April 2016 by Austin Woman Magazine

Austin Woman MAGAZINE | april 2016

“Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas.” – Marie Curie

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is the science of hormones, substances released by glands that regulate every cell in your body, for both men and women. Examples of endocrine diseases: thyroid disease, osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome and obesity, hirsutism, menopause, pituitary and adrenal pathology, low testosterone in males, andropause and impotence, polycystic ovaries, recurrent kidney stones, irregular or lack of menstrual periods, high and low calcium, diabetes. We provide a comprehensive assessment of your hormone balance, in-house hormone testing, thryoid ultrasound, and bone density testing.

THYROID DISEASE affects thirty million Americans, half of which do not know they have the disease. Examples: hypo and hyperthyroidism, Graves and Hashimoto disease, goiter, thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. Each person has a different genetic set point for TSH. Thyroid problems require lifelong attention. We are the premiere thryoid clinic in Austin, and offer the latest treatment for thyroid disease, aggressive management of thyroid cancer with radioactive iodine and second opinion consults for thyroid surgery.

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On the cover

DAY and NIGHT By emily C. Laskowski

feature

NOW HIRING: Diversity

Photo by Annie Ray.

By Rachel Merriman

Contents

Photo courtesy of Galveston Island CVB.

APRIL

44 on the scene

style + Home

25 KRISTY’S TOP 10

52 ask ashley April Showers 54 RUNWAY REPORT New York Fashion Week 56 BEAUTY Battle Lines 58 ENTERTAINING Playing House

April’s To-do List

savvy women

29 Real Texas Women Bonnie Parker 30 c ount us in Women in Numbers GOURMET 32 LEADERSHIP 2016 Women of Distinction 75 AW Test Kitchen To Market, to Market 34 P ROFILE The Power of Youth 80 FOOD NEWS Out With the Old, in With the New 40 l et’s taco ’bout it Elizabeth Gore wellness 42 Ask the Experts Technical Advice 82 h ealth It’s Conceivable MUST LIST 84 fit ness Smartwatch Study 44 M ust travel Galveston POINT OF VIEW 48 M ust GIVE Metropia 86 m emo from JB Those Tech-savvy Teens 50 M ust DOWNLOAD Must-have Apps 88 i am austin woman Breaking Free

on the cover Karina Grimaldi solid-white jumper, $320, available at Estilo, 2727 Exposition Blvd., 512.236.0488, estiloaustin.com; turquoise bracelet, available at Neiman Marcus Last Call, 4115 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.447.0701, lastcall.com; emerald necklace, stylist’s own.

14 | Austin Woman | april 2016

Photo by Annie Ray, annieraycreative.com Styled by Ashley Hargrove, dtkaustinstyling.com Hair and makeup by Laura Martinez, bylauramartinez.com

Escape the Ordinary with a one on one floral class

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What’s precious to you is precious to us.SM Auto. Home. Life. Business. They all matter, so wrap them all in a blanket of Nationwide® protection. We put members ﬁrst.SM

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Contact a Nationwide agent in Austin today. 512-387-2305 | NationwideAustin.com Products underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies. Home Office: Columbus, OH 43215. Nationwide Lloyds and Nationwide Property & Casualty Companies (in TX).Subject to underwriting guidelines, review, and approval. Products and discounts not available to all persons in all states. Not all Nationwide affiliated companies are mutual companies and not all Nationwide members are insured by a mutual company. Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle Join the Nation, What’s precious to you is precious to us, Nationwide is on your side and We put members first are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2015 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. NPR-0718AO.2 (8/14)

Volume 14, issue 8

Co-Founder and Publisher Melinda Maine Garvey vice president and Co-Publisher Christopher Garvey associate publisher Cynthia Guajardo Shafer COO/GenerAL MANAGER Shawnee McClanahan

EDITORIAL Editor Emily C. Laskowski associate Editor April Cumming copy editor Chantal Rice contributing writers

Sarah E. Ashlock, Cheryl Bemis, Jill Case, Daniela Covian, Tony C. Dreibus, JB Hager, Ashley Hargrove, Rachel Merriman, Kristy Owen, Natalie Paramore, Rachel Rascoe, Deborah Stachelski

ART CREATIVE Director Niki Jones ART DIRECTOR Lucy Froemmling CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Rudy Arocha, Jay Q. Chen, Ellie Cherryhomes, Elizabeth Green, Ashley Hargrove, Kevin Garner, Margaret Licarione, Laura Martinez, Linda Matlow, Dustin Meyer, Natalie Paramore, Jim Peterson, Annie Ray, Natalie Riggs, Casey Chapman Ross, Jessica Wetterer

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Katie Paschall, Jessica Price

operations and marketing Operations and Marketing manager

Maggie Rester Interns

Marisa Charpentier, Daniela Covian, Emily Henry, Maddy Hill, Brianna Peters, Rachel Rascoe, Grace Snively, Maddie Walling

Emeritus Co-Founder Samantha Stevens Editors

Deborah Hamilton-Lynne, Mary Anne Connolly, Elizabeth Eckstein Austin Woman is a free monthly publication of AW Media Inc., and is available at more than 1,250 locations throughout Austin and in Lakeway, Cedar Park, Round Rock and Pflugerville. All rights reserved. For submission requirements, visit awmediainc.com/contribute. No part of the magazine may be reprinted or duplicated without permission. Visit us online at austinwomanmagazine.com. Email us at info@awmediainc.com. 512.328.2421 â&#x20AC;˘ 3921 Steck Ave., Suite A111, Austin, TX 78759

From the Editor

Join the conversation @eclaskowski @austinwoman #IAmAustinWoman

18 | Austin Woman | april 2016

company ignoring social media today would be like a company not answering the phone 50 years ago. People throughout the world want to talk, and you might be missing their calls. Elizabeth Gore, who chairs the U.N. Foundation’s Global Entrepreneurs Council and is now Dell’s entrepreneur-in-residence, says in this month’s Let’s Taco ’Bout It column that so formidable is the impact of modern technology that every company must now be a tech company. That means whether we are movers or shakers, queen bees or worker bees, technology will influence our lives. So, let’s not let it overpower us. Instead, let’s harness and master it, and control where it takes us. Women know better than anyone how to balance a lot of different choices. It’s not easy, but we do it every day at work, at home and in our communities. Technology is another choice. It presents practical applications and superfluous temptations alike, but we are strong enough and smart enough to balance the two. The tech-savvy women featured in this issue, including our cover woman, Whitney Wolfe, are doing just that. Wolfe used her knowledge of the male-dominated tech industry to change the game, rewrite the rules and make a difference in our world. That sounds pretty practical to me.

Sincerely,

EMILY C. LASKOWSKI Editor

Photo by Dustin Meyer.

his is our first-ever technology issue. According to MerriamWebster, technology is “the practical application of knowledge, especially in a particular area.” That’s one of several definitions I found, but I like it because of one operative word: practical. Standing 4 feet from the front door, checking the weather app to see “what it feels like outside,” is not practical. For Pete’s sake, just walk outside. Don’t get me wrong; I’m a fan of technology. One of my dearest friends lives overseas and my little brother is about to move to another country, and I’m grateful telegrams aren’t our only option for keeping in touch. Yet, I’m annoyed by a growing attachment to technology that seems to overpower its practicality at times. Just like many of you, I love texting a supportive thumbs-up to a friend, but should we be carrying on mobile conversations while we’re in actual face-to-face conversations with other people? No. (As you might imagine, friends glued to their smartphones while in the company of others has quickly risen to the top of my list of pet peeves.) It’s not even that it’s not practical; it’s just rude. So, is it just me, or has technology become this excuse for otherwise well-mannered people to abandon the common decency and etiquette their parents taught them? Still, as a not-quite-millennial, I’m proud this generation’s technology offers us the opportunities to modernize, streamline and connect like never before. For years, I’ve said a

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contributors

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This month, we asked our contributors: What piece of technology from your lifetime has changed your life the most?

ANNIE RAY

Cover Photographer, “DAY AND NIGHT,” Page 62 Since 2005, Annie Ray has focused on bringing out the “real stuff” in everything she shoots. Her relationship with every subject will make 1,000 words say so much more. “The digital camera has made my life a whole lot easier with the ability to view images and share with clients during photo shoots.”

Sarah E. Ashlock

Writer, “the power of youth,” Page 34 Sarah E. Ashlock is a freelance writer and editor who is dedicated to telling women’s stories. She holds a master’s degree in English and a scholarly publishing certificate from Arizona State University. Sarah likes to explore Austin one happy hour at a time and share her discoveries on social media. Follow her on Twitter @Sarah_Ashlock. “Hands down, FaceTime. It gives me the ability to ‘be there’ when I can’t be, like the time when I opened my Macbook Air and saw my sister in North Carolina smile with pride as she announced, ‘I’m pregnant!’ FaceTime has fostered a sense of connection unlike anything else.”

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Jessica Wetterer

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“There is no piece of technology that has changed my life more than my Macbook Pro. As a young girl, I would spend endless hours trying to divert Lemmings from falling off cliffs and helping Guywood Threepwood rescue his true love, Elaine. These days, I’m still spending countless hours on my computer—a Macbook Pro—and I’m not sure if my online shopping, Googling and Netflixing habits are an equal amount of time-suck to that of my childhood gaming, but I’d wager that they are.”

Natalie Paramore

Lior

c once rt S ponS or

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Illustrator, “women in numbers,” Page 30 Jessica Wetterer is an illustrator who grew up in the bluegrass of Louisville, Ky. She lives in New York, working days as a graphic designer. Jessica holds her pen in a unique way, gripping it in her fist like a drum major holds a baton, directing the images on her page.

Tickets/Info (512) 476-6064 or austinsymphony.org

Medi a SponSor S All artists, programs, and dates subject to change.

writer and photographer, “to market, to market,” Page 75 Natalie Paramore is an Austinbased food-and-travel blogger. Get the latest on her travels, recipes and where she has been eating on her blog, natalieparamore.com, or follow along on Instagram @natalieparamore. “Definitely my iPhone. It changed everything for me. If it weren’t for the iPhone, I probably would not have ever started my blog. I use it all day, every day.”

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Connect with us! Can’t get enough of this issue? Check us out at austinwomanmagazine.com. acting out. Between rehearsals, we sat down with Emmy winner and Tony Award ➥ More nominee Holland Taylor, who wrote and stars in Zach Theatre’s current production of Ann, to discuss how she gets into character and what she’s learned from her time portraying former Texas Governor Ann Richards.

➥ More double trouble. Prep yourself for a gabfest as we talk fashion with the two

female founders behind elevated American sportswear brand Veronica Beard. In addition to sharing ownership of the chic and modern Bohemian fashion line, the two sisters-in-law, while unrelated by blood, also share the same full name: Veronica Beard.

➥ More benefits. Join us as we scope out the top co-working spaces in Austin and

discover what perks make them so cool. You just might be working remotely tomorrow.

➥ More artistic expression. Did you know past AW cover woman Gay Gaddis, the

➥ More samples, please. Have you been introduced to the female chefs attending this

year’s Austin Food & Wine Festival? Allow us to do the honors as we show off the heat these chefs can handle in the kitchen.

cool tech innovations. Laura Bosworth, CEO and co-founder of TeVido ➥ More BioDevices, a biotech startup rooted in Austin, breaks down what new 3-D bio-printing advancements mean for breast-cancer survivors facing reconstructive surgery.

➥ More brainpower. The calendar year may have changed a few or 100 times, but in

their heyday, these female innovators were still forging uncharted territory in the tech industry. We curated a list of some of our favorite tours de force.

➥ More polishing. Check out a slideshow showcasing some of our favorite submissions from the March issue’s #AWNailedIt competition!

Don’t miss

Win This!

Thrive Activity Tracker from Soleus

How does technology fuel your life? Now is your chance to show us your favorite go-to tech gadgets for a chance to win a Thrive Activity Tracker and Heart-rate Monitor from Austin-based fitness watch company, Soleus Running. To enter to win, show @AustinWoman where technology takes you—to the gym, grocery aisle, crowded concert hall or carpool line—and share on Instagram using the hashtag #AWThrive during the month of April. A winner will be chosen at the end of the month and we’ll put our favorite photos on austinwomanmagazine.com.

@austinwoman

22 | Austin Woman | april 2016

Austin Woman April Launch Party and Women in Technology Panel April 11, 6 to 8 p.m. Cirrus Logic, 800 W. Sixth St. austinwomanmagazine.com Texas Women in Business Luncheon April 15, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Estância Churrascaria, 10000 Research Blvd. texaswomeninbusiness.org

#AWThrive

Girl Scouts Women of Distinction April 7, noon to 1:30 p.m. AT&T Conference Center, 1900 University Ave. gsctx.ejoinme.org/Austin

Mack, Jack & McConaughey April 14 to 15, Locations vary mackjackmcconaughey.org Austin Classical Guitar: Yamandu Costa April 16, 8 to 10 p.m. AISD Performing Arts Center, 1500 Barbara Jordan Blvd. austinclassicalguitar.org

like us

facebook.com/austinwoman

Capital Area Dental Foundation Round Up and Gala April 16, 6 p.m. Four Seasons Hotel, 98 San Jacinto Blvd. capitalareadentalfoundation.org Austin Women in Technology Intelligent Conversations Panel April 21, 6 to 8 p.m. Chez Zee, 5406 Balcones Drive awtaustin.org/events Art City Austin April 29 to May 1 Palmer Event Center, 900 Barton Springs Road artallianceaustin.org/artcity Mad About Pink April 30, 7:30 p.m. JW Marriott, 110 E. Second St. komenaustin.org/pinkparty

@ austinwoman

Holland Taylor photo by Linda Matlow. Austin Food & Wine Festival photo courtesy of Austin Food & Wine Festival. Nails photo courtesy of Niki Jones. Thrive Activity Tracker image courtesy of Soleus Running.

CEO and founder of T3, moonlights as an artist? Gain insight into how her Texas Hill Country ranch inspired her first solo art show in New York City, opening at the Curator Gallery April 6.

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ON THE SCENE kristy’s top 10

April’s to-do list from 365 Things To Do In Austin, Texas. By kristy owen

19th Annual Buda Weiner Dog Races April 23 and 24, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Buda City Park, 204 San Antonio St., Buda, Texas budalionsclub.com A trek down to Buda might be a little too south of Austin’s city limits for comfort, but dachshund fans and dog lovers will find it’s worth the venture. Make a day trip out of the event and get an early start to ensure you hit up all the stops: There’s a barbecue cook-off, a bake-off, arts-and-crafts booths, a petting zoo and live music. Then settle in and prepare to watch a spectacle you won’t soon forget: wiener dogs bolting down a track, their short yet lengthy bodies racing toward the finish. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children ages 12 and younger.

austinwomanmagazine.com | 25

n the scene

kristy’s top 10

18th Austin Dragon Boat Festival April 30 to May 1, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Festival Beach, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia St. atxdragonboat.com Spend a quiet weekend morning watching intricately decorated dragon boats navigate their way across Lady Bird Lake. Each year, the Asian American Cultural Center seeks to bring dragonboat racing, a 2,300-year-old Chinese tradition, to Austin by encouraging local community members, nonprofit groups, clubs and corporations to form teams and race. Don’t feel like joining in a paddle session yourself? No worries. There are numerous cultural performances taking place throughout the festival to keep you entertained. Admission is free.

