April 2019 by Austin Woman Magazine

AUSTIN WOMAN MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

“Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood.” —Marie Curie

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ON THE COVER

TALKING SHOP BY JENNY HOFF

FEATURE

STEM-SATIONAL

Photo by Rudy Arocha.

BY MAURI ELBEL

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CONTENTS

Photo courtesy of El Naranjo.

APRIL

62 SAVVY WOMEN

STYLE + HOME

18 C OUNT US IN

44 S PLURGE OR STEAL

20 GIVE BACK

Women in Numbers

R/GA Austin’s Candice Hahn

22 F ROM THE DESK OF 24 S TART THE CONVO

All Girls Considered Eating Disorders

46 SEE HER WORK 48 M AKE ROOM

To the Maxi

Painter Arielle Austin

Tech-savvy Smart Home

GOURMET

ATX WOMEN TO WATCH

62 R ECIPE REVEAL

32 J ESSICA SCANLON

64 F OOD NEWS

33 MACKENZIE ROBERSON

66 GIRL WALKS INTO A BAR

34 MOIRA ZINN

WELLNESS

35 DR. ALEJANDRA CARRASCO 36 BETH GOFF-MCMILLAN AND DIANA KELLER 37 ABBY CONE

El Naranjo’s Springtime Ceviche

Thai Fresh’s New Concept, Gati

68 W AITING ROOM 70 H ER ROUTINE

Jules Design Bar

Debunking Blue-light Myths

Cyclist Deaton Bednar

38 KAREN HELTON

POINT OF VIEW

DISCOVER

72 ON THE MONEY Financial Apps for Moms 74 ASK LUCY Austin’s Growing Vet-tech Program 76 I AM AUSTIN WOMAN Dana Rygwelski

41 ADVENTURE GIRL

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ON THE COVER Photo by Rudy Arocha rudyarochaphotography.com Hair and makeup by Alicia Beller aliciabellermakeup.com Styled by Mandi Summers mandisummers.com Tibi pleated crop top, $495, available at Kick Pleat, 624 N. Lamar Blvd., kickpleat.com; Nili Lotan Chelsea pants, $450; Celine pumps, $750, available at By George, 1400 S. Congress Ave., bygeorgeaustin.com.

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THE TEXAS WOMEN’S SUMMIT APRIL 29, 2019 | AUSTIN

The Texas Women’s Summit is a one-day event dedicated to women who want to break barriers, build bonds and step into new or greater leadership positions. This year’s inaugural summit in Austin will tackle the challenging topic of women on corporate boards and provide practical tips for breaking gender barriers and enriching networks. HOW MISTAKES LEAD TO VALUABLE LESSONS This powerhouse group has made a lot of mistakes. So, why would you want to listen to them? It’s because they own those mistakes, have learned from them and used them as a springboard to success in building their legacy. Let’s face it: You don’t become the president of a country, head of a multimilliondollar business that you founded or own a seat on a Fortune 500 company board without making a few mistakes along the way. NETWORK TRANSLATES TO NET WORTH Bridget Brennan, CEO of Female Factor, learned the value of building bonds. “When I first started out in my career, I didn’t realize how important it was to invest time in building a network outside of whatever company I was working for at the time,” Brennan says. “I could come up with a million reasons why I was too busy to get away from my desk for activities like lunch with a potential business partner, coffee with someone in my industry or an after-hours networking event that would allow me to meet new people. Over the years, I began to realize that building a strong network was just as important as building new skills, and that it required one thing above all: time. To this day, I invest in my business relationships and understand that they are not only instrumental to a healthy and long career; they are a meaningful source of joy, friendship and support.” GRACE BREAKS BARRIERS WHEN GRIT CAN’T “After receiving a promotion and instructions to ‘go fix it,’ I entered the market where I’d be responsible for several thousand salespeople and a team of 24 executives with a passion and a grit approach,” says Debra Boblitt, a leadership coach and former sales executive. “After a year with no improvement, I realized I needed to be using more of the grace approach to be a transformational leader and create success. That made a huge difference in our team’s performance, and I learned from this mistake as I moved forward in the organization.”

NAIVETÉ IS NOT ALWAYS A BARRIER Sally Crane, co-founder of a PAC dedicated to electing women, is grateful for her naiveté. “A hair stylist, an art dealer, a professional fundraiser, a hospice organizer, a community activist and a businesswoman—not political-action material,” she says. But little did this group of six women know how well their political naiveté would serve them when they formed a political action committee in 2017 to elect more women to office—regardless of partisan affiliation. Via emails to friends and family, and a whole bunch of house parties, The Matriots PAC has raised more than $1.5 million and dedicated the funds to supporting women running for state and local offices. Little did they know how successful they would be in getting women elected who were dedicated to shared values versus partisan rancor. This powerhouse group will share their wisdom and stories about how they broke barriers, built lifelong bonds and created long-lasting legacies at the Texas Women’s Summit. Come listen and leverage their learnings so you don’t have to repeat their mistakes. You can make new ones, then help others learn from you. Reserve your seat at txwomensummit.org.

WANT TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS?

A PUBLICATION OF AW MEDIA INC.

VOLUME 17, ISSUE 8

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Austin Woman is a free monthly publication of AW Media Inc., and is available at more than 1,000 locations throughout Austin and in Lakeway, Cedar Park, Round Rock and Pflugerville. All rights reserved. For submission information, visit atxwoman.com/jobs. No part of the magazine may be reprinted or duplicated without permission. Visit us online at atxwoman.com. Email us at info@awmediainc.com. 512.328.2421 | 3921 Steck Ave., Suite A111, Austin, TX 78759

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Publication of Austin Woman would not be possible without the support of our monthly advertisers and sponsors, who believe in the impact we are making in the Austin community. The following businesses have stepped up their support of our efforts beyond traditional advertising and we are proud to recognize them as our partners. The team at Austin Woman is grateful for these businesses that have shown their commitment to the advancement of women in Austin and hopes you, as readers, recognize their efforts and support these businesses and all our regular advertisers.

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FROM THE ASSISTANT EDITOR S

ilicon Hills is just getting started. As the city continues to grow, more tech companies are making Austin home and bringing their sprawling offices and countless employees with them. Corporate and data-driven, the technology industry can feel overwhelming and impersonal, but behind the algorithms and code are incredible women hoping to make an impact in the world. Each year, Austin Woman dedicates one issue to the topic of technology to introduce you to the women behind the scenes of some of Austin’s largest companies. Our cover woman, Marissa Tarleton, recently became the CEO of couponing giant RetailMeNot. We were drawn not only to her leadership and drive, but also to her vulnerability and legacy in Austin. And her colorful downtown office was begging for a cover photo shoot! While women make up more than half of the U.S. workforce, they represent less than 20 percent of the country’s tech workers. Women in tech may be underrepresented, but they are a fierce fragment. Don’t miss our feature on YouEarnedIt CEO Autumn Manning and Rani Johnson, SolarWinds’ chief information officer, for a look at what it’s like to be in the minority in this industry. With women like Tarleton, Manning and Johnson at the helm, the next generation of women entering the tech field will have plenty of role models to choose from. While these women might be leading large tech companies in town, technology affects all of our everyday lives. In this month’s Waiting Room column, we explore the myths surrounding blue light and its effects on our eyes. And our new monthly “pawtributing” writer shares all about technology advances in the veterinary industry in her Ask Lucy column. As always, we hope the women you meet in these pages inspire you and help you take the next step, whether that’s starting your own company, asking for a raise at work or building the confidence to reach out to other women in your own community. If there’s a story you think we missed or there’s an incredible woman we should know about, drop us a line. We always love meeting amazing women in Austin! Happy reading!

COURTNEY RUNN

Assistant Editor FAVORITE FINDS FROM THIS ISSUE

Join the conversation @AustinWoman #TheTechIssue

12 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019

Rejina Pyo slingbacks from our cover shoot

Fun wall décor from Jules Design Bar

Stylist Mandi Summers and her clothing rack of local finds

Page 50

Page 66

Page 50

Headshot by Madilyn Biscoe. Shoes and Mandi Summers photos by Kara E. Henderson. Wall décor photo by Chantal Rice.

COMMUNITY

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"Worlds

CONTRIBUTORS This month, we asked our contributors: How has technology changed your life?

RUDY AROCHA

COVER STORY PHOTOGRAPHER, “TALKING SHOP,” PAGE 50

A PA Rt"

William Hagen

Photographer Rudy Arocha is a native Texan who moved to Austin to pursue his education in fine arts as a sculptor. He later rediscovered his passion for photography when his grandfather gave him a camera as a gift. Rudy graduated from the Art Institute of Austin and specializes in portrait photography. When not photographing, Rudy enjoys music, the outdoors and spending time with his wife, Maggie. “I think the best thing is how technology has allowed my family to communicate more often and stay up to date on each other’s lives, especially ones I don’t see as much as I’d like.”

MAURI ELBEL

WRITER, “STEM-SATIONAL,” PAGE 57 After graduating from the University of Texas, Mauri Elbel worked as a reporter on St. John in the Caribbean before moving to Brisbane, Australia, where she earned a master’s degree in journalism from The University of Queensland. She’s an Austin-based freelance writer raising three young kids and also working as the co-founder of nonprofit Carrying Hope, which provides Hope Packs to children entering the foster-care system in Central Texas. Follow her work at maurielbel.com and @maurielbel. “It’s incredible how much we can do from our phones, whether that’s getting directions, being informed about the world, ordering groceries, keeping up with friends and family, or simply staying organized.”

KARA E. HENDERSON

WRITER, “IN THE ABSTRACT,” PAGE 46

M u SiC O F DVORák AND MO zA Rt

Friday & Saturday, April 12 & 13 William Hagen, violin n Peter Bay, conductor n Dell Hall Concert at 8:00 p.m. n Concert Conversations with Bob Buckalew at 7:10 p.m.

Worlds collide as the Austrian Mozart and the Czech Dvorák make a complementary pairing in this exciting program! Hear your ASO perform Dvorák’s popular Symphony No. 9, From the New World, and Mozart’s spirited Violin Concerto No. 4, performed by William Hagen on his 1732 “Arkwright Lady Rebecca Sylvan” Antonio Stradivari! Also hear Gioachino Rossini’s fan favorite, the William Tell Overture.

Kara Elyse Henderson is a published writer, photographer and current student at the University of Texas studying visual journalism. Having received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh in interdisciplinary studies: multimedia broadcasting, business and music, it is her hope to encourage, empower and inspire through her written and visual works. “As a woman of color, I find the advent of technology, specifically social media, has made it easier to connect with other creatives who look like me and aim to uplift and advocate on behalf of marginalized populations.”

Still want more? Enjoy activities like playing on stringed instruments, texting with ASO staff and musicians using #aso108, and capturing a memory in front of our new photo wall!

