Category: Featured

Women In Wellness: Erin Sharoni Of FOXO Technologies On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help…

Women In Wellness: Erin Sharoni Of FOXO Technologies On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Be kind. Sounds trite, but true. There’s so much unkindness in this world and we live in a competitive culture that rewards winning at all costs. That’s a false economy. Kindness costs nothing. Don’t be a pushover, but always treat others the way you want to be treated. It’s the “golden rule” for a reason.

As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Erin Sharoni.

Erin Sharoni is the chief product officer (CPO) of FOXO Technologies Inc., a technology startup using the science of AI and epigenetics to reinvent the life insurance industry. Erin has more than 15 years of experience building products and brands in molecular health, media and finance. Prior to joining FOXO, she served at InsideTracker as a creative director. Erin’s previous television career as a television host and journalist included roles on NBC Sports Network, CNBC, CBS Sports and Showtime. She also sat on Ray Dalio’s Core Management Team at Bridgewater as a management associate. Her multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving is driven by a lifelong commitment to the intersection of science and art, and she is passionate about disruptive technology that improves the human experience. Erin holds a master’s degree in biology from Harvard and a bachelor’s degree with honors in studio art from Wesleyan University. She is currently a Master of Bioethics degree candidate at Harvard Medical School.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

Very happy to be here! I’m always looking for breakthroughs that help people live healthier and longer, and that includes nutrition, fitness, technology, biology, all of it. For my day job, I’m the Chief Product Officer of longevity science startup FOXO, where we use epigenetic science and cutting-edge technology to improve the human experience by supporting lifespan and healthspan. Before FOXO, I was a television host and journalist on NBC Sports Network, Showtime, CBS Sports and CNBC. I jokingly call myself a science geek and techno freak — I’ve always had a lot going on at once. I’m a DJ playing techno and house music, a visual artist and writer, a fitness and nutrition nerd, environmentalist, animal rights advocate, you name it. My elderly Italian Greyhound just turned 14-years-old. His name is Bodhi and I rescued him 8 years ago — I’ve been a strong supporter of animal shelters ever since. I have a master’s degree in biology from Harvard and I’m currently a Master of Bioethics degree candidate at Harvard Medical School!

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

As I mentioned, I have a lot of interests and passions, and I’ve always had a lot going on at once. I think the most interesting thing someone can do is to just keep pulling on the threads that interest them and follow them to see where they lead. I’ve always done this and it’s what has allowed me to pivot careers from finance, to television, to biotechnology. The way my television career happened is wild. Long story short, it was the peak of the financial crisis and, like many finance professionals under 30 in New York City, I had lost my job. The market was in the can and I was unsure of my next move, but I knew I wanted it to be something more creative than finance and more closely aligned with my artistic background. Someone at a party told me I should enter a fitness modeling competition for the brand FILA. There was a casting call the next day. I won and was featured in a national ad campaign. I thought it would be fun to be on television so I approached FILA’s marketing director and suggested that we do a “business of sports wear” pitch to CNBC. It worked and that’s how I ended up on CNBC for the first time, where I met the anchor who I would later go on to co-host NBC’s first sports business TV show with. Main lessons: Take risks and don’t be afraid to ask for what you want; create your own opportunities and leverage whatever luck comes your way; listen to your inner voice and follow the things that light you up. Some pretty cool stuff can happen.

Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I think this is a pretty standard life lesson, but I cannot emphasize it enough: Do not care what anyone thinks about you. I can’t point to a single mistake related to this, but I can think of plenty of times that I let this dictate a choice that I’m sure had downstream effects. We’re all guilty of making (or not making) decisions based on what other people think of us, or out of a desire to appear the way we think we ought to be. This is a recipe for unhappiness and hinders success. It’s important to be kind and compassionate, for sure. But be that way because it feels good, not because you feel obligated to appease others or because you think it will help you get ahead.

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

At FOXO, we’re doing research and developing tools to help people live better, longer lives. We saw that life insurance — an antiquated, outdated industry — could desperately benefit from longevity science. So, we decided to revolutionize the product to educate and empower the consumer to take control of their lifespan. We like to say we’re reinventing life insurance the way that Tesla reinvented cars, and we’re using longevity science as our engine. Right now we’re using the science of epigenetics (your gene expression) along with our next-generation technology to make a bigger impact in the world. Health and wellness interventions need to be accurate but also accessible. Very few people will use complicated, cumbersome products that are difficult to manage. Our goal is to make it easy — spit in a tube, drop it in the mail, and receive a longevity report. It’s fast, painless, and free of charge to our customers. People don’t need to drive themselves to a lab for invasive, costly blood draws. No one wants to deal with that. Our aim is to reach more people and help them take control of their longevity using simple, biological-based insights.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

Eat a predominantly plant-based diet. This is a main key to longevity, backed up by many scientific studies like the two cited here. You could live more than 10 years longer by making this change, says a recent study. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is. Most Americans have only about 10% of their diets comprised of plants — far from adequate.

Good news: Your genes are not your destiny! This means you have more control than you think. Your environment and everyday behaviors play a huge part in your health and wellbeing. Look to your epigenetics to help guide you in that journey.

Diversity for the win! Most people understand the importance of diversity in nature; the same goes for your microbiome. It’s critical for your health to have a diverse gut microbiome and you can accomplish this by introducing a wide variety of fiber-rich foods, spices, seeds, etc., into your diet. Research shows that eating over 30 different plants per week is beneficial; there are apps to help you track this.

What you put into your body is critical, but there’s more to boosting longevity. Stress-reduction and love are so important. Mind-body connection, maintaining healthy relationships with other people, and meditation or mindful breathing practices can be helpful.

What’s best for improving your wellbeing and longevity isn’t some shiny new wearable device or new drug. What’s best is actually pretty simple and inexpensive: Eat a predominantly plant-based diet, hydrate, avoid alcohol and drugs, have good sleep hygiene, maintain supportive relationships/community, and move your body more!

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I would do what I’m doing now at FOXO. We truly believe this is the vehicle that’s going to help move the needle in a major way — life insurance should be about life, not death, right? Along with that, I am hyper-focused on bringing more transparency and ownership to people when it comes to longevity and life insurance. That’s why we allow people to download their own epigenetic data, for free, to see where and how their data is being used, and to easily opt out of any scientific studies. I’m glad the life insurance industry is finally having the conversations surrounding transparency and ownership when it comes to an individual’s personal health, but let’s really push the boundaries to encourage these leaders to put their money where their mouth is.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

You come first. Protect your time and your wellbeing or you’ll experience burnout, resentment, unhappiness, and illness. Like they say on the airplane, put your oxygen mask on first or you’re of no use to anyone else. Good employers understand and support this. I’m super grateful to work for a company like FOXO where this is a priority.

Don’t pay attention to what other people think of you. (see my earlier answer)

Be kind. Sounds trite, but true. There’s so much unkindness in this world and we live in a competitive culture that rewards winning at all costs. That’s a false economy. Kindness costs nothing. Don’t be a pushover, but always treat others the way you want to be treated. It’s the “golden rule” for a reason.

Practice the rule of 20. Before reacting to something that provokes a strong thought or emotion, first wait 20 seconds, then wait 20 minutes, and if needed, even wait 20 hours before responding. Thank me later.

Do not ever compromise your morals or what you believe in for anything or anyone, and especially not for money. Try to see things from the perspective of others, of course, but do not let their worldview dictate yours.

Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

All of them. Everything is connected and many people don’t realize that. We live in an integrated biosphere, where everything we do plays a part. What we eat, what we buy, and how we live among nature and alongside each other affect humanity’s well-being and the climate. There is no such thing as longevity in a vacuum. In fact, the things that will help keep us living better and longer are also best for the planet and all life on it. Consuming plant-based products, living more kindly towards others and ourselves, treating the environment with respect — these all yield broad benefits. This is how we bring longevity to all.

What is the best way our readers can follow you online?

Check out FOXO at FoxoTechnologies.com and you can follow me on Instagram and Twitter @erinsharoni.

Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.

Women In Wellness: Erin Sharoni Of FOXO Technologies On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Lauren Czarniecki of Czar Interiors: 5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Bring the outside in — framing your windows in soft curtains or using shades that allow you to really optimize your outside view helps bring nature into the space and that is very grounding.

As part of my series on the “5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lauren Czarniecki.

Lauren Czarniecki is the Owner and Principal designer at Czar Interiors, a high-end design firm located in Delray Beach, FL. Lauren is known for creating spaces that align her background in Interior Design and Art History as well as her extensive world travel and experiences in Los Angeles, New York and South Florida. Her designs boast a neutral, clean and sophisticated look creating a calm and serene style for her clients without compromising luxury.

Thank you so much for joining us in this series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I’ve pretty much been involved in Interior Design and construction my whole life. My dad used to take me to job sites when I was a little girl — he’s also in construction. I pushed back a little while I was in university, but ended up applying for the Interior Design program and got in. I realized how passionate I was about it while in school and studying abroad.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started this career?

I think one of the most interesting experiences I have had is working with Kelly Wearstler in the beginning of my career and really being able to see her creative side and how she works to come up with some of the concepts, patterns, and designs she has created. It has really helped me as a designer to start with the conceptual and creative side of a project and bring the fun and life into our projects.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

When I was in LA I was super excited to finally be able to go onto a job site for one of our projects we had been working on. As I was walking through, there were tile and wood installers near the entryway. We had a lot of beautiful patterned tiles in this house and for some reason I thought they were laying tile instead of wood floor and I accidentally stepped in the wood glue instead of the covered floor. It was kind of a mess but the installers helped me out and we all laughed. I told them not to tell anyone about it!

