Start Planning Now—What to Expect at Our First-Ever Small Business Summit in NYC

We’re packing our coats and heading to NYC for our first ever Small Business Summit presented by Mastercard and our C&C team can’t wait to share this experience with you guys. With a jam-packed day of small business gurus, knowledge droppings, pop-up shopping, and yummy food eating, it’s going to be one heck of a ride. So, buckle up and get ready for what’s to come. Before we give away too much, follow along to see what the day has in store.

THE NITTY GRITTY 

Parking
Our Small Business Summit event location doesn’t include on-site parking, however, there are paid lots nearby. We encourage you to take advantage of the city’s incredible public transport or ride-sharing to set yourself up for a day of success. 

Registrations
When checking-in on the day of the event, you will receive your access badge and schedule card outlining the day ahead. Make sure you have your ID so we are able to give you with badge without any hold up!

*Note that we won’t have coat check on site, so plan accordingly!

Help?
If you need assistance throughout the day or have accessibility needs, then we’re only too happy to accommodate. Just look out for the friendly faces wearing super cute pink tees with the saying “Her Impact Is Priceless” on the back at the event.

Bathrooms & Pump Room
We have bathrooms located on both floors of the event venue—and they look super chic thanks to Cora! The pump room will be located on the first level as well. 

Our events fly by, so we suggest planning ahead see below for all the amazing activities! 

 LOCATION

Hudson Mercantile 

500 W 36th Street

New York, NY 10018

C&C INSIDERS’ PERKS

Our Insiders’ members get a ton of on-site perks and Small Business Summit is no exception. Not an insider yet? Well, don’t miss out—you can sign up here and pick up your membership kit at the Insiders Info Desk on level 1 at the event. 

If you are a member, here is a rundown of what you can expect as a C&C insider in NYC and beyond:

• Hate waiting in line? Receive expedited check-in, and front of the line access to the Bumble Bizz headshot studio. 

• You’ll have priority seating at the main stage (yup, that means front row).

• Exclusive Meet & greet with Jaclyn Johnson, Sonja Rasula, Courtney Quinn, Lisa price, Puno Dostres, and Ali Kriegsman. 

• We have some special swag for you at the C&C Insiders Info Desk to pick up on-site.

• Skipped a panel to explore the pop-ups and activations? Insiders get access to all the panel footage after the event on your C&C Insiders dashboard.

SCHEDULE

Want the full lineup? Check out the play-by-play schedule to map out your big day. It’s going to be huge so we recommend getting a head start on planning out your day now. 

LEVEL 1 

Mastercard Female Small Business Marketplace

We partnered with Mastercard to hand select some incredible small businesses to showcase their incredible product lines at our Small Business Summit. Come and show your support for these amazing ventures. They’re located in the Mastercard Female Small Business Marketplace on Level 1.

The businesses include Bliss Lau jewelry, YES I AM CLOTHING premium apparel and accessories, Coco and Breezy fashionable eyewear, East Oliva Creative floral design, goldno.8 customizable bags, Found Herbal Apothecary plant-based remedies, Teressa Foglia handmade hats, Maison Visionnaire fragrances and diffusers, Cheeky Monkey Home pillows and accessories, and Shhhowercap shower caps with personality. 

Bumble Bizz Headshot Studio

Bumble Bizz puts the fun into networking and business building. Set up your Bumble Bizz profile (if you haven’t already) before arriving so you can have your free professional headshot taken at the Bumble Bizz pop-up studio. Bumble Pro Tip: Change your radius on Bumble Bizz to one mile to match with other attendees on-site for the ultimate networking experience. 


Insiders Info Desk

Grab your C&C swag at the Insiders booth. It’s not too late! You can also sign up here if you aren’t a member yet.  

LEVEL 6 

Cora
Your bathroom experience will be exponentially more enjoyable thanks to our friends at Cora. Snag some of their femine product located in the bathrooms on-site that are ethically sourced and free of pesticides. This bathroom is so chic you’ll want to take a selfie.

Mastercard x MADE featuring Fred Segal and Lot Stock & Barrel

The Mastercard x MADE capsule collection with female designer partner, Lot Stock & Barrel, and Fred Segal thrives on its industrial feel which coincides with the workmanship behind the brand. Come experience the work that goes on behind the scenes and order custom prints and embroiders that they can watch the artists create. Each guest can order a custom embroider or screen transfer and watch as Lot Stock & Barrel makes their piece in this ‘workshop’.

Facebook

Boost your biz by upping your businesses' Facebook game. Facebook’s new Boost initiative will equip you with the digital skills you need to grow your small business and you can come see for yourself at their pop-up. You won’t want to miss this one. 

Haverdash

Wearing the latest trends just got easier thanks to Haverdash—an online style streaming subscription service that gives women access to fashion rentals for a monthly fee. You won’t have to worry about costly shipping, returns, or dry cleaning because Haverdash has you covered. Come see what all the fuss is about at their pop-up and sign yourself up on-site with help from their team. 


Microsoft Teams 

Check out our mini-documentary to see how the C&C team brings events to life with the Microsoft Teams feature. While you’re there, hover your phone over their custom QR code at the pop-up for the chance to win some free swag.


PicMonkey

Up your IG game with the PicMonkey team. They’ll help you shoot a professional IG moment at their pop-up and you’ll even receive the edits in real-time along with a cute PicMonkey template. You won’t be leaving empty-handed either—grab some PicMonkey swag before your next panel. 


Shop Create & Cultivate

Who couldn’t use more organization in their life? This fall we partnered with At-A-Glance to create a line of career-focused office accessories and planning tools for women making moves available exclusively at Target. Preview select products and shop the full line of affordable planners, notebooks, calendars, and clipfolios at the Shop Create & Cultivate pop-up.

Don’t miss out on the beautiful floral arrangements all over the event like the one added to the stellar IG moment on level 6 provided by and Afloral and East Olivia Creative. 

FOOD & BEVERAGE

BREAKFAST 

Start your day off the right way with a Bumpin Blends DIY Oatmeal bar. Choose from one of three flavors and top it off with some yummy topping. 

Please note, all types of oatmeal contains nuts.*

Supercharge your morning with delicious cold brew served by Chameleon Cold-Brew at their designated caffeine bar.

LUNCH 

Eat clean with a deliciously healthy Urban Remedy salad of your choice with two loaded options! And don’t forget while grabbing your salad to snag a bag of Beanfields bean chips. 

Please note, both options contain nuts.* 

Feeling thirsty? Grab a delicious Watermelon Wonder slushy from the The Goods Mart slushies machine. 

BREAK 

Beyond Meat is back and whipping up our favorite meatless burgers. Nom, nom!

BEVERAGES 

Thirsty? We’ll have CORE Water, Sweet Reason CBD Sparkling Water, and LaCroix on hand throughout the day!

HAPPY HOUR 

Sip on some cocktails served by Jane Walker by Johnnie Walker while you network. And of course, our favorite Rosé sparkling wine will be served up by Chandon, too! 

Who said yummy couldn’t be vegan?! Baked by Melissa will be serving a variety of the famous vegan mini cupcakes you all know and love—healthy and delicious!

Get your sweet tooth fix with the insanely moorish cookies by Gooey on the Inside. We’re definitely going to bring some of these back to L.A. with us!

GIFT BAGS

We know you want ‘em! Get your shoulder ready for gift bags filled with goodies from some of your favorite brands like Bombas and POOSH. Please note, gift bags are only available at the end of the night. Pick them up at registration on the first floor (where you checked in at the beginning of the day) in exchange for your badge. So, please keep in mind, if you have to jet off early and want to collect your bag on the way out, you’ll also be forfeiting your right to come back in. 

Get prepped ahead of next weekend’s conference and stay tuned for updates by following along on our social at @createcultivate and use the hashtag #ccsmallbizsummit to keep in touch!

WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU IN NYC! Who are you most excited to see? Share in the comments below!

“Your Weaknesses Today Are Your Strengths Tomorrow”—and Other Awe-Inspiring Quotes From Our SF Conference

Last Saturday we headed to the bay to host our San Francisco conference and let us tell you, the energy and knowledge-dropping was unparalleled. Stationed on the corner of Market Street in the bustling city we all know and love, our event location SVN West held over 1,400 attendees for a day packed full of awesome panels, activations, and so much more. Prior to Saturday, we wanted to make sure we were getting connected with the SF community of influencers, movers, and shakers by holding a few pre-conference events. Shoutout to our generous hotel partner, Bei Hotel, who not only held and assisted us with events at their hotel, but also set us up for a successful weekend overall. 

To ensure our team and attendees were ready for the conference, we held one of our favorite events to date at the gorgeous Assembly for an early workout session with Living Proof. Fast forward to Saturday morning, we hit the ground running with the poppin’ pop-up market, incredible speakers, and delicious food. But you know what they say? Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and our attendees couldn't have made it through without the yummy breakfast provided by our friends at Olly. Having FOMO? Don’t fret—we have a rundown of all the key learnings and happenings below, just for you! Follow along for some insane tips and memorable quotes. 

Keynote: Giuliana Rancic

Panelists:

Giuliana Rancic | TV Host, Founder, Fountain of Truth Clean Skincare

Moderator:

Michelle Lee | Editor-in-Chief, Allure 

On realizing what really matters...

“The hardest part of my teenage years was dealing with scoliosis. I grew up crooked and that’s hard for a young girl. I was always in baggy clothes. I was always insecure because I looked and felt a certain way. It made me really work on what’s in here.(points to herself). I was able to build a sense of humor,  personality, and all these great attributes that helped me later in life. Thank God for that whole experience because I was able to create what I really needed in life and the real attributes that matter.” 

“I would not change a thing about that. I would still go back to being crooked. That shaped who I was, made me realize when you don’t look a certain way you go inward.”  

On her best advice...

“Your weaknesses today are your strengths tomorrow.” 

“We all have talents. If you can take that natural ability and turn that into a business, look at that first. When you’re naturally good at something, you can master it at a quicker pace and it doesn’t feel like work.”

“Love what you do and what you’re good at.”

“Go with your gut. Go with your intuition. Try something different. If it’s not working, flip it on its side. Throw everything at the wall and see what sticks.”

“Ask yourself ‘where do you want to be in 10 years 20 years?’ Then reverse engineer that.”

“It’s easy to get caught up in the bad, but you have to focus on the good.” 

On her definition of success…

“Success is different for every person. First step: What does success mean to you? Going out and getting it.”

“For me success is truly personal fulfilment and professional fulfillment, but the key word being fulfillment.” 

On her journalism career’s inspiration... 

“I thought I would do hard news. All my stories had a fun and quirky tone, so the dean of our school looked at my work and he said ‘have you ever thought about Hollywood? Maybe you should think about Hollywood.’”

“I love being in the moment, fun, silly, asking about fashion and beauty, all the fun questions. At first I was a little offended but I'm so glad he turned me on to that because at the end of the day, that's what I really love. I love pop culture, I love hearing people’s stories.” 

“I love the opportunity to be able to stand there and ask those questions. The fact that I get to do what I love, which is basically asking questions and putting it out there in the world, in a field of entertainment, is a win win.”

“I had this full-circle moment recently when Barbara Harrison retired and they reached out to do a tribute video, I thought wow, this woman was my biggest inspiration who got me in the career I wanted to be in when I was seven years old.”

On her new beauty line, Fountain of Truth...

“Being diagnosed with breast cancer was a shock of a lifetime. It was a fluke and I was fortunate to have found it. It was terrifying. So, I started making a lot of changes to my life like researching what I put on my skin. It was scary what I was finding, so I started making my own concoctions at home. I was going on YouTube then whipping it up in the kitchen. Then this idea came up to create a clean, high-performance skincare line at an attainable price range. It came from a place of need then turned into passion.”  

Keynote: Jenna Dewan

Panelists:

Jenna Dewan | Actress, Dancer, Author

Moderator: 

Jaclyn Johnson | CEO and Founder, Create & Cultivate 

On embracing authenticity and the things that light you up...

“Be you, everyone wants to see you.” 

“Be authentic. It’s impossible for me to promote or speak about anything that’s not authentic to me.” 

“Trust that you can be everything and anything that you want.” 

“I’ve started to embrace what lights me up. I know I’m the happiest when I have a connection to something greater than myself.”

On her new book...

“It started as a poetry book and then it evolved into this personal journey of my life.”

“The book became a labor of love, a child born really. It was a way for me to give my truth because I think there has been a lot of things said that aren’t necessarily my truth.”

On advice for the not-so-great parts of life…

“You have to move through it. You have to feel it and you have to love yourself while you're feeling it. Know you're not going to feel this way forever—there are no shortcuts to healing.” 

On imposter syndrome as a woman…

“[As women] we’re never just one thing. Women are able to be many different things at once.” 

“There have been many times in my career and I’m really confident but I cried all morning and that's how complicated we are, we’re never just one thing.”

On being a sex symbol in the indusrty… 

“I was aware that this was in my body very early on. I embrace it.”

“I love sexy people—sexy women that inspire me.”

“It’s a natural part of who we are. I think women can be mothers and can be sexy. Why can’t we be all of that and be sexy?” 

On the long game...