Lonestar Round Up April 8 and 9 Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane lonestarroundup.com

Classic-car fanatics from throughout the world flock to this huge outdoor show each year. What began as a one-day event hosted on a football field has evolved into a weekend-long, live-music-listening, barbecue-feasting homage to hot rods and custom cars. During the day, ogle the roundup of cars at the Travis County Expo Center, and at night, hop about Austin to various open-house parties hosted at places like Austin Speed Shop and The Continental Club. Tickets are $15.

Eeyore’s 53rd Birthday Party

Each year, eccentrically dressed crowds flood Pease Park to pay tribute to Eeyore, the notoriously gloomy Winnie the Pooh character. With a costume contest during the day and face paint, henna and temporary-tattoo artists onsite, you can expect to find children and adults running around maypoles and sitting in drum circles to commemorate the fictional donkey’s birthday. When you’re not frolicking through the park, grab something to eat and drink from one of the vendors, find a grassy patch of lawn and listen to some live music. Note to festivalgoers: Parking will be scarce at the park, so consider taking the shuttle bus. More transportation information is available on the event website. Admission is free.

Austin Food & Wine Festival

April 22 to 24, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Auditorium Shores, 800 W. Riverside Drive, and Republic Square Park, 422 Guadalupe St. austinfoodandwinefestival.com

If you’ve ever considered calling yourself a foodie or a wine connoisseur, then the Austin Food & Wine Festival is a must. The festival, now in its fifth year, draws winemakers and food artisans from Austin and throughout the nation to this weekend-long event. During the day, stop by the Grand Taste Pavilion at Auditorium Shores to watch food demos and take part in wine-and-cocktail seminars. In the off chance that you’re not sipping or nibbling on some delicious concoction, peruse through rows of cookbooks and get them signed onsite in the autograph tent. The libations keep flowing at night, with various festival events like Feast Under the Stars and Taste of Texas. Weekender tickets are $250, and other events range in price.

26 | Austin Woman | april 2016

2. Photo by Jim Peterson. 3. Photo courtesy of Lonestar Round Up. 5. Photo courtesy of Austin Food & Wine Festival.

April 30, 11 a.m. until after dark Pease Park, 1100 Kingsbury St. eeyores.org

6. Photo courtesy of Casey Chapman Ross Photography. 7. Photo courtesy of the City of Georgetown. 8. Photo courtesy of The Long Center. 10. Photo courtesy of Platon.

6 Red Poppy Festival April 22 to 24 103 W. Seventh St., Georgetown, Texas poppy.georgetown.org

25th Anniversary Umlauf Sculpture Garden Party April 28, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum, 605 Robert E Lee Road umlaufsculpture.org/gardenparty Twenty-five years have passed since the Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum first took root in Austin. Come celebrate the garden’s success by strolling down glistening, grass-lined paths and viewing some of the space’s most intricate pieces. Throughout the evening, taste select wines from Twin Liquors, dine on snacks from beloved Austin food spots like El Alma and The Salt Lick, and dance along to live music performed by the Nash Hernandez Orchestra. There will also be a live and silent auction featuring items from artists of the garden. Tickets providing food, drinks and access to the garden are $150.

Head to Georgetown, known as the Red Poppy Capital of Texas, for a celebration that honors the beautiful crimson flowers that have spotted the city’s landscape for more than 70 years. The event is a weekend packed with live music, a car show, a BMX-trick showcase and various cooking contests. Listen to musicians Tracy Lawrence and the Wilson String Band jam out while treating yourself to a Texas cheesesteak and an old-fashioned soda, or explore the various arts-and-crafts booths spread across the grounds. Admission is free.

Where the Wild Things Are at The Long Center

April 13 to 17 The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive thelongcenter.org/event/wild-things

Take a seat and watch as the 338word classic children’s book Where the Wild Things Are comes to life in a live theater performance at The Long Center. The play follows the adventures of a young boy named Max, who is sent to his room without supper one night. But to his surprise, he finds his room transformed into a new land. Follow the journey as Max encounters strange beasts—wild things— and enjoys playing with them in this far-off world away from home. Tickets start at $17.

Lip Sync Battle at The Paramount

April 14, 8 p.m. Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave. tickets.austintheatre.org/single/eventdetail.aspx?p=1048 Have you seen the laugh-out-loud-funny Jimmy Fallon lip-sync battles? If you’re a fan, the Lip Sync Battle at the Paramount should be no different. Whether you and a team of friends want to sign up for the competition or just want to watch other brave individuals battle it out onstage, the event is sure to be filled with comedic—and likely embarrassing—moments. Tickets are $10, and $5 of every ticket will be donated to the Hill Country Ride for AIDS.

Kristy Owen is the event mastermind and blogger behind 365 Things To Do In Austin, Texas. To stay up to date on the best Austin has to offer, visit her blog, 365thingsaustin.com.

Ann at Zach Theatre April 6 to May 15 Zach Theatre, 202 S. Lamar Blvd. zachtheatre.org/show/ann Coming straight from Broadway, Ann tells the story of beloved former Texas Governor Ann Richards. Viewers will get an up-close look into the life of the inspiring and bold democrat, known for her penchant for feminism and quotable one-liners. Tony Award nominee Holland Taylor wrote the play and stars as the captivating Ann herself. Both engaging and funny, the play takes any hint of boredom out of politics as it vividly commemorates one of Texas’ most extraordinary personalities. Tickets range from $29 to $84.

austinwomanmagazine.com | 27

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“

You think I’m still good-looking, honey? But no, I am faded and spent. Even Helen of Troy would look seedy If she followed the pace that I went.

”

—E xcerpt from Bonnie Parker’s poem The Street Girl

Bonnie Elizabeth Parker Wife, poet, law Breaker, legend Born Oct. 1, 1910 in Rowena, Texas Died May 23, 1934

Photo courtesy of fbi.gov.

in Gibsland, La.

savvy women austinwomanmagazine.com austinwomanmagazine.com | 29 | 29

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count us in

women in numbers

Facts and figures on females from throughout the world. By AW staff, illustrations by jessica wetterer

19th

30 The number of expert hackers, most of whom are male, that Parisa Tabriz manages for Google. Known as Google’s Security Princess (the title she chose to put on her business card), Tabriz is a professional computer hacker paid to protect Google’s name and is in charge of making sure none of the “bad guys” on the Internet are able to hack the world’s most valuable brand. Named one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 to watch in 2012, she’s no stranger to the sexism of the booming tech industry and the negative name computer hackers get in today’s media. However, Tabriz isn’t hacked off yet. She’s determined to help cultivate a good name for computer hacking and encourage women to work on their skills to become a part of the industry.

4 The number of women who are set to travel to Mars in 15 years. Jessica Meir, Anne McClain, Christina Hammock Koch and Nicole Aunapu Mann don’t mind the 35-millionmile journey they’ll have to take to get there. The four women will have to undergo extreme conditions, such as possible 284-degree weather, and if their gear doesn’t work, NASA won’t receive an SOS for at least 10 minutes, making this an extremely risky endeavor. NASA’s latest class of astronauts is 50 percent women, and these four females have proven they’re ready to take their strength and stamina off the ground and into space.

The century in which scientist Ada Lovelace developed the first computer program. Although it was uncommon for women to study math and science in the early 19th century, Lovelace’s mother, the wife of poet Lord Byron, encouraged her daughter’s studies in the hopes of keeping her from developing the moody temperament of her father. Among Lovelace’s many notes was a number theory code that is now credited as the first computer program, an accomplishment that wasn’t revealed until more than 100 years after her death, when her notes (and her identity) were divulged in 1953. In 1980, the U.S. government named a new computer language after Lovelace: alias Ada.

41 The percentage of girls younger than 10 wanting to go into a STEM career. According to a 500-child survey conducted by Fatherly, an online parenting resource for men, young girls are aspiring now more than ever to go into science, technology, engineering and math careers. The report found the top three job choices among girls are now doctor, teacher and scientist. In comparison, top job choices among boys are professional athlete, firefighter and engineer. Overall, the study found only 32 percent of boys were interested in a STEM career, a statistic that hints we might just be seeing more females than males pursuing STEM careers in the future. 30 | Austin Woman | april 2016

1942 The year in which Hedy Lamarr received a patent for her “frequency-hopping” concept, a communications tactic that involves transmitting a signal over a random series of radio frequencies, switching from frequency to frequency at split-second intervals. Lamarr’s concept would soon become the basis for wireless communications in the mobile-phone and GPS industries. In 1937, Lamarr escaped an abusive marriage, boarded a ship and set off for America. On the ship, she met movie-studio magnate Louis B. Mayer, and by the time she set foot on U.S. soil, she had a movie contract. She originally wished to move to Washington, D.C., to work with the Inventors Council, but the military was uninterested in her frequency-hopping idea. In 1998, Canadian technology company Wi-LAN purchased half of her patent.

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leadership

2016 Women of Distinction

Girl Scouts of Central Texas celebrates five of Austin’s most esteemed women. Since 1997, Girl Scouts of Central Texas has honored more than 130 women with its Women of Distinction designation, those who have excelled from the boardroom to the classroom and the Capitol grounds to the sports field. Past recipients include Austin icons like Edith Royal and Luci Baines Johnson, and previous Austin Woman cover women like Olga Campos and Rhoda Mae Kerr. This year, in addition to the five individual honorees, women who span from real-estate royalty to a television titan, the Girl Scouts will also honor Wells Fargo as its Workplace of Distinction. All honorees will be celebrated April 7 at the Women of Distinction luncheon. To congratulate these deserving women, AW asked Girl Scouts of Central Texas to share with us the incredible impact these women have had on the Austin community. Emily Moreland

Chris Plonsky

Home is where the heart is, and serving others is where Emily Moreland resides. The owner of Moreland Properties, Moreland, along with her team, has helped Austinites find a place to call home since 1985. Beginning her professional career as a teacher, Moreland switched to real estate, landing her first job at JB Goodwin. Today, she oversees about 75 agents in her two Austin offices. She serves on the advisory committee for The Long Center for the Performing Arts and on Ballet Austin’s board of directors. Austin’s cultural arts scene would not be what it is without Moreland’s guidance.

The opportunity to pursue a higher education can mean a better life and brighter future. Since 2001, Chris Plonsky has given that very opportunity to more than 200 female student athletes as the women’s athletics director at the University of Texas. An athlete herself, lettering three years as a member of the Kent State University women’s basketball team, Plonsky witnessed how opportunities for female student athletes evolved in the wake of Title IX. She now works to provide guidance and experience to the young women following in her footsteps. She’s also a savvy businesswoman, and her supervision of UT’s trademark and licensing staff has helped the university earn the distinction of generating more trademark royalties than any institution in the country.

Jan Ryan

Jane Sibley

Patti Smith

She’s innovative, creative and forwardthinking. Jan Ryan is one of the leading forces in Austin’s bustling technology sector, and is currently helping usher in a new generation of Austin companies as a mentor, strategic advisor and angel investor. A fierce advocate for women and children, Ryan has built a career out of using her success to help others find their own. She is the founder of Women@Austin, a community focused on increasing the success ratios of female-led businesses in Austin.

Jane Sibley is the epitome of style, grace and perseverance, and her contributions to Austin’s cultural art scene have helped cultivate the allure of the city that beckons hundreds to move here daily. Her early work helped revitalize the Texas Historical Commission and what was then known as the Laguna Gloria Art Museum. For nearly four decades, she served on the board of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and also served as director on the original board of the Paramount Theatre. Her unbreakable spirit continues to enrich the lives of Central Texans.

From radio and television to websites and smartphone apps, a lot has changed about the way we receive news in the 40 years since Patti Smith began her career in television, but Smith’s unwavering commitment to sharing powerful stories, integrity and dedication has not. As general manager at KVUE-TV, Smith has set a standard of excellence that has garnered top journalistic awards, including the George Foster Peabody Award, the highest honor for journalistic integrity in broadcasting. Currently, she is helping mold the next generation of journalists as a member of the Moody College of Communication’s advisory council.

Photo by Elizabeth Green.

From left to right: Honorees Chris Plonsky, Jan Ryan, Jane Sibley, Patti Smith and Emily Moreland at the Women of Distinction kickoff event at the Texas Governor’s Mansion.

32 | Austin Woman | april 2016

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The Power of Youth

Three women take on their male-dominated industry. by Sarah E. Ashlock Move over, Silicon Valley. Austin’s rise to tech-city glory intensifies by the minute. Economic-development initiative Innovate Austin estimates that more than $1 billion was invested in the city in 2014 and that there are 5,100 high-tech companies in the Austin area. With no state taxes and a lower cost of living, compared with our California counterparts, it’s easy to see why Austin attracts talent and money. But it’s more than that. It has to do with smart, savvy women leading the tech revolution. Three women at the executive helm of sister companies Native

Commerce and Digital Marketer are spearheading a tremendous run of progress for females in the Austin tech scene: Native Commerce’s CEO Keren Kang and Chief Marketing Officer Amber Ewart, and Digital Marketer’s Vice President Molly Pittman. “Native Commerce discovers, and Digital Marketer teaches,” Kang explains in simple terms. While men own the companies, it’s apparent these in-charge ladies make them a success. “We’re actually the ones doing it, making it happen and seeing the results,” Ewart says.

The Engager: Molly Pittman’s journey to vice president began with Kentucky bourbon. While working on her bachelor’s degree in business administration at a small liberalarts college in Lexington, Ky., she interned at a nearby distillery called Buffalo Trace, where she got her first taste of marketing in a man’s world. After graduating, she moved to Austin and responded to a Craigslist post for internships at Digital Marketer. Among the dozen other interns, Pittman stood out. Her college classes had prepared her to excel at creating business plans, a task Digital Marketer assigned interns. Three years later, she’s worked her way up to the position of vice president. “The Internet has changed everything,” she says. “Everything’s accessible. As the Internet becomes more and more part of our daily life, of course marketing is going to really intertwine with that.” And with that comes a new way of selling products. “People run all kinds of ads that say, ‘Hey, buy this! Buy this! Buy this!’ We teach a [far] different strategy,” Pittman says. “It’s building a brand, getting in front of them, giving them useful blog content, teaching them something and then asking them to buy.” But small-business owners shouldn’t be discouraged that the Internet can be daunting when it comes to marketing, she notes. “You scroll through your Facebook and you see a video ad. That business could be spending as little as $5 a day on that,” Pittman says. “It used to be that if you wanted to run a commercial or billboard, that was really expensive and unattainable for a smallbusiness owner.” In addition to teaching clients how to market, Pittman is also navigating an industry that isn’t so welcoming to women. In 2014, Apple, Google, Facebook and other large tech companies released statistics about this problem, showing that men outnumbered women four to one. Pittman noted this issue when women approached her at events. “People would come up to me and say, ‘Molly, how does it feel to be the only forward-facing woman,’ or, ‘We need more women speakers,’ ” she says. “Knowing that there are women that I’m helping to empower feels great.” Pittman, whose vision for Digital Marketer is to provide “awesome information to help people and spread the word as far as possible,” is happy in the role into which she’s grown. She adopts short-term goals, explaining “you can almost put yourself in a box” by thinking five years ahead. Instead, Pittman focuses on the present. “I definitely found what I should be doing, which feels good.”

