement, and Tia Mowry is sitting down with Jaclyn Johnson to discuss managing a multi-hyphenate career for a live episode of WorkParty. Trust us, you won’t want to miss out!
Read on to discover everything else we have in store for this jam-packed day, and if you haven’t already, be sure to buy your digital pass ASAP!
THE DATE
Saturday, July 25th, 2020
TUNE IN FROM HOME
First things first! On Saturday, July 25th, you’ll receive an email with your link and password to access the exclusive Digital Beauty Summit site. Please note: All content will go live on Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), including the launch of the exclusive Digital Beauty Summit site. To find out what time a session is happening in your time zone, use this handy time zone converter.
Digital Beauty Summit is made up of pre-recorded video sessions hosted via Vimeo and live video sessions streaming via Zoom. We recommend that you have a strong WiFi connection and find a comfortable place to tune in from home. Digital Beauty Summit is optimized for desktop, so it is best viewed via a computer or laptop, rather than a tablet or phone.
While the live content is specifically designed to be watched in real-time, you’ll be able to access and view it until Friday, July 31st at 5pm PDT (Insiders, you have all-access even after the cutoff via your C&C Insiders dashboard!). Tickets will be available to purchase until July 29th at 5pm PDT.
THE SCHEDULE
Digital Beauty Summit is built just like our in-person conferences, which, of course, you all know and love. We have a stacked schedule with an A-list line-up of speakers so we suggest taking notes along the way.
Want the full lineup? Check out the play-by-play schedule to map out your big day. Please note, all times are listed in PDT (Pacific Daylight Time), as C&C headquarters is located in sunny Los Angeles. To find out what time a session is happening in your time zone, use this time zone converter.
NETWORK
Networking is a huge part of our event and our Create & Cultivate Beauty & Self-Care Summit Attendees Slack Workspace is a great place to mix and mingle with your fellow Create & Cultivators before, during, and after the big day. We’ve created channels for every workshop and panel, as well as channels for international attendees, networking, and more!
Attendees will receive a link to access our Create & Cultivate Beauty Summit Attendees Slack Workspace in our What to Expect newsletter on Monday, July 20th. This Slack channel will remain accessible until Friday, July 31st at 12pm PDT. Not familiar with Slack? Here are a few tips to get you started:
Download the Slack app to your phone, computer, or both
Complete your account profile with a profile photo, your name, and what you do
Public conversations will happen in the channels (ex: #networking) and are located on the left-hand side of the app. You can also start direct messages with others in the Slack workspace
Hit send too early on a message? Slack has an edit feature! Click the three-dot icon located on the right side of the message to open the drop-down of message options
We’re all about GIFs at C&C! Here are instructions on how to integrate GIPHY into your Slack account.
Our Slack workspace is a busy, happening place on the day of the event. Streamline the notifications you receive by using the “mute” feature on channels that don’t pertain to you. To mute a channel, simply open up that channel, click the three-dot icon labeled “more,” and select the mute option
Most importantly, be kind and respectful of others. If you don’t follow this rule, you will be removed from the Slack group
If you have any questions on the day of the event about navigating the schedule, accessing the workshop downloads, or anything else, you can drop them into the customer service channel in Slack.
THINGS TO PREP AHEAD OF TIME
Here are a few things to prep before the big day so it goes off without a hitch:
Make sure you have a strong WiFi connection.
Install Zoom on your desktop computer or laptop and test it out.
Zoom tips:
Find a quiet place to tune in. Try to situate yourself in a small room that does not have an echo.
Try and stay away from noisy electronics and silence your cell phone and computer notifications for an optimal experience.
When possible, limit your internet connection to solely the device you’re using for the Zoom conference.
Set your phone to airplane mode, pause your television connection, ask others in your home to pause anything that may require a strong internet connection, etc.
Set aside your athletic gear and your mat (or towel) and fill up your water bottle for our morning moves session with Pound Fitness.
Be sure to download the workshop assets so you can follow along with the expert in real-time. Note: Your exclusive workshop downloads will be available starting Saturday, July 25th via the exclusive Digital Beauty Summit site.
Dance along with the NetWerk Dance Movement instructors during a special NetWerk Dance Movement Session. Don’t forget to network with your fellow Create & Cultivators via our exclusive Digital Beauty Summit Attendees Slack Workspace.
Don’t miss the opportunity to get real-time advice from small business owners, venture capitalists, and other experts during Mentor Power Hour presented by Mastercard.
Join the Mentor Power Hour Slack Channel and peruse the list of mentors who will be answering questions in real-time in hour-long Zoom webinars and choose your mentor(s).
We have experts in everything from raising money to creating engaging content to growing a dedicated following on social media. If there’s more than one mentor you want advice from, don’t worry! You can hop from session to session over the course of the hour if you’d like.
Don’t forget to jot down any questions you have for the mentor sessions ahead of time! You’ll be able to ask your Qs in real-time by typing them into Zoom’s Q&A feature.
GET SOCIAL
Stay tuned for exciting announcements and updates by following along on our social at @createcultivate.
To access our custom Digital Beauty Summit IGS filters, head to @createcultivate on Instagram and click on the smiley face icon beneath our bio, or open your camera in Instagram and click on “browse effects” and search with keyword “createcultivate.” You can also search “ccselfcarebeautysummit” on Instagram to use our custom GIFs.
Don’t forget to tag @createcultivate and use the hashtag #CCSelfCareBeautySummit for the chance to be featured in our Instagram Stories throughout the day!
C&C INSIDERS’ PERKS
Our Insiders get a ton of perks at all our events—and our Digital Beauty Summit is no exception. As an Insider, you get discounted ticket rate of $29.99 and you’ll have access to all of the panels and keynotes after the Friday, July 31st 5pm PDT cutoff via your C&C Insiders dashboard. Not an insider yet? Well, don’t miss out—you can sign up here.
VIRTUAL GIFT BAGS
We know you want ‘em! Complete our post-event survey to receive an email packed with promo codes from some of your favorite brands, including OLLY, Codex, GOODFISH, NetWerk Movement, House of Lashes, The Perfume Bar, Vie Healing, the Honey Pot Co., and more. The survey will be sent out to all attendees on Friday, July 31st.
GIFT BOXES
Plus, the first 250 ticket purchasers will receive a gift box the week of event date featuring the following products:
Pound Fitness RIPSTIX
Juvéderm Lipstick Kit
SheaMoisture 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Body Lotion & Body Wash
Purely Elizabeth Strawberry Cauli Hot Cereal Cups
Enavant Active Sports Bra
House of Lashes Lash + Glue Set
ECO Therapy CBD Mint Box
J.R. Watkins Cleansing Hand Elixir
Each & Every Lavender & Lemon Deodorant
Juna Hemp Drops
Mane Club Dry Shampoo
Lora DiCarlo promo card
Califia Farms Nitro Latte Oatmilk
Note: If you are one of the first 250 ticket purchasers, the C&C team will reach out to you prior to the event.
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES?
Live chat with a C&C specialist on CreateCultivate.com. You’ll see a “Chat With Us” pop-up in the bottom right corner of your screen.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU ONLINE! Who are you most excited to hear speak? Which workshop are you looking forward to most? Tell us in the comments below!
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