“It took me a long time to come fully into my own. I believe you have to stick with it. It sounds so cliché but you really can’t give up. I was being clear about what I wanted to feel. When that happened the opportunities changed.” 

On self-care…

“I’m the happiest when there is always some sort of movement in my life. I’m the happiest when I'm dancing. It ebbs and flows. It’s hard to find time, but you have to make it. You’ll realize how much better you feel when you do.”

Keynote: Kourtney Kardashian

Panelists:

Kourtney Kardashian | CEO and Founder, Poosh

 Moderator: 

Allison Statter | CEO and Co-Founder, Blended Strategy Group

Advice on money conversations...

“You’re never going to get a better deal then if you negotiate yourself. It’s much easier to have someone negotiate on your behalf. But meeting people and negotiating yourself will always be the best.”

“When someone sees you face-to-face, there’s something different. You’re an actual human with a story.”

“I like to know every detail—actually knowing the details of whatever you’re doing—because I don’t want any surprises later.” 

“Find something you love to do, and figure out how to make money doing it.” 

“Trying different things is okay. I’ve had so many different jobs in my life and it’s about learning as much as you can from those jobs and carrying those things with you into the future jobs.”

On prioritizing...

“It’s a lot to balance. I think it’s about prioritizing what I have to get done. There are a lot of days where every single minute is booked. I usually do not book things when I’m with my kids. But now I’ve realized I can show my kids that I work, and it’s a great thing—a lot of people have to do that.” 

“Take time off when you need it in order to be excited when you come back.”

A day in the life of Kourtney…

“I don’t wake up before 7 am. We all get up at 7am, We get ready, I go work out, I come home, squeeze in a sauna, I do glam, film until six, dinner with my kids, bedtime.”

On Poosh, the story behind the name, and everything in between…

“I feel like a big thing for me is to only take on something that my heart and soul is really in. I didn’t feel motivated to do something unless I was all in—if it was fulfilling, added to my life, and made me happy. That’s where Poosh came along.”

“It (Poosh) embodies my lifestyle. Being able to share so many of the things I do and my team does, we think of it as a conversation. We have an amazing group of contributors.”

“Poosh is Penelope’s nickname—that name just stuck with us.”

Favorite sister is...

“It changes everyday. Today it’s Khloe. Yesterday it was not Khloe. Yesterday it was Kim.”

From Startup to Success Story: Meet the Ladies Killing the Entrepreneurial Game

Panelists:

Rachel Pally | Owner & Creative Director, Rachel Pally

Yanghee Paik | CEO and Founder, Rael

Ellyette Gheno | Founder, BootayBag 

Elizabeth Stein | Founder and CEO, Purely Elizabeth

Bianca Gates | CEO, Birdies Slippers

Amanda Baldwin | Brand President, Supergoop!

Moderator: 

Maxie McCoy | Author of You’re Not Lost and Founder, MaxieMcCoy.com

Rachel Pally

On trial and error...

“In my 17 years of business, I’ve had a lot of errors and a lot of success. I was open to trying everything and seeing what worked. It’s not always the straightest line but I eventually got there.”

“I was finding that I was being pigeon-holed for so long, I’m constantly having to reinvent. I convinced people that I’m allowed to evolve.”

“You can’t control what’s coming at you but you can control how you handle it.”

Yanghee Paik

On learning from other people...

“You would be surprised how much you can learn from talking to people that have spent a lot of years in the industry, reading, and hustling.” 

“We had to learn everything from scratch—passion really helped.”

On educating others on healthy choices...

“I looked at myself the past few decades, and I had been using these products without really asking what’s in them. I figured that that was a problem. We wanted to educate consumers that this can affect your health.”

“You don’t have to sacrifice performance and comfort while you make a healthy choice for your body.”

On the importance of people…

“People matter the most. The team that I built definitely helped me a lot.”

“Hiring people that are smarter than me, who know how to get things done, that’s how I started building the team.”

“I’m very inspired by seeing the team grow, and every single person we’ve brought to the company has helped the team so much.”

Ellyette Gheno

On what inspires her mission...

“That’s why I do this, the hope that my story inspires someone’s beginning.”

On starting a business from scratch...

“I Googled a lot and still Google a lot. Google is my best friend.”

“Go out and network, force yourself to go to those events. Be uncomfortable because you might make a connection.”

Elizabeth Stein

On the launch of her product in Whole Foods...

“I remember that feeling so vividly, thinking ‘oh my God, my life is about to change. This is really working, this is a real business.’” 

On the importance of self-care…

“I’ve realized that if I don’t feel good, I’m not making good decisions. I think I take extra, extra self-care and realize how important that is.” 

Bianca Gates

On the start of her business venture…

“The beginning of it all stemmed from community and friendships.” 

“I did what most people might do, I Googled how to make slippers.”

“Meghan Markle announced her pregnancy in the Redwood Forest in her Birdies, and it was that ‘holy shit’ moment where you’re like, ‘this is big’. When I woke up that morning, sales had exploded. We had a 30 thousand- person waitlist, and what was meant to be good started becoming crazy.”

On consumer demand..

“It could sink a business if you don’t respond immediately to what’s happening.”

On advice from a friend...

“If you don’t do what your investors tell you to do you might get fired, if you do do what your investors tell you to do, you will get fired. It has to come down to what you think is right for the business.” 

Amanda Baldwin

On the feedback loop and constant iteration of Supergoop!...

“It’s mission-driven. We’re here to change the way people think about sunscreen and stop the epidemic of skin cancer. Everything we do goes back to that, including the product innovation. It’s always going back to that problem and always trying to solve it.” 

On the importance of people…

“At the end of the day, the change and the crazy growth we’re going through, it’s all about the people. Who you hire, who you surround yourself with—it’s everything. Every single hire is a gamechanger for the business. Everything is about finding the right people.”

On the pains of firing employees…

“As painful as it is in the moment, know it truly is the best thing for both of you.”

Swipe Up: How to Create Compelling Content in a Clickbait World

Panelists:

Kellie Brown | Influencer, Brand Consultant, and Founder, And I Get Dressed ...

Chloe Watts | Founder and CEO, chloédigital ...

Jessica Franklin | Lifestyle and Beauty Content Creator, Hey GorJess ...

Quigley | Influencer and Content Creator, Officially Quigley...

Mandy Ansari | Founder, Girl and the Bay...

Steph Weizman | Legal Advisor, Lifestyle Blogger, and Founder of Let Me Wear That...

Moderator: 

Reesa Lake | Partner and Executive Vice President, Digital Brand Architects ...

Kellie Brown

On authenticity/transparency/vulnerability...

“I think that for me authenticity meant, there was a specific way that plus women were presenting themselves—I am the anti-flattering girl. The pay off in sticking to my true self resulted in a lot of press and opportunities.”

“Sticking to your guns no matter what that means to you, will put you ahead because there’s only one you.”

On creating content and diversifying content...

“I like on-the-fly content. I like the in-the-moment vibe because it’s super relatable. You get a lot more interaction.”

Chloe Watts

On authenticity/transparency/vulnerability...

“It’s really about what is the goal, what is your why? From there your why trickles down into everything you do. Because my end is to be authentic, I need to make sure I’m always doing that. I need to make sure I am connecting to my audience.” 

On the decline of instagram / rising platform...

“There will always be new platforms, different social platforms, it’s always best to be an early adopter of these platforms.”

Jessica Franklin

On authenticity/transparency/vulnerability...

“When the natural hair movement started, my followers related to posting about natural hair. I experienced adult acne, so many people related to it. It’s important to realize that all of us have our insecurities and it just makes us closer.”

Quigley

On authenticity/transparency/vulnerability...

“The more vulnerable I could be on the platform the more deep of a connection I had with my audience. I think we need to stop pointing fingers at people for fake authenticity.”

“Don’t just show the good stuff,show everything! Don’t just show people the highlight reel. Show them the big picture.”

On creating content, diversifying content and …

“When Instagram first started, it was a visual platform but my strength is writing. A huge transformation for me was when I started writing captions first and then thinking about how I wanted to represent my words visually.”

On Instagram removing likes…

“Have I made a genuine connection with one person today? It’s the DMs and the comments sections that we need to focus on. If you connect with one person, you’re an influencer.”

On creating stories...

“If you can post in real time it’s better for engagement. Show up with your face. Make them as interactive as possible.” 

Mandy Ansari 

On authenticity/transparency/vulnerability...

“I really believe in turning our wounds into wisdom.hen we show our wounds as wisdom we inspire people to be real with themselves. There’s so many masks we are asked to wear, we’re always pressured to be something we’re not. It’s so important that we’re open about where we’re at. What’s more important than having a real conversation?”

“We have the gray days and the bright and colorful days, and it’s important to know your content doesn’t need to be in that box.” 

On Instagram removing likes…

“I measure my success on how it goes down in the DM’s.” 

Steph Weizman

On creating content, and diversifying content …

“I don’t believe in pigeon-holing yourself. The more diversified the better! I’m more than just the girl that posts pictures of her outfits. It’s important in this day and age to diversify. I listen to my followers and give them what they want.”

“Don’t be afraid to try new things! Find what works for you. That’s how you’ll find your voice and your aesthetic.”

On the decline of Instagram / rising platforms...

“I don’t think Instagram is going anywhere for now, but I have my blog, and YouTube channel. I don’t believe in putting all your eggs in one basket.”

Fair Game: Exploring the World of Venture & Women in Tech 

Panelists:

Shilla Kim-Parker | CEO, Thrilling

Tiffany Ho | VC, Acme Capital

Angela Sutherland | CEO and Co-Founder, Yumi

Mimi Chan | Founder and CEO, Littlefund

Dami Osunsanya | Operating Group of Softbank Investment Advisors 

Moderator: 

Yasmin Moaven | VP of Investor Relations, Fair

Shilla Kim-Parker

On her passion for sustainable, secondhand shopping...

“The passion I have for this company is being a part of the solution—secondhand shopping and making it more accessible.”

On biases...

“No matter how woke we think we are, we all suffer from a certain amount of prejudice or bias. Most people exercise it by the selective helping, it’s that selective helping that perpetuates this system.”

Tiffany Ho

On men’s ‘social scripts’... 

“Part of the reason there’s so few women backed by VC’s, is that there are very few social scripts out there that we have internalized to make connections with men quickly.”

On venture capital...

“Venture is this interesting art and science and I think it’s very people-driven”

“Being able to create trust quickly is very important.”

On equity vs. salary…

“The rule of thumb is the more risk you’re taking, the more equity you should have.” 

“First, absolutely do your homework. Ask around, particularly to your investor friends and friends that have joined startups before. You want to be able to go to the negotiation table with numbers behind you.  Second, you need to have that conversation with yourself, your partner, and your family to understand what your responsibilities are. Third, if you are just like me, an investor, if you’re joining a startup—you have to do your diligence to see if this company will exist / thrive three to five years from now.” 

Angela Sutherland

On raising money…

“The idea has to resonate with the people in the room that are investing in it.”

On building a company that is evergreen...

“Build a company that’s good enough regardless of the season. I wouldn’t worry about the fundraising side.”

Mimi Chan

On raising money as a woman...

“Hustle, hustle, hustle. Don’t take no for an answer. It’s a numbers game.” 

“As women raising money in the early stages, we don’t get the benefit of the doubt. There is no science to early stage investing. Go with your gut, so many decisions do rely on gut, and unfortunately for women, we walk into a room and we’re pitching, unconscious bias starts seeping in.”

“If you’re spending a lot of time fundraising, you’re not spending a lot of time building your business and that’s a disadvantage.”

“In order for the numbers to change, more funds need to be investing earlier.”

“I have felt less respected as a woman walking into a room and pitching. My fundraising journey would’ve been completely different pitching as a man. We just don’t get the benefit of the doubt.” 

Dami Osunsanya

On advice and truths of investing.. 

“Be open to new opportunities and being able to take risks.”

“Take initiative to get out of your comfort zone and to get to where you want to go.What am I willing to do to get to where I want to go?”

“The people at the table making the decisions are unconsciously biased.” 

Intersectionality in the Workplace: A Conversation on Diversity and the Important Role of Allies at the Office

Panelists:

Bhavagna Bhattiprolu | Vice President, Blended Strategy Group

Miatta David Johnson | President and Co-Founder, MVD Inc

Massah David | Co-Founder, MVD Inc

Ally Maki | Actor

Sahara Pynes | Partner, Fox Rothschild LLP

Moderator: 

Randi B. | Diversity and Inclusion Strategist, Author, Speaker, and Trainer …

Massah David

Diversity is…

“Vital to your success, and profitable.”

On creating an inclusive space where everyone can participate…

“M sure you’re very intentional. When you’re starting an initiative you have to make sure you’re targeted.”

Importance of diversity vs. inclusion…

“I think it’s important because diversity on its own can only serve optics. Inclusion is making sure that people’s voices are being heard, being in the conversation, not just the topic of the conversation.”

Miatta David Johnson 

On hiring…

“First and foremost, we’re looking for the best candidate. For us it’s extremely important that they understand our DNA. Two things that can't be taught: working hard and integrity.”

On the “why” behind DOPE AFRICANS...