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DEBORAH BLUMBERG

WRITER, “INTO THE BLUE,” PAGE 68 Deborah Blumberg is a freelance writer and content marketer specializing in health, wellness and business and got her start at The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones, then worked at J.P. Morgan. Her clients and publications she’s written for include The New York Times, T Brand Studio, JPMorgan Chase, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, WebMD, American Heart Association, MarketWatch and Barron’s. She is the founder and co-president of the Texas chapter of the American Society of Journalists and Authors and literary chair of Women in the Visual and Literary Arts. Follow her work at deborahlynnblumberg.com and @dlblumberg. “Technology has made my freelance life possible. I’m able to do what I love—write content for publications and companies—while also taking care of myself (exercising, eating well, meditating) and being a big part of my school-aged daughters’ lives.”

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➥ The Black Bodies Project. Multimedia journalist and visionary Charlotte Moore

created a three-part project—a film, a book and an interview series—that aims to highlight the black community in Austin and share their experience. We chat with Moore about how The Black Bodies Project is helping spark conversations about what it means to be black in Austin.

➥ Women in Bizz. Our favorite female-focused social app just made networking solely with other women even easier. Bumble’s new Women in Bizz is the perfect tool for making professional connections with other women and finding potential female business partners and mentors.

➥ Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop. Actress, icon, businesswoman and wellness guru

Gwyneth Paltrow has brought her exalted—and occasionally maligned—brand Goop to Austin for a limited time. The Goop pop-up shop, located on South Congress Avenue though April 28, features many of the beauty, clothing and unusual products (all available for purchase, of course) the actress swears by.

➥ Intermittent Fasting. Voluntarily limiting when you consume food, say

eating only between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., then fasting the rest of the day can have benefits beyond simply losing weight, including preventing disease, encouraging the body to work smarter and allowing for natural detoxification.

WIN THIS!

FOUR TICKETS FOR NATURAL BRIDGE CAVERNS’ DISCOVERY TOUR The original and most popular tour at Natural Bridge Caverns in San Antonio, the Discovery Tour is a magnificent introduction to an underground world of natural beauty and amazement. Thanks to Natural Bridge Caverns, one lucky Austin Woman reader will score four Discovery Tour tickets and travel through half a mile of the largest and most spectacular show cavern in Texas. While traversing 180 feet below ground, the winner and her crew will see awe-inspiring ancient formations centuries in the making, including stalagmites, stalactites, flowstones, chandeliers and soda straws. This is one walk through time you’ll never forget. To enter to win, follow us on Instagram @austinwoman and stay on the lookout for the giveaway announcement in mid-April. A winner will be chosen and notified by the end of the month.

@austinwoman

16 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019

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DON’T

MISS 16th Annual Girls’ School of Austin Gala April 13, 6 to 10 p.m. Hotel Van Zandt, 605 Davis St. thegirlsschool.org/support/gala

BossBabesATX’s Spring CraftHer Market April 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fair Market, 1100 E. Fifth St. crafthermarket.com

Check out our Adventure Girl story about Natural Bridge Caverns on Page 41.

@ austinwoman

The Black Bodies Project photo courtesy of The Black Bodies Project. Bumble Bizz image courtesy of Bumble. Goop photo by Courtney Runn. Win This photo courtesy of Natural Bridge Caverns.

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Tips for Staying on the High Road During a Divorce BY KRIS ALGERT

Many people express a desire to “take the high road” during divorce, but then fall short. Divorce involves a transactional event (“I give you this if you give me that.”) and an emotional event (“You hurt me,” or, “I am afraid.”) and interaction between the two might be the cause. Taking the high road: 1. allows you to be the good guy. 2. preserves dignity and is respectful to your spouse. 3. benefits your children. 4. results in a more satisfying, mutually beneficial agreement. 5. costs less. To stay on the high road, keep in mind the following tips: 1. Commit. Choosing the high road is an affirmative choice, not something that happens by accident. It is a choice you have to make repeatedly throughout the divorce process. 2. Tell the truth. Telling the truth is easier than telling and remembering a lie, and is instrumental is creating an atmosphere of trust. Trust improves communication, allowing for productive negotiations and agreements. Lies, silence, evasiveness, ambiguity and vagueness contribute to anxiety, anger and fear; communication deteriorates and negotiated agreements become more difficult. Justifying less than the truth is not “cushioning the blow” or “sparing feelings” or “protecting your spouse.” It is the opposite. Tell the truth in the kindest way possible. Yes: “I don’t like the shirt you are wearing.” No: “You look like a slob in that shirt.” 3. Avoid taking things personally. Imagine you and your spouse on a trail circling a lake. You walk and your spouse bikes. Your sights and experiences while walking are different than your spouse’s sights and experiences while biking. You

are on the same path but have different experiences and perspectives of the lake and trail. Your marriage is the same: You and your spouse have been on the same path but experiencing it differently. Your decisions, goals, fears and ideas are unique to each of you. Trying to convince your spouse that his or her experience and perspective are flawed creates an expensive and endless cycle not conducive to negotiated agreements. 4. Abstain from assumptions. Making assumptions leads to misunderstandings, distrust and poor communication, and increases difficulty in obtaining an agreement. A couple falling in love assumes the best of each other. (For example: He Trying to convince had a good reason for being late.) A your spouse that his couple divorcing assumes the worst. (For example: He was late because or her experience he doesn’t care about the children.) and perspective are Assuming and then reacting to what you believe is true creates drama flawed creates an when no drama is needed. Similar expensive and endless to this is believing your spouse reads minds. Hinting, crying, throwing cycle not conducive temper tantrums and gossiping are to negotiated not substitutes for clearly expressed agreements. requests, goals, intentions and concerns. Instead, ask questions and communicate clearly. 5. Always do your best. Don Miguel Ruiz states in his book The Four Agreements that under any circumstance, always do your best. Your best will ebb and flow and vary. Regardless of quality, always do your best. Keep your commitments. If you find you need to change a commitment, let those to whom it was made know at the earliest opportunity. This builds trust, improves communication and allows for agreements. Taking the high road helps build trust, minimizes anxiety and fear, and allows for productive negotiation and ultimately, creation of custom-made solutions for the divorcing couple and their children.

If you would like more information, please contact Kris Algert at gbafamilylaw.com or 512.518.0172. Kris Algert brings to clients a wealth of experience in developing creative, individualized solutions for highly complex divorces. An innate problemsolver, Algert is adept at managing issues such as high-conflict personalities, sharing or dividing unusual assets and complex characterization issues. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, board-certified in family law by the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Master Credentialed Collaborative Professional and has been named a 2018 and 2019 Best Lawyers Collaborative Law Lawyer of the Year in Austin.

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WOMEN to WATCH Our pages are full of stories of Austin’s most engaging, empowering and successful women, and this section is specially designed to provide you access to even more incredible role models and success stories. Be part of this amazing tribe and share your story with thousands of women. Contact us at sales@awmediainc.com or call 512.328.2421 for more information. PHOTOS BY ROMINA OLSON

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JESSICA SCANLON

FOUNDER OF HOT DOG MARKE TING

essica Scanlon opened the doors to Hot Dog Marketing in 2012 after many years of working for large corporate brands. What started with a handful of clients has grown to an agency that has helped more than 350 growing businesses with branding and website and digital-marketing services. In the last seven years, Scanlon and the team at Hot Dog Marketing have positioned the company as a marketing leader in the small-to-mediumsize-business market in the Austin area. Scanlon lives in Round Rock, Texas, with her husband, daughter and two dachshunds. She serves as the president of the board for Texas Humane Heroes, is a member of the Round Rock Chamber board and is vice president of membership for the Professional Women of Williamson County. She was a finalist for Austin Under 40 in 2018 and was a Profiles in Power nominee in 2017. hotdogmarketing.net

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MACKENZIE ROBERSON

Photo by Taylor Prinsen.

O W N E R O F P L AT E S O N P L AT E S F I T N E S S A N D S E N I O R B U S I N E S S M A N A G E R AT N AT I O N A L I N S T R U M E N T S

he epitome of success and balance, Mackenzie Roberson, owner of Plates on Plates Fitness and senior business manager at National Instruments, does it all. Her colleagues at NI describe her as passionate, driven and unstoppable, while her friends are inspired by her ability to tackle challenges with excitement and confidence. In 2015, at age 25, Roberson founded a local high-intensity interval-training boot camp with the mission to inspire and help all members, no matter their starting point, to reach their full potential in being their happiest, fittest selves. She’s grown the community to more than 200 members, all while balancing her high-demand, full-time corporate job in the tech industry. Her ambitions and energy know no limits, and she proves it every day by coaching at her gym at 5:30 a.m. before going to her day job. A true girl on fire, she’s a woman to watch. platesonplatesfitness.com

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MOIRA ZINN

FOUNDER OF POWERTRIP INDUSTRIES

or Moira Zinn, it’s not strange to arrive at a board meeting or attend a client meeting with a motorcycle helmet in one hand and a briefcase in the other. Showing up on two wheels is actually a calling card that helps her connect with her powersports clients. Zinn is the founder of Powertrip Industries, an eventmanagement and experiential-marketing agency that provides turnkey event production. Motorcycles are what got her traction managing events for major vehicle manufacturers. Specializing in live experiences and social interaction, Powertrip Industries creates exceptional consumer experiences for its clients. Zinn and her team use their power for good, making clients’ events shine, regardless of whether their products are on wheels. A perennial voice in the powersports community, Zinn is also a public speaker, master of ceremonies, trainer and frequent radio and podcast guest. With Zinn’s multifaceted skill set and her finger on the pulse of motorcycling, it’s no wonder her two daughters share the same passion for two wheels. powertripindustries.com

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WOMAN to WATCH

DR. ALEJANDRA CARRASCO Photo by Savannah Menchaca.

