Create & Cultivate 100 Philanthropy: Nia Batts
REBEL WITH A CAUSE.
REBEL WITH A CAUSE.
She can't blow out her own hair, but Detroit native Nia Batts has one hell of an idea with Detroit Blows.
The idea for Detroit Blows came together around 2010 when two friends, Nia Batts and Katy Cockrel, who have known each other since they were 4 and in the same dance class, were working together on a project in Detroit.
(Shoutout to friends for life #FFL.)
Nearly 7 years later, in October 2017, the #FFL opened Detroit Blows, the city’s first non-toxic blowdry salon, that features blowouts and beauty services like express manicures and pedicures. Talk about new adventures with old friends. They're also taking a new approach to the blow dry model.
The philanthropic arm of the business, Detroit Grows, aims to reinvest in Detroit. The salon donates $1 of every blowout service and a percentage of the retail footprint to support Detroit-based female entrepreneurs through microgrants, and women entering and re-entering the workforce.
Name: Nia Lauryn Batts
Instagram Handle: @nialauryn
Business Instagram Handle: @detroitblows
Can you chat us through the inception of Detroit Blows?
My parter, Katy, and I are childhood friends, native Detroiters, and prior to this venture, frequent business collaborators. I was actually her client when I was living in New York and working for Viacom. And as she tells the story, I would land in yoga pants, juggling two phones, hair in a top knot, looking for the closest place to get a blowout, and she would regrettably inform me that we had to go out to the suburbs. There was an unsettling dichotomy in the conversations we were having with our Detroit-based partners; although young people were moving to the city, and making money in the city, they were still spending a signicant amount of their dollars outside of the community. The concept for Detroit Blows stemmed from a need we experienced first-hand and an exploration into filling that void -- cost-effective, high-quality blow dry services -- led to the development of a model with reinvestment in the city at its core.
And why the give-back model was an important part of the concept?
I think ultimately (like many others) we are guided by the belief that businesses have a responsibility to communities in the way that people do. We knew we wanted to use non-toxic products, retail conscious brands with stories (in partnership with Conscious Commerce), and reinvest a portion of our profits into female entrepreneurs and programs helping women enter or re-enter the workforce. We're unwavering believers in 'the multiplier effect' -- that by investing in women, you are investing in their families, in their communities, in every idea they touch.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
My parents. There are hard days when you're leaning into new chapters of your story. Their belief in me is contagious. And my best-friend/life-wife Sophia, who was one of the earliest champions of this project. She makes it all look so easy, but will be honest with you when it's not. People like her, that show the truth behind their process, make me feel my dreams are attainable
Philanthropy means the "love of humanity." It's so beautiful and simple. What does it mean to you?
In my previous role, we made an effort to reframe and root the concept of Philanthropy in the business strategy of Philanthropic Investment. If Philanthropy is a 'love of humanity' Philanthropic Investment is an informed and strategic effort to ensure the sustainability of it. It's loving humanity in the ways that help it evolve and continue.
If Philanthropy is a 'love of humanity' Philanthropic Investment is an informed and strategic effort to ensure the sustainability of it. It's loving humanity in the ways that help it evolve and continue.
How did you find yourself on this particular career journey?
That's funny, sometimes I do wonder if I've lost the plot, but it helps that it makes sense to me. I went to film school, so I've always been a storyteller at heart, but the way I've done it has often been non-traditional. In different ways I've told the stories of people, of movements, of brands, today I'm grateful to be telling the story of a beautiful and resilient city rebuilding, and the women who are strengthening it every day with their purchasing decisions.
Do you think you've found your true calling?
I don't think any of us have one true calling, but I do think this is one of mine. As I grow and get closer to myself I've fortunately become less afraid of pursuing what stirs me. Birth began to move me, and I felt very called to become a doula, so I had to just write it into my story.
"As I grow I've fortunately become less afraid of pursuing what stirs me."
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Are there any fears associated with your work? If yes, what are they?
The shift from a large corporation to small business comes with a learning curve for me as a CEO and I've definitely spent some time in moments of fear. But too much fear can be dangerous, so I try and catalyze it into something small I can do that day, that helps lessen the outcome I'm afraid of; almost like an offering an invitation to the universe to help a girl out a little bit.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
I can't blowout my own hair, or anyone else's for that matter. But being a longtime consumer of the service allows me to approach our business in a different way and really focus on the client experience. You often have to lead from where you are, and hire other great people to do the same.
"You often have to lead from where you are, and hire other great people to do the same."
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What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
That I've been able to dene it on my own terms.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
Shonda Rhimes, Ava Duvernay, Issa Rae -- any of these badass women who are writing, directing, producing, hiring and leading the teams that are centering women of color in their stories and have found ways to make them both colorful and colorless. Representation is important in the stories we tell. I think we're all enjoying the fruits of their labor.
At what point in your life did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
After a heartbreak.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Always believe that something magical is about to happen.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road?
I take a long hot shower and I think to myself, this is going to get much worse if you don't pull it together before the water gets cold.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
Beyoncé + Frank Ocean - "Superpower" -- The way it describes the inevitability of a love that has to exist so the world keeps revolving makes me really grateful to be alive again.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE PHILANTHROPY LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Philanthropy: Grace Mahary
LIGHTING THE WAY.
LIGHTING THE WAY.
Grace Mahary, model and philanthropist, is all about bringing love and light to the world.
A first generation Canadian of Eritrean descent, Grace has walked in Victoria Secret shows and graced the pages of Vogue, but over the last four years, she has been researching renewable energy solutions, especially for countries lacking electrical and mechanical infrastructure
Drawing from her global network, Grace compiled a team to create tangible clean energy solutions for communities around the world, turning her sights to something near and dear to her heart: Project Tsheigh.
Project Tsehigh ( (pronounced se-hai, PjT for short) was established in New York City in 2015. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing uninterrupted energy to impoverished communities around the world via renewable energy sources. Tsehigh, translated as “sun” in English, is determined to bring uninterrupted clean energy to impoverished communities around the world, Grace launched the non-profit in Eritrea, home to her family and a place in desperate need of sustainable clean energy.
That’s what we call beauty on the inside. Keep shining Grace.
More below.
Name: Grace Mahary
Instagram: @gracemahary
Business Instagram: @ProjectTsehigh
Where do your drive and passion come from?
My parents, as they are extremely passionate people who exemplify hard work and perseverance.
How do you feel as a woman in tech?
I’ve never thought to consider myself “a woman in tech” because I don’t have formal STEM education. However, as I learned more about the sciences through my work with Project Tsehigh, I realized that I’m passionate about advancing technologies in the renewables space that will improve the quality of life for so many people. The traditional definition of technology is expanding, and I’m honored to be surrounded by these intelligent, strong women who are changing the world.
It’s great to see the numbers of women in stem rise, but it’s also important for young girls and adult women to know that if you don’t want to go into a career in tech or math or sciences, it doesn’t make your career less meaningful. As someone who has two careers, can you talk a bit about this?
I’ve had to deal with defending my job throughout my entire modeling career. Some people think that the fashion industry is completely frivolous and that modeling is as easy as standing in front of a camera and smiling. That’s definitely untrue, and now modeling has opened so many doors for Project Tsehigh. And even though I’m developing my STEM skills, that doesn’t devalue my career as a model. If you follow your passion, there is always room to incorporate purpose.
Would you say modeling gave you a thicker skin to deal with the STEM field?
Modeling has taught me a lot of valuable skills like confidence, independence, and the importance of humility. All of those skills are transferable to running a business or nonprofit. Project Tsehigh is still very new, and I compare it to a startup tech company that is building its infrastructure, reiterating processes and fundraising. This year we launched our first project and donated 105 solar power units to households and establishments in Maaya, Eritrea. It was one of the most challenging -- and rewarding -- projects I have ever worked on in my entire career. There were set-ups, setbacks, and comebacks, but my confidence, independence and humility helped me persevere.
What are your hopes for young women who are interested in STEM?
My hope is that young women who are interested in STEM are never discouraged because society says that tech is for men, or that working in tech “makes you less feminine” -- which is just ridiculous! Growing up I wanted to be a basketball star, but I was conditioned to think that women were either athletes or they were “girly girls” -- we couldn’t be both. As I grew older, I quickly learned that wasn’t true at all. I was able to play ball and walk the Victoria’s Secret Runway Show. The great thing about STEM is that you can combine multiple passions to make your career. If you love coding and reading, you could create an app for finding the best books. If you love the math and fashion, you could manage the finances for the biggest fashion houses. The possibilities are endless!
What is your biggest pet peeve?
My biggest pet peeve is when people chew with their mouth open. The sound of their lips smacking drives me off the wall!
What are your biggest fears about running a business?
My biggest fear about running a business is failing the people that work with me. I try to be transparent and honest with everyone I work with, and I take obligations to others seriously. I regularly ask for their feedback on how our organization is doing and how I’m doing as a leader, like a reverse employee evaluation.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
Working as a model is very unpredictable, and opportunities can be super last minute. Some mornings I’ll wake up with my day planned in my mind, and then I’ll receive an email or call about flying to another city that same evening for a job!
IYO-- How can we stay original when we are so saturated with other people's work?
"Be authentic. You’ll break through the static when you find your secret sauce and share it with the world."
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What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
Knowing that Project Tsehigh is creating lasting change on a global level.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
A performer! If I could sing well, I would be on tour igniting the stage and sharing my energy with everyone. Also an actor because I like challenging myself to play different characters, and then I could act out additional dream careers like working with professional athletes in sports medicine, working with Elon Musk on eliminating fossil fuels and powering the world with 100% renewable energy, or a character who lives minimalistically in the tropics teaching yoga or some type of exercise to the local community.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
That is still an ongoing effort for me. Over the last couple of years, I really started embracing my talents more and being less fearful. I’ve grown so much after starting Project Tsehigh. As a model, I’ve always had an agent guide me to make the best decisions, so running Project Tsehigh has pushed me out of my comfort zone. I’m usually speaking directly to partners and potential donors, which was daunting at first, but now has become second nature.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
You need to make mistakes in order to grow and learn. Don’t overthink -- take the first step and then figure out how to execute the rest of your goal. Specifically pertaining to modelling: don’t take things personally.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?
