The beauty industry has a major influence on women, and there’s no question about it. Since the dawn of advertising, we’ve looked to unrealistic images of beauty that have resulted in negative self-talk, low self-confidence, and unrealistic beauty standards among women.  But as today’s guest can attest: a new, much-needed wave in the beauty movement has arrived, and she is paving the way. Long gone are the days of using self-deprecating language to sell products that make us “more lovable”. When launching OUI The People, CEO & Founder Karen Young took note of the shaving ads from the ’50s and realized that modern brands using similar language needed to make a change.   As someone who had firmly established herself in both the luxury fashion and beauty industries before branching out and starting her own Black-Owned, Brooklyn-based direct-to-consumer skincare brand, Karen was on a mission to inform our culture and change the beauty conversation.   Her brand OUI The People offers a beautiful heirloom safety razor and all-natural luxury grooming products that cater to modern women’s needs. Named one of the top-searched, Black-owned beauty brands in 2020 with an increase of 1,150%, her brand continues to make a name for itself, while promoting inclusivity and product efficacy. Now one of less than 100 Black Women to ever raise over $1 million dollars, she recently closed an oversubscribed seed round and has now raised more than $3 million dollars!    Today, I’m so excited to be joined by the lovely Karen Young who can share first-hand what it takes to lead a movement in the beauty industry, how to raise capital, how her upbringing impacted her outlook on self-care, and how her background in psychology informs her highly personalized customer experience. There is so much I want to chat with her about today, so without further ado, let’s get into it! To join the WorkParty click HERE To connect with Karen Young click HERE To connect with Jaclyn Johnson click HERE To learn more about OUI The People click HERE To follow along with Create & Cultivate click HERE To submit your questions call the WorkParty Hotline: 1-(833)-57-PARTY (577-2789) Visit Shopify.com/party for a free 14 day trial and get full access to Shopify's entire suite of features. Produced by Dear Media

Collaboration over competition is a core belief of our team at Create & Cultivate. And it’s clear that Nana Agyemang is someone who abides by this philosophy as well. As the founder and CEO of EveryStylishGirl, Nana is at the helm of a multimedia platform that provides young women with the skills and access to obtain fashion media jobs. This is fitting because Nana’s own résumé as a fashion editor is stacked with major media outlets, including New York Magazine’s The Cut, Refinery29, Elle, and The New York Times. Needless to say, I can’t wait to chat with Nana about how she broke into the competitive world of fashion media herself and how she’s helping others do the same. To join the WorkParty click HERE To connect with Nana Agyemang click HERE To connect with Jaclyn Johnson click HERE To learn more about EveryStylishGirl click HERE To learn more about EveryStylishGirl Biz click HERE To download the EveryStylishGirl E-Book click HERE To follow along with Create & Cultivate click HERE To submit your questions call the WorkParty Hotline: 1-(833)-57-PARTY (577-2789) Visit oneskin.co/PARTY and use code PARTY for 15% off your first purchase Right now, when you purchase a 3-month Babbel subscription, you'll get an additional 3 months for FREE. That's 6 months for the price of 3. Just visit Babbel.com and use code PARTY  Produced by Dear Media

Branding is more than designing products that look great on Instagram. In fact, research has shown that great, consistent branding can actually increase revenue by 33%. Which is something Kelli Adams has witnessed firsthand. As the chief creative officer of the wildly popular canned sparkling tequila seltzer brand Onda, she’s helped the brand become a multi-million dollar business and amass a huge following of fans. Today, I can’t wait to chat with Kelli all about how she developed the visual identity for Onda, where she seeks inspiration when she’s creatively blocked, and so much more. To join the WorkParty click HERE To connect with Kelli Adams click HERE To connect with Jaclyn Johnson click HERE To learn more about Onda click HERE To follow along with Create & Cultivate click HERE To submit your questions call the WorkParty Hotline: 1-(833)-57-PARTY (577-2789) Produced by Dear Media

