November 2021 by Austin Woman Magazine

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(Left) Liz Shockley, Recruitment Specialist; Candice Corby, Renee Meisel, (Left) Liz Shockley, Recruitment Specialist; Candice Corby, CEO; Renee Meisel, Chief LegalCEO; Officer; Emily Whitehair, Brand & Marketing Manager Chief Legal Officer; Emily Whitehair, Brand & Marketing Manager

What passions/interests led you into your role? (Renee Meisel, Chief Legal Officer)

“My current career resulted from a desire to use my law degree to build and improve things instead of using it to dismantle. I was drawn to Cobra specifically because it is a place where I’m surrounded by like-minded people who, at heart, want to create a better legal service model and, ultimately, a better world.” What is the best part of your job at Cobra? (Emily Whitehair, Brand and Marketing Manager)

“The people. It’s rare to work in my field and truly believe in what you’re marketing. It has been an honor getting to show the world who Cobra is and help shape a brand that represents all the great things our amazing and collaborative team of inspiring individuals encompasses.”

What separates Team Cobra from others in the industry? How is Cobra different? (Liz Shockley, Recruitment Specialist)

“Hands down, the culture! I know, culture has become one of those buzzwords that’s lost value elsewhere, but not at Cobra. The communication, grace and teamwork really set us apart. Our leadership walks the walk and meets their teams wherever they are each day. I love when I hear hesitation while I’m explaining that to candidates because I’ve had countless new hires reach out to me a month later stating, ‘Wow! You were right, this is great!’ The feedback speaks for itself!” What is your favorite Austin thing to do? Favorite Austin restaurant? (Candice Corby, CEO) “I love sushi! Specifically SOTO on South Lamar. It is by far the best omakase in Austin! Go see Chef Andy. You will not be disappointed.”

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AUSTINWOMANMAGAZINE.COM ATXWOMAN.COM | 7| 7

CONTENTS | NOVEMBER

FROM THE DESK OF Kelsey Stone

STAFF PICKS what’s a milestone you’re celebrating in 2021?

COUNT US IN Student loan debt pandemic

ON THE MONEY Starting your own business

SPECIAL FEATURE Lisa Miller

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

SEE HER WORK Ellie Ann Fenton

WOMEN IN FINANCE Chermaine Hu

WOMEN IN FINANCE Robin Campana

RECIPE REVEAL Pastry Chef Gabby Roberts

I AM AUSTIN WOMAN Sheri Ann Marshall

30 ATX WOMEN TO WATCH

8 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

MEREDITH GEORGHIADES, TAYLOR ADAMS, RACHAEL WYATT,

STEPHANIE ALLEN, LINDSEY UMIN, SUSAN LIANG

KIMBERLY STORIN

LAUREN SCHULER, JENNIFER SCHULER, MICHELLE SCHULER

NICOLE ANGELICA, NATHALLIE MORALES BROWER

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CONTRIBUTORS This month, we asked our contributors: What’s the best financial decision you’ve made in 2021 (so far)?

A PUBLICATION OF AW MEDIA INC.

VOLUME 20, ISSUE 3

ROMINA OLSON DAWN WESTON

Photographer, “The Queen of Content,” page 38

Publisher

• She makes a mean pumpkin cheesecake pie. • She shares the same birthday as Leonardo DiCaprio, on Nov. 11.

JAIME ALBERS

Art Director

• She gets a kick out of cold fronts. “Investing in a property where we relocated our studio. This was a big investment in the short term,

CY WHITE

but I see a bright future in the long run.”

Managing Editor DARBY KENDALL

Copy Editor PARKE BALLANTINE

Director of Events and Branding Strategy

JESSICA WETTERER Illustrator, Women in Numbers, page 22 • Her best Halloween costume was

ANNE COX

a dalmatian suit her grandmother made

Production Coordinator

when she was 5.

CATHERINE SCHUETZLE

• She makes a mean spice mulled wine.

Advertising Sales Executive

• Soup season for her is all-year long. (She highly

CONTRIBUTORS

“My best financial decision of 2021 was putting all

recommends all Progresso soups.)

Editorial: Sergio Carvajal-Leoni, Jenny Hoff, Allie Justis, Stacey Ingram Kaleh, Fiza Kuzhiyil, Sheri Marshall, Cy White Art: Michael Dietch, Dress for Success, Episode Six, Flo Code, Jinni J, Latinitas, Charlie Leal, Sheri Marshall, Chelsea Dean-Martinez, Monica Mott, Romina Olson, Gabby Roberts, Olympia Roll with Korey Howell Photography, Christine Torres, Jessica Wetterer

my worldly belongings in storage and moving from New York to Mexico for six months. ”

SLOANE WICK Writer, “Building Businesses and Bulldozing Boundaries,” page 18

INTERNS

Monica Godinez, Fiza Kuzhiyil, Emily Manning, Sloane Wick

• Fall is her favorite season. • Her birthday is in November. • Pecan pie is her favorite pie. “Being a college student, the financial world is

AW MEDIA INC.

pretty new to me, and one of the most foreign

MELINDA GARVEY

KIP GARVEY

and terrifying was investing. I was able to make a

Co-founder/Co-owner

CEO/Co-owner

small investment, and it made me feel eager and

SAMANTHA STEVENS

Co-founder

ASHLEY GOOLSBY

optimistic about my financial future.”

