Press Play: Create & Cultivate Downtown Los Angeles 2016

Create & Cultivate took Downtown Los Angeles by storm with keynote speakers Jessica Alba, Rachel Zoe and Chelsea Handler! The event hosted 600 female entrepreneurs and mavens of the digital space as well as over 30 brands who created one of kind experiences for our guests. 

10 Most Gorgeous Instagrammable Spots at Create & Cultivate DTLA

When 500 attendees and 60 speakers gathered in Downtown Los Angeles this past Saturday for Create & Cultivate DTLA at Hudson Lofts they first passed under a verdant archway full of Protea, Air Plants, Banana Palms, Monstera Leaves, Umbrella Ferns and more green goodness, created by Rolling Greens. LA's premier destination for unique home and garden provided dream installations throughout the venue. Click through the below gallery for inspiration and be sure to visit the Rolling Greens Arrangement Bar for customized arrangements or ask them about their myriad of Design Services. 

Photos by Irida Mete and Sarah Natasha. 

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6 of Rachel Zoe's Most Inspiring Create & Cultivate Takeaways

Photo by Irida Mete. 

Rachel Zoe may have popularized such phrases as "I die," and "Bananas," but the multi-hyphenate who credited launching The Zoe Report as one of her smartest business decisions this past Saturday at Create & Cultivate DTLA, had much more knowledge to drop. Interviewed by friend, fellow businesswoman, and jewelry designer Jen Meyer, the impeccably dressed maven shared her savvy with the audience of 500. She also blushed crimson when Jen asked her how she works with her husband, Rodger Berman who was in the audience, and still goes home and f*cks him. "I just want you to know my nephew is here, so shh," Rachel laughed. Adding her signature, "I'm going to die right now." 

"Rachel," said Jen before getting into the meat of their talk, "is quite possibly one of the most supportive friends, people, business women on the planet. When I started my jewelry company, one of the first people to support me and say 'I'm going to be everything I can for people to see it,' was Rachel." 

Here are 6 of the most inspiring takeaways from Rachel and Jen.  

They talked work ethic. What keeps her going?

"I love it. As I've grown from stylist to everything else, I am driven by the passion. It started with me wanting to be a great stylist and after that it was following my gut and instinct for what felt right." Later in the talk Rachel said, "I don’t think you can be good at something if you don’t love it." 

What resonates through the Rachel Zoe brand?

"At the core of my brand I've always wanted to speak to, empower, and motivate young women. Give them confidence to do whatever they want to do in life. The mantra of my brand has always been: Provide aspiration and inspiration, and always be accessible. Never be intimidating. When someone shows a 20,000 dollar coat on a runway, I'm not ever saying that's what everyone needs to wear in order to look good." 

Pre-panel snap in the Green Room. Photo by Irida Mete. 

What is she like as a boss?

She has an open-door policy in her office-- but she rarely spends time in it. "Roger keeps threatening to close my office because I never go in it." She likes being in the middle of the creative energy and talking to everyone in the office. "We are so synergistic throughout the company-- everyone talks, and one part of the brand could not exist without the other." As for the members of her team, she had this to say: "Don’t micro-manage people. I think if you hire talented people, you have to let them be. Let them govern their time."

"Don’t micro-manage people. If you hire talented people, you have to let them be. Let them govern their time."

Tweet this. 

What are the rules she lives by?

"It's about being honest, kind, and forthcoming. Internally and externally it's what we put out and it's how I govern my business and my life." Also adding, "Follow your gut and your instinct. I know what I know, but I know what I don't know. " 

According to Jen, Rachel is a pro a balancing her life. How does she do it?

"Before I had children I felt I was very imbalanced. I was so obsessed with my career that I couldn't see anything else. I missed every birthday. I missed every holiday. I missed everything that mattered outside of work. And then weirdly when I had my first son I feel like I became better at my job. I was better able to focus, prioritize, look at really important things in a different way, and handle them in a much more sane way. I don't get worked up about things the way I used to and that has helped me achieve some balance."

