Category: Featured

Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “Always stay connected to who you are.”,

Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “Always stay connected to who you are.”, with Model Flaviana Matata and Candice Georgiadis

Always stay connected to who you are. In any high-impact industry it’s easy to lose sight of who you are with all the changes, adjustments, and constant new experiences. It’s very important to have a strong sense of who you are so you’re not changing who you are and becoming like every environment you’re in.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Flaviana Matata. Born and raised in Tanzania and currently based in NY, FLAVIANA MATATA’S modeling career kicked off after she was discovered by Hip Hop mogul Russell Simmons while attending a charity event in New York in 2010. Since then, FLAVIANA has been named one of Essence Magazine’s Breakout Models of the Year, and in 2011, she took home the Model of the Year title at Arise Magazine Fashion Week in Lagos, Nigeria. She was also named one of 2014’s Most Influential People in Africa by New African Magazine, one of the Top 10 African Models by Forbes Africa, one of Top 10 Black Models by Models and Moguls and one of the Most Influential Icons in Contemporary African Pop Culture by Africa.com. FLAVIANA has walked the runway for major brands and designers, such as Tommy Hilfiger, Jason Wu, Rachel Roy, Charlotte Ronson, Tory Burch, Diesel, Vivienne Westwood and Catherine Malandrino, and has appeared in campaigns for Topshop, Selfridges Beauty, Tigi, Sony, Aritzia, Clarins, Kenzo, New Look, Kenneth Cole, Express and Warby Parker, Aerie Real, Diesel and Edun. FLAVIANA has also graced the pages of countless magazines, including Forbes, Vogue, Grazia, Essence, Nylon, Glass, Arise, L’Officiel Paris, Hunger, Vision China, Elle, Marie Claire and i-D, as well as catalogues for Macy’s, Sherri Hill, Garnet Hill, Ralph Lauren, Truworths, Avon, Aritzia, Dillard’s, Hockley, Kohl’s, Nordstrom, Athleta, Ann Taylor, Revlon and MyHabit. Throughout her storied career, she has worked with an impressive roster of photographers, including David Sims, Patrick Demarchelier, Russell James, Klaus Storm, Nick Knight, Fadil Berisha, Josh Olin, Mario Torres, Jenni Hare, Rankin, Haifa Wohlers Olsen, Victor Demarchelier and Caroline Templeton just to mention a few. In addition to modeling, FLAVIANA has a lengthy list of philanthropic ventures, including her Flaviana Matata Foundation, which empower young girls in Tanzania through education. She is an Angel Ambassador of the Diamond Empowerment Fund and has worked as a Goodwill Ambassador for Tanzanian charity Mitindo House. She’s also worked with Life project for Africa, Malaika for Life, Usher New Look, Malaria No More, SOS Village and the Hassan Maajar Trust. Flaviana is also a successful businesswoman. She is the founder Lavy Products, a line of non-toxic, cruelty free nail polish that’s available in more than 60 stores in six countries. She has recently spoken at the UN, the Forbes Summit and BeautyCon, to name a few.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

It’s amazing the things that happen when you’re doing what you love. I was discovered at a charity event that was raising money to build a hospital in Tanzania. It was at a pivotal point in my life. I was deciding between continuing my education as an engineer, and the opportunity to model was presented. I took a chance on myself and the rest is history in the making.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

There have been so many, I can’t select just one. However, the most interesting set of experiences would be the opportunities to travel all over the globe working in and learning about different cultures, people, foods and traditions. Travel broadens and teaches you more about who you are, the values you hold, and what you cherish than I ever would’ve imagined.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I can’t say it was a funny mistake, but definitely the most valuable one because of what it taught me. When I started in the industry I showed up on time, fulfilled my agreement, and would go home. I didn’t realize the importance of creating my own contacts in the industry just as I’d need to do in any other industry. I realized much later that developing and maintaining relationships would help to ensure my continued growth.

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

Fashion is the industry that continues to assist me in providing opportunities for so many. I then used education as the tool we’d use for greatest impact. My organization was created out of a need, and at the heart of the foundation is opportunity. Opportunity through education. There are millions of girls all across the globe who are denied the access to education. I decided my foundation would provide that for the young girls in Tanzania where I was raised who have not been as fortunate.

One of the biggest challenges for young girls in Tanzania is access and resources. Access to educational opportunities and the resources to maintain their education if they’re given the chance to go. For instance, a lack of sanitary pads and proper feminine hygiene products for girls from underserved communities means that they end up missing 4–5 days of school every month when they are menstruating. This harsh statistic is one that FMF is actively committed to eradicate. We believe in providing not only scholarships, but also everything a girl needs to attend and stay in school — ensuring they complete their education, find employment, and/or start their own businesses. I created a line of sanitary pads under my company, LAVY, which continues to support FMF’s mission. A percentage of the profits goes toward WASH projects, which will then provide free pads to girls, starting with a few select schools that FMF is currently working with.

Wow! Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

Since 2011, we have built proper latrines, provided educational supplies to over 4,500 youth, and sponsored the primary and secondary school for 15 young ladies. It made my soul smile knowing we are fulfilling our mission to provide opportunity through education and I’m honored to be in position to do so. These young ladies are in college and we are continuing to support them in the attainment of their greatest dream — to be educated.

Was there a tipping point that made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

I was raised by one of the most bold, kind and proud fathers I know. He not only ensured I was educated, but my siblings, our relatives and the community we lived in as well. There was no tipping point for me in that what I’m doing is not new, it’s simply a continuation of the legacy my father began. I decided to create a way to give them the opportunities I was given. There was no option for me in that I was raised to see a need and where able, assist in providing its solution.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

Identify, acknowledge, and actively provide a solution. We all have the potential to solve communal and global issues. It begins with the first three steps I’ve listed and consistently implementing the last. In Tanzania, if a choice must be made between whom to educate, the boy child is usually chosen. We each must shift the narrative and come to the understanding that educating girls transforms nations and economies — they matter too.

What specific strategies have you been using to promote and advance this cause? Can you recommend any good tips for people who want to follow your lead and use their social platform for a social good?

It’s not a strategy per se. It’s me being me. I live boldly in my truth, and my actions and mission are clear. We all are the authors of our stories, and I use my platform to lift and honor my story while fulfilling my life’s purpose unapologetically. My willingness to openly support causes that matter to me continue to provide other opportunities for me to do so. My suggestion is to do the same. Don’t be silent about what matters to you. Your voice makes an impact, use it for good.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

-Build relationships as you grow, just doing your job isn’t enough.

I didn’t know how important it was to build and nurture relationships when I begin. I wish I was told to build relationships before you need them.

-Always stay connected to who you are

In any high-impact industry it’s easy to lose sight of who you are with all the changes, adjustments, and constant new experiences. It’s very important to have a strong sense of who you are so you’re not changing who you are and becoming like every environment you’re in.

-Listen to your instincts and hold true to your values

As women, too many times we don’t listen to that small voice telling us the best option for us. We’ll listen to everyone around us and ignore the instinct that is right most of the time. Use it as a guide.

-Be open to new experiences

There’s such beauty in stepping out of the box and being open enough to enjoy experiences that may be foreign at first. Life is to be lived.

-Your ego is unnecessary

Ego has no place when looking to grow and impact. We all have a path, honor where yours leads without ego to distract and limit.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

I’m a firm believer in teaching a person to fish, not simply giving them a fish. If I could inspire a movement, it would be to provide educational opportunities and resources for girls all over the globe, especially in my native Tanzania. Education changed my life and ensuring all girls have access to education is my life’s mission.

I believe you start where you are. For those looking to make a difference, take a look around you at the problems in your community. Start there and understand the greatest change starts with one. And even if it’s just one it matters to that one.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi

I’ve lived my life based on this simple, yet profound principle. I’m a creator and I live every day creating the change I want in the world.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

Oprah Winfrey because of all the work she’s done in education for girls in Africa and beyond. She moves at the beat of own drum and proudly walks in her truth while providing pathways for others to discover and live out their dreams too. That type of confidence, vision, and execution is masterful. I’d be honored to learn directly from such a profound example.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

-You can find me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook: @flavianamatata

-You can stay up to date with my foundation on Instagram and Facebook: @flavianamatatafoundation and on Twitter: @fmfound

Instagram: @flavianamatata

Website: Flaviana Matata Foundation

Lions Portfolio: Lions Portfolio

Thank you so much for joining us!

Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “Always stay connected to who you are.”, was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “ I just want moms to know that they aren’t alone in this…

Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “ I just want moms to know that they aren’t alone in this journey” with Bernetta Knighten and Candice Georgiadis

I believe the community of moms should just support each other. Being a wife and mom comes with many levels and layers. Outside of our immediate family, friends and a support system are definitely welcomed. I just want moms to know that they aren’t alone in this journey but also give them resources to live their best life.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Bernetta Knighten, also known as at the Dream Architect. Bernetta a certified Life Coach who helps motivate women in developing a blueprint to follow their dreams. Bernetta is the creator of BernettaStyle.com, a lifestyle site and resource focused on motherhood (family), marriage, and motivating mothers to live the life of their dreams, one day at a time. Bernetta also launched The Knighten Project in 2015. It is a non-profit organization with a vision to reinvent how everyday people dream by making one big dream come true for people who have hope but lack the network, resources, and opportunity. The Midwest native earned her Bachelor’s degree from Alabama State University and currently lives in the Tampa Bay area with her husband Earl, and 3 children. Bernetta lives by the quote: For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

There was a time when I would watch Oprah, Ellen & Steve Harvey on television. My favorite shows were the ones when they surprised guest with things that actually changed their life. Unexpected surprises. Each time I saw one of those shows, I would get Goosebumps on my arm. I didn’t get Goosebumps because I wanted to be on the receiving end, I wanted to be the giver.

While on maternity leave with my 3rd child, I again was watching Ellen or Steve give someone something that changed their life. I immediately told my husband, ‘What if there was an organization that made dreams come true for everyday people like you and me!” Of course he said, “That is a great idea!” Then I hit him with, “Well, what if it was me!” Again, he said it was a great idea. I honestly don’t believe he thought I would do anything from there. However, it was that moment that the idea of The Knighten Project was born.

I didn’t launch it for 3 years after my initial idea, because of fear and lack of confidence. There was actually one moment in time I told my husband, “I am giving up on all of MY dreams and just going to be your wife and raise these kids!”

He told me, “No! Out of all people, YOU can’t stop dreaming!’ I launched the Knighten Project about 1 year later.