CFO

Austin Woman is a free monthly publication of AW Media Inc. and is available at locations throughout Austin and in Lakeway, Cedar Park, Round Rock and Pflugerville. All rights reserved. To offer feedback, email feedback@awmediainc.com. For submission information, visit atxwoman.com/jobs. No part of the magazine may be reprinted or duplicated without permission. Visit us online at atxwoman.com. Email us at info@awmediainc.com. 512.328.2421 | 7401 West Slaughter Lane, Austin, TX 78739

ATXWOMAN.COM | 11

Anniversary Celebration Schedule 9:00 A.M. Welcome & Registration 10:00

Professional Development • Finding Your Dream Team: Recruiting & Retention • Imminent Innovation: Leaders & Business in 2021 • Thinking Out Loud: Women Over 50

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FROM THE FOUNDER

When people ask me how I am, I have a stock response that, I suppose, has probably become an annoying “signature” for me: Livin’ the dream. I always get a laugh or smile from people—perhaps because it is unexpected, but more likely because they hear a touch of sarcasm in my voice. I think I decided that somewhere between running a small business for 19 years and launching a software start-up that I had to manifest my own positivity, especially in the world we have survived for the past few years. Here’s the thing—most of the time it actually works! And what’s more, it’s infectious and creates a positive vibe in others as well. As I was thinking back over the now more than 19 years of Austin Woman, I realized that it has always been our mission to create that positive vibe—in our community and in women. Now, more than ever, we have to stand strong with that positive voice. As Austin grows, it becomes harder and harder to hear the voices of those who are marginalized. We remain committed, as a media company, to amplify the voices of women, and most importantly, of those women who are marginalized. Whether that be because of their gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, illness, failure...doesn’t matter. We want to be that voice for years to come. I hope you have seen the commitment evidenced in our covers and the pages of the magazine. Our only ask from you, as our cherished reader, is that you, too, help amplify these voices. Read a story that moves you? Tell 10 people about it. Inspired by a featured woman? Email her; shout her out on social media. Impressed by the advertisers who choose to spend their marketing dollars in a magazine that supports all women? Great, go shop there, and tell them why. What I’m trying to say is that whether or not you’ve been featured in the pages of the magazine or on our digital platforms, YOUR VOICE MATTERS. The thing is, if you don’t use your voice, you start to lose your voice—it gets scratchy and soft, and it makes it hard for others to hear you. So use it! I hope you will start by joining us on Nov. 12 at our 19th Anniversary event. We’re gonna talk and learn and connect, and maybe even do a little singing and dancing. Together. To quote an email to me from my dear friend and 2021 cover woman, Rose Smith of Black Women in Business, “We are better together.” ’Nuff said. Sending you big love and hugs, Melinda Garvey, livin’ the dream! PS: Neha Sampat, this month’s cover woman, is a complete badass. You’re gonna fall in love with her just like I did!

MELINDA GARVEY FOUNDER

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.

14 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

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TOP 10 TIPS TO WINTERIZE & REVITALIZE YOUR SKIN Seasonal weather changes can be unforgiving to our skin. During the winter months, our skin is exposed to the wind, cold air, lower humidity and indoor blasts of dry heat. Through the process of transepidermal water loss, water passes through the outer layer of our skin and evaporates into the air. If left unmanaged, it leads to dull, dry, irritated skin and more prominent fine lines. Damaged skin also increases the likelihood of conditions such as acne, rosacea, eczema and psoriasis. There are several steps we can take as the weather gets colder and dryer to keep our skin hydrated and radiant. Physician Assistant Stephanie Bui-Catuogno at Tru-Skin Dermatology shares her top 10 tips to protect your skin. By paying extra attention to how your body responds to the elements, you can be sure to keep your skin happy and healthy all year round. And, of course, the team at Tru-Skin Dermatology is here to help you along the way if you have any questions.

1. MOISTURIZE WITH SPF Even though we can’t feel the warmth of the sun, it doesn’t mean that your skin isn’t exposed to harmful UV rays. Sun can also reflect off snow, which amplifies exposure. 2. KEEP IT COOL Avoid long hot baths and showers, which strip your skin of its natural oils. Instead, use warm water, pat dry and apply thick, rich body cream to damp skin to lock in moisture. Also consider switching to a moisturizing, hydrating face and body cleanser in the wintertime. 3. STAY HYDRATED Drink more water to help hydrate your skin from the inside out. 4. OIL-BASED MOISTURIZER Think about the ingredients. Oil-based emollients with ceramides will keep your skin moist for a longer period of time than water-based moisturizers. If you have oily skin, use a light moisturizing lotion and avoid heavy moisturizers since pores will become clogged with oil and result in blackheads. 5. EXFOLIATE Scrub away to get rid of dead skin cell build-up to reveal a brighter, more beautiful you. 6. COVER UP Wear gloves to protect your hands from the elements. Dry hands are very difficult to treat. Apply petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline or Aquaphor, to the hands and feet and wear cotton gloves and socks at nighttime for maximum absorption while you’re resting. 7. PUCKER UP Wear lip balm with SPF 30 daily to protect your lips from dry, cold air and wrinkle-causing sun damage. 8. HUMIDIFY Invest in a humidifier to add moisture to your home or workspace and counteract the drying effects of indoor heat. Your skin will absorb the moisture in the air, keeping it soft and smooth. 9. MODIFY YOUR SKIN REGIMEN Decrease use of skincare products with harsh active ingredients such as acne medications, retinol, retinoids, benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. If you must use these products, use them sparingly and consider moisturizing before and after use. 10. KNOW YOUR SKIN Climate changes often aggravate conditions such acne, rosacea, eczema and psoriasis. Take extra care to avoid any known triggers, irritants or allergens that flare your condition.

ATXWOMAN.COM | 15

CONNECT WITH US

Can’t get enough of this issue? Check us out at atxwoman.com. The Adderley Foundation: On Oct. 17, the Parker Jazz Club welcomed back Nat Adderley Jr. Austin Woman magazine spoke with his daughters, Alana and Anika, and the legendary Janet Adderley about the foundation’s roots and its future.

Behold My Beauty: Jasmine Frink, author of Behold My Beauty, tells the story of her writing journey to make all girls feel beautiful, no matter what they look like.

Blended Festival:

Don’t forget to visit and subscribe to the Austin Woman YouTube channel!

@austinwoman

LIKE US

austinwoman

WIN THIS! Not Done Yet! Let’s be honest. Nobody likes to be told they can’t do something. Especially for women, the echoes of discouragement seem never-ending. Older women in particular are constantly told there’s no room for them in the workplace after a certain age. Host of the Badass Women at Any Age podcast Bonnie Marcus knows fully well how society tries to stifle self-confidence and foster doubt. But she never let naysayers keep her from her goals. For this month’s Win This, one lucky winner will win a copy of her critically acclaimed book Not Done Yet!. Enter to win by following us on Instagram @austinwoman. We’ll announce the winner at the end of the month.