But acknowledged, "Every day is different and a struggle and there is guilt on both sides when you're a working mom. You have to know you can't plan every day. It's never going to turn out the way you think it will. The ultimate goal is to be present when you're with your children and present when you're working."  

What are some lessons she learned as a stylist that she's applied to her businesses?

"Really learning about people is the thing in styling that actually overrides all of the styling. You have to have patience, a true understanding that everyone is different; it's not a formula. These are not mannequins, they are people like you and me. They have problems and insecurities. Styling has really taught me that you have to work so hard for what you want in life. That this business is not always glamourous. And it helped me as a designer to know what women want and don't want." 

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Dove and Create & Cultivate Host Top Influencers at #BeautyIs Dinner

Images by Sarah Natasha and Laura Dee

On Friday night Create & Cultivate DTLA kicked-off with a Speaker Dinner hosted by Dove at The Line Hotel. The guests gathered on the Breezeway to celebrate and dine on cuisine from famed LA chef Roy Choi.

Of the Dove partnership Jaclyn Johnson, founder of C&C told attendees, "When I started this company, what I was looking for was real advice, from real women. Those who had knowledge and ideas to share. Women who could inspire me. This is a notion that runs through all Dove campaigns. It’s at the core of their business."

Dove boasts a near 60 year heritage in helping women to reveal beautiful, radiant skin, believing when women look and feel their best, they feel happier.At the dinner Dove unveiled their new product collection that offers a beautiful way to celebrate the women in our lives. For the first time in nearly 60 years, Dove transformed its iconic Beauty Bar with the words love, kind, care, and real engraved for a limited time. Dove Dermatologist Dr. Mona Gohara encouraged attendees to think of a woman in their life who embodies one of these words and to let her know what a positive impact she’s made by tagging her in a post using #BeautyIs. 

At the dinner Kellee Khalil, founder of Lover.ly told us, "One of the most influential women in my life is my business partner, Peggy Fry. She is a twenty year media executive and she inspires me every day to be a better leader. But also a powerful woman who is able to get stuff done, but do so with grace."

Guests sat to a simple and chic tablescape, played with flash tattoos supplied by Dove, and in line with Dove's #BeautyIs campaign, chatted about what beauty means to them. To lead-off the evening Dr. Gohara told us, "Beauty is having confidence in yourself and appreciating your inner core and what makes you unique. It’s about celebrating each other and the strong, powerful women in our lives who have helped us along the way whether it be your mom, grandma, sister friend or mentor."

Gabby Etrog Cohen, VP of PR at SoulCycle said, "Beauty is a feeling of strength and feeling like the best version of yourself no matter what you have on. Frankly, I feel the most beautiful when I’m sweaty and dripping post class, whether that’s a dance class or a SoulCycle workout. I feel the most beautiful and the strongest when I am sweaty."

For a behind-the scenes look at the dinner and to hear what beauty means to some of the other guests, like Paola Alberi of Blank Itinerary and Nicolette Mason, browse the below gallery. We invite you to celebrate the woman who inspires you by tagging her using #BeautyIs. 

Dove Dermatologist, Dr. Mona Gohara addresses the table. 

Mara Ferreira {M Loves M} shows off her baby bump! 

Jaclyn Johnson, Founder of Create & Cultivate addresses the table. 

Promise Tangeman of Go Live HQ. 

Sarah Gibson Tuttle, Founder of Olive & June (left) kept it simple. "Beauty is feeling good" she said, "and being the truest form of yourself." Mandana Dayani (right) strikes a pose. 

Ahn Sundstrom of 9 to 5 Chic (right). 

Grasie Mercedes of Style Me Grasie says, "When I see someone who is genuine, nice, and kind, I think that is the most beautiful thing in the world."

Nicolette Mason told us, "My mom definitely inspires me. She has shown me that you can be a mother, give unconditional love, and also be a business woman. She’s worked my whole life and I like to think of her as my number one role model and influence in life."

DBA and Create & Cultivate Team celebrate #BeautyIs with Dove. 

Christine Andrew of Hello to Fashion (left) says, "Beauty is being confident in who you are and having a smile on your face-- because with a smile, you can change your whole feeling and outlook."