The Knighten Project is a non-profit organization that makes dreams come true for everyday moms. One Big Dream. Unfortunately, dreams are not cheap so I do work a full time job while running this organization welcoming donations to help fund these dreams.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career? I was working as a social media influencer at Steve Harvey’s Act Like a Success Conference and was given an opportunity to ask the president (at that time) of his company a question. I asked him for advice on how to get more donations for my non-profit and more exposure. He asked about what I do and loved the concept. He then said, “I’m going to bring you on the show! The Steve Harvey Show!” The next thing I know, I was on the Just One More Thing Segment and Steve Harvey was handing me a $5,000 check for The Knighten Project.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? When I first started, I should have been consistent with campaigning and finding sponsors. Although, I didn’t know where to start. Honestly, it’s still a struggle, but everyday I am open to learning new ways to get in front of people.

Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that? Be a student of life. You can start something if it isn’t perfect, but always be working to perfect it.

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

I started my first blog WIFE (Why Isn’t Forever Easy) in 2010 where I shared stories on marriage. In 2012, I transitioned into BernettaStyle. It’s a lifestyle site about motherhood, marriage and motivational stories. My whole platform has always been about women following their dreams, because it’s always been important to make my own dreams come true. Although my dreams have evolved over the years, I’ve always desired the opportunity & chance to make them happen.

When I started The Knighten Project in 2015, I decided to select moms as the recipient of these dreams. As a mom — I know how many of us put our dreams aside or shelf them altogether for our spouse and/or children. Although, it’s possible — it’s hard to get the gusto to go after a dream 18–21 years later. Because these women are waiting for “the perfect time” , life is passing them by. My goal is to allow moms the opportunity through resources (& granting dreams) to take the first step NOW on whatever it is they want to do. If they want to get their degree, just start with a class. If you want to travel to another country, start saving a little bit every week. Just start the process and you will look up and your dream will soon be happening right before your eyes.

Wow! Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

Over the last couple of years, we created the campaign “Purses with Purpose” and raised money for women in a domestic violence shelter. Through donations, we were able to get 25 new purses and fill them (they were overflowing) with items every woman needs if she finds herself in a situation where she has to flee. We took these bags to a shelter for women, the day after Christmas. We wanted to let these moms know they are loved, appreciated and they are not alone.

Was there a tipping point the made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

Initially, I created the organization to make dreams come true only. However, while trying to get donations and raise money for certain dreams, I felt that I wanted to do more for the moms around me everyday. I may not be able to grant every dream for moms that submit a request, but I can motivate them into actions with real resources in person. The revelation allowed me to start having weekly DreamChat interviews on Instagram Lives with mothers who are actually following their dreams. I’ve also recently incorporated monthly Dream Chats, where moms meet in person and we discuss motherhood and dreams/goals. It holds everyone accountable.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

I believe the community of moms should just support each other. Being a wife and mom comes with many levels and layers. Outside of our immediate family, friends and a support system are definitely welcomed. I just want moms to know that they aren’t alone in this journey but also give them resources to live their best life.

What specific strategies have you been using to promote and advance this cause?

Keeping a presence on social media always helps. In addition to a social media presence, adding the IG Dream Chat and in person meetings is a big plus. It’s important to stay in front of your audience and people that can help further your initiative. It’s great when moms want to help support other moms.

Can you recommend any good tips for people who want to follow your lead and use their social platform for a social good?

What makes your heart happy? What makes your heart sing? Or what is that one thing you see on a regular basis that you’ve always wanted to be apart of or change. Just take the first step and start.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

1. You’re going to need to learn how to raise money. People think that just because you start a non-profit that people are going to want to freely give. Wrong. You have to become a master at asking for money.

2. Non-profits NEED MONEY! Even though it’s a non-profit, the organization needs money to run properly.

3. Create a team of people that believe in what you’re trying to do. When people believe in your vision, their work reflects that.

4. Be consistent.

5. Running a non-profit is hard, but worth it.

I just want to restore the hope in everyday moms, that no matter what — they aren’t alone in motherhood. Their dreams matter. Their desire matters. There are different stages in life, but we all deserve happiness. I want to bring back giving. If I could have it my way, I’d have a show where I traveled the world surprising mothers with dreams that would change their lives.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

My favorite life lesson quote is a scripture. It applies to so many things. For God has not given me the spirit of fear, but the power of love and a sound mind. 1 Tim 7:10

This scripture is relevant to me because there have been many times that I didn’t want to do something based on FEAR. I’ve been afraid to make the call, send the email, speak first in a crowded room, raise my hand, post a certain thing on social media, start my business, and the list goes on. However, every time I say this scripture to myself, it gives me power and more power.

Fear is all in our head. If God didn’t give me fear, I should be able to move past it and go forth. I have the scripture in a frame on my desk to remind me that if fear starts to creep in — that this is just False Evidence Appearing Real and it’s a reminder to keep going forward. Sometimes you have to do things afraid. Those are the life changing moments many times!

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

Robert Smith. What’s so funny is that Mr. Smith was recently the keynote speaker at Morehouse College and announced that he would be paying off of all of the 2019 graduates student loan debt. I was already reading about Mr. Smith and his work and contributions to society. I would enjoy having lunch with him to learn more about his WHY behind giving back, learn his thought process.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

BernettaStyle.com (lifestyle blog)

TheKnightenProject.org (Non-profit site)

@KnightenProject (IG/FB)

@BernettaStyle (IG/FB)

Thank you for all of these great insights!

Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “ I just want moms to know that they aren’t alone in this… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “People need to move daily and physical wellness should…

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “People need to move daily and physical wellness should be prioritized in schools and at work.” with Lara Heimann and Candice Georgiadis

People need to move daily and physical wellness should be prioritized in schools and at work. Inactivity saps our energy and makes us grumpy and less inspired to do things for others. Movement is life and it improves life. We need to get our kids moving at school, they will learn better, they will get along better, and they will create more optimal habits.

As a part of my series about social media stars who are using their platform to make a significant social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lara Heimann, an international yoga pioneer and Physical Therapist focused on evolving the practice of yoga to empower movement and balance amidst a modern lifestyle of technology and sedentariness. With an advanced degree in physical therapy and more than 25 years of yoga practice and education, Lara is redefining the modern practice through her comprehensive LYT (Lara’s Yoga Training) Method, emphasizing smart alignment, functional movement, and spiritual wellness. Sustainable, freeing and efficient, LYT champions smarter, safer and more conscious movement patterns and is practiced worldwide through daily online classes at her newest initiative, movementbylara.com.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

When I was in high school, I was on a varsity cheerleading team and two members of the junior varsity team were involved in a tragic car wreck. The girl who was driving was killed, while the other one survived with a fracture to her neck. I remember visiting her at home and being stunned by the sight of her in a cervical halo, which looks like a medieval contraption around her head with screws into the skull to keep the neck from moving. She was physically and emotionally depleted from the horrors of the accident, but I saw a glimpse of light in her when her physical therapist came by to get her up and moving. That memory impressed upon me how even in the darkest moments, we can find hope and renewal when we move our bodies. It would be another five years before I decided to become a physical therapist myself and another decade before I began teaching yoga, but I am sure that this earlier memory made an indelible mark on my path in wellness and the power of the body and spirit to heal.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

After I started my career in physical therapy, assuming that I would forge down a path of sports medicine, I was surprised to find a new interest in neurological rehab. I worked in a thriving clinical setting, where we had weekly meetings and lectures on different physical therapy techniques. One physical therapist was an expert in working with stroke patients, and she gave us a two-hour demonstration of how she worked hands-on using a technique called Neuro Developmental Treatment (NDT). This training is based on analyzing pastors and movements and teaching a neurologically involved patient how to develop control that would carry over into functional activities.
The treatment involves therapeutic handling, facilitation, and activation of key points of control at the core primarily. I was fascinated with this technique and the success of the tools implemented to enhance functional rehabilitation. I had always been interested in neurology but became a neuroplasticity geek. I went on to become trained myself and work with many stroke patients over the years.
It was during one at home physical therapy session when I was working on crawling with a very involved stroke patient, that I realized that this technique can be applied to anyone. We don’t have to have had a brain injury to benefit from the same principles. It was at this moment, that I began to bridge my neuro physical therapy knowledge with my yoga teaching and practice. It was also at this time that I had become a vegan, after years of being vegetarian. While I had assumed I was doing the least harm by not eating meat, I was unaware of the egregious treatment of dairy cows and chickens, whose hormonal products I had continued to ingest. Looking back at this time, it makes sense to me that as I connected more in my teaching and practice to the integrative core strength of the body, that I also connected more consistently to my core values of kindness and compassion.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I opened a public studio after having private clients in a home studio for many years. I decided to make this leap in my business for two reasons: I wanted to teach more people my LYT method of yoga, which was a blend of classical vinyasa and functional movement and I wanted to create a larger community of empowerment and compassion. When I first rented the public studio in my town of Princeton, NJ, I was only holding my yoga teacher training classes there while all of the remodeling details were not yet complete. I was eager to open it up to the public but decided to only have word-of-mouth marketing so that my existing clients could get used to sharing a practice space with more people. After a few weeks, I was going away for Christmas, and asked one of my teacher training graduates to hold a few classes of mine. While on a ski lift in Colorado, I received a frantic phone call from my front desk assistant, saying that the town planning board director had stopped by and wanted to speak to me. She relayed that I had not gotten a certificate of occupancy yet, so I shouldn’t have been holding any classes!
I spoke to the director, who was kind and didn’t penalize me, but I learned that you need to check all the boxes before you forge ahead!
I have gone on to open a larger studio with a vegan cafe, and I now ask as many questions as needed to make sure that I follow all procedures. You never want a missed detail to mess up your progress!

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

My platform is really about empowerment. I feel strongly that the body is the quickest and most successful vehicle of transformation. When we feel strong and connected to our bodies, we feel more productive, patient, resilient, enthusiastic, spirited and compassionate. My mission is to help everyone move in a safe, sustainable, and empowered way so that we can work together to improve the world for all beings. When we feel whole within ourselves, we can then truly give to others. In my many years of teaching, I have seen how small shifts in the awareness of movement patterns and connection to core strength results in profound shifts in personal lives and spiritual development. When you feel good about yourself, when you feel good in your body, when you move with ease, efficiency, and empowerment, you WANT to do good. You want to help. You spend less time on the little insignificant worries and self-talk and want to lead an impactful life. I have had women who felt unmoored by motherhood and confused in their own identity, find their mission in life that broadened their identity and gave them a greater sense of self. I have witnessed students overcome past trials and tribulations when they connect to their own physical strength, allowing the past to heal and be released of the pain. I have had many students explore and commit to veganism because they feel more aligned with their core values. We can all be bogged down by a lot of concerns that sap our energy. When we get clearer and stronger and feel empowered, it’s an inevitable step to becoming more consistent with our values.