“There is a need for comradery in the music space. A lot of Africans felt alienated. It has formed a sense of community in the music space for African Americans.”

On creating real change…

“Bring us in the room because it’s great for optics. But if you’re not hearing from us, then nothing is going to change.”

“If they understand this will affect their profits that’s what is going to create a change.”

On making brands a part of the conversation…

“If they say no, they’re not the brand for your company. Brands respond to statistics, they’ll respond when you start putting stats in front of them.”

Ally Maki

On her work impact the next generation…

“Truly one of my life missions now is to give the next generation of girls growing up what I'm learning now in my 30’s. I look back to when I was young and I didn’t feel worthy of being in any room or any table.” 

“Providing a seat for these girls and changing the narrative inspires everything I do because I sometimes still see myself as that eight-year-old girl who didn’t belong.”

On the hostile environment of audition rooms...

“I had to start to restructure my thoughts of this room. Why did we feel like we were the enemies? I had to reframe my mindset of there's only one slot for all of you. That’s what they want you to think, that you’re sister is the enemy. It's terrible and negative and a dangerous way to think. Look right next to you—this is the woman I should be talking to. Who’s really going to have your back?”

Sahara Pynes

On social media keeping brands accountable...

“It’s a great thing that consumers have a direct line to the brands they’re purchasing. Now, if you do something wrong or right, you’ll hear about it from the people consuming the product.” 

“You have to take responsibility and give a sneak peak behind how you’re doing better, how you’re remedying the problem.” 


How to make real change in large companies...

“Make sure the right people are in the room. To have diversity conversations without white male founders is pointless—unless you bring the decision makers into the room, nothing will change.” 

“It's easy to bring people in the door, but you have to get them to stay and feel like they’re a contributor.”

“Leadership has to start from the top. There has to be accountability at the top as well. There has to be regular check-ins.”

On creating a sense of belonging...

“The easiest way to start is in bite-sized pieces. On your teams. Making sure to include people in meetings they normally wouldn’t be a part of so you’re hearing their voices and perspectives.”

Bhavagna Bhattiprolu

On the importance of advocacy…

“Leadership lending a hand is important to the discussion. We are all a group. It’s important to me that I'm reaching out to all women, all ethnicities. I’m not boxing myself into such a narrow group that I'm ultimately not including someone else.”

“I think allies are so important. I think the way we have to look at it is we are all a group. I see it as I am a woman of color who has had a certain level of success and it’s important to me that I’m reaching out.”

On diverse representation...

“I grew up in a world where I consumed so much content showing people that didn’t look like me. It’s really exciting to be in a time where people have different perspectives represented.”

On holding large companies accountable...

“It’s not just getting people in the door and retained but getting them into the higher level positions.There is the optics of getting someone in the door, but it's about putting in the work to get people past that.”

“Get people trained so they can handle these roles.”

Status Quo No Mo: A Conversation on the New Work/Life Balance for Working Women

Panelists:

Taylor Sterling | Founder and Creative Director, Glitter Guide

Amy Nelson | Founder and CEO, The Riveter 

Katie Hinz-Zambrano | Founder, Mother and In Good Company

Anne-Sophie Stock | VP, Chandon

Ali Fedotowsky | TV Personality and Lifestyle Blogger, AliManno.com

Nicole Lapin | Anchor, author, and businesswoman, NicoleLapin.com

Moderator: 

Chloe Watts | Founder and CEO, Chloe Digital 

Nicole Lapin

On the start of her career...

“I started in TV news at the bottom and then I was offered a job as a business reporter.”

“In school, we don’t learn how to do a budget or taxes or a business plan. The last thing I ever thought I would do was work in business or finance. I totally ‘faked it till I made it.’” 

“I was super clueless, but I just figured out how to love what I did.”

On self-care…

“Self-care is the biggest asset or liability in your career.”

“Balance, happiness, whatever you wanna call it—leads to success. Not the other way around.” 

“I’m so over this ‘busy’ badge of honor. I think we’re burning out like crazy. Just because I'm stressed out doesn’t mean I’m important.” 

“I come up with a few really tangible goals for the day and connect them to what my long-term goals are.”

“I know I can feel the difference if I don't start and end the day with gratitude.” 

“I encourage you to think about the top five things you value and check to see if you are on that list.”

On being a girls girl...

“I’m an ultimate women’s woman at work.” 

“I’m not getting married anytime soon. I put a ring on it myself.” 

Ali Fedotowsky

On building a brand....

“Team up with other people and other women. Support each other.” 

“Don’t look at your competitor as a competitor—look at them as your best asset.” 

On work/life balance...

“I just think do whatever works for you. If hustling is what makes you feel accomplished at the end of the day, do that.”

“If the answer isn’t ‘hell yes’, it’s no.”

“You have to say no to things so that you can focus on what’s truly important to you.” 

On having your own spin on your business...

“If you’re doing what somebody else is doing, that’s okay too. Nobody else is doing it like you.” 

On sharing your knowledge with others...

“People are going to want to go to your company or follow your brand if you have a service that serves them. I’ve found that when I open up and share my secrets, my business grows. Share your knowledge and share your secrets.” 

On her best advice…

“If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.” 

On being a mother...

“I had this big fear that once I became a mom, my career was over. Don’t be afraid of becoming a mother because you just figure it out.” 

“I feel like the universe is like, ‘well you’ve been in labor, so you can take more!’” 

Amy Nelson

On starting your own business...

“Starting a company is a one-way door—once you walk through it, you don’t stop.”

On work/life balance...

“The idea of balance is bullshit.”

“All of our lives are going to look different and we have to do what’s best for us.” 

On building a business...

“Building a business is so hard. I had no idea how hard it would be. But I would do it over, and over, and over again.” 

“If I didn't have that ‘why’, I wouldn’t have been able to do it. You have to dig into that ‘why.’”

On Create & Cultivate...

“We would all be remiss if we didn’t talk about the champion, Jaclyn Johnson. She’s helped my business. She really walks the walk and connects people and builds networks.” 

On no’s…

“Learn how to hear ‘no’, and know it’s not about you 100%. ‘No’ today doesn’t mean ‘no’ tomorrow —so keep asking.” 

Anne-Sophie Stock

On living life in the moment...

“It’s about the small wins.” 

On work/life balance...

“You need to have perspective on what you’re doing and what you need to accomplish. And from there, really prioritize.” 

“The moment you really prioritize what you want to do, it’s  life-changing.”

On the separation between work and self… 

“I am not my work. What I produce is not me.“

Katie Hinz-Zambrano

On work/life balance...

“The word ‘balance’ is super loaded. We’ve swapped the word balance for juggling. Some things are up some things are down and some things you drop on the floor. We’re all juggling, it’s fine.”

On establishing the ‘why’ behind your business...

“I care about women, I care about mothers, they’re raising the next generation—that’s my ‘why.’” 

On her best advice…

“Keep building your network.” 

Taylor Sterling

On goal setting and fulfillment...

“Success will only last for a short amount of time and it’s something you have to continually strive for. It’s not paying attention to what is ‘successful’, it’s paying attention to what fulfills me. Usually, success will follow.” 

“Having three to five things at a time is kind of all I focus on. I’ve gotten into the mindset, where I’m like, ‘if this is all I accomplish in one day, that’s okay with me’.” 

On carving out time for self-care...

“As a business owner and as a mom, you feel the pressure to be available for everybody at all times. For me, I needed to re-work my business so I could feel that I have mental space left and that I’m taking care of myself. I had to get really crazy about boundaries.”

On women supporting women...

“I wouldn’t have been able to do any of the things I do without a supportive network of women.”

On her best advice... 

“Stop feeling guilty.” 

Strong Foundation: Meet the Women Disrupting the Fashion & Beauty Economy

Panelists:

Catherine Gore | President, Biossance...

Nicole Farb | Vice President of Clean Beauty, Grove Collaborative...

Anne Maza | Co-Owner and VP Sales and Marketing, Olivia Garden...

Jill Layfield | Co-Founder and CEO, Tamara Mellon...

Jenn Acito | Director of Retail Sales, Living Proof...

Moderator: 

Sacha Strebe | Editorial Director, Create & Cultivate 

Catherine Gore 

On longevity…

“Not many people know this, but we sell our ingredients back into the beauty industry. We’re that proud of the ingredients that we want to help others get on board.” 

“In four days, we’re launching an initiative called Clean Academy which is an educational tool that will help debunk a lot of confusion and will help elevate the conversation. We’re hoping clean academy will just bring more knowledge and hopefully make all beauty clean beauty”.

On creating a brand with meaning…

“We align our brand with people that are on the same mission.”

“Have that deep, deep connection with the consumer.” 

On advice for entrepreneurs…

“Don’t get drunk at the business party. You can spend a lifetime building your reputation and only 30 seconds losing it, so be consistent with your image.”

Jenn Acito

On Living Proof hiring scientists…

“Living Proof looks outside the industry because we want progress and we want a solution. Our scientists can look at things differently coming from outside the industry. Looking outside the industry is our secret sauce.” 

“93%of our scientists are women and I’m really proud of that.”

On longevity…

“To switch the consumer’s mindset you need to find your purpose.” 

On advice for entrepreneurs…

“You have to take chances, you have to believe in yourself every step of the way even when you’re having doubts.”

Nicole Farb

On building trust with customers…

“Trust is something that sounds really hard but when you bring it back to the basics it’s doing what you say you’re going to do. Trust for us is publishing our standards. We’re super transparent about why we chose to include or not include ingredients in our products.” 

“Beauty products are expensive. So, what’s the brand’s story and do we believe in it?”

On changing the conversation…

“It starts with the way it talks to us as women. We’ve been told for decades that if you want to look like her you should use this product, it’s not about looking this way it’s about feeling this way. We feel good because these ingredients make us feel good. I’m most excited about changing the conversation”.

On advice for entrepreneurs…

“Don’t play the middle. You’ll capture more people but won’t make anyone happy. Play to the extremes and you’ll get people loving what you’re doing.”

Jill Layfield

On making your brand stand out…

“The product is exclusive but the brand’s inclusive.”  

“What I learned was that it wasn’t enough to make just a brand story. Investors are looking for technology stories.” 

“Our marketing is rooted in feminism—knowing her worth and owning her health”

On taking risks...

“Culture is the way you get the work done, the behavior that’s acceptable and behavior that’s not. The culture is a reflection of the CEO and if you’re clear on how you want your employees to behave.”  

On having young women coming into the company... 

“They have to own their voice and that it matters just as much as ours.”

On advice for entrepreneurs...

“The risky way is the safe way. You’ve got to go for it because actually, that is the safest bet.” 

“The next great group of companies are not going to be built in the same channels we have today.”

Anne Maza

On disrupting the market...

“We’re constantly trying to come up with the next innovation—get ahead of a problem you see customers might be experiencing”.

“There’s a lot of pride in coming out with a really good product” 

“How can we do this better? If we’re not going to do something better than someone else, we don’t want to be a part of it” 

On longevity…

“We’re extremely detailed in what we do. Plan is great but things change and opportunities might come your way that you didn’t expect. You have to readjust.”

“Staying true to your principal and never wavering from that, and if that means your product launch gets delayed because it’s not up you your standards that’s okay”. 

On creating a brand with meaning…

“It’s so important that all your teams speak with the same voice. Make sure the people you’re working with really understand where you’re coming from and can use your voice.”

On advice for entrepreneurs...

“Enjoy the journey as much as you’re going to enjoy the rewards.”

Fireside Chat: Gail Becker, Caulipower Founder & CEO

Panelists:

Gail Becker | Caulipower Founder & CEO

Moderator: 

Sacha Strebe | Editorial Director, Create & Cultivate

On not hiding the healthy ingredients… 

“We’re so proud of being a vegetable, we put it in our name”

“We like to celebrate the magic of the vegetables.” 

On starting Caulipower…

“Why did I wait so long to do what my heart wanted me to do”

“Caulipower was born out of the convergence of this realization that I needed something more meaningful, and my own frustration of trying to find more foods that are gluten-free.”

“Why can’t we all share from the same plate? That’s the ethos behind Caulipower.”

“When you care about something so much that you’re willing to risk everything for it, there’s nothing you wouldn’t do. There’s no amount of hours of sleep you wouldn’t give up.” 

“It’s more rewarding than anything I could’ve ever dreamed.”

“It does take a toll. I want to be super honest about that. There’s a lot of blood, sweat, and literal tears behind all of that. People never talk about that part.” 

On how to hire the right people...

“You need people who are as passionate and care as much as you do.” 

“Every single person at caulipower today feels like it’s their company, and that’s how it should be. Those are the kind of people you should hire.”

“You need people that are going to be as passionate and care as much as you. I hired people who wanted to take a leap, too.”

”They have to really have the passion to try to make the world a little bit better.”

On raising capital...

“To grow a business, you have to have money, and you have to have some sales before you raise money, ideally.”

“Don’t let the thought of raising money get in the way of actually building your business.”

On the brand..

“Everything about the brand is accessible. Accessible in the way it looks, the way it tastes, the stores it’s sold in, the fact that we donate to teaching gardens.” 