FOUNDER OF NOURISH MEDICINE

r. Alejandra Carrasco is the founder of Nourish Medicine, a functional- and integrative-medicine practice established in 2012. She is also the bestselling author of Bloom: 7 Steps to Reclaim Your Health, Cultivate Your Desires, & Reignite Your Spark. Carrasco was born and raised in Austin. She received her undergraduate degree from Rice University and earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Long School of Medicine. After completing a family-medicine residency at Brackenridge Hospital, she went on to complete the Functional Medicine Certification Program through the Institute of Functional Medicine. At Nourish Medicine, Carrasco provides compassionate and collaborative medical care that blends the best of conventional medicine with an integrative functional-medicine approach. Her goal is to find the root causes of ailments, not simply to mask their symptoms temporarily. Her ultimate goal is to give people the tools, inspiration and information to live vibrant and nourished lives. nourishmedicine.com

SPECIAL PROMOTION | ATXWOMAN.COM ATXWOMAN.COM | |â&#x20AC;&#x201A;35 35

ATX

WOMEN to WATCH

BETH GOFF-MCMILLAN AND DIANA KELLER CEO, A N D C O - FO U N D ER A N D PR ESID EN T O F S KG

o-founder and President Diana Keller and CEO Beth Goff-McMillan helm SKG, one of the largest Knoll furniture dealerships in the country and the second-largest woman-owned business in Central Texas. Keller co-founded the company in 1996 as the Shelton-Keller Group with a dedication to impeccable customer service. Goff-McMillan joined SKG in 2015. She started her career with Knoll as part of the distribution channel and was a regional manager before coming full circle. The duo has led SKG to a 104 percent growth in sales in three years. In 2018, SKG landed on the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest-growing Private Companies and ranked 13th on the Austin Business Journal’s Fast 50 list of fastest-growing companies in Central Texas. The company has more than 80 employees and expanded into San Antonio two years ago. Noteworthy clients include Kendra Scott, Whole Foods, Texas A&M University and the world’s largest internet-services company. skgtexas.com

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ATXWOMAN.COM

36 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019

ATX

WOMAN to WATCH

ABBY CONE

F O U N D E R O F O R G A N I Z AT I O N A L L O G I S T I C S

bby Cone, a native Austinite, lives her purpose by helping improve the lives of others through organization. She founded Organizational Logistics with a simple concept: A person’s home should be his or her sanctuary. And her mantra is simple: Letting go lets one grow. As a personal professional organizer, she helps clients let go of clutter, stress and anxiety while gaining stability. With her no-judgment approach, Cone transforms homes and offices into inspiring spaces that reflect her clients’ goals and dreams. Throughout her life, Cone has devoted an extensive amount of her free time to organizing and decluttering for her family. Once she realized how much she loved the rush and fulfillment of creating tidy spaces, she created her own business so she could do what she has always loved. When she’s not transforming chaos into order, she’s playing with plants, gardening, renovating her home or hanging out with her fur babies. organizationallogistics.com

SPECIAL PROMOTION | ATXWOMAN.COM ATXWOMAN.COM | | 37 37

ATX

WOMAN to WATCH

K A R E N H E LT O N

OWNER OF KISS N’ MAKEUP

wner of Kiss N’ Makeup LLC, Karen Helton was born and raised in Austin. She returned 15 years ago to create the only free-standing makeup-artistry and natural-brow-shaping studio in Austin. Helton and her work have been featured in local and national magazines. She has worked with KXAN-TV for more than eight years and has appeared on TV networks in the Austin and Dallas areas. Her philosophy regarding brow shaping and makeup artistry has kept her booked with clients a year in advance for 14 years. Helton’s goal for Kiss N’ Makeup is to provide a friendly, inviting atmosphere where customers receive exceptional results. Helton is grateful for the support clients have provided Kiss N’ Makeup and believes in supporting their charity organizations in return. kissnmakeup.com

38 | SPECIAL PROMOTION

ATXWOMAN.COM

38 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019

ATX

Annual

WOMAN

to WATCH

WOMAN toWATCH

ROLL CALL

AUSTIN WOMAN’S ANNUAL DIRECTORY OF WOMEN TO WATCH

Receive the recognition YOU deserve! Our annual Roll Call is an expanded section in the May 2019 issue. Feature options: w Full pages w Third pages w Directory listings Resource guide for female change-makers in Austin highlighting the women movers and shakers behind businesses in Austin.

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DISCOVER

CAVING IN

A deep, dark, extremely fun adventure awaits in San Antonio. Photo courtesy of Natural Bridge Caverns.

BY NIKI JONES

Consider the following proposition: Someone is going to strap you into a harness, lower you through a hole in the ground 22 inches in diameter and then hand-winch you 160 feet straight down a well shaft into a deep, dark underground cavern. Are you game? I amâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;until I see how narrow 22 inches really is. Then my heart begins to beat out of my chest. I am at Natural Bridge Caverns in San Antonio, about to embark on the Hidden Passages Adventure Tour. And as I stare down the dark, echoing well shaft, I know there is no backing out. ATXWOMAN.COM |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; 41

ISCOVER

ADVENTURE GIRL

Outfitted in a helmet with a built-in headlamp, I begin my descent into the well shaft as Derek, one of my two tour guides, slowly turns the hand crank, lowering me into the abyss, each turn removing me farther from sound until I can no longer hear anything from above. I can’t wait to reach the bottom, where my other tour guide, Duncan, awaits. After the longest five minutes of my life, I hit bottom. The shaft opens up and I am in the cave, Duncan cheerfully waiting for me. He detaches my harness and I slide on my rear end down the muddy limestone surface and take in the epic scene. Illuminated by just our two headlamps, the cave is huge, dark and silent in a way that is unfamiliar to me. There are colossal, glistening stalactites and stalagmites everywhere. The air is balmy, as the cavern maintains a temperature of 70 degrees year-round, but its 99 percent humidity level easily makes it feel 10 degrees warmer. As Duncan and I wait for Derek to descend from above, Duncan reviews the safety rules, one of which is to always maintain three points of contact when navigating through the cave since the terrain is incredibly jagged and slippery, and, of course, visibility is limited. Once Derek appears, loaded with medical supplies and water, the three of us are ready to begin our three-hour exploration. We traverse down into the bottom of the Cathedral Room, where the towering ceiling, ornate formations and sheer size of the space justify its name. We make our way vigilantly through this inky, silent world. Derek discusses the different types of caves in Texas and points out various formations along our untrodden path. As our expedition continues, we descend deeper underground. I find myself getting significantly shorter of breath, which Derek explains can be attributed to elevated levels of carbon dioxide, a common occurrence in caves. We enter a breakout dome called The Ballroom. I find myself standing on a ledge and wonder aloud how we will go down any farther. “We rappel down,” Duncan says offhandedly, engaging my panic mode to its most extreme levels. “I’ve never rappelled down anything before!” “It’s easy,” Duncan says, while Derek offers, “We’ll show you how.” If there is ever a place to learn a new technique, a slippery, pitch-black cave seems like the perfect setting to acquire a potentially deadly skill. They hook me in, explain how to brake and descend, then coach me down the 45-degree, 40-foot ledge. At the bottom, we continue to climb over slick rocks (This is going to hurt tomorrow!) and tread along the craggy surface of the cave. We cross a rimstone pool, making sure to stay on the path so we disturb as little as possible. Here, we approach the part of the adventure I’d been dreading: a tight squeeze through an extremely awkwardly angled pass. With a few deep breaths, I conjure up any you-can-do-it inspirational sayings I can think of, then push up/bear crawl my way over the slick, muddy surface. I pop out into a fault room, the most remote part of the cavern. It’s quite the sight to behold; there are extraordinary formations everywhere. We use this spot to catch our breath as Derek talks about the cavern’s 42 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019

It’s about to go down—literally.

Heading backward down a slippery rock ledge in the dark is certainly an exhilarating way to learn to rappel.

Photos courtesy of Natural Bridge Caverns.

discovery. (It was located in 1960 by four college students and has sustained an interesting history since then.) At this point, we are 232 feet underground. It’s time to make our way back, and this time, the bear crawl is a piece of cake. Halfway back to our starting point, we take seats on some flat rocks and turn off our headlamps. Words can’t describe how extraordinarily black it is. With the cavern’s complete absence of light, there is nothing for our eyes to adjust to, and no matter where I look, I cannot see a thing. We sit like this for close to 10 minutes—because it is just that mind-boggling—until I begin to feel delirious and terrified I will never see again. With a quick switch of my headlamp, all is well and we continue our trek back to our starting point, this time scaling the 40-foot ledge unattached to anything save for a knotted climbing rope. Once we arrive back, we connect with the general-public area of the cave, where the paths are paved and lit. The illuminated walls and ceiling of the caverns are stunning. Completely covered in mud, exhausted and sore yet feeling like a champ, I climb the stairs (186 steps!) as I take in even more natural wonders, like “soda straw” stalactites and a sparkling formation called Diamond River. There isn’t one moment of the Hidden Passages Adventure Tour that isn’t intense and challenging, both physically and mentally. And a three-hour rush of adrenaline is taxing. I’m proud of myself for pushing far past my comfort zone so I could interact with a monumentally epic natural wonder.

With the cavern’s complete absence of light, there is nothing for our eyes to adjust to, and no matter where I look, I cannot see a thing.

Some tight-squeeze challenges add to the adventure.

The Sherwood Forest is just one of the many memorable expanses of the general-public area of the caverns.

ATXWOMAN.COM | 43

TYLE

SPLURGE OR STEAL

TO THE MAXI

Go with the flow—and put some spring in your step too. PHOTOS BY ANNIE RAY | STYLED AND MODELED BY ASHLEY HARGROVE SHOT ON LOCATION AT LAKE AUSTIN SPA

SPLURGE Oscar de la Renta floral sleeveless pintuck dress, $3,990 Christian Louboutin Almeria platform wedge sandals, $795 Gucci small Linea Cestino glazed wicker shoulder bag, $1,980 Celine cat-eye sunglasses, $460 Sachin & Babi Panama drop earrings, $198 Eric Javits gondolier boater hat, $375 Dress available at saksfifthavenue.com. Sandals, bag, sunglasses, earrings and hat available at nordstrom.com.

$7,798

44 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019

STEAL Forbidden Flower keyhole maxi dress, $32 Treasure & Bond Sannibel platform wedge sandals, $80 Cleobella Clarissa wicker bag, $138 BP. square sunglasses, $14 Laniyah tassel statement earrings, $44 Vitamin A Je t’aime hat, $95 Dress available at vicidolls.com. Sandals and sunglasses available at nordstrom.com. Bag and hat available at revolve.com. Earrings available at baublebar.com.

$403

ATXWOMAN.COM | 45

TYLE

SEE HER WORK

IN THE ABSTRACT

Painter Arielle Austin finds—and shares—a spiritual connection through her work. BY KARA E. HENDERSON

calling. But after taking some painting classes as an undergrad, she fell in love. After graduation, Austin pursued a corporate career in graphic design, but found herself in a “deeper depression.” It was in art that she found salvation. Painting remains Austin’s “moment to meet with God, to pray without words, to let my intuitive movements guide me.” She describes her work as a “visual diary or prayer-journal entries.” Through her paintings, she hopes others feel a sense of belonging or connection. “My hope is that anyone can find a piece of themselves in what I create,” Austin says. “And to get even a glimpse of God in company with the image of one’s self that’s seen, known, understood and loved, that would mean everything.”

Top left and bottom left photos by Kara E. Henderson. Other photos by Tyeschea West.

Arielle Austin found her path to achieving tranquility through painting. A relatively new resident of the capital city, she is also somewhat new to painting, having completed her first round of solo work in 2014. Her vibrant work conveys an intricate and complex relationship between beauty and deeprooted emotions, a nod to an artistic maturity. The Los Angeles native has no doubt divine intervention guided her path. “I was talking to a friend on the phone about what graduate schools she was applying to and when she said Texas, something in me—the Holy Spirit—said, ‘You’re going to Texas,’ ” Austin says. With a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from California State University, Northridge, she never envisioned art would be her

46 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019

Photo by Kara E. Henderson.

“It’s a practice in staying present while resolving abstract plays on color, composition and texture. In experimenting with this process, using paper, modeling paste and layers of color, my work compels the viewer to take a closer look, to become intimate with the art, resembling our very own human nature and desire to be fully seen and known and appreciated from afar and even more so once our layers have been examined.” – Arielle Austin

ATXWOMAN.COM | 47

OME

MAKE ROOM

SMART HOME

Builder Catherine Wilkes shares her advice for making your house tech-savvy. BY COURTNEY RUNN

Create an attractive space free from all those component wires by integrating wireless lighting and audio elements.