I will admit that I am a bit stubborn at times, but it becomes a positive character quality here because once I have my mind set on achieving something, I’ll literally do whatever it takes to accomplish it. If that means financial sacrifice, so be it. Hard labor and exhaustion, I’ll do it. I refuse to feel defeated because I believe in myself and know I can accomplish anything with hard work.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
"Closer" by Goapple because it inspires and reminds me that no matter what happens, I’m closer to achieving my dreams and goals!
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE PHILANTHROPY LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Entertainment: Tiffany Haddish
TIFFANY HADDISH 2020.
TIFFANY HADDISH 2020.
Should Tiffany Haddish be President?
If the job was based on a candidate's ability to make us laugh, we'd vote yes. Tiffany was a much-needed reprieve during that endlessly L-O-N-G-W-T-F 2017. From her stories about Will and Jada and Groupon (which went viral), to her breakout hilarious supporting role in Girls Trip, Tiffany had us ROTFL when the rest of the world had us in tears.
And even though her story is a bit of a tear-jerker, she's never let it stop her. It's positively inspirational. The witty woman has been performing at The Laugh Factory since she was a teenager. But her childhood is nothing to laugh at. Tiffany frequently shares about growing up in foster care and stints spent living in her car.
Still, Tiffany is the first black woman standup to ever host Saturday Night Live in its four-plus decades. She also managed to release her memoir, "The Last Black Unicorn." And she's now an official spokesperson for Groupon, which makes sense seeing as she's in the top 1% of their users.
More from our next President below.
On success:
I'm still living in the same place, and -- none of your damn business where I live -- but I'm still driving a Honda. I'm trying to decide if I should get myself the Tesla SUV or if I should get myself a new pair of shoes. I don't know I think I'm going to go with the Ted Bakers because they might be a little cheaper, but the Tesla though.
On her social worker Colita Louis:
I thought it super necessary to thank her because she basically saved my life. She got me out of that living situation, and she noticed that I had something and she got me into Laugh Factory Comedy Camp. I went to the comedy camp and it changed my whole world and I'm so grateful to her for that.
On potentially saving the world:
I obviously went through these things for a reason, and if it's not to share with other people so they can handle their situations better, well, I don't know what the hell I went through it for. I might as well share it because this the only life I got to live and who knows it might save the world.
On eating kale with Taylor Swift:
When I met Taylor Swift, she was reciting my jokes back to me telling me how much she loved me. I'm going over to her house. … We supposed to be eating baked chicken and quinoa salad with kale and all this healthy stuff and talking and laughing. I'm going to hang out. It's going to be great. Taylor Swift knows I'm [all] jokes.
This interview has been edited and condensed from multiple sources.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE ENTERTAINMENT LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100 Philanthropy: Mari Copeny
LITTLE MISS FLINT. BIG DREAMS.
LITTLE MISS FLINT. BIG DREAMS.
Little Miss Flint is going to change the world.
And hint: she already has.
When Mari Copeny was 8-years-old, she wrote a letter to President Obama, asking him to meet with her and a group of people coming to Washington D.C. It read:
Mr. President,
Hello my name is Mari Copeny and I’m 8 years old, I live in Flint, Michigan and I’m more commonly known around town as “Little Miss Flint”. I am one of the children that is effected by this water, and I’ve been doing my best to march in protest and to speak out for all the kids that live here in Flint. This Thursday I will be riding a bus to Washington, D.C. to watch the congressional hearings of our Governor Rick Snyder.”
The President responded.
Cue: the waterworks. Which is exactly what Mari, AKA “Little Miss Flint,” has been fighting for in Flint, Michigan since 2014. Working, clean, water. Yes, it’s a human right. She’s known around her town as “Little Miss Flint,” because of her work and activism on the matter to represent the children of Flint.
And she’s still hard at it. Now ten, Mari is the youngest Women’s March Youth Ambassador, National Youth Ambassador for the Climate March, and Youth Ambassador for Equality for Her. She has spoken in front of the White House and at the Science March in Washington D.C. Mari also spoke at the United Nations Girl Up Leadership Conference.
Read more about what we can expect from this amazing young girl below.
Name: Mari Copeny
Instagram Handle: @MariMyAngelOfficial
Your Twitter bio says "watch me change the world." But you ARE changing the world. Where do your drive and passion come from?
I am. My focus is on making the world see that kids are not just the future we are the present as well and we can change the world now. I am focusing so much time on Flint kids and making sure that we get all the things that we need to be successful.
Philanthropy means the "love of humanity." It's so beautiful and simple. What does it mean to you?
It means being able to give back to every single person and love them for who they are.
How did you find yourself on this particular journey?
The Flint Water Crisis kind of flung me into this life and I haven't looked back since. What began as me wanting the world to know that we have a serious problem in Flint has turned into me wanting to help out kids all over the country and to prove to other kids they can change the world as well.
We gotta know, what kind of hugs does Obama give?
They are amazing. He is so soft and warm. Best HUG ever. Like a big fluffy bear without the fluff.
What's something you'd like people to know about your work that they probably don’t?
That even though I'm an activist that I am also a kid as well and I LOVE being a kid. And my number one focus is on making sure that Flint kids are not forgotten.
What's the best advice your mom has ever given you?
To always find the good in every situation, even when things seem all bad.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road?
I dont find a new road, I will work until I am able to get over that bump. Sometimes it takes a lot of being told no to finally get the answer I want.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
"Happy" by Pharrell Williams.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE PHILANTHROPY LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Music: Kelsey Lu
THE IL"LU"MINATED.
THE IL"LU"MINATED.
You can call her Lu. Seriously, the musician's biggest pet peeve is when people call her Kelsey.
But let's back up a minute.
Meet Kelsey McJunkins aka Kelsey Lu, the classically trained cellist raised Jehovah’s witness to musician parents in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The haunting songstress turned to music as an outlet from the restrictive religion she was born into, crediting the institution with both broadening her interests and shielding her from much of what her contemporaries were listening to. Lu has played with pop acts from Blood Orange to Florence and The Machine, yet her distinct sound—often ghostly and unsettling—exists in a far away world.
More on the enchanting cellist below.
Name: Kelsey Lu
Instagram:
Where do your drive and passion come from?
It comes from the basic instinct of survival. Tapping into something that is unseen but felt and riding with it.
Your mom played the piano. Your dad, percussion. He was also an artist. Was there a dichotomy between the "artist" part of your upbringing and the strict religious side?
Well being an "Artist" comes in so many different flavors you know. I wouldn't say that going to museums around the country, or my dad supporting a family based solely off of his being a Portrait/Court Room Artist as being something that clashed with the rulings of the Organization I was brought up in noticeably. The only times it did was when I decided to leave the religion I was raised in to further my life as an artist. Music and Art was my gateway away from that life, so it was then that the dichotomy began.
How do you think that's shaped your music and your relationship to music and art?
It narrowed my point of vision while exposing it to other parts that most kids my age weren't getting excited over, i.e. classical music. My exposure to pop culture was monitored much more so than a regular degular American childhood upbringing, but because of that, I was appreciating the things that most kids weren't which separates me from the herd.
What was life like on the road? What was the most fun and conversely, the most challenging?
In the very beginning when I started touring with Nappy Roots it was just exciting and fun, I wasn't thinking about the fact that I was the only female within a fully cis male environment. That was the challenge later on when the glitter in my eyes wore thin. Hard finding the space for myself. But it gets easier every time, you learn to make space and time for yourself.
"You learn to make space and time for yourself."
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What is your biggest pet peeve?
When people call me Kelsey.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
I have to rosin my bow every time I play and the process of making rosin in a beautiful one. Most specifically though is that it is comprised mostly of Pine sap. Pine sap is indeed the key ingredient in rosin, and it is derived from pines grown for paper pulp on big southern plantations. I grew up around a lot of Pines in NC.
IYO-- How can we stay original when we are so saturated with other people's work?
It's like the mating songs of Lyre Birds, they are one of the most complex songbirds in the world. The reason for their complexity is their unique ability to mimic sounds, they can literally mimic the calls of any birds, as well as natural sounds they may come across, say for example like a camera shutter. What makes one stand out from the rest, is the way they personalize their mimicry.
"What makes one stand out from the rest, is the way they personalize their mimicry."
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What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
Earth.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
I can't really pinpoint the exact location of time or place upon which I found that confidence, I also don't feel like it's been fully realized for myself. It's something that takes time and trial and error.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Let the River run between your thighs and lift your eyes to the sky.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?
By getting through the pain of that bump, you will naturally find another road.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
The song of my own tears falling to the bottom of the shower floor.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE MUSIC LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Fashion: Paola Mathé
THE QUEEN OF COLOR.
THE QUEEN OF COLOR.
You don't need to write a novel to tell a story.
Paola Mathé is the embodiment of this. A storyteller at heart, the blogger and Creative Director was born a dreamer from a small town in Haiti. Paola moved to the United States during her teenage years, where she lived in a one bedroom apartment with her family in Newark, NJ. Of her mother, the creative shares, “She’s had a very tough life and over the years I’ve seen her get stronger and smarter." It's certainly helped shaped the woman Paola has become.
A driven individual, Paola was the first in her family to graduate from college, receiving her dual bachelor's degree in Economics and French Literature at Drew University. Post-grad she went on to launch a career in hospitality. As is the narrative with many bloggers, she started Finding Paola as a creative outlet during a time when her career was soaring. She recalls getting “four promotions over the course of about six months-- I was dominating and living that life," she says. "But I got really into it [the blog] and made time. I was working 50-60 hours a week, managing all of these different people but really wanting to be creative. So that’s what I started doing. And I remember thinking, I don’t have much, but how can I create this? How can I show people that they can live without having much?”