What did I learn? Watch where you step!

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?

We are working on some beautiful modern new construction homes right now in Boca Raton, Ft Lauderdale, and Delray Beach, FL. I love working on homes with clean lines and simple architectural styles — the devil really is in the details. When you have simple palettes and clean lines, you really focus on how things transition, what materials are being used, what textures are being used, etc. I work with my clients to create spaces that are warm, comfortable and inviting in spaces that still look like they were photographed for Architectural Digest.

I think that a lot of the current aesthetic has moved toward the look of cleaner lines, lighter and brighter spaces but I think our perspective and design lens brings the warmth back in — yes, we want you to have everything put in its place so to speak but we also design so that you can feel comfortable having your family sitting on the sofa, feet up, enjoying the Superbowl together without worrying that someone is going to mess up your home.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

My guru always tells me to Love and Serve. This quote has given me such perspective in my personal life but also in my work life and how I connect and work with clients, vendors, employees, etc. Yes of course you have to put yourself first so you have something to give, but after that I remember that I do what I do because I love it and want to help people love and feel comfortable and happy in their homes. I genuinely am here to love our clients, their homes or spaces, and serve to achieve the goals we have set out together.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I would say there are two people — most notably is designer Kelly Wearstler. The time I spent interning and assisting in her studio in LA was invaluable. I really learned how to research, see the world in a different light and find inspiration in the smallest details — her creativity is so inspiring and when I need a lift, I remember my time there and going back to step one to get creative again. The second person in Ryan Brown, another designer I worked for while in LA — although I had a construction background from being on job sites with my dad when I was younger, I wasn’t the one directing a job site at that young age (obviously!). But when I worked with Ryan, he helped train me and allow me to learn from the contractors, subcontractors, and artisans we worked with on site to understand the process of construction from start to finish. Both have really given me a well-rounded perspective on interior design.

Thank you for that. Here is the main question of our discussion. What are your “5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy” and why. Please share a story or example for each.

1. Add fresh florals or greenery — even just a flower in a bud vase can liven up a space!

2. Scent — add a candle or diffuser with a scent that speaks to you — I love grapefruit and citrus scents and feel that they always give me more energy in my space.

3. Soft, cozy textures — having furniture that has comfortable textures is a great place to start. If you already have your key pieces, adding soft pillows or throws bring warmth and comfort to a space.

4. Bring the outside in — framing your windows in soft curtains or using shades that allow you to really optimize your outside view helps bring nature into the space and that is very grounding.

5. Artwork — bringing in pieces of art that speak to each individual can really bring individual joy — I personally like adding artwork with pops of color into a neutral space.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

There are SO many things I am passionate about, but currently I am really into health and wellness — maybe because of everything surrounding Covid or just where I am at in my life. So, I would say I would start a movement around health and wellbeing and teach people all what they can do to be the healthiest, best version of themselves.

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this, especially if we tag them 🙂

The Queen of England — she has seen so much and been through so much change throughout the decades that I would love to gain some of her life perspective and I’m sure she has some great lessons to impart!

How can our readers follow you on social media?

You can check out our portfolio and our projects on our website czarinteriors.com and follow us @czarinteriors on Instagram or like our page, Czar Interiors, on Facebook.

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational!

Lauren Czarniecki of Czar Interiors: 5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Disruptors: Cindy Scott of INNOCEAN USA On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your…

Female Disruptors: Cindy Scott of INNOCEAN USA On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

When I was in elementary school, I got in trouble for making origami puppets for the class and disrupting the lesson with a silly sideshow. When I got home, my father sat me down and asked me if I wanted to be the class clown or if I wanted to be the best student in the class. He told me that class clowns rarely are successful in life, and that I should put my energy into being a better student. It refocused me on learning as much as I could, everyday. I’ve carried that forward with me in life.

As a part of our series about women who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Cindy Scott.

Cindy Scott is the SVP of Strategy at INNOCEAN USA where she has led the charge in establishing proven and consistent strategic processes across all disciplines on a global basis. She has been the strategic brains behind Hyundai achieving the most successful years in its history and has also overseen the high-level strategy for Hyundai’s future looking mobility research. By tapping into her analytical and creative sides, she has the unique ability to connect short term success with long term value creation.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?

I like to describe my career as a series of happy accidents. I started college as a mathematics major. After completing all my math credits, I switched to art as a major. My career counselor told me that I had a future in ‘illustrating math books’. At that point, I thought I could apply my analytical problem solving to law, so I graduated and went to law school, where I dropped out after a year. It was then I remembered a book that my aunt had given me years before titled ‘100 of the greatest advertisements’ and I got an MBA in marketing.

My first job was with Toyota’s forklift division, which gave me an entry into the automotive world and I’ve more or less been drawn to automotive marketing ever since.

Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?

I think the automotive industry is pretty insular, and usually compares itself to other automotive brands. Sometimes that results in being the biggest chihuahua. We are working with Hyundai to think outside the of category to benchmark to the best brands in the world. This is resulting in our thinking very differently about creative and brand behaviors.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

The first presentation I ever made was to the organization’s sales team. It was all about insights about their performance in their markets and comparisons across regions. I had about 50 slides. I was so nervous that I went through all 50 in about 10 minutes. Needless to say, I got an awful lot of ribbing about that for a very long time. But I also found out that they were really interested in what I was (trying) to present.

It was an embarrassing moment, but I learned a lot. I learned that if your presentation is relevant to the audience, they will want to hear what you have to say. And if you take the time to give your audience new insight, they will become your best friends.

We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?

I’ve been very lucky to have a number of mentors along the way. There were several non- traditional women in my family. I had an aunt who got her PHD and was a government economist. She would send me books for holidays and birthdays that opened my world view at an early age.

At a time when it was unusual, my mother worked full time from the time I was in elementary school. That inspired me to think beyond the normal life paths open to women.

One of my early mentors in the automotive business told me I needed to go to the field if I wanted to be successful. I was sent to Minnesota to sell parts to car dealers — something completely out of my comfort level. At first I thought I was just checking a box, but I learned so much about operations and the business in general. I also took bonded with the parts managers by bringing them competitive intelligence and what I would call prehistoric dashboards that identified new opportunities

That advice and consequent experience spurred me to welcome challenges outside of my comfort level and learn as much as I can about all clients’ business, to add as much value as I can.

In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?

Interesting question. Of course, disruption works great for challenger brands who need to change the game. But sometimes, leaders need to consider disruption. Many years ago, when I was at an agency known for disruption, I co-wrote a chapter for a book that identified seven instances where brands might want to consider disruption, even if you’ve never been a challenger brand:

1. If you are no longer setting category values

2. If you are relying more heavily on deals and promotions

3. When you feel invincible

4. When the competitive set changes

5. When your customer base looks different

6. When your customer base fails to look different

7. When you cannot articulate a clear vision for your brand

Of course, just because you answer yes to one or more of these, you still need to carefully assess what to disrupt and what to keep…

Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.

1) When I was in elementary school, I got in trouble for making origami puppets for the class and disrupting the lesson with a silly sideshow. When I got home, my father sat me down and asked me if I wanted to be the class clown or if I wanted to be the best student in the class. He told me that class clowns rarely are successful in life, and that I should put my energy into being a better student. It refocused me on learning as much as I could, everyday. I’ve carried that forward with me in life.

2) One year, it was time for my annual review. My boss at the time was a bit unconventional. I sat down, and he had written one sentence on a piece of paper — ‘be the leader that you are’. This was not the kind of review that I was used to, but in the end, it may have been the most constructive. It changed my behavior. It gave me more confidence, but also made me realize that people looked up to me, and that they wanted to learn from me. That taught me to up my game, but more importantly, it taught me to try to inspire and nurture team members to be their best.

3) When I was transferred to Chicago to call on dealers in Minnesota, a friend of mine told me to buy a warm coat! That was a great piece of advice!

We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?

If I tell you, it wouldn’t shake things up, would it?

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by ‘women disruptors’ that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?

Oh, I could write a book!! Essentially, being a disruptor is in direct conflict with the expectation that women are congenial. Disruption, by definition, involves a bit of contrarianism. That’s not ‘nice’…thus women disruptors have a hard time, as sometimes the recipients don’t distinguish the thought from the messenger.

Do you have a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us?

One Christmas when I was in about 6th grade, the Aunt that I referenced above gave me the book, ‘100 of the World’s Greatest Advertisements’. I loved that book, and deconstructed every ad –why it was great; how it communicated with impact, etc. It eventually inspired me to pursue advertising.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

When I taught marketing at Cal State Long Beach, I had many students who were going to be first generation college grads, and had no role models in their family. Essentially, they were charting their own course. I would love to see more companies engage in mentoring programs that could help students understand how to get their first job, and what to expect.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

I had a boss that used to say ‘All’s well that ends’. While he said it as a joke, I believe that every experience, good or bad, can teach you something. Regardless of the outcome, always look at what you can learn from the experience.

How can our readers follow you online?

I have a Blog, ‘Creating Brand Traction’, that I wish I updated more regularly.

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

Female Disruptors: Cindy Scott of INNOCEAN USA On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Yogmata Keiko Aikawa: 5 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Dramatically Improve Your Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Be happy that you were born a human being. There are many kinds of living organisms and animals in the universe. Among them, it is a miracle to be born as a human being who can think and act. Be grateful for that. Animals don’t have minds, so they can’t be enlightened. Humans, through various experiences, can understand whether something is good or bad, can evolve themselves in a better direction, and eventually become the best human beings they can be. It is possible for humans to raise their consciousness and become saints; to purify themselves inside.

