Inspiration with Igel: Meet Shirley Yang - Founder of the Muses App
April 20, 2018
Are you looking for an app that connects brands & influencers alike in a crowded social media space? The Muses App is bridging the gap between the two, with Founder & CEO Shirley Yang at the forefront.
Shirley Yang is the Founder and CEO of Muses, a global network of brand builders who utilize one another's social media influence to grow audiences. Muses is in 75 countries and has over 250 million social media network reach. Shirley started her career at MySpace (I was on Myspace were you?), led teams at NBC and Amazon, and has worked with thousands of YouTube stars and brands rise to fame. Shirley is also on the Advisory Board for Women Tech Founders and DoSomething.org.
I bet you want to learn more about this incredible womenpreneur! Check out my interview below.
I bet you want to learn more about this incredible womenpreneur! Check out my interview below.
What is the moment you came to the realization that you wanted to be an entrepreneur?
I've always been an "intrepreneur" while working for large companies: Amazon, NBC, etc. I was always the one pushing the envelope for innovation within a large organization. I also always knew I would break out and start my own business, it was just a matter of when I felt ready with enough experience and capital.
What are some causes you advocate for? How do you incorporate this into business?
I am a huge advocate for women supporting women, fempower, female entrepreneurs, etc. all the movements surrounding lifting women up. My business is about "growing together". We have thousands of women in the app supporting one another's brand building journey, and we work with female crowdfunding platforms to provide influencer marketing advice and blogger partnerships to help get their new businesses heard and seen online.
College! Where did you go, and what was your first internship?
I went to USC in Los Angeles for college and graduated with an Engineering degree. My first internship was with Honeywell Turbo Technologies in Torrance California.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge of being an entrepreneur?
Staying hopeful and optimistic through all times! No matter what happens on your journey of entrepreneurship, it is very important to keep your head up and face any challenge that comes your way. You overcome those challenges and keep moving forward.
Lastly, if you could give a quick piece of advice to entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Stay kind. As an entrepreneur, your company and brand reflect who you are as a person.
Love Shirley's look? You can get it here...
Who to Watch: Chicago Splash Magazine
March 2, 2018
Home sweet home, Chicago!
I had the amazing opportunity to be interviewed for the "Who to Watch" segment
for Chicago Splash, discussing topics from my start in the business to collaborations,
to now diving into styles for home.
(Photography: Sophie Elgort / Makeup: Caravan Stylist Studio)
(Photography: Sophie Elgort / Makeup: Caravan Stylist Studio)
As quoted in the feature in Splash Magazine, “I wanted to be in fashion since I was three,” Igel says.
“I would go to Vogue Fabrics in Water Tower Place and buy fabrics.
I made my first skirt by hand and wore it to my first day of sixth grade.”
In high school, she took design and art classes at Columbia College and
the Art Institute of Chicago; after graduating from the University of Wisconsin,
she moved to New York and worked for Izod and Elie Tahari before launching her own line.”
(Photography: Sophie Elgort / Makeup: Caravan Stylist Studio)
In the feature, I talk a little about BOY MEETS GIRL HOME!
We did a limited run on our website for April (sold out now due to popular demand).
Stay tuned for our next drop. Check it out here!
You can, however, find a full home collection in Finland!
Check it out here #BOYMEETSGIRLINFINLAND and #BOYMEETSGIRLFINLAND.
WHAT I WORE:
Boy Meets Girl® in Chicago Black Crop Sweatshirt.
There are 3 body colors available (black, white and heather grey), as well as 7 thread color options. Check out the other cities and countries too here!
The interview is now live on their website here.
The print edition hit stands on February 25th, 2018.
Thank you for this feature. I am proud to represent my hometown. #sweethomechicago
Managing & Multitasking: 4 SI Quotes to Help You Manage It All
February 12, 2018
Managing & Multitasking: 4 SI Quotes to Help You Manage It All
My team wanted me to share this with my fellow readers.
So without further ado...
1) What keeps you going during the stressful times?
(Photography: Jennifer Rose Keany)
- “I got this from a fortune cookie and it fits in so well here: “Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.” I want to continue to take my brand to all the platforms that I have been building. Many partnerships and collaborations are in the work with SMART and TALENTED people. I am looking forward to this expansion taking my brand everywhere I have dreamt it should be and working with leaders in the industry. So to answer this question in a nutshell. I keep moving during the hardest times and keep building on my experiences thus I don’t allow stress to come in that much as I am too busy to stress.”
2) How do you balance work & play?
(Photography: Getty Images)
- “I’m a driven entrepreneur and I get excited about entrepreneurship and great ideas! That gets my creative juices going. I have a notepad by my bed and I’m essentially writing down ideas either on my notepad or my iPhone until the sun comes up...It can be overwhelming at times to be “always on” and I definitely need to do a better job finding balance. I am working on it :) However, I do make sure to find time to kick back and have a glass of wine with my family and good friends and enjoy life!”
3) What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about yourself in building a successful brand?
(Photography: Elvi Rista, Yhteishyva)
- “You can’t do it all by yourself. You need to work with and retain talented people in the areas where you are relatively weak. That’s a big one. Of course, I’m still learning every day, so I reserve the right to change my answer… :)”
4) What is your hardest and best part of your job?
(Photography: Spencer Kohn)
- “Hardest - Managing people. A boss is a mentor, teacher, cheerleader, motivator, disciplinarian, psychiatrist and – yes – even a friend to the entire team. Finding the necessary balance between all of those roles is no cakewalk.”
- “Best – Reading emails from a teenager who say that I’m her role model or a tweet from a girl who said that she feels confident in her Alice tee or Coco Hoodie. I still just get a great thrill from seeing someone wearing the brand on the street or picking it up at a store and buying it. I don’t think that feeling I get will ever dissipate.”
In the spirit of multitasking & trying to balance it all, check out this latest drop on Boy Meets Girl®’, Girls Hustle Club. 10% of the proceeds from this collection go to Planned Parenthood, and with each purchase of a tee - you get a free Girls Hustle Club Tote Bag! There are Toddler tees too!
