happy international women's day! in honor of international women's day, we've rounded up some of our favorite female founders to ask who inspires them, advice for the next generation of females, and of course their minnow spring '20 picks!
ariane goldman, hatch collection
what women do you admire the most in your life/business?
my daughters inspire me every single day through their inherent joy, curiosity and love. i try to approach everything i do with their natural sense of wonder.
if you could give one piece of advice to the next generation of girls, what would it be?
don't give up when faced with rejection. there is always another way, another avenue to explore, another person to meet. if you believe in something, don't take no for an answer. anything is possible.
what is your minnow spring '20 pick?
the garden floral tie knot one piece
what women do you admire the most in your life/business?
my mom! now that i am a mom (with a second on the way in a few short months), i understand on a different level how much she did for me and sacrificed for me my entire life. she went to UNC law and was geared up and ready for a law career in DC when she had kids. she gave up on a dream without any (noticeable ;)) resentment towards her family. she is insanely selfless and has always been in my corner no matter what i was involved in - from swimming, to (very short-lived) and non-successful) ballet and piano careers, to where i wanted to go to college, to starting my business - the list goes on. having that kind of unwavering support makes starting a business, stressful days, and motherhood all the more manageable.
if you could give one piece of advice to the next generation of girls, what would it be?
learn to code! learn another language! take a personal finance course! take full advantage of your younger years in school when all that is expected of you is to learn and absorb. then once you're out of school, stay curious and keep learning whenever you can find the time. continuing to learn and read will keep you curious, interested and never bored.
what is your minnow spring '20 pick?
the garden floral rashguard one piece! living in savannah, we are always at the beach and out on the water in the summer. my daughter, tempe inherited my very pale skin so the long sleeve minnow suits have been lifesavers! we live in them all summer long and (knock on wood), tempe has never had a burn with the added coverage! (not to mention, the designs just keep getting cuter and cuter! love all these spring looks!)
anne read lattimore, lake pajamas
what women do you admire the most in your life/business?
in my life, it's definitely my mom. she's all things i'd love to be - gracious, dependable, and smart as a whip.
if you could give one piece of advice to the next generation of girls, what would it be?
i have a daughter, so this is something i think about quite a bit. my advice is to be confident in yourself and your capability. you're perfect just the way you are, so go for your dreams and never settle.
what is your minnow spring '20 pick?
my daughter's favorite "color" of the moment is rainbow, a welcomed change from pink sparkles! i love the girls antique rainbow ruffle one piece!
what women do you admire most in your life/business?
i have so many, but brooke castillo, founder of the life coach school, is my favorite woman in business right now. she married the emotional health tools with growing your business and i think that's something so many of us, women and men, are missing right now. there are so many tools for growing businesses available to us, but so few for doing it in a healthy way that will actually lead to satisfaction and fulfillment.
if you could give one piece of advice to the next generation of girls, what would it be?
i have three daughters so this is something i think about a lot. there is no "right way" to be a woman. that is my kind of feminism. letting go of what other people expect you to be is the most empowering way to live, no matter who they are or how progressive or traditional they are. create a life you love, for you.
what is your minnow spring '20 pick?
the garden floral tie knot one piece!
what women do you admire the most in your life/business?
my mom is an educator and has made her career in helping others. i grew up inspired by her passion and her commitment to students, teachers and communities worldwide. my mom has always led with confidence and empowered me to trust my voice and instincts. i am positive that my mom's hustle and passion for working hard played an important role in my own work ethic. and now as a new mom myself, my gratitude for her abounds.
if you could give one piece of advice to the next generation of girls, what would it be?
make big mistakes... within reason, of course! i would encourage the next generation to take chances and not be afraid to mess up a little bit. when i look back, i wish i knew that i didn't need to have everything figured out 100% of the time - it's not about perfection, it's about the process. wasting energy on fear and nerves only hinders your ability to experience life and all that it has to offer. i say, go for it!
what is your minnow spring '20 pick?
impossible to pick just one - but if i must, the antique rainbow smocked one piece.
what women do you admire the most in your life/business?
rather than having one idol, i'm constantly relying on a network of brilliant women business owners whom i am lucky enough to also consider friends. they are a source of inspiration, strength and a sounding board for new ideas i'm exploring - big or small. below are a few of these north stars in my life:
amanda chantal bacon: founder of moon juice - my caring go-to in regards to love, well-being, work/life balance and setting boundaries.
erica chidi cohen: co-founder of loom (classes, services and events focusing on health education) and author of 'nurture' - my most trusted human on practical advice in business and health. she has taught me that pleasure and discomfort are both necessary parts to having a full life in love and work, and that it is ok to be human throughout all evolutions.
connie matisse: owner of east fork (pottery and home goods) - connie and her family have been on the forefront of bringing real faces with beating hearts to their business. her understanding of what the modern customers want to know and the willingness to share, is a true vehicle of connection. she is a branding messiah.
katherine kleveland: sister and doen co-founder. no explanation needed but the storm to my calm and the curly to my straight.
if you could give one piece of advice to the next generation of girls, what would it be?
i feel so strongly that girls (and all kids!) need to be encouraged to take risks and make mistakes from a very young age. we always hear that with great risk comes great reward, but i believe that girls and women are strictly held to a performance double standard where there is little room for mistake. i was an extreme perfectionist as a child to the point that i never learned how to take risks. when i finally did, the stakes were much higher and there was a much larger learning curve. i try to welcome any productive challenge in the workspace for an experience that takes me out of my comfort zone - as i've found this is the best way to deeply learn to things.
what is your minnow spring '20 pick?
cassandra cannon, lake pajamas
what women do you admire most in your life/business?
my mother because she is the perfect blend of strength and kindness.
if you could give one piece of advice to the next generation of girls, what would it be?
it is absolutely worth the risk to go for your dreams.
what is your minnow spring '20 pick?
the garden floral rashguard one piece. i love the green and a small scale floral. the extra protection from the sun that this style offers is so great too!
ariel gordon maffei, ariel gordon jewelry , photo credit - emily scott
what women do you admire the most in your life/business?
the woman i admire most is my mom. she passed away quickly and suddenly from cancer 3 short months after i became a mother. she was my best friend. i don't have sadness for things left unsaid between us, more so i have sadness for moment's lost because she was so magnetic and dynamic. she was ahead of her time in many ways - she had me when she was 40 years old (which was uncommon back then). she was bold, hard-working, funny, emotionally attuned and brilliant. she was a larger than life figure who wore frilly socks, rhinestone earrings, and bright red lipstick every day. she was a professional ballet dancer in her youth and a lifelong learner (she had an MA in comparative literature, studied ayurveda, feng shui, and other eastern modalities). i am who i am because of the skills and strength and inner compass that she gave me.
if you could give one piece of advice to the next generation of girls, what would it be?
everything is fleeting. if it's really good - that will pass. if it's really hard - that will pass. if you're really unsure - that will pass. if you're really overwhelmed - that will pass. try to stay even through all these ebbs and flows and surrender to the moment of where you are. no matter what is going on in your life though, you will always need to be kind, hard-working and grounded.
what is your minnow spring '20 pick?
as soon as the weather gets warm enough, we spend a lot of time at our local community pool. my kids are little fish. what could be cuter than his and hers suits for luca and mia in the garden floral boardie and rashguard one piece?