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Designed by Andrea Lucatello in 2014, the Skorpio table base has been widely replicated but none is as beautiful as the original. The sculptural metal base is available in several finishes. The top is available in glass in many different sizes, as well as in natural woods, ceramic marble and CrystalArt glass.
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The Skorpio table. Available from stock as shown with a graphite base and clear glass top measuring 94.5” long and a full 47” wide. Copenhagen price $4268.
Courtesy of domino Magazine
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48
FEATURE TINA CANNON A WOMAN OF ACTION— ON AND OFF THE COURTS BY
62
FEATURE MEME STYLES FORCE OF NATURE
BY DEBORAH HAMILTON-LYNNE
JOLEEN JERNIGAN
PHOTOS BY ANNIE RAY
EDITED
PHOTOS BY ANNIE RAY
The Summer Splash CONTENTS
CommUnityCare Health Center’s New Initiative: Enhancing Sexual Health Services in Austin
CommUnityCare Health Centers is excited to announce a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing sexual health services in our community, thanks to a $2.5 million, five-year award from the CDC’s Enhancing STI and Sexual Health Clinic Infrastructure (ESSHCI) program. This award signifies a major step forward in addressing the pressing sexual health needs of our community, with a focus on underserved and priority populations.
Advancing Sexual Health Services
This significant funding will support the establishment of a new sexual health access point, dedicated to providing comprehensive and high-quality sexual health services. The initiative encompasses several key components:
● Enhanced staffing: The award will fund the hiring of additional staff to ensure more robust service delivery and greater access to sexual health care for our community members.
● Improved training: Extensive training programs will be implemented to equip healthcare providers with the latest knowledge and skills in sexual health service delivery.
● Advanced point-of-care testing: The initiative will enable the introduction of enhanced point-of-care testing, providing quicker and more accurate results for patients.
A Community-Centered Approach
A cornerstone of this initiative is the creation of a Community Advisory Panel (CAP), which will play a crucial role in shaping the planning and implementation of the new sexual health access point. The CAP will consist of individuals from priority populations, including Black and Latinx/Hispanic individuals, women, people who use drugs, LGBTQIA+ individuals and young adults aged 18 to 24. Emphasis will be placed on engaging multi-marginalized people, such as those who are unsheltered or unhoused, and persons of color.
Implementing a Status Neutral Care Model
CommUnityCare Health Centers is adopting a status neutral care model as part of this initiative. This innovative approach ensures that all individuals are routinely offered STI and HIV testing, and regardless of their test results, they continue to receive support and engage in ongoing discussions about risk reduction and STI/HIV prevention. This model aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all patients, promoting continuous care and education.
Addressing Health Disparities
STIs remain a significant public health issue, disproportionately affecting certain groups within our community. CommUnityCare Health Centers is dedicated to developing innovative strategies to address these health disparities. By involving community members in the CAP, we ensure that the voices and experiences of those most affected by these issues are heard and integrated into the solutions.
Get Involved and Make a Difference
CommUnityCare Health Centers is currently recruiting members for the CAP. We are seeking individuals who are passionate about improving sexual health and addressing the broader themes of the CDC ESSHCI initiative. Your participation will help inform and shape the healthcare services that aim to reduce STI and HIV rates and improve overall sexual health in our community.
If you are interested in joining the CAP or would like more information, please visit talkactprotect.org. The recruitment process has begun with the goal of establishing a fully operational panel by September 2024.
Join Us in Creating a Healthier Community
Together, we can make a significant impact on sexual health in Austin. By leveraging community insights and expertise, we can ensure that our services are inclusive, effective and responsive to the needs of all individuals. For more details on how to get involved and stay informed about our progress, visit talkactprotect.org or contact us directly at advisory.panel@communitycaretx.org or call us at 512.716.7499.
Let’s work together to create a healthier, more informed community where everyone has access to the sexual health care they deserve. Your voice matters, and with your help, we can drive meaningful change in our community.
The Kindness Campaign® Presents
Kind Leadership
Empowering high school student leaders to create positive change for a kinder tomorrow.
Learn about some of our Kind Leader’s Passion Projects:
Zillie
Oates
Founder of Happy Time Slime
Zillie recently received the Kind Leadership Summit Presentation Award for her Kind Leader Passion Project, Happy Time Slime. This innovative company, founded by Zillie, helps both children and adults regulate emotions and manage stress effectively. Through her involvement with Kind Leadership, Zillie has been featured on a Fox 7 Austin segment, hosted a workshop at Estilo Austin, and presented a social impact award at the AW Gala.
Tara Srinivasan
Founder of PeakPower
As one of the youngest to climb Kilimanjaro, Tara was inspired to create PeakPower, a nonprofit that builds technology and solutions to help empower porters. Tara is working on a biomedical invention to reduce injury as well as raising funds to support their training and improve their English, so that they can 5-10x their earning power.
Want to learn more about the Kind Leadership Program and learn more about the other Passion Projects? Check out our website!
22,
KIP GARVEY COO
DEBORAH HAMILTON-LYNNE Guest Editor
NINA GLORIA Production Manager
JAIME ALBERS Creative Director
DARBY KENDALL Copy Editor
SHANNAN HALE Community Engagement Manager
BETSY BLANKS VP of Business Operations
HALIE RAMIREZ Director of Content and Creative Services
Art: Jessica Wetterer, Annie Ray Photography, Joi Conti, Elyse Marie Photography, Hassan Richardson, Visit Galveston, Moody Gardens, Margaritaville Lake Conroe Resort, Liz Wendler, Ryan Smith, Jade Hewitt, USA Softball, Weston Carls, Austin LGBT Chamber, PIX Sports Gear, US Rowing, UT Athletics, USA Olympic Committee, Visit San Marcos, Felicia Reed, American Artists Project, Paquin Entertainment Group, Space Cowboy, Keith Trigaci
MELINDA GARVEY Co-owner/Co-founder
LANA MACRUM Co-owner
LYNELLE MCKAY Co-owner
TERRY MITCHELL Co-owner
GRETEL PERERA Co-owner
SHURONDA ROBINSON Co-owner
ANA RUELAS Co-owner
NEHA SAMPAT Co-owner
SAMANTHA STEVENS Co-founder
Contributors
This month, we asked our contributors: What is your favorite summer activity?
DEBORAH HAMILTON-LYNNE
Guest Editor
Writer, Cover Woman Callback: Sanya Richards Ross, pg. 30., and Make a Splash pg. 46
• She teaches iPhone photography on cruise ships and has visited five continents and 45 countries.
• She is a lifelong learner, currently taking classes in AI.
• She was the editor-in-chief of Austin Woman from 2011 to 2015 and the only editor of ATX Man.
“My favorite summer activity is sitting on the beach listening to the waves while reading a good book or flipping through a stack of magazines.”
ANNIE RAY
Photographer, Tina Cannon, Woman of Action pg. 58; Meme Styles, Force of Nature, pg. 64.
• She has an English bulldog named Walter, who is 11 years old.
• She is an avid romance novel reader.
• She loves Pride and Prejudice, the A&E version.
“I love going to our neighborhood pool, listening to music and reading books. ”
JOLEEN JERNIGAN
Writer, Tina Cannon, Woman of Action pg. 58; On and Off the Courts pg 44.
• She has lived and worked in six countries and has traveled in more than 30 countries.
• She enjoys a good glass of Texas wine.
• She’s a sucker for scruffy dogs! The shaggier, the better.
Austin Woman is a free monthly publication of AW Media Inc. and is available at locations throughout Austin and in Lakeway, Cedar Park, Round Rock and Pflugerville. All rights reserved.
To offer feedback, email feedback@awmediainc.com. For submission information, visit atxwoman.com/jobs.
No part of the magazine may be reprinted or duplicated without permission. Visit us online at atxwoman.com. Email us at info@awmediainc.com. 512 328.2421 | 7401 West Slaughter Lane, Austin, TX 78739
“I adore being in or on the water, so I’ll be swimming and paddleboarding as much as possible this summer.”
Hello my old friends! Guest editing this issue of Austin Woman feels like coming home. It’s been eight years since my last issue of AW went to press, but jumping back in temporarily brought back memories and the excitement I always felt in anticipation of each issue.
The women and topics included in these pages always provide insight and inspiration, and it’s double the fun with this summer issue. Both Tina Canon and Meme Styles are women of action— activists and entrepreneurs—both are extremely involved and committed to building community in a way that makes Austin better, not only for women, but for everyone.
In this issue you will also meet a group of women that are giving back by partnering with Habitat for Humanity to provide housing for those that need it most.
AI is the talk of the town—especially in a tech savvy city like Austin. Discover a fun, futuristic restaurant where robots are the servers. Learn how AI will revolutionize mental health care and how one Austin Woman puts ethics and inclusion at the heart of technology.
Everyone will want to be in Paris for the Olympics and AW takes you there. We’ve got insight from Austin Olympic gold medalists Cat Osterman and Sanya Richard-Ross as well as 2024 Olympic hopeful Kaitlin Knifton. We’ve also got the scoop on when, what and who to watch in each eagerly anticipated competition. We’ve even got official Team USA pajamas that the whole family can wear while cheering on their favorite athletes.
Although it’s not yet an Olympic sport, with the incredible growth of the sport, pickleball will most likely be included very soon. I have to admit that I understand the allure of the pickleball craze.
Discover why Austin Woman Tina Canon and former cover women Kendra Scott and Mellie Price are at the forefront of the fastest growing sport in America.
Growing up, I spent most of my summers either poolside or at the beach reading a good book, and that is my favorite guilty pleasure to this day. We looked for fun ways to beat the heat by making a splash at family-friendly vacation spots and recommended our favorite beach reads.
In the past eight years I have been pursuing my passion of travel, visiting five continents and more that 65 countries, writing and teaching iPhone photography. I am writing this letter from the editor while on a river cruise down the Danube as we put another issue to bed. Thank you to Melinda Garvey for allowing me the privilege of coming home once again. Wherever I may roam, I am forever Austin Woman.
DEBORAH HAMILTON-LYNNE, GUEST EDITOR
Publication of Austin Woman would not be possible without the support of our monthly advertisers and sponsors, who believe in the impact we are making in the Austin community. The team at Austin Woman is grateful for these businesses that have shown their commitment to the advancement of women in Austin and hopes you, as readers, recognize their efforts and support these businesses.
Planned Parenthood Rises to Serve More Post-Roe
Since first opening health center doors in Austin nearly 90 years ago, Planned Parenthood has been a trusted resource for sexual and reproductive healthcare. Our vision today is clear - a world where everyone can access quality healthcare and information to live their lives fully, without judgment.
In 2022, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, Texas imposed one of the most extreme abortion bans in the nation. This ban creates health and life-threatening risks for pregnant Texans and denies thousands of people the right to access an abortion without traveling to another state. Abortion bans disproportionately impact people of color, low-income
Texans, and communities that already face systemic barriers to healthcare.
While fiercely advocating to restore abortion in Texas, our four health centers in North, South, Central and Downtown Austin are providing healthcare seven days a week like birth control, emergency contraception, STI testing and treatment, annual wellness exams, breast and cervical cancer screening, HIV testing and prevention medication, gender affirming hormone therapy and more.
Thanks to community support, we are providing more healthcare than ever. Despite more than a decade of defunding and policies blocking Texans’ access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, in 2023 Planned Parenthood provided:
• 21% more healthcare appointments.
• 25% more STI testing and treatment services.
• 28% more patients accessed healthcare virtually through Planned Parenthood Direct app and the Greater Texas Virtual Health Center.
• 46% more transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming Texans accessed gender affirming care and a full range of sexual and reproductive healthcare.
The historic Downtown Austin Planned Parenthood Health Center recently underwent a complete renovation and expansion to better serve patients and the East Austin community.
SUMMER SPLASH
Keep your eye on the Austin Woman social channels for more information about our Summer Splash Release Party coming soon! We promise it will be a party you don’t want to miss!
USE YOUR VOICE. USE YOUR VOTE. September 14, 2024
Austin Artist Project brings a nonpartisan program that will use the power of dance, music, and theater to inspire voter participation and build a future where everyone has a voice. Produced by AW cover woman and AAP founder, Mela Sarajane Dailey and featuring the music and AW cover woman, Nagavalli, there will be two concerts representing AAP’s five main programs. For more information and tickets: americanartistsproject.org/uyvuyv
Check out what’s happening over at atxwoman.com!
Don’t forget to visit and subscribe to the Austin Woman YouTube channel!
WIN THIS!
Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet
Immersive Experience
Step into the worlds of these two iconic artists as their masterpieces come to life and surround you in an unforgettable, immersive experience that recently opened in Austin. #BeyondVanGogh and #BeyondMonet: The Immersive Experiences recently opened in Austin and we’re giving away a pair of tickets to step into the captivating world of Van Gogh and Monet as their masterpieces come to life with these exciting exhibitions. Please follow @austinwoman on Instagram for your chance to win. We will announce the winner at the end of the month.
