There's a creator in all of us...
POV: How Leaving Corporate Life, Changing Careers, and Taking a Chance Reignited the Creator Flame
“A creator is someone who carves their own path and doesn't let anything get in the fucking way of that.”
Hey all, Ash here, Founder of Women of the Bevolution. Thank you for subscribing and THANK YOU for your ongoing support for WOTB. Though our substack and socials may be a tad quiet at the moment, we are continuously working behind the scenes to keep our programs, initiatives, and resources available. As we value transparency here, I’d like to be real with you all that I’m burnt, and I’m sure a lot of you may be feeling that as well. Through various advocacy projects, launching a social impact consultancy, and caretaking for elderly family members, it has been mentally challenging to juggle it all and prioritize. And let’s be real, when it comes to DEI and nonprofit work it gets shortchanged. The article below on Pellicle, written by Ruvani De Silva, paints a pretty good picture.
I’ve been doing a lot of self-reflecting about what has fueled my motivation and passion within my work and personal life, as well as reassessing where The Bevolution and my skillset can make a better impact. Supporting underrepresented creators, and creating space and opportunities for women have been at the forefront of that motivation.
For anyone out there also reevaluating their path or trying to remember the root of that journey, talk about it and write it down to remember who you are and why you’re doing what you’re doing. So please bear with me while I take you down the rabbit hole, and hopefully, it can provide some perspective or guidance if you’re also trying to navigate the twists and turns of life whether you’re an entrepreneur or activist or pivoting to a new career or just looking to stay true to your values in your day-to-day.
I never considered myself a “creator.” I always saw myself as a promoter of creators. But maybe I’ve been a creator all along.
Leading up to my decision to pursue a career in the music industry, I tried learning a few instruments including flute, piano, saxophone, drums, and guitar. The only instrument I truly learned though was the saxophone, inspired by watching Lisa Simpson rock at it on The Simpsons. Despite my efforts, I convinced myself that I wasn’t capable of being an artist or creator.
Discovering the Path
In high school, I found the courage to try out for the women’s basketball team. Though I wasn’t good initially, I was motivated, determined, and it helped I was tall. This experience introduced me to commitment, work ethic, leadership, and the importance of women empowering women. Joining school clubs and engaging in community service expanded my worldview, taught me gratitude, and reinforced the importance of values. Collaboration and community were ingrained in me during my teen years, shaping my future.
Career Beginnings
This mindset guided me through college, and various jobs and internships. I am grateful for the privilege of attending college, something I didn’t think could be possible due to the academic competition of it all and the financial burden. All I wanted to do was work because I learned by doing. Growing up in various educational environments like a Catholic private school, then Jewish Private School, then public schools (my parents wanted the best for me and I am truly grateful for having that support system) but honestly I felt out of place and confused. The classroom made me feel anxious, and having insomnia and various allergies at a young age just made it worse.
It wasn’t til community college when I started feeling more in place. I found a passion for journalism, particularly writing about music. I interned at local magazines and eventually became an editorial assistant at a magazine publisher. I wrote music-related stories for various local magazines and newspapers, which was also a result of a local indie music radio I hosted on a nonprofit college station. That’s where I challenged my stage fright, created something of my own, and took a chance on myself. My path forward became clear.
Embracing the Creator Within
I’m going to say it: Millennials are the original digital creators. I never thought of myself as a creator, but looking back to 2004, I realize now we were building our own websites from the ground up. No Canva or AI to help us. I edited videos, launched a music magazine, hosted an online radio show, and started my first business, a public relations consultancy. I guess the DIY creator mentality was in me after all.
Moving to Los Angeles to pursue music full-time, I knew I had to make the jump from indie to major to gain the experience needed to learn and excel in the industry. However, once I made that major leap, I lost touch with my inner creator.
