I’ve been a huge fan of Create & Cultivate ever since I heard about it a year ago. I’ve found it a little difficult to explain to people and usually just resort to describing it as “a basic bitch’s dream in the form of a business conference.” Mostly because they have pop-up shops and cupcakes at their events.
This is how they more eloquently put it:
Create & Cultivate is a movement for women looking to create & cultivate the career of their dreams.
I love reading sites like Career Contessa and Elana Lyn Gross’s blog, both of which have featured interviews with Create & Cultivate’s founder, Jaclyn Johnson. I got excited when I saw that keynote speakers at past conferences have included Jessica Alba, Rachel Zoe and Chelsea Handler.
Luckily, they hosted a popup panel last week in San Francisco. It wasn’t basic at all – unless by basic, you mean inspiring. The event took place at a gorgeous venue in the Dogpatch called The Pearl.
Speaker included professional big mountain freeskiier Lexi DuPont, philanthropist Noel Russell and Jenny Gaither of Movemeant.
“I started my adventure because I needed to,” said Lexi.
The women in the panel discussed the important role fear plays in driving success, what mentorship has meant to them and pros and cons of social media. Ultimately, “You choose your adventures and you choose the things that are important to you.”
The keynote speaker was Melissa Arnot, who currently holds the American female record for most summits of Mount Everest. She’s also the only woman to summit without supplemental oxygen.
“Fake it ’till you make it doesn’t really work on Everest,” she joked when recalling the first time someone asked her to guide them to the summit of the world’s highest mountain. In concluding her speech, she said, “My greatest fear is not to live my authentic life…adventure is endless for me.”
Melissa is currently mentoring a young woman in a 50 Peaks challenge and works for Eddie Bauer.
It was a lovely evening and I can’t wait for the Create & Cultivate mothership to land in the City By The Bay.
Wink.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the conference!