Wow! Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

I had a woman who had endured loss, betrayal, and carried a great amount of bitterness in her external shell. She practiced with me for several years, and one day asked to speak to me after class. She revealed that she had gone through many years of therapy, had even tried different medications, but it wasn’t until she practiced this form of yoga that she felt a giant awakening. With tears in her eyes she told me that, even on the days that she didn’t want to come to class, she showed up because she always felt better after it. All of those moments of showing up led to a greater shift. She found forgiveness in her heart, she felt like she no longer wanted to blame or stay in the cycle of anger. With that change, she relayed that she had also began to explore eating a plant based diet. I remember her quote and it is the fabric that reinforces the power of this practice. “When I started connecting to my core strength, and grew more determined to get on my hands in a handstand hop day after day, I rewrote my story. As I have gotten stronger, I have become softer. I didn’t even realize it was happening, but I knew that it felt so good and I so I kept coming back. And now I am different. I am more whole and I like me.”
I receive messages like this all the time and it is such a privilege to witness personal growth. My job is to provide the tools, encouragement, and ask the question — if we can be more aligned in our bodies, can we take that in to other aspects of our lives? At first, some people might think of my yoga method as just a physical practice. But, if they stay long enough, they know that the practice is so much more. It is an open invitation to change your movement and behavioral patterns; it is a movement to be awake in your body and spirit and to spread more compassion to all beings. And while my mission is committed to veganism, I invite everyone to discover what pulls on their heartstrings. The message is to be aligned, feel your power, and use your passion for your own calling.

Was there a tipping point the made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

When my husband and I biked cross- country in 1999, I sensed a new chapter in my life and new purpose. Leaving a wonderful and stable job as a physical therapist was against my “play it safe” instincts, but once I crossed this threshold of creating my own destiny, there was no turning back. I gained a fierce pulse to choose the path less known and design a life that was truly in line with my values. On this three-month journey across the United States, we mostly lived with what we could carry, and it was easy to see that what we actually needed to be happy was our health and our experience. From our bikes, we witnessed much more of our surroundings that we would have from a car. We felt connected to nature in a profound way, journeying through so much beauty in our nation and literally sleeping on the earth every night. We also saw some of the factory farms that are hidden in the vastness of the middle country, and my husband and I both spoke of what we could do in our lives to bring more awareness to the realities of the animal agriculture. So many magical seeds of inspiration were planted on that trip and we even rescued a kitten who had been dumped by the side of a road. Nute remained in our lives for many years and served as an ambassador to remind us of our dreams.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

People need to move daily and physical wellness should be prioritized in schools and at work. Inactivity saps our energy and makes us grumpy and less inspired to do things for others. Movement is life and it improves life. We need to get our kids moving at school, they will learn better, they will get along better, and they will create more optimal habits.
Better food choices are needed everywhere! When we eat plants, we vibrate at a higher frequency. It’s not woo woo, we know this to be true. Eating a hamburger is dead energy, a robust green salad makes you feel vibrant. We should be putting money into producing and subsidizing vegetables.
Science supports that a plant-based diet is the healthiest for our bodies and the optimal choice for our planets survival. All of our legislative and economic decisions should be supporting the cultivation of a plant-based lifestyle. No more urban food deserts, no more cheap fast food burgers that are contributing to our health crisis and deforestation of massive rain forests.

Movement in your body and spirit is my ethos and I would love to see these tenets supported by society in all realms.

I promote empowerment and alignment in my daily classes at my studio in Princeton and on my online classes. Since the body is such a successful vehicle for transformation, I am dedicated to helping people feel more embodied in their personal strength and strive to model this in my own practice and teaching. I also encourage my students to take the best version of themselves in to the world because we need all the good hearts and hands on deck!! In my trainings and teachings, I inform people about the beauty of veganism and how it can improve their own health while also helping the environment and the plight of billions of innocent animals. While I don’t proselytize, I share my own journey into veganism and how the switch to a vegan lifestyle almost 18 years was the greatest spiritual awakening of my life. I essentially say, “hey, I am here to support you on the journey to align your values with your choices”; and by working with people to get stronger and more awake in their yoga practice, I have seen how organic the message is received. My only tip is to speak from your own experience without judgment and be the model of what you want to see in the world.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

Three things come to mind:

1) Get help — don’t burn out because you think you can do it all. You can always find a helping hand willing to be paid or trade services. I had people who helped at the front desk at my studio from the beginning, some who were paid and some who wanted to work in trade for yoga classes. I also knew that offering vegan food at my studio was important to me to provide people with cruelty free nourishment. Although I am a certified natural foods chef, I knew that I would be spread too thin if I added that to my work plate. So, I collaborated with a friend who is a caterer and sells her food at the studio.

2) Don’t be afraid to ask questions! I learned early on that you need to ask questions to grow and thrive in your business and in your mission.

3) The customer is always right. No matter what the situation, try and figure out a way to stay above the line when interacting with people. How they behave is much more reflective of their own stuff. Whether in a business transaction or an interaction about veganism, I have found that being kind and not reactive helps you maintain your power and alignment without hurting another.

I would inspire a movement of Empowered Compassion! My message would be simple: Move for yourself and all beings! When we care about our own heath and wellness, we are more prepared and capable to expand that caring to other people, other beings. I firmly believe that when we invest in our own physical and spiritual growth (which ARE connected), we have so much more energy to give to causes that we believe in, and veganism is a cause that included ALL beings. We do not have to contribute to suffering if it truly is not aligned with our core values.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

Growing up, I had a poster on my wall with Nadia Comaneci performing some crazy balance beam move, with a quote underneath “ Do not pray for an easy life. Pray to be a strong person.” The image and the message were encoded in my moral fabric. I think I knew even at a young age that your personal strength and work ethic could help you become anyone you wanted to be, overcoming any challenge.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

I have many on the list, but I would love to have a private lunch/dinner with Natalie Portman. She is a highly intelligent and passionate vegan activist who I admire tremendously. I would love to collaborate with her to bring the vegan message to the whole world!

How can our readers follow you on social media?

I am on Instagram at @lara.heimann and @movementbylara

My website is www.movementbylara.com where you can also find my daily online yoga classes ( LYT- Lara’s Yoga Training daily).

This was very meaningful, thank you so much!

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “People need to move daily and physical wellness should… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Amy Burton: “It’s wildly frustrating to me that community concern about domestic violence is so…

Amy Burton: “It’s wildly frustrating to me that community concern about domestic violence is so focused on the adult victims”

It’s wildly frustrating to me that community concern about domestic violence is so focused on the adult victims. Violence against children is not a mere product of domestic violence between couples. Children’s right to physical safety is no more a threat to parental dignity than a wife’s right to physical safety from her husband is a threat to his rights or dignity. Fewer victims of child abuse would clearly reduce the incidence of those victims committing violent crimes against others in later life.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Amy Burton, a solo mom by choice to 5 children including 2 sets of donor conceived twins. She was previously a foster parent to 20 children over 7 years in 2 states, then went on to work with children in the foster care system or at risk of entering the system. Now medically retired, Amy uses YouTube to share her expertise in creating & raising families & guiding even the most difficult & damaged kids into happy success stories.

Thank you so much for joining us! What brought you to this career path?

When I was little, my brother & I occasionally used to be left in the toy department while the adults did their thing. But I always headed straight to the baby department to spend hours deciding which cots & cradles & clothes I’d buy for all the kids in the world. I seriously had a picture in my head of taking millions of kids away from their parents so I could raise them my way. But as I got older it gradually occurred to me that raising a whole generation wasn’t actually a viable option for one person.

I truly loved looking after children in day care, but my real goal became to support other adults to look after children non-violently — because supporting parents is the most realistically effective way to support children. I created & delivered courses on child development & behaviour management while completing my degree & went on to spend several happy years working in the child protection sector with kids in care, or at risk of being brought into the system. But I felt I wasn’t much closer to addressing families on a scale that would make a real difference. Nowadays I use social media to raise the positive profile of diverse families & the needs of children in the foster care system, plus I offer parenting advice for overworked, under supported, & overly judged modern millennial parents.

What’s the most interesting story that happened since you began your career?

I have the most insanely hilarious start-up story that’s ever existed on social media. It’s how I know for sure I was called to this path, because I would never have been here any other way.

The short version is that I got my first smart phone but couldn’t figure out how to get my first video off of the phone. I rejected the “share with Facebook” option because I was too private to have an account, so opted for “share with YouTube”. All I knew of YouTube back then was flash mobs & funny cat videos. So I was devastated when I got my first subscriber that day & couldn’t figure out how to delete it. I was even more upset when I learned I’d accidentally set up a YouTube “channel”. I was terrified I was going to be arrested for impersonating a television channel. Luckily my eldest son eventually managed to explain what was happening & that it was nothing to be alarmed about. And that’s the true story of how my YouTube career was accidentally born!

What was the funniest mistake that you made when you were first starting out? What lessons did you learn from it?

Honestly my mistakes getting into social media were too numerous to even recall them all. I had no relevant background or skills, could barely operate a camera (even on a phone), literally had no idea what editing was, was bewildered about what viewers wanted when they asked for “shout outs”, & took years to understand what a custom thumbnail was — never mind how to make one.

We quickly built up a really lovely supportive community around the family videos I was uploading, but I still had no idea that social media was a career option until the day I received an invite to join YouTube’s partnership program. At first I thought destiny had dropped my family onto YouTube to resolve our massive financial problems (I was medically retired from my profession at that time). But although we appeared super popular on the surface, many of our videos were subject to copyright claims & I certainly didn’t achieve financial success making family videos.

I started pondering why on earth destiny had dragged me on to YouTube? If not for money, it couldn’t be to make something as trivial as family skit videos surely?? After a lot of introspection, I decided in 2018 to put my new video production skills to use by providing free information to the public — in hopes of making a positive social impact.

How are you using your platform to make a significant social impact?

Social media has more power to connect people with valuable information & inspiration than any other medium because it’s so open & so big & so interactive. There’s so much content being produced by so many different creators that it’s tough to be heard — but not impossible. I do think it’s true that cream rises on social media, even if it’s also true that most floaters are best flushed out.

The mutual interactivity between influencers & the public is so close on social media that we get a ton of useful feedback. People are quick to tell us if we’re too preachy or too vague or just plain boring or ineffective. I think this sort of real time, UN-sugar-coated feedback helps us to improve our delivery so much more than any other sort of training or apprenticeship we could hope for.

Can you share a story about an individual impacted by this cause?

We have so many kind & capable people in our community who want nothing more than the privilege of being a loving parent to a child who needs one. I’m always thrilled when told my videos have empowered someone to open their hearts & homes.

Was there a tipping point that made you decide to focus on this area?

I started Ask AMY by answering fairly general questions about building great family relationships. The tipping point came when the video requests outnumbered my ability to produce videos by around 50–1. The only viable way forward was to take control & start prioritising the subjects I felt most called to address.

Nowadays I choose the topics I believe are the most under-served, under-answered, or most wrongly answered. My goal is to support the types of people who most need support & encouragement & I hope it results in more children being safe & nurtured.

What are 3 things that community/society/politicians can do to help address the root of the problem?