48 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019

Photos by Thomas McConnell. Headshot by Matt Lankes.

As a third-generation builder, remodeling and constructing homes runs in Catherine Wilkes’ blood. She has spent two decades in Austin and the past 18 years as a builder and coowner of David Wilkes Builders alongside her husband. While the couple’s commitment to intentionality and excellence has remained strong, they are constantly evolving to keep homes modern and functional. Austin Woman asked Wilkes to share her tips for subtly and easily incorporating technology into your home.

INSTALL INVISIBLE SPEAKERS.

STREAMLINE YOUR UTILITIES.

True to their name, invisible speakers are impossible to find when positioned properly. Installed behind the Sheetrock in the ceiling, these speakers offer high-quality sound without being eyesores or occupying valuable floor or wall space.

When you’re traveling, allow technology to keep watch for you. Download software that controls lights, monitors the house via video and can even sense when there’s a pipe leak or overflow and shut off your water. Instead of keeping up with a variety of apps, find one system that can handle it all.

Wilkes recommends: Local audio company Captive Audio GO WIRELESS.

Wilkes recommends: Nest or Ring

Technology towers are out. Bluetooth is in. Going wireless is an easy way to incorporate technology into your home and create the perfect ambiance with adjustable lighting and audio.

DIGITALIZE ORGANIZATION.

Wilkes recommends: Hue lightbulbs by Philips DECORATE WITH TECHNOLOGY.

A TV console rife with wires is outdated. Hanging TVs on the wall or, better yet, decorating with your TV, is the new trend. Wilkes loves installing TVs that double as art, like Samsung’s The Frame, which transforms into a lifelike piece of art when the TV component is turned off, making it easy to switch up a room’s look as often as you like.

For the avid wine drinker, Wilkes suggests installing organizational devices to keep track of the wine cellar and alert you when you’re running low on a favorite brand. The technology can link to bar codes or censors that activate when you remove bottles. Smart refrigerators provide a similar service, helping you keep track of groceries. Wilkes recommends: Hammacher Schlemmer’s wine-cellar management system

HOW TO TALK TECHNOLOGY WITH YOUR BUILDER •H ave conversations early: Let your builder know sooner rather than later what technology you hope to incorporate into your home so there’s time to install devices like invisible speakers during the early stages. •S et a budget: Know how much you want to spend ahead of time so your builder can plan more effectively. •B e flexible: While it’s convenient to incorporate technology in the beginning, you can always add in more tech-savvy options later.

Wilkes recommends: The Frame TV by Samsung

The Frame TV by Samsung doubles as artwork when the TV is not in use.

ATXWOMAN.COM | 49

TALKING

SHOP BY JENNY HOFF | PHOTOS BY RUDY AROCHA

HAIR AND MAKEUP BY ALICIA BELLER | STYLED BY MANDI SUMMERS

No one likes getting a deal more than Marissa Tarleton, who combines her love of negotiating, retail and technology in her new role as CEO of RetailMeNot while also encouraging a company culture that emphasizes employee growth and support. 50 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019 2019

ATXWOMAN.COM |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; 51

Marissa Tarleton’s Top Tips for Women Entering the Tech Industry 1. “Pick a culture and a boss more than a job. Do you like what the company stands for? You need to make sure you’re getting some depth from that too. It’s not just quote on the wall.” 2. Ask about support groups within the organization. Are there people you can learn from, people who you identify with, who can be your mentor? 3. Ask yourself if there is a network and a path to growth. Do you feel like the company will make an investment in you and you can make an investment in the company?

Page 56: Olivaceous jumper, $85, available at Dylan Wylde, 2324 South Lamar Blvd., dylanwylde.com; faux natural pearl hoop earrings, $18, available at Beehive, 3300 Bee Cave Road, lovebeehive.com; Ariana Boussard-Reifel Bituta bracelet, $300, available at Good Company, 918 W. 12th St., goodcompany.shop.

52 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019

Page 59: The Row Lylia top, $690; The Row Alina skirt, $2,150, available at By George, 1400 S. Congress Ave., bygeorgeaustin.com; Ariana Boussard-Reifel Despina cuff bracelet, $1,300, available at Good Company, 918 W. 12th St, goodcompany.shop; necklace, model’s own.

Page 60: Dress, model’s own; Dylan Wylde modern acrylic hoop earrings, $22, available at Dylan Wylde, 2324 South Lamar Blvd., dylanwylde.com.

arissa Tarleton loves to shop and hates paying full price for anything. It’s no After obtaining degrees in political science and wonder, as she spent her childhood in Asia, roaming the markets in Hong Kong, Asian studies from Colgate University, as well a where she learned the price advertised is just a starting point for negotiation. master’s degree in business administration from “Negotiation and discounting is how I was raised to shop,” Tarleton says. “I was the University of Texas, Tarleton spent 13 years, a little girl, around 6 years old, and we would leave Tokyo to shop at the market in the majority of her career, at tech giant Dell. While Hong Kong, where we could get absolutely anything for incredible discounts. there, she honed her e-commerce expertise and I still have a behavioral reaction when I see a discount; it motivates me.” worked long hours to move up in her profession. Tarleton’s deal-making prowess makes her a natural fit as the new CEO of While the work was challenging and the industry digital-coupon and savings site RetailMeNot, where the end goal is to help competitive, Tarleton says she was grateful to be shoppers save as much money as possible every time they make a purchase and to at a company that would support her when she help businesses sell more by offering the kind of deals consumers want. In 2018, decided to start a family, a recommendation she has the company facilitated more than $4.9 billion in global sales, and it currently for any woman wanting to enter the tech industry. boasts more than 20 million monthly mobile users. “When I had my children, I knew I had to stop “I don’t want us to just be a place for coupons to stores, but a place where you working 80-hour weeks,” she says. “My kids were can save on everything you want, from retail to travel to restaurants, and you more important to me than how fast I was moving don’t have to be shopping online to get the discount,” she says. “That’s what we are up in my career at that time. Luckily, Dell has very working towards right now.” supportive policies, especially during those early Tarleton has a clear vision for where she wants to take the Austin-based years with children. They continued to promote company. She was appointed CEO in January after spending three years as its me, even when I scaled back my workdays to have chief marketing officer, helping transition the company from desktop to mobile more time at home.” capabilities and building out its savings platform to include deals and cash-back It’s only when talking about her children, opportunities, even when consumers are shopping in store rather than online. Her 12-year-old Owen and 11-year-old Charlotte, that success in this role earned her a spot on Forbes’ CMO Next Tarleton’s confidence falters a bit. “I WISH I WOULD HAVE list, where she was profiled as one of the top chief marketing Like every mom on the planet, she REALIZED AT AN EARLIER officers in the country. questions whether she is doing “I like a challenge and I like how fast-paced the tech enough, being enough for the AGE THE IMPORTANCE industry is,” Tarleton says. “One day, it’s mobile. The next day, people she loves most. OF BUILDING THAT it’s voice commerce. It makes me stay ahead of the game.” “You never want your children NETWORK OF ALLIES.” Change and challenges have been constants in Tarleton’s to look back and say, ‘My mom —Marissa Tarleton life. At 5 years old, her family left her home state of California wasn’t there very much,’ ” she to move to Tokyo for her father’s job as an executive with General Electric. When says, grabbing a tissue to dab away her sudden she was 10, they moved to Taipei. Three years later, she moved to Hong Kong. tears. “I always feel bad, but I have so much When she was 15, experiencing the kind of freedom any American teenager would responsibility for both that I just do my best. I envy, her parents abruptly made the decision to move back to the United States. spend a good amount of time trying to be a good They feared their wanderlust-driven daughter would never return to her home mom as well as a CEO. Balance is still one of the country if she graduated abroad. hardest things that I struggle with.” “Suddenly, I went from having so much freedom in Hong Kong, traveling and Oddly enough, when gushing about his jumping on public transportation when I wanted to get somewhere, to spending replacement, RetailMeNot Founder and former my days at an all-girls school in upstate New York,” she recalls. “It was a huge CEO Cotter Cunningham points out Tarleton’s change.” ability to give of herself to her family as well as It was a change that turned out to give Tarleton a chance to focus on her future. succeed at her job as one of her most admirable She believes it was this experience of living in a small, quiet town and attending traits. a single-sex school that gave her the confidence and independence she needed to “She is not only crazy smart but compassionate build the kind of career she has today. and cares about people,” he says. “And as a mom, “It was academically rigorous, highly competitive and there were no she understands what parents face. I don’t know distractions,” she says. “I found out I was smarter than I thought I was.” anyone who can balance family and work like she Tarleton is passionate when she talks about her time at Emma Willard School, does.” a premier boarding school that resembles a medieval castle with its Gothic-style Still, Tarleton admits her greatest insecurity architecture and ivy-flanked stone walls. is that she always feels like she is disappointing “You’re not comparing yourself to boys and there is this empowerment that someone. happens,” Tarleton says. “When you spread yourself thin,” she says, There, she gained the kind of confidence that served her well when she entered “being enough becomes a worry. I think it’s the male-dominated tech industry. Comfortable with competition and a belief in something a lot of women struggle with.” her own abilities, Tarleton says she never considered herself any different from her A quote on the wall of RetailMeNot’s meeting male colleagues, and in return, they never treated her differently. space and lunchroom reminds employees “Done is “I just sat at the table,” she says. “I didn’t ask for permission—ever. I just sat better than perfect.” Perhaps it’s a reminder to the down. It never occurred to me to do otherwise.” company’s CEO as well. Page 51: L’Agence ruffle-front, sleeveless top, available at Moss, $70, 705 S. Lamar Blvd., mossaustin.com; Citizens of Humanity Harlow high-rise skinny jeans, $258; Nomia slit-back coat, $595, available at Good Company, 918 W. 12th St., goodcompany.shop; The Row pumps, available at By George, 1400 S. Congress Ave., bygeorgeaustin.com.