34 | Austin Woman | april 2016

“Knowing that there are women that I’m helping to empower feels great.”

Photo courtesy of Digital Marketer.

Molly Pittman, Vice President of Digital Marketer, 25 years old

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The Builder:

Photo by Natalie Riggs.

Amber Ewart, Chief Marketing Officer of Native Commerce, 27 years old Amber Ewart tests marketing strategies while wearing black cowboy boots. She earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing from Texas State University in San Marcos, and, like Pittman, started work as an intern. “I chose to do the internship because a lot of recent grads are hoping for a real job, but I didn’t really have any previous job experience,” Ewart says. “I thought that nothing was beneath me. Once I got here, I was like, ‘This is it. This is my place.’ ” Ewart was hired on full time as a media buyer, then transitioned into the position of traffic manager before moving up to CMO. Referred to as “one of the best marketing minds,” by Kang, Ewart attributes her ascension from intern to CMO to not having her hand held. After six months at Native Commerce, her boss left. She had to figure it all out on her own. And Ewart believes her lack of previous experience gives her an edge. “A lot of people think you need that, but when you’re in a position that’s all about breakthroughs, the cutting edge and blazing the trail, it’s a lot easier if you don’t have past habits influencing you,” she says. Being young and a woman has been difficult in this industry, Ewart admits. When introduced as CMO, she’s met with disbelief and puzzlement. Ewart tackles this prejudice by letting the results speak for her. “Yes, we have had this growth, and yes, here are my spreadsheets showing my return on investment,” she says. “Here are all the stats that back everything I’ve done. Do you still want to question it?” One of the more stunning problems Ewart deals with is when clients and industry members don’t converse with her directly; instead, they talk to her male colleagues. Kang notes that if those people reached out to Ewart directly, they might get better results or insight. “They are a little intimidated by the fact that a woman might know more than they do,” Ewart says. Ewart, who is constantly learning and pushing in her career, is concentrating on tapping into every market imaginable. While the company is stable in five markets right now, she’s hoping to raise that to 25 in the next three years. Beyond that, Ewart has thought about creating her own business at some point in the future. “I love the struggle,” she says, “of figuring something out.”

“They are a little intimidated by the fact that a woman might know more than they do.”

austinwomanmagazine.com | 37

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The Commander:

Photo by Natalie Riggs.

Keren Kang, CEO of Native Commerce, 32 years old Keren Kang is Native Commerce’s fearless leader. Previously, she worked in the videogame- and mobile-app-development industry for 10 years. The first app she launched coincided with the timing of the unveiling of the first iPhone, and it was “No. 1 on the charts for a good six months.” “It was a volatile space. I got tired of working on a bunch of projects and having them be canceled,” Kang says of what ultimately led her to leave that industry. Only 2 percent of the projects she developed or managed were actually launched, giving Kang that unwanted sense of discouragement and fatigue. Kang sought a more stable life. She found her next role, a project manager position at Native Commerce. “I couldn’t believe how easy the work was, not only because everything was webbased, but how interesting it was to be a part of this marketing world,” she says. “If games did some of the things we did in marketing, I think we would’ve done a lot better.” Her commanding presence and focus on completing projects that were “not only finished on time and budget, but of the best quality and excellence” are why it took her less than two years to rise from project manager to CEO. To put it plainly, Kang says, “Mediocrity wasn’t accepted.” While she enjoys that Native Commerce is lesser known than Digital Marketer, Kang wants to keep developing the company. When she started, Native Commerce was already doing well, and she hopes to maintain that trend. There’s no doubt Kang is clearing a path for women to be in this space. Jumping from one male-dominated field to another, she’s experienced firsthand the factors that contribute to gaming and tech still being men’s worlds. Although she believes tech will stay male-dominated for some time, she can also see a bend in the road. “Women inherently like to execute more than they like to sit and debate with each other,” she says. “Men get credited as being the visionaries, but it doesn’t mean s**t until you execute.”

“Men get credited as being the visionaries, but it doesn’t mean s**t until you execute.”

austinwomanmagazine.com | 39

avvy Women

Let’s Taco ’Bout It

Raising Hell in the Tech Realm

Listen in on a candid conversation with Austin Woman Publisher Melinda Garvey and Dell’s entrepreneur-in-residence, Elizabeth Gore. photo by kevin garner It was the third night of the South By Southwest Interactive conference when a tall, blond woman dressed in a fitted floralprint dress and silver rhinestone-clad cowboy boots took the Brass House stage at the Dell Lounge. In true Texas A&M alumna fashion, she shouted, “Howdy!” to the crowd with an enthusiasm that belied any notion of exhaustion from the past three days, which were booked back to back with conferences, entrepreneur meet-up sessions and startup-pitch panels. To say the past year for Elizabeth Gore, Dell’s entrepreneur-in-residence, has been a whirlwind would be an understatement. A native Texan, Gore seamlessly fits in with ranchers, policy makers in Washington, D.C., third-world farmers in Bolivia and fast-track entrepreneurs and CEOs from throughout the world. Austin Woman Publisher Melinda Garvey chatted with the 38-year-old about crazy life choices and what characteristics define an entrepreneur. Melinda Garvey: Tell me a little bit about your background. I heard you thought you were going to be a rancher. Elizabeth Gore: Yeah, I grew up on a cattle-and-horse ranch, so that’s just what you do. I was an animal-science major [at Texas A&M]. But, [in college,] there was a bunch of turn of events that led me toward the nonprofits and government world. Right at the time when former President Bush was building his library on campus, I started working really hard at the children’s center and at the front desk of the new Bush School. I was meeting amazing people and kind of realized there was a bit more to life than just… MG: …ranching and farming?

EG: Even though I really respect the industry. I got to do an internship up in Washington, D.C., and really saw the rest of the world and what was happening. It was inspiring. I ended up getting a master’s degree in highereducation administration with a nonprofit focus at A&M and went in a totally different direction. I moved to Washington, D.C., and life kind of took off from there. I loved D.C. It’s a place where, [as a young person,] the harder you work, the more you get to do. MG: That’s very true. So what made you leave? EG: I just kept wanting to do more in service and see more of the world. I had this completely arbitrary date in my mind that I was going to join the Peace Corps by 2003. And 2003 came really quick. I applied and didn’t think a lot about it. [One day,] I got a FedEx to my office and it said, “We’d like you to go to Bolivia, South America. You have 10 days to decide.” MG: Whoa. So, what’s your process for making those choices? EG: I had choices like this about four times in my career that seemed, I think, to the outside world, like they were crazy. You have these long-term goals that can kind of sneak up on you. But if you have them, at least you know they’re there. They’re benchmarks to mark your life by. But within that, even if you’re comfortable in that moment, [you have to ask] is that comfort going to get you to that next thing? If you’re doing well but you want to do even better, you’re going to have to take a risk. MG: That’s right. So what did you decide? EG: I thought it was time to go, so I said yes. I thought because [I was] in D.C., [the Peace Corps would] put me in this third-world city, but I ended up in a village with 34 families for two years, on the border of Bolivia and Argentina, in the mountains there. It was a crazy experience. Definitely

Elizabeth Gore and Melinda Garvey talk over breakfast tacos at Taco Shack on North Lamar Boulevard.

40 | Austin Woman | april 2016

Well

the hardest job I’ve ever had. Ever. I mean, still, to this day. The best entrepreneurs I’ve seen are definitely in these environments where there’s nothing. They create businesses and productivity and opportunity. It’s very impressive. It’s nothing you’ll see in business school, I can tell you that. Everyone always asks me, “What’s the definition of an entrepreneur?” It’s really an embodiment of wanting to scale and do something better, but I also think entrepreneurs these days aren’t [focused solely on] making their first $10 million. They are inspired by impact. They’re inspired by helping other people do what they want to do. Entrepreneurs are job creators, not job seekers.

and

GOOD

MG: On that note, what does the technology realm look like right now on a global scale, and particularly for women? EG: I compare the new realm of technology with The Clapper. Everything is two-touch. Every company, every startup is now a tech startup—period. I don’t care what industry you’re going into, what you’re selling, you are a technology startup. I think that’s one thing that’s quite interesting and every company is going to have a CTO at some point. That, in itself, means we’re all going to have to learn about tech. MG: So, I need to learn how to post a photo on Facebook and not have it be upside down? EG: Yes, you might [laughs]. MG: Well, let’s talk about you. You got this job at Dell when you were pregnant, and now you’ve got two little kids. EG: Yep, a 1-year-old and a 4-year-old. When [Dell] was thinking about their next entrepreneur-in-residence, it was a wild phone call that I got. I was very pregnant in California, and it felt very similar to taking a right turn to ranching and then a left turn to go to D.C. In my mind, this was another enormous left turn, going from a humanitarian-entrepreneurial background into a big company. My job now is to listen to entrepreneurs and understand what barriers they’re bumping up against and communicate that back to these political campaigns that are going on. I was joking the other day that I was the chief listening officer for Dell. MG: I love that. I know you travel a lot. How do you do that, not only the physical part, but also the emotional? EG: The emotional part is way harder. Last week was the first time my daughter said, “Mommy, it makes me really sad when you leave.” I almost died. My thing lately is that whatever I’m doing, I try to be there 100 percent. So, when I’m traveling, I work my ass off. When I’m with my children, I put the phones down and I’m with my babies. I try to give 100 percent each place I am. MG: What’s next for you? EG: I have four startups that I’m on the board of and I would love for one of those to blow up. To see one of those get really profitable and continue to change people’s lives, I want to see that. I’ve been with all of them since the day they opened, so, that’s my hope, that one of them just goes to the limits. Snapshot Who: Elizabeth Gore, entrepreneur-in-residence at Dell and the first-ever entrepreneur-in-residence at the United Nations Foundation

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Number of times she hits snooze in the morning: “None. The kids are my alarm.” How she takes her coffee: “It used to be black, but as I have gotten older, with cream.” Her #socialmedia scene: Twitter @elizabethgore On her nightstand: “A huge clock (I always have to know the time.); photo of my Grandma Opal (my hero); photo of my baby girl, Opal; sleeping mask; cough meds and a quote from the Bible.” Alternate profession she would like to attempt: “Doctor” Words to live by: “Keep your head up high and give ’em hell.”

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ASK THE EXPERTS

Technical Advice

Rise to the top with these tips from five female tech executives. Decades ago, when Austin started establishing itself as a technology hub, a small group of women began climbing up the executive-leadership ladder with a little bit of guile and a lot of guts. Now, as the tech industry continues to boom, more smart, ambitious and driven women are converging on Austin to pursue careers in the still male-dominated field. Austin Woman spoke to five of Austin’s most seasoned leaders in the world of tech to find out what it takes to make a career in Silicon Hills.

Austin Woman: What advice would you give to young women who want a tech career? Heather Brunner, CEO of WP Engine:

I would encourage all young women starting out to focus on consistently exceeding expectations in their role, no matter what function they are in. Put in the extra work and seek stretch assignments to build your brand as a top performer. As a top performer, you unlock possibilities for yourself faster. Just as there is a time value to money, there is a time value to work. Early achievements will pay massive dividends to accelerate your career. Julie Huls, president and CEO of Austin Technology Council:

Amanda Nevins, CFO of CSID:

Gaining a fundamental understanding of finance and accounting is a must. Investors don’t trust and therefore will not invest in leaders who can’t read a P&L or understand the growth and resource requirements of a company. The sooner you gain these skills, the deeper your understanding becomes throughout your career. Second, build a career advisory board leveraging the expertise that friends and contacts have that you don’t: management, HR/recruiting, finance, strategy, etc. Finally, resilience and tenacity are key! Setbacks, disappointments and left turns are inevitable. Effective leaders are able to dust themselves off quickly and tackle issues head-on.

After 26 years in the industry, I would say that you should work hard and have the highest integrity. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. That’s the best way to learn. Be curious and offer to help out wherever you can. The knowledge you gain from incremental projects will open doors and will help you understand a bigger picture. Believe in yourself. Don’t be afraid to take on things that you have never done before. You will figure it out. Play nice in the sandbox with others and try to have some fun!

Catherine Morse, general counsel and senior director of public affairs for Samsung: My advice is to lighten up and enjoy the journey. You will also need a little levity in your life as you pursue a career in the male-dominated technology world, so don’t forget to laugh at yourself and with others. Remember that life isn’t an emergency. Finally, do not overreact when you make a mistake. Mistakes tend to serve as important life lessons.

Lynn Atchison, CFO of HomeAway: Broadly, seek a formal education in engineering, coding, testing or new marketing technologies. However, don’t give up if you missed the formal boat; there are ways and places to learn new skills, such as adult-learning classes at St. Edward’s and ACC, as well as new organizations, such as Galvanize. On a more practical note, read up on new trends and technology buzz. Identify and learn about the companies that are in those areas. Once you have some target companies to pursue, you can continuously look for a way to get in the door. Tech companies grow fast and change as the market and environment changes, so while a first job there might not be exactly perfect, you can develop your career with the technology business.

42 | Austin Woman | april 2016

Austin Woman: What piece of technology could you not live without? Heather Brunner: My smartphone is my loyal sidekick, source of inspiration and lifeline to those dear to me. Julie Huls: My yoga app is tech I couldn’t live without. I look forward to the time each day that I get to be untethered to technology! Amanda Nevins: Working in finance, it would be Microsoft Excel. We love our spreadsheets. Catherine Morse: This is easy. I cannot live without my Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge! Lynn Atchison: While most will say their phone, I will assume that but point to technologies overall that allow for higher quality of music enjoyment, whether it’s the formats that allow for music on the phone or streaming, all the way to technology improvements in speakers. Let’s dance!

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must travel

See-worthy

It turns out, there’s more to Galveston than massive cruise ships and months-long Mardi Gras celebrations. By April Cumming

Consider this your condensed getaway guide to a grand weekend in Galveston, Texas.

The Yoga Haven

Friday 4:38 p.m.

Congratulations! You managed to take off work a few hours early and slip past the bottleneck traffic that is rush hour in Austin and Houston. Drop off your car with the valet and proceed up the sloping walkway to the oceanfront San Luis Resort like you’re a Hollywood starlet making her debut on the red carpet. Throw open the door to your top-level room and walk directly past the California king-size bed en route to the balcony. Take a deep breath as you scan the coastline glistening before you. On an otherwise seamless stretch of horizon, cargo ships inch along, crawling at a caterpillar-like pace. Time, you notice, starts to slow to a similar speed. A quick glance to ground level reveals the secluded grotto area of the resort’s pool. Make a plotting promise to yourself that a quick dip will be on the agenda before bedtime. sanluisresort.com 5:55 p.m.