1) Before deciding to create my new channel, I really wrestled with the concept of “who the heck am I” to build myself a soap box? I was literally praying for a sign when I got the clear answer I could never have come up with on my own. An 80’s song called “You’re The Voice” came on the radio for the first time in decades. The whole point of that song is that no individual is anointed to lead a movement. We all have an equal, individual responsibility to speak up & speak out. In that moment I gave myself permission to be “a voice” on things that really matter. The biggest thing that other people can do is add their own voices to those conversations. There are so many important causes & so many contributions are needed to make change happen.

2) It’s obscenely difficult to intervene to make children safe from parental violence unless an adult victim is being abused by the same perpetrator. I believe there is a need for legislative change to protect vulnerable children from physical harm.

3) Thirdly, I believe grandparents could be the most important catalysts for change when it comes to child safety. Family violence is handed down through generations because what you do not reject, you are doomed to repeat. Instead of self righteously trying to justify the past, grandparents could make a huge impact by stressing how they would do things differently now if they had the chance. It would give so many loyal offspring the emotional freedom to adopt the mantra of “when you know better, you do better”.

What specific strategies have you been using to promote and advance this cause? Can you recommend any good tips for others?

I think the most common mistake that influencers make is to overestimate their influence outside of the niche for which they developed their following. I’ve seen so many who’ve developed prominence for their comedy or their beauty or fashion advice, who make the mistake of dry preaching on unrelated issues, without connecting their social impact message to the topic for which they have influential authority. Like if you’re a DIY crafter & you make a video about homelessness in your community, you’re not going to merely fail — you’re going to alienate your followers. If the cause you want to promote is not compatible with the platform you have, you’ll have to do as I did & walk away from the channel with over 100k subscribers & apply your skills to starting again from scratch. I personally drifted away from my family vlog because it’s young followers aren’t my target demographic. But if your current audience are the very people you want to target, you simply have to package your message in terms of the issues you do have credibility in. Perhaps you could teach people how to make something to give to the homeless? Or maybe a beauty vlogger can emphasise the fact that beauty is found in every skin colour even if it’s different to their own beauty blogger gorgeousness. It’s just about connecting your cause to what your audience wants from you.

What are 5 things you wish someone told you when you were starting out?

It’s dangerously easy to be one of those people who merely re-state the superficially obvious or preach to the converted. But there’s so little true value in doing that. It’s true that search engine optimisation (SEO) is only designed to feed people’s known interests. And it’s true SEO is not discerning enough to provide quality information to people that need it. So influencers actually have to package our information according to what people want & look for, in order to fill the gaps in knowledge they didn’t know they had. For example I had to explain how to get obedience to earn an opportunity to explain why having obedient children is such a misguided ambition.

I truly believe that to make a genuine social impact, you have to interest the people who DIS-agree with you. You have to be welcoming enough, enlightening enough, & compelling enough to help those people think a new way. Like I was better able to get past people’s biases about what foster kids are like by making a true or false style game out of it.

Influencers also need to brace up for hate. Stepping up to elevate a cause is like painting a giant target on yourself for all the people who don’t want change. Attacks on you will be public & fierce because you just made yourself a symbol of what they reject. For example, I’ve had some trolling from some bigoted misogynists on the subject of single moms by choice.

If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most people, what would that be? (you never know what your idea could trigger).

It’s wildly frustrating to me that community concern about domestic violence is so focused on the adult victims. Violence against children is not a mere product of domestic violence between couples. Children’s right to physical safety is no more a threat to parental dignity than a wife’s right to physical safety from her husband is a threat to his rights or dignity. Fewer victims of child abuse would clearly reduce the incidence of those victims committing violent crimes against others in later life.

Your fave life lesson quote? How was that relevant to you in your life?

I have a plaque on my wall that says “A mother holds her children’s hands for a while and their hearts forever”. It’s a reminder that my window of opportunity for physically steering & protecting my children will be short. Beyond childhood, my guidance will be limited to the impact I’ve had on their hearts: in how they value themselves, as well as the respect & compassion they’ve developed for others.

Is there a person in the world with whom you’d like to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why?

My lifelong dream has always been to meet & thank my soul mother Oprah Winfrey. I’m just one of millions of women she has given deeply profound, motherly guidance to. Many of the most important (& fulfilling & joyful) aspects of my adult life & relationships were literally shaped by her words of wisdom.

How can people follow you on social media?

One day I woke up & found myself on YouTube, & I’m still amazed by that twist of fate. But the bottom line is, I know for sure I was called to be here — so find me on YouTube at www.youtube.com/AskAMYvideos because that’s the best place to find me until destiny steers me elsewhere.

Thank you so much for these great insights!

Amy Burton: “It’s wildly frustrating to me that community concern about domestic violence is so… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “Let’s start off with being more positive and respectful

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “Let’s start off with being more positive and respectful towards one another” with Annie Vazquez and Candice Georgiadis

The best strategy is to post daily, establish a routine and stick to it. Post in the morning messages of positivity, people need to be armed with that energy before they head out to work. Create a blog so people can search for topics and find you. I have people from all over the world following. It’s incredible how far we can reach.

As a part of my series about social media stars who are using their platform to make a significant social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Annie Vazquez, an award winning blogger featured in Vogue, People Magazine and The Today show. She went from strictly fashion to creating content that reminds others to be body positive, make wellness an everyday practice and has her own line of motivational products. Annie runs two blogs: TheFashionPoet.com and AnnieTheAlchemist.com as well as teaches mindful meditation workshops around the country.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I had always been praised for my fashion blogging outfits until the day I posed in a swimsuit and found myself the center of body shaming. I was told my body was disgusting, vulgar and that I needed to lose weight. So I decided to focus TheFashionPoet.com on more than just style inspiration but to show myself exposed and vulnerable. On my other channel, AnnieTheAlchemist.com is focused on spreading positive messages with uplifting and thought provoking quotes and blogs.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

It’s never a dull moment. I feel that having women of all ages tell me that I’ve helped them with their self-confidence is the most interesting. I’ve gone on to be interviewed for podcasts and featured on something where I took pain and flipped into personal power. That’s really want I want to spark in others.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Well, it wasn’t funny at the time but I lost my voice right before giving my first chakra balancing 101 workshop and it was in Los Angeles in front of over 100 people. I remember I was so nervous and I guess I manifested it. So I jumped into the car the day before the workshop and drove to Joshua Tree because there is suppose to be a huge spiritual vortex there and I prayed and prayed to get my voice back. Can you believe I did? I had it long enough to do the class which came out awesome. My lesson was never be afraid to do something new.

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

I write daily motivational quotes to remind others of their super power, I sell motivational products like tees and crystals and more. I talk about body positivity, wellness, working out to feel healthy, not for a particular body. I also feature cruelty free beauty products and talk about our purchasing power and how we as consumers can make a difference,

Wow! Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

It’s really seeing followers dm me with their purchases and friends saying that I’ve inspired them to shop smarter. Or telling me they felt confident putting on their bikini or started exercising. Also, people write me to say their meditations and affirmations worked. I love sharing the knowledge. It’s so important to help others simply by showing them the tools.

Was there a tipping point the made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

I wanted to do something with purpose so I launched AnnieTheAlchemist.com and then TheFashionPoet got restructured to focus on body positive, cruelty free and wellness. I’ve been in the industry for 10 years, just fashion for the sake of style, it didn’t mean anything for me anymore. I wasn’t fulfilled.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

Absolutely, let’s start off with being more positive and respectful towards one another. We lead by example. This starts within the community. Let’s not see each other as competition but as family. It’s not hard to be kind. I always tell my followers before you leave your house think about 3 things you are grateful for so it sets the tone for you as you head out to be around others. I also think we need to see more of a variety of body shapes and races, particularly models . There’s a few brands doing it but there needs to be more. We need to focus on the interior and less exterior.

The best strategy is to post daily, establish a routine and stick to it. Post in the morning messages of positivity, people need to be armed with that energy before they head out to work. Create a blog so people can search for topics and find you. I have people from all over the world following. It’s incredible how far we can reach.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

5 things I wish someone told me when I first started:

1. Be patient with the journey. — Some people hit it big quickly, for others it takes a longer time. It’s okay, everyone’s journey is different.

2. There will be ups and downs. — Every business has amazing moments and others were they have to restructure. It’s okay.

3. Take a break — Having fun and travel inspires us to be more creative and do better in business.

4. Download an accounting app like Quickbooks and organize your earnings and expenses with a good app like Quickbooks. It helps during tax time, too.

5. Do what’s in your heart- follow your heart when it comes to business. What you might love one moment might change years later that’s okay. But when it comes from a place of love you’re bound to be successful because its already good energy.

The two movements that are close to my heart now are: Body Positivity so that we all learn to love the skin we are in and accept one another, and the other is to end animal testing on products.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

Just keeping doing what you love because you’ll always be the richest person that way.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-).

Jennifer Lopez. She paved the way for body positivity, she’s active in the wellness sphere, she’s humble and she just proves that at any age we can still achieve and be amazing. She absolutely is one of my biggest inspirations.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

@TheFashionPoet

@AnnieTheAlchemist

Thank you for all of these great insights!

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “Let’s start off with being more positive and respectful was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “Collaboration over competition.” with Shelby Vert and…

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “Collaboration over competition.” with Shelby Vert and Candice Georgiadis

For the past year I’ve been inspired by the phrase “collaboration over competition.” This has helped me when asking for advice, giving advice to influencers who are just starting out, and being as selfless as possible.

As a part of my series about social media stars who are using their platform to make a significant social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Shelby Vert, a lifestyle blogger based out of Las Vegas, NV. She covers everything from food to affordable fashion and has a passion for providing recommendations to women and men every day.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I started working in Public Relations and Social Media 2 years ago. We ran a few influencer campaigns with one of our food industry clients and I found a lot of interest in what the influencers were doing as I explored their social media platforms. I thought to myself, “this sounds like something I could really enjoy doing too.” A few days later I found myself on Pinterest researching tips on how to become an influencer. Shortly after learning a few tips and tricks, I applied to a few campaigns and built my collaboration portfolio by posting items for free, and items I already loved.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

As a blogger and influencer everything to me is interesting. Every day is different and I receive the craziest collaboration requests via email and Direct Message on Instagram. One that comes to mind was from a well known athleticwear company. Here is a line from the email.. “ We would love to start by building a relationship. However, this will be unpaid and I will not be able to provide any product.” I was very confused to say the least.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I truly thought I had to pay a photographer for all of my photos and do this every 2 weeks to grow my audience and make it look appealing to brands. I spent over $800 on 2 photo sessions for 5–6 photos that lasted me 2 weeks of posting. With the help of my amazing boyfriend, I started incorporating photos from my iPhone (free) into my Instagram feed and researched the best way to edit phone photography. I truly would not have grown as much as I have without the help of Kyle constantly being by my side taking my photos (and being involved in the photos sometimes too!)