The month of June was busy for our AW Connects Club! Members and guests networked at WorkCastle co-working and preschool on June 14th, and celebrated with over 100 people at our Summer Soirée on June 27th at the Contentstack Experience Center.
• Discounted tickets and access to all AW Events
• Exclusive Member-Only Events
• Access to a members-only virtual community platform
• Seat at the table opportunities to join AW at community events
• Curated networking
FOUNDING MEMBERS
Sheri Ashouri
Marisel Ballard
Kim Barnes
Megan Baumer
Amy Bell
Judy Beltrez
Morgan Bergman
Beverly Biehl
Amanda Bonilla
Paula Bookidis
Amber Bradbury
Lillian Brown
Lauren Bryant
Krista Burk
Meghan Butler
Maria Amelia Calaf
Jessica Campos
Perla Cavazos
Aditi Chauhan
Christina Collazo
Elizabeth Colvin
Nichola Cotto
Lindsay Crowell
Faye Dedrick
Michelle Denny
Patti DeNucci
Lauren Dwiggins
Lala Elizondo
Sierra Fernandes
Lollis Garcia-Baab
Cristina Garcia-Chappell
Marisol Giron
Bonnie Glass
Tara Godby
Jill Goodman
Mica Gutierrez
Raette Hearne
Jen Henderson
Mindy Hofman
Wendy Howell
Veronica IMery
Lisa Ivie Miller
Nikitra Jackson-Sagirius
Jill Jacobs
Shelby Johnson
Amy Jones
Meagan Jones
Veronica Jordan-Matlock
Shivani Kamboj
Ann Kasper
Carrie Kass
Erika King
Taryn Kinney
Sarah Kyle
Lurleen Ladd
Kendall Law
Tatiana Leadbetter
Leesa Lee
Andra Liemandt
Charlotte Lipscomb
Rebecca Lopez
Meg Lowry
Eliza Loyola
Liliana Lozada-Beverido
Hilda Lunderstedt
Bobbie Mack
Rosanna Martinez
Cherie Mathews
Cindy Matula
Lynelle McKay
Lauren Mireles
Shelley Moon
Searcy Morgan
Brooke Murray-Etnyre
Tulsee Nathu
Sabrina Nelson
Janene Niblock
Andrea Nucete-Elliott
Shauna Nuckles
Holly Odom
Kim Ortiz
Julia Parke
Sophie Parrott
Heather Parsons
Liliana Patino
Jean Poeet
Melinda Quiroz
Alexia Raven
Felicia Reed
Jenny Remington
Emily Rollins
Alison Roscoe
Jamie Rose
Ana Ruelas
Raka Sandell
Lori Schneider
Cyndi Schultz
Jessica Shor
Diana Skellenger
Trinity Stennfeld
Sunny Sutherland-Depaz
Isabella Taylor
Jeanne Teshler
LisaBeth Thomas
Perri Travillion
Nelda Trevino
Avni Trivedi
Stephanie Verdugo
Ana Villegas
J Rene Walker
Laura Webb
Liz Wendler
Felicia White
Cassandra G. Wiggins
Joy Wiggins
Tiffany Wilson
Tania Yousaf
Make a Splash
Three ways to hit the water and keep cool this summer.
BY DEBORAH HAMILTON-LYNNE
Throughout time people have flocked to water to beat the heat. With record heat predicted this summer, Austin Woman recommends keeping cool by making a splash in your favorite waterfront locale. Whether you prefer a day trip or a longer vacation, hitting the water in these locations won’t disappoint.
OCEAN GALVESTON
With 32 miles of gulf beaches, Galveston is a convenient getaway destination for everyone from families and multi-generational gatherings to girlfriend and couple getaways. You can make a splash in the ocean, hit the slides at Schlitterbahn, check out the dolphins on a harbor cruise or the ferry to Bolivar island. Moody Gardens offers its own beach with movies, fireworks and live music as well as sunset dinner cruises aboard the Colonel Paddlewheel boat throughout the summer.
For the ultimate ocean getaway hop on one of the many cruise ships that call the Port of Galveston home. Now the fourth busiest port in the U.S., in 2023 the port set new records with more than five cruise lines, 13 ships, more than 350 scheduled sailings and an estimated 1.3 million-plus passengers. There are cruises for every budget and itineraries for every schedule.
While all the beaches are free and easily accessible, the beach is just a bonus in this historic city filled with a multitude of activities for all ages and interests. Discover the rich history which includes many stories of immigration in the 1800s and early 1900s, the 1877 tall ship Elissa, Juneteenth, the Great Storm of 1900, ghost and cemetery tours and many historic homes to tour.
In a nod to Galveston’s diversity, there is a wide variety of cuisines available in restaurants throughout the island. Galveston is becoming a foodie town with a combination of new restaurants and many longtime family-owned favorites. Fresh seafood is abundant in many restaurants and for sale at seafood markets specializing in fresh-caught offerings from local shrimpers and fishermen.
Another bonus of a visit to Galveston is the proximity of many activities that make for excellent day outings. NASA is a short 34 miles away with a huge variety of tours including breakfast with an astronaut. Houston activities are approximately 51 miles away and include the Houston Museum of Natural History, Houston Museum of Fine Arts, The Children’s Museum, the Houston Zoo and Astros baseball.
Whether you are headed down for a weekend or a week, a dive into Galveston won’t disappoint.
Colonel Paddlewheel Boat
RIVER (KAYAKING, RAFTING, FLOATING/TUBING)
Is there any better way to spend a day than a leisurely float down a cool river? Rather than a tube, is a raft or a kayak more your style? Fortunately for Austinites, there are several lazy and fast-moving rivers nearby where you can beat the heat. Planning ahead is a must. Beat the crowds on weekdays and avoid holiday weekends.
SAN MARCOS RIVER
Located a short 30-minute drive from Austin, the San Marcos River provides the most convenient spot to go tubing and float on a lazy day. The river is spring fed so it never runs dry. The water temperature is always at a refreshing 72 degrees. The San Marcos can be crowded with a party vibe, as it is a favorite of both UT and Texas State students. Rio Vista Park provides river access where you can rent or bring your own tubes, canoes, paddleboards and kayaks. Several outfitters provide tube rentals and transportation packages including the local Lions Club which uses the tube rental project as a fundraiser to support local organizations and educational opportunities. There are two sections of the river to enjoy—one provides a short hour to hour and half family-friendly float. The other option is great for groups and takes around three hours. Make it a day by checking out downtown San Marcos and the historic courthouse and square with shops, restaurants, bars and live music.
NEW BRAUNFELS
New Braunfels is home to not just one, but two beautiful rivers—the Guadalupe and the Comal. Nothing beats the heat like floating down these cool rivers. The area is a favorite vacation destination for overnight as well as day trips with many options for dining, shopping, activities, wineries and breweries, and lodging. Cabin rentals and campsites can be found on River Road, a scenic stretch of road which runs along the water.
COMAL RIVER
Although the Comal is the shortest navigable river in Texas, it is a popular spot for tubing because of its location near the many activities offered in nearby New Braunfels and Gruene. Spring-fed and a constant 70 to 72 degrees, the Comal is only 50 miles from Austin. It takes about 3 hours to float this lazy river with plenty of time to catch your favorite band at Gruene Hall—one of Texas’ most historic and iconic dance halls. As you float the river you will pass Schlitterbahn, a giant water park and family favorite way to continue making a summer splash.
GUADALUPE RIVER
The lower Guadalupe begins at the Canyon Lake dam and winds through the Texas Hill Country to New Braunfels. The water is crystal clear, and tubing is the most popular activity, but many adventure seekers also enjoy rafting, canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding.
Beautifully scenic if camping and spending more time in nature appeals to you, the Guadalupe is the place to be. Cabin rentals and campsites can be found on River Road, a scenic stretch of road which runs along the water.
Open for floating seven days a week, dependent on good tubing conditions as the water released from Canyon Lake into the Guadalupe River fluctuates depending on periodic drought conditions. Check ahead as river conditions, river flow and water levels often vary.
Comal River
LAKE LAKE CONROE
While Houstonians know that Lake Conroe is a best-kept secret splash-down destination, it is unknown to most Austinites. A two and a half hour drive brings you to the 21,000-acre lake with 157 miles of shoreline and extends 21 miles from Conroe to the Sam Houston National Forest. Home to resorts Margaritaville and La Toretta as well as Deep Lake Lodge Spa Resort, Lake Conroe offers the perfect R&R getaway for boating, sailing, swimming and fishing.
Although Conroe is the fastest growing city in Texas, you can explore small-town Texas living in historic Montgomery and Conroe. Both have quaint downtowns where you can shop, go antiquing and enjoy a variety of restaurants, bars and pubs. The area is also home to several wineries, breweries and distilleries.
LAKE BUCHANAN
Fifty miles northwest of Austin you will find the second largest of the Highland Lakes. Thirty miles long and five miles wide, the lake has 124 miles of shoreline. Unique among the Highland Lakes, Lake Buchanan has granite gravel shores along portions of the lake that provide an ideal beach for swimming, wading and sunbathing.
While many nearby lakes are low due to the drought, Lake Buchanan is 75% full and is a favorite destination for boaters, campers, fishermen and swimmers. It is also a prime spot for bird watchers and you can catch a glimpse of eagles, ospreys, blue herons and hawks on the Vanishing River Cruise.
There are many options for lodging including several “glamping resorts” and state parks with cabins and campsites. The area is a foodie’s delight known for barbecue, breweries and wineries. Explore
Lake Conroe, Margaritaville
Meet Kind Leader Zillie Oates Founder of Happy Time Slime
Zillie Oates was in the second grade when she began watching slime videos on YouTube. By fifth grade, she was selling her own slime creations to friends, kids at school—even a professional therapist.
“She recognized that she could use my slime in her counseling sessions, and that it had therapeutic benefits,” says Oates. “Slime has all of these sensory qualities that make it soothing to play with.”
And with that, Oates’ product, Happy Time Slime, was born. Inspired by content creators like Parakeet Slimes and Snoop Slimes, Oates saw that slime could be a way to express her creative side and her entrepreneurial side.
“I used to set up bake sale stands at my brother’s lacrosse games when I was younger,” Oates says. “It wasn’t really about the money. I was just a little kid. But I enjoyed interacting with customers, and seeing what cookies and cakes they wanted to buy.”
Born with a customer service streak, Oates applied her creative talents to slime-making in the exact same way. She focused on making a good product with quality ingredients, the kind of ingredients that disprove slime’s reputation for staining rugs and upholstery. Instead, Oates’ preferred slime—butter slime—is less drippy than the kind millennials and Gen Xers grew up with: think Nickelodeon’s Double Dare and the green slime dumps, or Slimer having his way with the Ghostbusters. Oates adds clay to her recipes to give it a thicker texture, making it more stretchy and silky, less viscous and couch-ruining.
“One of my favorite slimes was inspired by the Hailey Bieber smoothie from Erewhon,” says Oates. To mimic it, she made a thick, pink slime in ombre fashion, with dark strawberry colors at the bottom that lightened on top. It’s how a lot of slimes are made these days, with pop culture references that friends and customers can appreciate.
“Snoop Slimes made a Breakfast at Tiffany’s slime, with pearls mixed in and a turquoise clay stamp on the very top,” says Oates. “That was one of the first that really grabbed my attention.” Oates put down the slime habit in middle school, but recently, she found her way back to it.
As a junior in high school, she enrolled in Kind Leadership: a leadership incubator program for teens by the national nonprofit, The Kindness Campaign.
“We were asked to create a passion project that would benefit our community in some way, and I had a few ideas floating around,” says Oates. At first she thought about cooking classes for underserved youth, or care kits for the unhoused. “Then I thought, ‘Wait, I’ve got all this slime lying around; I wonder if I could do something with this?’”
Under the direction of Kind Leadership and the mentors she found there, Oates changed the mission of Happy Time Slime from product to process. Once upon a time, her goal was to get on YouTube and display her creations, hopefully racking up views and followers. But now, she decided to bring customers in on production, by hosting workshops and creating kits that allow users to make their own slime.
“Kids know what they want,” says Oates. “Maybe they want add-ins to make the texture crunchy, maybe they want to add essential oils to make it smell nice. Kids know the colors they like, they like popping the sound next to their ears. It’s a toy, but it’s a toy they can add their own
creative spin to.” Oates had been volunteering with The Kindness Campaign for a few years at their Back to School Bash event at Barton Creek Mall, and at their annual Community Day.
This past year, she set up her Happy Time Slime workshop station at Easy Tiger for Community Day—and got to watch children of all ages discover the joy of slime-making for themselves. There’s a mental and emotional health component to the experience, Oates explains, because slime is so very sensory. By engaging in a hands-on activity that evokes touch, sight, smell and even sound, children can calm themselves when they feel stressed out, unfocused or just need some self-soothing.
