Allie Lehman is a serial entrepreneur coming out of the great state of Ohio. My home state in fact : ) She’s an independent graphic designer, the voice behind the blog Be Up and Doing, and co-founder of the branding team The Wonder Jam which designed Toast Meets Jam. As if that wasn’t enough she is also co-founder of Death to the Stock Photo which provides beautiful, authentic stock photography for creatives all types.
We caught up at Primitivo in Venice while Allie was on 5 City Road Trip with Death to the Stock.
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)
Friends Ann Wang and Jessica Willison are the co-founders of Enrou, an online marketplace for one-of-a-kind, handmade goods that empower developing communities around the world. Though the two come from very different backgrounds (Ann international development and Jess fashion & e-commerce) , through Enrou, they’ve found a way to blend their skills into one similar passion. Now, they’re on a mission to improve the world by changing the way people shop.
The name Enrou stems from “enroute’ and is short the company’s mission to get people on the way to change. Their vision in building Enrou was to develop a marketplace where every purchase creates opportunity. When you shop the site, you’ll find products handcrafted by artisans in developing countries around the world. When you make a purchase, not only do you receive the product but with it the story of how it was crafted. The aim is that the sharing of these stories will create a more personal connection and authentic buying experience.
Your purchase directly impacts the person who made the product by providing him or her with skilled work, income and job training. Further extending the impact of your purchase is the reach it has on the communities where the brands are based. Each purchase helps these brands support on-the-ground initiatives like women’s empowerment, job training, and health education.
In a world where it seems that our social feeds are too often filled with stories of consumerism gone wrong, Ann and Jess have forged away for conscious consumers to pick a new path. By channeling our everyday purchases into purposeful investments, their goal is to redefine consumerism by making the global market one brimming with opportunity — for all.
To find out more about the building of Enrou, I met Ann and Jess at Cafe Gratitude in Venice. Cafe Gratitude is a plant-based LA favorite where you can stop in for organic vegan fair along with a side of self reflection. With dishes named after motivational mantras like I am terrific you’re sure to leave full in every sense of the word.
More About Ann & Jess
Ann Wang is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Enrou. Before co-founding Enrou, Wang studied International Development at UCLA. She has been dedicated to global social justice through her tenure at UCLA and beyond. She also worked in the Alumni Scholarships Program and the UCLA Volunteer Center, where she contributed to the Social Media & Marketing Internship Program, sharing her passions for technology and community service.
Jessica Willison is co-founder and chief communication officer of Enrou. Prior to Enrou, Jessica was a communication studies student at UCLA and an editorial intern for the fashion website Refinery29.
The two graduated from UCLA in the Class of ’13. The seeds for Enrou were planted in their final year of school together. Together they bootstrapped with their own savings to get their budding business off the ground. They’ve since gone on to compete and win Forbes Pressure Cooker Contest at the annual 30 Under 30 Summit which awarded them $400K in prize money.
What is Enrou?
Enrou is a central marketplace for one-of-a-kind, handmade goods that empower developing communities around the world. Through the power of trade, Enrou is helping to create sustainable change within global communities and to end the cycle of poverty through small-business and community development.
When you shop Enrou, you empower the community where the product was made. This happens through our dual-impact model — every Enrou product helps reduce global poverty in two distinct and powerful ways.
The first impact is the direct investment in the person who made your product — your purchase provides him or her with dignified work, as well as an income and job training.
The second impact is in the community where your product was made — your purchase supports development initiatives on the ground, such as health education and women’s empowerment programs. These initiatives help improve quality of life for the people today and their future generations.
By channeling everyday purchases into purposeful investments, we are redefining consumerism and making the global market a better market, one brimming with opportunity — for all. (Source:Enrou)
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)
An Interview with Michelle Edgar, Founder and CEO The XX Project
Coming up next on Toast Meets Jam… Michelle Edgar, founder and CEO of The XX Project.
Imagine getting the chance to sit down and enjoy dinner alongside some of today’s top female entrepreneurs and business leaders. Women like StyleHaul’s founder Stephanie Horbaczewski, GE’s CMO Beth Comstock, and journalist Soledad O’Brian. That would pretty amazing right?
Michelle Edgar thinks so too. As the strategic business development director for FRUKT and founder of the non-profit organization Music Unites , she recognized a need in the market to connect professional and entrepreneurial women. Her answer to that need was The XX Project, an invitation-only group for professional women who are leaders and mentors in their industries.
At the heart of The XX Project is an intimate monthly dinner series which brings members together for a night of conversation with some of today’s strongest and most inspiring female leaders. But this is just the beginning. Through The XX Project, Michelle’s mission is 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.
Michelle and I met at Tom’s on Abbot Kinneyin Venice. This hipsters’ haven serves as both the brand’s flagship store as well as one of the best coffee shops on the block. Come here any time of day, any day of the week and you’ll find the place crowded with freelancers turning the place into their makeshift offices. The comfy outdoor couches, free wi-fi, and delicious coffee and pastries are quite the draw for everyone, myself included.
Over our coffees Michelle shared how The XX Project first came to life and her big vision for where she sees it growing in the future. Powered by passion, a real desire to help, and a true confidence in what’s she building, Michelle is ready to take The XX to the next level.
To find out what all she has in store, watch our full interview and make sure to subscribe to Toast Meets Jam so you’re sure to catch all the latest episodes.
In the meantime, why not get to know Michelle and The XX Project? You can find her:
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.
Ann Wang is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Enrou. Before co-founding Enrou, Wang studied International Development at UCLA. She has been dedicated to global social justice through her tenure at UCLA and beyond. She also worked in the Alumni Scholarships Program and the UCLA Volunteer Center, where she contributed to the Social Media & Marketing Internship Program, sharing her passions for technology and community service.
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.