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

I’m honest. I set aside time to connect with my followers who have questions and truthfully answer them. I don’t ever want people to be persuaded into purchasing something that I don’t think is a quality product. I will also share anything from fundraisers to blood drives on my platforms to help spread as much awareness as I can.

Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

There is one thing that is close to my heart, but it was a team of us that made it happen.

Layla’s Hero’s Blood Drive is a Nationwide campaign that was started this year honoring a 4-year old girl that I fell in love with. I shared a lot of information and backstory on my Instagram and got tons of responses from people asking how they can help. We (Perspective Marketing and A Touch of Lash) partnered with American Red Cross and filled the blood drive schedule. This moment filled my heart with joy and I knew I was using my platform for the right thing.

Was there a tipping point that made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

I noticed influencers sharing countless amounts amounts of products from food to beauty that I knew were not honest reviews. I truly felt bad for their followers, and I knew I wanted to be different. I put myself in the readers shoes.

Can you recommend any good tips for people who want to follow your lead and use their social platform for a social good?

Be authentic and honest, write about things you are passionate about, and share the bad times as much as you share the good times in your life. You will be easier to connect with.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?

You will get negative feedback, it’s how you handle it that defines you.
You will make a lot of friends.
You will not make money right away, and when you do it will be a small amount.
Not everyone will be willing to help you.
You chose to share your life on social media, not the people close to you.

It’s not my original movement, but I’ve recently heard about a huge update Instagram is going to roll out involving taking away the like counts on photos. I stand behind this 100%. I think it has become a mental health thing now always wondering about how many likes you have and comparing yourself to others.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

For the past year I’ve been inspired by the phrase “collaboration over competition.” This has helped me when asking for advice, giving advice to influencers who are just starting out, and being as selfless as possible.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

Instagram @shelbyvert and www.shelbytristin.com

This was very meaningful, thank you so much!

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “Collaboration over competition.” with Shelby Vert and… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “Not everyone will believe in you.”

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “Not everyone will believe in you.” with Emily L. Depasse and Candice Georgiadis

Not everyone will believe in you. I’ve been told that I would fail more times than I’ve been told I’d succeed. I’ve had men tell me to be less sexual in my work, or tone down the Carrie Bradshaw in favor of Jackie Kennedy. As a growing expert in human sexuality, I am still man-splained and critiqued on my field of expertise.

As a part of my series about social media stars who are using their platform to make a significant social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Emily L. Depasse (she/her), a Philadelphia-based sexologist and writer redefining the narratives around sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Popularly known as SexELDucation on Instagram and Twitter, Emily utilizes her online presence as a platform for STI inclusive sex education. She is currently pursuing her MSW and MEd in Human Sexuality Studies as a future sex therapist at Widener University.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I didn’t grow up wanting to be a sex therapist or sexuality student. I grew up wanting to be an elementary school teacher. That desire faded over time, but when my undergraduate years approached, that childhood dream was my declaration to my university. I decided first to tackle my general education credits, and that’s when I realized that there were so many more career options open to me. I was especially interested in women’s studies courses but did not formally declare my gender and sexuality studies major until the spring of my sophomore year. It was during a sociology and gender course that I knew I wanted to be a sex therapist. I think my family thought it was a joke for a while, some still may hold that belief. Initially, my interests were related to the mechanics of orgasm and its impact on sexuality, based upon my discomfort within my body during high school. When I was diagnosed with herpes, however, a new career path was launched.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

I think the weirdest occurrence is having someone stalk my LinkedIn. I am (sadly) accustomed to unsolicited direct messages, but LinkedIn was a new level for me. It was the first time I felt fear of being online with my disclosure. I had just finished teaching a sex education course to seventh graders at a private school in Maryland (where I was living at the time), and one of my tweets blew up related to being herpes-positive. Someone dedicated an entire post (and I think I was featured in several more), pertaining to their disapproval of my work. They went insofar as to research my college and high school tuitions, as well as ascribe labels to my parents’ skills and control over me as a young woman. I remember when that article was published and fearing what would happen to my job and future career. Since this incident, I’ve placed supreme privacy controls on my LinkedIn and professional networks.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

There’s not one story that stands out in my head as a “funny mistake.” I would say that I’m still making mistakes and expect to continue making them. The sexuality field is always evolving; it’s almost constant. I review articles I’ve written in the past for myself and others and think, “Wow, that completely ignores XYZ populations — what was I thinking!” But that statement and that awareness are integral to my growth in this profession. And it’s a feeling I hope to always capture throughout my career, constant evolution.

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

I utilize my platforms and online presence to discuss the realities of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Much of my writing and social posts are related to society’s use of language and how they further perpetuate stigmas and stereotypes of folks who contract STIs. While I post about relationships and sexuality as a whole, my focus is centered on creating more inclusive language and education surrounding STIs.

Wow! Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

Nearly 1 in 2 sexually active young adults will contract an STI before age 25. With that said, there are a lot of folks who are affected, perhaps even unknowingly (since many STIs do not have symptoms), by this. Despite how common contracting an STI is, many still feel isolated by the numbers thrown at them by medical professionals. Before I was diagnosed, I had this attitude of invincibility, and I think it’s one that many of us adopt after sex ed (if we have one). Very few of us are equipped with a comprehensive sex education that is required to discuss topics like consent, LGBTQIA identities and relationships, pleasure, and the realities of STIs. Instead, we are shown photos of infections’ worst-case scenarios, told their symptoms, and how best to avoid them. There is no safe sex, only safer sex, and unfortunately, even our safer sex methods come with an effective rate. This attitude of invincibility in part leads to our dismissing these safer sex practices and further perpetuates stigmas held about those living with STIs, despite their prevalence.

Was there a tipping point the made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

Yes, my diagnosis of genital herpes in 2015. I contracted it from someone I knew, trusted, and fell hard for several years prior. This diagnosis destroyed who I knew myself to be. I was just over a month-and-a-half out of college, ready to take on the world. I was preparing my application to the current graduate program I am in now, and that diagnosis stopped every aspiration I held at age 22 in life and love. I questioned everything about myself in parallel to these stereotypes about people with STIs: dirty, diseased, whore, deserved it, gross, and more. When I looked in the mirror, I no longer saw myself. I saw this stereotype. Later, I realized that I, too, despite my college specialization in human sexuality, held internalized beliefs about folks with STIs. After this partner and I parted ways, I began to reflect on the diagnosis and how it so profoundly affected me across so many areas of my life. I then felt called to this purpose within my profession.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

I don’t expect that STIs will be the foundation of any political platform or campaign, but I do think the recent abortion bans will give rise to discussions about bodily autonomy and rights. I expect discussions of STIs may occur in this space, and I am hopeful that they do, but I know it is not a guarantee. Especially in those that can be easily alleviated with medication. What I hope to see in folks addressing the root problem of stigma is to advocate for comprehensive sex education, bring awareness to the realities of contracting and living with STIs, and acknowledge how our language may perpetuate outdated beliefs.

My platform has always been based upon my vulnerability, and I think that serves human connection, especially within this work. I am not an institution or organization just sharing facts about STIs or their stigma — I’ve lived it, I am living with it, and I’ve overcome it. I would not be where I am, or as aware as I am, without my own experience. I don’t think everyone is meant to disclose their diagnosis (whatever that may be) publicly, but I do believe authenticity and passion is key to establishing and maintaining that connection.

It is also imperative to note that authenticity misses the mark for some folks, especially in the human sexuality field. As stated previously, not everyone has understood my path or the reasoning behind it. Some have even vocalized their uncertainty and doubt, which hasn’t been easy from the mouths of those I once admired. This lack of acceptance is another reason as to why passion is vital — it gets you through. It’s a personal investment in something bigger than yourself, but also promotes that connection with those who are meant to receive, and are open to receiving your message.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

People will Google you and your work in all its phases. Alongside my LinkedIn, people have found photos and tweets and plastered herpes across my face. The internet can and will be cruel. I have formed wonderful friendships and professional relationships via social media, but it hasn’t been without transgressions.

2. Not everyone will believe in you. I’ve been told that I would fail more times than I’ve been told I’d succeed. I’ve had men tell me to be less sexual in my work, or tone down the Carrie Bradshaw in favor of Jackie Kennedy. As a growing expert in human sexuality, I am still man-splained and critiqued on my field of expertise.

3. Not everyone will be as passionate as you about your subject. In every sexuality class, if there is an STI-related project, most of my colleagues know that herpes is “my thing.” There have been times that I’ve been so eager to talk about herpes for a school project that I shake in anticipation of the assignment.

4. Set boundaries early. As a future clinician, I am bound by my clinical ethics and guidelines. I cannot offer individualized advice or provide sex therapy. I recently turned off my DMs to make these boundaries clearer.

5. You can do it. I don’t think anyone (at least outside of my friend group), saw my work succeeding in the capacity it has. I was always successful in school and was cheered for academic rigor and accomplishments, but I don’t think anyone ever saw my ideas taking off beyond academia until they did.

I think that I am in the midst of the movement! There is already an established network of activists working to dismantle herpes stigma. The Herpes Activists Networking to Dismantle Stigma group, affectionately known as HANDS, has already grown since its launch in October. Increasing numbers of folks are talking about the stigma, and that’s really where the work happens!

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

My favorite quote is by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. It reads, “I have been through a lot and have suffered a great deal. But I have had lots of happy moments, as well. Every moment one lives is different from the other. The good, the bad, hardship, the joy, the tragedy, love, and happiness are all interwoven into one single, indescribable whole that is called life. You cannot separate the good from the bad. And perhaps there is no need to do so, either.”

I have been a Kennedy aficionado for as long as I can remember and quickly developed an infatuation with the former First Lady. As I grew older, I did anything to learn and understand more about her life from various perspectives. At some point, I think during high school, I discovered this quote. It speaks not only to my herpes experience as it relates to my positive career path, but also my life as a whole. I could never be where I am, appreciate where I am, and where I may be able to go, without my past.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

I’ve met Sarah Jessica Parker twice, so I would have to say Lady Gaga! I admire her perseverance and dedication to her dreams. I read stories about her ex-boyfriends and groups of classmates that dedicated themselves to discouraging her career. I’ve had so many people attempt to stop me or shift my direction away from the sexuality field because they assume that there isn’t much that I can accomplish with it. At 26, I felt fulfillment for the first time. There’s a photo of Lady Gage in tears over her Oscar. That was me under my desk when I first. I would love to chat with Lady Gaga about her experience of dedicating her life to her passion and following her dreams in the face of disapproval. Lady Gaga is someone who encompasses that authenticity I spoke about earlier. In the face of adversity, she remained true to her passions, goals, and most importantly, to herself — and the right people listened.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

Instagram: @sexelducation

Twitter: @sexelducation

This was very meaningful, thank you so much!

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “Not everyone will believe in you.” was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media, with Katarina Cermelj and Candice Georgiadis

And when it comes to judging this abstract thing called success, I look at progress — I look at my recipes and writing and photography from a year or a month ago. I see it gradually improving, evolving, getting closer to how I envision it… and even though it’s nowhere near “perfect”, seeing the progress is enough.