As a part of our series about “5 Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Dramatically Improve One’s Wellbeing”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Yogmata Keiko Aikawa.

Yogmata Keiko Aikawa developed an early interest in yoga and naturopathy, which led her to travels in Tibet, China, and India. She has received the title of Mahamandaleshwar, or Supreme Master of the Universe, in India. Yogmata-Ji is the first woman and non-Indian to achieve this status. She is currently working with the United Nations on a series of international conferences. Yogmata-Ji’s charitable work includes the Yogmata Foundation dedicated to funding mobile hospitals to remote villages in India. Her global mission is to bring love and kindness to all. She has published over thirty books.

Yogmata performed 18 public Samadhis, most notably at the Maha Kumbh Mela, a festival held once every 144 years and attended by over 70 million people, including prominent celebrities and figures such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama 14th, Madonna, and Paul McCartney.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the story about how you first got involved in mental wellness?

I had acne as a high school student. My dermatologist had difficulty treating my bad acne, so I tried eating a healthy diet, doing some exercise, and even fasting. Then I came across Yoga. Afterwards, I practiced “Zen”. At one point, I became too lazy to practice what I should, relaxed too much, and I caught tuberculosis. And that was when I became more serious about studying Yoga. Soon after that, I started teaching Yoga. Because I wanted to help others, I studied Yoga and other religions, psychology, oriental medicine etc.. I eventually came to operate 50 Yoga classes in Tokyo.

Then in my late 30’s, I had an opportunity to get to know a Himalayan Saint who was invited by a local TV station to take part in a documentary program about himself. This connection gave me an opportunity to visit the Himalayas with him.

In the Himalayas, I practiced deep meditation training to achieve the state of enlightenment. And finally, I reached the state of the ultimate enlightenment called samadhi where I became aware of the ultimate truth of the universe.

I became aware of the mechanism of our body, mind and soul. And I became the one who can bless people in the world. For many years after that, I performed a number of “public underground Samadhi” every year to send blessing to people, and to promote world peace.

Now, I am teaching essential meditation to guide people to know true happiness and reach the state of enlightenment. This is about mental health. I am teaching a practical method for people to strengthen their mind, purify themselves, balance themselves, then even go beyond mind, to become one with the energy of God so that they can be a wonderful person.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

I had been trying really hard in my life, but through the experience of transcending the mind, transcending time, and transcending space, I found there was no more suffering. My possibilities expanded and my mind became free.

It means to reach the ultimate stage of consciousness.

Remove the mind from the point where you have been firmly attaching to something, then a good character from within will spring forth.

When we go beyond the body by practicing mindlessness — not thinking, dying, ceasing to breathe, stopping all physiological functions — we meet the astral body and beyond that, we meet the soul.

Then I realized that there is an immeasurable mysterious power within each person, that we are all children of God, that everyone has this potential, and to live that is to truly grow. By sharing this, we can all help each other to develop good energy and bring out the best in each other.

Can you share with our readers a bit about why you are an authority in the personal wellness field? In your opinion, what is your unique contribution to the world of wellness?

I purified my mind and body, transcended them, and became one with the existence of the source and experienced the truth. This means I had reached the state of ultimate samadhi. Then I obtained the power to change other people.

By connecting with me, believing in the Master of Enlightenment, and practicing the Himalayan sacred teachings that I teach, you can be led from suffering in darkness to the world of light, and evolve your lost and confused consciousness to become a person of love and peace.

What is the purpose of your lives? You will raise your consciousness to the true purpose of this life, and it will further awaken you to a way of life that will bring you true happiness. You will shift from the use of this body and mind and being caught up in desires and suffering to the true way of life.

You will connect to the source, believe, draw power, prepare your mind and body, and live a life of true growth with hope. As a Himalayan saint, I guide you on the path of truth. I guide you on the path to becoming the best human being you can be, and the way of living to realize the truth. I transmit energy so that you can practice it easily. That is the best way to be healthy.

Hari Baba, a Himalayan Siddha master, and his disciple, another Himalayan Siddha master, Pilot Baba are the ones who influenced me. In my 20’s and 30’s, I often traveled to India to learn Yoga. In my late 30’s, Pilot Baba was invited to Japan by a Japanese TV station. At that time, I was already famous in the Yoga community in Japan, therefore, I was asked to assist the program.

Afterwards, Pilot Baba invited me to the Himalayas where I was initiated with energy to pursue the path to reach the state of Samadhi and I was taught this meditation method by the great Himalayan sage, Hari Baba. I practiced this method deeply. It was an irreplaceable experience to meet my father of the soul. Unintentionally, I was moved to tears when I met him. Also, Pilot Baba has always encouraged me as a senior saint.

Ok thank you for all that. Now let’s move to the main focus of our interview. We all know that it’s important to eat more vegetables, eat less sugar, exercise more, and get better sleep etc. But while we know it intellectually, it’s often difficult to put it into practice and make it a part of our daily habits. In your opinion what are the 3 main blockages that prevent us from taking the information that we all know, and integrating it into our lives?

I think one block is to worry about what people will think of you. As a result, we are unable to think about the importance of what we need to do and so we don’t continue.

Or we worry about what people will think of us if we are different from others.

The Himalayan sacred teachings are a path of truth, not dependence. To be connected to the truth means to be on the true path. Just do it and don’t worry about what others think.

The second block is a lack of respect for yourself, a lack of love, a lack of love for yourself, a lack of belief in yourself.

The third block is a lack of concentration, which weakens your willpower and your ability to keep going.

Can you please share your “5 Non-Intuitive Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Dramatically Improve One’s Wellbeing”? (Please share a story or an example for each, and feel free to share ideas for mental, emotional and physical health.)

Be happy that you were born a human being. There are many kinds of living organisms and animals in the universe. Among them, it is a miracle to be born as a human being who can think and act. Be grateful for that. Animals don’t have minds, so they can’t be enlightened. Humans, through various experiences, can understand whether something is good or bad, can evolve themselves in a better direction, and eventually become the best human beings they can be. It is possible for humans to raise their consciousness and become saints; to purify themselves inside.
There is a saying that “like attracts like.” We attract those with the same qualities as our own. When you practice the Himalayas sacred teachings and change yourself, what you then attract will also change. You will be able to attract the best things. Actually, it is not so much about attracting, but rather about returning to them. So, it is important to believe in your true self; the self from the eternal existence. Believe that there is a being inside of you that keeps you alive, an infinite being that always supports you. No matter how lost you are, how swayed your mind is, how much your mind moves, how much you suffer, there is an existence that watches over you.
Do what you’ve been given, enjoy it, and be grateful. Focus on the present. You have a job to do, you can creatively make various useful things for your life, you can make things that make people happy. You can do good deeds. It is good to do things, through your body, that influence true growth of your soul and others. Then, focus on the present and enjoy it. You will not attract anything negative. This way is the least draining on your energy.
Even if you have a bad day, it happened in order for you to learn, so accept it as a learning experience. Don’t take it negatively, be grateful. Be grateful for everything. Every situation teaches you something. When the mind thinks negatively, it causes bad things to occur. Be grateful what you have learned from all bad situations. Eventually, time will have moved on and it will pass.
There is a law of karma, which states that your actions sow the seed of a cause, and the result will either be fruitful or not. Therefore, a good action becomes a good cause and leads to a good result. As you accumulate such actions, your body and mind will be guided in the right direction and your destiny will change. An action is a good action, a good thought, or a good word. In this way, we perform various actions during our lives. It is important to be aware of these actions and do good deeds without hurting others or yourself. Then your destiny will surely open up. Even if you don’t get praise from others, do it selflessly.

Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story?

This is a book about Buddhism. I enjoy wondering what the Buddha was actually like.

It is interesting to see how the Buddha lived his life and how he attained enlightenment.

After six years of hard training, he finally found meditation.

Now I am teaching you the secret of meditation from the beginning, but the Buddha spent six years seeking, here and there, a teacher of meditation and truth. At the end he was fasting and about to collapse.

When a woman named Sujata came to pray to the tree gods for a child, the Buddha was there, so she offered him some rice porridge.

The Buddha ate it and somehow gained enough strength and was able to sit down, meditate and attain enlightenment. Thus, he opened up the way.

Now, thanks to these predecessors, we are lucky enough to have found meditation without having to go through a rigorous process. And it is only by meeting a true, well-informed meditation master that we can continue on this path.

In addition, I came across the enlightenment teachings of the Himalayan saints who are older than the Buddha, and even in this modern age, the teachings of truth are still alive. It is the most important fundamental teaching for all human beings.

It is a miracle that I have the opportunity to share this with you now, and I am very grateful for it.

I believe that now is the time for everyone to become a real person.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

Where everyone practices Himalayan sacred teachings. Everyone meditates and prays.

We become people of cosmic love and give out love.

We pray for the happiness of others. Be kind to others. We help others. We see God in each other and believe in each other. There is a Source, a Super Consciousness, and we can connect to it and draw its power. We pray for the happiness of all people with love for the earth, the universe, and humanity.

We do this in our homes, in our communities, across all religions, countries, and races. Because we are all children of the universe, we all have a soul, and everyone can practice this.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life?

“When the mind is empty, the fire is also cool.”

Harmonize the workings of your mind and brain to create oneness.

Then the mind and body become silent.

Without thought, the workings of the brain and mind are stilled.

You are quiet, unaffected by the people whose activities are burning around you.

When you are not influenced by your surroundings, but are connected to God, connected to the truth, connected to the unmoving place, you can live while receiving power from it.

You can live for the happiness of all, calmly and without being at the mercy of those around you, making calm decisions, not decisions of the ego, but correct decisions.

