Anastasia White is the founder of Crescent Bleu, a sustainable swimwear line that focuses on building timeless and eco-friendly products for women to celebrate themselves in.   Born and raised in New Orleans, Anastasia discovered her love of fashion when her mother taught her how to sew at just 5 years old. She fell in love and knew that being a fashion designer was her calling. She moved to NYC after college and worked in corporate fashion for over 20 years. Throughout that time she saw the fashion industry transform and evolve but eventually left the corporate world to pursue her dream of starting her own swimwear line.   In our conversation we discuss: Her experiences in the corporate fashion world and what she learned from it Launching her company in the midst of the pandemic and how she persevered Why it’s important to build safe spaces where Black women can be represented and celebrated The importance of building your community as a social entrepreneur And why no business has the capacity to do sustainability“perfectly” yet, but why it’s important for business owners to be committed to taking small steps and doing what they can through their own particular business model / product   Anastasia is hopeful about the future of the fashion industry and is doing her part to set a higher standard, not just by creating a sustainable product, but by creating a safe space where Black women and diverse bodies can be celebrated.   Connect with Anastasia:   https://crescentbleu.co   https://instagram.com/crescentbleu?utm_medium=copy_link     Support their crowdfunding campaign with iFundWomen   crescent bleu™ a perfect fit for you & the planet! | IFundWomen      Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here: https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Type A Podcast - For & About Impact Entrepreneurs

Episode 50: Celebrating Black women & diverse bodies through sustainable swim with Anastasia White - Founder, Crescent Bleu

Madlyn McArn is a freelance producer who specializes in both live and digital events, a role that she created for herself in the midst of what is being referred to as the “Great Resignation”. Maddy has spent the majority of her career in NYC, navigating the publishing world in roles at Cosmopolitan, Redbook and Time Out New York. When an opportunity arose to lead the events department, she challenged herself to take on the role. This career move led to her transition into the events exclusively, an industry that took quite the hit in the midst of the global pandemic.  In our conversation, we discuss: Why it’s important to have women in your corner  who aren’t afraid to help you (9 min) Learning to recognize if there is opportunity to challenge yourself - or if it’s time to walk away from a specific role (16 min) The difference between having will vs. skill (18 min) How to start the process of detaching your identity from your work (25 min) And why it’s ok to ask for help (25min)   At a time when the world of work is being redefined and people are reassessing what is important to them, Maddy is emblematic of how the future can be even better than you could’ve imagined if you’re willing to look beyond what has been conventionally labeled “success” and be willing to redefine your career on your own terms. Connect with Maddy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madlynmcarn/ Email: maddymcarn@gmail.com    Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here: https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Episode 49: Resigning to re-align with Madlyn McArn, Freelance Producer, Live & Digital Events

Alexandra Cohl is a writer, social media strategist and founder of POD.RALAND, a space dedicated to amplifying diverse women’s voices in podcasting. Alexandra has spent the majority of her career in education but has always been inspired by the women who have carved out non-linear career paths. As an advocate for women’s stories and diverse voices, her journey finding her own voice has given her the strength to help uplift and amplify others and ultimately created the foundation for her company. In our conversation, we discuss: Why every job we have is integral to our career path (6 min) Why stability and the ‘safe’ choice can be limiting (8 min) Why building a business can be like writing a thesis Her thoughts on podcasting vs. Clubhouse (27 min) And why you shouldn’t underestimate the power of smaller media outlets (46 min) As our society progresses and detaches from linear definitions and storylines, Alexandra is helping to diversify the landscape of storytelling by amplifying voices that need to be heard and helping to ensure that more women are being listened to in every industry.   Connect with Alexandra https://www.poddraland.com/ https://www.instagram.com/pod.draland/?hl=en   Listen to the Pod Broads https://www.poddraland.com/the-pod-broads-a-podcast-about-women-in-podcasting   Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here: https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Episode 48: Listening to women with Alexandra Cohl, Writer & Founder, POD.RALAND