Find your funny bone—and work out any physical kinks your body might be going through—as you stretch out and unwind at a free laughteryoga class (offered at 6 p.m. on the first and third Fridays of the month). Taught by beloved studio owner Kathleen DiNatale, classes at The Yoga Haven are open to all levels, even those simply after a little shavasana. theyogahaven.net 8:35 p.m.

What was that promise you made to yourself again? Oh, yes: a dip in the pool. Cue the soundtrack of ocean waves slushing their way to shore and muffled laughter coming from a nearby cabana. A chilly, cloudless-night breeze raises a few goose bumps, justifying your decision to sink a couple inches deeper into the water.

44 | Austin Woman | april 2016

The Yoga Haven photo by Ellie Cherryhomes. San Luis Resort photo courtesy of Galveston Island CVB.

San Luis Resort

DISCOVER A MAMMOTH MYSTERY. TREK INTO A DIORAMA. SIP AN ORIGINAL. MEET A MEERKAT. HONOR A TEXAS RANGER. LEARN HOW TO MAKE CHEESE. TASTE A TEXAS VINTAGE. TOUR THE EAST TERRACE. Enjoy new experiences with someone you love. Visit WacoHeartofTexas.com or call 800-WACO-FUN to learn more.

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Must travel

Saturday

Sunday

Get back to the beach. Watching the sunrise over the Gulf has a subtle way of making you feel small. With 32 miles of sandy, eggshell-white shoreline, Galveston features a constant stream of bikers, joggers and languid amblers soaking in the sun.

10:13 a.m.

7 a.m.

Shake up your morning routine with a splash of refreshing ocean water. Paddleboard in tow, wade in and catch a morning surf session with SUP Gulf Coast. Venture out far enough and you might just spot a playful pod of dolphins bobbing in the distance. supgulfcoasttx.com 10:13 a.m.

You’ve seen enough Travel Channel snippets on Pike Place Market in Seattle to know all about the fun times those fishmongers have tossing enormous salmon up and over the counter, only to have them magically land in the embrace of eagerly awaiting customers. While it may not receive quite as much hype, Katie’s Seafood Market lets passersby watch as weathered, local fisherman haul in their fresh catches for the day. If you’re planning to place an order, be sure to call it out before one of the pescatarians (aka pelicans) swoops in. Those big-beaked birds keep an open tab here. katiesseafoodmarket.com

Act like a local and hit up the Galveston’s Own Farmer’s Market. In the midst of seasonal greenhouse and garden-fresh produce and booths touting specialty milks and soaps sits a stand called Jackie’s Gourmet. Don’t leave without scooping up a few jars of Jackie’s burst-in-your-mouth jellies. Flavors include Meyer lemon lavender, blackberry cherry lavender and red pineapple habanero. galvestonsownfarmersmarket.com 12:50 p.m.

Before you head home, take one last drive along the Seawall, windows down, ocean breeze whipping through your hair, and take respite in the fact that, at least for now, you’ve got no better place to be than here. For a quick moment, somewhere between the rustling cacophony of palm fronds and daydreams of a sunsoaked life lived in one of the city’s ornate and opulently painted Victorian homes, you have to pinch yourself. Yep, you’re still in Texas.

11:45 a.m.

Don’t be surprised if you lose yourself on island time when you step into the Oasis Juice Bar & Market. In addition to offering a bevy of salads ready to placate even the pickiest of health nuts, this Jimmy Buffet-esque emporium offers juice concoctions with fun, if not somewhat cliché, titles like Tropic Tease, Can’t Be Beet, Island Sunrise, Berry Good and Mean & Green. oasisjuicebar.com 1:10 p.m.

Cherry-pick through the boutique shops lining The Strand, Galveston’s historic downtown shopping district. If you’re fortunate, an afternoon storm might sweep through town and convince you to duck into The Grand 1894 Opera House for a show or The Bryan Museum to peruse the world’s largest collection of historical artifacts and artwork relating to the Southwestern U.S. thegrand.com, thebryanmuseum.org

Festival on the Horizon Start detoxing now. You’ll be glad you did when the Galveston Island Food & Wine Festival hits town April 11 through 17. Rub elbows with chef, restaurateur and Food Network superstar Robert Irvine and spoil yourself on second and third helpings from the remarkably lavish food spread during the award-winning Sunday Brunch event at Hotel Galvez. galvestonfoodandwinefestival.com, hotelgalvez.com

4:05 p.m.

The clock says it’s only 4:05 p.m. instead of 5:04 p.m.? Oh, well. Happy hour isn’t far away. Catch a free tour or mosey up to the bar at Galveston Island Brewing and order up a craft-beer tasting flight or take your drink out to where all the cool kids are congregating on the homey front-yard patio. Concocted in-house, popular brews include Tiki Wheat, a vibrant wheat ale, and Nightfall, a porter with coffee undertones. This is day drinking at its finest. galvestonislandbrewing.com

Photos courtesy of Galveston sIsland CVB.

6:35 p.m.

Officially starving, one look at the menu at Ocean Grille & Beach Bar will have you ordering a glass of pinot grigio and settling in for a while. Judging from outward appearances, this ocean-to-table, beachfront restaurant, helmed by award-winning Chef Randy Evans, comes off as anything but pretentious. But order the half-pound Wagyu beef burger or the savory, bright-pink snapper— caught just mere hours earlier—and you’ll start to feel like you’re living the high life. oceangrilleandbeachbar.com 8:12 p.m.

Speaking of the high life, a slow night ride on the 100-foot-tall, LED-lit Ferris wheel at Pleasure Pier sounds like a pretty solid post-dinner plan. From your perch in the sky, marvel as the city streets cast their glow, appearing as though someone has stamped the town with a grid-like potato masher and strung the rivulets with lights. pleasurepier.com

austinwomanmagazine.com | 47

ust List

must give

Austin Gives With Metropia Save time on your commute and give back to the community, all from the palm of your hand. By Rachel Rascoe

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Metropia is a member of Austin Gives, an organization dedicated to highlighting businesses for doing good. In its four-year existence, Austin Gives has aggregated almost 400 Austin-area companies that have made the commitment to donate at least 1 percent of their annual earnings to charity. To learn more about Austin Gives, visit austin.gives.

48 | Austin Woman | april 2016

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Valuing connections has led Metropia to partner with beloved Austin eatery Tacodeli, Luke’s Locker and electric-bike shop Rocket Electric. Metropia also partners annually with the Trail of Lights and South By Southwest to reduce traffic congestion and direct visitors to optimal parking locations. In addition to expanding Metropia to more cities, future plans for the app include offering a larger network of transportation options to commuters, including public transit and carpool matching, a function already in place through the app’s new duo mode, which grants drivers bonus points for carpooling with friends and coworkers. Zmud says these small steps—accessible from the palm of your hand—are helping ease Austin drivers into adjusting their transportation habits, the mission being that with more drivers out on the road using Metropia, the more positive an impact people can have on Austin traffic conditions and the more they can connect and give back to their community and environment. “The environmental connection is very important to me,” Zmud says. “We’re alleviating traffic, but we’re also reducing air pollution and helping someone else along the way.”

Mia Zmud

TUNE IN

Austin Woman Publisher Melinda Garvey and Metropia’s Mia Zmud talk about the importance of women in business and Austin businesses giving back. When: When: April 5, 9 a.m. Station: KEYE-TV Segment: We Are Austin Website: keyetv.com/features/we-are-austin

Photo by Margaret Licarione.

What if you knew there is a way to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions, plant trees, donate meals and earn free breakfast tacos, all while navigating traffic on your way to work? As the vice president of ecosystem partnerships at Metropia, a local transportation app, Mia Zmud is in charge of helping frazzled Austin drivers find ways to avoid traffic congestion. It’s all in an effort to help relieve both Austin traffic and the drivers who have to sit through the thick of it. The app offers users different route options and target departure times to better circumnavigate wrecks and peak road-congestion hours. By suggesting small changes, data wiz Zmud helps Metropia users reduce their impact on the environment. “To me, it…feel[s] good just knowing that I work for a company that has a solution that I think can really make an impact,” Zmud says. “Metropia helps people not be part of the traffic problem, but part of the solution.” Zmud worked at the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C., for 15 years before eventually inching her way to Austin and starting her own transportationresearch company. Now an Austin resident of 20 years, Zmud was contacted by the founders of the Metropia app to help build local connections. “The mission and everything about [Metropia] really struck a chord with me, so I asked them if they were looking for a project manager for the Austin office,” Zmud says. She has been with the company for two years in the Austin market. A Tucson, Ariz.-based startup, Metropia chose Austin as its first large-city launch, due, in large part, to the area’s tech background and major traffic problems. By using the app’s navigation features, Austinites are able to save time and gas money while also reducing their carbon footprint. For every 100 pounds of carbon dioxide drivers save using the app, the company plants a tree in partnership with American Forests, a nonprofit conservation organization that helps restore forestland. Operating on a points-based system, the app incentivizes users to make small changes to their driving habits. Points are earned for avoiding peak traffic hours and scheduling trips ahead of time through Metropia’s reservation feature, as well as for miles driven. “The app is all about giving people the information to make better choices and then rewarding them for doing that,” Zmud says, noting one app user saved up enough points to buy an Xbox with Amazon gift cards. In addition to cashing in points for gift cards and deals at local and national businesses, Metropia users can opt to use their points to plant a tree with the American Forest Foundation or to purchase meals for Meals on Wheels and More, the well-known organization that delivers healthy food to homebound adults and people with disabilities. Zmud says it’s important to her that Metropia keeps local businesses incorporated in the app’s rewards system alongside big names like Target and Starbucks. “We do have some national name brands on [the app], but we’re really trying to bring people together with local merchants to make that connection,” Zmud says of the app’s rewards partnerships. “It’s not only looking at what’s the flavor of the week, but who’s a struggling merchant or business that’s just getting started that could use that connection?”

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For a complete schedule of events or to inquire about sponsorships, visit mjm2016.com.

ust List

Must Download

DON’T WORRY; BE APPY!

From sun up to sun down, here are the must-have apps to help get you through the day. By April Cumming

There’s no denying the dependent and, at times, overwhelming role technology plays in our day-to-day lives. Filtering through all the clutter can be more intimidating than sifting through that ceiling-high stack of storage boxes collecting dust in the garage. With more than 1.4 million apps available from the Apple App Store alone, selecting what downloads are most suited for you can be an intrinsically personal and subjective process. Which ones do you really need? We did some digging (or should we say swiping) and unearthed a few of our favorites. Sound the Alarm

Morning Meet-up

Sound the Alarm The sunlight-to-shuteye ratio is real (#thestruggle) and definitely favors the sun. Eyes peeled half-open, you scan the Austin Allergy app, created and updated by local news station KVUE-TV, to see what airborne creatures await you outside.

FEELIN’ HANGRY

Lunch pangs can only be ignored for so long, and you and your coworker just got in a semi-heated argument about whether to order Thai or Tex-Mex. What you need right now is Favor, an app that will send a runner to both places (regardless of whether they offer delivery service) and bring food right to your desk. Refueled and happily reconciled, your co-worker pays you for her half of the debacle using Venmo, an app that acts as a digital wallet, because true friends not only have each other’s back; they pay each other back.

The phrase “putting on your big-girl pants” shouldn’t symbolize the size of your waistline. Keep it that way by scouting hundreds of workout classes, from Bikram and barre to cycling and kickboxing, on Class Pass, an app and fitness service that costs less than an average gym membership.

Need to skip the studio and squeeze in a morning meeting? RideScout, an Austinbased transportation app, will tell you the quickest and most convenient way to make it there on time. One tap and you’ll be connected to the nearest Austin B-cycle stand, in addition to Capital Metro bus and rail routes and other commuters who think carpooling is the next best thing since Uber decided to start a puppy-delivery service.

break room Build that network

You have a general understanding of how online dating works, right? Well, Shapr functions in the same way, minus the dating element and sans any pressure of making a romantic connection, because— whoa—you’re not looking for that! The app is intended to connect you with likeminded industry professionals who, at most, might want to join you on that 2 p.m. coffee break some day.

Does your afternoon budget meeting remind you about that online shoe-shopping spree you took at midnight last Thursday night? Well, Mint remembers. It also remembers to alert you when bill payments are due. The best part: The app analyzes your spending patterns and creates a feasible budget plan for you to follow. It’s like having a personal accountant in your pocket.

track that time Come to think of it, you’ve been staring at your palm quite a bit today. Before your battery runs out, check yourself with Moment. While you’re at it, go ahead and compare how your usage adds up to the screen time of other members’ on your cell-service plan. Not that it’s a competition or anything, except it totally is!

50 | Austin Woman | april 2016

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bottoms up

Feel the Rhythm Somewhere between that midafternoon meeting and your head almost hitting the keyboard, the clock turned to 5 p.m. Putting two and two together, you wisely conclude it’s time for happy hour. See what new Austin pubs and patio spots people are raving (and humorously hating) about on Yelp and then round up your crew.

Don’t forget to take a shameless group photo before you head home. Looking to step up your photography game? The Pro HDR camera app takes two photos— one for shadows and one for highlights—and then blends the images together, creating an Instagram-worthy pic you’ll be proud to caption #nofilter.

Let’s not beat around the bandwagon. That happy hour was subtly disguised as pregaming for a night of listening to live music. This is the Live Music Capital of the World, after all, and it would be amiss not to scroll through the Bandsintown app to see who’s playing. You quickly snag a last-minute ticket.

Wine Down say goodnight Standing 5 feet too close to the speakers may not have been such a rad idea. Lesson learned. Temples throbbing, you decide to pick up a bottle of wine on the way home to help relax your senses. Walking through the Riesling section of the wine aisle, you start snapping photos of bottle labels and pop open the Delectable app. In seconds, the app takes each image and spews out expert advice, reviews and ratings to help make your decision process smoother.

Your eyelids are doing that thing again: They’re letting the pull of gravity have the upper hand. Ready to tuck yourself into bed, yet wanting to end the night on an uplifting note, you play a short five-minute game on Happify, an app aimed at triggering positive thoughts and emotions.

Plug in your phone and let the two of you recharge. Repeat in the morning.

austinwomanmagazine.com | 51

tyle

ask ashley

APRIL SHOWERS

Rain, rain, don’t go away. Photo by annie ray

Modeled, Styled and Written by Ashley Hargrove Canine model: Steven Jalapeño

April showers bring May flowers. The classic rhyme about rain is a drop of cuteness on our literary radar. Unfortunately, it’s about as reliable as a weatherman’s forecast when it comes to dressing functionally and fashionably for springtime drizzles and downpours. Sprinkle your wet-weather wardrobe with puddle-jumping-worthy style, and you’ll be singing and dancing (dryly) in the rain.