I think this is a good way to describe this.

I believe that everyone has great talent, is hardworking, open-minded, and has good karma.

I am interested in all of you. I wish you all happiness.

I believe that everyone is interested in becoming immortal, enlightened, becoming their own master, and enhancing the workings of their own life.

I would like to meet people who are interested in maintaining eternal youth.

How can we extend death, live without stress, and make life shine?

How can we inspire wisdom and contact infinite love?

These are paths that money can’t buy, but paths that will improve your quality and make you a saint. I think everyone is interested in this.

I would share this with you. To receive a new life, to die, be resurrected and reborn.

Be like Christ, be like Buddha. Even if you have everything, don’t be satisfied with that yet. You are an excellent person who can contribute more to the world.

You will be admired in this world and can aim for truth so that your soul can further influence your next life. Your encounter with me will enable this.

I am interested in everyone. The talents that God has given you are amazing.

And even more, you will experience God himself.

Please go back to your source. I’m looking forward to meeting you. I am looking forward to meeting famous people from all walks of life.

I am your mother’s age and I would like to share the benefits of the Himalayas with you.

Celebrities, rich people, actors, actresses, writers, politicians, and more, if you want to contribute to society, why don’t you become a saint?

You will meet even more amazing inner treasures just as you are!

How about Jeff Bezos or Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex?

What is the best way our readers can follow you online?

Please search my website “Yogmata.com”

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!

Yogmata Keiko Aikawa: 5 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Dramatically Improve Your Wellbeing was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Founders: Magalie René of Workplace Catalyst On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and…

Female Founders: Magalie René of Workplace Catalyst On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

No one is doing you a favor: I thought people were doing me a favor by supporting me and they weren’t. As a business owner, it’s important to understand that you’re providing a service and others are partnering with you as a person of value. People don’t partner with you as a favor — they want to create a win/win and your talent and skill are integral to that. You are worthy.

As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Magalie René.

Magalie René is a Compassion & Confidence Expert, CEO of Workplace Catalyst, and a Transformational Coach. She supports leaders in finding the confidence to shift their habits to create impactful solutions for compassionate leadership, workplace wellness, diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging.

As a compassion and confidence expert, I use radical compassion to conquer imposter syndrome. My dedication to Workplace Catalyst along with my other business ventures stemmed from my own personal and professional journey. Working hard and doing meaningful work has been instilled in me by my Haitian immigrant parents (i.e. failure wasn’t an option). They wanted me to become a lawyer, however, I ended up spending about 15 years in Public Relations and Marketing before becoming a founder.

Throughout my career, as a Haitian woman working in corporate America, I faced imposter syndrome, microaggressions, and plenty of adversity. Those experiences created a deep understanding of the connection between compassion and confidence. I created frameworks to transform discomfort (like the discomfort that I experienced) into engaging, positive, and meaningful experiences.

With a degree in communications, I have dedicated my life’s work to teaching people how to become confident and compassionate in both their workplace and in their personal lives. Because that helps us get beyond our unconscious bias and our limiting beliefs so we can create safety and empowerment.

Our Workplace Catalyst team facilitates interactive, thought-provoking workshops, and curriculums that bridge compassionate leadership, well-being, and belonging so that the ‘Magalie’s’ of today don’t allow false narratives — external or internal — to handicap them from unleashing their full potential.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?

I use radical compassion to normalize tough conversations and I use my own experiences to relate to my clients.

Once in a client setting, I shared a term I learned from my previous relationship with my Irish ex-husband, describing someone’s departure as an “Irish Exit,” and it offended an audience member.

Hypersensitivity was a topic I covered in this particular workshop and I leveraged this real-time example to demonstrate compassionate leadership. More specifically, I used our step-by-step “Responsibility” framework to demonstrate ownership of intention and outcome. I also personally was reminded of the delicate nature of race and ethnicity in storytelling, workshops, and the workplace at large. This particular moment in my career was significant because teaching in the ‘hot seat’ was one of my most effective programs thus far.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Looking back, the funniest mistake that I’ve ever made was attempting to be perfect — which is a joke because there’s no such thing! As humans, we are always evolving and changing and I now view perfectionism as a limiting belief. I’ve learned that the idea and chase of perfection will undoubtedly damage your wellbeing.

While eliminating perfection as a goal I got clear on four key learnings that support my clients. Perfectionism is a thief of: opportunities, accomplishments, time, and impact.

Agreed! I truly believe that you can learn something from everyone at all levels. I sometimes find myself feeling as inspired by a waitress as a C-suite executive and must note that I couldn’t have gotten to where I am today without the support of many, my mother in particular. As my first teacher she has always believed in and had high expectations for me. Her mantra is “yes, you can.”

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. According to this EY report, only about 20 percent of funded companies have women founders. This reflects great historical progress, but it also shows that more work still has to be done to empower women to create companies. In your opinion and experience what is currently holding back women from founding companies?

I am truly proud to be a woman and love the increase in female founders over the years. And, yes, we definitely have a lot of work to do to increase the number of women-owned businesses.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with several Fortune 500 companies, however, the majority of them are male-led. I’ve found that the following tends to hold women back: the internalization of external messaging that says we’re not as good as our male counterparts… which breeds self-doubt, Imposter Syndrome, fear of taking risks to name a few. This is why I’ve dedicated my life’s work to compassionate leadership and confidence. When women hone those two important areas it acts as rocket fuel and propels them forward.

Can you help articulate a few things that can be done as individuals, as a society, or by the government, to help overcome those obstacles?

Self mastery, society, and the government all play a part in the success of women-owned companies. As mentioned, self-work is the most important work that a female CEO will ever do. If you don’t believe in yourself you won’t truly believe in the vision of your company. And, if you don’t believe, who will?

As a society if we are really committed to supporting the next generation of female founders we each get to move out of judgment and negative culture and shift to a more uplifting and inspirational civilization. We get to create a culture of encouragers instead of naysayers.

Many resources are out there but people with less access may not learn about them. It’s essential that the government not only create grants to financially support the vision of women-led companies, but also make resources and capital accessible and visible to all women in every neighborhood. Free or affordable classes to help women learn the necessary skills to run a successful businesses move the needle in big ways when taken advantage of.

This might be intuitive to you as a woman founder but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?

There are a lot of reasons why people want to become founders and women should become founders if they sincerely want to be entrepreneurs. However, it is important to understand that not everyone is meant to be an entrepreneur. Many consider stepping into the entrepreneurial space because they’re looking for financial independence, work-life-balance and control of their own destiny and schedule. We definitely need more women founders for little girls to look up to, but I must note that founders are never truly “off-duty.”

What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?

There’s this untrue narrative that there’s only one way to be successful when in reality there are a million paths to achieve what you define as success.

Many believe “you have to overwork to be successful” when in reality balance is what will help you achieve sustainably successful life and business. “Grinding for 24-hours a day,” isn’t it.

Another big Myth (read: lie) is that women can’t be successful founders and have families and women must instead choose one of the two options — family or success. But, women can in fact have it all without having to sacrifice their family or business. Having a supportive spouse and/or community who believes in true partnership will help you create the fulfilling life you want.

Is everyone cut out to be a founder? In your opinion, which specific traits increase the likelihood that a person will be a successful founder and what type of person should perhaps seek a “regular job” as an employee? Can you explain what you mean?

Founders must be risk takers, committed, and have a passion, love, or deep interest for their business/brand. It’s important to have a growth/learner mindset. If future founders possess these traits, I believe they can do it. If you’re someone who needs a weekly paycheck to feel “safe,” or you’re not easily motivated, and lack deep interest — the founder-life is probably not for you.

Our Workplace Catalyst programs start with “mindset.” If a business owner has a fixed mindset and is not open to failing forward, they won’t succeed. To be honest, they probably won’t even be successful in a traditional 9–5 role.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)

I wish someone had told me the following 5 things:

No one is doing you a favor: I thought people were doing me a favor by supporting me and they weren’t. As a business owner, it’s important to understand that you’re providing a service and others are partnering with you as a person of value. People don’t partner with you as a favor — they want to create a win/win and your talent and skill are integral to that. You are worthy.

Show up as your real self: As a woman I used to believe I needed to act in ways that mirrored men (masculine energy) or were inauthentic to me. People see through that and most importantly YOU know you’re not being real. It is important to show up 100% as yourself when stepping into leadership. You’ll connect more powerfully and inspire trust and influence.

There’s power in being a minority: Understand that in comparison to men, the world has just a few female founders (even fewer women of color in leadership). While that comes with a great deal of pressure and adversity you conquering and succeeding will have enormous impact. You’re among the few and because of that you’ll be a significant example for those who come after you.

What you bring to the table is valuable and needed: Imposter syndrome comes up a lot in my work. Understanding that your service is valuable and others can benefit from you — believing in yourself will take female founders far.

Get comfortable with the unknown: Embrace the unknown as adventure and turn discomfort into discovery.

How have you used your success to make the world a better place?

Through Workplace Catalyst, I’ve been able to impact over 400 corporate teams and more than 300,000 workers and step into several rooms with thousands of people. I believe fundamental transformation begins when my team and I address the people’s side of change. Conducting one DEI training doesn’t change corporations; working with people and helping them to hone their Compassionate Leadership skills and address their biases is what creates change.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

This might sound cliche, but I would love to inspire a world peace movement. We’ve heard it before, but the statement is true that “hurt people, hurt people.” Our world is in so much pain and there are so many people with fixed mindsets who can’t or won’t grow. I truly believe if everyone on this planet approached life with an open mind and took the time to truly heal themselves we could achieve world peace. Self-reflection and self-work are world-changing.

We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.