It’s these benefits she presented to judges at the 2024 Kind Leadership Summit, held this year alongside the Woman’s Way Business Awards by Austin Woman magazine. “I was nervous walking in, but it turned out to be incredibly supportive,” says Oates. As she walked on-stage with the other Kind Leaders to hear the Summit winner announced, she didn’t know what to expect.
“And the winner is Zillie Oates with Happy Time Slime!” announced Andra Liemandt, Austin-based founder and CEO of The Kindness Campaign, from the awards stage. Oates’ face lit up with sheer joy.
“This experience has made me feel more confident in my ability to create something meaningful. To help people,” says Oates.
Thanks to Kind Leadership and several jars of slime, she’ll continue to do exactly that.
Beach Reads
Who doesn’t love the guilty pleasure of a book to enjoy poolside or at the beach? These page-turners come highly recommended by the Austin Woman staff.
DEBORAH HAMILTON-LYNNE, GUEST EDITOR
Reading an entertaining novel by Austin author Amanda Eyre Ward is becoming an annual summer treat. If you enjoyed The Jetsetters (optioned by ABC Studios) and The Lifeguards (optioned by the creators of Virgin River), you will eagerly dive into her latest page-turning novel, Lovers and Liars Ward combines her pitch perfect characterizations with intriguing mysteries and secrets to create a romance novel with substance. The tale of three estranged sisters that come together for a wedding set in a castle in Northern England is a slightly fractured fairy tale that has plenty of revelations and twists to keep you reading long after the sun has gone down. A widowed librarian, an ambitious single career woman, a housewife/entrepreneur that sells sex toys, a narcissistic mother and the men who share their lives come together after years apart. What could possibly go wrong? I especially liked the surprising resolutions that made for a neatly wrapped ending.
BETSY BLANKS, VP OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS
As I searched for the perfect beach read to take on my recent vacation, Happy Place came highly recommended by both Google and my sister, so I figured I’d give it a try. To be honest, I don’t even know what qualifies a book as a “beach read,” but I imagine Happy Place is exactly it—an engaging chronicle of friendship, love and the changing tides of life that kept me on the beach long enough to get a sunburn. As a 30-something myself, the natural evolution of post-college relationships felt relatable, and the author’s deliberate withholding of information keeps you wanting more. The idyllic backdrop of a small Maine beach town, a complicated love story and the heartwarming bonds of best friends (and the drama that comes with them), all come together to make this a truly entertaining read. The one downside of Happy Place? I finished it on the third of a nine-day trip, leaving me to wish I had not devoured it as quickly as possible!
MELINDA GARVEY, CO-OWNER, CO-FOUNDER
Do you ever get to the end of a book and think, “I wonder what happened to Monika”… or Maureen or whoever that character is who caught your interest? I do all the time— especially when they are a strong, female character—which is why I love this author. Not only does he always have badass female lead characters, but he writes multi-book sagas for each of these amazing women. My latest read, The German Girl, follows Monika Ritter, a German woman who fled to America with her husband at the outset of WWII and the Nazi invasion of Europe. In order to get the proper context, however, I recommend that you start with the series before Monika is even introduced. The Lion’s Den is the first book in a series of six and takes a deep dive into history and what led to Hitler’s rise to power. From there you can follow as the author branches out with new series featuring his female leads. Although the characters are fictional, the history is not, and the author does a brilliant job of telling the story of this family through the lens of real history. Although this is perhaps not a traditional beach read, I believe there is never a more important time than now to remind ourselves of what can happen when power goes unchecked. If you have Kindle Unlimited, they are all available for free! Enjoy!
Aspiring entrepreneurs looking at headlines can find plenty to be cautious about. Valuations for start-ups are down, making capital raising more difficult. Interest rates are up, as are office vacancies in Austin. Election years often bring an element of uncertainty.
But perhaps, those dark clouds are the promise of a silver lining.
“When clouds are the darkest, that’s the best time to start a business,” says Oksana Malysheva, founder of Sputnik ATX, an Austin-based venture capital investor that funds earlystage founders. “Many of the most successful businesses are started in times of crises. Those founders are the most committed. The world is open to new ideas when it is being challenged.”
Austin Woman sat down with Malysheva; Lesley Robinson of the ayana foundation; and Ashley Brueckner of the J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Austin to talk about the ample opportunities and the challenges facing Austin women who want to start their own business. All agree that Austin has many advantages to offer, including its size. It’s big enough to have the attention of funders and small enough to have a sense of community.
“The founder’s experience is a journey, and you have to find those people to help you move forward through the process,” says Robinson, a co-founder and director of education at ayana, which uplifts women founders worldwide through education, community and enhanced access to funding.
“Women in Austin are willing to work together, to help one another,” says Brueckner, a leader at the bank who helps organize the bi-annual JPMorgan Chase PowerHER event in Austin. The conference brings women business leaders together to learn more about expanding their businesses, advancing their careers, improving their financial health and making authentic connections.
According to the Dell Women Entrepreneurs Cities index 2023, Austin is in the top 25 cities in the world for women entrepreneurs, and it ranks number 10 in the U.S. The study ranks cities on their ability to attract and support highpotential women entrepreneurs.
One important asset is the Mayor’s Task Force for Austin Women Entrepreneurs, which aims to make Austin the best city in the world for women entrepreneurs.
“In Austin, we understand that if it’s possible for one of us, it’s possible for all of us,” Malysheva says. “We have women working together to move the needle.”
While many aspiring entrepreneurs focus on finding that one magic mentor, the three women all agreed it's more practical—and more impactful—to seek the advice of a small
group of trusted advisors. Think of them as a personal board of directors, different people who can play different roles. Coach. Cheerleader. Confidant.
“The most successful founders I have worked with are the most coachable and open,” Robinson says. “They give back at the same rate they learn and grow, understanding that contributing to a community that flourishes equals impact, and that equals legacy.”
Many of the women entrepreneurs that Malysheva, Robinson and Brueckner work with need mentorship in two key areas:
• Being more comfortable with risk. Being more “future focused” rather than the near-term financial security of their families.
• Focusing more on their strengths rather than weaknesses. In their experience, women founders are more self-critical than men.
And if you dig a little deeper, not every headline is quite so bleak. It’s commonly reported that women founders of VC-backed companies raise only 2% of the venture capital invested each year. But if you include women co-founders, rather than focus on firms run solely by women, that figure is closer to 20%, according to Fast Company.
And interestingly enough, when a woman is part of the investing team, a woman entrepreneur is 70% more likely to get funding than if no women are on the investing team, the magazine reports.
“Things are getting much better, and they’re already better than people realize,” Malysheva says. “But it’s a hard road. You have to get past the ‘glamor’ of starting your own business. It’s easier to make a living working for someone else. If there is no other road for you—go for it.”
“The best advice I’ve heard about becoming a founder is: If you are delusional and audacious, start a business,” Robinson says.
Building a Future: Women Leaders Are Transforming the Future of Female Homeownership
Despite Austin’s housing market challenges, ten women are paving the way for female homeowners, providing homes and wealth building opportunities.
BY TATUM SOMMER
Austin’s fast-paced housing market leaves an abundance of people struggling to get their foot in the door, many of them teachers, first responders and single mom’s seeking a safe place to raise their kids. This year, 10 passionate women, Melinda Garvey, Neha Sampat, Ana Ruelas, Nikelle Meade, Nicole Nosek, Lurleen Ladd, Komal Sheth, Kelly Outlaw, Andra Liemandt and Michele Anderson, decided to help to shift this reality. Alongside Austin Habitat for Humanity, these individuals advocate for women by committing money and time to women’s housing initiatives. They are a part of the inaugural class of the Women Build Network. The Women Build Network is a community dedicated to uplifting women, starting with safe and affordable housing.
Nicole Nosek, Austin Habitat board member and inaugural member of The Women Build Network, puts it perfectly: “We live in a city and, more so, a state that is becoming increasingly difficult to attain the
American dream of homeownership. People, families, firefighters, businesses and communities can’t thrive when they’re unable to put down roots in homeownership. Having faced exorbitant housing costs in the past with a middle-income salary, I have been there and want to step up to change the system through Austin Habitat for Humanity and policy changes.”
As founder of Austin-based nonprofit The Kindness Campaign, Andra Liemandt deeply understands the importance of leaning in to support a cause to affect real and meaningful change. “My father, uncle and grandparents were all homebuilders, so growing up, I got to see people’s lives absolutely changed by a well-built home,” says Liemandt. “It’s an honor for me to serve with the Women Build Network for Habitat for Humanity, and help other women experience the joy, pride and stability that comes with home ownership.”
Photos courtesy of Korey Howell Photography.
• The Women Build days take place on October 3 and 5, 2024.
• The Builders Ball will take place on November 2, 2024.
more information on joining The Women Build Network contact Amy at 512-884-5164 or ajackson@ahfh.org.
The women of Austin are making a remarkable impact by stepping forward to help other women achieve the dream of homeownership. Their dedication and generosity are building homes and fostering a stronger, more supportive community where every woman has the opportunity to thrive, have security and build wealth.”
—Michele Anderson
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that has been championing women homeowners through their work for over 30 years with women-build days, an opportunity for women to put on a hard hat, grab some tools and build homes in their communities. By taking these women-build days and expanding upon them, Austin Habitat and The Women Build Network help fund and build these homes and set up the new residents with vital homeownership skills. Homeownership can be daunting, so Habitat is setting new homeowners up for success, with certified home counselors who help with critical skills like creating budgets, teaching basic household repairs and more.
“It is such an honor to be part of Austin Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build Network Initiative in collaboration with Giveback Homes. Leading this build alongside my team has been a profoundly rewarding experience,” says Ana Ruelas, founder and managing partner of the Agency Austin and co-owner of Austin Woman magazine. “Seeing the dedication and unselfish contributions of my colleagues at The Agency Austin has been both humbling and inspiring. It’s a reminder of the significant impact we can make when we unite for a common cause. I am grateful for the opportunity to uplift local families in such a meaningful way.”
Michele Anderson, CEO of Austin Habitat for Humanity, reveals that “65% of female homeowners are single moms.” This surprising statistic inspired many people like Melinda Garvey, founder of Austin Woman magazine, to give back to these strong women. Garvey explains, “Once I learned the percentage of women heads of households that Austin Habitat serves, it started to resonate with me. I look back at my own life, and I was lucky to get into the property game early and it is a significant factor in my own wealth-building journey. I want to make sure that all women have that same opportunity.”
The Women Build Network is about rallying women to invest “time and treasure to help other women,” says Garvey. By donating, these women will help provide other women with a safe space to call home. The Women Build Network truly encapsulates the phrase “women supporting women.”
Neha Sampat, founder and CEO of Contentstack and one of the owners of Austin Woman Magazine, explains that “This awareness campaign is unique in its endeavors because it focuses on the specific issue of women’s housing and shelter. By highlighting the importance of women’s homeownership and rallying support from women themselves, it brings attention to the unique challenges faced by women in accessing safe and affordable housing. It not only raises awareness but also encourages women to take action and make a difference in the lives of other women.”
This initiative is about giving women a chance to take control of their financial future. Anderson emphasizes that “home ownership is the number one way to build wealth in America.” Increasing the number of women homeowners is essential to fight rising financial and economic inequality in the U.S.. The Women Build Network members recognize that buying a home is not just a piece of property but an investment in one’s future. They are taking steps to raise money to make this a more attainable future for the women in their communities.
The Women Build Network hosts multiple events to raise money and awareness for its cause. It has four Women Build days, two in the fall and two in the spring, where women can go into the field and help physically build these homes. The network also hosts networking events with the community, and it will be recognized at Builders Ball, Austin Habitat for Humanity’s annual gala that helps raise money to increase affordable housing opportunities.
Paddles Up
The fastest growing sport in America is everywhere.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY
JESSICA WETTERER
39%
pickleball players are women. It is also a great social activity! Because the court is smaller (you can convert one tennis court into four pickleball courts) playing the game actually allows players to be closer to one another and hold conversations while still getting a fun workout.
50 million
people have played pickleball at least once from 2022 to 2023 (19% of the U.S. adult population). It is not surprising, since pickleball is affordable and easily accessible. One study even found that it decreases levels of depression.
223.5%
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America for the past 3 years. Many parks and recreation facilities provide pickleball courts and leagues. There are more than 755 pickleball courts in, Texas, and the number is growing.
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Sanya Richards-Ross Asked and Answered
Catching up with the AW August 2016 cover woman.
BY DEBORAH HAMILTON-LYNNE
In 2016, Sanya Richards-Ross had just begun to contemplate what her life would look like post Olympics. One of the fastest women in the world, she joined an elite group of American track and field stars bringing home the gold from the London Olympics in 2012. When an injury prevented her from qualifying for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Richards-Ross began her journey as an entrepreneur. At the time she and her husband, Aaron Ross, former UT football star and NFL standout, were calling Austin home. Coming into another Olympic season, we caught up with Richards-Ross shortly before she headed to Paris for the 2024 games.