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ATXWOMAN.COM | 53

A CHAMPION FOR WOMEN As Tarleton tries to find her own work/life balance by reserving certain afternoons for her children’s sports games, traveling for cheerleading competitions with her daughter and scheduling date nights with her son, she knows it’s imperative for a leader to help employees navigate the choppy waters of having both fulfilling personal lives and productive work lives. Tarleton believes millennials in particular need more support in the workplace, as they tend to blend their work and home lives more. With more than 70 percent of RetailMeNot’s 450 employees being in the millennial generation, Tarleton is keenly aware of the need to make the company’s Congress Avenue building not only a place to come to work, but also a home away from home. In the last two years, Tarleton worked with Cunningham and other members of the leadership team to help build a culture of connectedness through small group chats, karaoke nights and various subgroups so employees can find others facing the same life issues. “I’ve seen friendships built here and even families built here that I’ve never seen at another company,” she says. RetailMeNot also sponsors a women’s group so female employees, especially those embedded in the engineering team, which is comprised mainly of men, can connect with other women and find the kind of support they need to stay fulfilled. “I feel more comfortable being my whole self at work when there are other supportive women around,” says Molly King, a senior software engineer who was the only woman on her team at her previous company. She is now a co-lead of RetailMeNot’s women’s working group. “It’s OK to be vulnerable. If you’re having a bad day, you have a group of people to talk to and they’re there to support you and lift you back up.” With women being the majority of RetailMeNot’s customer base, it’s important to the company that females play an integral role in leadership and strategy. “We have conversations about topics that are top of mind,” Tarleton says. “We put role models in front of these ladies that allow them to ask questions about how to shape their futures.” When it comes to supporting employees, RetailMeNot strives to go above and beyond. For instance, it offers maternity leave of four months and paternity leave that’s more generous than that of most companies. Benefits like these are crucial in attracting top talent, but they are also the kinds of policies that keep women on board once they start a family and help them feel supported and inspired to continue building their careers. FOSTERING A SUPPORT SYSTEM RetailMeNot’s downtown office reflects the culture Cunningham and Tarleton worked hard to build. With a barista greeting everyone upon entry, ready to whip up their favorite espresso drinks, Austin artwork flanking the walls, inspirational quotes around every corner and stocked snack areas with Whole Foods-style treats, the offices are both hip and homey. The space is designed to encourage collaboration and friendship. “The power of relationship building is one of the most important things you can do as a leader,” Tarleton says. “You have to get to know people. That’s what builds roots.” Tarleton says it’s relationships that have enabled her to have both a successful career and a family. Her husband’s support of her job and his own flexible work schedule give her security knowing their children have constant parental involvement. Tarleton’s mother also lives in Austin and is actively involved with her grandchildren. However, Tarleton recognizes mothers also need to build a support system in the workplace, something she didn’t do when she had her children. “I didn’t have those kinds of relationships at work that would help me with all the questions you have when you become a mom,” she says. “I wish I would have realized at an earlier age the importance of building that network of allies.” She encourages women in her company to seek out those relationships early on, as they can be crucial to feeling connected, especially in the wake of big life changes. Being constantly uprooted as a child may have played a role in her need for selfreliance, she admits, and while she believes that helped her navigate the competitive landscape of the tech industry, she realizes the road might have been more fun if she had had more friends as she climbed the corporate ladder. “Your development doesn’t just have to come from your company,” she says. “Also, the people around you can have a significant impact.” 54 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019

MARISSA TARLETON ON GOALS, CAREER GROWTH AND BUILDING ALLIES What do you wish you would have known when you were just starting out? “I wish I would have learned earlier to be more patient and less selfish. It took me too long to learn to think about more than myself, and it took me too long to manage and curtail my impatient drive to move up to the next level. I wished I would have learned early on to build allies.” You worked 80-hour weeks as you moved up the corporate ladder. Is that still required today? “I don’t think it’s about how many hours you work. I think it’s about your confidence and knowing what you want and asking for it. Don’t even listen for no.” What do you think might hold a woman back in her career growth? “We want to be perfect in everything we are doing, and I think that impacts whether we raise our hand for a job. It takes courage and being comfortable with the leadership and the occasional failure. You just have to jump in and take risks. What’s the worst that can happen if you fail? Those bruises and cuts can actually make you better. When I was first approached on becoming the CEO, I paused for a second to make sure I had it in me. The feeling quickly subsided. I know I am made for this.”

SERVING WITH PURPOSE As the youngest of three girls, Tarleton became a bit of a protégée to her business-minded father. While he traveled more than she would have liked, she learned from him that even if a parent has a busy career, he or she can still give their children the confidence of being deeply loved. Tarleton credits her mom’s influence to her desire to give back. No matter which foreign city they lived in, her mom taught her to always be involved in the community and to build roots, a sense of responsibility she hopes to pass on to her own children. “She’s a firecracker, always involved and always wanting to help people,” Tarleton says of her mother with a smile. “She just called me this morning and asked why I hadn’t yet given to the Ann Richards School.” The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders is, in fact, on Tarleton’s radar. As a believer in the power of single-sex education for women, she has helped facilitate a relationship between the all-girls school and her company to talk about the role of women in tech. “We’ve hosted 75-plus girls here for a career day where they’ve talked to more than 20 women about the industry,” she says. “I want them to see what a career in tech could look like.” On a personal front, Tarleton also takes time to give back, but she is adamant that her kids be involved in the process, in part so they learn the importance of helping others and in part because she wants to be with them as much as possible when she isn’t at work. However, she learned pretty quickly to choose her volunteer locations wisely. “My kids love animal-shelter work, but every time we do that, we tend to come home with a pet,” she laughs. “So, I try to curtail that.” Tarleton and her family now adopt in less permanent ways. During the holidays, they adopt a family and foster children through Helping Hand Home for Children and buy holiday gifts they can deliver. As outdoor junkies and runners, they help keep the trail around Lady Bird Lake beautiful by sponsoring a garden they tend throughout the year. Tarleton is also on the advisory board for Global Wildlife Conservation, a local organization that focuses on caring for endangered lands and wildlife. It’s understandable why she feels spread thin. Between running a 450-person organization, spending time with her husband and children, and volunteering for various causes, Tarleton admits there isn’t a lot of time left for self-care. “I did make a resolution last year to develop some hobbies,” she says with a laugh. “But then I became CEO, so that kind of got put on hold.” While she doesn’t get massages and she works part of the time she’s on vacation, she does give herself at least one hour every day for some fresh air during her morning run with her two beloved rescue dogs, Jet and June. “I’m very attached to my dogs. They bring me a lot of joy. They even sleep with me,” she says. “I would probably get two or three more if I didn’t think they would break the family!” It’s little moments like these that help Tarleton feel grounded. And it’s making the most of every minute, even when she feels spread thin, that keeps her looking forward. As a mother and wife, she feels the pain of spending time away from her family. That’s why, as a CEO, she needs to feel her work can truly make a difference through helping consumers save money in as many ways as possible and helping the company’s employees feel encouraged and supported. “If you’re going to have that guilt, if you’re going to sacrifice so much, it has to mean something more,” Tarleton says. “The purpose has to be there.” ATXWOMAN.COM | 55

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STEM-SATIONAL Innovative women working on the cutting edge of Austin’s tech community continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in this long male-dominated industry while laying the groundwork to make the field more welcoming to women. BY MAURI ELBEL | PHOTOS BY KARA E. HENDERSON

It’s no secret women are underrepresented in the field of technology. Although females

make up more than half the U.S. workforce, they represent less than 20 percent of U.S. tech workers. But for women wanting a career filled with innovation and creativity, poised to solve some of the world’s most complex problems, the tech industry offers endless opportunities. From a female chief information officer who embarked on a tech path from an early age to a female CEO who draws from her knowledge in human behavior to drive positive change through technology, these two corporate tech powerhouses prove what women can do in this male-dominated field and are paving the way for more enterprising women to follow in their footsteps and continue to dramatically impact the industry. ATXWOMAN.COM | 57

58 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019

AUTUMN MANNING

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF YOUEARNEDIT Autumn Manning never envisioned a career in technology— have a tendency to question their ability to take on tech much less heading up a tech company. leadership roles. As a volunteer for causes focused on females in “I wouldn’t have ever dreamed of being a CEO of a fasttechnology and working mothers, she often discusses this with growing tech company,” says Manning, the co-founder and other women in the field. chief executive officer of YouEarnedIt, an Austin-based “It’s hard to believe you can move into tech unless you see tech company that provides real-time recognition, employee others like you in tech. It is hard to believe you can be a CEO rewards, performance management and enhanced analytics to unless you can see other women as CEOs,” she says. “If a female build better cultures and companies. is looking at a company or engineering team without other While Manning doesn’t have any formal training in the tech females, it doesn’t mean she doesn’t belong there. Just because field, she doesn’t believe it’s a requirement to experience a you don’t see it modeled in front of you, it doesn’t mean that we fulfilling career in the industry. After she grew up as the oldest don’t belong.” daughter of five children raised by a single mom who worked Manning encourages women to avoid compartmentalizing around the clock, Manning’s primary role was to look after her themselves. She says to be an effective leader and have a younger siblings until she went off to college at the University of sustainable career, women have to show up authentically. Arkansas, where she earned a degree in psychology. Throughout Rather than segmenting the different aspects of her life from her childhood, her family moved a lot, relocating at least once a her career, she identifies with being a co-founder and CEO of a year, sometimes as often as every eight months. tech company, with being a woman, with being a mother of two, “I learned at a very young age how to be adaptable and adjust with being a person who is incredibly passionate about culture to your environment,” Manning says. “I learned how to read and driving positive behavioral change, and with being a leader the cues and clues in whatever environment you are in to be in the tech field. successful, which is especially relevant in the fast-paced tech “These components all make up who I am and they certainly world.” influence how I lead,” Manning says. It was early in her career while “But from a very young age, I didn’t “FEMALES SHOULD working for a consulting company that compartmentalize my personal life from built human-resources technologies for REALLY BE INTENTIONAL my career. Being a female in leadership is large enterprise corporations that she not the only thing I identify with. I was ABOUT SEARCHING FOR developed a passion for technology and never hiding the fact that I was a mom. A COMPANY THAT SEES the impact it can have. I didn’t shy away from being clear about THE VALUE IN WOMEN “For me,” Manning says, “there is my priorities, but I was also confident and something magical about the fact that clear in the performance I could deliver in IN LEADERSHIP AND tech allows you to do anything at scale: my role.” SUPPORTS THEM.” to pivot quickly, to innovate, to dream Though Manning is leaving up whatever you feel is important and to YouEarnedIt to pursue new opportunities, build it quickly and see if there’s relevance to a market.” she will remain engaged with the company as co-founder and Drawing from a lifelong curiosity about understanding “chief evangelist.” And regardless of her position, she will long human behavior and an educational background in behavioral be known as a change-maker in the tech industry. psychology, Manning has been able to enhance corporate But creating change and increasing diversity in the field of culture and improve the lives of employees throughout the tech is twofold, according to Manning, who says it’s hard to world. While she was never the one doing the coding, she was talk about how to help women without equally discussing the the one leading the product design, applying her understanding responsibility of corporations. of human behavior to solve questions about how to make better “I also think it is the obligation and responsibility of the leaders, how to build better cultures and how to drive better company to seek to create a more inclusive environment with connection for employees in their companies. more inclusive operational and people practices,” she says. It was during lunch with an entrepreneurial-minded “Companies need to be intentional about bringing about a colleague seven years ago that the opportunity arose to coculture that brings out the best of all employees, one that is found and lead YouEarnedIt, a company that now partners with inclusive of women and diverse team members and the culture more than 500 global organizations to create high-performance you want to drive success.” cultures and motivated workforces. At YouEarnedIt, for example, common challenges are “He suggested I start YouEarnedIt, become the CEO and mitigated by regularly reviewing pay equity for all employees, build the product from there,” says Manning, who turned down removing names from resumes to eliminate the potential for the leadership position for three months before accepting it. unconscious bias and holding open dialogues to drive awareness “During lunch, two things crossed my mind: One, I had never across the board. been a CEO. I assumed this serious title came with all of these “If a woman feels she cannot fully be herself because she’s things I didn’t know how to do, and that simply wasn’t true. afraid that she might be perceived as too emotional or she’s Two, I had this inaccurate belief that if I was in the No. 1 spot, afraid she will be judged for having to leave to pick up the all the pressure would be on me. But when I am incredibly kids, she might hold herself back from the leadership positions passionate about something, there isn’t a second gear. I am she is qualified for,” Manning says. “Females should really be going to be extremely focused, no matter the role I am in.” intentional about searching for a company that sees the value in Manning says women, far more than their male colleagues, women in leadership and supports them.” ATXWOMAN.COM | 59