My favorite pastime is laughing uncontrollably over a delicious meal. Whoopi Goldberg and Ali Wong are two female comedians who would be incredible to meet. Comedians have an important place in society and these two are truth-tellers. It’s so healing to find the humor in the painful parts of the human experience. That’s why I find it so easy to relate to comics. Whoopi and Ali have broken down unimaginable barriers and perfected their craft despite the adversity they’ve faced as female comics. I’d love to share a laugh with them!

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

Female Founders: Magalie René of Workplace Catalyst On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Modern Fashion: San Kim On The 5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion Brand Today

An Interview With Candice Georgiadice

Iterate and Act on Ideas: Having small, achievable actions — in the place you already are- is important for one’s own faith in a project. It keeps the momentum going, and allows your own creativity to be part of your everyday life.

Many in the fashion industry have been making huge pivots in their business models. Many have turned away from the fast fashion trend. Many have been focusing on fashion that also makes a social impact. Many have turned to sustainable and ethical sourcing. Many have turned to hi tech manufacturing. Many have turned to subscription models. What are the other trends that we will see in the fashion industry? What does it take to lead a successful fashion brand today?

In our series called, “5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion Brand Today” we are talking to successful leaders of fashion brands who can talk about the Future of Fashion and the 5 things it takes to lead a successful fashion brand in our “new normal.”

As a part of this series I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing San Kim.

San Kim considers himself a quiet observer — inspired by everyday subjects, regular people going about their day. That’s where he finds his inspiration, creating his own unique visual language that references society around him. During the height of the pandemic, he focused on what he could create within the chaos: Stuck inside, as we all were, he gathered up plastic supermarket bags he had lying around, sat down on his kitchen floor, and started one by one to begin to create.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood “backstory”?

I grew up in Seongsu-dong, which is a semi-industrial area of Seoul, Korea. Back then, there were a lot of factories that made shoes and leather bags, and there was always all kinds of factory waste, like leather scraps and acrylic scraps lying around. I would go and collect them and then cut them up, connecting them together in different ways. Growing up, I didn’t have toys to play with, so I would create my own toys by hand every day. I feel like I still create the same way: Working with what’s available to me.

Can you tell us the story about what led you to this particular career path?

When I was little, I was a very quiet and shy child. Like many other Korean parents, my parents wanted me to have a promising and stable job, like being a lawyer or doctor. But I was a timid child. I understood the value of these careers for our society, but I couldn’t understand why I personally should pursue such work. To me, a career in law depends on bad incidents happening, and a career in medicine depends on sick people- and these jobs seem to require a huge amount of responsibility, with a single tiny mistake influencing other people’s lives in tremendous ways.

When I was around 13 years old, I got an assignment from school to write about a job that I want to get in the future. Just then, I happened to watch a fashion show on TV for the first time in my life. There, I could see only happy people, including the audience, the designer, and the models. I saw how people waited for each dress to come out, and saw how much joy and excitement it brought to them. I thought to myself, “wouldn’t it be great to have a job like that? It brings so much happiness to so many people.” At that moment, I decided to be a designer.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

I was completing my Masters in Menswear in England during the pandemic, and everyone was avoiding going out from home. You would barely see a single person on the streets. With my inflatable pieces that I made for my graduation work, I decided to go out on the Tube. There, I would see some people out and about. They would approach me, often with a weird look, and offer handshakes and words. After weeks of not seeing anyone, I finally felt like I was able to connect with other people by stepping outside in one of my strange pieces.

You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

I try not to do things simply for the sake of success, per se — but to share my personal outlook… First, I observe very ordinary things. I look at them with a telescope, with a microscope, in slow motion, in this way, in that way, flipping it, spinning it. Second, I start iterating right away, with very “doable tasks” that can begin in a corner of my room. Third, I go as far as I can, thinking “if not, whatever.” I always do what I can enjoy and believe in, so I don’t worry about failures. I just go until I can’t.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

I just keep my work close to my own interpretation of the world, drawing from my journal of what I see and what I feel. I interpret “fashion design” as an expression of what’s happening around me, what I see people experiencing, how I see them behaving–then I design toward my own interpretation.

With the inflatables I created during the pandemic, that was me interpreting how society was responding to the virus: As I searched on the internet I would often find images of people cautiously peeping out with supermarket plastic bags over their heads while they’re on the subway; or people doing their banking with large plastic water bottles on their heads. These images made me both sympathetic to the people, and also gave me a boost of positive energy because they weren’t using plastic bags for trash–they were being creative.

So I knew I wanted to work with plastic grocery bags for material; and then when I went about designing, my inspiration for some of the shapes I ended up with came from post-World War II Atomic Age artwork — you can find designs related to protective clothing and round spheres from that age. But that was really just about the design: I also focused on the complex emotions at that time, such as fear, and repulsion — but also hope and expectation. The reaction of mankind to the advent of a new era that had never been encountered before. These emotions were a great inspiration, and paralleled what I was seeing all around me.

Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share a story of how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist” — Picasso

Once the project is started, whatever it is, I believe in focusing more than 90% of your effort on it, researching everything related to that project. Once I observe, understand, and identify in that way, I turn it over and subvert it.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Do you see any fascinating developments emerging over the next few years in the fashion industry that you are excited about? Can you tell us about that?

While I’m a fashion designer, I sometimes wonder if what I create is even “fashion” in the typical sense. Fashion (with a capital F) — which can evoke an idea of elegant, “fancy” fashion — is almost unapproachable to me; it’s too out-of-reach. So what’s interesting to me is watching how the onset of digital fashion is opening up new ways to create and to communicate to people. In a way, it’s much more approachable, and democratized in that there are no rules. There seems to be less judgment, and there’s more room to play because nothing is the “right” way.

Fashion for me is a “visual language,” in which every decision that I make within my designs is part of a language and a message that I want to communicate. With digital, I’m excited to expand my creativity even further, and connect with people in ways I wouldn’t normally be able to with my designs — like telling a story through AR or VR, or allowing people to wear my creations (that aren’t typically wearable) in a virtual way. I honestly hadn’t thought about this before my project with VMOD, but now I see how to work with digital as a new tool.

Can you share how your brand is helping to bring goodness to the world?

Well, I just do what I enjoy and what I believe is valuable. There must be some people who share the same values as me. I just work for me and them — connecting us together.

Can you share with our readers about the ethical standards you use when you choose where to source materials?

Going back to me as a kid, creating my own toys with found materials, the idea of “insufficiency” is what inspired me originally — and it’s what has helped me form my own creative style to this day. I bring that up because it’s something I reflect on when selecting materials — just like using plastic grocery bags for my inflatables — so I “source” from what’s around me, versus using virgin materials. And, in working with VMOD, I saw firsthand how real-life materials come to life in a different way in 3D or AR — which is a totally new way to think of “materials.”

Fast fashion has an advantage, that it is affordable for most people, but it also has the drawback that it does not last very long and is therefore not very sustainable. What are your thoughts about this? How does your company address this question?

I have to be honest: I still don’t know how we can make real-life fashion sustainable. Sustainability is important, and I know I still have a lot more to learn. As a person working in the fashion industry and as a designer who can make those choices, I clearly have an unlimited responsibility for the environment — so it is something I have to think deeply about. This is partly why I used the materials I did to create my inflatables you see on VMOD — I used what was going to go to waste.

As far as digital fashion goes, to confess, at first, I thought that this world of digital fashion was not for me: My materials are easily found around me, the shapes I use are simple… So I kind of assumed that cutting-edge areas like digital fashion were outside of my reach, that they were too far away. But while I was working on this project with VMOD, I gained the confidence to raise my work to the next level in all areas — how can I communicate and express the topics of breaking suppression from standards or sustainability? My imagination has become infinite.

Thank you for all that. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion Brand”. Please share a story or example for each.

Well, I don’t think my brand is a “successful” brand just yet…Nevertheless, I will try listing up based on what I’ve learned so far:

1. Maintaining Personal Health (Physical, Mental): Focus on yourself first — feeling healthy and centered expands creativity and new thinking.

2. Be Deeply Interested: Allow yourself to be fascinated- pursuing an interest, a niche, a hobby all the way and learning from the community that also interacts with it.

3. Hone the Ability to Observe: There’s a slower pace in simply observing — for instance, sitting in a public space without the distraction of a phone, and allowing your surroundings to shapeshift and unfold around you.

4. Step Away / Lose Interest: Just as it’s important to become obsessed with something, it’s equally important to break the spell and step away. Interrupting a pattern and gaining some clarity can bring in new energy to a project.

5. Iterate and Act on Ideas: Having small, achievable actions — in the place you already are- is important for one’s own faith in a project. It keeps the momentum going, and allows your own creativity to be part of your everyday life.

Every industry constantly evolves and seeks improvement. How do you think the fashion industry can improve itself? Can you give an example?

All types of human industry seem to be evolving and changing at the speed of light. I believe in finding a balance: as we call it, 溫故知新 (“review the old and learn the new”). I find that it is key to embrace the newness- fusing it with older or different technologies, and even a brand’s identity or philosophy.

Well, I am just a small, individual designer. I always try to learn what would be beneficial for our environment or society, and try to act accordingly. I think at least this attitude can inspire some people to think about their own openness to change, their own ability to have an impact.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

Modern Fashion: San Kim On The 5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion Brand Today was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Disruptors: Gauri Shah of Zaffori On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Keep going: Throughout any career, there are going to be highs and lows but if you are able to stay even-keeled, you will be able to problem solve and overcome the challenges in a more effective manner.

As a part of our series about women who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Gauri Shah.