As we began our conversation, Richards-Ross held her adorable son, Asani, born on December 19, 2023, while husband Aaron bustled around in the background with a stroller and diaper bag, getting ready to take the kids out for a walk so that she could talk uninterrupted.
The power couple partnership that began at UT has only been strengthened by the arrival of their two sons and his retirement from professional football.
AW: You have been married 14 years. How does that feel?
RR: Just yesterday we were in Austin, and we couldn’t believe that it was 22 years since we stepped foot on that campus. I can’t believe how quickly the time goes by, but it has been one of the most fun rides of a lifetime to be on this journey with my husband. We’ve seen it all and done it all, and now as parents we’re happy to have a newborn and be the mom and dad of two boys. It’s been incredible. I couldn’t ask for it to be any other way. We planned it right when it comes to giving sports our all and then being able to give that same kind of energy and love to our children.
AW: You did the Mommy Challenge to get fit after the birth. Talk to us about the challenges of staying in shape postpartum and seeing yourself as a mother and an athlete.
RR: You have to stay true to yourself. Obviously for the larger part of my life I dedicated myself to sports, training and staying healthy. As I transition away from sports, although I am still connected to sports professionally, I have been trying to find my rhythm, what’s my “normal,” and my motivation. Five years ago I founded a community, Mommy Nation, which is a group of Black moms who support each other through every part of the motherhood journey. It’s a great equalizer and as much as I accomplished in sports I struggle with the same issues and challenges as everyone else when it comes to motherhood. Finding time for the day to day workout is difficult and that community held me accountable, and helped me get back on track. I feel good again and feel healthy. I feel inspired to continue my fitness journey.
AW: You did your pregnancy reveal on one of the episodes of The Real Housewives of Atlanta and were a cast member for two seasons. Let’s talk about that experience. How was it to be a cast member of that popular show?
RR: It was certainly a unique experience. It was really fun. Ross and I were new to the city and it helped me in that it was a group of women that were very influential and well connected. It was also a big challenge. It is a show that is well established and comes with a lot of fans, [including] some critical fans. It had a lot of pros but it was also tough in some ways. My favorite episode was in the first season I got to bring the ladies to Jamaica. They saw my former home, where I trained, the beach. I feel like being on the two seasons was good for me as far as keeping my name out there and gaining new fans, but I am looking forward to moving on from that show and start doing other things in television.
AW: Let’s talk about your broadcast career. Will you be a part of the team commentating on the Paris Olympics?
RR: Yes, Yes, Yes. I have loved being an NBC commentator. A lot of athletes have a hard time transitioning from sports because they really don’t know what to do after the competitive part of their lives ends. In answer to the question ‘What do I do next,’ the transition to NBC commentator made it easy for me. I was still so connected to the sport. I get to give insight to fans who know I am a serious athlete and that I know what it’s like to prepare and compete on that level. The reception I got was so awesome, so it is my favorite job. I can’t wait to go to Paris. It is going to be a very special Olympics after Tokyo when there were no people in the stands because of covid. There will be full stadiums again in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I will be there for two weeks.
AW: Who and what are you going to be watching for during the games?
RR: Team USA is going to send a very strong team in track and field and there are lots of great story lines. First there is Noah Lyles, who is attempting to win four gold medals—the hundred, the two hundred, the four by one and the four by four, so that will be compelling to watch. (At the time of the interview Lyles had not yet qualified for all of those events.) There is Sha’ Carri Richardson, who stole the world’s heart and attention in 2020 and won the world title last year after going through a lot and had very public struggles. She won the world title last year so she is going for her first gold in the Olympics this year. Sydney McLaughlin Levrone is defending her Olympic title in the 400 meter hurdles. Team USA is going to be the one to watch and I am hoping they can deliver in the way they did at the world championships.
AW: Are you planning on doing more television?
RR: My dream role is hosting. I would love to host a show. My longterm dream is to become a host of something like Good Morning America or the Today show. It would have to be the right show to show who I am and what life in my family is like before I would consider reality TV again.
AW: You’ve written three books since 2016, one for adults, one for teens and one for children. Talk to me about your writing and the purpose of the books.
RR: I wrote those three books right after I retired, and I thought it was good timing because I was closing the chapter on this very important time of my life. It was like a mini autobiography and gave me the opportunity to reflect on my life. The story is still unfolding, but it was very special to be able to share my story in Chasing Grace and the other books we adapted for the other younger readers. They are all about dreaming big and living your dreams.
AW: Let’s talk about what you are doing as an entrepreneur.
RR: I celebrate 20 years with Nike as a brand ambassador this year and I am very proud of that. The project I am working on now that I am most excited about is a company my husband, Aaron and I launched last year. It’s a pajama company named Coordinates. We launched in
November and the initial collection sold out. We had a big idea to provide pajamas for Team USA. Sleep is so important to everyone, but especially to athletes. When we got our kits from the Olympics there were never any pajamas, and rest is such an important part of an athlete’s journey. If you are not resting well your body will break down and you can’t deliver. So we presented it to Team USA. They loved it, and we became the official pajama partners for these Olympics and the 2029 Olympics, which will be back in LA. We are super excited about that, and the products will be available at shopcoordinates.com on June 17. We are also selling at the trials and in Paris, as well as online. That’s a full circle moment for me, to support athletes as they compete in the Olympics when I was once there. It’s so wonderful to also have the support of us from the US Olympic committee and to occupy this very coveted space is very special. The pajamas run from newborn to 4XL so everyone in the family can join in and know they are wearing the same thing as the athletes themselves. There is an inspirational collection which is red, white and blue with inspirational words, and then we have a plaid collection which is red, white and blue and black. They are the official team pajamas.
AW: You now reside in Atlanta. Is that where you are planning to stay?
RR: We don’t really know. We came back to Austin this week and we said, “Oh man this place is still so special to us.” We went to Eddie V’s and had a dinner date—Ross and I hadn’t been on a date in four years just without the kids. Austin still seems like home to us so we will see. Anything’s possible.
Hometown Olympians
Local athletes with an Olympic dream are golden.
BY HANNAH NUNEZ
As the 2024 Paris Olympics approach, it’s important to highlight Austinites that have paved the way for legacies to come. Generation after generation the Olympic Games have acted as an “I’ve made it moment” for many Austin and UT athletes in pursuit of their dreams. This level of excellence is nothing new for our city as we prepare for our hometown heroes to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics. While the city is buzzing with excitement, Austin Woman looks at the backstories and journeys that landed these local athletes in the global spotlight.
Players like three-time Olympic medalist Cat Osterman are a perfect representation of hard work and determination directly correlating to victory. When Osterman was introduced to softball in the first grade, she immediately fell in love with the sport. Her career took off during her time at UT Austin, where her performance began to receive recognition at the national level. During this period, Osterman became a four-time All-American champion and led her team to the Women’s College World Series three times. Osterman also made sports history when she was named USA Softball college player of the year three times—the only person ever to hold this honor.
In 2004, Osterman participated in her first Olympic Games, where Team USA earned gold. “It seemed like a dream with how well we played, how everything unfolded,” says Osterman. “Being the youngest on the USA team, I just tried to soak everything in.” She was also a member of the team in 2008 and 2020, earning two silver medals. “The biggest thing I didn’t expect was seeing famous athletes from other countries. Watching Federer and Nadal just walk by me was jaw-dropping,” says Osterman. Osterman now serves as a color analyst for ESPN. She is also devoted to coaching, running her new business and motherhood. Having lived the Olympic dream inspires Osterman’s ongoing pursuit of excellence and living life to its fullest.
Photos courtesy of Cat Osterman.
Cat Osterman
PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN PARIS 2024
For Austin native Kaitlin Knifton, the Olympic Games symbolize generations striving for greatness. The family’s Olympic dream started with her grandfather, a national Team Racer Walker, and was passed down through her father. She adopted her love for rowing at her father’s club in high school and was determined to make her family proud continuing the legacy. “My dad tried to make the 1992 Olympics for rowing but didn’t end up making the team, so it has always been a family goal to race to the Olympics,” says Knifton. While on the women’s varsity rowing team at UT Austin, her group won the 2021 and 2022 NCAA National Championships. She is a four-time All-American and was named the 2022 Under 23 Female Athlete of the Year as well as the 2023 Big 12 Athlete of the Year. This year Knifton will be attending her first Olympics with the support of her entire family. Knifton stands alongside a growing list of Austin athletes attending the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics such as Ariel Atkins, Carson Foster and Daisy Mazzio-Manson. Make sure to keep an eye out for Austin’s hometown athletes this Olympic season as they continue their pursuit of excellence and dreams of bringing home the gold.
OSTERMAN SHARES WHO SHE’LL BE LOOKING OUT FOR THIS OLYMPIC SEASON
“I believe both women’s basketball teams deserve eyes. The traditional team has 12 amazing athletes who have been at the top of their game for a long time. I don’t think a lot of people realize what it takes for women to stay on the top of their game, especially when they don’t have the income of male athletes. The three-on-three team is new, but it’s an exciting element in the Olympics and has some of the younger stars on their roster where they can grow and develop.”
Knifton.
Kaitlin Knifton
Wondering where you should watch the 2024 Olympics? Scan the QR code to see our top local picks!
UT Women’s Volleyball Wins Backto-Back National Championships
Resilience and strong teamwork are the keys to victory.
BY ISABEL NEUMANN
In an exhilarating finale to the 2023 season, the Texas Longhorns women’s volleyball team clinched the national championship, marking a monumental achievement in the program’s history. This victory, a testament to their hard work, resilience and unity, has added another illustrious chapter to UT volleyball’s legacy.
Erik Sullivan, the associate head coach, offered a comprehensive reflection on the journey leading to the championship. “We try to compartmentalize each season into its own entity,” Sullivan explains. “Every year is completely different, even if the roster doesn’t change much. It’s like solving a new puzzle each season.”
The season began with a challenging loss in their opening game, which Sullivan describes as a pivotal moment. “It wasn’t a wake-up call per se, but a reminder that nothing comes easy, regardless of past successes.” The team faced further difficulties with injuries and illnesses, leading to an initial record of five wins and three losses. “That start forced us to reflect and refocus. We needed to get back to work and improve in numerous areas.”
As the season progressed, the team found its rhythm, stringing together a series of successful matches. However, a mid-season loss to Kansas State served as another crucial lesson. “That loss reminded us that we are fallible and that any team could beat us on any given day,” Sullivan notes. “It was a moment of refocusing and reinforcing our process-oriented approach.”
The turning point came during the regional semifinals against Tennessee. “Tennessee was one of the toughest teams we faced,” Sullivan recalls. “Winning that match was significant. It not only galvanized us but also freed us up to play more relaxed and confidently in the subsequent matches.”
The team entered the final stretch as underdogs, facing three number one seeds consecutively. This position, uncommon for UT volleyball, instilled a sense of determination and a chip on their shoulders. “Our girls embraced the challenge and played some of their best volleyball in those final matches,” Sullivan says.
Emma Halter, the team’s libero, emphasizes the importance of togetherness in their success. “Camaraderie probably played the
Photos courtesy of UT Women's Volleyball
biggest part in our championship win. Volleyball is a big team sport, and without good chemistry and culture, we wouldn’t have been successful,” she says. “Everyone on the team supports each other, and that trust is crucial.”
For Halter, winning the national championship was a validation of her hard work and dedication. “It shows all of my hard work paying off. Competing so hard with your best friends and achieving big goals is incredibly rewarding,” she expresses.
Asjia O’Neal, a middle blocker and a veteran of the team, shares her perspective on the season and its challenges. “We didn’t have a super smooth start; it was pretty rocky. But that taught us to stay patient and trust the process,” she says. “Our team was really selfless and committed to the goal. Keeping positivity throughout the year ultimately led us to winning it all.”
O’Neal’s experience highlights the importance of resilience and adaptability. “Losing at home to Stanford and later to Kansas State were pivotal moments. They were tough losses but essential for our growth and unity,” she adds. “These experiences reinforced our commitment to each other and to our collective goal.”
Sullivan’s coaching philosophy centers around process orientation and communication. “We focus on showing up and giving our best every day, working on weaknesses and getting a little better each day. The results will take care of themselves,” he explains. This philosophy, emphasizing consistency and incremental improvement, has been instrumental in the team’s success.
Communication and non-judgmental interactions form the bedrock of UT volleyball’s culture. “We work hard on getting our players comfortable with high-level communication and having tough conversations. It’s about understanding each other and dealing with issues head-on,” Sullivan says.
The championship victory is not just a professional milestone for Sullivan but also a deeply fulfilling personal achievement. “Winning validates everything we work hard for. But more importantly, it’s about watching our players grow into great young women and succeed beyond our gym,” he reflects.
For Halter and O’Neal, this victory has been transformative. “Winning makes you want to work even harder and be a better athlete. It also provides opportunities to be a role model and inspiration for younger girls,” Halter says. O’Neal, now graduated, carries the lessons from this season into her professional volleyball career. “This season taught me that it’s not about how you start, but how you finish and grow from it.”