This was during 2009 when the blog in its infancy was called Finding Paola: Lost in New York. What was she searching for? Was she truly lost? Not exactly. “I was writing about things I was not familiar with but were intriguing and exciting. I was really trying to find who I was. I started seeing this girl," she says self-referentially, "who, whether she had someone to go to an event with or not, she would still show up, she would meet people, network, and then I started seeing me changing in front of me-- doing all these things I was never comfortable with, really trying to get stronger.”
She was busy documenting different events, but the content evolved over time to include her personal style. "I tried to keep up with that, while also being as honest as possible." She says that having a blog, especially before the dawn/explosion of social media was really hard. “I felt like everyone was studying a manual I didn’t have and everything looked the same. I didn’t want my blog to be that because my life is full of color and I felt like my story was so different from the blogs I was reading. I remember subscribing to a lot of them, trying to follow and keep up and then unsubscribing because I didn’t relate. But then I’d wonder why they were getting so popular. I didn’t realize that at the time my blog was also getting popular. I thought it would just be friends and family.”
“I felt like everyone was studying a manual I didn’t have."
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Occasionally she'll read her old posts to see how much she’s grown, although many have been lost as she’s transitioned platforms over the years. “A lot of posts don’t migrate," she laughs recalling the days when twenty views would get her really excited. “I thought the only person reading it was my mom because she was terrified of me being in New York and wanted to keep tabs on me.”
Describing herself as a shy child surrounded by strong women in Haiti, including her mother, Paola says, “I remember always trying to be in charge of her money. I would always try to calculate everything. How much does sugar cost and how much does rice cost? I was shy, but I was very observant. I had very strong opinions and I knew when I was older I wanted to be treated a certain way. I remember being in this house full of women. My mom didn’t like to be alone so when we lived in our family house in Haiti she surrounded herself with friends-- people who weren’t relatives but I would call them cousin. I saw how all these women lived. As a little girl I saw their love lives, how they cried, how they handled things, and I remember sitting there-- because in Haiti it’s very strict you can’t just get into grown folks business-- and thinking about what I liked and didn’t like. That’s why Fanm Djanm is important. They were all strong in their own way, but I didn’t want to be treated how they were treated. As I got older and older I found myself solving problems. And I realized that I could solve problems and be creative.”
She is referring to her company, Fanm Djanm, a head wrap collection and popular lifestyle brand launched in 2014 that celebrates the strength of women while empowering them to live boldly. It means “strong woman" in Haitian Creole.
More from Paola, a very strong woman, below.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
My drive comes from the way my heart races when I feel like I'm going to step out of my comfort zone. It's embedded in all my daydreams as a shy little girl. And it continues to evolve as I realize how much I can do with the right mindset. My passion? Maybe I was born with it? I don't remember not ever being passionate. I see beauty in abandoned cracks and crevices. Sometimes I create it. And sometimes it just surprises me. It's hard not to have passion.
When you run into a career obstacle, what drives you forward?
Knowing that it's not going to be permanent. Knowing that it only gets worst if I ignore it. So I have to push and find a solution. Sometimes reading about other entrepreneur's obstacles help me because I know I'm not alone.
I know I'm not alone.
We've talked a little before about how you created your office space in Harlem. And that even though it's small, it's yours. Why is having something that's all yours important?
It's important to have something that's all mine because I make the rules. I create my world of beauty and happiness. The walls vibrate inspiration and truths that I don't find most places. I get to curate and be in charge of what I like. I can look around on a bad day and find a piece of artwork and some words that just lift me up. And that's where some of the magic happens.
How do you manage your time between your personal brand and Fanm Djamn?
It's hard to manage time between the two. It's hard to say that I'll work on Fanm Djanm for an x amount of time today and I'll dedicate another x amount to Finding Paola. It's exhausting. So I go by what demands my attention the most at the moment. Fanm Djanm is my baby, but it's just one of the long term projects I'm going to work on in my life. I think having a good team is extremely important. My transition to Austin hasn't made it easy.
How have you been able to work remotely with your team since you moved to Austin?
The move to Austin has been a big challenge for, and my pregnancy hasn't made it any easier. I'm happy to work young, ambitious, trustworthy people. I found that with the current state that I was, it was difficult to make solid plans. I've learned a lot about patience and not to be too hard on myself the past few months.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
My biggest pet peeve is how easy people find it to comment on other people's bodies, especially women's bodies. I think the world would be a better place for us if we weren't being reminded every time our bodies go through a major change or look different. It's our body, we know how we look, and we don't need your remarks unless we ask for it.
"It's our body, we know how we look, and we don't need your remarks unless we ask for it."
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Who or what are you most inspired by?
I'm inspired by women. I'm inspired by black women. I'm inspired by women who have found their voice, and who know what they want (or at least what they don't want). And of course color! I love color and how it makes me feel. It doesn't have to be bright or bold (although that's my go-to). Neutrals can be fun too. I love how mixing or not can tell a story. And my friend Mama Cax continues to inspire me everyday.
What are your biggest fears about running a business?
My biggest fear is failing those who work with me. I want them to do well and be well just like I want to do well. It's difficult when you've started without much and are still finding yourself. But the more I learn, and the more I know, the more I'll be able to look out for them as well.
You're about to be a new mom. What do you hope to pass on to your child?
I'd like for my child to know that she was born from unfiltered and exciting love. I'd like for her to know that she will be privileged even as a biracial person, and that she should understand his or her role in all of this. I'd like to pass on open-mindedness, and being able to love, communicate, share, and inspire. I'd like to pass on that nobody is perfect and that life is unfair no matter where or how you're born. But if you're able to make a difference, you should. There's so much that I'd love to pass on. I think self-love is also one of the top things I'd like to pass on. Being free, but not carefree.
Where do you find inspiration?
When I was in Harlem I would go up to a stranger in the street if I thought they had a story or they’d be an amazing person to have a conversation with. I love talking to older women a lot. I started photographing older women in Harlem and I would approach them and tell them how beautiful and amazing they are. They would look at me like I was crazy-- that’s how you know you live in an ageist society. When you tell an older woman she’s beautiful often they think you’re making fun of them or it surprises them.
How does that make you feel as a woman?
People think you’re failing at life because you’re not doing something before you’re 30. I know so many amazing people who didn’t start to find themselves until later. When I meet a woman who says, ‘I’ve been doing this for a while, but it wasn’t until I was 45 that I really found my voice,’ to me that’s really inspiring. These aren’t just women breaking the rules but those who are doing something positive and impactful for their communities. I want to showcase stories like that.
"People think you’re failing at life because you’re not doing something before you’re 30."
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When did you find the confidence to become the woman you are today?
There was a video recently of me and I started crying because I was like WHO is this woman, WHY are they using these words to describe her-- and I realized, 'Oh it’s me.'
I painted the floors in my office in Harlem myself. I was tired and I wanted to get it done, because customers don’t care if you’re painting the floors, they want what they’ve ordered. But I was tired and I sat down and was looking around. And I remember thinking, “Oh my God, this is me. This is mine. The woman who wrote the piece about me in the New York Times described it as a matchbox and I was like 'damn, not even a shoebox?' But still, its my colorful matchbox.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE FASHION LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Philanthropy: Shaun Robinson
DOIN' IT FOR THE GIRLS.
DOIN' IT FOR THE GIRLS.
TV host and self-proclaimed “Motown Gal” Shaun Robinson is on a mission to make the world a better place for girls and women.
The Emmy Award winning journalist and Access Hollywood vet has hosted pre-shows for the Golden Globes and Academy Awards, yet being a positive role model has always been her principal goal. With her emonymous nonprofit, The S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls, Robinson has made it her life’s work to supports grassroots charities making advancements in five key areas of girls issues: (S)TEM, (H)EALTH, (A)RTS, (U)NITY and (N)EIGHBORHOODS.
Find out how the fervent philanthropist is working to reduce the inequities girls’ face.
Name: Shaun Robinson
Instagram Handle: @msshaunrobinson
Where do your drive and passion come from?
My drive and passion, in part, comes from my mom and dad. They encouraged me to work hard and never forget where I cam from. They taught me that I could achieve anything I put my mind to.
Philanthropy means the "love of humanity." It's so beautiful and simple. What does it mean to you?
Philanthropy means using your power to help make the lives of other people better. We all have that gift. We were put here to be a beacon of light for those in need.
How did you find yourself on this particular career journey?
I was inspired when I was a little girl. I use to watch a woman named Beverly Payne anchor the news in Detroit when I was about 6-years-old. She was the first African American woman that I ever saw on TV. She was my first TV role model.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
Sometimes, it's not as glamorous as you might think!
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
I am proud to say that I was raised by a mother who taught me that I was complete all by myself...no matter what my job was, what my relationship status was or how I look. I always do my best when I work but, it is not what completes me.
"I was raised by a mother who taught me that I was complete all by myself."
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If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
The President of the United States. 'Nuff said.
At what point in your life did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
I am someone who likes to keep growing and take on new challenges. I felt so empowered after I left my job of 16 years at Access Hollywood. I felt it was a new chapter that allowed me to take control of my life.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
I love swimmer Diana Nyad's motto..."Never, ever give up!". Those are very powerful words that I live by every day. You only need one "yes" so keep trying until you get it.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road?
When I encounter any type of roadblock, I pray about it. I sit in silence and ask God for direction. I always get clarity when I do that.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
If I have had a bad day, the last thing I want to do is hear myself sing! lol.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE PHILANTHROPY LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Content Creator: Jenna Wortham
THE WORTHY WORDSMITH.
THE WORTHY WORDSMITH.
photo credit: Melissa Hom
Most great careers start with a great story.
And New York Times Magazine staff writer Jenna Wortham has hers. It's not that she received a handwritten note from Beyoncé that read, "Thank you for the beautiful words you said about Formation. Thanks for understanding my heart." (OK.)
