League of Extraordinary Young Women: Eva Wong

Eva is a Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Borrowell, a Canadian fintech company that offers personal loans, free credit scores and personalized product recommendations. With a background in management consulting and business development, Eva has worked at Maple Leaf Foods, Oliver Wyman and a number of not-for-profit organizations. She has studied or worked in the US, Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Europe.

Eva was named one of "9 Canadian Women Changing The Game" by Elle Canada magazine, one of "30 Women in Canadian Tech Worth Following" by BetaKit and a finalist for "Fintech Woman of the Year" by LendIt, the world’s biggest show in lending & fintech.

Eva holds degrees from Harvard University and Queen’s School of Business. She enjoys food blogs and baking projects with her two kids.

Describe who you work for and why it's important to you.

I'm part of the team at Borrowell, a Canadian financial technology company. We help Canadians understand their credit so they can make the best financial decisions for their personal situation. We offer credit scores for free, personal loans and other product recommendations.

How does your role empower you?

At Borrowell, we're all empowered to think and act like owners. From setting our personal goals and contributing to our company-level objectives, to getting involved in interviewing and hiring new team members, it's very empowering to have a say in what we're doing as a company. Being at a small, fast-paced company also gives all of us lots of new learning opportunities, which is also really empowering.

What advice do you have to other young women looking to get involved in your field of work?

Do your research - use the products, go to tech events, meet with people who work in the field. Then, just go for it! Apply for the job you want, reach out to companies you're interested in, or start something yourself!

Who is your biggest role model, why?

That's a tough one. I don't have just one. I admire Sheryl Sandberg and a few others for their careers and what they've been able to accomplish. I have friends I admire for their patience with their kids, and others I admire for their faith and spirituality.

What book do you recommend every young professional should read?

I'm a big fan of "Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose" by Tony Hsieh, the founder of online shoe company Zappos. And I'm currently reading Adam Grant's "Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success" which I'm enjoying a lot.

If you could go back to your 16 year old self, what would you say?

Don't worry about what you'll be when you grow up - you don't have to pick just one thing.

Why do you think groups like YWiB are important?

Groups like YWiB are really important. I once heard someone say, "If you can't see it, you can't be it." I think there's some truth in that. I don't think it ever crossed my mind to become a tech entrepreneur when I was younger, and I think part of it is because I never saw anyone like me doing that. So planting the seeds of what opportunities are out there is really great.

What can our readers do to help you?

One thing you can do that would help me and yourself is to get your credit score at Borrowell! It's free, it only takes two minutes and it won't affect your score. It's the first step to understanding where you stand.

The other thing readers can do is look at our job postings, and apply or recommend a friend if there's anything that fits! One of our goals is to build a gender-balanced team, and the more women we can get interested in what we're building, the better

League of Extraordinary Young Women: Caitlin Bryant

Caitlin is an ambitious young woman making a name for herself in the heart of Toronto. With a degree in International Development, experience in the financial sector and a network that spans industries, Caitlin is showing no signs of slowing down. During her spare time, you will find her running along the lakeshore, co-chairing this year’s Boobyball event in support of Rethink Breast Cancer or attending whatever hockey, basketball or baseball game is on the docket. Describe who you're working for and why it's important to you.

I current work in product management within the retail industry. I work in an environment where things move fast. It's important to me because no day is the same - there is always a new issue to address or a different way to launch a campaign so I am constantly learning.

How does your role empower you?

My role is driven by results so having ownership of a project from beginning to end is empowering. Building relationships, monitoring sales and data analysis all attribute to my success, so I get out of it what I put into it. It’s empowering to see the importance of my role within the bigger picture and to know my contribution is valuable.

What advice do you have to other young women looking to get involved in your field of work?

No matter what field of work you are in or are interested in, the best thing you can do is to put yourself out there. Start by networking, registering for courses and joining a professional association. Through this process, you will learn what you like to do, the type of environment you want to work in and what you’re passionate about. There is always something to learn and someone to meet who will teach you something new. It’s funny how you can fall into a role if you’re open to anything.

If you are looking to get into Marketing specifically, I suggest taking courses through Canadian Marketing Association, keep abreast of industry trends, and always ensure your resume is current.

Who is your biggest role model, why?

I wouldn’t say I have a specific role model but I do draw from a few strong women. Michelle Obama, Victoria Beckham, and Sheryl Sandburg all display qualities and characteristics that I admire and strive to embody. Although these three woman are very different, they have created a positive impact, built an empire and achieved success on their own terms. Achieving success without compromise isn’t easy but these women have done it with grace and tact.