The Truth Serum: Sourcing Trustworthy Skincare Advice in a Click-Bait World 

Panelists:

Lauryn Evarts Bosstick | CEO and Founder, The Skinny Confidential 

Dr. Anna Guanche | Dermatologist 

Moderator: 

Jaclyn Johnson | CEO and Founder, Create & Cultivate 

The last thing I googled was…

Lauryn: “Can you jade roll your tits?”

Dr Guanche: “WorkParty.”

My favorite anti-aging hack is…

Lauryn: “Facial massage.” 

Dr Guanche: “Use retinol every single night.”

The weirdest home remedy for skin I’ve tried is…

Lauryn: “Order olive oil from room service to remove my makeup.” 

Dr Guanche: “Bird-poop facial. The geishas used to use this. It has enzymes in it to exfoliate your skin.” 

Dr. Anna Guanche 

On what happens to skin as we age...

“You reduce your elastin production once you're born, your collagen is decreased. Your skin can no longer compensate for the skin damage that has happened to you since you were born.” 

On the most common questions and concerns regarding anti-aging…

“They want to know what really works and the active ingredients that do reverse aging.” 

On retinol and anti-aging...

“Retinol is a vitamin A derivative and is naturally found. It exfoliates and as you keep using it it keeps your skin looking dewy. Retinol is the quickest way to get retinol on your skin—it’s milder than retinae.”

On tips for getting good skin…

“Drink plenty of water, don’t stress out, get lots of sleep, sleep on your back, have a low-salt diet, and wash every single drop of makeup off every night. Good skin takes discipline.”

On how long it takes to see results from a new product…

“Four to six weeks of consistent use.”

On empowerment and self-love…

“Try the empowered approach. There’s no shame in wanting to be beautiful. I was very hard on myself when I was young. Try to love yourselves. Actively try to overcome the things you don’t like about yourself and be empowered by putting your best foot forward.” 

On best self-care tips...

“I try to sleep at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning. You need to have routine and you need to have discipline. Try to manage your stress, meditate, wear your sunscreen every day, wash your face completely at night, and take good care of yourself.”

Lauryn Evarts Bosstick

On the topics shared on her podcast...

“We’ve talked about everything, from vagina steaming to boob jobs, I feel like there isn’t anything we haven't talked about.”

“People do have these questions that they’re  embarrassed to ask. I’m trying to create a space where we can talk about these taboo topics.”

On carefully selecting partnerships…

“I’m really specific and strategic. I’ve left a lot on the table because it wasn’t the right fit. I’m really careful with what I promote.”

On being inspired by other people’s routines...
“I’m really inspired by other countries. I like to observe and see what they’re doing differently—it's a lot of oil and facial massage. I feel like Americans have a very more is more approach. I really try to watch and observe what other people are doing and implement it into my routine.”

On self-care…

“We’re in a day and age where women don’t want to look like someone else, now everyone wants to be the best version of yourself and I think self-care is that.”

On the importance of suncare…

“I am batshit crazy about the sun. I wear driving gloves  in my car and sunscreen on my hands, chest, and ankles.”

Right to Desire: Conversation With Rumer Willis and Cindy Eckert

Panelists:

Cindy Eckert | CEO, The Pink Ceiling 

Moderator: 

Rumer Willis | Actress and Advocate

Cindy Eckert 

On her biggest lesson...

“To get back up. You’re going to be underestimated. You can pull back and either doubt yourself or see the underestimation as an invitation to impress people.” 

My message to women is ...

“Own it. Get a piece of the pie. Own your sexual desire. You have the right to desire, to start your own company, to have your own voice.”

 “Speak up, stand up, and lock arms with other women who share your passion.”

On sex advice...

It’s a priority. It’s so beneficial overall for your health. Just f*cking do it. Have more sex! 

“It’s about owning it and owning ourselves.”

On hard statistics… 

“Only 3% of pharma companies are run by women.”

On changing the narrative of sex and supporting other women...

“The goal was changing the narrative and about women having the choice”

“Starting to remember our inherent value is a key part of changing this conversation.”

“If things go wrong with men in the bedroom, we say it’s biology. But with women, it’s psychology.” 

“I’m a huge crusader for women’s health. If it broke down in the bedroom it broke down at the breakfast table.”

The New Disruptors:  Meet the Women Making Moves in the Modern Marketplace

Panelists:

Jesse Draper | Founding Partner, Halogen Ventures

Shawntee Reed | Inclusion Diversity Lead, Square

Alicia Jager | VP, Mastercard

Diana Hilson | Product Marketing Manager, Intel

Shannon Race | Associate Director Brand Relations, Vital Proteins

Samantha Fulgham | Chief Creative Marketing Officer, Bumble 

Moderator: 

Sherry Jhawar | Co-Founder, Blended Strategy Group ...

Jesse Draper

On investing...

“It doesn’t matter if it’s $100 or $1000, put your money to work, take risks with your money.”

“How are you going to learn how to build money if you don’t take the risk?”

“The data is there that women will invest back into the female ecosystem.” 

“Put your money to work, ladies!”

On prioritizing your side hustle...

“If your side hustle is your passion, and you really want to go after it and you want to quit your day job—work as much as you can on your side hustle.” 

On what she looks for when investing in a new company...

“I like it to be very disruptive, the first or second in the space.”

On starting a business in a saturated market...

“If you’re entering a busy space, be sure you know how to differentiate yourself.”

Shawntee Reed

On making waves in the market..

“Create those strategies that really does disrupt how we think.”

On women being a big part of inclusivity...

“We took to the market place internally to learn from women to ensure we have an inclusive work environment. Women are very instrumental in that.” 

Alicia Jager 

On hiring...

“I think it’s really important for us women to be thinking about hiring a diverse team.”

On her best advice...

“Help young women hone their skills and become leaders.”

On being the only woman in the room...

“When you’re not the minority, you don’t really notice.”

“I was almost always the only woman in the room.”

“It's been very encouraging for me, a woman, to feel like there is a place for me at the top”

Diana Hilson

On her best advice on growth and building a great company...

“Listen to consumers, do research, think about what’s the next big thing.”

“Look for the diversity.” 

Shannon Race

On her best advice...

“Don’t get caught up looking left and right—look up and far beyond.” 

“Don’t get sidetracked about what everyone else in the space is doing.”

“Look for inspiration from brands that are completely outside of the space.” 

On C&C...

“You have such a deep-rooted community, I want to find ways to mimic that.” 

Samantha Fulgham

On the importance of innovation...

“Every single time our consumers think we’ve done something super innovative, it’s really not that innovative—we really just listen to our users. We listened to feedback after feedback and started Bumble BFF. Some of our most innovative ideas have come from our interns.”

 “Our goal was to create an app where women make the first move.” 

On giving women a fair chance...

“There's an inequality right now and we need to bring women up.” 

On Bumble’s founder setting examples...

“Women can run companies and run them successfully, and balance that with dating.”

On waiting for the guy to text you back...

“It wasn’t written in the rule book and it wasn’t written on the wall. So why did we do it?”

No Fear Zone: How to Cultivate Your Craft and Turn Your Passion Into a Career (Pottery Barn)

Panelists:
Monica Bhargava | EVP Design & Product Development, Pottery Barn...                

April Gargiulo | Founder, Vintner’s Daughter...

Caitlin Flemming | Interior Designer and Founder, Caitlin Flemming Design...
Gray Malin | Photographer, Author, Founder, Gray Malin ...

Orland Soria | Interior Designer, Author, and Visual Artist, Founder Homemaker.com ...

Moderator: 

Sacha Strebe | Editorial Director, Create & Cultivate 

Monica Bhargava

On getting her start in design...

“I grew up in India and I came to the U.S. when I was 17 years old because I wanted to explore education in the United States. Design and development was in my DNA. My earliest memories are jumping on piles of rugs or looking at empty documents, or visiting my family and seeing all the colors, that's where my passion for design came from.” 

On leading a team and vision at Pottery Barn…

“When I think about the trust that these women have placed in me, it’s empowering. The platform that I have access to, I feel like I have the opportunity to build the American dream. We’re a very large company that operates like a very small company. The design process is invigorating. I cannot think of a platform where I have felt more empowered.”

“It’s a very collaborative process. You need to deliver the product to have a vision. You have to solve a lot of your creative problems at home. It is a complex procedure and it’s collaborative. That vision comes together from a lot of different places.” 

Gray Malin

On his start and mission...

“I excelled in photography in high school, my parents advised me to. I got really into film. Everyone around me thought I was such a success, but I felt like such a failure. It wasn’t until I told my parents I wanted to do fine art photography that everything began. I learned that people weren’t feeling accepted by the gallery world, so I set out on a mission to make photography that was relatable.” 

“I think when you launch a brand and start to think about growth—it starts internally. What brands do I have a connection with? We learned that photography didn’t have to live on a two dimensional space on the wall. I felt like travel is a part of this brand and we were in talks with a big brand and they just didn’t get it, but then we got a call from AWAY and they got it. It was an authentic connection. Collaboration works in different ways, you just have to ask yourself if it’s authentic.”

Orland Soria

On rocky beginnings...

“I had a super rocky road to get to where I am. It’s rare to be put into a space with someone that you have such a connection with (on working with Emily Henderson). I had years and years of applying for jobs and not getting them. Literally couldn’t get a cashier’s job. It was a long road to get on that show.” 

“It taught me that there is a lot of success that has to do with luck and happenstance and you can’t beat yourself up too much for not being where you want to be because so much is out of your control.  I can finally say I deserve to be here and I worked for it.”


On sustaining motivation...

“In order to maintain excitement and interest I always have to have a new goal.”

April Gargiulo

On her mission…

“I was somebody who had struggled with my skin all my life and I had been using what I thought were all the finest products. One day, I was pregnant with my first daughter and I started looking at ingredients.” 

“Luxury to me is knowing that it’s safe. I created a skincare product that is built on that same concept.”

Caitlin Flemming

On starting her business...

“I love to look fear straight in the face. When I went to college and got a business degree. I graduated right before the recession and it put so much fear in me.”

“I started Sacramento Street because I needed a creative outlet. Then I started to get a few clients and I couldn’t maintain it. I worked full time with a side hustle for five years.”

“My parents have always taught me to go for what I always wanted.”

On developing aesthetic...

“I’ve always known my inner aesthetic. You can always compare yourself to someone else, but you have to think about what is true to myself and your brand. My aesthetic has been crafted since I was a little girl.” 

“Put down your phone when you’re traveling, look up. Keeping your eyes open will help you develop your own aesthetic.”

Getting Niche: Finding an Untapped Market and Creating a Unique Brand 

Panelists:

Aleksandra Zee | Influencer, Entrepreneur, and Author, The Way of the Woodshop...

Barb Paldus | Founder, Codex Beauty...

Colleen Stauffer | Global Business Marketing, Pinterest...

Mari Mazzucco | PR & Influencer Marketing Manager, Olly ...

Jen Cohen Bogan | CEO, BlueJay Bikes...

Rachel Dealto | Chief Dating Expert, Match...

Moderator: 

Sacha Strebe | Editorial Director, Create & Cultivate 

Mari Mazzucco

On the importance of the consumer...

“We want to make sure our consumer is empowered.”

On the successes from a brand’s point of view on influencer marketing...

“Influencer marketing has always been a really important channel of marketing for Olly. Influencers have a been a really valuable asset to help us tell our story.” 

“Influencers have been a really valuable lever for PR.”

On types of influencers to work with...

“At each tier there’s a benefit. Mid-level are great for engagement and micro-influencers help us convert customers.”

Jen Cohen Bogan

On the benefits of electric bikes...

“There’s something super magical about a bike that can ride up a hill and go anywhere.”

On self-funding your vision...

“When it’s your money—every little decision—you feel it.”

“I feel that it’s a blessing because it forces me to be very focused. I have limited resources, I have to stay very focused to create what we need to have for this next generation.” 

Aleksandra Zee

On making art that stands the test of time...

“I don’t want to make art that’s not mine forever.”

On starting a new venture...

“It was definitely learn as you go—‘fake it til you make it.’”

“I am self-funded as well, so every dollar does count.”

On making your side hustle your main hustle...

“I remember that feeling of being able to pay my rent with my artwork, which really blew my mind and still blows my mind today.”

“Do a day job that doesn’t take away from your creative space. Leave that creative space intacct.” 

On sustainable purchasing...

“I want to encourage being intentional with your purchases.”

Colleen Stauffer

On finding inspiration on Pinterest... 

“It’s a good place to do a gut check.”

Rachel Dealto

On the ways of dating in the modern world...

“We’re calling bullshit on dating today. Match is trying to fix part of the problem, trying to shift the way we think about dating.”

“Only 10% of Gen Z and Millennials are heavily dating. That means 90% are looking.”

On the multifaceted aspects of dating...

“The principles you apply to dating, you can apply to every other aspect of your life.”

“If you're in charge of your dating life, then you can be in charge of your professional life as well.” 

Barb Paldus

On bringing her spin on clean products into the marketplace...

“If I don’t try, the world will not be a better place.”

On the importance of raising money...

“The moment you take venture capital money, it means massive growth and profitability.” 

On taking time to make the right products...

“We really wanted to take the time to do the science right.” 