The 2023 national championship win for the UT women’s volleyball team is a testament to their resilience, teamwork and the robust culture instilled by the coaching staff. As they celebrate this monumental achievement, the foundation laid this season promises continued success and growth for the program. With their eyes set on the future, the Longhorns are poised to keep their legacy of excellence alive.
Recreational Game and Major League Sport: Pickleball
Pickleball is on the rise to becoming an Austin staple.
BY HANNAH NUNEZ
What started as a rainy-day pastime has been transformed into the country’s fastest-growing sport. Created in 1965 by three Washington neighbors, pickleball is based upon combined elements of tennis, pingpong and badminton to create the ideal paddle sport. The community began to broaden during the pandemic as a way for individuals to stay active and has exploded in popularity. In 2023, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association named pickleball the fastest-growing sport in America for the third consecutive year, estimating an increase in popularity of 158.6% over the last three years.
“We knew all the organic and explosive growth of the sport was inevitable because it is just so fun and accessible,” says co-founder of the professional league, Mellie Price.
The sports’ accessibility to all ages and skill levels allows the game to meet you exactly where you are. Whether you’re looking to be a backyard champion or a major league player, the pickleball scene in Austin prioritizes involvement alongside building skills. The Texas Ranchers, aka “America’s Pickleball Team,” is the perfect example of a group striving for greatness while upholding the game’s original intention of community outreach. “The community that surrounds pickleball in Austin is like no other,” says Chief of Staff Alex Maxson. “We want our focus on community building and doing social good to be our differentiator—and strength—for our positioning in the league.”
Photos courtesy of Texas Ranchers
Alex Maxson, Head of Community and Operations
Tina Pisnik & Etta Wright, Texas Ranchers Female Pros
Tina Pisnik
The major league team is made up of renowned competitive players looking to bring the dynamic spirit of Austin to every game. “I was initially attracted to the sport by its vibrant community and the perfect blend of strategy and athleticism,” says Tina Pisnik. With an extensive background in tennis and a determined attitude, Pisnik is one of many players on the team setting a standard in the major league world. “Playing for The Ranchers and representing this vibrant city has been an incredible experience. It’s an honor to play for a city that values inclusivity and community as much as I do.” Representing Austin alongside Pisnik for this year’s draft are Christian Alshon, Etta Wright and Pablo Tellez. In addition to their community leadership and consecutive wins, The Texas Ranchers are paving the way for a reimagined future in sports ownership. The Ranchers team is supported by an impressive list of over 50 owners including professional athletes, artists, pop culture figures, entrepreneurs and investors. Austinite icon Kendra Scott is one of many female owners looking to fully embrace pickleballs’ surge of popularity. “Pickleball, along with supporting our Texas Ranchers, has brought an exciting new twist to Austin’s sports scene,” says Scott. “This sport is an amazing opportunity for our community because it gets people active, brings everyone together and boosts local businesses with all the new clubs and organizations popping up around it.”
The future of pickleball in Austin only looks bright and exciting. As the season progresses, The Ranchers are sure to engage their fans through community events and watch parties. The team is also raising the bar for community involvement through its upcoming pickleball retreats hosted at Sage Hill Inn in September. The retreat event is described to be a “one-of-a-kind luxury experience in the Texas Hill Country featuring 10-plus hours of pickleball training with professional coaches, delicious food, gifted performance apparel, plus fun and relaxation,” says Maxson. Reserve your spot early at ranchers.com/sage-hill. With the rapid growth and interest in the sport, the event is sure to sell out and looks to be the Austin pickleball event of the season.
Texas Ranchers Ladies Night
Kendra Scott playing pickleball with friends
Kids in Cool Shoes is a program of The Junior League of Austin that provides children with a new pair of well-fitting sneakers, which improves school attendance by 44%, participation in physical activity by 72%, and classroom behavior by 63%. bit.ly/jla-kics
Pickleball Fashion
Taking the world by storm in style
BY LIZ WENDLER STYLING
Pickleball has become a global sensation, and the rise of pickleball courts, clubs and fashion is officially trending. I have started playing pickleball. Before getting into fashion, I first want to share a brief history of where this fascinating sport originated.
Pickleball, the game that’s taking the world by storm, has its roots from a fun and impromptu moment back in 1965. Three friends from Bainbridge Island, Washington—just a hop, skip, and a jump from Seattle—were hanging out with their kids, trying to beat the boredom. They wanted to play badminton but couldn’t find the right gear, so they got creative. Grabbing some table tennis paddles and a perforated plastic ball, they turned a badminton court into the birthplace of pickleball. Designed for maximum family fun, the game quickly caught on, and by 1967, official rules were set in stone.
Now, about that quirky name—pickleball. Have you ever wondered why it’s called that when no pickles are involved? The story goes that Joan Pritchard, wife of one of the game’s inventors, Joel Pritchard, thought the mashup of different sports reminded her of a “pickle boat” in rowing. In crew, a pickle boat is made up of leftover rowers from other teams. The term has nautical origins, too: the last boat to return from fishing trips would pickle the catch in brine. Cool, right?
Pickleball was created as a fun, easy way to keep families entertained, and now it has sparked an incredible trend of community and camaraderie. It’s a blast once you get the hang of the rules and lingo. But let’s get to the real fun part: the fashion.
Pickleball fashion takes its cue from tennis attire, or “tenniscore,” which seamlessly blends leisure and luxury with a sporty, chic vibe. Think pleated skirts with shorts underneath, paired with polo tanks, tank tops, polo shirts or sports bras. Throw in shorts, workout dresses, visors or hats, and white tennis shoes.
While tennis fashion has traditionally been about classic whites and a somewhat rigid style, pickleball is breaking the mold. Many tennis players transition to pickleball with their existing gear, but pickleball fashion is carving out its own identity, leaning into vibrant colors, fun patterns and personality. Although it’s natural to start with tennis clothing, the rise of pickleball-specific brands adds a fresh twist to wardrobe options.
Here are a few fabulous women-owned pickleball brands from Austin that are redefining the game:
1. Varsity: celebrates inclusivity with high-quality, cool and comfortable apparel focused on tech and performance. They also offer some fun varsity styles.
2. Zozos 0-0-Start: offers style, comfort, and functionality in the silhouettes offered such as a racerback dress, skirts and tops to be worn on and off the court. They are also dedicated to giving back to the Women of Pader Uganda to offer hope, healing and empowerment
3. Recess: offers chic, design-forward paddles and activewear that effortlessly transition from the court to everyday life. The variety of patterned paddles and sets will fashionably complement your outfits, and you can even design your own paddle.
4. House of Shan: offers fun and colorful accessories, hats and shirts with an imperfect heart that reminds us to embrace all of life’s imperfections and live our passion. The branding truly makes you feel happy, and if you snag the LWYL x Tangerine Pickleball Paddle, there will be smiles all around. Not to mention, $5 from every purchase goes directly to a monthly charitable partner.
5. Runway Athletics: rose during the pandemic, developing their top-selling scalloped A-line skirt locally made in Texas. They offer fun color-coordinated pieces that make you want to play pickleball in fashion-forward silhouettes. You will also find fun pickleball motifs on hats, sweaters and accessories that will make you go all in.
Performance Tee $45, Sweatshirt $50, Varsity Pickle Skirt $50, The Big Dill Hat $30
Zip Racerback Dress $90, Loose fit tank $45, Tulip skirt $65, Pickleball Cooler $150
Women-Owned Pickleball Clothing in Austin
Clarkson Crop Bra $68, Smith Skirt $64, Stevie Crop Bra $48, Kerby Short $46, Classic Set Paddles $146, Rally Bag $98, Recess Socks $14, Flatbill Hat $32
Trucker Hat $38, Relaxed Hoodie $88, Muscle Tank $48, IWYL x Tangerine Paddle $92, Checked Socks $24, Message Bracelets $28
Trucker Hat $45, Bone Crew Neck $90, Rancher Long Sleeve $60, Sweat Towel $35, Paddle $149
“Pickleballcore” is all about athletic chic, ensuring you look as good as you play. Matching sets are all the rage, with coordinated colors and themes that make every outfit pop. Accessories are key, too—think colorcoordinated paddles, hats, socks and bags that add the perfect finishing touch.
So whether you’re a seasoned tennis player stepping into the pickleball scene or a newbie looking to make a stylish splash, the fashion choices are endless and oh-sofun. Get ready to serve up some serious style!
Bonus: Austin’s MLP Ranchers Team Merchandise. If you haven’t heard, the newest MLP (Major League Pickleball) team has come to Austin so for anyone looking to jump on the bandwagon early, the team offers their best-selling hat along with branded accessories and loungewear that will make you a superfan. Kendra Scott is one of the top female owners of the team.
Liz Wendler is an Austin-based Personal Style Coach, who helps women achieve their next-level style through clarity, confidence, and wardrobe capsules. Book a complimentary Style Direction call at LizWendlerStyling.com Follow her on @lizwendlerstyling for inspiration and styling advice.
Kendra Scott with her son, playing pickleball
TINA CANNON
A Woman of Action—On and Off the Courts
BY JOLEEN JERNIGAN
PHOTOS BY ANNIE RAY
STYLED BY TERESA TEST (@STYLEWITH_TERESA) WITH INSPIRATION FROM GARDEN ROOM ATX, WOOD & ROSE SHOWROOM AUSTIN, THE TENNIS SHOP.
Actions speak louder than words, and Tina Cannon is a woman of action. “Civics is not a spectator sport,” declares Tina Cannon, echoing a common sentiment and rallying cry of those who, like Cannon, walk the walk as far as helping to shape the Austin of today and tomorrow. Cannon embodies this ideology as a bold entrepreneur with a razor-sharp mind for market trends in the startup world, as the president of the Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and as one of the founding forces behind recently co-launched PIX Sports Gear, a premium pickleball outfitter, because making time for fun and exercise is important, too.
Austin Allure
Tina Cannon is a first-generation U.S. citizen, born to a Turkish mother raised in the U.S. Cannon was living in Las Vegas when she made her way to Austin to visit friends back in 1992, when Austin was a sleepy little city famous for green spaces, live music and hippies. Austin won her over immediately, and she felt that her destiny awaited her here. Within a week, Cannon headed home to Vegas, packed up her car and moved to Austin.
Cannon never looked back, jumping into the Austin scene and the Central Texas lifestyle full steam ahead. Who knew then that she would end up in multiple roles in local government, marry her true love in the Capitol, lead the Austin LGBT Chamber and serve on a self-proclaimed “gazillion boards.” In Austin, Cannon had found a city that welcomed her and, as it turns out, one that needed her voice, her fire and her gumption.
Finding Her Footing in the World of Startups
She finished her degree at Texas State University in accounting and began working as an auditor, taking on more responsibility with each new role. By 2008, Cannon had begun dabbling in startups, a business scene Austin was ripe for and one that Cannon quickly got the hang of, despite the tech bro landscape of the startup scene. She had some early success founding PetsMD in 2008. PetsMD was a comprehensive website with an A to Z pet health care reference library that pet owners could consult to help them better understand their pet’s symptoms and behavior. After scaling the business through several fundraising rounds with angel investors, she negotiated an acquisition and sold PetsMD in 2011. A spin-off vetbooking tool, Book-a-Vet, followed, a business she later licensed to a firm in the U.K. Cannon later launched Napkin Venture with her partners, a startup consulting company to advise executives on all things startup. She then served as the entrepreneur-in-residence for the Texas State University Applied Entrepreneurship Program. She fit the bill perfectly. The program catered to “tough-as-nails female founders,” as Cannon describes it. In this role, she shared her applied knowledge to train current and future founders in every aspect of launching, nurturing, funding and scaling a company.
Natural-Born Leader
Throughout her career, Cannon showed an affinity for leadership and public speaking. She wanted to participate in another type of leadership, one that drove the city she so loved. In 2012, Tina Cannon ran for a City Council spot and lost. The next time around, she ran—and lost—again. Still, she wasn’t ready to throw in the towel. She knew she wanted to be a part of preserving the best parts of Austin in a period of rapid growth.
Cannon wanted in and accepted a role working for her opponent at the time. Despite opposing political views, she knew they could find common ground in what they wanted for Austin, and she would still have a hand in local governmental goings-on. She served as a senior policy analyst in this role until 2017, when she moved to the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. She did so at the behest of a friend who knew she could help facilitate positive change. She still saw herself returning to the startup world but figured this role was worth postponing that a little longer.
The Austin Chamber needed new blood, and Cannon’s background in both business and local government as well as her love for the City of Austin meant she could bring useful, practical, yet hopeful insight to the role. She served as the vice president of Local Government Relations of the Greater Austin Chamber for nearly two years, helping to decide where Austinites’ public money went and what happened with public lands. She worked hard to help create a viable plan to allot public funds for the City of Austin Cultural Arts Funding Program to preserve the best of what makes Austin Austin.