It's not that she's moderated convos with Ta-Nehisi Coates. Or that she's managed to grow her her Podcast, Still Processing, while launching the Black Future Project, while holding down her job as a culture writer for the Times magazine.
It's that she rejected her first job offer from the New York Times. She didn't think she was the right fit. You know, that whole imposter syndrome sinking feeling. Luckily, the Times gave her time to reconsider. And now, she is a critical voice, addressing what it means to be black and alive.
More below.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
The desire to see women like me reflected in the broader cultural conversation.
You've spoken on this before, but our audience needs to hear it. You rejected the first job offer from the NY Times. Not because of the money, but because you didn't have faith in yourself yet. Can you talk us through how you psyched yourself up?
I had no context for the type of job they offered - I was the first person in my family to graduate from a four-year university. I was afraid to find out I was a failure, to let people down. My tech editor at the NYT wouldn't let me give up so easily, and I'll always be grateful that they saw potential and taught me to nurture it.
Even though you did accept that job, how long did it take for you to accept yourself in that position? I think for us, and for a lot of our readers, those are two different things.
It absolutely is. It was a process, and it took a long time before I felt like I could hold my own. But I never doubted that I would eventually get there. I just wanted everyone else to know it, if that makes sense.
What is the smartest thing you've done to develop your voice?
Stop being afraid of it.
"Stop being afraid of it."
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A fear for a lot of writers and content creators in the digi-age is that when push comes to shove, we're only regurgitating content. That we don't actually have something important to say. How do you push through those moments?
I'm working on honing the art of resistance and refusal. I don't always have to weigh in, and I'm usually better for it when I don't and try to make a bigger point later on.
How do you know when you're onto something gold?
My biggest practice is learning to trust my gut and my intuition. My body tells me - my hands tingle, my heart races. It's up to me to pay attention to the signs.
When you run into a career obstacle, what drives you forward?
I think about the legacy of incredible black journalists before me and what they faced. If they can do that, I can do this.
I think about the legacy of incredible black journalists before me and what they faced. If they can do that, I can do this.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
People who disrespect each other's time. It's our most precious resource. We cannot take it for granted.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
It's non-stop. As a journalist and cultural critic, its impossible to turn my brain off, so even when I'm relaxing and watching TV, I'm thinking -- is this a story? Should we cover this? What's a good angle here? It's amazing but also exhausting!
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
The network of people that I've met through it. I'm lucky to have a job that allows me to be curious about the world, and how different people move through it. Learning about so many ways of being has helped me shape how I want to be and what feels important to me. It's the greatest gift.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
Maybe a drone cam. I'm so tired of being stuck with this perspective on Earth.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
To savor the good moments. My friend and late colleague David Carr once called me out when I tried to brush off a compliment after landing a couple stories on the home page of the New York Times. I tried to diminish the pieces — I think they were about Instagram -- and I felt a little embarrassed celebrating given that our colleagues work in war zones, reporting on public health crisis like Ebola or Flint. But he looked me square in the eye and said that all victories count. There's no need to compare yours to someone else's. It's important to enjoy the moments where our work counts for something because they are rare and fleeting.
"All victories count. There's no need to compare yours to someone else's."
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What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
I'm not much of a singer in the shower! But after a bad day, I really like to draw a bath, throw in some rose petals, epsom salt, and maybe lavender oil, and just soak it all away. I'll probably listen to Moses Sumney and just focus on my breathing until I feel better.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE CONTENT CREATOR LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Pat McGrath
THE VISIONARY.
THE VISIONARY.
Pat McGrath's mother told her she can do anything. And thank goodness for badass mothers.
They were wise words that clearly stuck. As the beauty industry's go-to, British make-up artist Pat McGrath has created the world's most celebrated editorial and runway makeup looks. Find a trend, you can trace it back to Pat. #BacktoPat. Vogue has called her the most influential make-up artist in the world.
Yes, world.
But what she creates is truly out of this one. Defiant and decadent, Pat's artistry has never played by the rules. Which, is something she's excited to see from her industry, recently telling GQ, “The world of makeup is becoming increasingly more diverse and less about rules, which is absolutely divine."
D-I-V-I-N-E.
They write, "If there is an equivalent to Supreme in the cosmetics world, it would be McGrath’s beauty line Pat McGrath Labs, which she started in 2015. Stoked by cultish cosmetics culture, almost every lip stick, eye shadow palette, and Versace show face kit sells out almost instantaneously." No offense to Supreme, but Pat McGrath is way more original.
And seeing as Pat's entire spirit and character is set to "destroy convention and embrace cautionless self-expression," we say, let the destruction commence.
More from Pat below.
What is your earliest memory of beauty and makeup?
I mean, really, my earliest memory was watching my mother do her makeup. She was obsessed with beauty and collected makeup and experimented with it. I think it’s a lot of young men and women’s experiences, growing up, watching the ritual of what their mothers would do.
The beauty industry has been under construction for a while. Do you think there have been significant improvements?
Yes! While there’s always room for improvement, I really think that it’s great to see that it’s getting better, but I myself know that I can go even further and I’m really excited about that.
With the Internet and social media, there’s been real growth in terms of beauty knowledge and beauty communities. Do you think it’s changed the way we approach beauty?
Of course! It started out with magazines and all those incredible articles and no matter how steeped in beauty I would be, I would read a magazine and tear the page out and go straight to the store to buy exactly what I’d seen. With Instagram, it’s taken it to a whole new level. You can see every minute, every second in your scroll, new ways of how to apply makeup, it’s so entertaining and it’s so inspiring.
Who are your muses as you create beauty looks and products?
They’re infinite! From Kim [Kardashian West] to Naomi [Campbell] to Paloma [Elsesser] to Duckie [Thot], Miss Fame, I love them all! All these beautiful, formidable, strong, courageous women and men of all colors and sizes. Beauty has nothing to do with one's age, gender, body size, socio-economic status, race, religion or culture. Social media really opens up the whole world to you, you can cast from everywhere. I remember seeing Paloma on Instagram many, many years ago and I remember thinking, “I’ve never seen such beauty!”
"Beauty has nothing to do with one's age, gender, body size, socio-economic status, race, religion or culture."
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Who do you think your biggest beauty icon is?
Just one? There are so many! I always do Grace Jones and my mother, two beautiful Jamaican women.
How hectic is it backstage doing beauty at a runway show?
The fastest I've ever had to do beauty for a show was 50 models in one hour. Typically, I have a minimum of 23 people working with me. When I started, there would be 18 girls in a show, now there are shows with 150 girls, which means you just need a bigger team. And the timing of there being so many shows and so many girls arriving late, you need to have lots of hands backstage. Of course, that’s why I live on a motorbike during Paris Fashion Week, it’s my happiest time. We have a whole fleet of motorcycles because the cars are stuck in traffic and sometimes we’ll have to send motorcycles to the cars and my team loves it, they feel just like James Bond.
What do you splurge on when it comes to beauty?
The moment I get off the plane, anywhere in the world, I go straight to a drugstore and get all the latest balms and creams and everything. I especially love getting lashes. Eyelashes back in the day, they would have amazing eyelashes in the drugstores! For my beauty splurge, I go to amazing spas around the world. I’m a spa-holic.
What was your biggest fear in launching your own brand?
I felt uncomfortable doing something that everyone’s already done. I didn’t want to be boring.
"I felt uncomfortable doing something that everyone’s already done. I didn’t want to be boring."
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What’s the best piece of #realtalk you’ve ever received?
I was brought up by a mother that taught me, “You can do anything.”
This interview has been edited and condensed from multiple sources.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE BEAUTY LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Health & Wellness: Angela Davis
FULL OF SOUL.
FULL OF SOUL.
Angela Davis turns a 45-minute workout into a life-changing experience. She's friends with Oprah and is Beyoncé's chosen Soul Cycle instructor. As if that weren't enough she's also a five-time All-American Team USA track-and-field star.
All-in-all, Angela Davis is a badass source of inspiration to everyone she meets, and has built a career on the SoulCycle mentality of blending fitness with inspiration. She does it all and according to her Instagram bio: Mom, Wife, Motivational Coach, Fitness Evangelist, Speaker, Co-Founder.
More from Angela below.
Name: Angela Davis
Instagram Handle: @shapewithangela
What’s your definition of inspiration?
To inspire means to breathe life. So when you’re inspiring someone you’re literally breathing life into them. Into their hopes and dreams and reminding them of what is possible.
When a client of yours is having a tough time with a workout or a health obstacle how do you encourage them?
I always encourage every client to do their best, be their best, and hold themselves accountable. My mom once told me the definition of accountability is accounting to your own ability. And with that, your best is always good enough.
What advice do you have for women working towards cultivating the career of their dreams?
Well, if they’re already in the process of cultivating the career of their dreams, then they’ve already won. The privilege of living a purpose driven life and operating in your gifts and talents is the ultimate dream come true.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
People faking. Faking in a workout, faking in life, just being fake annoys me.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
A job is an exchange of time for money. Some people have jobs and it's not necessarily something they love to do or want to do. What I get to do is my life’s work, therefore it doesn’t feel like a job. I’m literally doing what I was created and designed to do and I’m having the time of my life!
I’m literally doing what I was created and designed to do and I’m having the time of my life!
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
On a daily basis, I get to co-labor with the One who created me. And inspire others to live the life that was intended for them.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
I wouldn’t want to.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
When it became clear to me that people pleasing wasn’t a good look for me and that no matter what I did, I could never make everyone happy. So I decided to follow my heart at any cost and honor the whispers that were my intuitive guide.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
That “no” is a one-word answer. Don’t feel like you have to explain yourself to people. Your “no” is enough.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?
I make one. A bump in the road doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Sometimes it just calls on you to push through a little bit harder.
"A bump in the road doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Sometimes it just calls on you to push through a little bit harder."