As a part of my series about social media stars who are using their platform to make a significant social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Katarina Cermelj — or Kat for short, as she’s known to the readers and followers of her food blog, The Loopy Whisk. Kat started her blog in 2016 to share the recipes she created as part of her predominantly gluten and dairy free lifestyle, and has since grown her community to over 300K food enthusiasts from all over the world. Her mission is simple — teach people that gluten free, dairy free and vegan recipes aren’t merely pale, disappointing mimics of the “real thing”, but are actually taste bud-tingling, drop-dead-gorgeous flavour explosions in their own right.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I’ve always loved food — and believed that food plays a central role in our lives. When I was little, I remember helping my mum in the kitchen… of course, “helping” at that time involved mainly licking any spoons and bowls within my reach! Later, I started experimenting in the kitchen myself, and quickly discovered a passion for creating my own recipes. That was later combined with my love of Chemistry — I am currently completing an Inorganic Chemistry PhD at the University of Oxford, so my recipe development definitely gained a scientific perspective.

Then, in 2015, I started having health issues and after feeling absolutely miserable for months, it turned out that most of my problems could be solved by eliminating gluten and dairy from my diet. This, luckily, made me feel better — but I was also faced with a new problem: what should I eat now?

Don’t get me wrong, I like quinoa and smoothies and salads just fine, but the idea of no longer being able to enjoy cake, brownies, cookies and pie — it was just heartbreaking. I did try my hand at the gluten and dairy free recipes floating around the Internet, but got mixed results. And when I say mixed results… the bin was full of my “experiments” for a while!

Eventually, I started developing my own gluten and dairy free recipes — ones that were delicious and beautiful and tasted just as amazing as I remembered them. And when my friends and colleagues tried my bakes, most of them couldn’t believe they truly were gluten or dairy free or vegan! That really showed me that I was onto something there.

Also, I had been reading food blogs for years, so I thought to myself, “I can do that too!”. And so, in November 2016, I published my first post on The Loopy Whisk… and now, a bit over two and a half years later, here we are!

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

About two years into blogging, I was invited to a local radio station to talk about gluten free baking and The Loopy Whisk in general. Aside from it being a wonderful experience that would never have happened had I not started a food blog, it was incredibly interesting seeing the radio show host’s reaction to trying my bakes. I was asked to bring a few treats along, and one of them was my gluten free chocolate cake that I’m incredibly proud of.

Now, my family, friends and colleagues enjoy my recipes on a weekly basis, so they’re used to my gluten free bakes tasting as though they’re made from regular all-purpose wheat flour. But the reaction of the radio host was just incredible — she’s obviously had a few unfortunate experiences with gluten free food, as she definitely went in expecting to be super disappointed. Instead, she absolutely loved the cake, could not believe it’s gluten free and was over the moon when I left the rest of the cake for her and her team to enjoy. And it was all live, on air — so people listening could hear her reaction as she went from “oh no, this is gluten free” to “OHMYGOD this is the best chocolate cake ever”. It was really an incredible experience.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Oh goodness, most of my mistakes happen in the kitchen for sure! For instance, I’ve had a cake collapse on me — and in that moment, it felt like the end of the world. The combination of a runny buttercream because of a warm kitchen and a touch too delicate sponges just isn’t a good one! Lesson learned, for sure.

In that moment, there may have been tears and a small meltdown involved. But then I put on some music and baked another cake, and it turned out beautifully. I later shared this mishap on Instagram, and the messages that poured in were just incredible. So many people sharing their own fails and meltdowns. It’s funny, baking is such an emotional activity. And it’s also incredibly powerful in bringing people together, even if it’s just to share their funniest kitchen disasters.

So aside from, you know, learning to chill the buttercream before assembling a cake, the much bigger lesson or experience was that food has this magical ability of uniting people, not just when we sit around a common table but even when we’re scattered all over the world. And with social media nowadays, this ability is definitely amplified.

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

Well, if you think about it, the average person probably eats two to four or five times a day. For many, the most stressful part of that might be figuring out what food they’re in the mood for. Now, imagine not being able to eat whole food groups because they make you feel ill or could even send you to hospital! In addition to being potentially harmful, that can be a huge source of anxiety or even social isolation.

And it’s not just the people with dietary restrictions that are affected, it’s also their friends and family and co-workers, especially when it comes to social gatherings or similar. Additionally, there’s this prevalent stigma about gluten free, dairy free and vegan food — people are for some reason still convinced it tastes bland and boring!

My mission through The Loopy Whisk is to bring awareness and plenty of delicious recipes suitable for people with all sorts of dietary requirements. I’m not looking to convince people to convert to a particular way of eating or to expound on the superiority of a particular diet. My focus is very much on creating a friendly, inclusive community where people talk about food and baking and cooking, and the challenges they face because of their dietary restrictions (or the dietary restrictions of a friend or family member) — and then helping them overcome at least some of these challenges.

I want to give people the ability to once again enjoy the food they’ve been missing, and it tasting just as wonderful as they remember it. I want them to be able to celebrate their birthday with a proper birthday cake that tastes decadent and looks amazing, to make the fudgiest brownies at 11 pm when that chocolate craving strikes — to basically live their life without the fear of having to go without, of missing out, hovering over their head like a cloud of misery.

Wow! Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

In general, the e-mails, comments and stories that really get to me are usually from family members and friends of somebody with a food allergy (or even several allergies and intolerances). Food is one of the ways in which we show our love, and it’s incredibly frustrating when you can’t express that love and caring because you don’t understand a dietary restriction or don’t know how to work around it.

I’ve lost the count of e-mails and messages of people thanking me for allowing them to make their spouse’s favourite dessert, or a birthday cake for their children, or a special treat for a friend just because.

But the most impactful story was that of a mother, whose young son had SPD (sensory process disorder) in addition to a whole host of food intolerances, which meant that his food choices were severely limited. She gave my healthy paleo brownies recipe a try, and the sheer joy in her words when she described how much her son enjoyed them… it was just breathtaking.

Was there a tipping point that made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

My own health issues and then my eventual success in creating gluten and dairy free recipes were definitely the main factors that set everything in motion. Considering my own initial problems with gluten and dairy free cooking and baking, it was a safe assumption that others struggle as well. And if I could help, even in a very small way… it was a no-brainer that I had to give it a try.

And once I started experimenting, I realized just how much I enjoy the challenge of creating delicious food with a limited ingredients list. Sure, even regular baking can be tricky, but take away eggs or butter or all-purpose wheat flour, and you encounter all sorts of different challenges. Rather than feeling intimidated or discouraged, I found that I genuinely enjoy that.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

I think educating people about dietary restrictions and requirements is one of the core issues. Many people consider food intolerances and allergies to be a “fad” or an arbitrary personal decision, rather than an actual, serious medical condition.

The first step to solving this is simply starting an open-minded conversation about food allergies, and letting go of the preconceived notions about what it means to live with them. These misconceptions are so prevalent, even restaurants and grocery stores occasionally show an alarming ignorance when it comes to catering to the requirements of people with food allergies. I’ve seen water bottles being rather pointlessly labelled “gluten free”, and have heard numerous stories of servers picking croutons off a salad for a coeliac customer, completely ignoring the issue of cross-contamination.

Making allergy friendly foods more accessible is also very important — while we’ve definitely seen an improvement in terms of the variety of products available in the recent years, most allergy friendly products are significantly more expensive compared to the wheat-, dairy- and egg-containing “regular” versions. Additionally, many foods you would expect to be “safe” to eat even with dietary restrictions often aren’t because of (usually completely unnecessary) additions of gluten and dairy to pretty much everything. On that note, making ingredients labels clearer, easier to read and accurate is also highly important, but unfortunately not always the case.

Finally, people with dietary restrictions themselves can do a lot to educate those nearest to them and thus get the ball rolling. It doesn’t have to revolve around serious conversations and oversharing your digestive issues as a consequence of consuming an “unsafe” food — just sharing delicious gluten free or dairy free or whatever free food with your friends, and explaining how important it is for your wellbeing, can go a long way.

My focus is very much on educating people and sharing the message through delicious, mouth-watering recipes on my blog and social media, primarily Instagram. There is no magic formula or secret behind using these platforms to promote a cause — you just need to create content that people are interested in, with a generous pinch of your own personality and authenticity.

Food and photos of food are incredibly popular right now, especially on Instagram as a primarily visual platform. In addition to being a passionate baker and recipe developer, I also love photography — so a food blog and sharing photos of my creations on Instagram is just a natural fit.

As for tips… I think it’s very easy to get lost in the numbers game, once you start using social media seriously — you know, chasing followers and likes. While numbers are important insofar as they allow you to reach an audience and spread your message, it’s much more important to stay authentic and maintain a rapport with your community. A large audience of millions has no value to your cause if they’re not engaged and genuinely interested in what you’re saying.

So my three main things to keep in mind when using social media to support a cause are: (1) be authentic, (2) connect with your audience and (3) generate high quality content. Oh, and don’t try to please and reach everyone — know what your niche is and who your target audience are. The saying “if you try to please everyone, you don’t please anyone” is very true when it comes to social media.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

1. It’s a lot of work, more than you expect.

It’s hard to imagine just how much time recipe development, photography and food blogging require. There is this idea that “influencers” and bloggers are super lazy, living their lives snapping away cringy selfies and exploiting their followers by promoting bogus diet pills. Which couldn’t be further removed from reality. You can find so much high quality content, so much value, useful information and thought-provoking discussions on the blogs and social platforms of “influencers” — drawing from their personal experience or from their educational or professional background. Of course, there are exceptions where duck-face selfies and diet pills abound, but those shouldn’t take away from the wealth of knowledge you can find on other blogs and social media accounts.

And it’s so much work, much more than people might assume. In my case, developing a recipe, styling and photographing it, editing the photos, writing and publishing a post… all that can take anywhere from 5 hours to even days and weeks, depending on the complexity of the recipe.

2. There’s incredible value in networking.

The second nugget of wisdom just is how important it is to network with fellow creatives, bloggers and social media pros. These amazing people are just brimming with knowledge, tips and encouragement, and all you need to do is simply reach out. As an introvert, reaching out is sometimes scary, but after a while — when you see how the response is always welcoming and incredibly helpful — it becomes easier and easier.

3. Expect criticism — both the creative and the rude kind.

You will inevitably face criticism from the very people you’re trying to help and engage with, and that’s okay. People won’t like your message, your photos, your writing or your appearance — and yes, sometimes they will be very rude in how they express that. The anonymity of the Internet is a powerful thing and can result in extremely rude and just plain hurtful comments.

Sometimes, it’s difficult to ignore them, especially at the beginning. But over time, every negative comment is outweighed by tens or hundreds of positive ones, and eventually you learn to laugh at the insults and move on without them affecting you.

