Lindsey Heisser is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Tribemint, a branding and digital communications agency dedicated to helping companies connect with Millennials through inspired vision, culture and engagement.
We met at Tarte Restaurant, a hip American diner with a country twist, located inside the Farmer’s Daughter Hotel – a client of Tribemint’s. We tucked into a booth on Tarte’s poolside patio and Lindsey filled me in on her experience as a female founder.
Becoming an Entrepreneur
So how do you go from corporate climber to entrepreneur? Lindsey shares how and why she took the leap.
Starting Your Business
Knowing where to start is often the hardest part. Lindsey shares her advice on the first steps to take when launching your business.
Facing the Challenges
Entrepreneurship doesn’t come without it’s challenges. Lindsey shares how she faces the ones that come her way.
Personal Traits for Success
Lindsey talks about which of her personal traits she believes have made her a successful entrepreneur.
Confidence, Super Powers, & Champagne
Lindsey takes on The Jam Jar and divulges what makes her feel confident, the super power she wishes she could have, and what her favorite drink is to toast.
More About Lindsey
Lindsey is the Managing Director of TRIBEMINT specializing in campaign ideation and execution, marketing and communication strategy and technology development. Heisser brings her entrepreneurial spirit and innate curiosity of today’s trends to deliver TRIBEMINT’S clients with fully integrated campaigns turning consumers into brand loyalists.
Prior to joining TRIBEMINT, Heisser was Director of Marketing at The Regan Group, a consumer engagement agency entrenched in entertainment and consumer packaged goods industries. It was during her 5-year tenure at the agency, Lindsey Heisser met, TRIBEMINT’s CEO, Julie Thorne Engels, and together they shaped the company culture and drove the agency’s most profitable years in business. (Source: Tribemint)
A few months ago an invitation floated across my inbox to attend an “intimate dinner with Stephanie Horbaczewski, the founder and CEO of StyleHaul”. If you’re not familiar with Stephanie, she is the powerhouse that built YouTube’s #1 fashion and beauty channel valued at more than $200 million. In other words, she’s a pretty badass woman for aspiring entrepreneurs to look up to.
I of course, couldn’t pass up on the chance to hear from and meet this amazing ladyboss. I had expected that Stephanie would be speaking to the audience in attendance (which she did) but what I hadn’t anticipated is that afterward she would sit down and talk with us one on one. This opportunity to get this kind of time with someone of her stature and ridiculously busy schedule is rare and it was awesome.
The young woman who made this night possible, and many others like it, is Michelle Edgar. Michelle is the founder and CEO of The XX Project, an invitation-only group for professional women who are leaders and mentors in their industries.
As the strategic business development director for FRUKT and founder of the non-profit organization Music Unites , Michelle recognized a need in the market to connect professional and entrepreneurial women. While attending an event where Soledad O’Brien was speaking, Michelle felt more inspired than ever to bring her vision to life. When asked, the acclaimed journalist agreed to be the first speaker in what has become an ever growing monthly dinner series bringing together some of today’s most inspiring female leaders.
Though what she has built is a great accomplishment in itself, Michelle see’s these nights as just the beginning for The XX Project. She met me at Tom’s on Abbot Kinney to fill me in on her vision for what’s to come for her budding business.
If you’ve been following Toast Meets Jam, and before that The Single Diaries, you’ve likely heard me rave about Tom’s. The spot serves as both the flagship store of the one for one shoe brand as well as my absolute favorite coffee shop in Venice. With ample seating, free wi-fi, and the friendliest baristas and patrons in town, you can’t help but fall in love with this place. If you choose to visit I highly recommend showing up early to nab a spot on the outdoor couch and ordering yourself an almond milk latte and chia seed muffin. You’ll be glad you did.
Over our coffees, Michelle shared more with me about the founding of The XX Project from it’s first event with Soledad to the most recent which will feature speakers from IHeartMedia, FastCompany, Octagon, and Equinox. She also told me of her ultimate mission- to build an offline and online social platform that fosters inspiration, mentoring and giving back among professional, dynamic & successful women in their late 20’s, 30’s and 40’s.
CALLING ALL NYC LADIES!
The XX Project is hosting it’s next event, Passion Points to Success, June 8th at the iHeart/ ClearChannel HQ in NYC. The night will feature a panel moderated by Fast Company Publisher, Christine Osekoski and including iHeartMedia CMO, Gayle Troberman; Octagon CMO, Lisa Murray; and Equinox President, Sarah Robb O’Hagan. Get your tickets now!
Michelle began her career in media as beauty director at OK magazine, where she developed strategic partnerships that aligned brands with music and film talent tied to major entertainment franchises from Oscar’s, Grammy’s and fashion week.