Kelly Travis is a certified health and success coach who helps ambitious people to recognize their individual value and worth as they reach big goals.   Kelly was a competitive athlete, earning a scholarship to college but had to eventually drop out due to internal and external pressures to be perfect. After becoming hospitalized, Kelly realized that although she was applauded for seeming healthy on the outside, internally she was truly struggling.   In our conversation, we discuss: Her journey with prioritizing her mental health How she built her own business after slowly being pushed out of a male dominated space The courage it took to leave her abusive marriage Why so many women struggle with self-trust - and why she’s made it her goal to help them build that trust And why perfection isn’t the goal - but healing is.   As a woman who has first hand struggled with many issues that women face, Kelly aspires to be the support system she desperately needed for her 20-year old self. By promoting self-acceptance and detaching from the idea of perfectionism, Kelly believes that to in order to have an impact on the world, we have to first start with ourselves.   Connect with Kelly: http://www.kellytravis.net/about https://www.instagram.com/kellythealth/   Listen to the She Doesn’t Settle Podcast http://www.kellytravis.net/podcast    Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here: https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Episode 47: Making an impact starts with your mental health with Kelly Travis, Health and Success Coach

Kirn is a conscious brand mentor who is the founder of Elume. Breaking away from traditional ideas about business, Kirn is working to help entrepreneurs build human-centered brands that align with their personal values. Having spent 7 years climbing the corporate ladder, Kirn cultivated an impressive skillset helping corporations with business strategy and optimization. However, the traditional idea of success always felt out of alignment with who she was and what she wanted. As she began to unpack and unlearn the linear ideas of success that society has prescribed to us, she realized that she wanted to create a life that felt in alignment with her values - and help others do the same. In our conversation we discuss: Her journey into entrepreneurship The internal work / healing required to build an intentional and impactful business Why it’s important to challenge norms and systems to build a successful business in today’s landscape and why we need to normalize putting humanity back into business Kirn is doing the work to redefine what business looks like by helping others build conscious brands that fit their lifestyles.  Connect with Kirn & Elume https://www.elume.co/ https://www.instagram.com/elume._/   Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here: https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Episode 46: Redefining business by building human-centered brands with Kirn Gill, Founder - Elume

Melissa Loh and Joy Souligny are on a mission to get more women investing. With a similar passion of helping women become economically empowered, they became the cofounders of Investera, an educational platform and community designed to help women build their financial intelligence. Although money is a relevant topic for everyone, for so long women have been left out of the conversation. Joy and Mel are working to rebrand what financial education looks like by making it relatable and accessible so that women know how to invest in themselves and their futures. In our conversation we discuss: Their incredible, serendipitous cofounder story Why learning about finance isn’t just about money - it’s about participating in the global economy Why it’s important to reset your money mindset and to know your net worth Why building wealth doesn’t have to conflict with your values And why it’s never to late to start investing in your future As advocates for empowerment and sustainability, Mel and Joy are leading the way for a new era of investing, one that is inclusive, impactful and accessible. LEARN MORE: LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/jsouligny https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissaloh/ Instagram: investera.io Website: www.investera.io   WORKSHOP: Bitcoin for Beginners April 13, 2021 Promo code “TMAbitcoin” https://www.investera.io/events   Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here: https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Episode 45: A New Era for Investing with Melissa Loh and Joy Souligny, Co-Founders - Investera