Zaffori is led by 22-year-old Gauri Shah.The fashion industry became of such interest to her when she was residing in New York that she knew she wanted to combine her love of business and fashion. This led her to the creation of Zaffori, an e-commerce platform that aims to shine a light on international luxury designers that specialize in made-to-order/made-to-measure apparel.

I’ve always had great interest in business and fashion. While in university, many of the classes that I attended were related to business and fashion, and I knew that I wanted to incorporate both fields into my career, and fortunately, Zaffori has provided me with that opportunity.

Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?

We live in the culture of fast fashion and long-term that model for our environment and society is not sustainable. Where Zaffori significantly differs is that our pieces are hand crafted and made to order only when an order is received. Essentially, we operate in slow fashion.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

So actually the original idea was for Zaffori to operate as a designer itself. However, I quickly realized that there are many designers who are extremely talented and just need a platform to showcase their talents to a global audience.

We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?

The support of my parents has been the most important and impactful in not only my life but in also helping build my career.

With regards to Zaffori breaking the cycle of fast fashion is a positive disruption. As I mentioned, long term it is not beneficial to our environment and society. When disruption is not so positive, well an example of that would be the opposite of slow fashion when fast fashion really entered in the late 90s/early 2000s it causes big disruption in the fashion industry. As it is so detrimental to the environment but also the value of craftsmanship and true design has diminished significantly over time.

Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.

Work with passion: If you are not passionate about what you are building and trying to put out, the end result will never be what you envisioned.

Keep going: Throughout any career, there are going to be highs and lows but if you are able to stay even-keeled, you will be able to problem solve and overcome the challenges in a more effective manner.

One day at a time: When starting a new career path, many new challenges are thrown your way but if you’re able to stay present and focus on the day’s work ahead and not get caught up in all the work for the future, you will be able to see greater output in your work.

We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?

Well you know as mentioned earlier, we are going to take it one day at a time and see what lines up for the future. As of right now, we are all working towards establishing Zaffori in the e-commerce space.

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by ‘women disruptors’ that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?

Lack of credibility, because oftentimes, women have to keep proving themselves over and over again even though their track record is excellent.

Do you have a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us?

I read The Alchemist last year, and it told a great story about the importance of staying true to yourself and finding the path that’s right for you.

Because of fast fashion, child labor has gone up dramatically over the past 2 decades. This obviously needs to be eradicated from society hence the movement I would like to be apart of would be: a safe working environment with fair labor practices and wages for all people regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, etc.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Don’t sweat the small stuff” — Stressing over small things is just simply not worth it, as time is valuable and those things usually don’t matter after a few weeks.

How can our readers follow you online?

You can follow us on Instagram @zafforiofficial and Facebook @Zaffori

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

Thank you!

Female Disruptors: Gauri Shah of Zaffori On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Founders: Mara Hauser of 25N Coworking On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as…

Female Founders: Mara Hauser of 25N Coworking On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Your family members are not your employees. As leaders, we need to learn to separate being a CEO from being with your family. Check yourself at the door and don’t dish out tasks or goals and expectations. Sometimes, all your family needs is a hug, some love or space not to talk.

As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mara Hauser.

Mara Houser is the Founder & CEO of the independent brand 25N Coworking as well as Founder & Principal of Workplace Studio. A Registered Interior Designer (RID) by trade, she has been bringing innovative concepts and problem-solving designs to workplaces for more than 30 years.

I first began my career as an interior designer before shifting into a consulting role. Prior to founding 25N, I spent ten years helping companies optimize performance through change management. Through this experience, I began implementing shared workspace concepts into corporate environments. Since then, enterprise companies from all across the country have come to me to make their spaces more productive.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?

I had been honing my knowledge and experience with flex office design for 10+ years, and I wanted to apply that knowledge to something new — to satisfy my entrepreneurial spirit as well as serve my community. Thus, 25N Coworking was born! Since then, my design firm has been able to reverse-engineer coworking concepts both for corporate clients as well as designing coworking spaces for new and established companies around the country. It was a win-win in establishing authority for Workplace Studio while also creating dynamic spaces that are literally evolving our workforce. In fact, over the last two or three years, Workplace Studio touched 33 coworking brands, planned 99 locations, launched designs for 18 start-ups, conceptualized designs for 13 “white label” projects, worked on 34 “built” coworking spaces, and refreshed 13 brands who started themselves, then brought us in to refresh or evolve their current coworking spaces. To me, that transition was one of the most exciting professional experiences I’ve had.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

The funniest mistake I made while first starting in my career was trying to send a cease and desist order to another company that had the same name as my first business. The only issue was that my attorney informed me that I was actually the one that needed to change the name because, lo and behold, they had trademarked it already!

My husband, Randy. Throughout my career he has always been by my side with unwavering support, giving me grace during the highs and lows of starting a business and just being an all around amazing father.

When I was looking to buy my first company and every company since then, he did all of the financials and behind the scenes supporting any way he could. He would assist in anything from financial advisor, pro forma, starting accounting and forecasting, IT — you name it — all while having a full-time job. Randy has treated my business as though it was his own passion project, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without him and his belief in me.

There’s a tremendous amount of research about how lack of representation in any given field impacts a person’s internal beliefs about their abilities (here’s just one). It’s not at all a stretch to extrapolate this research out to founders as well. If someone put you on the spot to name five wildly successful male founders, it wouldn’t be hard: Jobs, Disney, Gates, Musk, Rockefeller. What about five females? Elizabeth Holmes? Yes — you see the problem here. Micro-level personal beliefs may be based on societal expectations that influence a person’s own perceptions of their skills. I don’t think a lack of representation in founderships (only 20% as you said) is the only factor holding women back from founder roles, but it’s a very significant one.

It’s also the same old story: where to get funding. The opportunities just aren’t there; women are way less likely to get funding than men due to existing discrimination. Women have had to start businesses out of their own pocket or with family money. And how do women connect and meet VCs? It’s changing now, but it’s only been in the last five years that all-women banks or all-women VC firms have existed. Balancing family roles and traditional gender roles is also a barrier. That’s also changing, but not fast enough.

Can you help articulate a few things that can be done as individuals, as a society, or by the government, to help overcome those obstacles?

One thing that I always urge people to do, especially as a female business owner, is to continue to tell stories of female founders’ success on a micro and macro level. Buy their books, art, music, watch their documentaries (not just the juicy shipwreck ones about fraud), etc. Tell your nieces, nephews and godchildren about your own founding story. Give your time and resources to organizations that are funding and highlighting female founding stories.

These examples are more behind-the-scenes ways to support female founders everywhere while also bringing awareness to younger generations that women are just as capable as men to create their own businesses.

This might be intuitive to you as a woman founder but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?

Because we’re amazing, and bring new perspectives to propel our economy forward. We employ true care and empathy directed at customers, clients, and employees. We’re purpose-driven and passionate. Women founders are smart, savvy, and more tenacious — because we have to be.

In 2015, First Round Capital’s 10 Year Review showed companies with female founders on the founding team perform 63% better than those with only male founders. I could speculate on a number of different reasons why female founders are a force to be reckoned with: 1) They’re less likely to go it alone. 2) They’re often less likely to “fake it”. 3) They’re more likely to develop people-first cultures.

What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?

One myth I want to dispel about being a founder is the notion that you must come up with an innovative idea from the ground up. You don’t always have to create something from nothing. There may be a need or problem that you’ve observed and are able to transform an existing entity to serve as a solution to those needs. Sometimes your idea stems from the desire to fix what is broken. For example, coworking spaces act as a solution to the need of a refreshed, accessible and flexible office space in a world where not everyone is going into a corporate office, has access to a corporate office or businesses simply looking to downsize and maximize their square footage.

Even though successful startups have been launched by such a stunning variety of interest groups, personalities, backgrounds, and demographics, I don’t believe everyone is cut out to be a founder. It’s not for the lighthearted. In order to be a founder, you need to have a crazy work ethic and the ability to accept hearing “NO” over and over. People won’t like everything you say or decide, but you have to be willing to get uncomfortable and take those steps regardless.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)

After I bought my first company, my dad shared an invaluable piece of advice. He said, “The people that work for you will be most important — the conflict, the resolution, the culture.”

While taking a leadership course, I was introduced to the Canoe Theory: running a company is like leading a canoe. If one person rows really fast and one person rows really slow, you go in circles or off course. You need to be running at the same pace and aligned with each other to get to the end of the race fastest.

Making a decision as a CEO is important even though it might be the “wrong” one. Companies fumble when there is indecision. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut and make a decision to keep things moving. That’s a huge part of leadership.

On the other hand, sometimes you have to sit back and let other people move things forward. Trust your team — you built it. Sometimes you need to fill the “visionary” role and let others make the decisions without micromanaging

Your family members are not your employees. As leaders, we need to learn to separate being a CEO from being with your family. Check yourself at the door and don’t dish out tasks or goals and expectations. Sometimes, all your family needs is a hug, some love or space not to talk.

How have you used your success to make the world a better place?

I don’t want to just make the world a better place for one person, I want to create a space that makes the world a better place for everyone. It’s the reason I love coworking — it inherently inspires collaboration, drives the importance of community and provides priceless business tools and resources. Through coworking spaces, people launch businesses they might not have been otherwise able to without the resources inbuilt in a coworking space. These businesses go on to create a better world for others. I want this to develop exponentially, and I believe coworking spaces enable that.

If I could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, it would be a revolution in company cultures across the world. Individuals are increasingly choosing to align their careers with their personal values. Business entities need to take meaningful action to prioritize a culture of well-being and help employees find connection and balance. If companies could shift to a people-first mindset rather than a mindset of “getting the most out of an employee while they can’’, the impact on mental health, sustainability and even output would be monumental.

