Paula Pontes
From her role as the former Senior Vice President & Global General Manager of GLAMGLOW, the “instant Hollywood glow” Estee Lauder brand, to her leadership roles at L Brands (think Victoria’s Secret), Paula has focused on getting stuff done. Here, Paula shares some of the motivators that have propelled her to live and work in various countries, why it’s important to accept change, and why reflecting on your experiences is key. Ultimately, it’s her comfort with ambiguity that has allowed her to have a varied career path. Not to mention, “relationships and a little bit of luck play a big role in your life and career'' too.
Akilah Cadet
“I just wanted people to know their worth in the workplace” shared Dr. Akilah Cadet, as the Faalta team spent time learning about the work she is doing to drive this mission forward. Akilah is a champion for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and her consulting firm, Change Cadet, focuses on this. A Beyoncé aficionada, we connected over everything from what led her to start Change Cadet to qualities she admires about Bey to the *four-letter* word she can’t get enough of! In between, we glean nuggets of wisdom that she’s gained along the way. She is unapologetically herself and her candidness will surely remind you that frankness and vulnerability are not diametrically opposed.
Cinthia Flores
Cinthia Flores is an internationally and nationally-recognized leader in community engagement and governance. This Latina trailblazer is passionate about immigrant and worker rights. She's an advocate for social change via law and policy. She is an attorney, political strategist and public opinion influencer. In 2009, she served as the first Latina President of the Undergraduate Students Association Council at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), the most applied-to university in the United States. She was appointed as the 2013-2014 student regent by the University of California Board of Regents. This is her story.
Andrea Breanna
The road to C-suite company leadership and entrepreneurship in and of itself can be tricky. The added layer of uncertainty about one’s own gender identity can add a dimension of complexity, as one pursues professional - and personal - success and happiness. Enter Andrea Breanna, the positive and upbeat Founder and CEO of RebelMouse, a creative agency and all-in-one platform for supercharging content, growing audiences and building lasting communities. In this interview, we get a unique perspective about leadership and how Andrea, who is proud to be openly transgender, has navigated the world of business and entreprenurship. Prior to RebelMouse, Andrea served as the Chief Technology Officer of The Huffington Post where she joined in the first year of the company's life and ran the product, design, and engineering teams. After The Huffington Post was sold to AOL, Andrea ran the same groups for all of AOL's media properties.
Megan Phillips
“Lady With Influence”, “I Met Me in New York City” and “Eternal Optimist” are just some of the phrases emblazoned on the collection pieces of Megan Phillips Collection. These bold statements will capture your attention and remind you to stay inspired and be empowered to live your best life. “I dreamed of making clothing that did more than create an element of desire,” shared Megan Phillips. After a series of setbacks in corporate fashion, she took it as a sign that perhaps she was indeed meant to launch her own collection and in 2017 she did just that. In this interview, Megan shares how some of the issues she struggled with on a personal level coupled with the realities she experienced during her time in corporate fashion, ultimately propelled her forward towards pursuing her own venture. She also shares how her grit and determination helped her learn every new detail of business and how “the only way I’d survive was if I threw myself into it.” Surviving and thriving she most definitely is.