Highlighting Diverse Voices
Cannon sought to bring diverse viewpoints to the Chamber, and would often reach out to friends in the Austin LGBT Chamber. Once more, in the now-familiar pattern, a friend at the Chamber convinced her that she could best help amplify LGBT and other underrepresented voices by coming on board, which she did in May 2019. Cannon currently serves the president & CEO of the Austin LGBT Chamber, Her ever-growing list of accomplishments with her team there, as well as the alliances she has made, prove that putting off entering the startup world just a while longer was a good call. These include the fast growth of the Chamber membership and the creation of the Diversity & Ethnic Chamber Alliance (DECA Centex) and the REED Plan for Regional Equity Economic Development.
Love and Marriage
Somewhere along the way—on the campaign trail, in fact—Cannon met Christi Grider. The two fell in love and married each other in 2017. Not only did they get married in the State Capitol Rotunda, officiated by then-mayor, Steve Adler, but Tina and Christi were the first LGBT couple to get married at the Capitol—a venue most befitting their shared love of advocacy, getting involved in local government, and Austin.
“
The pickleball community is super nice, and everybody wants to work together.
— Tina Cannon
It’s Serving Success: Pickleball!
Lately, Cannon and Grider have been working on launching and growing their new pickleball gear business, PIX Sports Gear, founded with their entrepreneurial partner, Satish Kodukula. Finally, Cannon got back to her roots in startups, only this time in a kinder, more fun industry. The pickleball community is “super nice, and everybody wants to work together,” Cannon says. It’s a far cry from the currently beleaguered, cutthroat tech startup world.
Cannon and Grider are out to change the world and lead the charge in outfitting pickleballers to look and perform their best on the court. They are loving cat owners and happily spend time at home together. When they aren’t working to change the world or brainstorming on PIX, you may be able to catch a glimpse of them riding around Austin e-bikes, their latest obsession.
Getting Involved
Cannon shares words of wisdom for those who may be reluctant to participate in local government or speak up to impact change. She notes there are more than 60 local commissions and advisory boards to volunteer with and help shape the future.
“It’s time to get out there and develop your civic muscle. You have to use your voice, or the other voices will win out,” she emphasizes. “The upside of being in Austin is that we have city leaders who are listening. They want to hear from us. There is no reason to not be involved in making the decisions about what your city will look like tomorrow.”
The Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce is an alliance of business owners and entrepreneurs who are members of the LGBT community and their allies, with the goal of promoting mutually beneficial regional economic growth. Under Cannon’s leadership, the Austin LGBT Chamber has grown exponentially by many significant measures:
• Membership has exploded, from about 70 members in 2019 to around 500 today.
• Sponsorship revenue increased by 680% in Cannon’s first year and by 380% in her second.
• The Chamber hosts more than 80 educational and networking events annually.
• They produce a weekly podcast, The Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce Podcast.
A source of pride for Cannon is reaching out to other regional minority chambers to create the Diversity and Ethnic Chamber Alliance (DECA) of Central Texas. DECA is made up of the Austin LGBT Chamber, the Greater Austin Asian Chamber, the Greater Austin Black Chamber and the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber. DECA is currently collaborating on the Regional Economic Equity Development (REED) Plan, an actionable and viable plan to positively impact opportunities for minority businesses. They are stronger together and, as we all know, a rising tide lifts all boats!
than tennis. As Cannon, Grider and Kodukula joined in the fun on court, something struck them as odd. While Pickleball was attracting the masses, there was no real pickleball style to speak of, no identifiable "look" to the sport. Some folks just threw on shorts and a T-shirt, and others wore their tennis outfits, for a total mishmash of looks on the courts.
The idea hatched in their mind to help create a high-concept, high performance fashion and gear for the pickleball court. After working out their ideas, they took their designs for paddles, hats and sportswear to USA pickleball, the National Governing Body for the sport. While their highperformance paddles and some accessories are available now, PIX will launch their pickleball clothing line by mid-summer.
Brittany Shimansky is the founder of the Britsbarre Virtual Studio, a health and wellness platform designed to empower and uplift busy women through quick and effective beat-based workouts. She has helped clients worldwide get in the best shape of their lives with her muscle-defining barre classes. A former professional ballerina and celebrity trainer in New York City, Brit is an Austin-based toddler mom who is passionate about supporting women through movement so they feel strong, energized and boldly confident in their daily lives. You can experience one month free at the Britsbarre Virtual Studio with code AUSTINWOMAN in the monthly checkout at Britsbarre.com. Connect with Brit on Instagram: @britsbarre @britsbarrevirtualstudio britsbarre.com
As a medical educator, mother of two, and stroke survivor, Raquelle Akavan, DMSc, PA-C, embodies resilience and a strong commitment to providing care for others. With more than a decade's experience as a Physician Associate (PA) in neurosurgery and other surgical subspecialties–and assistant professor–Akavan has proved exceptional skill and dedication in her field After founding an organization to support mothers who are PAs, PA Moms has become the largest American Academy of PAs Special Interest Group This community recognizes the unique challenges of balancing motherhood with a demanding career in medicine; offering camaraderie and a platform for advocacy Additionally, she co-founded PAs for Women Empowerment, further advancing support networks and advocacy for women in the PA profession Akavan has received numerous honors; including Texas Mother of the Year® by American Mothers Inc , America's Top PA and received the Educational Leadership Award from Lynchburg University Doctor of Medical Science Program.
PAMoms com
MARY RIEGER, M.D.
UT HEALTH AUSTIN | UROGYNECOLOGIST AND RECONSTRUCTIVE PELVIC SURGEON
M ary Rieger, M.D., is a UT Health Austin board-certified urogynecologist and reconstructive pelvic surgeon in Women’s Health, a clinical partnership between Ascension Seton and UT Health Austin. She also serves as an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Women’s Health at UT Austin. Dr. Rieger specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic floor disorders, including pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence. With her extensive expertise in urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery, she is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for women with complex pelvic health issues. Dr. Rieger actively contributes to advancing women’s health through research initiatives aimed at improving treatment outcomes and patient care. “I am proud to be able to provide personalized solutions that empower patients to reclaim their lives.” uthealthaustin.org
After graduating from Stanford Law School in 1988, Catherine returned to her Texas roots and established an AV-rated insurance coverage boutique law firm, Hanna & Plaut, LLP Hanna’s practice is devoted to the representation and counseling of insurance carriers in disputes involving coverage and bad faith She is a Fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel and one of the first attorneys in Texas to become board-certified in Insurance Law Beyond her legal practice, Hanna has contributed to her community by serving on the Round Rock Independent School District Board of Trustees and the Austin Library Commission Approaching her 35th year in the legal profession, Hanna is poised to leverage her extensive expertise by transitioning into mediation–where she aims to facilitate resolutions in insurance coverage disputes
hannaplaut.com
RACHEL FROCK FINDHELP
achel Frock is a rising figure in Austin's tech community, with significant roles at Sogeti, Dell, Visa and currently as Engineering Director at FindHelp, a public benefit corporation dedicated to using tech for social good. Her journey as a woman leader began with co-founding Sogeti, Austin's first women in tech group. She has since volunteered for initiatives like Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, Hour of Code and Austin Free Net, leveraging technology to uplift local communities. At Findhelp, Rachel co-leads the Women+ Employee Resource Group and launched the organization's inaugural engineering intern program. Her leadership was recognized with a 2023 FindHelp Impact Award and featured in BuiltIn ATX for championing diversity in tech. Outside of work, Rachel finds creative fulfillment at a local pottery studio with her project, FrocksPots. Her commitment to empowering women in tech underscores her influence in Austin's tech landscape. linkedin.com/in/rachel-frock
ATX ATX WOMAN to WATCH
ALLIE STONE, ALICIA PRILIPP, BAILEY HANSEN
VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS; VICE PRESIDENT OF MAJOR EVENTS LOGISTICS; VICE PRESIDENT OF HOSPITALITY TRANSACTIONS | CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS
Allie Stone, Alicia Prilipp and Bailey Hansen are key leaders at Circuit of the Americas, sharing a passion for Austin and the motorsports and entertainment industry. Allie Stone, vice president of marketing and communications, has over five years of experience in strategic marketing, leading campaigns that enhance brand visibility and engagement. Alicia Prilipp, vice president of major events logistics, brings over 10 years of expertise in managing large-scale events, ensuring they run smoothly and memorably. Bailey Hansen, vice president of hospitality, also has over five years in the hospitality industry, focusing on improving customer experiences and operational excellence. Together, their dedication and skills significantly contribute to the success of Circuit of the Americas.
circuitoftheamericas.com
WOMAN to WATCH
KATIE OWEN, ASHLEY BRUECKNER, LANA MACRUM, ERIN SCHLACHTER, MARNI WIDEN, FRANCINE BUCIO, LESLIE PERRYDORE, LIZZIE RAFF, FAITH CAMPANA, KERRY UGARTE, KATIE BENNETT, ROSE BAYEFF, CARLY JENKINS AND GABY SMITH THE WOMEN OF JPMORGANCHASE
J PMorganChase has long focused on the empowerment and advancement of female employees through its Women on the Move program. Building on that track record, JPMorganChase is now reaching externally to also focus on female clients, customers and the communities where representatives of the organization live and work. With roots in thousands of local communities and more than 300,000 employees (49% of whom are women), JPMorganChase is increasing its commitment to the success of women and girls in Austin and around the globe. The women pictured are just a few of the many women at JPMorganChase in Austin making a difference in our community. jpmorganchase.com/wotm
Force of Nature MEME STYLES
EDITED BY DEBORAH HAMILTON-LYNNE
PHOTOS BY ANNIE RAY
STYLED BY TERESA TEST (@STYLEWITH_TERESA) WITH INSPIRATION FROM GARDEN ROOM ATX, WOOD & ROSE SHOWROOM AUSTIN, THE TENNIS SHOP. MAKEUP BY LIVIA POPE, ALL DOLLED UP. HAIR BY SELAMAWIT MERA.
Mother Nature’s awesome power sticks to the body like Texas humidity in summer. She sighs and the wind funnels into a gale force that rearranges the very molecules in the air.
Meme Styles embodies the perfect storm—a brilliant, blistering and admittedly chaotic being who imagines worlds beyond our comprehension, then creates those worlds from seemingly nothing, stardust and ambition. She is a swell of potential energy, waiting for the catalyst to jumpstart her into action.
“My dad used to always call me a tornado when I was young,” she says, a smile bringing light to her already ebullient disposition. “He would say that I’d come into a space, and I would completely wreck it. Then it would be rebuilt into something way better than what it was before, and then it was just a space of peace and tranquility the next day.”
Perhaps prophetic, or perhaps her father sensed a spiritual twin in his progeny, a bite-sized firecracker. Styles was always more than the sum of her parts with one part composed of his activism, one part her mother’s entrepreneurship and one part dynamite.
“The origins of my story come from growing up in the ’90s in a home with teenage parents who worked as hard as they possibly could to create a normal household.” Ultimately Styles wants to emphasize that she comes from “a line of brilliance and complexity.
“[My mom] was such a fierce businesswoman,” she continues. “She was one of the top Black women in commodities trading in San Diego when I was growing up. She even had her own news segment. At the same time, I was watching my father, who was having his own battles, but my dad was also an incredibly fierce advocate. He was a Black Panther, and his father, my Papa T, was a community organizer. He worked between the police department and his community to build bridges.
“Gosh, it’s so complex,” she says. “My origin story really comes from complexity and brilliance when it comes to social justice and social action. Then there’s also this super savvy businesswoman who was incredibly strategic and at the same time loved to see other Black women and other women of color be empowered.”
As Sly Stone said, “It’s a family affair.” The result of her father’s and grandfather’s activism manifested quite early in Styles. Influenced by her experiences of going with her father to NAACP meetings when he was the vice president led to her first successful
brush with activism. In fact, the young students at Pacifica Elementary School have Meme Styles to thank for having chocolate milk included in the lunch menu.
“I came home one day and my dad asked me what was the matter. I told him, ‘I don’t understand why all milk has to be white. Why don’t they have chocolate milk?’” The memory brings a smile to her face. “I’m this little kid, and that was my interpretation of race.” With encouragement from her father to “lead a movement,” she got signatures for a petition, got teachers involved, made her demands clear to the principal, and was successful in her activism.
“I learned the power of community and how the power of collectivism can truly change a system.” This belief in the power of collective action followed her throughout her school years. At Martin Luther King Middle School, she was part of the effort to choose the school mascot. Captain of the cheerleading squad and peer advisor, she worked directly with the principal. Interestingly, the same female principal later invited Styles to speak at a conference for African American Women.
Where’s the Damn Data?