Brand Equity: How to create a brand that lives beyond the social bubble

Panelists:

Angela Tafoya | Editorial Director, Lonny

Tanesha Awasthi | Influencer and Designer, Girl with Curves

Julie Solomon | Founder, The Influencer Podcast, Pitch It Perfect and The Influencer Academy

Katie D'Amato | Director of Brand and Social Activation, Alaska Airlines

Rachel Curry | Director, Marketing, Owned Channels at Volvo Car USA

Moderator: 

Maxie McCoy | Author of You’re Not Lost and Founder, MaxieMcCoy.com 

Angela Tafoya

On connecting with audience...

“We’re writing about a feeling. We never losing sight of what that feeling is and apply that to how we want to connect with our audience.”

“Consider mindful interaction and purpose.”

On vulnerability…

“Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. Doing so opened up a lot of areas for me.”

Tanesha Awasthi

On going into fashion...

“Really early on I wanted to be a fashion designer. I made the connection that what I was wearing really boosted my confidence.”

On her most important lesson...

“Be yourself. All you can ever be is yourself.”

“I valued my connection with my audience so much and what I realized through fully opening up and being real, is that we’re all going through so many of the same things.” 

On a multi-dimensional brand...

“Your online business is going to spearhead the success of your offline business.”

On connecting with her audience...

“Real, authentic, and open communication with your audience. Not only are we trying to tap into a market that is underserved, I want to get my curvy girls exactly what they want.”

Julie Solomon

On brand growth...

“When you are creating and growing a brand, it’s a reflection of your own purpose and your own ‘why’ to the audience you're serving. First, you have to be able to answer for yourself, ‘why do you want to pick up your phone and post every day?’ The second is who are you talking to? If you’re talking to everybody, you’re essentially talking to nobody. You have to be very clear on who you’re talking to.” 

On what she’s gotten wrong…

“I spent so many years in that affiliate rat race. If you’re not trying to build your own brand and your own activations, you’re missing out. Now I’m able to show up and really be a solution provider to my audience.” 

On mentors...

“Align with the people you aspire to be or aspire to work with. Make sure that you’re following the people that inspire you, educate yourself and it will take you to the next step.” 

On being unique…

“It’s not about what makes you different, it’s about what makes you unique. You have to get yourself out of that special snowflake syndrome. What is your unique spin on something. People don’t buy information they buy results. What unique angle do you have to get them to the results they need?” 

On having clear goals…

“Clearly define your goals so you can eliminate your excuses. Break it down into really tangible goals. Really get clear on those steps.”

Katie D'Amato

On brand definition…

“The relationship a product or company has with the consumer.” 

On human connection at Alaska Air...

“People are coming on board with a hundred different situations and our people are really important in developing that relationship.”

On brand mission and success...

“Know who you are. We pay attention to what we do really great at and stay in that lane.” 

“What do you want to be known for and then go do that. Build a reputation out of that thing.”

Rachel Curry 

On asking for help...

“It’s okay to find somebody who is really good at it and ask them for help.”

“Some of it will be self preservation some of it will make you fitter, better, faster.” 

On growing as a brand…

“We stay pure to what we were founded on—safety and scandanvian design. But, we find ways for people to experience the brand in a new way and that’s why social is so important.”


On Volvo and storytelling…

“Buying a car is not always that exciting, so you have to wrap some storytelling around it—storytelling to help communicate why these features are important.”

Priceless Conversations: Meet the women making an impact

Panelists:

Deepica Mutyala | Founder and CEO, Live Tinted...

Taylor Jay | CEO and Founder, Taylor Jay Collection (Small Biz Mktplce)...

Payal Kadakia | Founder and Executive Chairman, ClassPass...

Victoria Pettibone | Managing Director, Astia...

Jennifer Marcou | General Manager, Relationship Marketing and Privacy, Microsoft...

Moderator: 

Ginger Siegel, North America Small Business Lead, Mastercard

Deepica Mutyala

On starting your brand..

“Going down makeup isles and never seeing myself represented. Ever since then, I wanted to create an inclusivity brand.”

“Waiting for someone to do it so you can do it, but then you think, ‘why not me?’”

On being an entrepreneur...

“One day you have the highest high and the next, the lowest low.”

“It was important to me to start as a community-first brand.”

On flipping the script on investors... 

“You realize you don't want investors who don’t understand what you’re building. When I heard a ‘yes’, I realized that was truly the right partner for me.” 

Taylor Jay

On how her brand stands out in the marketplace...

“We stand out by being loyal to the woman that wears it.”

“We’re definitely slow fashion, we’re consistent, and we push comfort and style.”

“It was an organic twist, I had a product that people responded to in a positive way. I pretty much built on that. Community was important. Having a community of women you impact in a positive way, that pushes you to do things you had no clue you could do.”

On starting a new venture...

“I didn’t allow the insecurity of me not being a trained designer to hold me back.”

“I watched people that I was inspired by myself and watched what they did.”

“I believed in what I had and what my ideas were.” 

“It was the hard hustle that pushed me through and still pushes me through, and faith.”

“You have to practice what you preach. If you operate that way, operate that way. If you don't, you don't.”

On tailoring her brand to the modern woman...

“As women, our lives change from day to day. My life is different every day, and I wear my brand literally every day.”

“It doesn't matter how you wake up feeling that week, the clothing is there for you.”

Payal Kadakia

On the power behind women starting businesses...

“I know other women out there are going to raise more money than I have.”

“We want women to build companies that are timeless. I want this to last hundreds of years, and that’s what gets me up in the morning.” 

On what her secret sauce is...

“What I realized was that people didn’t have a way to stay active in an easy functional flexible way. We’ve been able to tap into people’s time. It’s about changing behavior.”

“It’s a behavioral change that we’ve created, it’s hours of people’s lives that are now spent getting off the couch and doing something they love.”

“It’s a mission I feel grateful to work on everyday. I never feel done.”

On wise words...

“Most things that we are passionate about take time.”

“It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

“We started out to change the world. Sign up for something that’s big. You’re going to take it to the grave. I hope I never feel like I’m done.” 

“You have to realize that starting a company takes time. The important thing I learned is to stay the course, keep the mission and vision always in mind—that’s what helps me in those moments. Surround yourself with a great team that you can go to in those moments when you have to make those hard decisions.”

On eliminating competition with copycats...

“I had to get out there and become a leader.”

Victoria Pettibone

On inclusifying funding...

“When we focused on women, we were missing women of color. We’ve become much more intentional about it ourselves.

“That’s what we’re doing and what I’d like to see more of in other organizations.”

“.0006% of funding is going to black female founders.”

“There's a lot about venture that’s broken and we are trying not to replicate it.”

On fighting for investments...

“Don’t take no for an answer. There will be a lot of no’s but don’t take no for an answer.”

“We have a process that takes away a lot of subjectivity where we screen the deals and look beyond the geography of Silicon Valley. We put the entrepreneur first, and often were the first call the entrepreneur will make when they’re having trouble navigating a situation.”

Jennifer Marcou

On how Microsoft is continuing to meet needs in the ever-changing tech landscape…

“The customer is the number one priority.”

“Being close to the customer and staying close to the customer is number one.”  

“To me, it’s the most customer-focused thing you can do. Be transparent with customers on how you’re using their data, giving them choice.”

On creating a sustainable team as an individual… 

“First is creating a group of comradery. Second is building a skillset. And I think the most important thing is allyship. ”

On the top down mentality...

“We cannot make the changes we need to as women to change the percentage of investment in women’s groups unless we change things from the top down.”

The Industry of Influence: Meet the Women Building Businesses and Brands Through the Power of Personality

Panelists:

Megan Roup | Creator, The Sculpt Society (Diageo / Ketel One)...

Lauryn Evarts-Bosstick | CEO and Founder, The Skinny Confidential...

Arielle Vandenberg | Comedian, Actress, TV Host, and Influencer...

Jessica Ricks | Founder and Creative Director, Hapa Time ...

Ashlee Margolis | Founder and CEO, The A List...

Moderator: 

Jaclyn Johnson | Founder and CEO, Create & Cultivate 

Megan Roup

On her journey for building a brand...

“It was my personal journey before it was my personal brand. Once I found a new sense of confidence and strength within myself, my why became really clear, really fast for me. I wanted to create a space for women to feel empowered. I attended a create & cultivate conference, and 2.5 years later I'm on the stage.”

On confidence…

“Practice, practice, practice.”

On business advice…

“Work smarter, not harder”

“Everything doesn’t happen in one day” 

Lauryn Evarts-Bosstick

On making blogging a business…

“I came into it with the intention not to immediately make money. Bloggers have to go into it and provide value and I went into it knowing it wouldn’t make money for three years. Refine your intention for why you’re doing it.” 

On thinking strategically about partnerships and content...

“You have to be really strategic with who you’re working with. I like to use it for a month at least. I like to find what’s unique about it. I think of my audience as influencers, I think A to Z. Are they going to go to happy hour and tell five of their friends? Is this something they’re going to keep going back to? Think five steps down the line. It’s a full 360 approach. It has to be a win, win, win—in for the brand, win for me, and win for the audience.” 

On entrepreneurship...

“With an entrepreneur you have to learn to embrace the chaos. You have to wear 100 hats and be fine with it. Hire smart. You have to be your own crusader.” 

On confidence…

“If you’re not keeping promises to yourself it reflects outward.” 

Arielle Vandenberg 

On being yourself and the rest will follow…

“I have never been one to be embarrassed or worry about what people think about me. Being on social media, there is a lot of haters and haters gonna hate but if you’re truly yourself you don’t need to think about that. You’re you and you’re perfectly you and no one can change that. I’m into anything that brings me joy, but I still try to keep it real. I just want to be myself even if I look crazy. I taught myself how to use premiere pro and direct and edit and light my own shit, I taught myself everything I needed to know.” 

“If you’re truly yourself you don’t need to care about what anyone thinks about you.” 

“I’m into anything that brings me joy but I still try to be real.” 

On doing being successful on her own terms...

“My confidence was shot until I started doing it my way.” 

Jessica Ricks

On the unknown territory of blogging…

“I had no idea, blogging has changed so much and it’s been a crazy journey figuring it out as we go.” 

“No one knew what blogging could become.”

“It ebbs and flows… you really never know what can happen if you follow your dreams.”

Ashlee Margolis 

On refining your focus and looking ahead...

“Don’t look at your competitors and don’t let that bring you down. Everyone is hustling, everyone is doing things differently. Keep your eyes on the prize. Stay focused on what you’ve got going on.” 

On standing up for yourself and knowing your worth in business...

“Know your worth and stand for it. Walk them through why you’re commanding more money, be honest with your clients. Explain where your value is.”

Come Backstage to DSW’s First-Ever Runway Redone Event in NYC

This post is in paid partnership with DSW.

In life, there are some rules you’re meant to follow, and others that are meant to be broken. Say what? Yup, you read that correctly.  We believe that in order to live a fulfilled life, you might need to bend the guidelines every once in a while—and some just really never made sense, to begin with. 

Let’s take the rules of the runway for example. For as long as we can remember, there has been a standard size, weight, and height that qualifies you to walk. Create & Cultivate and DSW recognize these outdated criteria and decided it was high time we throw out the rule book. So, in honor of fashion season, we joined forces with DSW to host an inclusive runway show called Runway Redone that was all about breaking down cultural barriers and celebrating inclusivity, individuality, and self-expression. 

This was no ordinary fashion show. For the casting-call, DSW opened it’s entries to everyone across America. Instead of choosing people based on their appearances, we looked for those who have big personalities, charisma, and a unique story to tell—because that’s what really translates to beauty on the runway. The response was monumental with over 4,500 heartfelt entries and we read every single one. 

After choosing the final 10 winners—which took an entire week—we flew them to New York City for a full day of beauty and confidence workshops hosted by Be Strong Representative, Shira Blumenthal, in conversation with model, activist & runway host, Hunter McGrady and Be Strong Speaker, Kechi Okwuchi. Be Strong is DSW Gives’ philanthropic partner and were founded as a national non-profit organization focused on preventing bullying and inspiring positivity and confidence. The Runway Redone models took part in one-on-one styling sessions with celebrity stylist Samantha Brown and glam sessions to perfect their looks for the fashion show. The following day, Hunter McGrady introduced our incredible winners who walked the runway alongside five DSW-selected stylish influencers and five DSW store associates to showcase the brand’s stunning new Fall ‘19 campaign. It was truly a moving experience to witness what a runway show should really look like—inclusive and vibrant. 

The message was clear—we want representation, we want to see ourselves reflected on the runway, and in the clothing and footwear we want to wear. Our hope is that the momentum from this show lives on and becomes the norm for every fashion week. Follow along for some incredible behind-the-scenes moments caught on camera at the show—we hope you enjoy them as much as we do. 

Watch the full fashion show here! #DSWRunwayRedone

Click to view the event slideshow!

Hey Bay! Here's What to Expect at Our San Francisco Conference

Has anyone told you that San Francisco is boomin’? Maybe you already knew that but we wanted to remind you that the golden city is a cultural hub, technology epicenter, and foodie paradise—Oh, and it also happens to be the lucky location for our final conference to close out the 2019 calendar year! With all the excitement that San Francisco has to offer, it only made sense that we would make the trek up north to host our next event. 