Torn Between Two Identities
Working in publicity and digital marketing in the music industry especially at the biggest music company in the world, let’s just say it’s like every day you’re climbing up that mountain and about to reach that top and can’t wait to put your two feet on the ground and feel safe, but instead you slip and fall all the way to the bottom and then have to start all over again. This landscape stifled my individuality and values. And speaking up about a problematic artist…say like P Diddy, Kid Rock, or a song release like Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” wasn’t really an option at the time. On top of that, sharing anything about politics or personal values was risky especially on social media back in 2012…some of the contracts even had clauses about not being able to post on socials, so I started to bottle everything up. The stress was immense. And I masked it through overloading myself with more work and social outtings to distract me from those feelings. I remember, after the week was over while everyone would be going out to celebrate the weekend, I found myself having a mental breakdown crying on a Friday night from feeling so burnt and disconnected from my true self. The toxic culture influenced my ethics and well-being, and despite the learning opportunities and friendships, I ultimately lost who I was and didn’t know what I was even doing anymore.
Rediscovering Myself
In late 2018, I decided to take a risk and pivot into the craft beer and hospitality industry. It wasn’t easy to leave a full-time job and change industries in my early 30s after building a 10-year career, especially given the financial risk. But I had to get back to my roots. Rather than being inside looking out at the world, I needed to be outside on my own connecting with the world. I found a place within the homebrewing community, and eventually launched an outlet for like-minded women in beer and bev, Women of the Bevolution, which at the time was more of a social networking group. It was a chance to meet other women in the industry or those looking to break into it, or those who are just passionate about craft beer and bevs.
Navigating Challenges
The pandemic hit less than a year after launching Women of the Bevolution, bringing everything to a standstill. Many clients halted services, and some of them laid off staff and closed forever. I started to confront the last decade of constant work and putting others’ needs before my own. My mental health was a wreck, but I began to understand the importance of prioritizing myself and my goals.
Carving My Own Path
Fifteen years ago, I was doing my own thing, and now I’m doing it again. Despite the mental and financial challenges, I’ve never felt so fulfilled. Carving my own path reminds me why it’s important to follow my passions. There are days of stress and self-doubt, but I remember that it’s okay to make mistakes and question myself. I am a fucking creator, and this journey is mine to shape.
For all of you out there questioning whether you can create something, you can. Stop overthinking and go for it. Our inbox is always open if you’d like to chat, brainstorm, or just need a friendly reminder that you are a creator and you should keep creating and going for your dreams. Our email: WomenoftheBevolution@gmail.com
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Now, get out there and keep creating.
P.S. We’ll be launching a podcast soon dedicated to women and non-binary creators in beer and bev carving their own paths. Stay tuned.
— Ash, WOTB
If you’d like more inspiration to light the fire under your butt to launch that business or start that project, check out this real good read by Jen Blair —> START UGLY.
Interested in supporting creators in bev? Help us expand The Bevolution Creators in Grant Program.
The Bevolution Creators in Bev Grant Program is a chance to provide a platform for women and non-binary beverage industry professionals who are creating and carving their own paths in the bev world. This program provides amplification, financial aid, and mentorship. How can you get involved? Here are a few ways:
Be a mentor! Get involved and support other women and non-binary beverage industry professionals through mentorship. This opportunity is part of the Bevolution Creators in Bev Grant Program.
Host a fundraiser to help us raise funds for our grant programs, relief fund and various initiatives! If you’d like to collaborate on an event, reach out to us below!
Hire us to curate a menu or event, consult or help you release a product or launch a collab! Learn more about how we can work together below.
Another idea? Reach out to us at WomenoftheBevolution@gmail.com.
Support The Bevolution by purchasing merch in our shop!
Your purchase helps us continue what we love to do, supporting women and non-binary beverage industry professionals. Check out our store.
Submit a job to be spotlighted on Women of the Bevolution! By submitting for this spotlight, it’s a chance to be seen by a network of women and nonbinary beverage industry professionals who are actively engaging with Women of the Bevolution and our collaborators. As a social enterprise, we rely on donations to keep our programs going including the Bevolution Creators in Bev Grant Program and Bevolution Brave Voices Relief Fund, as well as developing resources and mentorship opportunities. For job features, we do request from all for profit businesses a minimum donation. Donations can be sent through PayPal, Zelle or Venmo.
Thank you for subscribing to The Bevolution! For more updates and resources check out our Instagram @WomenoftheBevolution and WomenoftheBevolution.com
I can relate to so much of what you've written here, Ash. A great reminder for me to share more of my journey because it's so helpful to show others that we go through similar struggles. Also, excited for the podcast!