16 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

@ austinwoman

The Adderley Foundation (Photo courtesy of the Adderley Foundation)Behold My Beauty (Photo courtesy of Behold My Beauty), Blended Festival (Photo by Cy White), Win This (Photo courtesy of Bonnie Marcus)

Blended Festival Austin is a weekend where those with even a passing interest in wine can allow themselves two days of guilt-free luxury.

CONNECT WITH US

See what the Austin Woman staff have been up to lately.

Gina Chavez

In October, Managing Editor Cy White and Marketing Intern Monica Godinez were out and about at ACL Festival and caught some of the amazing Texasbased female artists in their element. See Austin Woman’s ACL Festival coverage at atxwoman.com.

Skyler Day

Megan Thee Stallion

Erykah Badu

Sir Woman

ATXWOMAN.COM | 17

FROM THE DESK OF

BUILDING BUSINESSES AND BULLDOZING BOUNDARIES

BAD DEVL and Tejas Destructors co-founder Kelsey Stone wants you to embrace your womanhood as a strength and aspect of your success. BY SLOANE WICK

Kelsey Stone started her financial career with a $500 check she received from her high school for graduating early with a high GPA. She took the check to Austin Community College where she enrolled herself in a math class. From there, she continued her trajectory as a selfstarter with the determination to overcome whatever adversity life threw at her: unsupportive parents, being the first person in her family to attend college and a period of homelessness. She transferred to Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, and graduated with honors and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance. After graduation, she went on to marry her high school sweetheart and had a son, who is now 2 years old. Her professional life evolved as well, as she co-founded two companies: BAD DEVL, a real estate development service, and Tejas Destructors, a construction contractor specializing in asbestos abatement, mold remediation, lead-based paint removal and demolition services. Stone shares five key pieces of advice she has for other women who might be a bit nervous to step foot inside the business world.

EMBRACE THAT YOU ARE A WOMAN. Do not see that as your weakness. You need to see that as your strength because it’s unique. It should drive your success. It should drive your journey, and it should help define it as well. You are a woman, a minority out here trying to play with the “big dogs,” the males, but it’s totally okay to be a woman. In fact, it’s so cool. It is so badass, and you should embrace it. You don’t have to be a man to be successful. You just have to be a human with drive.

SHOW UP, EVEN IF YOU’RE UNCOMFORTABLE. Confidence is really just the courage to be uncomfortable. After all, you just have to become comfortable with being uncomfortable and put yourself out there by saying yes to all these opportunities, whether you know anybody who’s going or not. You never know what could come out of it, and your courage shines through [and shocks people]. In my own personal experience, I have found I get the most shock from peers and others in the industry. So, whenever you show up, and you’re uncomfortable, you have some positive shock value that can help drive your success.

BE AUTHENTIC. You don’t have to play any part, other than your true authentic self. The more authentic that you [are], you’ll feel that you’re more aligned with your success, which will help with your decision-making and your direction for everything going forward. Whenever you show up to the table, just come exactly as you are. You don’t have to be anybody else but yourself.

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH EXPERTS AND INFORMATION. I never take one person’s word for [everything]. Always get a second, third, fourth opinion. That couples with you doing your research and with looking into exactly what you’re trying to solve or accomplish or gain. Whatever it might be, you need to be doing your own research because that is what will field some questions for you personally or [for] whoever you talk to. It helps with being prepared. I always say surround yourself with experts and you’ll be an expert. You don’t have to be the engineer, the actual contractor or the banker. No, you just need to play with the best.

A lot of women play small because we think we have to. We’ve been conditioned, all these years, especially the generations before us, that we should show up to play small. We show up as too subtle. No! Don’t show up just to be subtle! You are just as deserving and you are just as welcome. And you have just as much of a place as a man does in any capacity, in any way, shape or form. Don’t shrink yourself just because you’re a woman.

18 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

Photo by Monica Mott.

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THE FACTS ABOUT WISDOM-TOOTH REMOVAL WHY DO WISDOM TEETH NEED TO BE REMOVED? Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last teeth to develop. Eons ago when our diet was much different and dental crowding was common, the third molars came in or “erupted” and provided another set of functional teeth. With today’s softer nonabrasive diet and the relative rarity of dental crowding, most often there is not enough room for the wisdom teeth to erupt into place and be functional teeth that the patient can maintain. This is what is meant by “impacted,” simply that the tooth is not able to come into a functional position. There are patients who have the space for wisdom teeth, and in these cases the teeth may be functional and beneficial. In cases where the wisdom teeth come in appropriately it is common later in life to develop decay or gum disease around these first. They are difficult for some to maintain, and your dentist may suggest removal rather than a filling or crown when or if this happens.

WHO WOULD REMOVE MY WISDOM TEETH? While your family dentist may remove erupted or exposed wisdom teeth, many regular dentists do not. Furthermore, impacted wisdom teeth, more complex teeth or higher-risk teeth will likely result in referral to an oral surgeon. A visit with your dentist or a look at your X-ray would likely answer that question best. Most patients having multiple wisdom teeth removed at the same time will prefer sedation rather than being awake. Oral surgeons have extensive hospital-based training in anesthesia to make this procedure pleasant and astonishingly safe. The facility is almost as important as the surgeon, and board-certified oral surgery offices are inspected and certified for anesthesia safety by both the state of Texas and their surgery certifying board. Certification ensures that the monitoring and safety equipment mirrors that in the hospital environment.

AT WHAT AGE SHOULD WISDOM TEETH BE REMOVED? In general, younger patients are very low risk as the teeth are typically less difficult to remove. For this reason, the recovery is commonly smoother and faster. The best approach is to image and consult at a young age, typically teenage years, and make an assessment on whether the wisdom teeth will likely ever need to be removed. If removal is necessary, earlier surgery generally is easier and more predictable. This assessment might happen with your family dentist, orthodontist or directly with an oral surgeon.