Styles has followed her innate curiosity through many different occupations including anchor for NBC News in Alaska; executive assistant in the U.S. Army in El Paso, Texas; privacy officer for the Health and Human Services; and becoming a franchise business owner alongside her mother and grandmother. When she created Measure in 2015, Styles drew upon aspects of her prior experiences and her certification from George Washington University in the PuMP Method—a methodology of data collection and performance measurement created by Stacey Barr. Style’s time in the U.S. Army, as part of their Agile Workforce, planted the seeds of what would become Measure. “I was creating Measure as I was working at the State of Texas too,” she says. “I would go to my 9-to-5, and then as soon as I was done, I would be working from 10 o’clock until 2 a.m. building Measure.”
However, it was her participation in a panel with former Mayor Steve Adler and Austin City Council member Ora Houston that became her catalyst. As with most innovations, Styles ultimately created Measure to answer a relatively simple question: Where’s the data?
“We were talking about community policing,” she recalls, “and I’m there as the activist, right? I’m supposed to be this Black woman, angry activist type, and I told myself, I’m not going to talk about traditional activism on this panel. I’m going to push them in a different direction. So that’s exactly what I did when I asked, ‘Where is the damn data? If you are going to say that community policing is a priority, and you want to rebuild trust? There never was any trust here.’ I said, ‘What are the key performance indicators that are assessing this idea of trust or community engagement or community policing?’ At that point they could not answer me.”
With that simple change in approach, Styles was able to lay the foundation for much of the equity work that’s taken place in Austin. With their data-forward approach, Measure laid the foundation for Austin’s first Office of the Chief Data Officer and a community policing initiative. “Because our community came together to say, ‘This is what we want.’ Before we knew about the ineffectiveness of implicit bias training—that’s what all the data shows us—Measure pushed for that training for all police officers.”
This Woman’s Work
This seemingly never-ending battle for equity is often thankless, and most certainly bone-achingly exhausting. It’s exhausting to constantly have to battle a broken society. Particularly for Black women, the expectation is heavy, feeling like a lead cloak over the shoulders, not being afforded the right to be quiet and calm. Styles has always found home in people. Home, of course, includes her children, whom she adores with every ounce of her being, and her husband, whom she credits with propelling her on a path of excellence and goodness.
MEME STYLES
“I love him so much. He’s definitely my backbone. He’s been able to see me grow up. I met him when I was 14 years old. He was a part of his Black Student Union, and I was a part of mine, and we met at the Black Student Union dance. I asked him, ‘What is your name?’ And he’s like, ‘My name is Cliff Styles.’ I told him, ‘I'm going to marry you for your last name.’ I said that at 14 years old, and it happened. He’s such a great guy, and he deserves a great woman. I’m grateful that I’m that.”
has reclaimed rest as a form of rebellion. Inspired by poet Tricia Hersey’s Rest is Resistance and her own health crisis, Styles took this form of revolution, quite literally, to heart.
“If I have any legacy, my legacy is going to be that she rested as a means of restoration. There’s just so much power with rest.”
This also explains, at least in some small part, her decision to pledge as part of the Pi Omega Zeta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. Part of the “Divine Nine,” the Zetas provided Styles another family dynamic to tap into for positivity, healing, fellowship and rest.
“I never thought I would be a sorority girl, to be honest with you,” she admits. “But when I learned about Zeta, I felt like I was learning about myself. When it comes to Zeta and her activism and her love for humanity and her global scope, I thought, ‘I am going to one day be a Zeta.’ So I leaned in.
“I’m the social justice chair for Zeta. I’ve been able to really make progress with the work that I do already in the organization. We were a big part of getting the CROWN Act passed, alongside representative Rhetta Bowers and Measure. Outside of my children and my husband and my church, I feel that Zeta Phi Betais a true form of sisterhood.”
This connection to a Greek organization spoke to very fundamental elements of Meme Styles and taps into another aspect of her form of resistance: joy. Waves of it radiate from her as she speaks about this latest avenue of the revolution. “I literally found my sisters.”
She also finds home in a group of Black women, self-identified baddies endearingly called the Brown Sugar Babes (a squadron of brilliant, powerful women comprised of Pamela Benson Owens, Dr. Melva K. Wallace, Keiko Griffin, Terry P. Mitchell and Shuronda Robinson). “Without my Brown Sugar Babes, I felt like I was doing this thing alone, because I was, to be honest with you.
I’m really grateful for Black women. We pray together; we cry together; we support one another in such an incredible way.”
“ I love him so much. He’s definitely my backbone. He’s been able to see me grow up. I met him when I was 14 years old.
Meme Styles: Afrofuturist Time Traveler
With all of her frenetic energy, Styles has always found ways to find a calm space, dating back to her childhood, when she’d stare up at the popcorn ceiling of her family home and count the bumps. Collecting data: It’s her way of visualizing the world, combing through all the information to find solutions to its problems.
Where many would see a pockmarked ceiling, Styles saw constellations. “I would lay there for a long time, and that was the way that I put myself to sleep,” she says. “It was all data for me. It was all science and being able to create new pathways and routes for myself, to kind of travel outside of my home.”
Styles is an Afrofuturist, a spirit unbound to the limitations of the mind. Put simply, Afrofuturism is a philosophy of connectivity, allowing those of the African diaspora to connect with the spirits of their ancestors as means to project and portray their futures. It’s science; it’s fiction; it’s art; it’s data. It’s the physical manifestation of the Akan concept of Sankofa: looking backward in order to move generations into the future. Styles calls it time travel, and it makes perfect sense.
“Afrofuturism for me is the manifestation of data, or the other way around—data is the manifestation of Afrofuturism. It’s the infinite possibilities for Black women to rise and to thrive.”
Meme Styles is an activist from 3024, born of the prayers of her ancestors, traveling between time to connect Meme with seven generations in the future to the ancestors who led her here. She is an undeniable force of nature, sweeping in and rearranging the DNA of the space to create something remarkable.
“You know, being a person who time travels so often, I’ve seen the liberation of our people. Being a person that is an Afrofuturist, I see their ancestors standing behind them. I see your ancestors standing behind you. It’s also very much so grounded within my Christian faith. What that means for me is that God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He has no concept of time. There is no concept of time when you exist infinitely. I believe that’s what data allows us to do: to reflect the image of God and be infinite beings.”
ZETA PHI BETA
Founded January 16, 1920, Zeta began as an idea conceived by five coeds at Howard University in Washington D.C.: Arizona Cleaver Stemons, Myrtle Tyler Faithful, Viola Tyler Goings, Fannie Pettie Watts, and Pearl Anna Neal. According to the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated official website, the founding members “envisioned a sorority that would directly affect positive change, chart a course of action for the 1920s and beyond, raise people’s consciousness, encourage the highest standards of scholastic achievement, and foster a greater sense of unity among its members. These women believed that sorority elitism and socializing overshadowed the real mission of progressive organizations and failed to address fully the societal mores, ills, prejudices and poverty affecting humanity in general and the black community in particular.”
AI for Good
Kay Firth-Butterfield leads the responsible AI movement.
BY STACEY INGRAM KALEH
Visionary, CEO, mom, breast cancer survivor, advocate, breaker of glassceilings—any and all of these terms could be used to describe Kay Firth-Butterfield. Yet no combination fully reflects the transformative impact she’s made and continues to make on how we, as a global community, approach our relationship with technologies like artificial intelligence.
“I’ve always been interested in helping people,” says Firth-Butterfield of the value that has driven her work, from practicing law to teaching research and writing, to standing up ethicscentered strategies for technology companies.
With roots in Texas—her mother-in-law is Texan and her daughter is based in San Antonio as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force—and a commitment to responsible AI development, Austin is a place Firth-Butterfield is glad to call home. “I think that lots of great future developments in tech will come out of Austin,” she says. “Austin’s the perfect place to really think deeply about some of these issues of fairness and equality [in tech] because there’s such a significant Hispanic and burgeoning immigrant community. And I think people are very open to sharing and helping here.”
As CEO of Good Tech Advisory LLC, Firth-Butterfield helps companies, organizations and governments consider how their work will affect stakeholders, including impacts on fairness, equity, health and more. “I advise companies and countries on deployment of AI and business transformation with AI and the future of work, always with a responsible AI lens.” What does it mean to be responsible with AI? Firth-Butterfield explains that a human-centered approach, working to ensure that all people benefit from the technology—including women and people of color who are often underrepresented in design and development processes as well as in data training sets—is key to acting responsibly. Her work has often involved bringing diverse perspectives together to develop practices that protect
people from harm and go above and beyond legal compliance. Firth-Butterfield can also be found on the UT Austin campus where she serves as a senior research fellow in the College of Liberal Arts.
Firth-Butterfield’s career path is one she forged herself. After starting as a barrister-at-law in England, with a stint as a judge, she moved to the U.S. to become a professor and focus on her passion area of human rights, within which she considered the relationship between humans and intelligent machines. “I started to think about how AI could be a problem for us or could be fantastic for us,” she says. Then, as she was writing a human rights book with a chapter on human–AI interaction, a chance meeting on an airplane brought a new opportunity. “There was this serendipitous meeting with the CEO of Lucid [AI] on a plane. He ended up offering me a job that became what was the world’s first chief AI ethics officer.”
Pioneering such a role did not come without its share of challenges. Firth-Butterfield recalls continually having to make a case for her work among business leaders and board members and being excluded from meetings and media opportunities less than a decade ago. Yet, not only did she model the crucial role of ethics in AI development, she actively shared her insights with future lawmakers, teaching one of the first-ever classes on “Law and Policy of AI” with Derek Jinks, J.D., at UT Austin.
The drive to help others and share knowledge quickly propelled Firth-Butterfield to scale her efforts globally. She was recruited by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2017 to serve as their Head of AI and Machine Learning and led cross-sector collaborations to develop guidelines and resources that advance responsible and inclusive culture and practices. Her experience in law, business and academia helped her serve as a bridge between sectors and become an influential advisor on AI governance. In 2023, Firth-Butterfield stepped down from the WEF and started Good Tech Advisory. Her professional journey has been one that’s grown and branched in an almost exponential way to benefit more and more people. For her
“
If
we don’t deal with AI responsibly, then there will be many people who don’t receive good outcomes from AI, whether it’s because AI didn’t hire them because of a bias, or AI didn’t give them a mortgage because of bias, or whether it’s because they are one of 3 billion people who are not even connected to the Internet, so AI knows absolutely nothing about them.
—Kay Firth-Butterfield
Kay Firth-Butterfield, kay@goodtechadvisory.com
global leadership in advancing responsibility and accountability in AI, Firth-Butterfield received a prestigious 2024 TIME100 Impact Award.
Not resting on her laurels, Firth-Butterfield continues to speak up about the risks AI technologies could pose if we do not progress thoughtfully, and believes that the more we know and understand, the better we can make decisions about how we use technology. “I have a 29-year-old daughter who has her life ahead of her, and there are some potentially very good things that will come from AI that will make her life better.” As a breast cancer survivor, Firth-Butterfield is passionate about opportunities to advance medicine. For example, AI tools can analyze vast amounts of medical data, matching patterns much quicker and testing compounds with great speed, which could lead to improvements in radiology, drug discovery and more. “But,” she cautions, “if we don’t deal with AI responsibly, then there will be many people who don’t receive good outcomes from AI, whether it’s because AI didn’t hire them because of a bias, or AI didn’t give them a mortgage because of bias, or whether it’s because they are one of 3 billion people who are not even connected to the Internet, so AI knows absolutely nothing about them.”
Firth-Butterfield points to gaps in the Internet-based data sets that AI tools are trained on as a major issue with the potential to exacerbate inequities. “If we do not do something about the data on the Internet,” she urges, explaining that there’s more data input by men about men
as compared to by women about women, “what’s going to happen is that AI is going to keep drawing on the way that the world’s been set up in the past as opposed to the way that we as women might have hoped the world would move toward being more equitable and equal.” She sees this moment as a critical juncture for society. “Do we want the thinking and politics of the past, or do we want the thinking and politics of a more equal society?” If we want the latter, she says we need more carefully considered, diverse and problemspecific data as well as more women at the table in the AI design process.
How can we help move AI technologies in the direction we want? “I would start by doing a lot of reading and, if you work in a company, ask a lot of questions about how the company is using AI and what it means for stakeholders and employees,” Firth-Butterfield encourages. “And, for the moms who are reading, if you are thinking about buying an AI-enabled ‘smart toy’ for your child, make sure you know where the data is going.”
Kay Firth-Butterfield leads by shaping the future she wishes to see, and she invites us to take action to do the same.
Learn more about Good Tech Advisory LLC. at goodtechadvisory. com and read Kay Firth-Butterfield’s column on responsible AI for The Innovator at theinnovator.news/author/kay-firth-butterfield.