Jessy Fofana, Maxie McCoy, and Jaclyne Franciscone snap a #BeautyIs selfie. 

Paolo Alberi of Blank Itinerary (right) says, "In the fashion world beauty is about feeling comfortable with what you’re wearing, not just because it’s on trend. The fashion world we live in is so fast, but at the end of the day, you will look and feel better wearing what makes you feel like you."

The Breezeway at The LINE. 

Images by Sarah Natasha and Laura Dee

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Top Career Advice from Chelsea Handler at Create & Cultivate DTLA

Photo by Irida Mete. 

On Saturday night when Chelsea Handler took the stage at #CreateCultivateDTLA, we knew that comedienne would slay. From telling the audience how sick she is of answering how she feels about being "the only woman in late night" to talking about her own fears, she was every bit the boss we expected. Her life advice can be applied to business and vice versa. 

Below find our nine favorite takeaways. 

1. ON HER NEW SHOW (WHICH, IS SET TO PREMIERE May 11 on Netflix.)

"There are eleven men doing the same exact thing every fucking night. Used to be two. Now there are eleven. I’ll break every rule to make it more interesting."

2.  WHEN AN AUDIENCE MEMBER ASKED HER ABOUT BEING FEARLESS

"I’m scared right now. I could fail on a global level. But I don’t think I will, because I embrace my fear. I’m not fearless. I live in fear. I just want it to go away, so I’m constantly trying to swim toward something, with floaties on. "

3. ON BEING CONFIDENT IN HERSELF 

"You have to be so into what you're saying that you can convince someone to send you to Peru to take ayahuasca."

4. ON ROOTING FOR OTHERS' SUCCESS

"I want people to move past me, I want to help them, and have them succeed on their own."

5. ON GETTING OUT OF HER COMFORT ZONE

"I don't wanna go to Russia, but I'm interested in going, because I don't wanna go."

6. ON HATING FILTERS 

"The important thing for women is to not use filters. I’m not filter friendly. I’m 41 now and I want to be a real person. And tell people, this is what it looks like, and that’s how powerful I can be."

7. ON HONESTY BEING THE BEST POLICY

"Every time we don’t tell the people that we love what we really think, we’re putting their lives off for another five years."

8. ON DEALING WITH SEXISM IN THE WORKPLACE

"What do I do? I’m fucking sexist right back. I say, 'You guys are idiots. And you’re fucking lucky I’m here.'"

9. ON SUPPORTING OTHER WOMEN

"It’s so important for women to know that they can rely on other women. Because there’s nothing worse than a fucking bitch. If it's a woman you don't like, just pretend. If it's a man, go off on him." 

Go Behind the Scenes of Our Brunch with Topshop

Not even a little morning drizzle could dampen the mood at the kickoff Create & Cultivate x Topshop brunch at Estrella on Sunset in West Hollywood. It was florals and fun when the sun came out, and speakers, influencers, and bloggers enjoyed a preview of Topshop's Summer Collection as Carly Kuhn AKA @thecartorialist live-sketched illustrations of the fashionable brunchers. Click through the gallery below for snaps of ladies like Paola Alberi from Blank Itinerary, Teni Panosian, Marianna Hewitt from Life with Me, and some scrumptious "Bread Pudding" French toast.

Melissa Lawson of Who What Wear, Jenny Bernheim of Margo & Me, Chloe Watts of Chloédigital, Grasie Mercedes of Style Me Grasie, & Marianna Hewitt of Life with Me.

Paola Alberdi of Blank Itinerary. 

Jaclyn Johnson of Create & Cultivate. And Danielle Yadegar of Above the Glass. 

Grasie Mercedes of Style Me Grasie. 

Teni Panosian and Lauren Holness of Topshop. 

Illustrations by @thecartorialist. 

Estrella's "Bread Pudding" French Toast. 

Teni Panosian. 

Paola Albedi with her personalized @thecartoialist drawing. 

Mandana Dayani of Everything But the House. 

Brittany Xavier of Thrifts and Threads. 