For those of you who aren’t familiar with our conferences, they are the biggest and best events C&C has to offer. But this time around, San Francisco promises to be even bigger and better than any other conference we’ve held before. We always bring our A-game but this time we’re putting some serious A-list talent on the stage, the pop-ups are poppin’ and the on-site experiences are major—and we even teamed up with PLANOLY to create a limited-edition Instagram stories template collection. 

Before we give away too much, follow along to see what the day has in store.

THE NITTY GRITTY 

Parking
Our SF event location doesn’t include on-site parking, however, there are paid lots nearby. We encourage you to take advantage of the city’s incredible public transport or ride sharing to set yourself up for a day of success. 

Registration
When checking-in on the day of the event, you will receive your access badge, super cute At-A-Glance notebook, and track 1 or 2 schedule card outlining the day ahead. Depending on your lanyard you will be setup for track 1 or track 2—but we have that all mapped out for you so don’t stress. If you’re a VIP, you’ll get some additional swag and opportunities as well, including Alaska Airlines VIP lounge access and your own beauty bar (see below for more perks)! 

Help? 
If you need assistance throughout the day or have accessibility needs, then we’re only too happy to accomodate. Just look out for the friendly faces wearing blue tees with our San Francisco logo on them around the event—shoutout to Dazey LA for making these custom tees for our team. 

Attire
Heads up, the event venue is massive with so much to see and do but this also means a lot of footwork. So, we suggest wearing your favorite pair of sneakers or comfortable shoes to make sure you’re using the ramps and stairs with ease—it’s a long day!

Bathrooms & Pump Room 
We have two bathrooms at the venue but the biggest one (and chicest thanks Rael) is located on the 2nd floor. Pump rooms will be located on that level as well. 

Our events fly by, so we suggest planning ahead see below for all the amazing activities! 

 LOCATION

SVN WEST

10 S Van Ness Ave,

San Francisco, CA 94103

Enter on 12th street

VIP

We love our VIPs and this time the perks are jam-packed! Take a look below to see what is in store for you: 

• A copy of WorkParty in your gift bag 

• Private Beauty Bar for VIP guests only! Get glammed up by Glam Squad revive your skin with a NuFACE facial, and freshen up your hair with Living Proof.

• Gift bag with goodies from our partners and friends worth more than $350 dollars

• Open bar all-day including Chandon and Ketel One Botanical

• Perks from our brand partners (early access RSVP & more!)

• Access to the Alaska Airlines VIP Lounge on level 3 to mix and mingle with your fellow VIPS, re-charge for the day at our charging station, and enjoy your own bar! 

• Yummy chocolates will be served in the VIP lounge by Maggie Louise Confections 

• Meet and greets with Ali Fedotowsky, Giuliana Rancic, LittleBlackBoots, and Hapatime

C&C INSIDERS’ PERKS

Our Insiders’ members get a ton of on-site perks and San Francisco is no exception. Not an insider yet? Well, don’t miss out—you can sign up here and pick up your membership kit at the Insiders pop-up on level 2 by the food hall in San Francisco. 

If you are a member, here is a rundown of what you can expect as a C&C insider in San Francisco and beyond:

• Hate waiting in line? Receive expedited check-in, and front of the line access for meet and greets 

• You’ll have priority seating at the main stage and second stage (yup, that means front row).

• We have some swag for you at the C&C Insiders booth to pick up on-site

• Skipped a panel to explore the pop-ups and activations? Insiders get access to all the panel footage after the event on your C&C Insiders dashboard.

• Tarot card reading at the OLLY pop-up between the times of:

  • 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm

  • 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

  • 8:00 pm - 8:30 pm

• Insider Meet & Greet at second stage between 6:35 pm - 7 pm with the below talent: 

  • Jaclyn Johnson

  • Girl & The Bay  

  • Julie Solomon

  • Maxie McCoy

• And last but not least, four lucky Create & Cultivate Insiders will each receive two round-trip tickets from Alaska Airlines. We’ll be announcing the winners on stage before the keynote speaker at 7 pm. 

SPECIAL ACTIVATION RSVP

NuFACE is coming in hot with their retro airstream for special Microcurrent facials done by appointment. Not familiar with NuFACE or Microcurrent technology? Read up on what they’re all about here and see what they’ll be doing at their pop-up in the floor-by-floor break down below! Trust us—you’ll want to RSVP to this exclusive and lavish skincare activation. If you don’t sign up now, there’s a chance you might not get a spot once we’re on-site since it will be first come, first serve to those who didn’t fill out this form. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.

Select one of the time slots below that you’d like to show up for (reference your track card for the specific times that align with your schedule). Note that the order will be dependent on who arrives to the airstream first and will go in order accordingly!

SCHEDULE

Want the full lineup? Check out the play-by-play schedule to map out your big day. It’s going to be huge so we recommend getting a head start on planning out your day now. 

LEVEL 1 

Key points for level 1: This is where you will find registration, beauty lounge, second stage, mentor power hour, and much more. 

Batiste 
Come and see for yourself why Batiste’s dry shampoo is a cult-favorite with celebrities and beauty editors. Have your hair styled and get the full model experience with their fun wind-blown photo moment. 

Beauty Lounge
Want to have a major beauty moment? Come to the Beauty Lounge to have your hair styled by Olivia Garden with makeup touch-ups by Glamsquad. 

Birdies
We all know Birdies after seeing Meghan Markle wear them but now you can experience the range first-hand and see their new design before anyone else at their pop-up. Be the first to try and buy on-site! And bonus—anyone who shares a photo of themselves wearing the shoes in front of the Birdies’ Instagrammable moment will go in the running to win free Birdies shoes every month for an entire year! For C&C attendees, you get this one time offer to receive 20% off Birdies shoes when you use: C&C20.

Bluejay Bikes 
E-bikes are the next frontier in commuter travel and Bluejay bikes are leading the charge. Come and test ride their new power assist bikes on Level 1 right by registration. This company is very cool so don’t miss out on chatting to their team and trying this new bike out—they’re open from 10 am to 6 pm—PLUS, they’re giving away a bike (worth $2995) to one lucky C&C’er who test rides that day! 

Chandon Bar 
Our conferences are jam-packed with exciting things to see and do, but it’s also a place to celebrate and have fun. So make sure you stop by for a glass of Chandon’s delicious sparkling rosé or pick up a cute Sweet Star AluMini with a new (or an old) friend.

Codex Beauty
The clean beauty movement isn’t going anywhere and we’re excited to have one of our favorites, Codex Beauty in San Francisco. Take advantage of their exclusive 20% off deal only for those purchasing from the pop-up on site. Not sure which product to buy? No worries, they’ll have samples for you to try and a team of experts to answer all of your questions, along with some fun giveaways!

NuFACE
If you haven’t heard of NuFACE then we highly recommend you checkout their game-changing line of beauty tools in their retro airstream by registration. You can RSVP above for timed appointments during the breaks throughout the day for a microcurrent facial with their on-site team and test out their incredible skincare products—plus they’ll be doing plenty of product giveaways! This will be a pop-up you won’t want to miss. 

POOSH 
We’re beyond excited to have Kourtney Kardashian as a keynote speaker in San Francisco. She has been super busy with her new project, POOSH which has launched a ton of exciting collaborations this year with major brands such as Swell, Aquis, Vital Proteins, Saje, and Hora. And you’ll be able to check out (and purchase) all of them in person at their exclusive pop-up. 

Pottery Barn
With all the things to do, see, and learn, you’ll want to take a break here and there to reset and recharge. When that happens, we highly recommend heading to the Pottery Barn Lounge near the second stage to kick your feet up and take a chic pic at their stylish set up. And when you share your experience on social using the hashtag #PotteryBarn they will make a donation to Girls inc.—so get sharing!

Vital Proteins 
By now, you all know how much we love our Vital Proteins so don’t miss out on trying their delicious collagen water in a variety of flavors at their pop-up. Who wouldn’t want some yummy water that doubles as a glowy skin boost? Sign us up.

LEVEL 2

Key points for level 2: This is where you will find the food hall, C&C Insiders pop-up, and Instagrammable moments created by Corrie in Color and Shift Creative.

At-A-Glance
We all know the importance of a killer to-do list, and your notebook is a major player in your productivity. That’s exactly why we’re bringing our team’s favorite notebook brand, At-A-Glance, to the conference for all of our attendees. At their booth, you’ll be able to customize their notebooks thanks to an onsite calligrapher—love a monogram moment!

Chameleon Cold-Brew 
Sip on some cold brew while you become an Instagram Storytelling guru at the PLANOLY pop-up workshop.

Insiders Pop-Up
Grab your C&C swag at the Insiders booth. It’s not too late! You can also sign up here if you aren’t a member yet.  

Jade Leaf Matcha
Love your matcha as much as we do? Head over to the Jade Leaf Matcha pop-up cafe where their team will be whisking up complimentary Iced Matcha Lattes. Attendees will receive free samples of their new products that include their Matcha Latte Infusions and Matcha Fruit Bites. Bonus: Get your camera ready because their matcha latte art designs are so pretty, you’ll want to gram them.

Olipop
The entire C&C team is obsessed with Olipop. Why? Aside from the fact that it tastes delicious, this healthy alternative to soda only has three grams of sugar and not to mention prebiotic properties. Grab a can from their retro drink cart and decide which flavor is your favorite. (We love the Cinnamon Cola!).

PLANOLY

Instagram Stories is where it’s at in terms of content creation right now and PLANOLY is leading the pack with their IGS template app, StoriesEdit—be sure to download our exclusive San Francisco templates. If you want to up your Instagram game, then don’t miss their Storytelling with PLANOLY workshop that will teach you about the importance of brand storytelling and so much more!

Purely Elizabeth 
You’ll need some serious fuel to get you through all the walking, talking, and learning you’re about to do, so don’t miss out on breakfast at the Purely Elizabeth booth. They’re also serving up a seriously cool Instagram moment so don’t forget to take a picture with your breakfast.

FOOD & BEVERAGE:

BREAKFAST powered by OLLY 
This is your time to supercharge before the big day ahead with smoothies, yogurt parfaits, grab-and-go breakfast bars, and vitamin samples provided by OLLY. 

LUNCH

Urban Remedy 
We’re obsessed with the healthy (and delicious) meals from Urban Remedy so we’ve partnered up with them for lunch. Select from two different kinds of salad bowls that will keep your energy levels up to power through the rest of the day. 

BREAK

Beyond Meat 
There’s a reason for the buzz around Beyond Meat. Pick up one of their burgers and discover this delicious meat alternative that will fill you up without compromising on flavor. You won’t believe it’s not real meat!

WATER

Core Water 
It’s a long day so we want to make sure you’re staying hydrated thanks to our favorites at Core Water. Pick up a bottle at any of the bars on-site. 

HAPPY HOUR 

Batter Bakery 
When you need a quick energy hit, pick up the delicious caramel nib brownies and shortbread cookies from Batter Bakery. They’re sure to cure your sweet tooth cravings!

Lush Yummy Pies 
Close out your busy day of panels, new learnings, and new friends with the yummy “Butta Cookies” from Lush Yummy Pies.

Made by Melissa 
It wouldn’t be a true happy hour without cupcakes! Try Made by Melissa’s—you’ll crave them forever even after one bite. 

Sparkling wine and low-cal cocktails will be flowing at happy hour, provided by our friends at Ketel One Botanical and Chandon. 

The Pop-Up Market: LEVEL 3

Key points for level 3: This is where you will find restrooms, the pop-up market, charging stations, and Instagrammable moments created by Tiffany Lusteg and Dazey LA. 

Alaska Airlines VIP Lounge
Calling all VIPs. The Alaska Airlines VIP Lounge is where it’s at. Drinks will be flowing all day, you can get glammed up by Glamsquad, revive your skin with NuFACE facials, and freshen up your hair with Living Proof. Call it your one-stop-shop for all things rejuvenation and relaxation provided by our friends at Alaska Airlines. Those who come hang will also get the chance to win a roundtrip ticket to anywhere, so make sure you stop by.

Alaska Airlines Confetti Corner
Not a VIP? Don’t sweat it—Alaska Airlines also has a fun Confetti Corner in the pop-up market you won’t want to miss. Snap a photo at this awesome Instagrammable moment—your friends will definitely be feeling the fomo with this one. 

Biossance
If there’s one brand that’s completely reimagining clean beauty it’s Biossance skincare. At their pop-up, you’ll learn all about what makes their products “clean” with testing and samplings of their best sellers. Snap a pic in front of their “raise your standards” art piece. They’ll have sales happening on-site along with samples to test out the products before you buy.

Bluejay Bikes 
If you could ride a bike anywhere, where would it be? Stop by the Bluejay Bikes pop-up to write on their chalkboard to write where you’d go. We’re excited to share that you can test ride their bikes on Level 1 by registration and one lucky rider will win a Bluejay bike worth $2995! 

Bumble Bizz
Bumble Bizz puts the fun in networking and business building. Make sure you set up your profile before arriving at our SF conference because Bumble Bizz are offering free professional headshots at their pop-up to all users. Bumble Pro Tip: Change your radius on Bumble Bizz to one mile to match with other attendees on-site for the ultimate networking experience. 