Fulton Lulu Guinness clear birdcage umbrella, $35, ellaumbrella.com

Watermelon dress, $205, available at Katie Kime, 500 N. Lamar Blvd., 512.358.4478, katiekime.com; adjustable light-blue Hunter rain boots, $160; Topshop putty rawedge belted coat, $210; ShedRain Rain Check clear-dome umbrella, $34; Street Level gray tote, $48, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512.691.3500, nordstrom.com; peach sunglasses, $7.90, available at Forever 21, 3409 Esperanza Crossing, 512.719.3988, forever21.com; yellow argyle dog raincoat, $24, available at shop.fabdog.com.

Sky umbrella, $55, momastore.org

Birds bubble umbrella, $26, totes.com

52 | Austin Woman | april 2016

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tyle

Runway Report

RAPT UP

Designers flaunted their favorite Fall trends—and fought an industry norm— at New York Fashion Week. BY Cheryl Bemis

Bibhu Mohapatra

Though fall is a relatively short season in Austin (Did we even have a winter this year?), it means there will be more than enough runway trends to don come autumn. Trends on the runways included the use of brocade fabric or the illusion of it with the use of intricate lace overlays. Lace continues to be a dominant theme, so keep this classic option in your closet for the rest of 2016. The one-shoulder gown prevailed among other silhouettes, with blouson sleeves replacing straightsleeve treatments, and the addition of cutouts or illusion netting modernizing the flattering look. Ruffles floated effortlessly from Spring to Fall collections, cascading down dresses and gowns at Reem Acra and Marchesa. At Rachel Zoe, an ivory dress layered by scalloped lace ruffles and topped with a tailored, cream-colored jacket emerged as the runway favorite. However, it wasn’t all delicate details and flowing fabrics. The transition to super-edgy looks from designers like Lela Rose and Tadashi Shoji signaled a major shift in sartorial direction. While the styles of designers often repeat themselves season after season, many designers offered collections stark in contrast to those from their previous catwalks. In perhaps the most significant fashion moment of the week, Rebecca Minkoff presented her Spring 2016 collection, bucking the industry norm of showing upcoming Fall collections during the Spring season. This bold move challenged the current fashion calendar and was the talk of the fashion town for the entire week. Tom Ford and Burberry, along with a handful of other designers, have already adopted this departure from convention and will follow suit, showing their Fall collections in September. Fall fashion in the fall, and Spring fashion in the spring? Count us in.

54 | Austin Woman | april 2016

Photo by Jay Q. Chen.

While Austin fashion lovers basked in Texas’ 80-degree weather this February, those attending New York Fashion Week bundled up against an arctic blast. Central Park broke the record for its coldest morning in a century, putting everyone in the mood for Fall 2016 fashion.

Naeem Khan

Rachel Zoe

Bibhu Mohapatra

Photos by Jay Q. Chen.

Naeem Khan

austinwomanmagazine.com |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; 55

tyle

beauty

BATTLE LINES

Wage a war against breakouts and blemishes. Photo by rudy arocha modeled by Taylor Green

56 | Austin Woman | april 2016

q Previous Page Upper left dots, yellow: Kiehlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Masque, $32, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com, or kiehls.com. Upper left cheek, green: Rinse Bath & Body Co. Dead Sea Mud Mask, $16.95, available at rinsesoap.com. Middle left cheek, pink: Caudalie Instant Detox Mask, $39, available at caudalie.com.

Center line, black: Moor Mask for Face & Body, $49.99, available at moormask.com. Upper right dots, green: Kiehlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Purifying Masque, $32, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com, or kiehls.com. Upper right cheek, orange: Farmhouse Fresh Splendid Dirt Nutrient Mud Mask With Organic Pumpkin Puree, $22, available at farmhousefreshgoods.com.

Middle right cheek, gray: Omorovicza Ultramoor Mud Mask, $125, available at Neiman Marcus, 3400 Palm Way, 512.719.1200, neimanmarcus.com, or omorovicza.com. Jawline, white: SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque, available at Viva Day Spa, 215 S. Lamar Blvd., 512.472.2256, vivadayspa.com, or skinceuticals.com.

ome

entertaining

Playing House

Invitations sealed and sent—check. Bottles of Champagne chilling—check. Now all you have to do is pretend like you own the place. By Deborah Stachelski

Why book separate rooms for your girlfriend getaway when all 10 of you can stay together in a fabulous, private and completely equipped luxury home? As Austin grows into one of the country’s ultimate leisure destinations, the vacation-home industry is experiencing a major transformation, and Austinites and out-of-towners alike are gravitating toward renting a party home for more than just vacations. Austin Woman scoped out some of the best rental homes in the area, just to see for ourselves what these fabulous homes have to offer. The trend has proven wildly popular in the music capital, causing a significant ripple effect on the hotel industry. According to a 2016 report by vacation-rental company Airbnb, 92 percent of renters choose a vacation or party home because of its amenities, and 87 percent choose these kinds of rentals so they can feel like locals. Austin, with its insider culture and swelling social calendar, can only truly be appreciated in all its glory through the eyes of an expert. To experience that full effect, one must get recommendations from locals, shop in small neighborhoods and visit the hole-in-the-wall businesses only residents know about. In fact, according to the same report, 98 percent of Airbnb hosts recommend local businesses to their guests, and 41 percent of the guests’ spending remains in the neighborhoods in which they are staying.

One of the great benefits of renting a party home is that everything you need is at your fingertips. You can cook all your meals, make yourself at home and never deal with other guests interrupting your fun. Many locals have begun using services like HomeAway, Airbnb and Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO) in Austin to rent houses for graduation parties, large dinner parties, local bachelor and bachelorette weekends, corporate outings and even weddings and birthdays. The trend has developed so dramatically in Austin that in November 2015, the city passed a moratorium until 2017 on issuing any new licenses for short-term rentals that are not owner-occupied properties (known as Type 2 rentals). However, existing owners who rent their homes year-round can continue to do so and renew their licenses. During the summer months and peak events such as South By Southwest, the Austin City Limits Music Festival and Formula One, rental prices skyrocket. According to one report by SmartAsset, rental-property owners could see their rental revenue increase by 155 percent during SXSW, compared with a normal week in Austin. Renters don’t seem to mind. They are finding value that’s not available elsewhere, and Austin’s shortage of hotel rooms makes the convenience of vacation homes that much more appealing. Even for Austin locals, renting a party home simply to host guests for any number of events or occasions is an attractive idea. Who wouldn’t want more space to entertain, to save her home from the mess of a party and to enjoy a getaway of her own?

q Architectural Landmark Designed by Herbert Bohn, the Bohn House is a historical landmark near downtown Austin, and the most expensive rental property in Austin. At 6,700 square feet, it is designed and decorated in the art-deco style. Marvel at the stunning design while taking in the home’s many amenities, including a pool, hot tub, koi pond and rooftop deck overlooking downtown Austin. Need to make an impression? This is the rental for you.

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day

night

and

Whitney Wolfe describes Bumble, her delightfully vibrant dating app, more like a 2 p.m. spin class than a 2 a.m. dingy nightclub. Now, Wolfe and Bumble are spreading their wings, empowering women and rethinking what it means to live the happiest life possible.

story By Emily C. Laskowski Photos by annie ray Styled by Ashley Hargrove Hair and Makeup by Laura Martinez

The yellow-and-black stripes of the bumblebee coil around its famously fuzzy thorax in a striking, iconic pattern. These contrasting colors have become synonymous with the social insect, and yet, they rank second to its most inimitable feature. That distinction rests with the attribute for which the lightweight, fluttering creature was named: that soft hum the well-known pollinator produces as it hovers in the air, its delicate wings flapping furiously—its buzz.

hitney Wolfe, the 26-year-old founder of Bumble, launched the social-discovery platform, heralded by many as the feminist dating app, less than a year and a half ago. With her core staff of six women working feverishly from Bumble’s headquarters in downtown Austin, Wolfe and her team zip and zoom from one task, one milestone, one breakthrough to the next. And all that movement is generating a lot of buzz. Wolfe is, forgive the pun, a busy bee. She checks her phone intermittently between movements, responding to emails, texts, phone calls. Buoyancy is a strength. She bounces between Bumble’s outposts in London and Los Angeles, where it’s standing room only for technology startups, yet anchors her team in Austin, away from the swarms of stinging competitors and with plenty of space to consider the myriad decisions she must make for her rapidly expanding company. Austin, she says, gives Bumble the freedom to spread its wings and fly. Leaning over the kitchen counter of the waterfront home where she launched her game-changing idea not long ago, Wolfe sips on a Topo Chico and puts on a pot of coffee. She hinges her elbows to the countertop and checks her phone one last time before placing it just out of arm’s reach. “I don’t remember a night that I didn’t check my email in the middle of the night in the last year,” Wolfe admits, glancing at her phone’s screen across the countertop. “I think I’ve slept maybe five nights completely through the night without taking a break halfway through to check something, respond to something, do something. I’ll wake up in the morning at 7 and will already have had multiple conversations via email with people in London and elsewhere.” Indeed, Bumble has anything but bumbled along since launching in December 2014. As a dating app, it utilizes many of the basic operational functions used by other dating apps, but with one resounding, distinct difference. For those new to the mobile-dating world, here is a quick primer: Most mobile-dating

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apps operate on a matching system. A user swipes through the profiles of other users on her phone, swiping right to indicate interest, and swiping left to pass. A match is made when two users both swipe right on each other, at which point, either party can usually make the next move to initiate contact. “I had an aha moment,” Wolfe says. “I said, ‘You know what? I’ve got it. Women have to make the first move.’ ” Wolfe’s aha moment not only uprooted the recently planted norms of the mobile-dating community, but it also defied the long-held societal standard that the guy makes the first move. Before Bumble, dating apps had started

developing seedy reputations as a result of the sleazy and slimy pickup tactics initiated by some of the apps’ male users. Bumble, by creating a platform through which only the female user can initiate contact, eliminates that uncomfortable situation for its users. As a result of its virtual gender-role reversal, women flocked to Bumble. “We’ve done in 14 months what I would call nearly impossible,” Wolfe says, noting the millions of new users Bumble has added to its hive during that time, at a growth rate of as much as 65 percent per day. “We’re growing, which doesn’t happen by accident. That

has to be engineered. We built a pretty meaningful brand in a short amount of time, and that doesn’t happen without hard work.” Bumble’s remarkable growth illustrates how disturbingly negligent other dating apps had been toward their female demographic. Even the bumblebee’s black-and-yellow stripes pale in comparison to the contrast between Bumble’s brightness and the industry’s darkness. For Wolfe, it was always a matter of when and how, not if, she would discover Bumble’s light.

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66 | Austin Woman | april 2016

B orn in Salt Lake City, Wolfe spent her

early childhood years in an environment more pastoral than metropolitan. “Imagine not seeing a person’s house unless you literally walked for two minutes,” Wolfe says. “Everything was on its own spread and it was every child’s dream. It was this wooded, secluded type of childhood.” Growing up with her parents and younger sister in Utah, the geographical center of the Mormon faith, Wolfe cultivated an early understanding of the people and places around her. “My mother’s family is Catholic, and my father’s family is Jewish,” Wolfe says. “I think I benefited from that because I grew up with such an understanding of everybody. I went to a Jewish preschool but then a private Catholic high school. I grew up with a cultural understanding of different people, traditions, ways of life.” By the time Wolfe turned 11, her parents moved the family to Paris, specifically to instill in their children a sense of the world. Wolfe was placed in a nonEnglish-speaking school and immediately immersed herself in the culture. “My very, very best friends in the world are from that school in France. They’re from all over the world. That’s been a huge part of who I am because I was raised with these people that were not just from my neighborhood,” she says. “We’re talking from different worlds.” Despite Wolfe’s parents having the fortunate means to live in Europe, they found the life difficult to sustain, and moved the family back to Utah after a couple years. “It [was] much harder to keep the family together across the pond,” Wolfe explains. “I have a half brother and half sister from my father’s first marriage. It was very hard to see them. You can’t take kids out of school and shuffle them across the country. [There are] grandparents, all of these things that are so important in a child’s life, even soccer practice and being able to drive in a car and go through a drive-thru. You don’t get that in Paris. It was 45 minutes on a metro. It’s a different thing. It’s just different.” The transition back home to Salt Lake City proved more difficult than it had been to leave. “I wouldn’t get invited to birthday parties,” Wolfe admits, laughing to herself. “Here I had just come home from living in Paris. I’ve seen half of the world at age 12 [and] I was an outcast.” As Wolfe entered her teen years and

“If I want to

have any type of

impact, there’s only two ways to do it: through education and technology. That’s it. Truly.”

progressed through high school, doing “all the normal things a high schooler does,” her situation improved. In fact, the seeds of her creativity and innovation had started to bloom. “My mom would tell you I was always crafty. I had some weird painting project going on in my room or was inventing something new,” Wolfe says. “I was always kind of doing something different.” Wolfe’s inventive spirit continued to flourish after she graduated from high school. As a sophomore at Southern Methodist University, her mother’s alma mater, Wolfe used her ingenuity to spearhead an impassioned venture. In late April 2010, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig operated by British Petroleum suffered an internal explosion and started gushing what would become millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. “I was really upset about all of the animals they kept showing on TV that were covered in oil,” Wolfe says. “Do you remember that? They were just doused in oil.” While efforts to contain the BP oil spill drifted along, Wolfe brainstormed ideas that would benefit the organizations trying to protect the affected wetlands and wildlife. One morning while talking to her mother, who had just come from yoga class, Wolfe had an epiphany. “I was like, ‘Perfect. I’m going to make yoga bags, tote bags [and] I can get every girl on campus to carry them.’ I was in a sorority and I knew that everyone carried a little bag to school,” Wolfe says. She found a local, organic, eco-friendly distributor, had the bags designed and started selling them via Facebook. “It just went crazy,” Wolfe remembers. “All of a sudden, I had sold so many of these things, and then I was at home pitching it to these magazines and these celebrities. It was in In Touch

and then it was in Us Weekly and all of these different things, which, being a sophomore in college, was a really big deal. It really was.” Wolfe graduated from SMU ready to do more. During college, she had studied abroad for a year and vacationed overseas with her family during the summers, but yearned to see things in a different light. “I just wanted to be anywhere that was different from my own corner,” she says. “I wanted to see it. I wanted to understand it. I wanted to taste it, feel it, think it, do it. I just needed to understand it.” Wolfe packed a backpack and hopped on a flight to Cambodia. “I was desperate to understand what life was like for people that didn’t have the good fortune that we all do here,” Wolfe says. “I wanted to understand that side of life and help do something.” Traveling throughout Southeast Asia and sleeping in $3-a-night hotels, Wolfe eventually discovered an orphanage in Northern Thailand, which she found herself returning to day after day to volunteer. Then, one day, she stopped. “I’d go and be there all day and just kept saying, ‘You know what? I have the good fortune of having an education. There’s so many other capable humans here that can go and rock the babies and play with them. I have the ability to go home and do something that will touch all of these people somehow. I need to go do that because sitting here with the amount of education I have is actually a disservice to people.’ ” After hungering for a world different from her own, Wolfe’s outlook changed. “I realized that I shouldn’t be there, because I could only have an impact on the people in that room,” she says. “If I want to have any type of impact, there’s only two ways to do it: through education and technology. That’s it. Truly.” Wolfe returned to the U.S. bearing big dreams to start her own microloan business selling clothing, jewelry and other artifacts made by women from different parts of the world, until she got a proverbial wake-up call. “My dad was like, ‘No. Good luck funding that. Get a job. You need a job,’ ” she remembers. And so, Wolfe got a job at Hatch Labs, an incubator for startups in San Francisco, where she started working on a series of projects, including an app that would launch four months later and eventually be called Tinder.