So many brands can attribute success to social media stardom, but very few elicit the cult-like fandom of Lisa Says Gah. After years of working in fast fashion, founder & CEO Lisa Buhler found herself searching for sustainable pieces that were more accessible to the average millennial. What started as a curation of quirky statement pieces by small, sustainable, women-owned businesses, Lisa Says Gah forged a new path in the e-commerce space as an anti-shop kind of shop—one where community, inspiration, diversity, discovery, and a little bit of nostalgia are pillars to its success. I’m so excited to talk to Lisa about all things Gah, and learn how she created and scaled one of today’s most sought-after brands by saying no to fast fashion.  To join the WorkParty click HERE To connect with Lisa Bühler click HERE To connect with Jaclyn Johnson click HERE To learn more about Lisa Says Gah click HERE To follow along with Create & Cultivate click HERE To submit your questions call the WorkParty Hotline: 1-(833)-57-PARTY (577-2789) This episode is brought to you by: OneSkin • Visit oneskin.co/party and use code PARTY for 15% off your first purchase. LinkedIn • Post your job for FREE at linkedin.com/party. Produced by Dear Media

In a notoriously saturated market, new beauty brands need more than just a solid formula to stand out. They need transformative ideas that go beyond the product itself. When Dianna Cohen set out to create Crown Affair, she wanted high-quality hair care that was more than just another clean product in a pretty bottle. She wanted to turn hair care into a special moment, rooted in ritual. You know, those little daily practices that make or break your morning—those personal moments that help you feel calm, collected, and whole. Though Crown Affair is relatively new to the market, it has earned a respectable spot disrupting the hair care space thanks to its clean and innovative products, and Dianna’s commitment to the craft of taking care—both in hair care and business practices. On this week's episode of WorkParty, we're joined by Dianna Cohen, my good friend, and the founder and CEO of Crown Affair to chat about how she built the brand from the foundation of personal practice, and why it has played such an instrumental role in the success of the business. We talk about:   The pre-Crown Affair career path that set Dianna up for success What makes her hair care routine so unique, and why creating a ritual was so important The moment she knew she was going to make the leap and launch Crown Affair How her art history background played a big role in the art direction of the brand The process of developing custom formulas vs. using contract manufacturing Tips to help you reach your hair care goals and Dianna's must-have hair products Dianna's secrets to success regarding company culture and mindful leadership Crown Affair's Seedling Mentorship Program on the power of community and connection The importance of hiring slow, firing fast, and finding seasoned professionals   To join the WorkParty click HERE To connect with Dianna Cohen click HERE To connect with Jaclyn Johnson click HERE To learn more about Crown Affair click HERE To follow along with Create & Cultivate click HERE To submit your questions call the WorkParty Hotline: 1-(833)-57-PARTY (577-2789) Produced by Dear Media

Ask any founder: When you’re running a business, hiring is tough. And hiring the right people to take your business to the next level is even tougher. It takes an average of 36 days to hire a new employee. And filling a position doesn’t guarantee success. Nearly half of all new hires fall through within 18 months. Thankfully, I have Louisa Schneider on this episode of WorkParty to share how she successfully hired the right people to grow her business—and how you can do the same. The founder and CEO of Rowan, a piercing company that’s reshaping the industry, has hired a team of over 45 employees and has over 700 employees working in studios across the U.S. I can’t wait to chat with her about how she built her impressive business, including her hiring strategy, her tips for retaining employees, and so much more. Without further ado, let’s get started. Welcome to WorkParty, Louisa! To join the WorkParty click HERE To connect with Louisa Schneider click HERE To connect with Jaclyn Johnson click HERE To learn more about Rowan click HERE To follow along with Create & Cultivate click HERE To submit your questions call the WorkParty Hotline: 1-(833)-57-PARTY (577-2789) This episode is brought to you by: Babbel • Right now, when you purchase a 3-month Babbel subscription, you’ll get an additional 3 months for FREE. That’s 6 months, for the price of 3! Just go to Babbel.com and use the promo code PARTY. Produced by Dear Media

Turning followers into shoppers is no easy feat. The savvy social media crowd can spot a disingenuous post from a mile away, so monetizing your account with sponsored posts takes honesty, authenticity, and plenty of creativity. Which is something Dede Raad, the founder of Dress Up Buttercup, knows a thing or two about. The blogger works with major brands like Nordstrom and Amazon to sell products to her 1M Instagram followers—and she recently launched her own collection of denim jackets that sold out in minutes. She was also named one of Fortune’s Top 25 Creators, along with Lil Nas X, Addison Rae, and Benny Drama, a formal recognition of her ability to monetize her platform in interesting ways. Needless to say, I can’t wait to chat with Dede about how she’s turned her followers into shoppers, including her go-to KPIs for measuring success and her tips for cultivating an engaged audience. To join the WorkParty click HERE To connect with Dede Raad click HERE To connect with Jaclyn Johnson click HERE To learn more about Dress Up Buttercup click HERE To follow along with Create & Cultivate click HERE To submit your questions call the WorkParty Hotline: 1-(833)-57-PARTY (577-2789) This episode is brought to you by: OneSkin • Visit oneskin.co/party and use code PARTY for 15% off your first purchase. Shopify • Go to shopify.com/party for a FREE 14-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features. Produced by Dear Media