WHAT ARE THE COSTS? Most insurance plans cover wisdom tooth removal. At consultation, each wisdom tooth will be evaluated and coded depending on how it is positioned within the mouth and whether it is exposed or impacted. Likewise, anesthesia choices are usually discussed and the level of sedation agreed upon. The costs will vary depending on these factors, and you can generally explore your insurance prior to the procedure. The best way to discover costs and insurance coverage, as well as discuss the procedure, is to set up a consultation visit with your provider.

Before you consider oral surgery for your family, call 512.591.9557 or visit austinoralsurgery.com.

A LEGACY OF EXCEPTIONAL CARE

ATXWOMAN.COM | 19

STAFF PICKS

WHAT’S YOUR MOST RECENT SELF-LOVE PURCHASE?

The Austin Woman staff believes in self-care, and so should you. No shade. No guilt. ANNE COX PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Concert tickets count as self-care, right? Every year Austin City Limits falls right around my birthday. I went for the first time ever on my 21st, and I’ve gone every year since (excluding 2020). This year was definitely my favorite because I got to go with a lot of my friends and my girlfriend. Something about sitting in a field with a pitcher of rosé, a cowgirl hat and Remi Wolf playing live in the background…Sounds like self-care to me.

EDITORIAL INTERN

My most recent self-love purchase was a Starbucks reusable cup. When I left my hometown for college, my incredible former co-workers bought me the same cup as part of a going-away gift basket. It brought me to tears. In a tiny way, I’d be able to take them all with me to a new city through the yellow and blue floral cup. Unfortunately, I dropped the cup while rushing to class and it cracked at my feet. Try as I might, I could not salvage it. In October, I saw the same cup at my local Starbucks. I knew what I had to do. All of my old friends have moved on to bigger and brighter things. One just celebrated her first year in the U.S. Navy, another is going to graduate school for psychology and another has been promoted to a leadership position. Yet I know if I needed any of them they would be there for me. Every time I hold my cup, I’m reminded of that.

My most recent self-love purchase was a tower garden. I bought it because I wanted the cleanest and most organic veggies and fruits. And the only way to know for certain I’m getting that is to grow my own food. I do not have a yard to grow fresh produce, nor the space in my current living situation…and I was not blessed with a natural green thumb or memory to water plants every day. I needed an easy solution, and this was the obvious answer! The picture is about a month ago. I planted a few kale, a couple types of lettuce, spinach and a couple herbs!

CY WHITE MANAGING EDITOR

I’m an absolute nerd. So much, in fact, I’ve waited to buy this one thing for over a decade. I first had the opportunity back in a magical time when Best Buy used to have an extensive DVD section, with genres and everything. The show I wanted? Case Closed, the dubbed version of the anime Detective Conan. The show is over 900 episodes long, last time I checked. Only about 150 episodes were ever dubbed. Since that’s how I first encountered the show, that’s what I wanted. Alas, I deemed it “The One That Got Away.” I hesitated to buy it, then could never find it again. But then, oh then. A few months before my most recent birthday I found a couple sellers. I declared I would drop whatever amount of money necessary to get it. I was only out about 70 bucks and now have the show I’ve wanted for 10+ years.

PARKE BALLANTINE DIRECTOR OF EVENTS AND BRANDING STRATEGY

Due to the pandemic reshuffle, I’ve been in housing limbo for the past year and half, but this month I finally moved into a new apartment. So my most recent selflove purchase is related to creating a sanctuary out of my home. I’m not what I’d consider a nurturing type, but I did manage to bring a snake plant with me from NYC and keep it alive and well. As part of creating a space that is rejuvenating and calming, I’ve begun to invest in a few more plants to join my little Nagini. These plants remind me of the simple but essential needs in life and provide me with the subtle and powerful joy of beauty.

20 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

All photos courtesy of respective staff member.

SLOANE WICK

CATHERINE SCHUETZLE

HONORING THE PRESIDENCY OF LY N D O N B . J O H N S O N

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AUSTINWOMANMAGAZINE.COM | 21

COUNT US IN

THE STUDENT LOAN DEBT PANDEMIC

WITH THE HOLD ON STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT COMING TO AN END IN JANUARY 2022, WHERE DOES THE NATION STAND? BY CY WHITE ILLUSTRATIONS BY JESSICA WETTERER

$929 billion

8.28% During the COVID-19 pandemic, student loan debt balances nationwide increased by 8.28%.

Women on average carry a higher amount of student loan debt than men. They hold $929 billion in student loan debt, 58% of all student loan debt in the United States.

$1.73 million According to a report published by Melanie Hanson for educationdata.org, the total dollar amount of student loan debt in the United States equals $1.73 million. Several million of those loans are private loans, which are ineligible for protection under the CARES Act.

12 years According to another report by Melanie Hanson, Black women have the highest average amount of debt, and after 12 years of repaying their student loans they owe an average of 13% more than what they borrowed.

22 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

3.2 million During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 3.2 million new student loan borrowers. Coupled with a spike in unemployment because of business closures, mass layoffs, etc., this contributed to the largest increase in the total student loan debt balance since 2013.

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ON THE MONEY

STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS

YOU DON’T NEED AN MBA, JUST A TOLERANCE FOR RISK. BY JENNY HOFF

If you’re inspired by this month’s cover woman, Neha Sampat, who started a company in her living room that has now grown to more than 330 employees, you may be wondering how you could start your own enterprise. There are many types of businesses you can start. Maybe you have a product you want to develop and test out in the market, or you can offer a service that you know others need. Perhaps you just want to have more control over your own financial destiny, but you’re fresh out of ideas for what to do. No matter what it is, you have options. Here are some ways to get started. WRITE IT DOWN.

The first step to turning an idea into reality is writing it down. Numerous studies have shown breaking down your goal into small, achievable actions is one of the most effective ways to follow through on what you want to achieve. As Sampat’s MBA professor told her, “Never underestimate the power of clearly written expectations.” START SMALL.

When Ann Hegarty and Becky Carpenter, co-founders of the Hill Country Galleria boutique Bokabuku, wanted to start a clothing shop that would provide classy, trendy clothes to a more mature market, they didn’t immediately start looking for retail space. They started with pop-ups out of Carpenter’s home, sourcing clothes from trade shows and selling enough to just cover their costs. “The pop-ups got us a small following; then private parties expanded it. The farmers’ market built even more,” says Hegarty. “So, when we opened up the shop we had people who recognized us.” With this plan, they were able to build a customer base before committing too much of their own money into their idea.