The Intersection of AI and Mental Health Care: Past, Present & Future
The Intersection of AI and Mental Health Care: Past, Present & Future
BY SHONTÉ JOVAN TAYLOR, M.SC., PH.D.(c)
“The day health care can fully embrace AI is the day we have a revolution in terms of cutting costs and improving care.” ~Fei-Fei Li, The Godmother of Artificial Intelligence
Imagine AI in mental health care as a sophisticated greenhouse system working alongside a dedicated gardener (mental health professional) in a diverse garden. The gardener provides personalized care, understanding the unique needs of each plant (patient). The AI (greenhouse technology) continuously monitors environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity and light, makes predictions and offers precise adjustments and insights based on real-time data. Together, the gardener and the AI create a harmonious environment that ensures each plant receives the right care at the right time. The result is a thriving garden (improved patient health), showcasing the enhanced effectiveness of combining human expertise with advanced technology. This synergy between AI and mental health professionals leads to better outcomes and a more vibrant, healthy community.
The use of AI in mental health care makes intuitive sense since AI and the brain are intricately linked. Neuroscience, the study of the brain and nervous system, has paved the way for machines like AI to “think better” by mimicking how the brain works. AI is designed to perceive, learn and reason, emulating human intelligence. By creating technology modeled after cognitive functions, we improve our chances of accelerating human progress in various fields, including mental health.
THE EVOLUTION OF AI IN MENTAL HEALTHCARE
THE PAST
Mental health issues have existed for thousands of years, but the concept of AI emerged in the 1950s. Initially, AI faced resistance, but by the 1980s, its potential in healthcare started gaining traction. Early AI systems, especially in radiology, were clunky and inefficient. However, as deep learning systems evolved, they became adept at making rapid and independent connections, revolutionizing health care diagnostics. This advancement has been crucial in reducing the time between diagnosis and treatment, which is vital for patient outcomes.
THE PRESENT
Mental disorders like depression and anxiety, which are the leading causes of disability, cost the global economy $1 trillion annually in productivity loss, according to the World Health Organization. The need for effective interventions is urgent, and AI presents a promising solution. AI can analyze vast amounts of data and identify patterns beyond human capability. Currently, AI aids in scientific and healthcare fields, including discovering drug targets, predicting food contamination and analyzing medical records. Intriguingly, AI, inspired by the brain, is now used in brain research to understand processes like visual perception and memory. Neuroscience aims to link brain activity (e.g.., neural pathways, thoughts, etc.) to human behaviors of which AI can accelerate the discovery process.
AI software has been trained to help map human behavior, and to assist mental health workers in diagnosing and treating mental challenges. It can be particularly effective in virtual therapy, providing scalability, cost-effectiveness and real-time feedback, since clinical diagnosis still heavily relies on subjective symptoms and self-reporting, which can be unreliable. BehaveNet, an AI software, decodes neural activity and movement from behavioral videos, aiding in mental disorder prevention. Therefore, AI can bridge the gap by analyzing large datasets to identify and predict psychiatric disorders in a myriad of ways.
THE FUTURE
By modeling clinical disorders, AI can help reverse engineer treatment processes, speeding up prevention, identification and treatment of mental health challenges. AI’s role in drug targeting formulations can minimize side effects and enhance effectiveness for individuals with specific genetic makeups.
AI can also act as a personal medical assistant, providing health advice based on personalized data, potentially reducing healthcare costs and strain on the mental health industry. Computer-assisted therapy using AI chatbots for cognitive behavioral therapies is being tested for treating depression and anxiety. These chatbots offer costeffective, accessible and scalable solutions, though further research is needed to validate their effectiveness.
SOME PITFALLS
AI systems can be biased if developed without diverse demographic representation, leading to inaccurate results for underrepresented groups. Addressing these biases is crucial, given historical health care inequities for women and minorities. Researchers are working diligently to rectify these challenges in current AI systems. Medical malpractice and lawsuits have always been issues, and AI integration complicates responsibility and liability. Ensuring the security, privacy and trust of the public in AI mental health integration is also essential. Building this trust requires empathetic human connections, ethical development, transparent communication and adherence to the Hippocratic principle of “first, do no harm.”
FINAL THOUGHT
The future of AI in mental health care holds immense potential, but it must be guided by ethical considerations, inclusiveness and a commitment to improving human well-being. By combining the strengths of AI and human expertise, we can create a more effective, compassionate and accessible mental healthcare system, ensuring a brighter and healthier future for all.
JOIN
TH E PARTY
Space Cowboy
Rikki Wang utilizes her tech background to bring her unique vision for an AI-powered restaurant to life.
BY RUVANI DE SILVA
First-time restaurateur Rikki Wang brings her desert-robot dream to life at Space Cowboy
When Wang decided to go into business for herself, she had a very specific set of goals. She wanted to create a fast-moving dynamic environment focused on showcasing creativity. Utilizing her background in tech and AI, she hoped to build a dreamscape space that allowed her personality to shine while providing a unique and engaging guest experience. The restaurant market jumped out at her. “I always knew I wanted to go into business for myself, expand my capabilities and contribute value to the world as much as I can,” says Wang. She took the leap and entered the restaurant business without any formal training or experience. Instead, Wang combined her extensive technical and business skills with her strong vision and even stronger work ethic to launch her own high-end restaurant and cocktail bar featuring AIfunctioning robot spaceships. And she did it in less than two years.
Space Cowboy is a sensory-focused realization of Wang’s goal. Guests step through gleaming neon signage and into a whimsical fantasy space. Sparkling desert clouds dangle overhead, cacti of all shapes and sizes line the room and the soft lavender walls sport huge round mirrors that reflect the sheen of the clever automated capsules circling the room. The space has an aura of make-believe that is deliberate. “The robots reflect a sense of a childhood dream of cars flying in the sky and robots serving you,” says Wang, “and the flowers, cacti and moons add a welcoming warmth—I pictured a desert where alien spaceships would arrive!”
But Wang’s “little spaceship bots” are indeed far more than a gimmick. The sleek pods do in fact have quite a bit of autonomy. “The pods are on a track, not a conveyor belt,” Wang explains. “The robots decide where to go and how to get there. They choose which route they take around the restaurant and learn from past routes which way to go.” These bright inventions would not have been possible without Wang’s hands-on experience in tech and automation. “Having a tech background enabled me to bring a robot system to life that otherwise would be very difficult to accomplish. All the robot parts, design, circuit board components, manufacturing of parts, and sensors that go into the workings of a robot require at least knowledge of how they come together,” she says.
Photos courtesy of Rikki Wang.
For more information: SPACE COWBOY
1917 East 7th Street, Austin, Texas 78702
www.spacecowboyatx.com
Wang also emphasizes how her time in tech not only taught her the necessary technical skills to realize her vision but also encouraged her to embrace new ideas, including automation, and develop the confidence to bring them into an industry where they are still relatively unfamiliar. “Sometimes people would comment that I am not ‘from the restaurant industry’ as if it is a bad thing, which definitely has its challenges, but I don’t think anyone ‘from the industry’ would be able to bring about Space Cowboy,” she explains.
Wang is keen to emphasize that the role of automation at Space Cowboy is so effective because it was so integral to her original concept for the restaurant, and her focus on technology and creativity. This focus extends to Space Cowboy’s menu—a blend of carefully considered international cuisine curated by head chef Juan Diego Solombrino, whose experience in kitchens around the world brings a spark and flair to the food that matches its unique delivery system.
For Wang, finding committed staff who believe in the concept of Space Cowboy has also been key to its success. “Through the process of opening the restaurant, I’ve learned to work with people with credibility; they’re worth their weight in gold,” she says. She is keen to give her staff room to step up and be an active part of the business, encouraging them to bring ideas for recipes and cocktails to the table. “I don’t give any limitations other than it should fit into the theme. There are so many ways that you can perceive food, and I know when people make suggestions and improvements that they are invested in the concept and theme.”
As a solo Asian American female entrepreneur with no prior restaurant experience at the age of 29, Wang has faced significant challenges, learning by trial and error and persevering through the complex navigation of building permits, zoning and permitting by herself. She emphasizes the need for courage and perseverance when moving from one field to another. “Some people see a woman business owner and they see vulnerability—that may be discouraging but it’s important to push through,” she says. Wang’s faith has also helped her on her journey. “The blessings of God make everything possible and we will continue to grow with His blessing.” Despite her success, Wang still sees herself as a student desirous to learn more and continue to perfect Space Cowboy, and keeps the idea of building a robot cocktail-making machine as a goal for the future.
Empowering Your Finances With STEAM
A creative approach to personal wealth.
BY JENNY HOFF
When we see the acronym STEAM, our minds often leap to classrooms bustling with eager students or cuttingedge careers pushing the boundaries of innovation. It’s a concept deeply rooted in academia and professional development, shaping the minds that will lead tomorrow’s world. Yet, the principles of STEAM are far from confined to these realms; they are universal, transcending beyond the walls of schools and corporations, weaving into the very fabric of our daily lives—including the way we handle our finances.
STEAM is not just a set of subjects; it’s a philosophy, a way of thinking and approaching problems. It encourages us to blend scientific inquiry with creative design, to merge analytical rigor with artistic expression. This holistic approach can be a powerful ally in managing personal finance. It invites us to look at our financial health not just as numbers on a spreadsheet but as a canvas for innovation and growth.
Science: Experiment With Savings. Just as a scientist experiments to find the best solution, you can apply the same method to your savings. Start with a hypothesis: “If I save 20% of my monthly income, I can build an emergency fund in six months.” Test it out, observe the results and adjust as needed. For this, Mint/Credit Karma is your go-to app, offering a comprehensive view of your finances and helping you track your savings progress.
Technology: Automate Your Finances. Technology has streamlined countless aspects of our lives, and it can do the same for your finances. Use Prism to automate your bill payments, ensuring you never miss a payment. And for investment management, Empower can optimize your portfolio for maximum growth.
Engineering: Construct a Solid Budget. Engineers build structures that last, and your budget should be no different. Construct a budget that accounts for all your income and expenses, ensuring you have a solid foundation for your financial house. You Need a Budget (YNAB) is a powerful tool that can help you build and maintain a robust budget.
Arts: Get Creative With Side Hustles. The arts inspire us to think outside the box, and when it comes to finances, a little creativity can go a long way. Consider starting a side hustle that aligns with your passions—be it photography, writing or crafting. Platforms like Etsy for crafters, Upwork for freelancers and Fiverr for a variety of creative gigs can help you monetize your skills.
Mathematics: Calculate Your Financial Future. Mathematics is all about precision and planning. Calculate your financial trajectory by setting clear, measurable goals. Personal Capital is a great tool for tracking your net worth and planning for retirement, giving you a clear picture of your financial future.
As we integrate these STEAM principles into our financial lives, we not only enhance our ability to manage our money but also enrich our understanding of how interconnected our world is. The fusion of these disciplines doesn’t just make for a sound financial plan; it makes for a more enlightened approach to life.
So, whether you’re saving for a rainy day, investing in your future or simply looking to make your money work harder for you, remember that the principles of STEAM can guide you towards financial success.
sponsored by
“I believe that through knowledge and discipline, financial peace is possible.”
We’ve been together for a long, long time. In fact, I’ll never forget the day we met. It was Tuesday, January 4, 1994. Almost immediately, I was drawn in to you. I felt your energy, your potential, your welcoming embrace. We seemed to have an instant spark, a shared spirit and connection. Looking back it’s clear, it was love at first sight.
I didn’t have much to add to the relationship at the time. Just a handme-down garment bag, a very heavy standard-issue Compaq personal computer, and a lot of ambition, no…actually a helluva lot of ambition. But unlike the others, that ambition didn’t scare you off, nor did my temporary I-35 Marriott Courtyard address. You welcomed me. You encouraged me. You inspired me. You also said, “Let’s go dive off the springboard at Barton Springs!”
From the beginning, we both were willing to take risks and expand beyond what had defined us to date. You gave me the courage to say yes to bolder ideas and opportunities. Your charismatic energy started to attract around you a whole new tribe of global creators, innovators and builders. Your potential for greatness was palpable but you remained humble and cool.
Over time you encouraged me to dream even more boldly, to take bigger risks. Your tribe kept expanding and made you increasingly busy, but you still never stopped making me feel special. You even indulged my wanderlust. “Go boldly and see the world!” you exclaimed. “I’ll be here ready to take in all you’ve learned!” I set off. Leaving you hundreds of times, logging over a million miles, each time coming back wiser, more enlightened. Yet returning to your rugged, expansive brilliance never ceased to touch my soul. You were home.
Reflecting on our past 30 years, we’ve built a special life together. A life full of incredible experiences. We worked hard; we played hard. We rode the magnificent highs, tumbled to the deepest lows, not once, but many, many times. We built families, teams, companies and cultures together. We agreed to open our doors wider, embrace diversity and keep it weird. Through it all, you grew, I grew and we grew together.
I don’t know how you still do it after all these years, but you keep drawing me in. And I remain steadfastly optimistic about our future. Your energy, potential and welcoming embrace have only gotten stronger. In fact, it feels like you are just getting started and the possibilities are endless.
I love you Austin.
Xoxo, Heather
P.S. I’ve packed our towels, meet you there!
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