What book do you recommend every young professional should read?

Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. Although it’s not your typical “professional” read, it has lessons that can make you an overall better person and therefore a better professional. The book explores how important it is to let the opinions of others go, lean into a given situation and accept that it is okay to be vulnerable. We all have a fear of failure and inadequacy and this book discusses different ways to acknowledge those fears as normal and how you can work through those feelings in order to achieve success.

After reading this book, I created a short list of people whose opinion matters to me and treat everything else as background noise. Daring Greatly is a great tool to get through tough situations you may encounter.

If you could go back to your 16 year old self, what would you say?

Nothing is going to go according to plan but that’s okay! As long as you have a goal, it doesn’t matter how you get there.

Why do you think groups like YWiB are important?

Groups like YWIB are important because it is a network of likeminded individuals who are providing a positive source for growth. Any time you can connect with people that have ideas and stories to share, you should capitalize on that. The moment you think there’s nothing left to learn or no way to grow, you’re doing yourself a disservice. 

What can our readers do to help you?

You can all purchase tickets to this year’s Boobyball event in support of Rethink Breast Cancer. Tickets go on sale this summer and the event will be in October. As co-chair of the event, I would love to see you all there!

League of Extraordinary Young Women: Gisela Cardenas

We're back with the first League of Extraordinary Women of 2017! Learn more about Gisela Cardenas, owner of mandala company, Yantra Supply Co. These mandalas are 100% cotton and are hand painted in India. Gisela, the owner behind Yantra Supply Co. has created the logo, presentation and all the packaging herself in Vancouver, B.C.

Describe what/who you're working on/for and why it's important to you

When I first stumbled across the idea of starting my own business, my focus and main goal was to introduce mandalas to the local market and the people of Vancouver.  I am now working on promoting and introducing my brand across Canada and hopefully International.

As a young mother of one, and being active in fitness and yoga, I knew that the local environment is very health conscious, so I took this opportunity to explain what the significance of the mandala is and the many uses.

How does your role empower you?

For most of my life, I’ve always worked for somebody else or for another company; this is the first time in my life that I can say I am the boss. This has empower me, allowing me to think for myself, bring my ideas to the table and make my own decisions. It educates me and makes me feel that it’s never too late to do the things in life you love, and to never give up.

What advice do you have to other young women looking to get involved in your field of work?

My advice would be to work hard for the things you want and love in life; go for it and never give up.

Who is your biggest role model, why

My biggest role model was my grandma, even though she wasn't in my life for a long time. I can vividly remember her and looking up to her in so many ways, she thought me how to be strong and to never give up; to follow my dreams. She was extremely creative and intuitive.

 What book do you recommend every young professional should read?

For me, The Four Agreements is a life-changing book, whose ideas come from the ancient Toltec wisdom of the native people of Southern Mexico. It talks about never making assumptions and to be impeccable with your word, to Always do your best. It explains how your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

If you could go back to your 16 year old self, what would you say?

I would say to always stay in school, focus on education and family, do your best and always be yourself.

How has YWiB supported you? Why are they important for young women?

I first discovered YWiB while I was visiting the city of Toronto. I was looking to collaborate with other local businesses and make new contacts. Victoria Stacey from YWiB reached out instantly and offered to help me to promote my brand in TO.  I believe groups like this are extremely important for young women who are starting to launch a new business or product line, because with the proper support and collaboration, young entrepreneurs can achieve their goals and dreams much easier.

What can our readers do to help you? 

Readers can help me by sharing their thoughts, by following and sharing Yantra’s Supply Co Facebook page and Instagram, and by giving feedback and commenting on posts.

League of Extraordinary Young Women: Gianine Mapula

Ever heard of the saying “big things come in small packages”? Well, that pretty much sums up Gianine. She graduated as Valedictorian of her class from the University of Waterloo in 2015 with a major in Communications and minors in Psychology and Human Resources Management. Currently, she is finishing her certification in Social Media Marketing at George Brown College.

Gianine is an ambitious and self-driven young woman working her way through the world of ‘adult-ing’ as the Digital PR and Social Media Director of Kindred Culture, a Social Media Coordinator of a major Canadian financial institution, and as an entrepreneur. She has many years of experience in event planning, social media marketing, project management, and communications.

During her spare time, you will find her going on adventures, food trips, and dancing in the studio with her crew.

Describe what you're working on and why it's important to you?