From OK Magazine, Michelle gained further experience in the entertainment industry working at Quest Management, KIDinaKORNER, Redlight Management, and Warner Bros. Records. Currently she serves as the Strategic Business Development Director at Frukt, a creative agency where she creates partnerships between businesses and entertainment brands.
Michelle is known for successfully creating innovative marketing platforms and campaigns for artists including, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Dave Matthews, Lionel Richie, Imagine Dragons, Skylar Grey, X Ambassadors, Tiesto, Gary Clark Jr., Theophilus London, in addition to consulting on tour and festival sponsorships and activations, endorsements, licensing and new product development.
Her passion for music led her to start Music Unites, a non-profit organization that funds sustainable music education programs in underserved public schools nationwide. (Source: Music Unites)
What is The XX Project?
The XX Project is about giving back, mentoring, and a network to draw upon for inspiration and support. Members come from diverse industries and educational backgrounds. Membership grants access to all The XX Project events, the XX curated digital community, offers from lifestyle partners and access to invaluable connections drawn from the community.
Currently, the existing social networks or platforms that cater to professional, dynamic, innovative successful women who are leaders in their industry don’t encourage or foster inspiration, mentoring or giving back.
The XX Project is here to change that by building the new women’s social club. (Source: The XX Project)
When I graduated college my parents imparted two gifts upon me. The first was a George Foreman grill, which I’d asked for in order to ease my transition into adult meal prep. The second, was a financially planning course delivered via a massive booklet of CDs. Though I consider the grill transformative to my kitchen skills, it’s the second gift which has made the most profound impact on my life. Providing me with a foundational knowledge of how to manage my money was the greatest thing my parents could have done for me at that stage in my life.
Fast forward a few years, and I have the pleasure of being introduced to Brittney Castro, a financial planner and founder of Financially Wise Women. As a certified financial planner, Brittney totally gets the importance of understanding your money. In fact, she’s made it her mission to help women have a healthy relationship with their money because she believes that is the foundation to building the life of your dreams.
Through her online money class, YouTube channel, one-on-one coaching, and speaking engagements she is helping women educate themselves about their finances in unique and innovative ways. When she’s not working on Financially Wise Women, Brittney is often called up by top media outlets like CBS, CNBC, and Entrepreneur to share her talents and advice.
Brittney and I decided to meet for juice and horchata at downtown LA’s The Springs. This “urban oasis” serves as the perfect place for anyone who’s looking to post up and stay awhile. The menu is made up of vegan friendly fare and fresh pressed juices. The warehouse space is part restaurant, part wellness center, and part pop-up shop. For those looking for an inspiring environment to work from, this is your spot.
While we sipped down our drinks, Brittney filled me in on the evolution of her business, her advice for other female founders, and how building a business has lead her to the life of her dreams.
More About Brittney
Brittney Castro is the Founder & CEO of Financially Wise Women, a Los Angeles based financial planning firm for women. She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara graduating with a Bachelors’ Degree in Business Economics and a minor in Sports Management.
Brittney began her career at Ameriprise Financial, renowned in the industry for their financial planning training. In 2011, Brittney received the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation from the CFP Board of Standards. She also maintains her designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor and Accredited Asset Management Specialist. In 2013, Brittney took the next step by starting her own financial firm.
Brittney currently resides in the Los Angeles area and enjoys dancing, traveling, and leading a healthy, active lifestyle. Brittney is extremely involved in her community and is an active member of Step Up Women’s Network and the Financial Planning Association. She has a passion for educating individuals on financial topics and is a sought after speaker for various groups and organizations. (Source: Financially Wise Women)
What is Financially Wise Women?
Financially Wise Women is a Los Angeles based financial planning firm for women. Brittney specializes in working with busy, established professional and entrepreneurial women who are passionate about life and want to gain clarity around their money. Her mission is to help women plan and create the life of their dreams, free from anxiety about money. Financially Wise Women is a multi-platform business which includes Brittney’s financial planning practice, online money class, YouTube channel videos, public speaking engagements, and live workshops. (Source: Financially Wise Women)
Have you ever found yourself avoiding your bank account, too afraid of what you might find? Crossed your fingers as you’re swiping your credit card at the end of the month, hoping it won’t be declined? Sometimes does it just seem easier to ignore your money and hope for the best than confront it head on? Trust me, I know that feeling!
Brittney is on a mission to change that. She’s out to help women have a healthy relationship with their money so they can start living the life of their dreams. Through her online Money Class, one-on-one financial planning, YouTube channel, and speaking engagements she aims to make financial fear a thing of the past. With a fun, innovative approach to teaching that’s catered to the professional, entrepreneurial woman, she’s turning finance into as sexy a topic as fashion and beauty.