24 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

CONSIDER A FRANCHISE.

If you don’t have a pressing business idea that you want to get off the ground, or you’re daunted by the idea of handling branding, marketing and accounting, a franchise could be an excellent option. Franchises allow you to run your business, and while you’ll pay a franchise fee, the company will help with the backend system. If it’s already a known brand that does marketing, you’ll be able to concentrate on just running a good shop, with happy employees and customers. Apricot Lane is a new boutique, just a few doors down from Bokabuku, run by a mother and daughter who saw the same shop in Houston and called about franchising. In this case, they invested in and chose all the merchandise, but for a fee they get to use Apricot Lane’s name, branding and consulting services. CONSIDER SCALE.

There is a difference between providing a service that you charge for by the hour, like copywriting or consulting, and starting a business that can scale. As you write out a business plan, consider how you could eventually automate your service so that every penny doesn’t depend on your presence. For example, Natalie Sisson, author of The Suitcase Entrepreneur, started her business giving classes on how to effectively use social media. She eventually built enough name recognition that she created pre-taped classes and course materials people could buy and download from her site. Before she knew it, she was making money literally as she slept (in rental properties around the world). Starting a business isn’t simple, but it’s not as hard as you may think. You don’t need an MBA or even necessarily a great idea, just a good work ethic, some guts and determination.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

A PATH OF SERVICE

Trailblazing financial advisor Lisa Miller has paved the way for women to progress in the finance industry.

The name Lisa Miller is nondescript enough that when you come across it, nothing immediately stands out. But dig a little deeper. What you find will both astound and inspire you. Lisa “Ivie” Miller is a remarkable woman, a force to be reckoned with who’s created opportunities and incredible success in spaces where a woman’s presence was rarely considered. She describes herself as a “performance-based, results-driven leader,” and her work in the finance world certainly attests to the self-analysis. Formerly the senior VP and director of Government Relations and Education at South Texas Money Management (STMM), and now the principal financial advisor for Captrust (who acquired STMM in 2019), Miller thrives in high-stakes environments. She’s paved the way for women to make their mark in a mostly maledominated industry. With Captrust’s Women’s Initiative, the company now employs a majority of women, 14 of whom the National Association of Plan Advisors recognized on this year’s Top Women Advisors list. It’s safe to say Miller’s influence has inspired a shift in the finance sector, and she continues to be a guiding light for women looking to find their way in the industry. Tell us a bit about how you got interested in finance? In 2003, when the governor’s office contacted me about the appointment to run the Office of the Fire Fighters’ Pension Commissioner, which had oversight of over $1.5 billion in pension fund assets, the aide said I needed to know about three things: the fire service, the legislative process and investments. I knew the fire service as I had worked with all of the firefighter leadership entities—the unions, the chiefs and the volunteers—as both a senate staffer and a lobbyist representing their interests. I knew the legislative process from working in and around the capitol for 15 years. However, I did not know much about finance except about balancing my checkbook and staying out of debt. I have two degrees in criminal justice management and administration and had taken both accounting and business finance classes, but outside of those, I was a social scientist. The good news is that when you work in the Capitol, you are trained to learn about many issues quickly. I took the request as a challenge, and not only learned 26 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

about finance, investments, actuarial science and fiduciary duty, but I was charged with helping 280 trustees learn the same. I created curriculums comprised of topics in areas where I needed to learn, and we all learned together. My interest in retirement security and building personal wealth has continued today. What about the landscape of your industry do you think needs to change in order for women to be better represented? Once we can recoup from the “Shecession” where over one million women had to quit or lost their jobs due to COVID-19, we are going to have to educate our young girls and women that they can be in this business and make a good living for themselves and their families. In the next two decades, Baby Boomers are predicted to transfer over $68 trillion to their millennial successors. There is going to be an incredible need for advisors to assist with this transfer. Women are natural advisors because we have a mix of perspectives, life experiences and diversity of thought. It is estimated over 80% percent of consumers are women [Source: Catalyst], and over 40% of women are the breadwinners for their families [Source: Center for American Progress]. This industry has begun to recognize these statistics, and at Captrust, we are making great strides to recruit and retain more women advisors. As Melinda Gates says in her book The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World when talking about family planning in third-world countries, if you can get the men of the tribes engaged, there will be change. At Captrust, more than 25% of our financial advisors are women whereas the industry average for women is 15%. We have a strong Women’s Initiative that focuses on encouraging and mentoring women to recognize their talents and help them grow and advance in the financial services industry, more specifically at Captrust. Recognizing that many women have high emotional intelligence and can listen to the wants and needs of the women who are making financial decisions for their families is an incredible recruiting tool to get more females in the investment business. The landscape of the industry not only needs to change but is changing. Any words of advice for women who want to advance in finance? If you are currently in this business and want to grow, ask someone you admire to mentor you. Ask if you could shadow them for a day and just watch, listen and learn. If you don’t know something, admit you don’t know and ask questions. People love to share what they know and generally are happy to share their knowledge, experience and the hard knocks along the way. My favorite quote, by Ruth Bader Ginsberg: “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” Visit atxwoman.com to read the interview in its entirety.

Photo by Olympia Sobande of Kerry Howell Photography Group.

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Give your holiday gift today at www.centraltexasfoodbank.org AUSTINWOMANMAGAZINE.COM | 27

HOLIDAY

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Gift ideas for the ones you love.