I am currently working for the Digital Strategy team for one of Canada’s top 5 banks and Kindred Culture. My responsibility for both positions is to execute social media strategy and marketing operations. Outside of my main responsibilities, I also work on event planning, communications, and project management with Kindred Culture – which I enjoy.

At the bank, our team is working on several campaigns that will be launching soon. All I can say is that I am very excited for these and I cannot wait for it to start rolling out!

Kindred Culture is a dance organization that promotes art, education, and community. We do this by providing different dance programs and events, and supporting various charitable or non-profit organizations that align with our values. As the Director of Digital PR and Social Media, my team is working on expanding Kindred Culture’s visibility and presence in the community. We are continuously exploring new ways to reach different demographics and look for opportunities to collaborate with online magazines, news outlets, and other organizations. We are even considering print media to help with our goal of reaching out to new demographics.

Since a large chunk of our marketing and lead generation is currently done through social media, we are also working on tapping into our platforms’ analytics to better understand what our key performance indicators are and what strategies will offer us the greatest return on investment. Kindred Culture has many amazing upcoming initiatives that are launching soon such as our new Female Training Program (January 2017) and annual post-secondary competition The Academy: Urban Dance Competition (March 2017). I also have some personal projects I am working on that I’m hopefully launching soon so connect with me to stay tuned!

These projects are important to me as they provide me with learning opportunities and experiences that will help me advance in my field. They also allow me to pursue my passion in the arts and marketing. I feel a special feeling of fulfillment knowing that I’m able to use my talent and skills towards something greater than my own benefit through helping my community and contributing to the greater good.

How does your role empower you?

Having had the chance to experience working for a big corporation and a start-up, what I find most empowering is the opportunity to think outside of the box and implement innovative ideas every chance I get. I feel most empowered when I see my vision come to life and experience the impact it has on the organization or community first-hand. I can definitely say that some of these ideas have been very successful, while others needed improvement. But the journey of crafting an idea, putting it together, and connecting the dots make everything more rewarding.

What advice do you have to other young women looking to get involved in your field of work?

Believe in yourself: Don't let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do because you are just as smart, talented, and skillful as the others. You just have to believe it and put it to action.

Build your portfolio: Don't wait until you're done University to start building your portfolio. Start as early as you can. It shows the drive and commitment you have for the industry you strive in and it also helps show potential employers and partners what you can really do.

Don't be afraid to put yourself out there: Don't be shy! If you want to apply to that job, do it. If you want to talk to that CEO, reach out. If you want to be involved, ask. What’s there to lose?

Who is your biggest role model, why?

I don’t have a role model - I think I only have people who motivate and inspire me.

My family motivates me to keep going in life no matter what obstacle I face. They’re very supportive of me and never fail to provide me with whatever it is I need to pursue my aspirations in life and be successful. The commitment and sacrifices my parents had to go through just to give me the best life I could possibly have drive me to never settle and always strive to become better.

A person who inspires me is my boyfriend. His work ethic, intelligence, perspective on the world, and the way he interacts with the people around him push me to be the best person I can be and to start believing in myself and my potential.

My family and boyfriend are big reasons I have been able to accomplish my goals. I thank them every day for guiding me to get to where I am today and for helping shape who I have become as a person. I take a lot of pride in the work that I do, not only because I do it for myself or the organizations I work for, but also for the people who mean the most to me.

What book do you recommend every young professional should read?

I’m not an avid reader but if I was to recommend a book to every young professional it would be, The Wealthy Barber Returns by David Chilton. It’s a book about financial planning, however, this book has no checklists, no charts, and barely any math. In this book, the author casually chats about the world of money and he provides his insights, tips, and tricks on how to manage finances more easily. It will give you a whole new perspective on how to think more wisely about your savings, spending, borrowing, and investment decisions, which i think is important for young professionals like myself.

If you could go back to your 16-year-old self, what would you say?

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF! It might not be obvious now but when I was in high school, I used to be really shy and because of it, I closed some doors for myself. Being a short and timid kid who immigrated here from the Philippines and was new to Canadian culture, I didn’t have the confidence to do what I needed to do to achieve what I imagined I was able to achieve. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school and my first year in University that I really started to break from my shell and build more confidence. In University, I joined many clubs and organizations - not just as a member, but also as an executive. I even won an award as a President of a club and was featured in our school’s student council website. I had four of the best years of my life in University and I wished that my 16-year-old self was able to experience that in high school as well.

Why do you think groups like YWiB are important?