RANI JOHNSON

GLOBAL VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER FOR SOLARWINDS When Rani Johnson was a young girl, she liked to take things “Tech is all about innovating, doing someapart. Whether it was the family TV set or video games, Johnson thing that no one has done before,” she says. had an innate desire to see how things worked. “Women have to have a pioneering spirit to “My mother pointed me to computer science. It was less succeed in technology. You can’t be afraid to destructive,” laughs Johnson, who credits her father, a mechanibe first or to stand out on your own.” cal engineer, and her mother, a health-information officer, with She also acknowledges women, unlike nurturing and guiding her interests from the very beginning. men, have a tendency to question themFrom an early age, Johnson was exposed to technology. She selves: When men are given an opportunity, grew up in the Clear Lake area of Houston, where most of her they don’t overanalyze their qualifications peers had parents who were engineers working at NASA, in the to the extent women often do. oil-and-gas industry or in other science- and tech-related profes“When I got my first CIO opportunity, I sions. This, coupled with her parents’ commitment to her interests had been doing that role for a while but just and education, was a major driver influencing her decision to never had the title. I knew I could do it, but pursue a path in STEM. From the time Johnson was 12 years why did I question myself? Women often old, she spent her summers enrolled in STEM camps at various need to know everything before we feel concolleges. She decided her educational path early on and earned a fident enough to accept a new opportunity. computer-science degree from Spelman College and an electricalWomen need to get better at this, engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology. to teach girls to be more confident.” Before long, she was leading various global IT teams in the priJohnson encourages more women to convate and public sectors, including directing the IT team for Austin sider jobs in the field, even women without Energy and working as chief information officer for the Lower tech-focused degrees. For women without a Colorado River Authority. She even worked as a NASA computer tech background who are interested in the scientist at Johnson Space Center. field, Johnson suggests pursing technology In 2017, Johnson became the global vice president and CIO at project management, which requires great SolarWinds, an IT-infrastructure-management company headorganizational and prioritizing skills. Cyberquartered in Austin with more than 30 offices and 2,500 employsecurity is also a hot market and offers interees worldwide. esting opportunities for women “I have been in software for with psychology backgrounds. “WOMEN OFTEN NEED over 20 years, and when given the For Johnson, who is married and TO KNOW EVERYTHING opportunity to join SolarWinds, has a stepdaughter, the key to creatBEFORE WE FEEL it was a dream come true,” says ing a manageable work/life balance Johnson, who currently leads a has been prioritizing the things she CONFIDENT ENOUGH global IT team of more than 150 values most and learning to say no to TO ACCEPT A NEW members. “What drew me in was the things that compete with them. OPPORTUNITY.” the opportunity to lead an IT team “Women tend to be more giving for an IT software company.” and are reluctant to decline reBut there was another bonus that accompanied taking on her quests for our personal time, which can get new role at SolarWinds. In Johnson’s decades-long career in the overwhelming,” she says. “Prioritization male-dominated tech industry, she has never worked with so is something I had to learn by saying no many other women. to things that interfere with what is most “There are more women at SolarWinds than at any company important to me.” where I have ever worked,” Johnson says. Her priorities include getting enough sleep SolarWinds employs 217 women in its Austin office alone, to have the brain power and patience to tackincluding 58 female executives and leaders. It’s a far stretch from le daily challenges and be a good leader to Johnson’s first position in Austin, when she was the only woman her team, as well as setting aside time on the in the entire office. Throughout her education and career in the weekends for recouping, relaxing and being tech field, Johnson says she’s had to learn how to get comfortable with family. She also says it’s important for standing out in order to turn challenges into opportunities. women to have a team of family and friends “I had to get comfortable with being different,” Johnson says. who can encourage and nurture them. The “There were very few women, if any, in most of my engineering 12 women who were on the same scholarship classes, and certainly when I was starting my career. I had to dual-degree program as Johnson comprise become accustomed to being the only woman, and also Africanher biggest support system and remain her American. I had to find my voice and become confident and cheerleaders to this day. And every morning assertive in a room full of people who didn’t look like me.” before work, she calls her mom. When it comes time to hire or promote employees, managers “She reads a daily devotional to me as I often gravitate to candidates they can identify with or relate to. drive to work in the morning,” Johnson says. Johnson encourages women to find a way to overcome that bias. “She lives in California and it’s usually 5 a.m. Otherwise, they can be excluded from opportunities they are her time. Our routine schedule is slightly perfectly qualified for. ridiculous, but so very sweet.” 60 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019

ATXWOMAN.COM |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; 61

OURMET

RECIPE REVEAL

MEXICAN MARVEL

Award-winning Chef Iliana de la Vega of El Naranjo reveals the recipe for her refreshing springtime ceviche. BY CHANTAL RICE

Photos courtesy of El Naranjo.

Chef Iliana de la Vega is no stranger to accolades. In the Mexico-born chef’s many years as a restaurateur, cooking consultant and Mexicancuisine specialist, she has amassed myriad awards and honors, establishing herself as an international culinary authority, first with her El Naranjo restaurant and cooking school in Oaxaca, Mexico, and later in Austin after re-establishing the restaurant brand on what was then an up-andcoming Rainey Street.

62 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019

Mexican Cuisine. Exquisite Atmosphere. Unparalleled Art.

Among Chef de la Vegaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most notable recognitions is the esteemed Ohtli Award, which the Mexican government granted her in 2014 in recognition of her work furthering the art of Mexican gastronomy. The same year, the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce named her Hispanic Female Entrepreneur of the Year. To top it all off, the James Beard Foundation recently named her a semifinalist for Best Chef in the Southwest region as part of the prestigious 2019 James Beard Awards. While such acclaim is noteworthy, Austinites judge a chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mastery of cuisine on one essential criterion: flavor. And anyone whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visited El Naranjo knows Chef de la Vegaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dishes, rich in the traditions of Mexican cooking, pack a flavorful punch and are worthy of all the praise. Here, Chef de la Vega shares her recipe for her seasonal ceviche de atĂşn con pepino y naranja.

CEVICHE DE ATĂ&#x161;N CON PEPINO Y NARANJA serves six

Ingredients 1/4 pound fresh tuna, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 1/4 cup lime juice

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Is it Happy Hour yet?â&#x20AC;?

2 tablespoons olive oil 1 English cucumber, peeled and diced 2 tablespoons red onion, chopped

C E L E B R AT E !

1 serrano chile (or to taste), chopped 1 navel orange, cut into supremes (Reserve any juice and mix it with the lime juice.) 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped Salt to taste 3 cups tortilla chips

Directions 1. Place the cubed fish in a glass bowl and mix in 2 teaspoons of salt. Let it rest for one minute, then add the lime juice, orange and the olive oil. Marinate for three minutes. 2. A dd the cucumber, onion, chile and cilantro. Mix well and taste for salt.

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3. S erve the ceviche in a cold bowl alongside tortilla chips.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I recommend that you marinate the fish in the lime juice right before serving. This way, you will enjoy the fishâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s freshness, flavor and texture to the fullest. â&#x20AC;Ś To prepare, place the fish cubes in a nonreactive dish, like stainless steel, glass or ceramic. Add some sea salt to break the protein and mix well. Next, add your citrus juice and let it sit for a few seconds, or more if you prefer it more â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;cooked.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I like to use oranges a lot in my recipes to reflect the name of our restaurant, El Naranjo (the orange tree). Adding cucumber and cilantro makes a very refreshing dish.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Chef Iliana de la Vega

OURMET

FOOD NEWS

HERE’S THE SCOOP

Thai Fresh spins off with a new location focused on vegan ice cream. BY SABRINA LEBOEUF

Photos courtesy of Thai Fresh.

Austin’s title as the vegan-ice-cream capital of the world takes on a whole new meaning for Austinite and Thailand native Jam Sanitchat. She’s the owner of Thai Fresh, an eclectic Thai restaurant also serving as a coffee bar, vegan-ice-cream shop and gluten-free bakery. Coming in May, Sanitchat will add a second location to her mouthwatering empire, called Gati, and this time, it’s all about the ice cream.

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“People do butcher [the name] up a little bit here and there,” Sanitchat says. “We’ll have a T-shirt that says, ‘This is how you actually say this word,’ and stuff like that. It’s kind of fun.” Gati (pronounced “got-ee”) is the Thai word for coconut milk, the base of every flavor of ice cream Sanitchat makes. While most other vegan-ice-cream shops in Austin make their ice creams dairy-free, Sanitchat uses coconut milk, noting in Thailand, coconut milk is added as a source of flavor. The new Gati shop, located at 1512 Holly St., is set to offer 16 different ice-cream flavors, four more than Thai Fresh’s ice-cream counter. Even though the menu is not yet set in stone, Sanitchat says dessert lovers can expect a combination of permanent and rotating flavors. Currently, the flavors at Thai Fresh range from classics like chocolate to specials like Thai tea. “Our chocolate is very popular,” Sanitchat says. “Somehow, it sounds like a cliché, but I think that we have the best chocolate ice cream of all the ice creams out there, dairy or not. [Banana and pecan] probably is my personal favorite. We use ripe bananas, but we do always use Texas pecans. Then it’s sweetened with palm sugar, which is a type of sugar that is coming from Thailand, so I feel that it just kind of speaks to Thai and Texan.” Despite being voted as having the best vegan ice cream by The Austin Chronicle, Thai Fresh, Sanitchat fears, isn’t attracting enough ice-cream customers. “I just came to the conclusion that it’s because it’s in a Thai restaurant. It’s kind of hiding under something that is so much bigger,” Sanitchat says. “So, it’s almost like [an] identity crisis.” The newly focused menu will be ice-cream-centric, but it will also feature a full coffee bar and 10 Thai dishes. The coffee, like the ingredients for Sanitchat’s savory dishes, is sourced locally from Greater Goods Coffee Roasters. “I picked them, first of all, because they’re local, so there’s not much distance that it has to travel. They have [a] very good practice in sourcing the coffee,” Sanitchat says. “They do go visit the farms, source it, make sure they get paid really well, so there’s no abuse for the coffee grower, because coffee is [one of ] the top five most abused [industries] in the world.” Additionally, Gati will have a more modern style, compared with Thai Fresh’s rustic, earthy atmosphere. It will also be smaller in size and function as a counter-service space instead of a sit-down restaurant, another attempt to distinguish the two. “I think when you open more than one [location], I think you should open something different. I just feel that it’s really hard to open the same one and have them all be successful,” Sanitchat says. “People have done it, but I feel that it’s better to come up with new ideas, and you’re not bored by it.”