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A Trusted Family Tradition for 50 Years

SEE HER WORK

FALL IN LIGHT

Cinematographer Ellie Ann Fenton speaks on her relationship with light. BY SERGIO CARVAJAL-LEONI

and shaping light. They study how light enters a room, how it hits a person’s face, what temperature it carries, and they make assessments on what instruments they should use to make light behave the way they want. Though it may sound like a rather niche endeavor, these particular types of artists are directly responsible for the look of every single one of your favorite shows and movies. They are formally known as directors of photography (DPs) or cinematographers; rather misunderstood and underappreciated professionals who have had a profound impact on anyone who enjoys a good film, which is practically everyone on this planet. El Paso native Ellie Ann Fenton is one of these folks. “I fell into cinematography at UT Austin,” Fenton says. “I was in the film program and originally thought I wanted to edit; however, the second I had a camera in my hands and began to understand light, I fell in love and never looked back.” Almost two decades later, Fenton’s relationship with light is stronger than ever. She has shot multiple feature films, comfortably alternating from working with independent filmmakers—such as the award-winning festival hit comedy Zero Charisma—to being part of high-profile projects such as the HBO documentary Running with Beto. “I love watching a big scene come together with hundreds of people involved,” Feneton reveals. “And I appreciate the intimacy that can be achieved when it’s a small crew or just you, a camera and your subject. Above all, I strive to capture human experiences in whatever form they come in with whatever means I’m given.” Upon finishing the Radio, Television and Film program at UT Austin, Fenton worked the Austin film scene for a few years before joining the prestigious American Film Institute Conservatory in Los Angeles to further polish her skills and enhance her network. “School isn’t necessarily the path for everyone,” she says. “However, it was the right choice for me. A program like AFI is truly global, as filmmakers from all over the planet study there to become the future voices of film, TV and groundbreaking media. Beyond the intense technical 30 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

Photos by Romina Olson, Charlie Leal, and courtesy of Ellie Ann Fenton.

There are people whose jobs consist of understanding

“” Never quitting, even when I thought it must surely be enough. Longevity and consistency will always be tried and true ways to make strides in anything you put your mind to, especially in the field of cinematography. training I went through, I enjoyed the program’s focus on the importance of story, which is at the core of everything I make. The friends I made there and the lessons I learned will always be a big part of my life.” Fenton’s style is heavily influenced by her multicultural upbringing and her family’s passion for storytelling. She was born in Germany and raised surrounded by beautiful landscapes in Switzerland until her parents transferred to the enigmatic city of El Paso, where they started and operated a family-owned community newspaper. This exposure to multiple colors, flavors and stories provided her with a unique life perspective that shapes the way she approaches every project, as well as her vibrant choices for composition, movement and lighting. Being a woman cinematographer is also one of Fenton’s strengths, especially in a field largely dominated by men. Her skills and sensibilities provide a fresh and much needed breeze to the profession. “Change takes time,” she shares. “If you look at the industry over the last 20 years, I think we’ve seen significant changes in regards to women’s representation, treatment and opportunities in this field. We still have a long way to go, but it is changing as more people become aware of their own inherent biases.” Becoming a successful cinematographer can be extremely challenging both personally and professionally. “The hardest part is the flux of pay and availability,” Fenon admits. “It’s hard to learn how to live your life when finances and schedules ebb and flow like that. Friends, families and relationships are forced to work around the fact that I’m either super busy or incredibly free.” Given these complexities, Fenton sees her career as a game of endurance. ”I would say my best career move has been

AUSTINWOMANMAGAZINE.COM | 31

“”

Something magical happens when everyone believes in what we’re making and there’s alignment with the story we’re telling. 32 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

sticking with it,” she says. “Never quitting, even when I thought it must surely be enough. Longevity and consistency will always be tried and true ways to make strides in anything you put your mind to, especially in the field of cinematography.” Fenton also believes that her love for collaborating with others has played a key role in her success. “My career is all about communicating with other human beings,” she says. “I collaborate with the director to help achieve one vision for the project; I also work with the producers on the budget of the production to make sure we can achieve everything we set out to do. Then there’s my crew, with whom I have to have a tight relationship to ensure all the moving parts involving camera and lighting are running smoothly. Needless to mention the actors and the rest of the crew, we’re all in the same boat working together. “Something magical happens when everyone believes in what we’re making and there’s alignment with the story we’re telling,” Fenton says. “There are always challenges that will push us to our limits. When the team comes together to create something bigger than we ever imagine, that’s when I’m the happiest.”

See more of Ellie’s work at ellieannfenton.com or scan the code.

ATX

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 group 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

SPECIAL PROMOTION | ATXWOMAN.COM | 33 AUSTINWOMANMAGAZINE.COM | 33

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imberly Storin believes investing in women benefits the entire community. She is chair of the Women’s Fund, a giving network that exists to build a stronger, more equitable Central Texas. A program of Austin Community Foundation, the Women’s Fund uses data and community voice to support the economic security of women. Storin has 20-plus years of experience in enterprise technology and M&A integration with companies ranging from Fortune 50 to growth-stage startups. She is the chief marketing officer (CMO) at Zayo where she drives the global brand, positioning and marketing strategy as part of the overall company transformation. Previously she was CMO at RapidDeploy and led global marketing for IBM’s Cognitive Systems. Storin also led large-scale transformation and growth efforts at AMD and Dell and was in M&A at Deloitte Consulting. She has an MBA from the University of Southern California and a BBA from The University of Texas at Austin. austincf.org/womensfund

ATXWOMAN.COM | SPECIAL PROMOTION | 35 AUSTINWOMANMAGAZINE.COM | 35

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WOMAN to WATCH

L A U R E N S C H U L E R , VP JENNIFER SCHULER, MICHELLE SCHULER,

OF SALES; VP OF MARKETING; VP OF INSURANCE

TIME INSURANCE AGENCY

elebrating its 60-year anniversary, Time Insurance Agency is looking fresher than ever as the third generation takes the reins. Lauren, Jennifer and Michelle Schuler are taking over the family business, modernizing insurance in Texas. Lauren, the eldest, has been working in sales for 10 years and is now the VP of sales, expanding into Dallas and bringing in a new demographic of luxury homeowners and women-owned businesses. Jennifer, the middle sister and VP of marketing, uses her experience as a project manager in tech and production to implement technological advancements and new digital channels. After spending her childhood learning the business from her father, Michelle, the youngest, serves as the new VP of insurance, overseeing the commercial lines and business operations. Each sister left to pursue careers in her respective field. Wanting to be closer to family, they returned to Austin to focus on removing friction in the insurance-buying process. They put technology at the forefront to make quoting faster, more client-friendly and transparent. Like their grandpa and father, they believe client care is still the most important part of their business. timeinsurance.com 3636| AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021 | SPECIAL PROMOTION | ATXWOMAN.COM