4. Create your own path.

Take all the advice and information about starting a blog or establishing a social media presence with a generous pinch of salt. There are so many articles and so-called social media or SEO gurus out there (usually trying to sell you something) that it’s often difficult to distinguish the genuinely useful information from complete nonsense.

At the end of the day, it’s down to your own experiments, observations and sometimes just your gut feeling to decide what path is right for you. What doesn’t work, change it. What works, leave it or improve it, if possible. And even if you’re going completely against what everyone else is doing… if it works for you, just keep doing it.

5. In the end, it’s all 100% worth it.

It will sound super corny, but it’s truly unbelievable just how gratifying it all is. How helping people makes the hours of work and meltdowns when your cake collapses or the panic when you think you’ve accidentally destroyed your website… it makes it all worth it. It may at times feel like you’re just sending your thoughts out into the vast nothingness of the Internet — but your message does have an effect, it does impact people’s lives, and there is something incredibly… powerful and just plain amazing about that.

Oh goodness, enormous influence might be stretching it a bit, but thank you. I think a wider movement would be simply an extension of what my current “mission” is — going beyond this focus on food allergies and dietary restrictions, to… well, all food and everyone. Getting more people into their kitchens, getting more people to try their hand at cooking and baking. Our relationship with food is pretty shaky, it’s improved a lot in recent years, but many people still rely on ready-made meals or have a disordered view of eating.

There’s so much joy to be found in cooking, eating, and sharing food. It can be a form of therapy, a creative outlet, or just a wonderful experience. Because… it goes beyond just making a meal or baking a cake. It can help young fussy eaters start enjoying a wider variety of foods, it can heal the way we view food, and cooking from scratch is undoubtedly better for our wellbeing than microwaving pre-cooked meals.

In a way, I think we’re already seeing this movement in its initial stages, and that’s to a large extent because of food bloggers and social media. People now see home cooks and bakers in their own kitchens creating accessible masterpieces — it’s no longer just trained chefs in front of a camera. It’s your everyday food enthusiasts with (usually) no formal training, and that is showing people that they can do it too. You don’t need a diploma or ten years of experience in a professional kitchen to make pesto from scratch or bake your own bread. If this Instagrammer or that food blogger can do it, then chances are — so can anyone.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

Now, I’m a huge perfectionist, so my chosen quote will probably sound absolutely hilarious to many people in my life, but one of my favourite philosophies to live by is “strive for progress, not perfection”. Honestly, I’m my own worst critic, always seeing mistakes in my work, or a hundred and one details that could be improved or corrected.

But I’m very aware that there is no such thing as perfection — and even if it was attainable, the reality of actual perfection would probably be rather boring. Instead, I no longer obsess over the mistakes I see (okay, I still obsess a little bit) but rather strive to correct them and treat them as learning opportunities.

And when it comes to judging this abstract thing called success, I look at progress — I look at my recipes and writing and photography from a year or a month ago. I see it gradually improving, evolving, getting closer to how I envision it… and even though it’s nowhere near “perfect”, seeing the progress is enough.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

There are so many people who inspire and motivate me, but the one that stands out is Joy Wilson, from Joy The Baker. I’ve been following her blog since the very beginning, and she was definitely one of the reasons why I decided to jump into this world of blogging. She has this wonderful way with words, that makes you smile and think and feel all the feelings all at once. It’s like she’s not sharing just wonderful recipes with you, but also a little bit of herself with every post, and I really admire that.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

You can find all my recipes on my blog at theloopywhisk.com, and I’d love to connect via Instagram, Facebook or Twitter where you can find me as @theloopywhisk.

This was very meaningful, thank you so much!

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media, with Katarina Cermelj and Candice Georgiadis was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

“Don’t be the smartest one in the room!” with Shafonne Myers and Candice Georgiadis

Don’t be the smartest one in the room! — Oh I love this one and it’s taken me awhile to realize how important this is. I was always afraid to level up with my business circles because I felt that I couldn’t hold my own in their sandbox. But honestly I was doing myself a disservice by playing small and staying the smartest person in the room. When you allow yourself to feel challenged and uneasy this is when you blossom the most because you are pushed to be better AND you see how that better looks. You wouldn’t have seen it if you were the best in the room. So important!

As a part of my series about social media stars who are using their platform to make a significant social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Shafonne Myers, a certified wedding and event planner, and plus size self love motivator, who longed for bridal inspiration that looked like her. She created, Pretty Pear Bride, the world’s only website dedicated exclusively to plus size brides. For over 8 years she has made it her mission to ensure that ALL plus size brides feel pretty on their wedding and get the planning help they need to eliminate overwhelm and frustration so they can plan the wedding of their dreams.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

As a plus size bride myself, I was constantly looking for inspiration that looked like me but could never find it. I could imagine how I would look but I didn’t think that I would ever look like what I was seeing because none of them looked like me. So I decided to create it!

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

Being recognized! I find it so interesting that people actually recognize me and know who I am. I honestly am just doing my own thing making sure that plus size brides and plus size women see representation of themselves. I was at a bridal show and I had several plus size brides-to-be recognize me and tell me personally how much my work and what I do has helped them and meant so much to them. In that moment I KNEW that what I was doing was needed and exactly where I needed to be.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

LOL! This is a good one because in the beginning I felt like there were so many. So when I first created Pretty Pear Bride, I was toying around with the name and trying to figure out what could represent plus size without saying plus size. And I started thinking about symbolism and I came up with “pear” because of it’s shape and it has curves. But when I originally created my information somehow words got crossed and the domain name ended up being “prettypairbride”, not “prettypearbride”. Yeah total disaster! I of course was able to get it fixed but I now know that I need to double check, triple check, heck even quadruple check for errors.

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

I created a media outlet as a way for plus size brides to see themselves in bridal imagery. In an industry where so much is focused on looking a certain way on your big day, I have created a movement where plus size brides feel inspired, encouraged and supported so they feel and look amazing on their big day. I’ve even noticed that we have plus size women joining us throughout their journey from not even being engaged and just looking for love to staying around after they are married and sharing advice with their fellow plus size brides.

Wow! Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

Honestly it’s so hard to just narrow it down to one. It would be such an injustice, because I’ve had such a huge impact on so many. Here’s one that I remember as really taking me aback by this comment.

“Hi!! I just wanted to thank you. I found your Instagram earlier this year when I was planning my wedding. I thought I’d wear something simple because every wedding dress I tried on just didn’t work for me. Then when I found your Instagram I thought “I deserve to look amazing” and I found the perfect dress! So thank you so much for inspiring plus sized brides follower.”

Was there a tipping point the made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

For me, the tipping point was realizing that even after I got married there still wasn’t anything created for plus size bridal imagery. We were all forced to imagine how we would look in our dress and it took away from the wedding planning process, tremendously. No one wants to have to do that, plus size brides deserve to have that same “Say yes to the dress” moment but unfortunately we don’t get that. So once again I decide to create it since no one else was!

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

Yes, so many things they can do!

1. Just recognize and acknowledge that there is a problem. The fact that so many people don’t even realize that there is a problem, that plus size brides don’t have bridal inspiration that is all their own is disheartening and so surprising. Because if you think to yourself “Yes I don’t see plus size brides in bridal imagery” but you know we exist. Then, we, the plus size brides, are definitely thinking the same thing!

2. Make a conscious effort to help. So often, once people realize that, “Yes there is a problem” they don’t know what to do next. The main thing is, “Just do something”. Just the fact that you are doing something to help plus size brides, is so huge!

3. Know that plus size brides and women do spend money. We have money to spend. We just need a viable and appealing product to purchase. Build it for us and we will come. I am always being told that we, plus size brides and women, want great clothing options and have money to buy it but can’t find anything that is stylish and made for us. And the made for them is important. You can’t just go up in size in apparel and hope that it will fit the same. NO, you have actually construct apparel in larger sizes that is made for a larger frame in all areas of the construction.

You have to listen to your audience to get them on board. If you listen to them and give them exactly what they are looking for, they will be your biggest fans and cheerleaders. This is so important because so often when we are marketing, people don’t get it, it’s not a build it and they will come mentality. It’s a build it, foster it, nurture it, and they will come one by one, until you have created a movement that is it’s own marketing tool. This has been something that I’ve had to learn and honestly it has taken me a while to truly understand and accept but now that I have, it’s nowhere but up for me and this movement.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

1.Stop thinking about it just do — It took me so long to research and THINK about starting PPB. I could have been in the game so much earlier if I would have just stopped thinking and do it.

2. Don’t listen to the naysayers! — People will always try to stand in your way because they don’t want you to do better than them. I had this happen to me on so many instances. I would tell people about my idea, to create a space for plus size brides, and I would have people tell me that plus size brides don’t really want to be seen. That they just want to be on all the big bridal blogs, that don’t accept plus size bridal imagery, and not a specific blog dedicated just for us. I was baffled because I didn’t realize why people would want to be rejected from the bigger blogs and not want to be featured on my blog. Then I realized that it was all about where they were on their journey. They hadn’t accepted that they were plus size and needed to come to terms with that before they could be featured on a wedding blog glorifying this. If I would have stopped when I heard this, PPB wouldn’t be as big as it!

3. Don’t be the smartest one in the room! — Oh I love this one and it’s taken me awhile to realize how important this is. I was always afraid to level up with my business circles because I felt that I couldn’t hold my own in their sandbox. But honestly I was doing myself a disservice by playing small and staying the smartest person in the room. When you allow yourself to feel challenged and uneasy this is when you blossom the most because you are pushed to be better AND you see how that better looks. You wouldn’t have seen it if you were the best in the room. So important!

4. Nothing comes easy — Wow, if it was easy everyone would do it. I never really had to tell myself this in the beginning. It wasn’t until I started leveling up my business and wanting to take PPB to the next level that I realized that if it was easy everyone would do it. But once I realized this, I have been able to really embrace this struggle and use that to push me through.

5. You can’t do it all — I’ve run PPB on my own for over 8 years and in my mind I was running how best I felt like I could. But it does come a point where you just can’t do it all. And that time came very recently with PPB. I had a new baby, 2 older kids, a husband and a dog and things were falling apart. And it was because I was trying to do it all. Once I realized what I actually needed to be doing and what I could get my VA to help with, it was a total game changer.

I would start out exactly how I did, bringing bridal inspiration to plus size women thinking of getting married and plus size brides so that they can see women that look like them in the bridal space. I would then create my wedding planning course specially for plus size brides, that focuses on how to plan their wedding with confidence. Because planning a wedding as a plus size bride is truly the culmination of all the bad things in your head that can and will trip you up. I help plus size brides plan their wedding while combating these!

Then my next phase would be helping the same plus size women move into newlywed life with business mentoring to eliminate business overwhelm if they are starting or creating a business. This would be coupled with life mentoring so they can learn to live their best life, with relationships and communication all while creating a business of their dreams .