Stacy Anderson is the founder of KENT, a sustainable super natural basics company that is elevating the standard of slow fashion. Not only are the products made with organic, plant-based materials, but their supply chain is ethical and transparent. A product that makes an impact everyday, because they are 100% Pima cotton, they are compostable and breakdown in 3-4 months, compared to other intimates that include synthetic materials and plastics that can take 100’s of years to breakdown. Stacy is Canadian born but has worked globally in fashion, architecture and sustainability, eventually settling in Los Angeles to bring KENT to life. In our conversation we discuss: The shift we are seeing in the fashion industry in regards to sustainability How to authentically market progress without misleading consumers (i.e. bye greenwashing) Why sustainability can always be in alignment with your brand identity Her process building a slow-growth startup and why it’s important to embrace the process, not just the end product And why you should think of your business as a piece of clay Stacy has worked hard to build a business that is not only sustainable, but circular in  nature. In social impact, the problems we face are often complex but Stacy has found a way to address each issue related to her business with innovation and intentionality. She has created the ultimate business model for ethical consumption and is truly paving the way for a new standard in slow fashion.   Connect with Stacy & KENT   https://www.wearkent.com/ https://www.instagram.com/wearkent/ https://www.facebook.com/wearkent   Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here: https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Episode 44: Back to basics: building a circular & sustainable brand with Stacy Anderson, Founder - KENT

Alexa Bussmann is the Founder of Novel Hand, the place where activism meets impact. They are a community bringing awareness to global humanitarian issues through writing & content creation. Alexa built Novel Hand when she noticed a disconnect in her generation. While there exists concern for current humanitarian issues, it can be difficult to find ways to actually make an impact, especially when taking into consideration how complex many of these problems actually are. She wants to bridge the gap between the passion people have for social issues and turn that into actionable steps for innovative solutions. In our conversation we discuss: Her journey into entrepreneurship The difficulty of impact measurement How to make an impact through technology The importance of humility vs. ego when leading a team in the social impact space The importance of adopting a growth mindset. Alexa aspires to encourage meaningful impact and believes that education and awareness is the first step towards that. Connect with Alexa & Novel Hand: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NovelHand/ Instagram: @novel.hand Twitter: @novelhand Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7KjTCGlC21rEOaP61UN0Ri?si=Mc7dBHunThuxwKGSEwA6JA Subscribe to newsletter: https://novelhand.com/subscribe/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/novel-hand-dot-com/

Episode 43: Activism in the digital age with Alexa Bussmann, Founder - Novel Hand

Nikita Chatterjee is the Co-Founder of Paani Solutions, a company dedicated to promoting the accessibility of clean water for low-income communities in rural India. Nikita grew up in a family that prioritized giving back. Formerly on the pre-med track, she changed her field of interest to entrepreneurship in the realm of public health after a trip to India. Although the concept of providing clean drinking water is not new, the product they are developing at Paani Solutions bridges the gap between new technology and everyday cultural behaviors because they hope to refine, not change, the methods of water filtration that already exist. Ultimately they want to decrease the prevalence of water-borne illnesses. In our conversation we discuss: Her journey into entrepreneurship Her inspiration to start Paani Solutions The process of product development The importance of respecting tradition and culture Their strategic method for distribution so that the consumer doesn’t have to pay for it And why alignment with mission is integral to building a strong team Water should be a basic human right and Nikita alongside her team at Paani Solutions are doing the work to ensure that people have access to the resources they deserve. Connect with Nikita: https://www.paanisolutions.com/ https://www.instagram.com/paanisolutions/ https://www.facebook.com/paanisolutions/   Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here: https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Episode 42: Making clean water more accessible with Nikita Chatterjee, Co-Founder - Paani Solutions

Tazin Khan Norelius, also known as Taz, is a data rights activist, cybersecurity specialist and the Founder of Cyber Collective, a Cyber Security, Privacy, & Data Ethics Research Company.  They are a community-centered research organization that hosts events to teach and understand the ways data and privacy impact consumers. An interesting fact about Taz’s career in Cybersecurity - she didn’t choose cyber security - it chose her. As she worked within the industry, she noticed that there was a serious disconnect between the industry and what consumers actually understood about their rights. She launched “Tech with Taz”, a video series to educate the public about their rights when it comes to data, a project that ultimately laid the foundation for Cyber Collective. In our conversation we discuss: How a chance encounter led to her career in Cybersecurity Why corporate culture stifles growth and why she needed a break from it in order to find her voice again Why cybersecurity should not be an afterthought, especially for small businesses. Her advice to consumers on how to “consciously click’ How why her Self-care routine includes a  digital detox - every week A multifaceted and brilliant woman trailblazing through a predominantly white - and arguably dull - space, Taz is successfully blending two worlds - creativity & policy - in a way that will undoubtedly transform the landscape of her industry. Connect with Taz: https://techwithtaz.com/ https://www.instagram.com/techwithtaz/?hl=en https://twitter.com/techwithtaz https://www.cybercollective.org/   Support Cyber Collective’s iFundWomen Campaign! https://ifundwomen.com/projects/cyber-collective   Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here: https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Episode 41: Data Rights are Human Rights with Tazin Khan Norelius - Data Rights Activist & Founder, Cyber Collective