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What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
I don’t really know that I sing in the shower, but a go-to song for me when I’m feeling down is "No Weapon" by Fred Hammond.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE WELLNESS LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Entrepreneur: Erica Chidi
THE COMMUNITY BUILDER.
THE COMMUNITY BUILDER.
Name: Erica Chidi
Instagram Handle: @ThisIsLoom @ericachidi
If who a company follows on Instagram is any indication of what they're about, we're absolutely digging Loom, the pathways to pregnancy, parenting, and reproductive empowerment from doula turned founder Erica Chidi. From I Love My Baby, But mom, Whitney Eve Port to the artist and activist Zoe Buckman to Rihanna to female-founded, sexual wellness co, Get Maude to plant-based feminine care line The Honey Pot… it goes on. It's all about women's wellness, reproductive health, and family.
For Loom, which opened last October in Los Angeles, these things are intrinsically linked. In a profile on the LA Times, Erica described the 2,000-square-foot space as a “progressive, contemporary, inclusive approach” to wellness. Loom holds classes and counseling sessions for anyone invested and interested more in learning about reproductive health. It's an inclusive space where any vag talk is fair game.
And we’re not the only ones taking notice. Chidi just raised a $3 million seed round to build a digital platform for reproductive education making her one of the rare Black women to have raised more than $1 million in venture capital. In her Instagram announcement, Chidi wrote “we’re building a world where women can understand and thrive in their bodies at every stage of their lives.”
Whether you are reproductively curious, pregnant, or new-to-parenting, Erica wants you to come to build your community, access resources, and demystify the next chapter with a little guidance. As they say, it takes a village.
More from Erica below.
From doula to business owner, what has been the most surprising aspect of your career path?
How slash-y it's been. Prior to going to college, I went to culinary school. Then I graduated from college with a bachelor’s in Visual Art History and Media and Communications. From there started off working at a contemporary art gallery and from there moved into public relations. At times I found myself confused by all of the different avenues and skills I was picking up. However, all of those skills and experiences ended up having synergy and supporting my growth. Having the ability to communicate made me into a great health educator. Having a culinary background allowed me to think consciously about food and nutrition and its importance to pregnant people and anyone trying to improve their reproductive health. And lastly, my appreciation of art and design uniquely lent itself to creating LOOM because I knew that inviting aesthetics and environment would help people get excited about their reproductive health and wellness.
What was the turning point that convinced you, it's time to take matters into my own hands? Loom needs to exist.
I think the turning point for me happened in my first year as a practicing doula. I looked at the pregnancy, parenting, and reproductive health education industry and looked around and realized there was inertia. There had been very little innovation and didn't reflect what I or other people like me would want. It still felt hyper-feminine, dogmatic, essentialist, and polarizing. There wasn't a fresh, moderate, evidenced-based, and inclusive brand that brought together a lot more untraditional modalities and yet worked side-by-side with the medical community to give people better overall outcomes in their pregnancy, their parenting, their reproductive health experience.
What are the common challenges you've seen among female business owners and entrepreneurs?
Burnout. We all try to juggle being good. Good at a partnership, leadership, friendship, etc. And we tend to forget to nurture ourselves.
What are some of the common challenges you've talked to mothers (and those preparing for motherhood) about?
Pushing back on perfection, making ample room for mistakes, and learning to ask for help early and often.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
I would say it comes from my parents. My parents are both immigrants, they're from Nigeria. My dad came here to studied medicine and became a doctor and my mom went to nursing school. They came over in the seventies and both came from villages where there was no electricity. My parents always encouraged me to work really hard and they worked hard, and so I do feel like that ethic comes from them in terms of my drive. I'm passionate about helping people feel confident about their bodies and be able to effectively advocate for their health and wellbeing.
You do you. How have you championed this concept in other women and for yourself?
It's about looking forward and allowing yourself to be inspired by what other people are creating and at the same time not distracted by anything that doesn't inspire you. Give negativity little to no oxygen.
What are your biggest fears about running a business?
Failing at it. Have to close our doors and letting people down.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
Being a doula requires you to be on call 24/7, it's actually a very monastic lifestyle. You go to bed early, you try to eat healthily in order to keep your immune system in good shape, that way you are ready to go to a birth at any time. Doulas are definitely calming and supportive in the moment but in order to do that my lifestyle is very measured.
What about your career that makes you feel the most complete?
Helping people feel empowered, seen, and less alone.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
I'd trade jobs with Nicu nurse. They are incredible people and work closely with families that are dealing with the hardest possibilities and are some of the most empathic people I know. I'd love the chance to support families in that way
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
There isn't a specific moment. I think confidence is always being reinforced hour-by-hour sometimes. It's a long-term process and accepting that has helped me realize that even if I don't feel confident now, I can build it down the line.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Don't be afraid to seek pleasure and feel good about it.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
New Edition - "Can You Stand The Rain."
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE ENTREPRENEUR LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Content Creator: Destiney Green
#MAJORMOMCRUSH.
#MAJORMOMCRUSH
It's 2018. Bye, bye man crush. Hello, mom crush.
With fearless matriarch Destiney Green of popular parenting blog Mom Crush Monday ruling the roost, 2018 is all about unstoppable, stylish mamas taking over the world. Born as one new mom’s personal journey into the murky waters of raising a tiny human, Mom Crush Monday has officially graduated from the newborn stage, with a cool 185K Instagram followers, a membership-based platform, and a line of children’s clothing on the way.
With musings on graceful co-parenting, mental health, and mother/daughter adventures, Destiney and her daughter Honor are empowering, and inspiring, a community of mamas to dream, love, and grow.
More from Mom Crush Monday below.
Name: Destiney Green
Instagram: @MomCrushMonday
Where do your drive and passion come from?
When I became a mother, I suddenly felt like I had a purpose and a reason to push myself harder than ever before. Every time I look at Honor, I know why I'm working this hard.
Who is your biggest mom crush right now?
Denise Vasi. She's the epitome of career and mom success!
Your bio says you're a "future entrepreneur." What does "future" mean to you? And what are your plans?
The future is quickly approaching. I've known for a long time that I had big plans for myself, and I didn't want to let myself off the hook. 2017 has been about preparation for me, and in 2018 you'll see it all come to fruition. I'm really excited to see these pieces coming together on a couple different businesses I've been working on building.
When you hit a rough patch or hit bumps, how do you find new roads?
This question is such an important one. I think too many people are afraid of failing. I'm not and I encourage others to not be as well. If I hit a rough patch mentally, I take a day and refocus. If I hit a rough patch in a business opportunity, I look at why it didn't work and vow to make the next time better. I don't slow down enough to dwell on the hard moments. The key is to keep moving forward.
"I think too many people are afraid of failing. I'm not."
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How has motherhood helped you feel more empowered?
Oh my gosh, how has it not?! It's literally the most powerful thing you can do. To give life to another being. If I can do that, I'm unstoppable.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Excuses. I hate excuses.
What matters most to you about your job?
The connection with other women, and creating a foundation of sisterhood based on support and not competition.
What are your biggest fears about being a mom?
I wouldn't want Honor to ever look back and say I didn't prepare her for something.
How do you get over them?
I try to stay ready so we don't have to get ready.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
People assume that blogging is all fun and games. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE my job, but a lot of work goes into what I do. I work long hours and I work hard for what I want.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
I get to be completely flexible with my time and decide what I want to fill it. If a project doesn't feel right, I say no. I am in control of my future.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
Beyonce, because she's mastered her business and has changed the tables for so many.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
I think every day I grow more and more into the woman I am supposed to be. I've always been confident in who I am, but each day I find I'm on the path I'm meant to be on, that confidence grows.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Real talk, don't think you can do it all alone. Play on your strengths and hire out your weaknesses. No one got to the top alone.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
"Ambition" by Jay Z.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE CONTENT CREATOR LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: STEM: Aisha Bowe
THE NASA GAL.
THE NASA GAL.
This is what an engineer looks like.
Meet Aisha Bowe, Aerospace Engineer, Founder, and CEO, advised by her high-school guidance counselor to attend beauty school.
While she never did pursue that career in cosmetology, she did grow up to be one of NASA’s leading aerospace engineers. These days, the would-be-beauty-school-dropout focuses her genius on the tech solutions company she co-founded. As a proud minority owned business, STEMBoard creates software solutions for defense and enterprise clients and works toward closing the achievement gap by empowering minority youth.
Learn about how Bowe’s bootstrapped her way to the top of the boys' club below.
Name: Aisha Bowe
Instagram Handle: @aishabowe
Business Instagram Handle: @stemboard
You are a force and we are in awe. From aerospace engineering to STEMBoard. What were you like as a kid?
Insecure and unfocused. I wasn’t the greatest student, I didn’t have any goals and I internalized the limitations others put on me. It wasn’t until college that I began to recognize my abilities.
At first, you were too intimated to accept a job at NASA. What's your advice for young women experiencing similar feelings?
Do not be afraid to put yourself in a position of failure! Studies have shown that girls consistently outperform boys in the classroom, so remember that we are badasses! And when that fails, just fake it until you make it
Do you still feel that creeping intimidation some days?
Of course! There is no playbook for what I am attempting to achieve. The company, our mission, and objectives were at one point just a daydream. I constantly nd myself combating negative stereotypes.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
Impact. I measure success as lives touched...including my own. At so many points along my journey, I doubted myself. Watching the company grow into an entity that builds technology for Federal clients while uplifting women, people of color and other historically disadvantaged groups in the workforce has been a motivating experience.
How do you feel as a woman in STEM?
Inspired & empowered! Visibility of Women in STEM is at an all-time high. While there is still much work to be done, I love waking up to uplifting narratives in social media.
How have you successfully navigated such a male-dominated eld?
Don’t think it hasn’t been difficult, but I realized early on I couldn’t do this on my own. I needed mentors (both men and female) who believed in me almost more than I believed in myself to help push me through and motivate me. I have a tribe of people that surround me with light and real talk when I need it the most.
What are your hopes for young women who are interested in STEM?