Your brand DNA is the heart of your identity as a business. It establishes your mission and values, makes you unique from your competitors, and gives your customers a reason to choose to buy from you over your rivals. And if anyone knows how to define a brand’s DNA, it’s Lauren Alexander. The co-founder and creative director for the clothing line LNA launched the brand in 2006 when she was just 22 years old—with no college education and no experience in the fashion industry. And 16 years later, it’s clear that she’s found success by staying true to her original vision: to create elevated basics that don’t look or feel “basic” at all. (A feat in an industry predicated on trends!) I can’t wait to chat with her today about how she’s stayed true to her brand’s DNA, avoided pressure to give into fleeting trends, and what the future holds for LNA and the fashion industry at large. So without further ado… Welcome to WorkParty, Lauren! To join the WorkParty click HERE To connect with Lauren Alexander click HERE To connect with Jaclyn Johnson click HERE To learn more about LNA Clothing click HERE To follow along with Create & Cultivate click HERE To submit your questions call the WorkParty Hotline: 1-(833)-57-PARTY (577-2789) This episode is brought to you by: CDC Vaccine • Visit the CDC website CDC.gov for additional information you can trust about how COVID-19 vaccines can protect your entire family. Shopify • Go to shopify.com/party for a FREE 14-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features. Produced by Dear Media

Doubling your revenue is no easy task. You need to set well-defined goals, create meaningful connections with your customers, and discover new distribution channels and marketing opportunities. Which is something that Elyce Arons knows a thing or two about. In the midst of a pandemic that has pummeled the fashion industry, the former Co-founder of Kate Spade has led the luxury lifestyle brand Frances Valentine to double (!) its revenue. Needless to say, I can’t wait to chat with Elyce about how she’s grown the brand exponentially, including the old-school marketing strategy she tapped into to increase the brand’s sales by 40% (!). So without further ado, let’s get into it. Welcome to WorkParty, Elyce! To join the WorkParty click HERE To connect with Elyce Arons click HERE To connect with Jaclyn Johnson click HERE To learn more about Frances Valentine click HERE To follow along with Create & Cultivate click HERE To submit your questions call the WorkParty Hotline: 1-(833)-57-PARTY (577-2789) This episode is brought to you by: CDC Vaccine • Visit the CDC website CDC.gov for additional information you can trust about how COVID-19 vaccines can protect your entire family. Shopify • Go to shopify.com/party for a FREE 14-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features. Produced by Dear Media

Being in debt isn’t a barrier to entrepreneurship. Just ask MaryRuth Ghiyam. The wellness entrepreneur owed $700,000 (yes, $700,000) when she launched her eponymous vitamin brand, MaryRuth Organics. Despite carrying a significant amount of personal debt, she successfully built a nine-figure business without taking on a single investor. (I mean, talk about impressive!) I’m thrilled to chat with MaryRuth all about how she paid down her debt, turned a simple but bold concept into a multi-million dollar company, and built a dedicated team in the process. So, without further ado, let’s get into it. Welcome to WorkParty, MaryRuth! To join the WorkParty click HERE To connect with MaryRuth Ghiyam click HERE To connect with Jaclyn Johnson click HERE To learn more about MaryRuth's Organics click HERE To follow along with Create & Cultivate click HERE To submit your questions call the WorkParty Hotline: 1-(833)-57-PARTY (577-2789) This episode is brought to you by: Native • Go to native.com/party, or use code PARTY at checkout, and get 20% off your first order. Shopify • Go to shopify.com/party for a FREE 14-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features. LinkedIn • Post your job for FREE at linkedin.com/party. OneSkin • Visit oneskin.co/party and use code PARTY for 15% off your first purchase. Produced by Dear Media