Organizations like YWiB is important as it gives young women like myself a place where we could connect and empower each other to make a positive difference in the fields we're in and in the society as a whole. It's also a great platform for women to inspire each other and promote professional growth in a supportive environment.

What can our readers do to help you?

I'm always interested in meeting and chatting with new people. If you have a project in mind you think I can help you out with (social media, marketing, dance, communications, etc.) or you just want to chat, connect with me:

Twitter: @GianineRedInstagram: GianineRedSnapchat: red1217 YouTube: GianineRed

League of Extraordinary Young Women: Danica Oliva

Danica’s passion for film began while completing her degree at Western University for Film Theory in London, Ontario, and has now brought this passion to the online world of film making and media. She created content for social media platforms during her time at the Cannes International Film Festival 2015 and the Toronto International Film Festival 2015, which combined her passion for film and interest for the online world together. 

She is now a happy graduate from the Post Production, Post Graduate Program, at Humber College 2016.

Describe what you do, why it's important to you.

I am a freelance video editor, photographer and videographer. After completing my post graduate program in Post Production I have been very fortunate to have been involved in a variety of projects. I am so lucky to call my hobby my full time job now. It’s been the extremely rewarding because I get to practice my skill set in different forms of both production and post production. Being a freelancer is important to me because it enables me to have complete control over my career and take on many roles. Every week is different, I am always meeting new people, working for different projects and creating great content. I have been involved with music videos, commercials, weddings, social media creation, and producing.

How does your role empower you?

Being my own boss, creating my own schedule, and taking on projects that I’m passionate about have made me embrace being a freelancer, rather than fear it. I can’t say this lifestyle is for everyone, but it’s been the most fulfilling job I have ever had. There are jobs I never thought I would be a part of and other jobs I didn’t know existed. It’s a great way to try new roles while building a portfolio and skill set as an artist. More specifically, this role empowers me because I am constantly pushing myself to create a better skill set for myself. I am always learning new ways to prep a commercial, upgrade a camera or photoshop to perfection.

What advice do you have to other young women looking to get involved in your field of work?

The stigma of women in the post production world is a fine-line and can be a controversial conversation. I think it is important to mention that while teams I have been fortunate to work on have been male dominated, I do see women making a more prominent presence in post production as I learn more about the industry. I believe women and men have different outlooks on particular projects. Having a female editor is an advantage to many post production teams for this reason alone; a female perspective can be a great advantage.

With that said, ladies, be nerdy! Be as technically savvy as you possibly can. Although my industry requires creativity, none of that matters if you cannot execute your vision technically. For anyone wanting to get into post production, make the effort to learn the technical requirements to be an assistant, this will be another way to gain professional respect within this workplace. It is no secret that there is a stigma around being a female in post production, but don’t let that stop you or intimidate you from apply to those jobs you truly love.

Who is your biggest role model, why?

I’m always finding woman to look up to for inspiration for many different reasons. I have recently met peers in my workplace who are just soaring with experience and knowledge. Though I do have to mention Jane Goodall and Shannon Wild. It’s women like them that push me to travel more, doing what I love to do for organization I am passionate about.

If you could go back to your 16 year old self, what would you say?

Keep doing what you're doing. I would have been in high school at this time, a time where I made my most precious friends. Those friends I still call my best friends today. They were always supportive of my passions and were probably my first “muses” to photograph in my early photography days. Looking back I was always focused on creating something that was bigger than myself.

When I was 20 I decided to create myself into a brand and I this has kept me focussed on my passions. It all started with a blog to showcase my work. At that time it was the best way for me to develop my interests in photography; looking back it was probably the best decision I ever made. I knew what I liked to do but wasn’t sure how to make that hobby into a job, or if there even was a job for all the roles I enjoyed doing. My blog started as Olive Dee Photography, since then it has grown to Post Services and Videography. It’s a great space I am always returning to for personal projects and now, actual work.

Why do you think groups like YWiB are important?

Groups like YWiB are important because they bring conversation to the stigma surrounding issues of equality within the workplace for women. Equality is a grey-area in my industry, but the more conversations that are being had, the more awareness to issues that women face within post production are discussed. I do think there is a change in our culture towards women in post production. I’ve asked men in my industry if they see this inequality, and they definitely do, but they are aware and want to close the gap. That type of answer was refreshing.

What can our readers do to help you?

As a freelancer I am always meeting new people and would love to meet you. You can find my work and contact me through my website www.olivedee.com, Instagram @danicaoliva, or Facebook @OliveDeePhotography.

