Happy International Women's day to all the strong, powerful and inspirational women who make this world a bigger and brighter place. We encourage you to use your voice and to never give up on your dreams, there is no goal to big or too small. You can do it all. We interviewed a few of our favorite women and we hope you find inspiration through their stories and advice.

Carina Chaz | Founder of @DedCool

 Q: What inspired you to get started in your career? 

A: I grew up in a Los Angeles household well-versed in the clean beauty and wellness industry. In my adolescent years, I spent time experimenting in my parent's laboratory mixing various concoctions. In my teen years, I focused on assisting in creating a youthful approach to the high-end parent company, LaNatura. Although the facility primarily focused on natural body products, my  interests always swayed towards scent profiles.

My passion for clean products and a healthy lifestyle greatly influenced my desire to create complex, sophisticated scent profiles for conscious consumers. With the motto that “clean beauty can be cool beauty” 

At 21, I founded DedCool in 2016. I created the brand as an extension of my passion for cologne, masculine scents, and green beauty. As fragrance is an essential part of one’s identity, I believed in only creating scents that are composed of the highest quality + natural ingredients. The brand DedCool disrupts the world of fragrance by creating a line that is Uni-Sex, Vegan, Cruelty-free, non-toxic scents with a naturally chic edge.

Q: What would you say to younger women looking to get started in your industry?

A: I would tell myself to stop and take things day by day. This is a marathon, not a race! We’re all clouded by the instant success stories fed to us by social media but have to understand all good things take time :) 

Connect with Carina |  @Carinachaz 

Karen Rosalie | 

Photographer + Founder of @rosalie.agency

Q: What inspired you to get started in photography? 

I wanted to make the world more beautiful through my lens. 

Q: What would you say to younger women looking to get started in Photography? 

A: Work hard and be kind. Photography will give you as much back as you put in so think of each shoot as your last shoot and make the most out of it. Be bold-- network and talk to people and ask questions. The first few years will be tough but stick with it and as you hone your craft trust there is light at the end of the tunnel! 

Connect with Karen | @karen.rosalie

Charlotte Cho | Founder

 of @sokoglam +

@thenimetyou

Q: What inspired you to get started in your career?

A: After feeling uninspired and lost in my early 20s, I took a leap of faith and moved to a new country I had never lived in before: Korea. It ended up being the best decision of my life, as I truly got to soak in living as an expat and as I discovered new passions. Learning about K-beauty transformed my skin, and inspired me to start Soko Glam. I wanted others to learn about the Korean skin care techniques, products and tools that were part of my newfound skin-first philosophy. I feel fulfilled bridging the gap between the East and the West, especially since it is tied to my Korean heritage.

Q: What would you say to younger women looking to get started in career?

A: Throughout your career, you will get hit with more "no's" than you can count. Whether you are an entrepreneur, freelancer or working in a corporate setting, building your career is 90% persistence. Don't be discouraged, and keep going. Ask the questions and ask for help when you need it, and don't apologize for putting yourself out there. 

Connect with Charlotte | @charlottejcho

Ijeoma Oluo | Writer + Speaker 

Q: What inspired you to get started in your career?

I have always loved writing but I started writing more seriously after Trayvon Martin was killed in 2012. I needed people in my community - friends, neighbors, coworkers - to understand why we needed to start talking about how the same racism that killed Trayvon was having a devastating impact on Black people and other people of color across the country. I started writing in my blog and on Facebook and Twitter - I had no idea at the time that I was beginning a writing career

A: What would you say to younger women looking to get started in writing?

I would say that if you are writing, you are a writer. There is no certificate you need to get, no approval you need to seek. You are a writer if you are writing. Respect your work accordingly.

Connect with Ijeoma | @ijeomaoluo

Michelle Phan | Founder of @emcosmetics