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me? The CEO of the most successful dating platform espite Hatch Labs serving as her first “workingin the world,’—which it is—” Wolfe interjects, “ ‘wants for-somebody-else job,” the startup environment to talk to you? You talk to him right now.’ ” suited Wolfe’s own quick-paced mind. “ Do not feel like you Wolfe replied to Andreev, and started talking to “There were probably seven or eight little are forced to stay him about her next move. Together, the two formed a things that we would be tinkering with, as you in things that are not partnership and soon developed the concept for Bumble. do in an incubator,” Wolfe says. “That’s the whole point. It’s like going into an art class. healthy. Do not stay he American cosmetics maven Mary Kay Ash once You do projects.” in a bad relationship remarked, “Aerodynamically, the bumblebee shouldn’t Wolfe joined Hatch Labs in May 2012, and by because you’re be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn’t know it, so it September, had started launching Tinder on college scared of not finding goes on flying anyway.” campuses, beginning with her alma mater, SMU. Since its inception, Bumble has flown past its foes As one of the first location-based dating someone else.” without looking back. apps, Tinder ignited a new, sexy world of social “We are our own thing and we’re a force of light and discovery. It merged the basic laws of attraction good and kindness,” Wolfe says. “We’re trying to help with the instant gratification for which millennials people. We don’t care about our ego. We’ve really tried to just stay on this are stereotyped. It also launched its co-founders, including path of not letting the naysayers screw with us and bite our ankles. There Wolfe, into the cosmopolitan world of startup stardom. are lots of snakes in the garden. You’ve just got to put on some tall cowboy Wolfe wasn’t in Utah or Cambodia or even Paris anymore. boots and run through it. There’s no other way.” Unfortunately, when Wolfe ended her relationship with fellow And so, Bumble runs, or rather, whizzes, though a garden of budding Tinder co-founder Justin Mateen, her relationship with the company technology, chasing ideas on the horizon and challenging conventions she helped establish also dissolved, and got messy. Following an rooted to the world more stubbornly than a patch of weeds. incoming flurry of inappropriate texts, emails and other forms of “The big vision is really to be the go-to lifestyle brand for all things communication from Mateen and others at Tinder, Wolfe filed a connecting, confident connections, whether that be finding your sexual-harassment lawsuit. Wolfe had hoped the suit would be resolved boyfriend or your girlfriend or your husband or your wife, or to find your confidentially, but instead, had to pursue it after months of failed best friend, or to maybe make the first move in a business setting,” Wolfe attempts. (Wolfe is unable to discuss specific details of the lawsuit.) says. “If Bumble can eventually move into this place that kicks you out Wolfe left Tinder, but in her wake, exposed the chauvinistic of your comfort zone and encourages you to be confident and feel good predispositions of a male-dominated tech industry. Tinder, which about yourself when you are connecting, for any purpose, then I think had since become infamous for facilitating late-night hookups and that’s really the long-term goal.” nightmarish one-liners, all of a sudden, reflected an ugly, derogatory Bumble unveiled part of that plan in March with the release of world that frightened women. Bumble BFF, a feature that allows users to search for friends, not just “When I was surrounded by misogynistic characters in my past, significant others. naming no names or eluding to nothing, I, myself, started acting “People are already so comfortable with the brand Bumble,” Wolfe that way because I was so fearful of them putting me in this nasty says. “It doesn’t feel sexy to them. It doesn’t feel sultry. It feels cute and category,” Wolfe says. “I started being misogynistic. I was calling fun and welcoming.” girls bad names. I was saying, ‘Oh, look at her. She’s this,’ or, ‘She did Wolfe explains that many users were already using Bumble for this that last night with so and so. She’s a that.’ I regret that now, but I’m purpose, sometimes to the confusion of their significant others. grateful that I lived through that because I realized what so many “[The user has] a boyfriend back in LA,” Wolfe says, as an example, “but young girls do. They’re so fearful of being categorized or being the their boyfriend’s buddy travels to Paris or wherever and sees them on victim of a misogynistic mindset that they, themselves, put on this Bumble. Then, it turns into this, ‘Well, no, I’m not on Bumble for that. I’m misogynistic shield, and it’s really dangerous.” really using it because I know that I can connect with other people. …’ ” Following her departure, Wolfe found solace in her experiences Wolfe elaborates that Bumble’s users want to make connections for a with the people she had met in places like the orphanage in variety of reasons. Maybe they recently relocated for a job, or suddenly, Northern Thailand. all their friends are pregnant and they are looking for a friend who can “Why would I feel sorry for myself that things went the way they meet for happy hour or they just want to branch out. In any case, Bumble went when I’m healthy, I don’t have a terminal illness, I have family, BFF fills their need, and Wolfe isn’t stopping there. I have friends, I have a roof over my head, I have great food, I have “Maybe after that, it’s a professional setting where you’re looking access to anything?” Wolfe says. “It would be the most gluttonous, to network,” Wolfe ponders. “You’re bored with your job. You want to horrible, self-loathing thing for me to sit around and feel sorry for branch out with your new job. You don’t want to be seen out taking job myself. Zero excuses for that.” interviews when you’re still at your current job, but you do want to meet The then 24-year-old returned to Texas and attempted to control some people to start dipping your toes into different industries. Why not a relentless media storm. do something like this?” “You have to remember,” Wolfe points out, “I didn’t have some PR To Wolfe, Bumble is more than an app; it’s the option someone never team. I was just sitting here with my family, my boyfriend and his thought they had. And by providing a safe, comfortable place to make new family, ordering in and going about my life, with the Daily Mail trying connections, Bumble gives its users new viable options. to climb through the window and The New York Times calling extended “Do not feel like you are forced to stay in things that are not healthy. relatives. It was insane. I’m not a celebrity. For a normal girl to have Do not stay in a bad relationship because you’re scared of not finding international media interest from every direction, it was nuts. Nuts.” someone else. Do not keep these same friends that are maybe toxic to During that time, Andrey Andreev, the CEO of Badoo, the world’s you. Do not stay at that job that is draining the life out of you,” Wolfe largest and fastest-growing social-discovery platform, emailed Wolfe, expounds. “We want to show you that there’s hope for really going after who was receiving hundreds of messages from people by the hour, whatever you want, feeling good about yourself and connecting with but she didn’t respond. people outside of what you already have access to.” “I got a second email, and [my boyfriend] said, ‘Are you kidding

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olfe had this mentality in mind when she first created Bumble, knowing other social platforms only catered to a certain accepted form of dating. “I don’t like sitting in nightclubs at night. I don’t go to bars. I go to bed at 10,” Wolfe says unapologetically. “I don’t want to be limited [just] because I don’t want to partake in the average socializing event.” Bumble’s trajectory and mission reflect Wolfe’s journey to define herself and her own path. “Happiness doesn’t come from living in the biggest city. Happiness doesn’t come from being able to eat at the fanciest restaurant. That’s not what it’s about,” she says. “It’s about being somewhere safe and with people you care about, just being able to be happy with whatever your surroundings are, no matter what is going on.” Bumble began with women making the next move. As Wolfe envisions Bumble’s next move, she pauses, marveling at how her team flies from point A to point B. “We just have fun,” Wolfe says. “That’s kind of our mantra at Bumble: Work hard. Take things seriously. Don’t break the law. Break the rules, but not the law. Don’t take yourselves too seriously.”

Wolfe gulps the last of her Topo Chico and reaches for her phone. She scans it for any urgent messages and sets it back down. She is about to head to the office, and is flying out to London in a couple days. There is work to be done. “It’s nonstop, but I’m passionate about it,” Wolfe says. “I imagine if you have the good fortune of having children, you’re passionate about them in a way that you’ll wake up in the middle of the night for them, you know? I look at Bumble as this passion project. It’s something I love and I care about. We’re really having an impact on people. How many people get to say that? Not many. If I get this opportunity, I don’t want to sleep on it.”

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Now Hiring: As the founders of recruitHer, Ashley Doyal and Gina Helfrich have one mission: to advance diversity in the technology industry. Now, with clients like Pinterest, Pandora and RetailMeNot, these two women and their Austin-based recruiting firm are proving why diversity is critical to candidates as well as companies. By rachel merriman photos by Dustin Meyer

Diversity As the founders of recruitHer, Ashley Doyal and Gina Helfrich have one mission: to advance diversity in the technology industry. Now, with clients like Pinterest, Pandora and RetailMeNot, these two women and their Austin-based recruiting firm are proving why diversity is critical to candidates as well as companies. By Rachel Merriman | Photos by Dustin Meyer

70 |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; Austin Woman |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; april 2016

n the modern world, it might be a surprise to learn that women hold only 26 percent of technology jobs. For women of color, that number plummets to 3 percent. Some say the numbers are so staggeringly low because girls aren’t encouraged to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) coursework in school, but that’s only part of the problem. Fifty-six percent of women in technology end up leaving their positions mid-career, and only 20 percent of them return to the tech industry. So what can be done to solve this huge retention problem?

Enter Ashley Doyal and Gina Helfrich, the founders of recruitHer, a full-service recruiting firm that connects candidates with tech companies that provide inclusive and supportive workplaces for women and other under-represented groups. In addition to offering job-matching and career-coaching services, recruitHer offers recruiting services and diversity consulting to companies that want to hire and retain more diverse talent. Between them, Helfrich and Doyal have more than 20 years of experience promoting diversity and inclusion in their areas of expertise. Doyal is an experienced recruiting and human-resources professional. She began her career working for a medical-staffing agency whose major client was the U.S. Army. “I was both lucky and totally unprepared for that role,” Doyal says. “It was wonderful because both the Army and medical staffing are aggressive environments, [so, it was] a good primer for going into tech. It taught me to find my voice—literally. I would have to stand on a table in front of hundreds of dudes and corral them.” Next, Doyal worked for a small startup before landing at locally based gaming company Electronic Arts. There, she co-founded its Diversity and Inclusion Guild, which partners with organizations that empower people with different backgrounds, and began offering advice to anyone who approached her about women in the gaming industry and in tech, as a whole. “People would find me and ask, ‘How do you get more women in?’ [and] ‘What do you do if no women apply?’ ” Doyal says. “I’d always done it for free, but then I found out that some of my peers were charging for that expertise. So, I made a promise to myself that I was not going to work for free anymore.”

Meanwhile, Helfrich was firmly rooted in academia. She holds a Ph.D. in philosophy and women’s studies from Emory University, and after serving on the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women, she became the director of the Harvard College Women’s Center. “I had a wonderful experience at Harvard,” Helfrich says. “I was so excited to be able to work and teach with people who were big nerd heroes of mine. I sat on a committee with Mahzarin Banaji, a woman who is one of the foremost researchers on unconscious bias. … I got really interested in unconscious bias, stereotype threat, impostor syndrome and how those things affected my work at the women’s center.” Helfrich soon felt the need for a new challenge, and moved to Austin, where she had heard there was a vibrant technology community, with the intention to “be a drop in the ocean” as a woman working in tech. At South By Southwest last year, she met a woman who worked in diversity consulting, inspiring her to start her own management-consulting business. “I thought, ‘That is the kind of thing that I would get up and be really happy to go to work and do every day,’ ” Helfrich says. During Helfrich’s initial exploration for her consulting business, people kept asking her if she planned to match candidates to the companies she worked with. Because recruiting isn’t her area of expertise, Helfrich posted a request for an informational interview with a recruiter on the Austin Digital Jobs Facebook group, and Doyal responded. “When Ashley and I talked together on the phone, we realized together that these things are interconnected [and that] we could utilize our expertise to reinforce good behavior from companies,” Helfrich says.

recruitHer Tips for Salary Negotiation 4 Do your research. Ninety percent of the process is making sure you’re well-prepared before you even start the actual negotiation. Know your target salary and the minimum you’re willing to accept. Make sure to base your figures on market rates for the role specific to the location where you’ll be working. 4 Always, always, always negotiate. If the salary number can’t budge, negotiate for benefits. 4 Think carefully and creatively about what you want: flexible work hours, a free public-transit pass, a spot for your child in company day care? There’s more to negotiate than simply salary figures. 4 Show you understand the other person’s perspective. Research on gender differences in salary negotiation out of Harvard’s Kennedy School shows women do better when they show empathy for the employer. Say “we” to indicate you’re on the same team, and give business-based reasons why you deserve more.

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“It’s so much easier if you put emphasis on diversity early on and really be thoughtful about the way you scale your team in the beginning so that you don’t accrue so much diversity debt. It’s 20 times harder when you have to reverse to try and fix it.”