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Stay on your game and keep going for your dreams. The world needs that special gift that only you have.” Marie Forleo. I think for me I have always known what I was meant to do in life; inspire and empower women and even more specifically plus size women. But I haven’t always done that as an outward job, so it’s been hard to know that this was truly what was meant for me. But honestly the more I spent trying to figure out what I was supposed to do, the more I realized that what I was actually doing wasn’t it and thus it led me to believe that yes, what I’ve always dreamt of doing through all these odd jobs, was actually what I was meant to do.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

I would absolutely love to have lunch with Marie Forleo! I have taken several of her courses and she has taught me so much of what I am today. And honestly most of it isn’t even the business advice that I signed up for. Yeah I learned what she taught me but I actually learned so much more about me and the life I wanted and how my life would look not just how my business would be run. It’s so crazy how we gravitate to people who are like us or who we want to be like. I would love to someday merge my business mentoring knowledge with the life coaching that so many aspiring business women need, especially in the plus size world.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

@prettypearbride for all social media channels

This was very meaningful, thank you so much!

“Don’t be the smartest one in the room!” with Shafonne Myers and Candice Georgiadis was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

“All the best things in life are on the other side of fear” with Actress Karlisha Hurley and…

“All the best things in life are on the other side of fear” with Actress Karlisha Hurley and Candice Georgiadis

All the best things in life are on the OTHER side of fear: Say yes to the things that scare you; go to that class you’re interested in; go on the date with the nice guy; and introduce yourself to strangers. Open yourself up to the possibility of more.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Karlisha Hurley, an award-winning LA based Australian actress with strong drive to help others and who uses her platform as an actor to accomplish that. Karlisha has starred in the lead role in the feature film Wrapped, the Lifetime film ‘Nightmare Tenant’, has a starring role in the series ‘How to Identify a Serial Killer’ and is co-host of the series #Me4TV, a next-gen talk show. She won Best Actor Under 18 at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival and the Hollywood Moving Picture Film Festival, and Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Accolade Global Film Competition — all for her role in a film about child suicide called ‘Karlisha and Morgan’ which has also won many other international awards.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

Although I was probably too young to watch it, I fell in love with the movie Titanic with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio when I was just a kid. I will never forget the first time I saw it. I was totally inspired by Rose who chose to embark on an adventure within herself that the rest of the world was against; instead of falling in line and having a life with no real feeling or purpose. I decided to do something like that with my life; something that had real purpose to me. One day I want to be like Rose and inspire others to take the leap and do what they want with their lives.

But honestly, I think my mum knew I was going to be an actor even before I did. I was always interested in watching how other people behaved and used to spend hours mimicking them and trying to understand why they acted the way they did. I had a bit of a wild personality too and I was obsesses with watching moves — every movie anywhere. So my mum encouraged me to study acting. In class, I thrived and when I was told I was pretty good at it, I became determined to be better.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

In my job, you get to be in all sorts of crazy scenarios; ones that are intriguing as an actor but in real life are horrifying. In the new feature film Wrapped I held someone at gunpoint and threatened to shoot them and in the recently released Lifetime movie Nightmare Tenant I was murdered. In Karlisha and Morgan I played a suicide victim who was bullied; I played a teenager who struggles to cope with rejection by her family in Bet the Demon Wins; and a pregnant teenager accused of a heinous crime in the horror series Fight Night. It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to explore these bizarre scenarios as if I am actually caught up in them. I think it gives me the chance to better appreciate why people do what they do and helps give me a platform to promote social issues that impact people’s lives with at least some understanding. In an upcoming series, I get to be in the mind of a serial killer.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Tell us what lesson you learned from that?

When I first came out to LA from Australia I was of course very eager to get in the casting room. I was always taught that if you were ever asked if you could do a particular skill you should say yes and learn later. I went into an audition and was asked if I could play the guitar and before I knew what I was saying I had said yes because I thought I could learn it later. Out of nowhere they pulled out a guitar and said ‘great! Play us something!’- That of course did NOT end well because I couldn’t play the guitar… at ALL. I then fessed up and blurted out ‘but I can sing!!’ which was something I could actually do. They ended up loving that and calling me back.
This made me realize that no, I can’t please everyone right now, but I can be myself and that’s enough. It also taught me to never lie on my resume!

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

Social media has opened up a whole new world for actors as it gives us a platform to reach so many people around the world and drive issues that we are really passionate about. Teenage suicide seems to be such taboo words these days; people have just stopped talking about it. I want to spread the word about it and use social media to let people know that how they are feeling is okay and that we should share our pain and experiences. If we open up about it then people may feel less alone and we might help save some lives. In the film Karlisha and Morgan, which screened at festivals around the world, I talk about suicide and play a teenager who has committed suicide after being bullied at school. I was bullied at school and I know how alone and unsupported you can feel, but luckily I had a close family that helped me get through it. In my recent film Bet the Demon Wins I also portray how alone a teenager can feel without the support of family after being betrayed by my sister and father. And as a Program Director for the upcoming Port Stephens international Film Festival, which is focusing on bullying, I get to encourage film makers to make films that relate to these important social issues and help spread the word.

Wow! Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

One of my best friends tried to commit suicide. I would say it changed the whole course of my life. He used to share almost everything with me but maybe it was the stigma of talking about suicide that prevented him from sharing this part of his life. His attempted suicide gave me a much deeper understanding of what it was like for someone in that position; how they felt on a day to day basis; and it became one of the main reasons I wanted to spread awareness of this issue. If my friend had been able to talk to more people about it at the time and had known that there was a whole community going through the same struggles as him, he may not have had to fight so hard to stay afloat.

Was there a tipping point that made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

So apart from one of my best friends I also had a classmate who committed suicide around the time I started filming Karlisha and Morgan in which I play two lead roles as a teenager talking about the impact of bullying and as a victim who has died after committing suicide and talks about what led to that. The Director David Raynor’s sister was at the time on suicide watch at the school she worked at and it really showed me how big the issue was, although few people wanted to talk about it. That and my best friend’s attempted suicide all had such an impact on me that I wanted to spread the word and social media has given me the opportunity to do that. The film won many awards and was screened around the world and I think that shows that as an actor, I have a voice and can help make a difference.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do help to you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

The community, society and politicians should not shy away from talking about hard hitting issues such as teen suicide and should do more to prevent bullying at school. I was bullied so badly that at one point that the thought of going to school made me so physically sick that I couldn’t even get on the bus to get there. I know so many other people who have been bullied too and some who have thought that suicide was their only way out of that situation.

We need to provide more platforms so people can talk about how they are feeling and who they are without any social stigma; and make more films and spread the word about the issues that lead to teenage suicide whether it be because a person is treated badly for simply being gay or transgender, or for just being of a different nationality; or any other issues.

What specific strategies have you been using to promote and advance this cause? Can you recommend any good tips for people who want to follow your lead and use their social platform for social good?

I have been talking about teen suicide and bullying through vlogs, blogs, videos and film.

I also took the opportunities to talk about teenage suicide and bullying in radio, print and television media interviews when I won several acting awards for my role as a suicide victim in the film Karlisha and Morgan. I did a promotional video on the impact of suicide and bullying to promote the Port Stephens International Film Festival and I even wrote an education paper on bullying called ‘The Stage is Set to Combat Bullying’. In it, I encourage schools to increase use of drama in education as this, according to research, provides students with skills that enables them to confront difficult social problems such as bullying and therefore can help reduce teen suicide. I talked about how fake media has impacted young people and their self-worth as a host in the web TV show #Me4TV and in my upcoming podcast we are focusing on what it’s like to live in an industry like Hollywood as a young actor and how that affects us not only mentally but physically in all aspects of our lives.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

1- Enjoy the beauty of becoming: Stop rushing through your life expecting your happiness will come later. Enjoy the moments that you’re in because I promise you’ll otherwise regret it when your older.

2- All the best things in life are on the OTHER side of fear: Say yes to the things that scare you; go to that class you’re interested in; go on the date with the nice guy; and introduce yourself to strangers. Open yourself up to the possibility of more.

3- High school sucks for ANYONE who is the least bit different: I promise there’s a whole life past this. When I was in High School I really did believe there was nothing else in life. The gossip; the fights; the loneliness. Every negative thing that happened was the end of my life. If I had been able to look past that, look at the bigger picture and start embracing my weirdness, I could have had such a different perspective on my school years.

4- You’re Not Alone: when I was younger I felt very isolated and that no one knew the insane stuff that was going on in my head. But as I grew up, I started saying the things I thought and found that other people had the exact same thoughts and feelings. Once you start feeling like you’re going through this crazy world together instead of alone, everything starts to get a little easier.

5- Stop shrinking yourself to make others comfortable: I never gave myself a voice and would always make my accomplishments smaller in order to make others feel safe and more secure. I wish I had let my younger self know that YOU ARE ENOUGH.
You don’t need to mold yourself into what you think others want in order for them to like you. Once you believe you deserve to be heard, you find that you no longer care what people think.

I recently found out about a thing called ‘Cuddle Parties’. And yes, I first thought that it was a giant party where you just spend the entire time cuddling each other but it is actually an event designed with the intention of allowing people to experience nonsexual group physical intimacy through cuddling. It helps you understand where your physical and mental boundaries are and it gives you the tools to learn to be okay with saying no in any given circumstance and become more aware of the different kinds of physical intimacy. Perhaps if more people cuddled one another then they would feel less alone and we could help reduce suicides.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that is relevant to you in your life?

“Being our messy, imperfect, authentic selves helps create a space where others feel safe to be themselves too. Your vulnerability can be a gift to others.”
That quote is my screensaver on my phone because when I’m in social places I can get anxious and start having thoughts like ‘what I said wasn’t funny enough’, or ‘I need to tell people all the things I’m succeeding at so they like me more.’ But when I look down at my phone it helps me remember that being myself lets other people feel like they can be themselves too. It even creates more intimate conversations and moments that create a more lasting relationship with the people around you. Me being weird and joyful can make others feel safe. How badass is that?

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

Oh wow… that’s such a hard question! There’s so many!

Most of all I would love to have lunch with Jim Carey. I grew up watching him and he was always a huge creative influence on me. Not only is he a brilliant actor but he knew his worth and knew how to share his knowledge to the world. He said something that really stuck with me. He didn’t want his sole purpose in life to be focused on just one thing; he knew that his purpose in life was to ‘free people from concern.’ That has been a part of my career my whole life. I could easily spend the day just listening to him, his thoughts, his life, his jokes, the whole wazoo.

I would take him to an Australian café in LA because we have the best coffee and I could treat him to our favorite breakfast, Avocado Mash.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

My Facebook and twitter is Karlisha Hurley and my Instagram is @karlisha.hurley. I would love your wonderful readers to follow me on social media and would love to follow them!

Thank you for these great insights!

“All the best things in life are on the other side of fear” with Actress Karlisha Hurley and… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.