I hope that women see themselves and technology as being key to future success in STEM. I look up to women like Debbie Sterling founder of GoldieBlox, Dr. Ellen Stofan former Chief Scientist at NASA, Kimberly Bryant, Black Girls Code
You've said that "success lies in the establishment of positive daily habits." What are some of those positive habits?
It’s easy to get overwhelmed. I set small, measurable goals focused on incremental progress: meditate, workout, eat well. Working out in the morning gives me energy, I feel accomplished which helps to create a positive mindset. I make lists, if I don’t write it down it gets lost. I review my goals each day and prioritize.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Negative attitudes. Staying positive, even in the face of the improbable, is vital to success.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Don't spend life daydreaming about 'what could be'. Invest your energy in what is right in front of you and see how it can be cultivated into something meaningful #realtalk.
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Do you have any fears about running a business? If so, what?
That I will fail those who are a part of the team. That I won’t progress as quickly as I want to. I want to win and that drives me more than anything.
What's something you'd like people to know about running STEMBoard that they probably don’t?
Running a company is hard. STEMBoard creates smart tech for Federal and private sector clients. There’s no playbook to starting a business you created. As an entrepreneur, it is a constant race to stay ahead of the curve. Love yourself like Kanye loves himself-it’s key!
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
There is an African proverb I love: If You Want To Go Fast, Go Alone. If You Want To Go Far, Go Together. Your team is and will always be the most vital part of a company’s. Bet on them, empower them and learn that in order to lead one must learn to follow. From my tenure at NASA to co-foundering STEMBoard, I used to place pressure on myself to have all of the answers.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
Less than 10% of all venture capital deals go to women or People of Color. I aspire to one day provide investment to startups. Arlan Hamilton of Backstage Capital does just that.
At what point in your career did you nd the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
Sometimes you have to take an L. As much as I believed that others were going to see our vision, no one decided to fund us in Silicon Valley. We had to focus and relinquish the notion that someone needed to co-sign our worth. We bootstrapped and did it ourselves, ve years later we’re so glad we did.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE STEM LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Fashion: Emma Grede
NOT JUST GOOD. GREAT.
NOT JUST GOOD. GREAT.
As the co-founder of Good American, the inclusive denim line Emma Grede launched with Khloe Kardashian in December 2016, there was a lot of pressure to perform. But with a focus on inclusive sizing and showing the product on various models on its website, the duo found immediate, chart-topping success.
It was the biggest denim launch in apparel history. NBD. With sizes ranging from 00 to 24, that they don't separate into "petite" or "plus-size" categories, the label relied on social-media marketing, featuring the product on an array of women on its Instagram. They've now expanded into bodysuits and sweats, as modeled by Khloe herself.
Originating from a convo between Khloe and Emma about what it means to be a woman today, Emma shares “We believe everybody deserves to be shown off. Fashion should be made to fit women, not the other way around. Body ideals really have shifted in the last few years.”
Here's to shifting the industry, one Good pair of jeans at a time.
Read more from Emma below.
What an amazing year you've had! In 2016 you and co-founder Khloe did one million in sales on day one. Did you ever anticipate such wild, record-breaking success?
I knew we were going to be successful because I knew we had made a killer pair of jeans that doesn’t exist in the marketplace and I was sure women would react positively to that, but No! I didn’t expect that first day of sales and I didn’t anticipate the year we’ve had either.
As a company how do you one-up yourself on that? And stay ahead of the game?
You have to constantly and consistently do two things, one listen to your customers, what do they want, what can they not get and what can you do better for them? And then you need to act on that information from a product development perspective and keep improving what you do.
Your husband also co-founded a denim line that has seen astronomical success. What kind of jean talk happens in your household?
Ha ha! Yes it is quite odd but Jens, who owns Frame denim, and I have worked together for over 10 years now, first in the fashion agency group he founded - Wednesday Group- with his business partner Erik Torsteensen and now with Good American, so we literally talk shop all the time. Our business are our hobbies as well as what we do professionally but we also have two children together, so sometimes there just is no space for us discuss business and that creates a nice balance.
What would you say most prepared you to launch a company?
Good American isn’t my first company, it’s my third! But I would say all my experience leading up to now. Working in the fashion and entertainment business has given me an appreciation for what’s important and that’s product. If I look at how I spend my time it’s all in creating the best possible product.
When do you feel the most empowered?
At about 8:30 am every morning! I’ve worked out, had breakfast with my family, taken my little boy to school and I’m on route to the office listening to a Podcast……somedays I’d like to turn around and head back to bed!! But most days I’m feeling on fire at about 8:30 am!!!
What do you find most empowering about working alongside Khloe?
Khloe is the real deal as a business woman, she’s one of the most positive people I know and she’s also importantly, a really hard worker. She puts her all into every task, she’s super passionate about what we do and that’s both inspiring and empowering.
![Emma Grede_02201[11] copy.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53fba539e4b0a52701b62eb4/1516595190386-QRQE246X2H4UPN7CU1W5/Emma+Grede_02201%5B11%5D+copy.jpg)
"We wanted to liberate women from an unreal external projection."
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People always say a co-founder relationship is like a marriage. Why do you think you and Khloe work well together?
Ultimately we have a respect for one another and what each of us does. Khloe is very open-minded and she’s learned a lot from her time in the business with her various ventures, which is where my respect for her comes.
What's the Good Squad about and why is it an important part of the brand?
The Good Squad is so important to us, we believe very strongly that it’s so important to show a real representation of women in fashion and the wider media landscape. We wanted to liberate women from feeling as though they need to live up to an unreal external projection of how they should be. Our girls come from all over the world, from all different backgrounds, have different shapes, sizes and are all working hard to realize their dreams and potential.
"We believe very strongly that it’s so important to show a real representation of women in fashion."
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When do you feel the most pressure?
At about 8:30 am every morning- Ha!! I feel pressure going into photo shoots and filming things, I really don’t do well on camera.
When do you feel the most relaxed?
On Sundays. I love Sunday brunch, the newspapers, hanging with my babies -- that’s just the best and most relaxing for me.
Any upcoming Good American news you can share with us?
YES! We just launched our spring 2018 collection and new styles will drop weekly! We are also very close to releasing our line of maternity denim called ‘Good Mama’. Launch details will be released on Good American’s social media channels very soon!
What would you call your superpower?
I’m really good at motivating people and just getting stuff done, out the door, over the line. That’s my super power.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE FASHION LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Content Creator: Orion Carloto
THE ONE TO WATCH.
THE ONE TO WATCH.
Orion Carloto is in Flux.
But her approach to life's realities has a twist.
After writing for Local Wolves magazine, Orion decided to bare her soul, publishing her first book of poetry, Flux. With original illustrations by artist Katie Roberts, Orion pulls from her own experiences with love and loss, creating a safe space for the brokenhearted. Solitude, sex, and yearning for simpler times dot her pages.
Born in a small town in Georgia, the writer and poet first became popular on YouTube. Such is the world we live in. But growing up with her nose in a book and stuck deep in her own imagination, Orion was never fated to stick to the video platform. (It doesn't hurt that she understand the art of a good pic.) A fan of hot coffee, the color yellow and baring it all on the page, she's a Gen Xer to keep an eye on. As she writes on her Instagram, which has over 500k followers, "2017 was magical for many reasons. I traveled the most I’ve ever traveled. I wrote music. I moved to NYC. I came out as bisexual. I fell in love with a beautiful woman. I released my very first book of poetry and prose. I healed."
In this digital age when many young influencers take to video to express themselves, it's refreshing to see the 21-year-old take to paper.
More from Orion below.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
If anyone taught me how to go after the things you want the most in life best, it would be my mother. I know it's a cliché to praise one's own mother, but that woman has continuously enlightened me with the importance of working smart and working hard. Make mama proud.
When you run into a career obstacle, what drives you forward?
Pulling inspiration from everything that's surrounding my life. Literature, films, strangers, travel, music, photographs, stories, big cities, and the people that I love with my entire being. That's what pushes and excites me to move forward. Or by traveling to a place that I've never been to before. Experiencing unfamiliar places has a funny way of pulling heaps of creativity out of you.
What was it like putting your first book of poetry out in the world?
If I could describe that experience in one word, it would be bittersweet. Releasing 'Flux' was something I've always dreamt of achieving even before it was written. Yet, when the social release day came about, I was completely beaming and overwhelmingly terrified all at once!! My heartbreak, something that once only belonged to me, now lives on the shelves of thousands of people and I'm still trying to adjust to that.
My heartbreak, something that once only belonged to me, now lives on the shelves of thousands of people and I'm still trying to adjust to that.
Will you do it again?
Absolutely without a doubt! Exposing your vulnerabilities is a tough position to be in, but I wouldn't trade that experience for the world.
Since you work with curious creatives, where do you think good ideas come from?
My best ideas come from warm coffee in the morning, the people I cross souls with, and both the strange and endearing endeavors my life takes me on.
You have a young following with a ton of ideas and feelings. Based on what you read and see from them, if you ran the world, what one law you would enact?
Easy-- a law that ensures and protects everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community across the entire world.
"Exposing your vulnerabilities is tough but I wouldn't trade it for the world."
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What is your biggest pet peeve?
People who constantly interrupt!
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
I think it's easy for people to assume that just because I'm a writer, that I write every single day! Truthfully, it takes a thoughtful sit down, complete solitude, and feeling inspired for me to successfully write a new piece that I'm proud of. Although I try to journal every day, when it comes to poetry or prose, I find myself greeting writers' block more often than I'd like.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
When others can connect with my words and truly feel them while reading. To me, that makes me feel like I'm doing something right.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
Malia Obama. I know being a college student is her full-time "job" at the moment, but MAN, could you imagine having Barack and Michelle as your parents?!