Dr. Tara Shirazian is working to build a global community for women’s health. She is an OB/GYN and founder of both a non-profit, Saving Mothers, and for-profit company, Mommy Matters. While in medical school she had the opportunity to travel and participate in mission programs, giving temporary resources to communities with great need. Uncomfortable with this model, she decided to develop and implement sustainable programs  through her non-profit Saving Mothers that would serve the communities long-term. The success of her programs has empowered women, both in terms of their health and their livelihoods. Because of the limitations of the non-profit model, she launched Mommy Matters to not only create better health products for women, but to have a more sustainable and reliable source for funds in order to grow Saving Mothers. In our conversation we discuss: Her journey into medicine & becoming a global women’s health advocate Building up resiliency The why and how behind her organizations Why she believes change can come if businesses implement social impact at the inception And why her legacy is training next generation of women’s health providers As a true advocate for women’s health, Tara is creating a community to support, uplift and empower women. Connect with Tara https://savingmothers.org/ https://www.instagram.com/savingmothers/?hl=en https://mommymatters.com/ https://www.instagram.com/becausemommymatters/?hl=en   Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here: https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Episode 40: Creating a global community for women’s health with Tara Shirazian, MD & Founder - Saving Mothers & Mommy Matters

Lauren Malone is passionate about helping female entrepreneurs succeed. Growing up with her mother as a role model, she witnessed firsthand that women can be successful at anything they choose to do - despite what society may say. With a strong work ethic and a history of coaching people, Lauren decided she wanted to launch her own business to help others. While planning her launch & timeline, Lauren found out that she was expecting her first child. Like any of us would do, she hopped on Google, typed in “starting a business while pregnant” and the results were “don’t do it”. So, despite the resounding no’s, she ignored the noise and did it anyway. She proceeded to build a successful coaching business and write her own book about being an expecting entrepreneur. She wanted to be a pioneer in changing the narrative that when you become a mother, suddenly you are the side character in your own story. Lauren aspires to remind women that they are multifaceted, they are the main characters in their stories, and that all it takes is a change of mindset. In our conversation we discuss: Finding the right career path for you personally vs. what others tell you Why traditional education isn’t right for everybody How to rid yourself of limiting beliefs Learning how to be the main character in your own story The power of affirmations Why being “busy” can be destructive to your progress Lauren is empowering women to confidently step into who they are meant to be as they build a business. Connect with Lauren: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmalone_ee/ https://www.lemontreecd.co.uk/   Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here: https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Episode 39: Building a mindset of success and being the main character of your story with Lauren Malone, Founder & Writer - Lemon Tree Coaching & The Expecting Entrepreneur

Sunny Wu is the founder of ourCommonplace, an ethical marketplace for the conscious, fashion-forward consumer. As a first generation Taiwanese-American, Sunny grew up seeing her community, and specifically her own mother, excel at entrepreneurship by tapping into the needs of the community.  With a background in fashion & luxury, Sunny decided to tap into the needs of the fashion community by curating a one-stop marketplace for all things ethical. At ourCommonplace they believe that it is their responsibility to create a space where consumers can feel confident about how they allocate their purchasing power. By supporting socially eco-conscious companies, they are accelerating the movement towards a more conscious society in an effort to be in alignment with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. In our conversation, we discuss: Her journey from luxury and fashion into ethical consumerism The negative impacts of the fast fashion industry Holding brands accountable to higher standards Creating affordable impact for people at different price points The responsibility of the private sector to work towards the UN’s Sustainable Development goals Why ultimately she hopes in the future their company won’t exist Sunny envisions a world where the values and standards that they are upholding at ourCommonplace become the norm industry-wide - and she is doing the work to make that happen. Connect with Sunny & ourCommonplace https://www.ourcommonplace.co/ https://www.instagram.com/ourcommonplace.co/?hl=en   Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here: https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Episode 38: Ethical consumerism, but make it fashion - with Sunny Wu, Founder - ourCommonplace