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OURMET

GIRL WALKS INTO A BAR

A TOUCH OF SWELLIGANCE

Jules Design Bar, a unique décor-boutique-meets-upscale-bar concept, dazzles patrons with its posh style. BY CHANTAL RICE

A girl walks into a bar, or so she thinks. Instead, she encounters a commercial space that feels it’s experiencing a bit of an identity crisis. This is definitely the case with Jules Design Bar, the Hill Country Galleria’s newest emporium. But sometimes a little blurring of the lines, a bit of dazzling ambiguity, is just what a girl needs. And when it comes to alluring enigmas, Jules Design Bar doesn’t disappoint. Part speakeasy, part home-décor showroom, part gift shop, part event salon and part clubstyle lounge, this swank venue is breaking all the rules, and doing it with a whole lot of saucy audacity.

Photos by Julia Keim.

The brainchild of Julie Smith, who’s been bringing her chic eye to the renovation and revitalization of residential and commercial spaces as an architectural and interior designer for many decades, Jules Design Bar opened in late December to immediate success. Bedecked handsomely with lush furnishings, staple décor items and unique lighting pieces, and trimmed with eye-catching art, pillows, mirrors and accessories, the space is at once inviting and purposely functional. And if ever there were a shop to find that perfect gift, this

boutique bazaar is it. Adorned with funky, sophisticated and ultracool embellishments at every turn, Jules Design Bar oozes bespoke exceptionality, or, as Smith might say, “swelligance.” And best yet: Most of the shop’s design items are for sale, with the larger pieces available to order, as they get daily wear from the lounge crowd, and the array of accessories, gifts, art and snazzy adornments available for purchase on the spot. While Smith’s exquisite hand-selected design pieces are stunning of their own accord and definitely prompt contemplation about, for instance, how spectacular that one-of-a-kind artwork would look hanging in your home’s foyer, they also provide the exemplary backdrop for in-shop gatherings, from casually sipping a glass of wine with girlfriends on a Tuesday evening to taking in some live music on a Sunday afternoon to more formal get-togethers, like Jules Design Bar’s informative and illuminating design and lifestyle classes. Perhaps the most unexpected characteristic of this wonder, though, is the gorgeous, fully stocked bar. A virtual treasure trove of exotic barware hedged in a wall-sized display piece sparkles behind a massive L-shaped bar, where visitors happily sip smoked Old-Fashioned cocktails and hard-to-find wines and specialty spirits.

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While the bar is certainly a draw for the business, Smith never expected it to become so popular. “I have designed many retail stores, bars and restaurants, but never really with the intention of owning a bar. I partially fell in love with this space just because I knew I could design an amazing bar here,” Smith says. “I was using the bar as an amenity for my clients and did not anticipate the popularity, but…I do my best to open myself up to new opportunities and really am not surprised when unexpected things happen. It’s the beauty of passion and energy.” Whether a visit is driven by a desire to redesign an entire home space, to procure a special décor piece, to discover bijou curios or simply to lounge with a cocktail in hand while taking in a fabulously fashioned boutique, Jules Design Bar offers a special experience for everyone. As Smith simply puts it, “We love the story, emotion and connecting with our neighbors.” ATXWOMAN.COM | 67

ELLNESS

WAITING ROOM

INTO THE BLUE

A local retina specialist sheds some light on whether tech devices are harmful to the eyes.

Living in the era of technology means we have access to any number of helpful tools, applications and contraptions. But all that convenience also ushers in a whole array of potential health concerns related to our constant connectedness. From computer screens to smartphones to energy-efficient bulbs, we’re bombarded with blue light. Some say our increased exposure to this type of light can damage our eyes and even lead to vision loss. With all the hype, you might wonder whether your technology habits are doing you harm. Dr. Sara Chexal, a retina specialist with Retina Consultants of Austin, says you can breathe easy; they’re not. It’s true too much blue light can disrupt your circadian rhythm, or the internal clock that tells you when to sleep and wake. But research doesn’t confirm a link to eye damage, she notes. “There’s no clear data to suggest normal screen-time exposure will lead to retinal damage,” Chexal says, adding that’s the case even if you’re typing away at your computer all day. Blue light is just one type of light, and it’s everywhere. Sunlight is the major source. The sun’s red, orange, yellow, green and blue light rays combine to make white light, or sunlight. When we’re outside, we’re exposed to blue light. But in recent years, we’ve been getting more exposure to blue light indoors. Man-made sources include LED and florescent lights and flat-screen TVs. Our computer, tablet and smartphone screens also emit a considerable amount of blue light. Some worry that’s a problem, particularly given how often we engage with screens these days and how close they come to our faces. In one study that drew media attention, researchers found rats exposed to blue light sustained damage to their retinas.

68 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019

“Much of the research has been done on animals,” Chexal says. “[But] it’s important to remember that our eyes are very different.” The amount of blue light administered in lab studies is also a far cry from what we would experience in our everyday lives, she says. Still, Chexal notes there is evidence that blue light can interfere with sleep, so it’s a good idea to take precautions to protect yourself at night. Scientists have found blue light particularly suppresses the production of melatonin, a hormone the body releases before bedtime that helps us get to sleep. “It’s possible too much blue light can affect our circadian rhythm and make it harder to fall asleep,” Chexal says. “Stop screen time early, or filter out the blue light.” She recommends closing the computer and putting away your smartphone at least one hour before bedtime. If that’s not possible, adjust the settings on your phone or download and use an app that filters out blue light. Some people buy blue-lightblocking glasses to use at night while working on their laptops or watching TV. The glasses, which cost between $10 and $20 for a basic pair, filter out the active blue light before it reaches your eyes. A few studies have shown people who wear the glasses several hours before bed report a better quality of sleep. If you decide to buy a pair, Chexal recommends reading the fine print. Some glasses might block 50 percent of blue light, while others say they block almost 100 percent. But most important, she says, is to have good habits when it comes to sun exposure: Don’t get too much sun and wear quality sunglasses. “Be smart,” she says. “Remember we’re getting more blue light from sunlight than from our screens.”

Headshot courtesy of Retina Consultants of Austin.

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ELLNESS

HER ROUTINE

PEDAL POWER

Retired Austinite Deaton Bednar spins her second act as a bike tour guide. STORY AND PHOTO BY GRETCHEN M. SANDERS

Deaton Bednar founded Texas Bike Tours in 2012 after a decadeslong career in education. The former chief operations officer at Enspire Learning had always loved cycling and often fantasized about leading bike tours in Italy. One day, a colleague challenged her to plan and execute a two-wheeled tour of Austin instead. Bednar nailed it, and the excursion grew into a thriving business. Today, she leads bike tours in Austin, the Hill Country and Fredericksburg, Texas. Riders learn the culture and history of their surroundings while pedaling on city streets or rolling down back roads or gravel. “I design routes based on the customer’s cycling experience, interests and preferences,” says Bednar, 72. “I can accommodate almost any request, from transporting luggage to providing emergency ‘sag’ and bike support.” She hires guides to help with difficult trips, but she handles most of the planning and logistics herself. No wheels? No problem. Bednar rents road, mountain, gravel and electric bikes, plus hybrids, cruisers, tandems and trailers from local shops as needed. She guides people of all ages and abilities, with tours lasting anywhere from several hours to several days. “My shortest was a bachelorette party for 12 girls,” Bednar says. “We rode around town for an hour and ended at Austin Java.” Custom itineraries and culinary frills distinguish Texas Bike Tours from other companies. Spontaneity is Bednar’s specialty. Once, a family visiting from Pennsylvania asked to see a nature scene that only Austin natives would know about. Bednar instantly shifted gears and led the group down an overgrown path to an ancient tree lining Lady Bird Lake. “We sat on its old roots and became one with the water,” she remembers. Every tour concludes with an intimate Bednar touch: homemade granola bars and chilled rosemary hand towels. Here’s how this power pedaler keeps cresting steep hills.

70 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019

THE A.M.:

THE GEAR:

“I set the alarm for 5:30 a.m. I like to sit on the front porch with a cup of steaming-hot black coffee and watch the world wake up. I listen to the morning and think about whatever pops into my mind.”

“I have a Scott hybrid, a Felt Café 7 commuter bike and a Felt aluminum road bike with carbon forks. Depending on the terrain, I will wear either a skirt and top or a cycling kit (biking shorts and a jersey). I wear tennis shoes for casual cycling and Shimano clip-in shoes for road biking. I always wear a helmet and sunscreen. If I had flowers in my commuter bike’s basket, then I’d be happy.”

THE WORKOUT:

“I must stay in shape to lead bike tours. I ride my commuter bike two to three times a week—whether to the grocery store or to the post office—and I do about 20 miles on my road bike with friends each week. If I have an upcoming city tour, then I ride the route several times to prepare. I walk for 30 minutes in Hyde Park on Monday and Wednesday mornings and take a yoga class at Castle Hill Fitness on Monday evenings. I also do Hilary’s Target Toning class at Castle Hill on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I have targets that need toning, and she knows that! Ultimately, my workouts are driven by the needs of Texas Bike Tours. I put the company first.” THE DIET:

“I saw a persuasive documentary on PBS a few years ago that said fasting allows the body to rest, regenerate and repair cells. I fast for 12 hours every day now, usually starting after dinner and finishing the next morning. On Mondays, I don’t eat until the evening. At first, it was hard, but now it’s exciting to not eat. I can go without food for 20 hours. I feel healthier. I also eat a plant-based diet and focus on getting enough iron and calcium. I put about five drops of CBD oil on my arm at bedtime. It helps me sleep better.”

THE MOTIVATION:

“I want people to ride bikes. I think being on a bike releases the joy you might have experienced as a child. It’s just healthy.” THE MINDSET:

“Mama, you can do this!” THE P.M.:

“I fall asleep listening to the podcast On Being by Krista Tippett. It eases my mind. I have great sheets, and when I hear Krista’s soothing voice, I’m gone.”

ATXWOMAN.COM | 71

OINT OF VIEW

ON THE MONEY

FINANCIAL TECH TOOLS FOR PARENTS

Are you short on time and money? There’s an app for that! BY JENNY HOFF

Saving money in a singleperson household can be difficult, but saving money as a parent can often feel impossible. With the never-ending list of school needs, sports needs, extracurricular activities and entertainment requests, credit-card bills can quickly get out of control. Luckily, a little bit of creativity and savvy use of technology can help you get your budget under control and put you on the path to saving and investing. Here are some ways to get started.

3. GET CREATIVE AND USE FREE RESOURCES.

1. DOWNLOAD AN EASY BUDGETING APP—AND USE IT.

Organization and budgeting are key, and with so many fantastic apps to help you out, you can get started immediately without sacrificing your quality of life or time with your family.

The fastest way to start a budget is to find a personal-finance app that works for your personality. A great one for parents is Wally, which gives you a more comprehensive view of what you’re bringing in every month and where your money is going on a daily basis. Mint is also a popular budgeting tool that connects with your credit cards and bank account, and alerts you to how close you are to hitting your monthly budget in each category. YNAB, which stands for “you need a budget,” is a highly rated app for those who need to shape up their budget immediately.