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WOMAN to WATCH

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athallie Morales Brower and Nicole Angelica, co-owners of Regymen Fitness (Austin Region), along with their owner counterparts and Austin team, are on a mission to positively impact their community. Regymen Fitness provides a unique and inclusive group fitness program to not only help members reach their fitness goals, but also improve their mental health, make positive changes in their lifestyle and feel supported through their community, lovingly referred to as the #fitfam. They strive to bring together a diverse community that is accessible to anyone looking for accountability and motivation to succeed. They even provide their team with tools like leadership training to encourage ongoing growth and education. Brower and Angelica sum it up simply: “We’re not just a gym; we’re a family.” Check out one of their three fitness studios in Austin and Round Rock to see what Regymen Fitness is all about. regymen.fit/austinwoman

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

THE Queen

OF CONTENT Contentstack CEO Neha Sampat builds a business and a community. BY JENNY HOFF PHOTOS BY RUDY AROCHA

STYLED BY PARKE BALLANTINE WITH INSPIRATION FROM HEARTH & SOUL AND WOOD & ROSE MAKEUP BY ALICIA BELLER

38 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

SHOT ON LOCATION AT CONTENTSTACK

The year: 2019. The place: Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico. Neha Sampat treats her top sales people to a winery tour during her company’s annual Winner’s Circle event. The group enjoys the earthy varietals in this olive tree-filled region dubbed Mexico’s “Little Tuscany,” an area that produces 90% of Mexico’s wine. Sampat, a certified sommelier, shares her deep knowledge of the grape, its notes and the history of Mexico’s wine country. It’s a hat trick she’s used at many investor and tech events, giving insight to wine enthusiasts on the differences of each wine and the story of each producer. But at this specific event, her nerves are stretched. After 100 pitches during a Series A round of funding for her business Contentstack, she finally landed an investor that shares her vision for the company. But, the closing was taking weeks longer than it should. If the deal—and money—didn’t come through soon, Sampat would have to downsize her company and make some hard decisions. “I had bet on the investment and had already grown the team,” recalls Sampat. “It’s a bit like gambling, except you’re betting on yourself.” Sampat has been betting on herself since she was a little girl. Growing up in Pomona, California—the town her parents settled in after leaving India—Sampat watched her parents struggle financially as her father tried to make his various business ideas work. Sampat, motivated to earn her allowance from potential customers instead of Mom and Dad, decided to start her own business when she was about 11 years old, one that would meet the demands of her peers. “My friends and I created a New Kids on the Block fan club,” laughs Sampat. “I used my parents’ print shop to make fan books and mail them to my members. We made around $1,000 and used that money to invest in setting up a babysitter’s club.” While $1,000 is peanuts compared to the valuation of the company she would build as an adult, her early success gave her the confidence to not only believe in her ideas, but to do something with them. While business experts use fancy terms and daunting spreadsheets to explain how to turn a profit, the essence of starting an enterprise is to earn more money with your product or service than the cost to deliver it. “I’ll never forget what one of my professors said when I got my MBA,” says Sampat, as she stands up to imitate her former teacher. “Business is simple. It’s about increasing revenue and decreasing costs.” Twenty years later, sitting on a tour bus with the top employees of Contentstack, Sampat thought about her balance sheet and the hundreds of employees, from India to San Francisco, who counted on her. Would she receive the infusion of funds she desperately needed to grow her business and keep her team? “It was [at] that moment that my banker called and said the closing had happened. The money was in our account,” she says. “I was so relieved I burst into tears.”

“”

I had bet on the

investment

and had already grown the

team. It’s a bit like gambling,

except you’re betting on .

yourself

BUILDING COMMUNITY

Four years earlier, Sampat was on another trip, this one in Mumbai, India. She remembers sitting down in a cramped dormitory-style living space, perching in one of the 200-square-foot rooms that surrounded one small shared kitchen and a tiny bathroom. This is where her family lived before she was born. Each one of the rooms surrounding her had housed a whole family—some with four, five and six members. Sampat started her video camera as she watched her dad, Kris Sampat, sipping his tea and looking around the space—his body present, his eyes in another time. As Sampat filmed, her dad recounted his life there: the noise, the activity, the community. The lack of space leading to deep friendships, friends who became family. In 2015, as she filmed her father in that room, Contentstack was still fairly small. Sampat hadn’t hit any of the milestones of outside investors or hundreds of employees. Her company was made up of her, her husband, her best friend, a small team of workers who felt like friends and some engineers who were based in Mumbai, not far from where she currently sat. While her life in the U.S. was far from where her parents had started out, she found it easy to imagine their lives in that commune-like living situation and the bonds they created with the other families around them.

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40 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

When she and her husband, Nishant Patel, first started building a business together, it was in her apartment living room. The company was called Raw Engineering (which still exists), a service-based business helping companies develop better CMS strategies. Contentstack was born from Raw Engineering and delivers software products that provide that function, allowing developers and companies to better command all of their content platforms and more easily build specialized apps and websites. The content management space is a $60 billion industry. Patel, who has an engineering background, and Sampat, who specialized in product marketing, were convinced they could disrupt it in a way that hadn’t been done in 30 years. To take that leap from a comfortable salary in a secure job to aiming to upend an industry takes a lot of patience, sacrifice and guts. “But if you are that type of person, you can’t do anything else,” says Sampat. “You have to be willing to be beat down to the ground and then kicked and then also uplifted on the same day. Sometimes within the same hour.” Sampat was willing. While her husband started growing Raw Engineering and traveling to India to build a team, Sampat kept her day job in product marketing at a Silicon Valley firm. She paid her first employees out of her own paycheck. In those early years, Sampat and Patel lived as lean as possible, canceling subscriptions and budgeting only for their mortgage, groceries and utilities. They put everything else into the business, helping it sputter along until it would start producing enough revenue on its own. “I had this big piece of paper on the back of my bedroom door, and it had a reminder of how much recurring revenue we had to get in order for me to quit my job,” she recalls. “I looked at it everyday before I left for my day job. Literally, the day we hit the target, I put in my notice.” While Sampat’s business took off more than any enterprise her father had started, she attributes much of her leadership philosophy to him. He built community and treated his employees like his own family. During his print shop days, Sampat recalls going in on the weekends and helping with any task she could. She also recalls her father making a promise to the son of one of his employees. If he finished high school, Kris would buy him a truck. “I don’t know how he did it financially, but he did,” recalls Sampat. “My dad was one of those people who always gave back. Whatever little he had he would always give. That stuck with me too. This spirit of extending the ladder down and helping the others up.”