League of Extraordinary Young Women: Carly Silberstein

Carly is the CEO and driving force behind Redstone Agency Inc. She is a devoted entrepreneur, focusing on her passion for connecting with others. Her ongoing commitment to client experience has set a precedent for the quality of service that Redstone clients have come to expect. She has years of experience leading marketing and event teams that service corporate clients, not-for-profit organizations and professional associations in a variety of industries. Carly is a self-proclaimed foodie, enjoys a full body of red wine and when not working, she is jet setting, trying to see as much of the world as possible.

Describe what you do, why it's important to you I am the co-founder of Redstone Agency, a full-service event and association management company. I find that most people know what event management is, but as an industry, I believe we still need to educate people on what association management is.

Essentially, we provide management services for membership-based organizations that are predominately run by volunteers. Redstone manages the day-to-day operations and reports directly to the Board of Directors. We provide the professional staff, administrative support, office space, technology, and equipment an association needs to operate efficiently. We work with different associations from our physical office here in Toronto, providing a wide range of benefits to our clients including shared technology systems, access to specialized staff, and shared purchasing power.

How does your role empower you? The most empowering part of being my own boss is being able to put ideas into action. Some ideas have been incredibly successful, while others have needed to be fine-tuned. I think the process is incredibly rewarding especially because you learn so much along the way.

What advice do you have to other young women looking to get involved in your field of work? The advice that I would give to any young person is to start building your network! I strongly recommend joining a professional association (such as YWiB) to create professional ties.

I would also stress the importance of volunteering and getting actively involved in the professional association(s). Taking your membership one step further and volunteering one’s time is a great opportunity to learn from others in the industry.

Another piece of advice is to say “yes” to everything…you won’t know what you’re going to love (or hate) until you try.

Who is your biggest role model, why? I consider my dad to be my biggest role model. I practically grew up in the association world. My dad has sat on the board of many industry associations, sector councils and charitable organizations (both in Canada and the US). He instilled in me, from a very young age, the importance of giving back to the community and helping find solutions to challenges that we are passionate about.

He has taught me some incredibly valuable life lessons that continue to serve me well. Some of these lessons guide me, as they have become my core values.

A few of these include: “your word is everything – say what you mean and mean what you say”, “always be fair”, “if you don’t ask, you don’t get” and “it’s not always what you know but who you know, so your reputation is important”.

What book do you recommend every young professional should read?Lean In – Sheryl Sandberg. It’s about women, work and the will to lead. It shows you that women can “have it all”, with hard work, determination and a collective effort to achieve gender parity.

If you could go back to your 16 year old self, what would you say? Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Why do you think groups like YWiB are important? I think YWiB is important because it fosters community amongst young women in business. As I mentioned above, getting involved in an association or community group such as YWiB is incredibly valuable both personally and professional. I think we are all better and stronger together. We need to boost each other up and support one another.

What can our readers do to help you?Join an association. I am a proponent of young people getting involved in associations. I have found them to be incredibly valuable in my life/career. With LinkedIn and other such online platforms, I find the value of associations have become diluted or misunderstood amongst young professionals. I am an advocate for keeping these organization so I want to educate people on their value

If you know of anyone who is a member or volunteer of an association that could use management services, please share the love www.redstoneagency.ca.

Lessons on the Side Hustle: A recap

Last week was 

The Side Hustle: Panel & Meet up Event

 and we were blown away by the turnout! Thank you so much to our panelists: 

Katherine Andrikopoulos

,

Pansy Lee

,

Chanele McFarlane

,

Frances Murray

, and

Anum Rubec

 for sharing your passion!  Thanks also to our partner 

RL Solutions

for lending us their space, and of course, the attendees for your thoughtful questions. Seeing the room full of excited, passionate young women and men was inspiring. There were so many helpful ideas about how to handle the 9-5 and find fulfillment in the side hustle, so we've collected some of the thoughts below. From inspirational advice to useful apps here are the highlights from the panel to help you get your passion project off the ground:

On maintaining a work-life balance

• Save yourself time - Delegate work you aren't good at, so you don't have to do it all
• Plan to have a social life - Organize events in advance, plan out time for yourself, and stick to that schedule.
• Learn to say no! -  The side hustle can become so much of your life. Don't let it lead to burn out.