Every company recruitHer provides recruiting services for is thoroughly screened to ensure they’ll be a good fit for candidates. “Every company has to answer the same questions. [We ask] about what their current team looks like, work-life balance, remote work flexibility for employees, their parentalleave policies, trans-inclusive health care and career-development tracks,” Doyal says. “These aren’t out-of-the-ordinary questions to ask; it’s just what our candidate pool generally wants to know about. We do this pre-vetting so that, at a minimum, they can go into the interview process with a better idea about whether or not they’re going to be a fit there long term.” If a company is having problems with attracting and retaining diverse talent, recruitHer offers management-consulting services to help make their processes and policies more inclusive. “Sometimes, companies don’t realize they have a problem until the team has 50 white guys in their 20s, and they can’t figure out why no women will apply or make it through [the hiring process]. We get into the concept of diversity debt a lot when we counsel companies that are in their early and growth stages,” Doyal says. “It’s so much easier if you put emphasis on diversity early on and really be thoughtful about the way you scale your team in the beginning so that you don’t accrue so much diversity debt. It’s 20 times harder when you have to reverse to try and fix it.” One of the ways in which recruitHer focuses on reducing diversity debt is making companies aware of how unconscious bias may affect their hiring processes and HR policies. “We’re exposed to messages, associations and images in our everyday life all the time, and so, we unintentionally teach ourselves to associate certain concepts with women,” Helfrich explains. “You can see this in action if you go to implicit.harvard.edu and take some implicit bias tests, which measure in splitsecond differences how quick or slow you are to match certain concepts. One of the tests you can

take, for example, is about career and home life, and men and women. So, you may take the test and learn that your brain is quicker to associate women with words like ‘laundry’ and men with ‘briefcase,’ even though implicitly, you don’t hold those beliefs at all.” “One of the ways our brain makes decisions quickly is by association,” Doyal adds. “If you’re comparing resumes with the exact same skill set—literally, word for word, the same thing—and you put what sounds like an ethnic name on one and what sounds like a typical American name on the other, people choose [the American] one or rate it higher, even though it’s the exact same information.” Companies can reduce the negative effects of unconscious bias by implementing better hiring processes that don’t introduce bias. To evaluate potential candidates, Doyal suggests using GapJumpers, a technology platform for employers that uses blind-audition challenges in lieu of resumes to compare candidates’ skills. It’s also now relatively easy for companies to provide employees with unconscious-bias training since Facebook recently made its unconscious-bias training free and open to the public. “You have to be aware of the way [unconscious bias] works in order to set up steps to mitigate those influences in your hiring decisions and your interview process. … Education is the first step in figuring out what we can do to make sure it doesn’t negatively impact our processes internally, now that we know our brains are wired to do this weird thing that we don’t want them to do,” Doyal says. Just hiring diverse talent isn’t enough, though. To retain women, companies need to implement and properly support inclusive policies, such as flexible work options and parental leave. Sometimes, Doyal and Helfrich agree, those are tough but necessary conversations to have with their clients. “I would argue that, at the end of the day, what it comes down to is that our societal ideas of what it means to be an ideal woman are still

— Ashley Doyal recruitHer-recommended Resources n #FemaleFounders, hashtagfemalefounders.com n Austin Digital Jobs Facebook group, facebook.com/groups/austindigitaljobs n Austin Hispanic Hackers Meetup, meetup.com/austin-hispanic-hackers-meetup n Austin Women in Technology, awtaustin.org n Boss Babes ATX, bossbabes.org n Feminist Hack ATX, feministhack.com n Glassbreakers, glassbreakers.co n Hire More Women in Tech, hiremorewomenintech.com n National Center for Women and Information Technology, ncwit.org n Textio, textio.com n Women@Austin, womenataustin.com n Women Who Code, womenwhocode.com/austin

72 | Austin Woman | april 2016

in conflict with what it means to be an ideal worker,” Helfrich says. “The modern American workplace has not yet caught up to making the changes necessary to support great work for women, and great work for anyone who wants to have a life outside of working a 60- to 70-hour week. There’s nothing wrong with women; what needs to shift is workplace cultures.” Transparency about salaries, promotion policies and bonuses is also essential to ensure women are fairly compensated. “Here’s exactly how you’re going to be measured to determine whether you get this particular promotion because, again, those are the areas where biases can creep in, and then someone who is maybe less qualified gets it because they are white or a man or more vocal,” Helfrich says. Doyal strongly opposes a hiring practice that has become routine on job applications: asking applicants to disclose their salary history. “If you’re someone from an underrepresented group who has historically been underpaid, there’s no way you’ll ever catch up if you’re being paid based on your past history versus the competitive market rate,” Doyal says. “I think that’s the future: getting to a point where market rate determines what you’re being paid, not your skills in negotiation or what you look like,” Helfrich adds. Successfully implementing diversity and inclusion strategies takes time and effort, but companies that do so will see rewards for their bottom lines. Gender-diverse companies have a 15 percent higher return on investment, while racially diverse companies have a 35 percent higher return on investment. And a recent study by the Peterson Institute for International Economics shows companies with women in leadership positions have stronger profits. “You’re literally leaving money on the table if you’re a company that’s not taking this stuff into consideration,” Doyal says. “If someone came to you and said, ‘I have this tool you can use, and if you just click the button, you’ll get 15 percent more customers,’ you would do it!” A diverse team can even be the thing that makes or breaks a company’s products or services. Doyal points to the release of Apple’s Health app, which comes standard on all iPhones, as an example. The app measures every intricate thing imaginable about the user’s body, such as calorie intake, sleep patterns and blood pressure, but doesn’t offer any options for tracking reproductive cycles. “They were ridiculed, and it happened because they didn’t have a diverse team,” Doyal says. “If they had any women involved, someone would’ve flagged it and said, ‘Hey, you forgot this hugely critical piece.’ It was a totally avoidable problem.” In addition to helping companies promote

diversity, recruitHer offers job-matching services to individuals, who can simply upload their resumes on the recruitHer website and receive a call within two business days. “We’ll dig into what you want to do next, what your ideal role looks like,” Doyal says. “It’s a very human process. It’s very different from other sources that use algorithms to match people.” It’s important to note that recruitHer’s focus is on diversity, and while that certainly includes helping qualified women find amazing tech jobs, absolutely anyone can sign up for the company’s job-placement services. “Obviously, our areas of expertise and our personal experiences are in women in tech, but our mission from day one has been to serve marginalized groups in tech,” Doyal says. “And until those numbers change, that will include women, people of color, veterans, the LGBTQ community and disabled candidates.” “The hobbyhorse I’m on all the time is that there’s no such thing as a diverse person,” Helfrich adds. “Diversity is a quality of a group. We’re providing a diverse set of candidates. No one is going to fit a particular mold.” recruitHer also offers career-transition planning, goal setting, resume and portfolio overhaul services, and more. For those who are stuck and simply don’t know where to start, chances are recruitHer will know how to help. “For example, maybe a person’s been out of the workforce for a couple of years and they want to sit down with us and do mock interviews for a couple of hours,” Doyal says. “Maybe someone is transitioning from one industry to the next and they need help figuring out what their narrative is.” Best of all, recruitHer gives back to organizations that support marginalized groups through its referral program. Like most referral programs, the person who refers someone to recruitHer that is hired within a year gets $1,000. Organizations that refer candidates get $2,000. And if candidates who weren’t referred by anyone get hired, recruitHer still gives them $1,000 to award to an organization that supports the community. “Because we’re a for-profit company, we want to be able to funnel the revenue we bring in back into the community we’re set up to support,” Doyal says. “It works well because it incentivizes our community to send us referrals, but also makes sure that we put money back into the communities that we’re trying to bring visibility to.” With community support, career planning, job matching, education and more, Doyal and Helfrich’s full-service approach to diversity advancement comes in all shapes and sizes. And while one company does not fit all candidates, and vice versa, Doyal and Helfrich know that if there’s one thing capable of cracking the foundation of this technology town, it’s diversity.

“The modern American workplace has not yet caught up to making the changes necessary to support great work for women, and great work for anyone who wants to have a life outside of working a 60- to 70-hour week. There’s nothing wrong with women; what needs to shift is workplace cultures.” — Gina Helfrich

austinwomanmagazine.com | 73

: N O I T A R I INSP

The first step toward your future. Engineered to Rock!速 Learn more at cirrus.com/careers.

Best Small & Medium

Workplaces

2015

GOURMET To Market, to Market

Freshen up spring with these sweet and savory treats. story and photos by Natalie Paramore Even though the Austin winter weather could easily be mistaken for springtime, April is the first month when real spring produce is officially available. Strawberries, carrots and corn—yes, corn—are ripe for the picking from local farmers markets, and are the perfect ingredients for revamping a few recipes. A little sweet, a little salty and a little savory, these three dishes will be the talk of the season.

austinwomanmagazine.com | 75

OURMET

AW test kitchen

Moroccan Carrot Salad Ingredients 7 to 8 whole large carrots 4 dates, pitted 1/4 cup crumbled feta 1/4 cup olive oil 1/8 cup cilantro, chopped Juice of half a lime 1/2 teaspoon turmeric 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 teaspoon cumin Pinch of red pepper flakes Directions 1. Wash and peel the carrots. Roast them in a saute pan over medium heat for 15 minutes, turning a few times until they become slightly tender. 2. In a bowl, combine the olive oil, spices and lime juice with the chopped dates. 3. Place the carrots on a serving dish and top them with the dates and mixed spices. Add the feta and serve with additional cilantro, if desired.

Produce Tip: carrots

Look for carrots that are smooth and don’t have rootlets or cracks. Carrots should be plump and firm. Carrots lose moisture from their tops, so cut off the greens if you plan on storing the carrots, but they are best enjoyed as fresh as possible.

76 | Austin Woman | april 2016

Roasted Corn and Black Bean Salsa Ingredients 3 ears of corn 1 can (approximately 13 ounces) of black beans Cake:

1/2 cup red onion, diced

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

2 cups sugar 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberry puree

1 teaspoon cumin 1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cups vegetable oil 4 eggs

Juice of one lime

1 teaspoon lemon juice Pinch of salt

Directions

1. Roast the corn on a grill or over an open flame until it’s 1/4 cup sugar slightly blackened. Once it’s cool enough to touch, cut the corn Directions: from the ear and place it into 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees a mixing bowl. Frosting:

2 cups heavy whipping cream

and whisk dry ingredients together. 2. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients until smooth. Don’t over mix or the cake can be become dense.

2. Rinse and drain the black beans. Pat them dry and remove any excess water. Combine the beans with the corn in a bowl. 3. Add diced red onion, cilantro,

3. Pour the batter into three 6-inch baking rounds and bake for cumin, salt and lime juice, and 35 minutes or until they pass the stir until well combined. knife test.

4. Serve with chips, on salads,

4. Let the cakes cool. Whip heavy with tacos or as a side. The salsa cream with the sugar until stiff will keep in the refrigerator for peaks form.

three to five days. 5. Remove the cakes from the pan and layer the cake with frosting. Decorate with additional strawberries. 6. Serve the cake the same day. The cake will need to be stored in the fridge if kept overnight.

Produce Tip: CORN

Don’t shuck the corn or you’ll annoy the farmer! Instead, look for corn with tassels that are brown and sticky. If it’s black, then it’s old. Feel the stalk through the husk for plump, even kernels.

austinwomanmagazine.com | 77

graduation is why

When Anneke was born in February of 1995, it was discovered that she had four major congenital heart defects that caused switched arteries, holes in her heart, and the inability for blood to flow correctly. A complete surprise to her family and physician, as nothing was detected during her mother’s pregnancy, Anneke underwent open heart surgery the day after she was born. She continued her life having frequent check ups, and when she was 3-years-old she had to have a surgery scheduled. Her family waited patiently, and to everyone’s surprise, a miracle happened. Two of the three major issues they were going to operate on that day healed themselves. Instead of having another open heart surgery, they instead performed an outpatient surgery, and she was on her way home that same day. Anneke continued to have frequest visits with her cardiologist. Then, at the end of freshmen year, her roomate rushed her to the hospital and she was diagnosed with an atrial flutter. On June 6, Anneke had a catheter ablation at the Heart Hospital of Austin, which is part of St. David’s HealthCare, and had amazing results. Since then, she has been able to run twice as long, feels energized and is confident in her health.

survivor gallery sponsored by:

AW test kitchen

Fresh Strawberry Puree Wash and trim strawberries. Process them in a food processor or blender on high speed for 2 to 3 minutes. Add a tablespoon of water if needed to help blend. Strain the puree through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth if needed to remove seeds. One pint of strawberries yields approximately 1 1/2 cups of puree.

From-scratch Strawberry Cake Cake ingredients 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups sugar 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberry puree 3/4 cups vegetable oil 4 eggs 1 teaspoon lemon juice Pinch of salt Frosting ingredients 2 cups heavy whipping cream 1/4 cup sugar Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and whisk dry ingredients together. 2. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients until smooth. Don’t over mix or the cake can be become dense. 3. Pour the batter into three 6-inch baking rounds and bake for 35 minutes or until they pass the knife test. 4. Let the cakes cool. Whip heavy cream with the sugar until stiff peaks form. 5. Remove the cakes from the pan and layer the cake with frosting. Decorate with additional strawberries. 6. Serve the cake the same day. The cake will need to be stored in the refrigerator if kept overnight.

Produce Tip:

Photos by David Zacek.

strawberries Color is more important than shape. Choose the berries with the deepest red color you can find. Strawberries with white around the tops aren’t quite ripe yet and won’t be as sweet.

austinwomanmagazine.com | 79

OURMET

FOOD NEWS

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW

Revamped restaurant spaces are taking over the town. BY DANIELA COVIAN Former Austin Woman cover woman Bridget Dunlap, the queen of Rainey Street, developed a burgeoning bar scene and has added two new projects to her kingdom with the opening of Ophelia and Parlor & Yard.

Photo by Nicole Raney/CultureMap.

Parlor & Yard, a Sinatra-esque sports-lounge space, took over the space of downtown causal-chic French restaurant Arro, which closed Feb. 5. The enclosed garden-room space Arro was favored for has been revamped to incorporate plenty of oldfashioned entertainment, such as dart boards, Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots, foosball, air hockey, shuffleboard and Ping-Pong tables. Cocktails, as well as canned and tap beer, are on the menu and, as of press date, a brunch buffet is in the works. Attention all pup-loving Austinites: The patio space is dog-friendly. Dunlap’s second renovation project, Ophelia, is a collaboration with Cajun food truck Baton Creole. The restaurant replaces Dunlap’s since-shuttered Eastside eatery, Mettle. The new jazzand-blues-focused dive features classic décor (think red-velvet curtains) and portraits of legendary singers the likes of Nina Simone, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks and Billie Holiday prominently displayed on the walls. Focused on Texas- and Louisiana-style cuisine, the menu features chicken-fried frog legs, crawfish, gumbo and boudin grilled cheese. Dunlap is also the owner of popular Austin hot spots Lustre Pearl, Bar 96, Clive Bar, Container Bar and Burn, a Romanstyle pizza concept that opened in October 2015.

Join us! Saturday, April 16, 2016 | Four Seasons Hotel | Austin, TX Cocktail Hour | Dinner | Casino | Live & Silent Auction Special Performance by Dale Watson & His Lone Stars! For sponsorship opportunities, ticket sales, and more information visit www.capitalareadentalfoundation.org/gala

ellness

health

It’s Conceivable!