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
I can think back to two points in my life. The first was when I began working with my excellent team of strong and confident women. Like my manager, Rana Zand, for example. Watching her work ethic and absorbing her continuous advice inspired me to take charge and to absolutely never stop no matter the obstacle. The second was the moment I finished writing my first book. It was that moment that I let go of all of my heartbreak. I gained an appreciation and better understanding of who I am as a person and my potential in achieving absolutely anything I put my heart to.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Patti Smith said it best, "Build a good name. Keep your name clean. Don’t make compromises, don’t worry about making a bunch of money or being successful — be concerned with doing good work and make the right choices and protect your work. And if you build a good name, eventually, that name will be its own currency."
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
Anything Amy Winehouse!
Do you have any resolutions for 2018?
To begin and finish my second book. Oh, and also to be reasonable at texting people back much faster.... not days later.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE CONTENT CREATOR LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Philanthropy: Monique Coleman
THE EQUALITY AMBASSADOR.
THE EQUALITY AMBASSADOR.
She's using her platform to make real change.
From High-School Musical to the United Nations, actress and activist Monique Coleman has dedicated her life and celebrity to empowering girls and women. Recently named the UN’s newest Girl Up Champion, the GimmeMo talk show host continues to uplift, using her platform to advocate for keeping girls around the world educated, healthy, and safe. Named the first ever United Nations Youth Champion in 2010, Coleman visited 24 countries in just six months, tackling the most pressing issues affecting our at-risk youth.
While you may know her as Taylor McKessie from the hit High School Musical franchise, her true passion lies in fighting for human rights.
More from Monique below.
Name: Monique Coleman
Instagram Handle: @_moniquecoleman
Where do your drive and passion for Girl Up come from?
My passion stems from my deep belief that empowering girls does change the world.
Philanthropy means the "love of humanity." It's so beautiful and simple. What does it mean to you?
To serve without limits.
Much of your work involved traveling. What have you seen on your journeys that inspired you to keep going?
I’m amazed at the resilience of humanity. The strength of a mother to walk for days with her family to escape a war; the dedication of young students who see education as a way to a better future; the pride of a village who receives clean water. I’m also inspired when I see how little it takes sometimes to make an enormous impact.
What have you found to be the most pressing issues facing today's youth?
Self Esteem, Comparison, Feeling like their voices aren’t heard.
Do you think you've found your true calling?
I believe my purpose is to empower, inspire, and motivate people however the form that it takes is ever evolving.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
The ability to use my platform to make a difference.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
The Dalai Lama. I’d love to spend my days engulfed in teaching Peace & Compassion.
At what point in your life did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
Still working on it :)
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Nothing is ever “life or death” unless it’s literally “life” or “death”
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
I don’t. I cry.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE PHILANTHROPY LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Content Creator: Karen Okonkwo
CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO.
CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO.
Karen Okonkwo of TONL, a platform which seeks to transform the idea of stock photography by displaying images of diverse people and their stories around the world, has said, “For people to feel welcome in any industry, they need to see online that there are other people that look like them, in those particular fields. Imagery, in the form of advertising, is the first step in saying, ‘hey you are welcome and we want you here.’ That angle is very powerful and underutilized.”
“Sometimes, especially in the black community we feel tokenized,” she's explained. "I’m not trying to act like the spokesperson for the black community. I’m simply someone who is trying to provide change and influence. I may have some missteps along the way. Try to give people grace as they launch their businesses and feedback.”
But representation is of the utmost importance to the entrepreneur and content creator. For TONL, photography and storytelling can help humanize and hopefully diminish the stereotypes and prejudice against black and brown people, especially. They are committed to showcasing the ethnic backgrounds of every day people. And the Nigerian-American social entrepreneur believes anyone can do this.
“If you don’t see what you want— anyone who has a skill set, be that change. Start your own Facebook group or start your own meet up, or agree to mentor one person, that’s how we create that cascade of people. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help, either. That knowledge is there for you to take."
More below on why she says she's a secret gangsta. (We don't think it's too secret.)
You've said that with TONL it was not only important to create a database of diverse photographs, but to also tell the stories behind the people in the shots. Why was this important?
Often times the narrative for people in our community is already decided for them: criminal, thug, loud, low income and the list goes on. We felt that it was important that we allow the underrepresented the opportunity to tell their own stories; allow us to really get to know them. The hope is that people reading will embrace who these people are and not what they think they are.
When your work is redefining a category, what are you up against?
The biggest hurdle for many of us is access. We are up against household stock photography names so we have to not only be up to speed but one level better as a niche business.
How hard is it to fight the system?
Based on so many racial injustices, it is very hard to fight the system. It's the same system not designed for the underrepresented in the first place.
Where do your drive and passion come from?
I attribute my drive and passion to my Nigerian roots. We are fighters, competitors. We strive for excellence in the littlest and biggest things-its just in our nature and a part of our culture. My Dad is a successful entrepreneur and my Mom is a hardworking woman with several accolades under her belt so I had great examples growing up.
"I attribute my drive and passion to my Nigerian roots."
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When you run into a career obstacle or road block, what drives you forward?
When I run into a career obstacle, my why drives me forward. I know that I'm positioning myself to impact the world tremendously and so for every obstacle I know it's just a groove, a stepping stone for the best that is yet to come.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
My biggest pet peeve is when people smoke cigarettes in front of public facilities, especially the hospital! I hate cigarette smoke around me period!
What are your biggest fears about running a business?
My biggest fear within running a business is not being able to properly compensate people helping to build our business. When you're bootstrapping, you have to be very careful in how you try to expand, but you also want to be fair to those willing to put in the work to see your business to fruition.
When you're bootstrapping, you have to be very careful in how you try to expand, but you also want to be fair to those willing to put in the work to see your business to fruition.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
I handle the Marketing and Business Development for TONL. I think sometimes people think that I'm a photographer and I can't help but chuckle because that's not my strong suit. I mean, don't get me wrong, I can take some okay pictures, but I leave all of that to Joshua, Temi and Sam.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
I feel so complete whenever our phone buzzes with a new order. It tells me that someone was able to solve the long, frustrating issue of locating imagery of people of color online. It makes me pleased to know that we are a trusted outlet for that.
"When I run into a career obstacle, my why drives me forward."
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If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
I would love to be Oprah for a day! She is my mentor from afar and it would be an honor to see life through her lens.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
I had moved to Seattle for a Medical Sales position and while the job was everything I had wanted professionally and financially, I knew it didn't align with my deepest desires. All the while, I was starting to build new friendships in a city where I knew no one, hosting events and really making a name for myself in that realm. A friend of mine complimented me on how well I through events and suggested that I turn it into a business. It was at that point that I decided to take charge with full confidence and start my very first business which is still in existence today: Party With a K, LLC.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Give it to God. There is so much power in that piece of advice because when you realize that God has it already planned out for you, you can just sit back on autopilot mode. Every move we are making in life has been set forth before we were even conceived. When you understand that, you live life with an immense amount of peace.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
Cardi B's Bodak Yellow has me hella hype these days! I'm a secret gangsta so it's fun to rile up that side of me haha.
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE CONTENT CREATOR LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Health & Wellness: Massy Arias
THE MOST FIERCE.
THE MOST FIERCE.
There are body goals, and then there’s Massy Arias aka MankoFit.
With 2.4 million Instagram followers, the rockhard rockstar is setting the precedent for workout ethic with a holistic approach to body and mind wellbeing. What began as an effort to overcome depression soon became a life-saving lifestyle for the fitness fanatic, who says that failure is the ultimate opportunity for learning. As a certified personal trainer, Arias aspires to shape futures, not just as six packs.
Follow along for MankoFit’s thoughts on cheat days, motherhood, and more.
Name: Massy Arias
Instagram Handle: @massy.arias
When did your passion for fitness begin? Do you have any cheat days? If so, we can’t tell.
About 5 years ago when I went through a depression. Fitness was my outlet to beat it. I don’t believe in cheat days. I like food and I eat healthy. If I decide to have something that has less nutritional value and a bit more calories than usual per meal, I don’t consider it cheating. I am just eating what my body felt like eating.
What are the basics of a healthy morning routine for busy women?
Fitness and nutrition isn’t a size fits all approach in my book. When it comes to my habits in the morning, I’ve established a routine for myself. I prep the night before so it’s easy to make the things I love in the morning. Overnight oats, oatmeal pancake batter, and even overnight Greek yogurt are my top choices in the morning especially if I am super busy.
You were super honest about learning to accept your post-preg body. What have you learned about your body since having your daughter?
Since having my daughter I’ve learned I’m a superwoman. I did something amazing that took close to 10 months, it’s going to take time to feel like myself and look the same way I used to before her. I love my body even more because it was the body that helped me bring my daughter into the world.
"Since having my daughter I’ve learned I’m a superwoman."
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Are there parts of your life that have become more clear since her birth?
Every aspect of my life and even I have changed since giving birth to Indi. I have become a better trainer, daughter, and wife. I can relate to a whole new “hood” I’ve never been able to relate with; motherhood and parenthood.
What’s the legacy you want to leave on your community?
The day I die, I’d like people to remember me as someone who taught how to be fearless and how to create their own destiny. I would love my daughter to say I was her motivator and role model.
"I would love my daughter to say I was her motivator and role model."
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What advice do you have for women working towards cultivating the career of their dreams?
Have Integrity. Don’t give up on your big goal once things get tough because I didn’t. The tougher it got for me, the more I learned how to navigate the things that today are easy for me to accomplish. I have never lowered my standards and I haven’t lost integrity to get the things I’ve wanted in my career. Too many people fall short and lower their standards for the things they want at the moment not realizing they are compromising their goals. Look at the big picture and don’t settle for less.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
When my husband eats my food. Drives me insane especially when I ask beforehand if I should get extra of “that something” and he says, “no.” Then it’s gone and I want to scream.
Top 3 artists on your workout playlist?
Leikeli 47, Major Lazer, Kendrick Lamar. (Cardi B but until she makes more music, I’ll continue playing Bodak Yellow, lol).