Sarah Sherman Samuels and Lily Berg of DBA. 

Carly Kuhn, @thecartorialist and Arianna Schioldager of Create & Cultivate.

Stephanie Liu of Honey & Silk. 

Michelle Madsen of Take Aim. 

Images courtesy of Irida Mete. 

Enter to Win a SoulCycle Ride with Your Favorite C&C Boss Women

CALLING ALL CREATE & CULTIVATE + SOULCYCLE ENTHUSIASTS. 

We're kicking off Create & Cultivate DTLA with a SoulCycle ride with some of favorite boss women (not to mention, the C&C social and editorial team). If you want to join, enter below for a chance to find your soul with us. The ride takes place Thursday, May 5th at 5:30pm at SoulCycle's newest DTLA location. If selected, we'll send you all the details! 

We hope to see you there. In love, sweat, and soul! xx Create & Cultivate

ENTER TO WIN: 

What's In Our Bag: Everything You Need for Create & Cultivate DTLA

Designed for the 7am-10pm lifestyle, the 15” Tote from Dagne Dover is the ultimate day-to-night carryall, made with sneaky compartments to keep your essentials in place. And since your day at Create & Cultivate DTLA is going to jam-packed from when you first arrive to when Chelsea Handler takes the stage at 8pm, you want a bag that’s working for you while you work it.

We’re breaking your day, and just what should be in your bag. Sorry, no hot sauce needed.

8:00 AM: You’ve been waiting for this forever!! And it’s finally check-in time! If you already have your badge, head upstairs where you’ll receive your track card, notebook, and pen. Slip that notebook into one of the side pockets. You’ll need it, but right now it’s time to grab some breakfast. Fuel for the day ahead is vital.

9:00 AM: You’ve got your coffee and your track. Find your seat and set-up for the first panel. Pull your phone from the phone compartment, snag a shot of the empty stage, and then get ready for some amazing boss-piration. Which means, grab your notebook, your pen-- from one of the three pen loops, and get ready to put facts to paper.

12:00 N:  You’re either heading to your mentor session or to lunch. If you’re going to meet with your mentor pull out your tablet (there’s room for an 11”) and record it. Seriously, this is advice you can’t get anywhere else and you might not be able to shorthand as fast as they’re doling out the goods. If you’re heading to lunch, tuck everything away, and get ready to shake the hand of the creative peer next to you.

2:30 PM: In 15 minutes it’s panel time again. Which means that notebook and pen are about to get another workout.

5:00 PM: Break time! There is so much to during the break. You’ll definitely want to pull out your phone from its pocket, take some Instagram shots (we #regram our favorites) and visit the multiple pop-ups, beauty bars, grab a juice and put it in your bag. We’ve got three keynotes ahead, so you’re going to want something to sip on while they spill their business secrets. There’s a pocket for a “water bottle holder.”

6:00 PM: Jessica Alba takes the stage in conversation with Katherine Power and Hillary Kerr. Pull out that phone and start live Tweeting NOW.

6:30 PM: Rachel Zoe takes the stage in conversation with Jen Meyer. Keep the inspirational Tweets coming. It’s maje. Bananas. Ah-mazing. All of it. 

7:00 PM: HAPPY HOUR! Tuck everything away and head to the roof to grab a cocktail, pass out a few business cards from that zip pocket, make a few moves, and use one of the side pockets for the cards you’re collecting.

8:00 PM: Everyone’s favorite comedienne and all-around shero, Chelsea Handler takes the stage. You’re probably going to want to write down everything she says.

9:00 PM: You came, you saw, you conquered-- maybe in heels. It’s a very stylish crew at C & C. If your feet are killing you, grab the sneakers you tucked into the bag. (Yes, there’s room for sneakers) and slip them on. Grab your gift bag, and head home full of knowledge, a side pocket of new contacts, and plenty of info on that tablet.

Press Play: Create & Cultivate Dallas 2016 Asks 'What's Your Business Resolution?'

At Create & Cultivate Dallas we wanted to know about resolutions. Everyone from Annie Lawless to Julia Engel shared what they want to do better and more boss in 2016.