The answer to your pregnancy prayers is a fertility app personalized just for you. By Jill Case Conceivable, the customized fertility app started by local fertility-wellness expert Kirsten Karchmer, combines the tenets of Eastern and Western medicine to give women the tools to optimize their chances of becoming and staying pregnant. Karchmer’s own journey began when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in her 20s. When she started getting better and stronger after one year of acupuncture, she decided to go to acupuncture school. “At acupuncture school, I started noticing that the menstrual cycle was a very, very impressive barometer of a woman’s overall health, whether or not she was struggling with fertility issues,” she says. This epiphany led Karchmer to her career as a reproductive acupuncturist. Karchmer founded and was the CEO of The Texas Center for Reproductive Acupuncture, one of the largest fertilitywellness centers in the country, for 15 years. She also served as the president of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine. While running her clinic, Karchmer felt the cost of in vitro fertilization, access to wellness clinics like hers and other options were cost-prohibitive for most women, so she wanted to find another way to help women with fertility issues. “I decided that I wanted to use everything I know about Western medicine and everything I know about Chinese medicine to build a platform that could deliver the program that I did clinically with more than 7,000 women over 15 to 16 years, but I wanted to do it at one-tenth of the price,” she says. Karchmer began to dissect her clinical program and build diagnostic algorithms. “Basically, the program actually has the ability to assess all the factors that affect a woman’s overall fertility and create customized programming to correct those problems,” Karchmer says. “What’s unique about it is that it has the ability to learn from the user’s engagement. The more input her program receives, the more precise the information will 82 | Austin Woman | april 2016

become about the changes she would need to make to optimize her fertility.” The app takes a multi-step approach to optimizing fertility by focusing on three factors: the menstrual cycle, lifestyle habits and mindfulness. To address patterns in the menstrual cycle, the user answers questions about her cycle regularity and length, as well as the amount and quality of menstrual blood flow. She also notes any other symptoms she may have, such as cramping or PMS. This information helps the program, as well as the user, understand how her menstrual cycle is affecting her ability to become pregnant and stay pregnant. Women also record their basal body temperature each morning and input that information. The goal is to help women achieve what Karchmer calls the “conceivable cycle,” or the optimal menstrual cycle for getting pregnant, which is ideally a 28-day cycle with ovulation occurring on day 14, along with cervical discharge that correlates with the day of ovulation, as well as no cramping, clotting or spotting. Lifestyle habits such as diet, weight, amount of exercise and personal environment can all affect a woman’s ability to get and stay pregnant, and elements of mindfulness also play a part. Infertility problems can cause stress, which affects fertility, so Karchmer’s goal is to provide women with tools and strategies to help them manage their stress. Karchmer encourages women to see their gynecologists or a fertility doctor to determine if there are physical issues that need to be corrected before beginning to use the Conceivable app. For more information, visit conceivable.com.

Why Conceivable Works Natural Herbal Formulas Conceivable differs from many popular fertility apps and tracking programs because it includes customized herbal formulas that are tailored to each woman’s needs and health issues after her data is analyzed. After analysis, the user receives her herbs in a box labeled for cycle days one through four, 12 through 14 and 15 through 28.

Customized Menu Planning Users are provided with nutrition information, menu plans and recipes based on their individual needs. “Eating healthy is always good for your fertility, but when you drill down into each person’s problem, there are specific foods that can accelerate their progress,” Karchmer says. “It’s our goal to use technology to figure out what those things are and provide them in an easy-to-consume manner.”

Stress Less Fertility Course Conceivable’s fertility course teaches users to reduce their stress through mindfulness techniques. “Most of the stress we suffer either happens in the future or the past,” Karchmer says. “The more we can train ourselves to stay in the present, the more we can reduce our stress. There is good research that says that how stressed our body is depends on our attitude about it.”

More Than Just Tracking The easy-to-use app does more than predict a woman’s fertile period by tracking her basal body temperature and cervical discharge. Instead, it looks for patterns to help find underlying problems that may be affecting her fertility. In addition to these features, users have access to fertility experts when they have questions, making this a complete, multidisciplinary approach to infertility.

In a medical emergency, the last thing you need is a long drive. So it’s good to know that now there are two convenient ERs in your community: the ER at Cedar Park Regional Medical Center and the brand new Cedar Park Regional Emergency Center in Leander. For all of your emergent needs, you’ll find care for your whole family at both of these locations.

For more information, visit CedarParkRegional.com or CedarParkRegional.com/LeanderER. Cedar Park Regional Medical Center 1401 Medical Parkway Cedar Park, TX 78613 512-528-7000 CedarParkRegional.com

. kwy alls P tal F Crys

ell N. B Rd.

. Blvd line Lake

r. pe D w Ho E. Ne

. Blvd tone hites E. W

WITH TWO LOCAL ERs,

Freestanding ER 1751 Crystal Falls Parkway Leander, TX 78641 512-379-3500 CedarParkRegional.com/LeanderER

QUALITY EMERGENCY CARE IS MORE CONVENIENT FOR YOUR FAMILY.

In a medical emergency, call 911.

ellness

Fitness

Smartwatch Study

Austin Woman took to the streets to ask local women about their favorite fitness gadgets. The results are in. By Tony C. Dreibus Wrist-based workout technology isn’t new, but it certainly has blown up in recent years. The first Garmin watches that tracked everything from heart rate to pace to calories burned were big, bulky and unwieldy. Today, consumers have a much wider choice of workout watches from which to choose. They’re slimmer, more powerful, easier to read and, simply put, they do more stuff. They’re not perfect, though, and several Austin women weighed in on the highs and lows of their wearable technology. Overwhelmingly, the small sampling of women interviewed owned Garmin products, which isn’t surprising, considering how popular Garmin is among amateur athletes.

Garmin Vivoactive

Fitbit Charge

Garmin Forerunner 910XT and 920XT

MSRP: $219.99

MSRP $129.95

MSRP: $399.99 and $449.99

The Garmin Vivoactive is a GPS-enabled smartwatch that tracks time and distance, allows users to get texts and social-media messages directly on the watch, shows who’s calling and has a long list of other features, including connectivity with data-tracking sites. Melanie Reyes, an Austinite who uses the device, says she likes her Vivoactive because it has every feature she needs (and even several she doesn’t), but it isn’t big and bulky like Garmin devices past. Other features she finds useful include being able to see who’s calling and the ability to read text messages. “For women who have children, that’s really important. If you’re out running and your phone is in your run belt or CamelBak, if something’s happened, you can see it right away, so that’s very parent-friendly,” she says. Katie Johnson recently bought a Vivoactive and has experience with wearable technology, working for the past 20 years for companies that design and install displays on cellphones, tablets and wearable devices. The Vivoactive, she says, is a good size, tracks everything she needs and has a color display. “But it’s not that good of a color display,” Johnson says. “It’s hard to see in the sunlight. They’re trying to keep the battery life and, as a result, the colors are faded. Why not just do a monochromatic display and have it really pop?”

Austinite Janie Hunter says she doesn’t need a smartwatch that tracks her pace, heart rate or distance. Instead she likes her Fitbit Charge, which tracks the number of steps she takes daily. Hunter said she wears her Fitbit when she goes for walks around Lady Bird Lake or just out to walk her dog, and she shoots for 10,000 steps daily. “When I first started wearing it, it got me motivated to hit that 10,000 mark,” she says. It does have some downsides, Hunter says. Sometimes it doesn’t categorize her workouts, which means she has no record of a recent two-hour bike ride she completed. Her first Fitbit also broke, with a small button falling off. That actually turned into a positive, she says. “[The company] gave me a new watch and told me if I needed anything else to give them a call.”

The Garmin Forerunner 920XT and its predecessor, 910XT, are both GPS-enabled smartwatches that do, essentially, everything a multisport athlete could ever want. They track swim, bike and run distances, cadence and vertical oscillation and ground-contact time. In other words, for $400 to $450, you can have a digital personal trainer on your wrist. Stephanie Verdugo and Tina Brown both have the 910XT. The Austinites say they like the functionality of the watch, but aren’t thrilled with how bulky it is. “I run, swim and bike, and it’s good at tracking all three,” Verdugo says. “It links [and uploads data] to myfitnesspal.com, Strava and its own site, so I can see all of my results.” It’s very complicated though, Verdugo adds, and setting up the 910XT and figuring out everything it does isn’t intuitive like some older products with fewer features. Brown agrees in that she likes the range of data the watch provides and the fact she can easily download her workouts. She also mentions Garmin’s top-notch customer support, which, she feels, increases the value. Still, it’s bigger and bulkier than many other products on the market. “It’s huge,” she says. “I don’t have small wrists; I have medium-sized wrists, so if it were a little bit smaller, [it would fit better].”

84 | Austin Woman | april 2016

c Austin Area OB/GYN is pleased to announce our affiliation with Consortia Medical to address the problem of urinary incontinence.

Unfortunately,

many

our patients find that when they laugh, cough or sneeze, they leak urine due to a weakness in the muscles

DREAD COUGHING? (Or sneezing, laughing, running, standing up or even playing sports?)

surrounding the pelvic floor. This common condition is often caused by childbirth. Through the Consortia program, which is covered by most insurance carriers, patients could see significant improvement or even cure within six sessions of physical therapy. Ask your physician or nurse how to take a d v a n t a g e o f t h i s p r o g r a m t o d a y.

aaobgyn.com (512) 451-8211

WE’RE HERE WHEN YOU NEED US

For Expert Care, Convenient to Home

BRIDGING THE DIVIDE BETWEEN

people / neighborhoods / health care

We care about the community we serve. Whether it’s finding time for a well woman visit or having immediate access to a trusted obgyn when you experience troubling symptoms, we’re here for you in Round Rock. Our experienced physicians offer big-picture wellness strategies, leading-edge diagnostic services and minimally invasive treatment options. • Adolescent to reproductive-age gynecologic care • Complete obstetrical and prenatal care • Menopause management • Minimally invasive surgical techniques • Urologic care

As Central Health begins the redevelopment of our Brackenridge Campus, we’re seeking new ways to bring together Travis County residents and the exceptional health care we all need.

Dr. Rebecca Teng • Dr. Timothy Leeds • Dr. Beth Thai • Dr. Brenda Chao

512-931-1656 obgynroundrock.com

CentralHealthCampus.net Redevelopment begins in 2017

oint of view

memo from JB

Those Tech-savvy Teens

What getting schooled by my daughter means for her generation. By JB Hager, photo by rudy arocha I don’t mean to come across as sexist, so don’t hate me when I say I never would have guessed in a million years that my 14-year-old daughter would be schooling me on technology. It seems to be happening on a daily basis. My daughter sees me fumbling with my phone, iPad or computer and quickly snatches it out of my hands, letting out a resounding sigh. “Just give me that,” she moans. “You’re driving me crazy.” Within a few minutes, she solves the issue that had me stumped for no less than an hour. I never thought I would be that guy. I’m no tech genius by any stretch of the imagination, but I’ve never had a fear of it. I was always interested in taking things apart and figuring out how they work. I was a pretty good kid and rarely did anything that warranted punishment, other than the time when I was about 13 and I took apart a perfectly good lawn mower. I wanted to see how many removable parts existed, why it required so many parts and what they all could possibly do. It turns out, it takes a lot longer to put a lawn mower together than it does to take it apart. That evening, I got a stern lecture on “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” Later in my teen years, I moved on to cars. My friends and I were fearless, removing brakes, transmissions and carburetors, and even pulling entire motors. We did it mostly out of necessity, but our curiosity of how things worked got the better of us. As I approached 20, the general population was being introduced to the personal computer. As broke as I was at that age, I begged, borrowed and traded everything I could to put together my first PC, a 286 with 4-meg RAM, probably a 20-meg HD (There are single photos this size now!) and a monochrome monitor (That’s one color, kids.). Yep, and I was awful darn proud of it. It was pretty cool, at that moment, and for the next 25 years, I was the “tech guy” and a go-to problem solver for many. Everyone comes to me with tech questions. Even if I don’t know the answer, I love the process of figuring it out. Forever, it was almost entirely guys playing with any sort of technology, at least from my experience. There were all these stereotypes flying around that math, science and certainly technology were subjects of a man’s world. Throughout the years, I witnessed so many nonprofits and awareness programs to get girls into these fields. I’m sure it seemed like an impossible uphill battle for some of the organizations. As a radio personality, I supported many of them either via an interview or an event appearance. Their task at hand seemed so daunting. Many of my conversations with these organizations took place long before I was a father, certainly before I knew I would someday be raising a girl. Fast-forward a couple decades, and I have this 14-year-old looking over my shoulder. I’m testing her patience. She often jumps in and corrects me, explaining something to me or showing me a shortcut. I can’t tell you how many times she has seen me toiling about something and she explains to me, “Dad, there’s an app for that.” I welcome that intervention and have recently found myself going to her first before I go down some dark hole

86 | Austin Woman | april 2016

searching for answers. It’s not because I’ve lost touch or am no longer relevant when it comes to technology. It’s because there is an entire generation of girls, like my daughter, who know what the heck they are talking about. She is lucky to have no fear of technology. She may have inherited some of her tech geekiness from her old man. Who knows? Maybe this is just the way she is wired. It’s very likely that all those organizations that have been working diligently during the last 20 years have broken down those barriers and destroyed stereotypes. For that, I am grateful. There is an entire generation of tech-savvy girls on their way, and they move at the speed of sound. Look out. More importantly, welcome them as they look over your shoulder.

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yoga about 10 years later, 10 Canoe oars lap rhythyears too late. Both sports mically into the emshare a lot in common, but erald-green water bethe reason I stick with them neath Barton Springs; is because they let me leave two bikers bicker about everything behind. If that who’s been living here sounds cliché, so be it. I the longest and how ditched my sports watch the much they’ve seen the day after my high-school city change; Austin icon cross-country days were Woode Wood plucks done. All I needed was me. his guitar and exchangPeople can fall in love es passing hellos; a with an activity, be it sportsmom coos to her todrelated or not, for many dler as they scoot closreasons: competition, comer to the swans seeking munity, improved mental or shade by the riverbank. physical health. Sometimes, This is my run. I think the hardest relationI’ll be the first to admit ship to maintain is the one I’m not like most runners. within your own head, how I don’t wear a watch or you see yourself and how carry a phone when I’m you approach and take on on the trail. I simply tie the world around you. No on my tennis shoes, grab matter what kind of day I’ve my car keys and am off. had, the trail is always there The sounds I hear are not for me. It doesn’t need to the incessant beeping of text me or return my calls a Fitbit or a text-message or schedule a meeting. I just notification or the blaring know it’s there. of the latest Drake album. “Your body is capable of I spend enough time in almost anything. It’s your my day surrounded by mind that needs convinc“Your body is capable of almost technology, so why would ing.” I must repeat that I want to ruin the one anything. It’s your mind that quote no less than 10 times chance I have to break to myself on a given run. away? I like the feeling needs convincing.” It’s empowering to think of being free, of losing that if our minds choose to yourself, even if it is in the believe something, our bodheart of a big city. ies will follow along and believe it too. Then again, I’ve always been attracted to activities that ask a lot So I keep running. My heart swells as I cross under the MoPac from you, but don’t require much more than you. Think about it. bridge in full stride, taking in the colorful sight of languid paddleFor basketball, you need a court, a pumped-up ball and some seriboarders, shouting kayak-polo players and the stunning, Tetris-like ous hand-eye coordination skills. For volleyball, you need kneepads city skyline rising in the distance. and a net. For tennis, you need a racket, a dozen balls in case you “Home,” I whisper to myself. lose the other 11 and a partner. For golf, you need—well, I’ve never To be honest, I’m not entirely sure which drawer my old sports taken an interest in golf, so, I don’t really know what all you need. watch resides in. But I’m willing to bet it needs a new battery. I started running long distances at the age of 11 and caught on to

Austin Woman features a reader-submitted essay every month in the I Am Austin Woman column. To be considered for June’s I Am Austin Woman, email a 500-word submission on a topic of your choice by May 1 to submissions@awmediainc.com with the subject line “I Am Austin Woman.”

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