Don’t pay for things you can get for free. There are some great websites in Austin that clue you in on ideas for free date nights and free activities with kids, like freefuninaustin.com. If you plan to join a gym, find one with free child care and nice enough facilities that you could even enjoy a date afternoon with your partner without having to pay extra for a babysitter. (Life Time Fitness is a great choice.) Having fun together as a couple or a family doesn’t have to automatically mean spending money, especially in Austin, where the number of available free activities rivals any major city. 4. INVEST IN SELF-CARE.

Investing in some self-care rituals can balance your emotions, reduce stress and, in turn, help you avoid overspending. Multiple studies have shown stress can cause people to spend more than they want to, with credit cards serving as a pressure valve. Instead, take time—and a little bit of money, if necessary—to keep your cortisol levels low through meditation, yoga, deep breathing or some other activity you know will help you feel calm after running after kiddos all day. If you need a reminder, Headspace is a great app that will alert you when it’s time to take a moment to meditate and breathe. 5. START INVESTING FOR YOUR FUTURE.

While creating a college fund now is a great gift to your kids, financial experts recommend you put money into your own retirement fund first. After all, your kids will have access to college loans if they need them, but you won’t have access to retirement loans. The Acorns app is a great way to get started. It will track your spending and round up every dollar to invest the change in a portfolio for you. It doesn’t get easier than that.

Having fun together as a couple or a family doesn’t have to automatically mean spending money.

There are two ways to increase your income: make more money or cut costs. Every year, you should check out what you can get a better deal on, whether it’s your gym membership, homeowners insurance, phone contract, etc. You can almost always negotiate a lower price by checking out the competition. If haggling on the phone isn’t your forte, let the Trim app help. It will analyze your spending, cancel unused subscriptions, find you better car-insurance offers and even negotiate your cable bill.

72 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019

Headshot courtesy of Jenny Hoff.

2. NEGOTIATE DOWN CURRENT BILLS.

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WHAT YOUR CAR COLOR SAYS ABOUT YOU BY CHELSEA BANCROFT

Black: classic, powerful, luxury

Dark Blue: confident, authoritative, dependable

Black is a very popular color for cars, and it’s no wonder! It exudes power and luxury. If you drive a black car, chances are you’re sophisticated and like to enjoy the finer things in life.

Dark-blue cars give off a sense of power and confidence. Owners are likely dependable, good drivers.

White: pristine, elegant, perfection White has traditionally been associated with purity and honesty. Someone who drives a white car likes elegance and may be a bit of a perfectionist.

If you drive an orange car, you are likely unique and march to the beat of your own drum. Or maybe you just really love the University of Texas Longhorns, and in that case, hook ’em!

Silver: futuristic, modern, sleek

Brown: practical, down-to-earth, sensible

Silver is a cool, futuristic color. Drivers of silver cars are likely very tech and business savvy. They appreciate the flash that silver has versus gray.

The color brown often signifies a grounded individual, someone who appreciates nature. This color is becoming more popular, especially in SUVs.

Gray: practical, mature, low-key Unlike their flashy counterparts, gray cars are often driven by people who prefer to be more subtle. They are practical and straightforward and don’t feel the need to show off.

Red: outgoing, bold, energetic People who drive red cars are typically outgoing, vibrant people. They love attention and excitement, and that’s reflected in the color of the car they drive. Sometimes they can be aggressive drivers.

Light Blue: calm, sincere, faithful

Photo by Devan Schumann.

People who have light-blue cars tend to be safe and calm drivers. Though not the most common color, some predict it to increase in popularity in the coming years.

Chelsea Bancroft is the strategic-partnerships and social-media manager at Roger Beasley Mazda and a blogger at onechelofanadventure.com.

Orange: unique, artistic, individualistic

Green: earthy, understated, balanced Typically, green means the driver is understated and natural. Recently, though, there has been a trend of bright-green sports cars, and in that case, the individual is looking to be unique and enjoys attention.

Gold: warm, glamorous, intelligent Though not a very common car color anymore, gold still exudes a sense of luxury. The driver might be on the more glamorous side and enjoys turning heads.

Yellow: joyful, fun, bright People who drive yellow cars are typically fun, bright people. They have a sense of humor and like to be noticed.

OINT OF VIEW

ASK LUCY

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

AW’s pawtributing writer digs up the details on Austin’s growing vettech program. Dear Lucy,

Dear Cautious Corgi,

Have you ever been afraid of visiting the veterinarian? Sometimes I jump in the car, excited that we’re headed to the park, only to cower when my human pulls up at the clinic. It smells funny in there. What are all those noisy machines? Are they going to stick me with something? Are they going to thrust their hands into my slobbery muzzle and expect me not to bite? Will I even get a treat? How did you overcome your fears of all those pokes and prods during your vet visits?

You are not alone! Many a brave pup has tucked her tail between her legs en route to the vet, and it’s especially disappointing if you think you’re headed to the park. Since I spent my first few months of puppyhood in the shelter with the good people of Austin Pets Alive!, I’m a little more accustomed to the scary noises and machines. More importantly, APA! is proof that humans are only trying to help keep me happy, which means keeping me healthy. That’s always helpful to keep in mind when they check your ears and teeth and perform other not-so-fun procedures. Plus, there’s always a treat coming your way if you stay calm. One of the coolest resources Austin Pets Alive! provides is a list of local veterinarians that offer your first appointment for free when you adopt from APA! That’s how I started visiting Lake Austin Boulevard Animal Hospital. And I have always really appreciated the extra mile they go with their care. (Once, when I was a small fry, I ate part of a foam mattress because it was fun to chew. My vet took care of me and then called the next day to make sure I was still doing OK. How thoughtful is that?) Another thing that’s always kept me calm at the vet is knowing the staff is caring and extremely well-trained. I had a few issues with allergies last winter (It’s true: Dogs are not immune to Austin pollen!), so I’ve recently become very friendly with one of our vet techs, Kat Eakens. During my last visit, I learned Kat graduated from Austin Community College, which was recently accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Faithfully yours, Cautious Corgi

I decided to dig a little deeper, connecting with Dr. Kerry Coombs, the department chair of the new veterinary-technology program at the ACC campus in Elgin, Texas. I learned from him veterinary technology is one of the fastest-growing fields in health sciences, responsible for creating more than 10,000 human jobs in Texas! As if that weren’t cool enough, the doc also shared that this quickly growing field is predominantly female-driven. In fact, of three graduating groups since the Elgin program launched in 2014, only two students have been male, which must be why I’m surrounded by so many great ladies like Kat at LABAH. In addition to all those female graduates, Coombs says most of his staff at ACC is comprised of women too, which means women are at the cutting edge of technological developments in the field. “As in all fields of medicine,” Coombs says, “technology has changed the way we provide medical care.” Examples include simple but important changes like converting to electronic medical records, and even bigger improvements like the use of digital radiography and telemedicine, whereby specialists can now make diagnoses on the phone thanks to transmitted data. The two-year program at ACC in Elgin started offering classes in 2014 and was accredited in 2016. Graduates from the program go on to take national exams and fulfill state requirements to work at vet clinics like LABAH. So, the next time you get a little nervous, just remember you’re in good hands! It’s exciting to see how the field is changing thanks to programs like ACC’s that improve the prospects for women in the field and allow us pups to get the best care possible. Also, those folks are really great at giving belly rubs! Love, Lucy

If you have a dogrelated question for Lucy, reach out and follow her on Instagram @asklucydog.

74 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019

Photo by Hannah J. Phillips.

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OINT OF VIEW

I AM AUSTIN WOMAN

FEATS OF STRENGTH

MassChallenge Texas’ Dana Rygwelski shares how her accomplishments as an athlete in the sport of powerlifting enabled her—and the entrepreneurs she helps—to achieve more in the tech world. Athletes believe in themselves more than anyone else. When you decide to step into yourself and be seen as the first or the best, you need an unshakable belief that you are “the one.” Those who you think will be your biggest supporters will be some of your biggest haters. When I was training, I hoped my family would be the ones to support me through it all. They were not, and they let it be known they did not support my goal. This is when I learned nothing matters more than how important the goal is to you. Those who are crazy enough to believe they can will.

A little more than two years ago, I accomplished my biggest goal as an adult: achieving the heaviest squat of any woman in the sport of powerlifting anywhere in the world, regardless of weight class or equipment. I did it: a 705-pound squat to top the Athletes know how to navigate charts in 2016. chaos and get s--t done. When Achieving that goal consumed you’re working toward a big, crazy, me for nearly 10 years. The closer audacious goal, nothing but the goal it got to the big day, the more matters. On the days I trained, life focused I became, eventually godidn’t stop. Small injuries happened. ing as far as reducing my full-time Exhaustion set in. It hurt! Regardless role to part time so my main focus of the pain, the only thing that matwas training. tered was that every time I successThe time between December fully completed a training session, 2016 and December 2018 included I was one step closer to achieving four abdominal surgeries, survivmy goal. Step by step, brick by brick: ing renal cancer, total burnout That’s how goals are achieved. When and a new job in an old career. In life gets in the way, reset, reframe August 2017, I decided to move on and get back to business. No one can from powerlifting and get back to stop you but you. my work on the cutting edge of technology and business: building Athletes know how to build a team. startup accelerators. No one achieves anything alone; it Dana Rygwelski and her dog, Squat. Like I do, I went all in and takes a village. When I was training, accepted a role as director of there was not one workout where communications and ecosystem I was by myself, and I was usually When life gets in the way, reset, on the launch team for MassChalsurrounded by men. I found the lenge Texas. At the time, we were best way to build my team was to reframe and get back to business. the newest region for MassChalfind other women powerlifters that No one can stop you but you. lenge, the world’s largest nonprofit wanted to achieve similar feats of no-equity startup accelerator. strength. Thanks to Austin Simply Since our launch, we have accelerated 84 startups, which Fit and social media, I built a tribe of strong ladies to lean on and celebrate with. Withhave raised more than $30 million, generated more than out them, achieving this goal would have been lonely. In my career, it’s the same. I’ve $20 million in funding and created 524 jobs. We launched connected with so many women who are passionate about helping each other win, and programs in Austin and Houston and are working fast through our friendship, we are creating tidal waves to float all boats. toward our goal to make Texas the best place in the world In both of these phases of my life, it was the community with which I surrounded to innovate. myself that made success possible. It is the community that taught me being an Austin Through this new chapter of my life in a fast-paced woman means having the freedom to recreate yourself whenever and however you and high-impact career, I started to recognize that what I want. Whether you want to be an elite athlete or a businesswoman—or both—we each learned as an athlete is applicable to me now and to each have the ability to create our own lives and we don’t have to be alone to succeed. entrepreneur I interact with today: 76 | AUSTIN WOMAN | APRIL 2019

Photo by Michelle Baillio.

The unexpected occurrence of training as an athlete for a completely unreasonable goal is that you learn a lot about life—and business. But you learn more from the bumps in the road than you do from reaching the goal itself.

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