CB2 
No-one does cooler office décor than our friends at CB2—just take a peek inside our CEO, Jaclyn Johnson’s badass boss office to see what we mean. If you’ve always wanted to experience it in person, then don’t miss the CB2 photo moment at their pop-up. Snap your next profile picture here and get inspiration for you home office design. 

Chandon 
Sip on delicious sparkling wine from their adorable Sweet Star AluMini’s while you snap a picnic flat lay selfie for the gram. Share this pic for a chance to win a trip to Domaine Chandon in Napa. Yes, you heard right, a trip to the Chandon HQ in Napa! So, get snapping.

Dyson
We all know Dyson has some of the best cutting-edge vacuum technology on the market but have you tried their blow dryers? Test out their hair tools for yourself at the Dyson Lab pop-up for complimentary styling with their latest hair-care technology. During your appointment, your hair will be analyzed by a Dyson stylist to pick the best techniques for you and show you how to do it yourself, as well. They’ll also have a super fun social-worthy photo moment for your post-blow out ‘do. 

ELOMI 
We all know how frustrating it can be to buy the right bra. And with so many options now, sometimes we all need someone to help us cut through the noise. Well, now you can thanks to our friends at ELOMI. There will be a team of on-site experts to help guide you through the process and find a supportive, comfortable bra that works for you. So make sure you stop by their pop-up for bra fittings and walk away with a free bra that’s made to fit your body.  

Fair 
The future of car ownership is here, and it’s called Fair. The car-buying app makes the big decision much less daunting and far more fun. At the Fair pop-up, there will be swag giveaways along with a fun photo moment. Not sure how the app works? No problem. There will be an app how-to video so you can understand how easy it is to avoid the dealership. 

Fountain of Truth 
We’re obsessed with Giuliana Rancic’s clean, high-performance beauty line, Fountain of Truth. Swing by to test all their products including fan fave Truth Insta-Face Elixir. All of the products are available for purchase. Create & Cultivator’s receive an exclusive 30% discount with every purchase on-site using the code 30CCSF at checkout.

GHD 
You won’t need to fret about doing your hair before our event day because GHD is here to save the day. Head to their pop-up to have your hair styled by one of their experts then watch their celebrity hairstylist lead a master class on how to create the perfect waves with your flatiron. Fill out an inspirational post-it note while you’re there and put it on the wall for everyone to see. 

Grove 
Grove is the first online retailer to deliver natural home and personal care products right to your door. Come visit their pop-up and be the first to experience their new Clean Beauty experience "Roven" before it goes live. Roven is there to help you find clean products that work without the guilt, fear, or jargon—so come test, play and explore! Plus, share and tag them on social by using @heyroven and get a free full size clean beauty surprise and an exclusive make up bag!

Intel 
If there is one leader in the technology space who continues to innovate, it’s Intel. Now they’ve done it again by making technology portable and easy with their latest Nuc tablet. This mini PC fits is packed with all your entertainment, gaming, and productivity needs. Visit their pop-up and see for yourself why Nuc is at the top of everyone’s conversations. They’ll be playing exclusive videos from your favorite creators including Jess Franklin and Deepica Mutyala, discussing how technology plays a big role in their lives and careers.

Kamik
Love the outdoors? This pop-up will take you there. Come visit the Kamik Lodge to step inside a cozy fall escape and preview their latest Fall/Winter footwear collection—and leave with a tasty Canadian treat.

Ketel One Botanical Bar 
When it’s time to unwind, hit up the chic Ketel One Botanicals bar. Their bartenders will be serving three of our favorite delicious, low-cal cocktails.

LaCroix 
Everyone’s favorite carbonated, sugar-free soda will be passed out at the Lacroix pop-up along with colorful, branded swag. 

Living Proof
Test drive Living Proof’s beauty-editor approved, cult-favorite dry shampoo at their pop-up. While you’re at it, you can get your hair styled so that you look and feel ready for a jam-packed day of panels and activations!

Match 
Drop into the Match pop-up for some cotton candy and one-on-one dating advice with their dating coach. Spoiler alert: if you come by at break time, you’ll have the chance to meet fashion icon and content creator, Little Black Boots! 

Microsoft Teams 
Check out our mini-documentary to see how the C&C team brings events to life with the Microsoft Teams feature. Plus, snap and share your “Team Goals” photo in the Microsoft Teams pop-up for the chance to win a free pair of Surface Headphones!

OLLY  
Sample the best-selling gummy vitamins and learn more about their benefits from a deeper sleep to vibrant skin. Be sure to snap a pic in their cool “California Dreaming” photo moment. Are you an Insider? Swing by to sign up for exclusive tarot card readings at their pop-up.

Olivia Garden  
If you’re looking to invest in professional grade hair styling tools then Olivia Garden is your destination. Pop by their pop-up for complimentary hair styling and a special Instagrammable photo moment inspired by Game of Thrones—yes, that throne is involved. This is a can’t miss opportunity you won’t find anywhere else!

PicMonkey
Get a professional IG moment at the PicMonkey pop-up and receive the edits in real-time along with a cute PicMonkey template. You won’t be leaving empty handed either—grab some PicMonkey swag before your next panel! 

RAEL Bathrooms 
Who wouldn’t want female founded, natural feminine care products at a fair price (and globally)? RAEL is making bathroom breaks at our SF conference easy, enjoyable, and seriously chic. They’ll also be providing some sweet goodies and tote bags in the lounge area. 

RoC 
See why one of our favorite drugstore brands, RoC is renowned for their game-changing retinol line. The team will be showcasing their product range for you to test and try while providing cute and tasty macaroons too.

Rodan + Fields
Visit San Francisco-based, prestige skincare brand, Rodan + Fields at their #RFxCC booth to get an exclusive sneak peek and hands-on experience of their newest innovation! Learn first-hand why this brand is a go-to for skincare experts about their groundbreaking proprietary technology and how it delivers visible results. You’ll leave with an instant, glittering, holographic glow and have a chance to win the new launch!

Supergoop! 
Sun protection, but make it fun (and cute!). Come sample and purchase the extensive suncare line at Supergoop! Their retro pop-up is totally grammable so snap a photo in front of their fun photo op!

Tamara Mellon 
Shoes for women, designed by women that break the rules—now that’s a mantra we can all get behind. Come see what Tamara Mellon is all about and try (then buy) your favorite pair (or two) on-site at their pop-up. You’ll also receive an exclusive gift card in your gift bag at the end of the day!

Tampax PURE 
Tampax PURE tampons are organic AND give you the trusted protection you expect and deserve—no need to compromise. Visit their pop-up to snap and share a picture of what you are not willing to compromise on this year. For every post shared, Tampax and Always PURE will donate period product*, up to 5,000 pads and tampons, to people in need through their partnership with Feeding America®.

 *Tampax and Always will donate one pad or one tampon for every Instagram post made before Sunday, (9/22), 11:59 pm ET. Instagram profile must be public and tagging @Tampax @FeedingAmerica and #PUREandEasy in post.

Vanity Fair® Lingerie
Are your bras lacking in comfort, support, and style? Not sure if you’re wearing the right fitting bra? The team at Vanity Fair® Lingerie can help. Head to their pop-up and be measured to determine your perfect size and receive a free bra. If you come during the break between 1pm-2pm, you’ll be able to meet TV personality and lifestyle blogger, Ali Fedotowsky-Manno!

Vince Camuto
Elevated, stylish and comfortable boots and shoes that are made for walkin’? Vince Camuto has you covered. Be sure to head over to their pop-up for a very special meet-and-greet with chic content creator, Hapatim, during the break between 6:05 pm - 7:00 pm on Level 3. 

Volvo 
Life is stressful, we all wear a lot of hats but Volvo is here to save the day. In celebration of their new luxury SUV plug-in hybrid XC90 vehicle, they’re helping attendees to recharge and reset with a complimentary massage station. Get in early because this one is going to be popular.

LEVEL 3 (ROOFTOP) 

Key points for level 3 (rooftop): This is where you will find the Mastercard Main Stage, Small Business Marketplace, and a priceless Instagrammable moment by Mastercard. 

We’ve partnered with mastercard to select some incredible local small businesses in the San Francisco area. Come support these amazing ventures that will be showcased in the Mastercard Small Business Marketplace on the Level 3 Rooftop. These businesses include Taylor Jay Collection fashion label, Oso and Me children’s apparel and accessories, Kim + Ono kimonos,  Mel Rice Ceramica ceramics (don’t miss out on seeing their live throwing demonstration), East Olivia Creative floral designs, Esselle SF  gifts, goods, and wares,  Michele Holmes Brow Studio (with brow appointments on-site!), and TinyB Chocolate (with samples for everyone!). 

GIFT BAGS

We know you want ‘em! Get your shoulder ready for gift bags filled with goodies from some of your favorite brands like OLLY and Chandon. Please note, gift bags are only available at the end of the night. Pick them up at registration on the first floor (where you checked in at the beginning of the day) in exchange for your badge. So, please keep in mind, if you have to jet off early and want to collect your bag on the way out, you’ll also be forfeiting your right to come back in. 

Can’t make it to our SF conference but still want in on all the gift bag fun? No problem—enter here for a chance to win our gift bag giveaway!

Get prepped ahead of next weekend’s conference and stay tuned for updates by following along on our social at @createcultivate and use the hashtag #createcultivatesf to keep in touch!

WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU IN SF! Who are you most excited to see? Share in the comments below!

Everyone's Got Rhythm: How Music Promotes Happiness and Well-Being

Have you ever taken a moment to consider the power of music? According to research by the National Alliance of Mental Illness music therapy can benefit several mental health conditions including depression, trauma, and schizophrenia (just to name a few). Apparently, music acts as a medium for processing emotions, trauma, and grief but it can also be a calming agent for anxiety. That’s some powerful stuff, right?

Beyond music’s therapeutic abilities, just listening to music and playing instruments raises our overall happiness meter. We’ve all experienced those warm and fuzzy emotions when a nostalgic throwback song comes on the radio and we are instantly transported to another space in time. Music affects our sensory system more than we realize.

What if we told you that you could improve your mental health just by learning how to play a new instrument? You don’t even have to master it. Just learning how to read sheet music or attempting to play the chords can have the same positive impact. Oh, and from the comfort of your own home, or car, or desk—we aren’t joking!

Our friends at Fender have created an app known in the marketplace as Fender Play and we are in awe of its capabilities. This groundbreaking app teaches you how to play guitar, ukulele and bass, anywhere. Attendees at our Self Care Summit this year were some of the first to experience the app during the Fender Play ukulele class. But if you couldn't be there, we interviewed Fender Digital’s Director of Product, Mary Keenan to take a deep-dive on music therapy, how to play an instrument at the tap of an app, and so much more.

Follow along for some hard-hitting facts and deep insight on why music is something we all should embrace—for the betterness of our minds and bodies. 

Create & Cultivate: What does your role entail at Fender? In what ways does your role touch Fender’s app, Fender Play? How long did it take to develop? Tell us everything!

Mary Keenan: “I oversee the curriculum and learning for Fender Play. I work closely with the other members of the product team to define the learning experience in the app. My team designs and writes each of the lessons used on Play and interacts with the production team to get it shot. We publish all of our content and, most importantly, provide support to users who are actively using the program. That helps us to shift our curriculum roadmap as we grow.

“We just celebrated our two-year anniversary. From initial germ of an idea to launch, it didn’t take us long to write and shoot the few hundred lessons we started with. However, we are expanding our content every day and have gone from hundreds to thousands today.”

C&C: Can you provide us with a rundown on the app? Why should people download it?

MK: “Fender Play is an online learning platform specifically for beginners. It’s designed to get you playing in minutes using a guided learning experience showing, step-by-step, how to get there. We bring players from the first step, how to hold the instrument, all the way through playing songs at an intermediate beginning level. 

“Why download it? Because it works. We have over 17 thousand five-star reviews from users telling us this is the first time since trying to learn that they’ve really been able to play. That’s exciting to hear, but not really surprising. It’s because we approach learning a little differently than other programs. 

“Our goal is to cater to busy lifestyles. Not only can you practice anywhere, anytime but Fender Play also helps you learn hundreds of skills with lessons averaging two to six minutes in length. Our videos are shot in very high-quality 4K, with clean and simple concepts presented one at a time. We break down what is a very overwhelming process into bite-sized, achievable steps. Anyone who has a goal of learning to play and gets motivated by quick results is going to love the approach.”

C&C: In your own words, how does music cultivate happiness? 

MK: “When we think and talk about music, we often think about it as a hobby. But music is actually an essential part of our physical, mental and emotional health. There is ample research surfacing about how the brain and body reacts to music, thus uncovering more about the benefits of music than ever before. From my perspective, music cultivates happiness by bridging gaps—creatively, socially, academically and even deep in the recesses of our own brain.”

C&C: How is learning to play an instrument and read music crucial to brain health? 

MK: “The list of physical and emotional advantages of playing an instrument is about a mile long. It helps with speech, literacy, math, dexterity, emotional intelligence, improved memory and overall IQ. It turns out that we use many parts of our brain when we listen to and play music. 