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
I handle all my social media, create my programs from top to bottom, and all the decisions I make for my supplement company are my own. From ingredients to new products. I don’t play around with neither my business or my fans. The reason I am here today is because of them and they deserve me staying genuine and telling them only the truth.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
I love what I do. I’ve been complete ever since I started helping people and doing fitness. I LOVE what I do. I think I’ve found my purpose and I hope my love for fitness and helping others shows even if those who show me support haven’t met me directly.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
I’d trade jobs with Ayesha Curry. I happen to be really good in the kitchen and she seems to have so much love and passion for cooking that it looks so rewarding. You can tell she loves what she does.
"I’d trade jobs with Ayesha Curry."
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
At the point, I had a serious talk with my mother and I had anxiety about everything I was doing. She told me to read Ecclesiastes in the Bible and that was it. I never doubted myself. I’m very spiritual and that gave me so much confidence because of the man above always, ALWAYS, backs me up.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
The best advice I was given was by my mother. She’s always told me to be myself and not try to be what people expect me to be.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?
I hit bumps every day. I don’t look at failure or anything for that matter as a negative. I’ve learned a lot more failing or through bumps in the road than I have when everything is going great. I learn from the situation and I find a solution. But I keep moving forward with applying what I’ve learned and hopefully not make that mistake again.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
"Stronger" by Tank.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE WELLNESS LIST CLICK HERE.
How CRWN Magazine Founder Is Changing the World by Being Herself
Real Queens fix each other's CRWNs.
Real Queens fix each other's CRWNs.
“Don’t touch my hair! “ Many of us have heard Solange Knowles sing about it, but Lindsey Day co-founder of CRWN magazine is doing something about it. Lindsey launched CRWN, a hair and lifestyle magazine for black women, with longtime collaborator, Nkrumah. It’s no secret that women of color go to inexplicable lengths to transform their natural hair to Caucasian standards of beauty. It’s an arguably negative cycle of self-denunciation with a great financial and cultural burden. However, in this age of information saturation, there has been a surge of natural hair influencers on social media and a boom in Black hair care products. Both Nkrumah and Day felt compelled to contribute to this movement, finding that the one thing missing was “a premium magazine documenting the phenomenon, or authentically portraying our narrative”(Day). And thus, CRWN magazine was born, a culturally aware art platform that prides itself on showcasing only NATURAL Black hair.
Day is no stranger to running magazines, uplifting social morale, or being on the cusp of innovation, but the road to her existential success was not direct. She landed her first full time job at Interscope Records, while also editing a blog called “livelevated.com” with collegiate friend and creative director Nkrumah. At the time they were working in the corporate music industry and found a little haven in this side project. During Lindsey’s six years with Interscope, she witnessed the economic crash and the corporate industry flip inside out due to expanding technology. This uncertainty drove Day to crave ownership. And in 2009, she co-founded “Made Woman,” “an online magazine that helps young professional women connect and learn from each others’ careers.”
She quit Interscope, worked full time at MW, and took some freelance gigs along the way. One of which turned into a full time position with Intern Queen, doing content, business, and project management, honing in on her digital marketing skills.
As she was approaching 30, the wordsmith needed a change. She reconnected with Nkrumah on a Brooklyn rooftop in 2014, where they reflected on ownership, career, and voids in the marketplace, but most importantly “what life would look like if we could sustain ourselves by serving our people.” That was the beginning of CRWN.
CRWN is a quarterly print magazine with an e-commerce offering. It is 100% independent and self-funded, and has built successful advertisement relationships based on its ability and promise to stay true to its core message of authentic Black culture. This authenticity is what drives the owner. Lindsey says it’s her “love of my people, and the work,” it’s about seeing “a woman or girl flip through CRWN and her eyes light up…or when a sister confides in me about her hairstory and how CRWN is a place where she can finally see herself…These are the reminders that CRWN is so much bigger than Nkrumah and myself.” A profound feeling that most of us hope to evoke at some point in our life.
CRWN is culture. It is the Black musicians, painters, photographers, writers, activists, and visionaries of a culture that have never been honestly represented in the media, nor maybe even to it themselves. It is healing Black people in America by saying ‘it is beautiful to be you.’ The team at CRWN feel a moral obligation to tell their story and document their culture. In years to come, Lindsey sees CRWN growing into a “true media platform and hub for the culture,” where creatives and business people alike can come and “cut their teeth,” as she says.
CrwnMag Issue no. 01; CrwnMag Issue no. 02.
The co-founder's ability to show up, persevere, work hard, and trust her gut instinct, has brought her to a place of ownership, pride, humanitarianism, and cultural revival. She has created a tangible change in the Black community, and most importantly, an awareness of truth and self-love. In a world where African Americans have been systematically misrepresented, discredited, and traumatized throughout the course of history, Lindsey Day and CRWN have created a haven of acceptance, beauty, self-love, and open conversation. The powerhouse tells it like this, “This is the first time in my life I’ve known I’m walking in my true purpose.”
Arianna Schioldager is Editor-in-Chief at Create & Cultivate. You can follow her @ariannawrotethis.
MORE FROM OUR BLOG
The One Thing That Gives Women Power Over Men
And other GEMS from our #CreateCultivatexMarriott Portland popup.
Portland went off last night. Last night we landed in the PNW for a night of cocktails and conversation! We'll talked all things entrepreneurship, creative & tech with women who are breaking down barriers and actively putting in work to build a better future. Over 300 guests attended the popup at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront, hearing from panelists Grace Mahary, Jessica Naziri, Karen Okonkwo, and Heather Lipner about their life in STEM, their aspirations, and how women are the true superheroes.
Read some of our favorite takeaways below and head to our Facebook to watch the full live stream including our keynote with Sonja Rasula.
FIND YOUR TRIBE
TechSesh founder Jessica Naziri quit her job in the startup world when she felt like she didn’t belong. She told the crowd, “I never want to feel like that again. I want to make it my mission to empower myself and empower others.” So she taught herself to code— well, with a little help from her friends. “I am part of a network called Persian women in tech. We all meet once a month.” One of the women in the group help Jessica learn to code. “I’m not going to say I’m a programmer. I know the basics and that enabled me to understand the foundation. Even if you don’t want to code, just knowing a little bit is so important. These days it’s so easy— you can take an online course and empower yourself.”
Model and Project Tsehigh founder Grace Mahary also brought up that in such a digitally dependent world, there is no way to survive without getting involved in STEM in some way. So get on it.
TURN PASSION IN PROJECTS
Heather Lipner, the founder of then now-closed, but highly popular, Clashist (they made James Franco leggings) and now Drawsta, knew that she wanted to continue in the fashion world, but incorporate tech. “Augmented reality at that point was not really even a word people were talking about.” Before Snapchat even came out with face filters, Heather was doing R&D to figure out how to make Augmented Reality work in the fashion sphere. “If you don’t know what it is, it’s adding a digital layer to a physical thing you can touch and feel, and the digital layer can only be experienced through a device like an iPhone. With Drawsta you can have real time changes to your clothes. With AR you can upload a new animation— you can program your clothes in real time. It’s a powerful tool and a new way to experience wearing something. With Snapchat and Instagram stories everyone is changing their face, but it could be on clothes and surfaces.”
It could also make fashion more sustainable— something that Grace Mahary brought up.
OFFSET YOUR WORK
"I work in an industry that’s one of the most polluting on the planet, so it’s all about offsetting,” the activist told the crowd.
Project Tsehigh (PjT) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing uninterrupted energy to impoverished or remote communities around the world via renewable energy sources.
“While I was visiting and living in some of these developing nations I realized, very quickly, I couldn’t charge my phone, I would go to a restaurant and the power would go out. When you live in that condition you’re forced to see how people live and wake up every day. To think that you can't wake up every day and have facilities that run consistently— that’s how I became passionate about it. We’re working with solar panels, and as of this month, we’ll be launching our first project in Eritrea, and we’re donating 101 solar units to households — and then a school, a church, and a mosque.”
PROMOTE INCLUSITIVITY
Karen Okonkwo of TONL, a which seeks to transform the idea of stock photography by displaying images of diverse people and their stories around the world, explained, “For people to feel welcome in any industry, they need to see online that there are other people that look like them, in those particular fields. Imagery, in the form of advertising, is the first step in saying, ‘hey you are welcome and we want you here.’ That angle is very powerful and underutilized.”
“Sometimes, especially in the black community we feel tokenized,” Karen told the crowd. "I’m not trying to act like the spokesperson for the black community. I’m simply someone who is trying to provide change and influence. I may have some missteps along the way. Try to give people grace as they launch their businesses and feedback.”
She also dropped a version of this gem: Be your own Dora the Explorer and teach yourself.
"Be your own Dora the Explorer and teach yourself."
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“If you don’t see what you want— anyone who has a skill set, be that change. Start your own Facebook group or start your own meet up, or agree to mentor one person, that’s how we create that cascade of people who can enter into STEM. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help, either. That knowledge is there for you to take."
WOMEN ARE FREAKIN SUPERHEROES
“A lot of money is controlled by men, and that’s the biggest problem," shared Heather when talking about raising money and going into VC meetings. "When you go and try to raise you’re almost always talking to a man and they don’t understand the female perspective. Until you experience something or have that problem, you’re not going to understand what the solution is. It’s harder for women to get funded, it sucks,” she said frankly. “For me I’ve been jumped into a room and seen a total glaze.” Which is why she says, "The money has to also be diverse in category, gender, race, and everything so you can create companies that are targeted for what your niche is.”
Heather then dropped this AMAZING bomb during the Q&A portion.
“I just had a baby. The baby was in me and then it came out of me. And I feed the baby with my breasts. Men cannot do that. I wish I could go back to all the VC meetings I had and to the men in those rooms say, ‘You have no power.’ I wish I could have a different mind shift and just go for it without being intimidated or being scared. It’s a crazy thing to think about. They might have the money. It’s artificial. It’s contrived. And we can change that. You just need that mind shift.
Any questions?