On helpful resources

• Use your network - Talk to people you already know! When you're excited about a project it can be infectious. People nearest and dearest to you may be able to help you or connect you with someone who can.
• Build on that network - There are many venues where you can meet influencers and supporters. YWiB events for one! Also look up events that relate to your passion. Find great events near you on Eventbrite.
• Google! - There is so much information out there, you can teach yourself everything. Look at how your favourites do it and don't be scared to imitate it at the start.
• Ruthlessly prioritize - Spread too thin? Say no to things that don't put you ahead in your passions. There will always be more opportunities and it's the best way to keep all of your goals on track.
• Create an accountability group - Tell people about your goals to help keep you accountable. Pick friends, relatives, and coworkers who will routinely check in to see how you're doing. Nothing is as motivating as telling others you're working on a project and having them ask you how it's going.

On facing their greatest challenges

• Lifestyle changes - Watching Netflix at home everyday isn't an option for an entrepreneur. You're going to have to spend time outside of working hours if your want your passion project to take off.
• Having confidence - Being in the public eye can be intimidating. Remember that if you believe in it, so will others. Anum didn't show her YouTube channel to people she knew until 1 year after she had started.
• "Too busy" is bullshit - You can make time for what you want. Examine your schedule and be realistic about time. Do you have opportunities in your current schedule to work? During the commute or at the gym you can manage your emails, do the administrative work, or plan out your next steps.
• Managing the little time you have - Create lists. Lists upon lists. Make sure your lists have lists. Find a system that works for you. Try a bullet journal.

What makes the long days worth it?

• Innovation - Being able to create something new and inspired. For Frances, it's turning desserts on their head, coming up with a creative new way of doing anything is exciting and empowering.
• Making a difference - Social enterprises that support and inspires others are their own reward. Hearing how your project impacts others, whether it's inspiring them to dress well or giving them the confidence to take on their own passion projects.
• Reaching your goals - Having people tell you that you can't do it sucks, but it can also be motivating. However, nothing feels better than proving them wrong. For Kat Andrikopoulos, it was raising  +$300,000 for families with Alzheimer's when others thought Memory Ball wasn't going to accomplish much.

How do you get back on track when you take a break?

• Take it slow - Don't think you can conquer your whole to-do list right when you come back. Start with 1 to 3 action items to get you back in the groove.
• Know when you need to recharge - Sometimes not being able to keep up the pace is a sign you need a break. Be aware of what you need whether it's sleeping 8 hours, exercising twice a week, or keeping snacks nearby.
• Go out and find inspiration - See places, do things, look for inspirational quotes. Knowing others have done it or hearing someone else cheer you on can give you the boost you need.
• Get focused - Look at your vision board, make a list of short-term and long-term goals, or just check your calendar, especially if you have clients! Talk to your accountability group for a pep talk.

How do you stay concentrated? 

• Get it down on paper - Being online can be distracting, sometimes you have to reign it in on paper. Write it out physically and avoid getting sucked into the internet. It's also helpful for separating mandatories, priorities, and small to-dos.
• Find the right space - Location, location, location! Make sure you have a good space to work in. Wherever you need to be to get your work done is important. Turn off the notifications on your phone or go to airplane mode if you need the break to get stuff down.
• Try the Pomodoro technique - Take a 5 minute break for every 25-45 minutes of work. There's even a Chrome extension to help you keep on track.
• Don't multitask - Tackle one thing at a time to make sure you are focused and everything is done properly the first time.

What are some digital tools or apps you use to get stuff done?

• Google Calender - For keeping track of deliverables, meetings, and events wherever you are.
• Google Drive - Keep all of your documents with you and share them with others as needed.
• Pocket - For savings articles or blogs so you can find them and read them again later, even when you're offline.
• Planoly - Plan out your Instagram posts in advance.
• Post schedule - Schedule your blog posts and social media content.
• Evernote - Take notes on your phone then access them seamlessly on your computer. (It's what I used to write this blog post!)

What do you do when negative people come your way?

• Know your self-worth - Don't keep negative energy in your life. It's difficult to part ways with people but it's important to know that your time is precious and if someone will only be hurting you then you don't need to spend your time on them.
• Know that sometimes they are just concerned about you - Sometimes it's just a matter of wanting you to be safe and secure, especially when it's your close family and friends. Make sure you're looking at the intention behind the words even if they didn't express it well.
• Practice words of affirmation - You drive where you are looking. Practicing affirmative words will keep you confident and help you stay in a positive head space.
• React with positivity - It can hurt, but hurting others back only hurts yourself more. Make sure you react in a way that won't hurt your psyche. You'll feel stronger and better if you keep your cool and return negativity with positivity.