“If we play enough to develop muscle memory, it gets stored for the long term in the cerebellum. Reading music taps into the center of the brain where language is processed. Playing an instrument is a complex psychomotor task, which means that it requires a combination of motor control, auditory and cognitive work to even happen. 

“More recent research shows that everyone benefits from musical instruction, from very young children to seniors. Our brains have neuroplasticity which allows us to actually cause measurable changes by playing music. So cognitive and neural function is improved across the board, regardless of age. Fender Play takes advantage of this finding by applying some key learnings from neuroscience and biomechanics to the instructional approach.”

C&C: Music has the power to impact us on a deep, emotional level. How can music be therapeutic? How can music learning enhance our well-being and mental health?

MK: “Music is very connected to the emotional centers of our brain. When we listen to a song that we like we get a rush of dopamine, which is the hormone that puts us in a good mood, motivates us, and helps us to focus and complete tasks.

“Our approach leans into popular, familiar songs as a way to motivate our users to play. Each time a skill is learned, it’s presented again in the context of learning a new song, to promote learning transfer. Players feel excited about their progress and even more so about their playing when it’s applied to something familiar and fun.

“Research shows that learning music isn’t as effective at making changes to your brain when it’s music that we don’t like. But when we do like a song, that’s when you really start to see the impact on mental and emotional health.” 

C&C: Are you aware of any scientific leads or proven facts surrounding music’s connection to well-being? If so, what might they be? 

MK: “As for recent research, a couple of studies caught my eye this summer, two in particular that came out of the University of British Columbia. Both have different but important implications for learning and what we are trying to accomplish with Play.

“*University of British Columbia published a study in the Journal of Educational Psychology that demonstrated how students who learned to play a musical instrument in elementary school and then continued playing that instrument in high school were approximately one full year ahead of their fellow students in English, math and science. And the academic gains were even more pronounced for the students who played an instrument rather than taking vocal music. 

“**Another really interesting bit of research was also released by the same university’s School of Health and Exercise Sciences. We have a natural tendency to adapt our own biological rhythm to match musical rhythm. Apparently upbeat music can make a hard workout seem less difficult—and not just emotionally. It’s so effective that it actually elevates our heart rate and peak power during exercise. Ultimately it can make challenging things literally feel less difficult to do.

“Taking it further, I recently came across an author and podcaster named Indre Viskontas who is a professor at the University of San Francisco. Her book How Music Can Make You Better is a wonderful read on just this topic. In the book, she talks about Melodic Intonation Therapy which is used in music therapy to help patients recover from traumatic brain injuries and strokes. It’s a fascinating picture of how music not only improves well-being, but is also used to treat conditions like anxiety, depression, autism and dementia. If we can increase academic achievement, make difficult things feel easy, and overcome debilitating mental and physical conditions by simply learning to play an instrument, it may just be worth giving it a try.”

References:

*Martin Guhn, Scott D. Emerson, Peter Gouzouasis. A population-level analysis of associations between school music participation and academic achievement. Journal of Educational Psychology, 2019; DOI: 10.1037/edu0000376

**Matthew J. Stork, Costas I. Karageorghis, Kathleen A. Martin Ginis. Let’s Go: Psychological, psychophysical, and physiological effects of music during sprint interval exercise. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 2019; 45: 101547 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.101547


This post is in partnership with Fender.

Download Alert: This Design App Will Up Your IG Game (and Save You Serious Time and Money)

This post is in partnership with PLANOLY.

Tap, tap, tap​. Skipping mindlessly through your Instagram Stories again but nothing catches your eye or grabs your attention long enough to digest what you’re viewing? We’ve all been there. In this over-saturated, digital world we live in, it requires unique and cutting-edge content in order to be seen and resonate with your audience—and we know the algorithm isn’t on our side, either.

Trying to scale your business or personal brand is tricky. But the best way to kick-start you or your brand’s Instagram presence is with quality, interactive, beautiful, and engaging content. With over​ ​500 million active users​, Instagram Stories is one of the best ways for businesses to connect with new audiences, boost engagement and drive sales. We know that taking a new strategic approach on Instagram Stories can be time-consuming (and costly), but we’re thrilled to let you know that you don’t have to spend your entire budget on graphic designers to create impactful Instagram Story designs that captivate—you can do it yourself for that matter.

Introducing​ ​StoriesEdit ​by PLANOLY who has done all the legwork for you. The C&C team loves (and trusts) the original PLANOLY app to map out the @createcultivate Instagram grid ahead of time. Being the first visual planner on the market for Instagram, it was a no brainer for PLANOLY to drive into the world of beautifying and strategizing Instagram stories. Their beautiful templates turn your lackluster Instagram Stories into a stylish and chic design at the ​tap, tap, tap​ of the app. In fact, the C&C team loves the StoriesEdit so much, we partnered with them to create an exclusive, limited-edition template collection for our San Francisco Conference​ attendees on September 21. (You’ll find them under the “collections” tab in the app or on desktop, but more on that later.) The fun and artistic designs will be available to everyone before, during, and after our event so you can share your experience in style. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #CreateCultivateSF so everyone can see!

If you are one of our lucky San Francisco conference attendees (or need a little nudge to purchase your ticket), we are excited to share that PLANOLY’s Founder, CMO + CCO, Brandy Pham, and Director of Marketing, Priscilla Castro, will be leading a Digital Storytelling on Social workshop for VIPS and C&C Insiders at the event. Be sure to stop by for some social wisdom!

The designer templates are completely customizable and can be edited to your liking, making them your own to fit your own brand guidelines. Simply drop in your image or video clip to the template and play around to see what direction you’ll be taking with your next post. Follow our simple step-by-step guide below and see how easy it is—your friends and followers will definitely be DM’ing you to find out your secret, and not only that, you’ll definitely start seeing your engagement go up with your Stories

We’ll be using these templates at #CreateCultivateSF and we can’t wait to see your customized stories!

Step 1:

Open the app and navigate to the “Create & Cultivate” collection on the featured page or under the “collections” tab.

Step 2:

You’ll be able to preview the 12 available branded templates. Select your favorite and begin your creation by tapping the plus sign in the gray box to add your image.

*Pro-tip:

Anything that has a white background is customizable to your liking. Choose the icon with the three overlapping circles to update the color.

Step 3:

Add any shapes to your template by tapping the Shape tool (the circle and triangle icon) in the center of the navigation bar.

Step 4:

Add text overlay by selecting the letter “T” in the bottom left-hand corner of the navigation bar and shapes by selecting the triangle in the center.

Step 5:

When you are happy with your creation, tap the down arrow in the top right-hand corner to save directly to your phone or upload directly to your socials!

Want the app? Download for web, IOS, or Android.

Crystal Me This: How This Self-Care Tool Will Clear Your Mind (and Your Inbox)

This is in partnership with our friends at Goodful. Get social with Goodful on Instagram and surf their Youtube channel for some amazing content!

Busy? Let’s pause for a second. Take a deep breath. Think about where you are at this exact moment. Have you taken a chance to set your intentions for today? How about tomorrow? What about for the month or even the year? Have you had a second to yourself at all today? Maybe not. We know those emails are stacking up in your inbox, your phone hasn’t stopped ringing since 9 a.m., and you are teetering between the idea of going straight home after work to binge-watch your favorite Netflix show or finally attend that pilates class you’ve been missing since the second week of the new year (resolutions are hard, we get it!). Consider this: maybe now is the time for you to evaluate what self-care means to you and how you can incorporate it into your life as seamlessly as possible. 

What comes to mind when you think of self-care? Supplements? Meditation? A 10-step skincare routine? How about crystals? Yup. We really just said crystals. Crystals are great in many ways—specifically to aid the alignment of one’s inner self and inner peace. They can also be used just about anywhere and everywhere. When you’re stressed at work, we suggest placing a few key crystals on your desk for some assistance. Amongst all the hustle and stress of our professional lives, who wouldn’t want a tangible piece of, well, peace. 

We had the pleasure of meeting crystal guru, author of Crystal RX, and founder of Style Rituals, Colleen McCann, at our Self Care Summit on behalf of our friends at Goodful. You can tap into their wealth of wellness content from videos to guides on their social handles. You can also shop their wellness focused products and gifts at Macy’s!

After the event, we picked Colleen’s brain about how to use crystals for work, how to transcend their positive attributes while at work, and so much more. Follow along for some hardcore crystal knowledge (that you probably had no clue existed). You’re welcome.  

Create & Cultivate: What power do crystals hold in regards to attracting good vibes and positive energy at work? How can we use crystals for protection at work?

Colleen McCann: Every crystal carries its own meaning, message, medicine, and vibration—or as I like to say, an “FYI from the universe”. Depending on which crystal we gravitate towards, it will inform us on what’s happening in our lives and how we can achieve different goals. Below, you will find a list I have made of the top-tier crystals based on my consulting sessions with boss-babe clients.

CITRINE
What it does: Known as the ‘Merchants Stone’ since ye’ olden days. It’s the crystal of business abundance, personal power, and positivity. 

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LAPIS LAZULI
What it does: Stone of communication, wisdom, and truth. Fashion icon and ancient girl-boss, Queen Cleopatra, used crushed Lapis Lazuli in her cosmetics to create her signature eye makeup. 

Woo-woo tip: If you are giving a presentation in front of a client or asking your boss for a raise, then wear a lapis lazuli necklace that way it will be close to your 5th/throat chakra.

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HERKIMER DIAMOND 

What it does: Like #badgirlriri said, “shine bright like a diamond”. As a stone radiance, Herkimer Diamond assists us in being seen and growing our inner-light.

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DUMORTIERITE

What it does: The stone of patience.

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AMETHYST

What it does: A stone that wards off energy vampires. If you work in a stereotypical toxic industry, in close proximity to toxic coworkers, or circulate in large groups in your profession, then this is the stone for you.

Woo-woo tip: When going to the boardroom for a meeting or after-work drinks with colleagues, wear it in your bra.

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SHUNGITE

What it does: This crystal absorbs man-made EMF’s (electromagnetic frequencies) that radiate off of items like smartphones, computers, microwaves, and all other electronics found in the workplace.

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AMAZONITE

What it does: This is the get-your-shit-together stone. Amazonite is a stone of the astrological sign Virgo. We know Virgo’s are neat, grounded, detail-oriented, practical, list-making machines. Embody your inner-Virgo and get organized—whether it’s sorting the files on your desktop or polishing up your signature work-style attire.

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FLUORITE

What it does: This gem helps us with clarity and mental focus.

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BLACK OBSIDIAN

What it does: The stone for grounding. If you also travel for business regularly, this is a great crystal to pack in your carry-on.

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GARNET

What it does: Working overtime? Garnet gives us the life force and vitality to get through a long day at the office.

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A post shared by future_mineral (@future_mineral) on Apr 14, 2019 at 8:16am PDT

CARNELIAN 

What it does: Carnelian works with our sense of community, emotions, willpower, and confidence.

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IRON PYRITE 

What it does: The crystal for manifestation.

Woo-woo tip: The new moon is the best day of the month to call new energy into our lives. On this day, write a list of all the action items you’d like to see realized for yourself in your career and place an Iron Pyrite on top of the list. Make a practice of looking at what’s on the list every day. Simply said: energy goes where we put it.

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SELENITE

What it does: Stay in the flow with the energetic air purifier. Selenite absorbs dense energy that hides in places like storage units, supply closets, under desks, and corners of a conference room.

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C&C: When are crystals most powerful? 

CM: Energy goes where we direct it. Crystals are most powerful when you interact with them on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. It’s just like any other relationship—when you put attention towards something, the outcome flourishes in that arena.

C&C: How many crystals should one person have? 

CM: A person can work with one or many crystals. The amount determined is situational. I decide what crystals my clients should be working on based on their individual needs.

Does the location of the crystals affect their potency? Where are they the strongest in an office or desk space? 

CM: Location, location, location—am I right? If you are interacting with a crystal daily at work, it's best to keep it in close proximity to your personal workspace.

• Place Iron Pyrite (manifestation) on top of your business card, pitch deck, script, brief, trend board, etc.

• Shungite, Black Tourmaline or Smokey Quartz near the computer, smartphone, etc. as all three absorb manmade EMF’s (ElectroMagnetic Frequency).

• Lapis Lazuli (communication) and Carnelian (sense of community) in the conference room.

• Citrine (business abundance) belongs in your purse, on your desk, or near a cash register at a brick and mortar or pop-up shop.

• Bloodstone (physical health, blood flow, energy, good chi) in your pre/post office workout bag.

• Amethyst (protection from energy vampires) on the outer perimeter of your desk or entrance to your building or personal office. 
  

We talked about crystals for in the office but what about when we need to practice self-care and take an OOO! 

LEPIDOLITE
What it does: Crystal ‘xanax’. I like to hold this crystal in my palm.

ROSE QUARTZ 

What it does: When you need to take a spa day, it’s the stone for self-love. I like to wear this around my neck or keep it in my bra so it is close to my heart chakra—the chakra that Rose Quartz resonates with.

DALMATION STONE

What it does: This crystal helps to calm the running thoughts and silence the monkey mind.

TIGERS EYE

What it does: The stone for protection in travel. Keep it in your carry-on.