StylebyMalvika
“Hearing from individuals who have fearlessly embarked on paths that may seem unconventional to our cookie-cutter mindsets always helps, and here’s why:
Often times, we need an extra vote of confidence and some reassurance to propel us forward in the direction our hearts have been yearning for.
Personally, I find that attending conferences is fuel for my entrepreneurial soul. Over the years, and even before my journey with Stylebymalvika, I loved going to conferences to find solace in the fact that I wasn’t alone in wanting different things for my career than my college classmates. I was lucky enough to have attended conferences like the Harvard India Conference–to hear from Manish Malhotra and Anamika Khanna–as well as the Women in the World Conference, to take in wise words from the legendary Anna Wintour!
While these individuals definitely left an impact, I will say, recently, my experience at StyleCon OC has been the most impactful for me, at least at this very stage of my journey.
Whether it was inspirational words from gymnastics superstar and internet sensation Katelyn Ohashi as she spoke about what got her through her low moments, or hearing how founders of companies in the fashion space have so precisely stuck to their value system, innate voices, and original visions despite all the noise, all of what I imbibed was so necessary. Their words were needed for me to get through the reservations I’ve been having for choosing to become a full-time content creator/entrepreneur. Put straight–it’s not easy explaining people what it is I do, especially when they reply back that their son or daughter has just landed a job at a top 10 firm. However, walking away from StyleCon a few weeks ago, I want to share with you a few things that have been reiterated that I believe are supremely important for you to know:
Make a commitment to yourself about steps you’ll take to get you where you want to be. Stick to this commitment. Measure yourself weekly if you have to.
Do not be afraid to make the ask. The worst thing that can happen is they say no.
Do, share, and be what you love–it should NEVER be solely for the paycheck.
All aside, beyond these wise words and lineup of true #ladybosses, which you can find here, I also really enjoyed seeing some of my favorite food and beverage brands as sponsors for the event; from PowerCrunch to Suja. Plus, those of you who read my last blog post know that the location of the event, South Coast Plaza, is one of my favorite summer shopping spots! It’s absolutely stunning! All this combined with the lovely decor, wonderful people, and overall positive atmosphere of the event truly made it an unmatched experience. In total honestly, I had a tough decision to make prior to attending the event. The logical side of my brain kicked in and said: “Why are you skipping out on your cousin’s graduation party to attend a conference that is bringing speakers from different industries like gymnastics?” Looking back now, however, I couldn’t tell you just how much of a mistake it would have been to miss this event. Hearing from people either tangentially related to an industry you’re in or even completely unrelated to your industry can be even more beneficial than hearing from those that have similar occupations. You start to learn that no matter who the person, what they do for a living, or what industry they’ve found themselves in, all humans go through similar circumstances and emotions, and have to rely on their gut and practice resiliency time and again. Plus, hearing from people in different industries often allows you to view your situation objectively from a fresh, new perspective. Even if all the speakers weren’t content creators, they were women on a mission to build a name for themselves and provide value in some way shape or form by pursuing their passions. Now, that’s something so many of us can relate to, right?
So, the next time you’re on the fence about whether to attend a professional conference, panel, or even networking event for that matter, I urge to take the extra effort, get dressed, put on your listening ears, and go. You never know what you’ll get out of it!
And, if you’re in California, New York, or even Dallas, I’d highly suggest attending one of StyleCon’s events! They’ve brought on some amazing people over the years, and I’m sure you’ll leave any of their events feeling confident in your heart’s calling and inspired to take action.”