Valerie Smith is the Founder of Klei Beauty, a sustainable self-care brand based in Brooklyn, NY. They believe that taking care of self should never be at the expense of others. For that reason they are 100% 1. Cruelty-free, 2. Water-free, 3. Natural, 4. Recyclable and 5. Charitable. They are on a mission to provide affordable self care while operating with a social impact business model giving 10% of their profits back into the Brooklyn community at three different non-profits. Valerie started her career in the fashion industry in buying and planning. Although her roles in fashion gave her insight into how manage data & strategically plan, the industry wasn’t right for her. She started Klei as a side project without the expectation of it becoming its own company. Unhappy at her corporate job, the growth of her company allowed her to plan her exit from fashion. She set a date and financial goal, working & saving for an entire year before making the leap from a 9-5er to being a full-time entrepreneur. In this episode we discuss: Why taking a leap of faith can be the best thing to do for your mental health How she bootstrapped her business & the moment that changed everything How she creates her sustainable, water-free formulations The tools she uses to help grow & scale her business And why she believes that there’s never a “good time” to start a business & if you want it, you can never start soon enough Valerie’s story shows that it’s important to give yourself the green light to take risks - even if you are incredibly risk-averse -  and proves that you can give back to your self while giving back to your community. Connect with Valerie & Klei Beauty https://kleibeauty.com/ https://www.instagram.com/kleibeauty/   Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here: https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Episode 37: Bootstrapping a clean beauty company with Valerie Smith, Founder - Klei Beauty

Amrita Thadani is the Founder of NEOCOCO, a mission-driven apparel company that creates jobs for women refugees and displaced women. Amrita was born in India but moved to the United States to study fashion at Parsons in NYC. Working in both NYC and LA in the fashion industry, Amrita always knew she wanted to create something herself and that she wanted to work directly with small groups and artisans. Her involvement with a non-profit allowed her to connect with women refugees but as the attendance of group meetings slowed down, the reality became clear: what the women truly needed were jobs. Utilizing the women’s skillset of hand embroidery, they collaborated to create the designs you’ll see on NEOCOCO’s products today. What started as a community building event evolved into NEOCOCO, a company that has expanded to employ eight women and exists as one of the few slow fashion businesses that gives women economic opportunity and freedom while being profitable themselves. You’ll learn: How to lead an impact-first business What constitutes a slow fashion company Why collaboration is one of the biggest ways to grow How economic empowerment can completely change a  woman’s life and her confidence Why it’s important for small brands to build impact into their models at the start What it would take for big fashion brands to switch gears and expand their impact And why conversations of growth should be rooted in circulatory and sustainable practices With impact and economic empowerment at the forefront, Amrita & NEOCOCO are taking the fashion industry by storm. Connect with & support NEOCOCO https://neococo.com/ https://www.instagram.com/neococo_tribe/?hl=en   Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here: https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Episode 36: Impact first, product second: the business model of the future with Amrita Thadani, Founder - NEOCOCO

TypA Co. is a company focused on supporting the new era of impact entrepreneurship and the founders who are redefining what it means to build a business in the modern world. Each week we will sit down and chat with these impact entrepreneurs who are "Type A" - both ambitious and altruistic in their actions - to discuss the future of business for companies and consumers.

hubhopper

Type A Podcast - For & About Impact Entrepreneurs

hubhopper