Doing things differently often leads to outsized results and so we connected with some of the most inspiring leaders and trailblazers we know and asked them to go into detail about what they do differently relative to others in their industry.
Ashlyn Carter
One of the biggest ways I diverge from the industry standard is by taking a truly holistic approach to skincare. I don’t just treat the surface of the skin — I focus on the whole person. That means addressing underlying causes like inflammation, stress, digestion, and lifestyle, which all play a huge role in skin health. Read more>>
Jen
Yes, the industry standard wasn’t meeting the needs of people who wanted to set up a successful garden. We’ve carved out our own niche that bridges gardening with high end design. As moms who are used to creative problem solving, we also started as novice gardeners whose needs weren’t being met. Jill Oliver is a lifelong gardener. Nicole and I moved to Houston from different states, so learning to garden in this unique climate posed many challenges. Our options were to use landscapers (who specialized in landscaping but not organic kitchen gardens) or learn how to do it ourselves. After years of doing it the wrong way, we figured out what it takes to start and maintain a beautiful and productive kitchen garden. Read more>>
Anela Tayan
Absolutely — one of the core things that sets me and my work apart is my approach to creation itself. I consider myself a gritty, gracefully scrappy entrepreneurial artist. I don’t wait for perfect conditions; I believe everything is achievable when it’s pursued with heart, vision, and relentless dedication. Whenever an idea pulls at my mind, I follow it — no matter the circumstances — because I truly believe that if you bring enough life and energy to a vision, it can thrive. Read more>>
Jenn McFarlane
I wouldn’t say it’s something I do differently in the industry standard, however, it has become a practice in my industry for people to specialize. What that means is you only do shortcuts or you only do long cuts or are you only do lived in color or you only do all over color. I believe in generalizing and that means anything you want done to your hair I should be able to produce. I don’t want you to have to go to someone else for your cut or color. I also feel that I give my guest an outstanding experience every single time. Read more>>
Dylan Roscover
Instead of denying trends or shunning new technologies, we evaluate them. Our approach is dynamic and rhythmic. Not one of our methodologies is static: everything is improved, gradually. We build our own media servers and write our own software. We evaluate new sensors yearly. As a result, we deliver on client goals in a fraction of the time and compute of industry standard practices. Read more>>
Dylan Lei
The independent film distribution industry is kinda “traditional” —it almost feels ‘classical’ in how it operates. Most indie filmmakers submit their work to distributors, who then assess its chances of getting into top-tier festivals or markets. They might cherry-pick a handful, maybe dozens at most a year, and leverage their personal connections with festival programmers or curators to push those films forward. Read More>>
Erica D’Andrea
Black White Gray offers pieces that any woman can wear as the base of an entire wardrobe. If you have these select 6-8 key pieces in your closet, you can build dozens of looks off of them and use them for years to come if cared for properly. Read more>>
Lesley Logan And Brad Crowell
LL here! I started teaching Pilates in 2008. By 2017 I found myself traveling to several countries a year, leading retreats and workshops. While this was very exciting for me, Brad, my husband said that my clients might not be as excited about it… He suggested I should have a way for my clients to take my classes while I was traveling. And, bonus, they could take when they traveled. However, online fitness platforms already existed and I was hearing a lot of people say they had quit theirs. While I understood what Brad was saying, I also felt like we needed to do it differently. Read more>>
Rukmani Srinivasan
One of our top priorities is the quality of ingredients we use, especially the oils in our kitchen and the additives we avoid—like artificial food dyes. We completely steer clear of industrial seed oils, even though it adds to our costs, because our mission is to serve genuinely healthy food. While our dishes may not have the brightest reds or greens, we make no compromises on flavor. Read more>>
Gabriela Toro
Most Operations or Business Consultants start with tools. We start with people.
At The Blissful Step, every engagement begins with an audit, not a software install, not a plug-and-play template or methodology. Because we believe your systems should reflect your people & values, not the latest tech trend.
We don’t just look at workflows. We look at why things feel off. One client told me our audit felt like ‘therapy for her business’ because for the first time, she felt seen, not judged. Read more>>
Jonell Whitt
As a publicist, I believe it’s our responsibility to show our clients the true value of their brand and how to properly promote it. One of the most effective ways to do that is by developing an exceptional pitch that lands interviews and media coverage. Read more>>
Shayla Carter
There are many who treat other face painters as their competition. When I first got started, I was met with a brick wall among a few of my local colleagues. They were apprehensive to share ANYTHING about starting out in the industry. I made the decision in those first few experiences, that I would not shut out my fellow artists, but instead collaborate with them to make our industry stronger. The Collaboration over Competition strategy has worked amazingly. I now have a group of amazing artist friends who own their own face painting companies, and all have individual styles but are equally talented. This allows us to work together on projects where the client needs more than one artist, as well as having others who can cover your clients in a pinch. Read more>>
Varsha Chawla
Building a clean, science-backed wellness product line isn’t for the faint of heart. In a world where social media pulls us in every direction and influencer marketing often blurs the line between authenticity and sponsorship, it can be hard to know who and what to trust. Read more>>
Evgenia Oikonomou
As a freelance Pilates Instructor, I have developed my own program based on Aristotelian teachings and Greek Mythology. The Aristotelian teachings are incorporated during the sessions in the form of guided meditation, promoting holistic wellbeing. Clients not only engage in physical development but are also introduced to Aristotle’s concept of “Eudaimonia” (happiness and living well), with the opportunity to apply this idea in their daily lives. As for the “Greek mythology” aspect, I have created an exercise series that is inspired by Greek mythological figures and stories. My approach differs from the industry standard because it isn’t just a typical workout. It is a culturally unique experience where the practitioners connect with elements of the Greek culture, and can benefit from an equal focus on mental and physical development. Read more>>