There are so many business men and women that I would love the opportunity to connect with. While I’m an avid listener of the How I Built This Podcast, I’ve been impressed with their most recent guests including Sarah Blakely of Spanx, Alli Webb of Drybar, Jen Rubio of Away and Elizabeth Cutler and Julie Rice of SOul Cycle. A common thread between all of these guests are their culture, common beliefs and dedication to creating “tribal devotion” through their corporate environments. The way each of these leaders treat employees and customers is inspiring, and behavior I strive for when thinking of entrepreneurship.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

Female Founders: Mara Hauser of 25N Coworking On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Founders: Maclovia Nunez of Seduiré Studio On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed…

Female Founders: Maclovia Nunez of Seduiré Studio On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Success is 75% who you’re being and 25% what you’re doing. There is always more to do in entrepreneurship. A never-ending task list is standard and will likely never change. By considering the task at hand and asking how you can bring in more aliveness and joy, you will find yourself feeling not as drained and more intentional. The invitation here is to find ways to make your work more enjoyable, and while not everything can be, it doesn’t mean we don’t try. We did not start our own companies to end up in the same position or even worse position than where we started in corporate.

As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Maclovia Nunez.

Seduiré Studio is a business strategy and embodiment studio helping ambitious thought leaders reignite their passion, pleasure, and purpose in business and life. Our offerings blend five-star business operations and experiential luxury with feminine desires to help women create wildly successful businesses that feel aligned from the inside out. Through our done-for-you business strategy and embodiment coaching, we’re dedicated to helping women stop playing small and step into the leader we know they’re destined to be.

My backstory is similar to most entrepreneurs. I took the traditional path of attending college where I earned my master’s in digital media audience strategy and a minor in business management. I spent six years working with different companies ranging from non-profits to start-ups to multi-million dollar companies. However, as time went on, I felt unfulfilled by my roles and desired to create something of my own that would give me the freedom I was looking for. As a mom, this is especially important to me because being around for the special moments is what matters most to me. I started building my brand in my free time while I was working my 9–5. Once my husband received orders to Japan, I put my two week notice in and never looked back.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?

There is not a single most interesting story, however, it’s a collection of tiny ones. As I began leading my company and growing, I realized that my time in college and corporate did little to prepare me for the wild ride that is entrepreneurship. I soon figured out that knowing how to do the work of a business has nothing to do with building a business that works. I truly thought with my degree and background that I could take that experience of what I was doing for someone else and replicate it for myself, but the reality was something entirely different. I had to learn how to do everything by myself which meant focusing my attention on what was necessary and important. Honestly, it gave me a much deeper appreciation for the CEOs I worked with in the past. Running your own business is no joke!

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I would not necessarily call it a mistake, but it was definitely a learning opportunity that gives me a few giggles to this day. The first iteration of my brand was something that was quickly thrown together and put out into the world. There was no depth of strategy or intention behind it and it definitely shows! Anytime I need a reminder to see how far I’ve come, I go back and look at the old website and photos. I learned there is nothing wrong with slowing down and pulling back to slingshot forward.

I like to think of my brand as a beautiful, collective effort that would not be successful today without the help of the consultants, brand designers, and copywriters I have worked with who helped bring my vision to life. However, if I have to name one person, it would be my mom. As a kid, she use to tell me I could be whatever I wanted to be when I grew up. I wholeheartedly believed this and wanted to be the first woman president of the United States. She believed in me even when I went through tough years as a teenager and young adult. She truly taught me what it means to genuinely love other people as they are and not as we wish them to be. She lived with me and supported my biggest dreams up until she passed in 2019.

In my experience, I would say the multiple barriers faced by women today are a result of our culture and systems in place. Women founders face biases, fear of failing, financial insecurity, and the narrative around work/life balance. For instance, young boys and men are given specific narratives around risk-taking, entrepreneurship, and failing that young girls and women are not. In college, the majority of my business classes were made up of a large percentage of men. I don’t say this to belittle men because their perspective is valuable. However, when it is the only perspective taken into consideration because it’s the overwhelming majority, that’s when the narrative becomes skewed. Lastly, many women are desiring to create their own definition of what it looks like to build a successful company. These new ideals and ways of doing things can make it difficult to operate in a world that values being linear over cyclical, especially when it comes to funding initiatives. As women, it is important we realize we don’t have to create companies in the way that’s been done before. We can create something new.

Can you help articulate a few things that can be done as individuals, as a society, or by the government, to help overcome those obstacles?

As a society, we need to start redefining what success looks like and realize that everyone is entitled to their own definition. On a societal level, we need to encourage young girls to develop entrepreneurial skills, showcase more women founders, and provide affordable and easy access to resources and information on how to start a company. On an individual level, we can start by recognizing any biases we may have around what a woman founded company looks like and shift our internal narrative to one of curiosity versus accusing or shutting down. By sharing knowledge and different perspectives and voices, we create a society that is more open to innovation. Can you imagine what could be created if we allowed those with new ideas and ways of doings thing to be who they desire to be? As individuals, we should always be questioning and asking why and be brave enough to face the answer. I believe as more individuals start to reflect, this will create an impact on society and government as a whole.

This might be intuitive to you as a woman founder but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?

More women should become founders because of our excellent ability to lead with emotional intelligence, collaboration, and intuition. These are excellent skills for founders because they are needed to effectively lead a team, create jobs, increase revenue, pioneer innovation, and so much more. The ‘soft’ skills that women innately have are exactly what make us exceptional at founding and running a company.

What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?

The biggest myth I would like to dispel is that of hustle culture and the ‘you can have it all’ narrative. The women I’ve worked with, myself included, have created success in our lives and businesses by choosing to prioritize intention over massive to-do lists and burn out. The common advice is that you must constantly sacrifice and work to create success. While dedication and consistency are important, those traits are not synonymous with burn out and overwhelm. You get to create success on your own terms if you are bold enough to define and pursue what that looks like for you. As a founder, you are the leader who must embody what it is you desire your culture to look like. What are you embodying? Intention and focus or burn out and overwhelm? Lastly, the ‘you can have it all’ narrative. I find this narrative can do more harm than good without context. I do believe you can live a richly satisfying life of your creation. However, you are always saying no to something and sometimes you will have to choose. You get to have it all, but it may not be all at once especially at the beginning.

No, not everyone is cut out to be a founder. The specific traits that increase the likelihood that you will be a successful founder is the ability to lead yourself, devotion, dedication, and willingness to put one foot in front of the other even when it looks like everything is crumbling around you. The way you embrace your failure will say more about you than how you embrace your success. I often find that intrapreneurs have these same qualities, however, they choose to be under the umbrella of a successful company. If you have no desire to lead a team, strategize, make the difficult decisions, or fail then being a founder may not be for you. As a founder, it is our job to lead a movement around a vision and that takes devotion and dedication that not every person cares to have.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)

When it becomes less about me, it becomes more about you. When I first started out, I was in a space of wanting to quickly sign clients and make money. The focus was primarily on myself which led to me feeling unfulfilled regardless of how many clients I worked with or revenue goals I hit. I began to realize that what I do has absolutely nothing to do with me, and everything to do with who I’m here to serve and the mark I’m meant to leave on this world. When we remove ourselves from the pedestal and give our company over to the vision, you will find the people you’re meant to serve and who will rally your cause.
Build out your systems as you go and before you’re ready. Your systems are what makes you money. Ideally you’ll want to set up your company to be run by systems and then have the team run the system. The best time to start building them is before you’re booked out and ready to bring on a team. You do not need to be at a certain revenue number before implementing systems.
Sales informs marketing. As someone who has worked extensively in marketing, I am sad to admit that when I started my business I had no clue that sales informed marketing which is all too common in companies that operate in silos. To create an effective marketing strategy, you must first know your sales forecast and strategy.
Business is cyclical. Not linear. We hear the common narrative that business should always be expanding and growing. However, business will ebb and flow as all things do. There will be times you experience exponential growth and be in a state of creative flow, and there will be times where you need to let things go and re-evaluate. As in life, there’s a season for everything.
Success is 75% who you’re being and 25% what you’re doing. There is always more to do in entrepreneurship. A never-ending task list is standard and will likely never change. By considering the task at hand and asking how you can bring in more aliveness and joy, you will find yourself feeling not as drained and more intentional. The invitation here is to find ways to make your work more enjoyable, and while not everything can be, it doesn’t mean we don’t try. We did not start our own companies to end up in the same position or even worse position than where we started in corporate.

How have you used your success to make the world a better place?

We recently started a new initiative to donate 10% of each contract to a non-profit of our choice. I firmly believe in women empowerment, diversity and inclusion, the health of the environment, and ending generational cycles of poverty. I do my best to incorporate these values throughout my offerings in different ways and look forward to adding in new initiatives in the future, such as scholarships, free educational resources, and more.

A movement I believe would bring the most good is providing free and quality education on how to create wealth to those in poverty stricken communities. It is the birth-right of every individual to live a life of safety, love, and empowerment. When we stop trying to build ourselves up on the backs of others and instead invite others up to join us and give them the means and ability to do so, I believe we will build a much happier world.

I would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with Shonda Rhimes. I love the work she has created and her dedication to working with those in underrepresented communities all while being a mother.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

Female Founders: Maclovia Nunez of Seduiré Studio On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Women In Wellness: Katie Pedrick of Point On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support…

Women In Wellness: Katie Pedrick of Point On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Get comfortable with the idea that you must be bad at something before you can be good at it. We’re all learning as we go, and it’s okay if the first draft of a project or your first social media posts aren’t perfect.