To give me the low down on the founding of her business, Brittney met me at The Springs LA, where I’d filmed an earlier interview with another awesome female founder. We sipped on horchata and fresh pressed juice while she filled me in on the evolution of her business, her advice for other female founders, and how building a business has lead her to the life of her dreams.
Check out this quick peak into our interview and come back next week for the full reveal!
I was first introduced to Pace Webb just over one year ago. Since that time, I’ve known that she would make a rockstar interview guest. Lucky for me, when I tossed the idea her way, she was more than on board.
Pace is the chef and founder of Taste of Pace, a Los Angeles based catering company that focuses its menus around fresh, seasonal ingredients. When she’s not in the kitchen, this natural entertainer finds her self in front of the camera and behind the mic. She shares her passion for food as a lifestyle expert for many well known brands and media outlets like Yahoo Shine and on her radio show TOP Talk.
For our interview, I wanted to introduce Pace to my favorite spot on the block Gjusta. If you’re an Angeleno then chances are you’ve at least heard of, if not yet dined at, the acclaimed Gjelina restaurant located on Abbot Kinney in Venice. Gusta comes from the same owners and serves similar style fair in a more casual bakery/cafe environment. You can find everything your stomach desires here from fresh baked breads to house-made sauces to gourmet sandwiches and salads. Oh yeah, there’s a fancy barista bar inside too. Seating is limited to benches and overturned milk cartons in the rear of the building so we opted to take our food to go. Whether you dine in or take out you must find a reason to come try their baklava croissants – you won’t be disappointed!
While we indulged our sugar cravings, Pace filled me in on the founding of her company, how she grew her career both inside and outside of the kitchen, and her advice for other aspiring chef-preneurs. Definitely an interview not to be missed!
More About Pace
Pace’s journey to start her own lifestyle food brand and catering company started at the age of 17 when she was diagnosed with colon cancer. She took this experience as an indication that she needed to reevaluate what she put in her body. Studying alternative nutrition gave her the foundation and love for the impact clean food has on the body. After studying abroad in Rome, she became classically trained in Western European cuisine. Now, cancer-free with a fresh lease on life and a passion for traveling, living in over seven cities around the globe, Pace created her company to focus on wellness, new creative food combinations and most importantly, rich joie de vivre!
Pace’s sparkle, and performance-like art for feeding people comes naturally as a fourth-generation entertainer. Her unique view on food and general panache for incredible flavor pairings has caught the eye of major brands such as Yahoo, Jell-O and Acura, hiring her to create recipes and host web series. She pens her own blog, and contributes to various food and lifestyle magazines, including C Magazine, Angeleno, Utterly Engaged and Chalkboard Magazine. Hosting weekly cooking classes in her downtown loft/kitchen allows Pace to give back to her community and inspire a new generation with healthy, simple and fresh local ingredients. Pace currently lives the fabulous life in the downtown Los Angeles Arts District with her dog, Willie Nelson. www.Pacewebb.com {Source Taste of Pace}
What is Taste of Pace?
Taste of Pace Catering is a full service catering company based in Los Angeles specializing in Western European Cuisine with international elements utilizing seasonal and local ingredients. The Taste of Pace team is suitable for private parties, corporate events and weddings. You can get a Taste of Pace by attending a Monthly Supper Club hosted in secret locations boasting courses of fresh seasonal food off the cuff. {Source Taste of Pace}
Lindsey is the Managing Director of TRIBEMINT specializing in campaign ideation and execution, marketing and communication strategy and technology development. Heisser brings her entrepreneurial spirit and innate curiosity of today’s trends to deliver TRIBEMINT’S clients with fully integrated campaigns turning consumers into brand loyalists.
Michelle began her career in media as beauty director at OK magazine, where she developed strategic partnerships that aligned brands with music and film talent tied to major entertainment franchises from Oscar’s, Grammy’s and fashion week.
Brittney Castro is the Founder & CEO of Financially Wise Women, a Los Angeles based financial planning firm for women. She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara graduating with a Bachelors’ Degree in Business Economics and a minor in Sports Management.
Pace’s journey to start her own lifestyle food brand and catering company started at the age of 17 when she was diagnosed with colon cancer. She took this experience as an indication that she needed to reevaluate what she put in her body. Studying alternative nutrition gave her the foundation and love for the impact clean food has on the body. After studying abroad in Rome, she became classically trained in Western European cuisine. Now, cancer-free with a fresh lease on life and a passion for traveling, living in over seven cities around the globe, Pace created her company to focus on wellness, new creative food combinations and most importantly, rich joie de vivre!