As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Katie Pedrick.

As the cofounder, chief health officer for Point, Katie Pedrick provides the custom acupressure protocol for all users, like what she does for patients at V.I.B.E Wellness, her thriving acupuncture practice in Boston. Katie’s extensive background in the medical field dates to her time at Boston University where she studied cancer genomics and earned a bachelor’s degree in genetics.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

I grew up in Vermont with parents who were always focused on health. At school, I was the kid with the “weird” lunches that consisted of organic tofu and carob cookies instead of bologna sandwiches and fruit roll ups. For as long as I can remember, whenever any health issues in our family came up, the question was always “what are the diet and lifestyle changes that should be made” and never “what are the medication options.” During college, I was absolutely convinced that I wanted to be a doctor. I studied genetics, then started working in cancer research at a top cancer center to get my feet wet. Very quickly, I discovered that Western medicine was not for me. For everything that could go wrong in the body there was a pill. Then there was a pill for the side effects of the first pill, and another pill for the side effects of the second pill, and so on. Prevention of the disease, diet, and lifestyle therapy options like I had seen growing up were never discussed. It all felt very backwards and reactive rather than proactive. I knew that I wanted to help people improve their health, but I also knew I didn’t want pharmaceuticals to be my first line of defense.

After some soul searching, I discovered Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and without looking back, I decided to get my doctorate in acupuncture, and herbal medicine. What I find beautiful about TCM is that it strives to understand and address the root cause of the disease. We even divide treatments into two categories: “root” treatments that tackle the true underlying cause, and “branch” treatments that address uncomfortable symptoms. The goal is always to help one’s body heal itself, rather than using medication to mask symptoms. My true love and passion are combining modern science with traditional medicine, so I also got a master’s degree in Biotechnology where I wrote my thesis on using traditional herbal medicine in the treatment of depression. I own a wellness practice in Boston called VIBE Wellness, and most recently cofounded an acupressure iOS app called Point Acupressure.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

Every day in the clinic I’m amazed by my patients and how Traditional Chinese Medicine has the power to totally transform their lives. One of my favorite stories (shared with permission) is of a patient who was struggling to get pregnant. Although she was in her 30s, she had only ever had a handful of natural periods. She had been on hormonal birth control since she was a young teen, which she had stopped more than a year earlier, yet her period hadn’t returned. She had been told by her doctors that IVF was her only option, but a friend urged her to come see me, so she thought, “why not.” I set her up with herbs, provide lifestyle advice, and an acupuncture treatment plan. Within two weeks she had her first natural period in over 20 years. The next month she was pregnant and is now the mother of a healthy beautiful baby girl. It’s amazing how our bodies have a remarkable ability to heal themselves. Sometimes the smallest tweaks can make the biggest difference, and the key is knowing which tweaks are most appropriate and effective for one’s unique body.

Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Starting a business is scary. When I first graduated from acupuncture school, I knew I wanted to start my own practice, but was terrified of going at it alone. What if I failed? I don’t know why it feels safer to do something scary with a buddy, but it does. I decided to partner with a dear friend from school. Unfortunately, it was a disaster! On the clinical side everything was perfect. Patients were getting better; they were so happy with their treatment that friends were being referred and our business was growing. On the business side, it was a different story. We were two strong willed people with an equal say in a business, where we had a difference of opinion that became apparent within a few months. It was not a recipe for success, and it ultimately ruined our friendship. This was a painful experience, but I learned a lot — most importantly, to trust in myself that I could do it alone. Now I mentor other women who are starting their own businesses and surprisingly, it’s always a familiar story. The woman has a brilliant idea, but is afraid to go at it alone, so her solution is to ask a friend. I always encourage the person to question that choice. What are her reasons for taking on a partner? Does that partner bring skills or expertise to the table that she doesn’t have? Could she be just as successful and build this business alone?

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

Health and wellness are something that impacts all of us, but not equally across the socioeconomic spectrum. America has some of the largest income related health disparities in the world. People in the top 1% of income have an expected lifespan of a full 15 years [1] longer than those in the bottom 1%. Why is that? It isn’t just about having access to better doctors and care while one’s sick, it’s also about having access to a wide variety of preventative health services that keep one from getting sick in the first place. When we talk about wellness, we’re effectively talking about preventative techniques — eating high quality food, having a movement routine, practicing stress management, and supplementation etc.… The problem is that these things are expensive, and the traditional insurance model doesn’t typically cover them. I strongly believe that we should all have access to the information that can help one take control of his/her life to help prevent illness and live one’s healthiest life.

Therefore, my cofounders, and I created the Point Acupressure app! The app takes the user through a series of questions — just like an acupuncturist would in his/her office — to get a sense of one’s overall health and where it could be improved. It then tells the user what imbalances it sees and creates a custom wellness plan, which includes acupressure that can be done at home, diet modifications, lifestyle advice, and even supplement recommendations. All the pieces of the preventative health puzzle that used to be very expensive is now customized. The yearly cost of the app is a fraction of the cost for just one session with an acupuncturist, and as part of our commitment to making things affordable, most of the app is completely free! Our goal is to empower as many people as possible to be educated about their health so they can live healthier lives.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

Learn to listen to your body. We’re often taught to ignore a lot of instincts — we eat until the plate is empty not until we’re full. We stay in uncomfortable social situations out of politeness, and we forego sleep to meet deadlines. This sort of habitual ignoring of our most basic internal instincts teaches us to tune them out. However, our bodies are constantly trying to tell us what they need. Learn to pay more attention to what your body is saying, and really listen in. What foods make you feel good, and vice versa which make you feel bad? Not necessarily while you’re eating them, but in the hours after. What exercise leaves you feeling energized for the day, and what leaves you feeling depleted? Does your body intuitively need more rest than you’re giving it? These are all important questions that your body has unique answers for, and those answers will help guide you to optimal wellbeing.
Eat more plants. Seriously. You cannot eat too many plants, and odds are very good that you’re not eating enough. Compared to 50 years ago, our soil today is depleted in vitamins and nutrients, which means that the food we now eat is substantially lower in those same vitamins and nutrients than it once was. Our bodies are designed to thrive on large quantities of vegetables and <10% of us eating even two cups a day. It doesn’t have to be broccoli if that isn’t your preference, choose any plants that feel good to you (yes, even fruits), and just eat more of them!
Sleep more. When life gets stressful, sleep is the first thing that gets cut, but it’s imperative to helping nearly every one of our body systems function properly. Sleep is so critical that sleeping less than 7 hours a night is associated with an increased risk of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, mental illness, and even death. If you could slash your risk for all those diseases by doing something as pleasurable as sleep, why wouldn’t you?
Move your body every day. Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore, and it doesn’t have to be something that takes tons of time out of your schedule. What our bodies need isn’t always intense CrossFit classes (unless those feel good to you and you love doing them!), all you need to get many of the benefits of regular exercise is doubling your resting heart rate for a total of 30 minutes. That’s as easy as taking a brisk walk on your lunch break with a friend! Choose an activity you enjoy and do it every single day.
Acupressure. Acupressure is an amazing self-care practice that can combine the benefits of mindfulness meditation with the benefits of regular acupuncture. Peer reviewed data demonstrates its efficacy for anxiety, sleep issues, digestive health, stress management, and many other ailments. If you aren’t sure where to start, check out the Point Acupressure app on iOS for guided sessions to get you going.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I look forward to a time when acupressure and the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine are as common as taking Advil! We’re working hard on creating that movement with the Point Acupressure iOS App. Chinese medicine is wonderful because it doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to health, but instead it looks at the body as a unique being. The Point Acupressure app is so revolutionary because it’s powered by AI that creates a unique TCM diagnosis based on how I diagnose people in my clinic. This means it’s truly a personalized wellness plan in the palm of one’s hand, for pennies (or free!) a day.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

There’s room for everyone at the top. Avoid the temptation to compete with your peers and instead allow them to become your greatest allies.
Get comfortable with the idea that you must be bad at something before you can be good at it. We’re all learning as we go, and it’s okay if the first draft of a project or your first social media posts aren’t perfect.
Enjoy the process. Building anything — a business, an app, a new wellness plan — takes time and patience. It can feel frustrating when you haven’t “made it” yet, but the journey is where you learn the most.
Be curious and open to other perspectives. The people we meet who seem the most different from us on the surface often have the most to teach us.
It is always worth it to chase your dreams. It’s scary to start something new, but don’t ever let the fear of failure stop you from trying.

Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine we think of mental and physical health as being intricately intertwined. One does not exist without the other. I love that mental health is becoming a bigger part of everyday conversation because, until recently, it was often overlooked and ignored. If you’re suffering from a serious mental health diagnosis you should always seek the help of a licensed medical provider. And I strongly encourage those who suffer with more minor forms of mental health concerns to think of their symptoms in the context of their total body health as well. The gut and brain can be very closely linked. About 60% of people who have diagnosed anxiety or depression suffer with IBS, versus just 15% in the general population. Our body systems do not act in isolation and taking a bird’s eye holistic approach to both mental and physical health can allow one to balance both the mind and body simultaneously.

What is the best way our readers can follow you online?

You can find me on a variety of social platforms!
Instagram: @ vibeacupuncture & @ pointacupressure

Tiktok: @ pointacupressure
Youtube: Katie the Acupuncturist

and in my iOS App Point Acupressure

[1] Chetty R, Stepner M, Abraham S, et al. The Association Between Income and Life Expectancy in the United States, 2001–2014. JAMA. 2016;315(16):1750–1766. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.4226

Thank you for these fantastic insights!

Women In Wellness: Katie Pedrick of Point On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.