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Six months after their trip to India together, Kris Sampat unexpectedly passed away from a heart attack while on a family trip, celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary. As the patriarch of the family, his death left a gaping hole in their community. Neha was devastated. But amidst all the grief and upheaval, there is one moment that she’ll never forget. “At his funeral, the first row was filled with the other families who had lived with them in that small space in Mumbai,” she says with a tender smile. “They were the ones crying the hardest. The bond they had formed was still just as strong decades later.” BUILDING A COMMUNITY

The motto at Contentstack is “The tribe vibe.” It’s a culture built on community, collaboration and cooperation. Even as it has grown to more than 330 employees, based around the world, Sampat works hard to keep the connection. So much so that she’s taken on an executive coach to make sure she doesn’t let her personal attachments affect her ability to make the best decisions for her business. “She had to really learn how to appropriately set boundaries and address conflict,” says Corinne Mason, Ph.D., co-founder of Summit Leadership Partners and Sampat’s executive coach. “In many founder-led companies, you have prior relationships with people who you started the company with. Her best friend is the COO, her husband is the CTO. As you grow, you start to have things you need to debate around in regards to who owns decisions and who needs to make the final call. It’s a challenge for any CEO; it’s even more of a challenge for a woman CEO.” Growing a business also sometimes means parting ways with team members, a hard decision that has proven to be one of the more difficult aspects of leadership for Sampat. “Some individuals have a hard time letting go of the past and embracing the changes in the company,” says Patel. “As a leader who cares about all these individuals, I’ve seen her struggle to get each and every member [to] come along for the ride. She struggles with the goodbye.” Sampat admits growing pains can be hard, and she’s learning to get better at goodbyes if they’re in the best interest of the company. But she refuses to give up that family feeling, the “tribe vibe,” no matter how large the business grows. Most tech companies in Austin fill up the shiny high-rises downtown or populate the newer buildings near the Domain. For the second headquarters of Contentstack, Sampat chose a cozy historical home in East Austin. With a small yard and white facade, the house maintains its historic charm. Inside, murals of Austin adorn the walls, giving it a local, distinct atmosphere. A galley kitchen is stocked with coffee and a variety of milk options. What once were bedrooms are now small offices, close enough that you can have a conversation with other team members without having to get up. When they opened the doors in January 2020, Sampat wanted to make sure it felt like home

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and even created a dog corner with treats and water bowls. Upstairs, she installed a wine bar, with a carefully curated collection that Sampat and her co-founder, best friend and fellow sommelier, Matthew Baier, personally chose. When COVID-19 hit just weeks after they crossed the threshold, Contentstack’s new work home emptied out while Sampat’s personal house filled up. THE FAMILY BALANCE

Being a founder and CEO of a tech company worth millions of dollars doesn’t preclude you from the responsibilities of family life. Just as Sampat’s company went 100% remote, she also became a first-time mom overnight. “My sister-in-law’s husband is a pulmonary physician, and they had a new baby,” explains Sampat. “We decided that to keep [the baby] and our parents-in-law safe, my sister-in-law would stay at home with her husband and older children. The baby and my in-laws would move in with us to keep them safe.” After years of trying to conceive on their own, failed IVF attempts and even starting the process for adoption, Sampat and Patel suddenly became parents to a fourmonth-old bouncing baby boy. For seven months the family of two turned into a family of five, with Patel’s parents and baby Arhaan in the house, huddled together inside. This new family configuration, while sudden, wasn’t all that new for Sampat. When she met Patel 20 years earlier, fresh out of college, his family moved from India to be with him almost immediately. The couple skipped the honeymoon period of first love and went headfirst into taking on the responsibilities of supporting his family, helping raise his younger sister and eventually putting her through college. Now, as serendipity would have it, they were helping raise her son so she could protect her family.

LOCATION: CONTENTSTACK AUSTIN OFFICE Contentstack is an API-based, headless content management platform that allows developers and content managers to create and manage content, simultaneously and independently, to create websites and applications quickly. 900 Lydia St. contentstack.com

“”

As a leader who cares about all these individuals, I’ve seen her struggle to get each and every member [to] come along for the ride. She struggles with the goodbye. ATXWOMAN.COM | 43

SIP AND LEARN WITH NEHA SAMPAT

As a certified sommelier with the Court of Sommeliers, what are three wine facts that can impress any guest? 1. The main trick to sabering a bottle of sparkling wine is to make sure it’s chilled on ice prior. The colder the bottle, the easier it is to saber. It’s a fun party trick if you do it safely. 2. If you plug your nose while sipping a wine, it completely changes the flavor of the wine. Have people try this in a wine tasting. It’s both silly and insightful! 3. You can liken the “body” of a wine (i.e. lightbodied, medium-bodied or heavy-bodied) to forms of milk (i.e. skim milk vs. whole milk). 44 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

Three tips for picking a good wine? 1. If you like Chateauneuf-du-Pape, look for a Gigondas. You can often find a wine with similar taste and quality of a Chateauneuf-du-Pape at a fraction of the cost. 2. Similarly, if you like Barolo and Barbaresco wines from Italy, look for a Langhe Nebbiolo. Langhe Nebbiolo often gets made by the same producers but costs much less. 3. All rules aside, the most important thing is to drink what you like. Wine is a form of art, and all art is subjective.

“” When you’re a super tiny company, everyone can dream big. As you grow the key is to add to the magic, not to dilute the .

magic

Sometimes the world works in mysterious ways. After two decades of marriage and the emotional toll that comes with trying to have a baby, Sampat and Patel are finally content with focusing on nurturing their company’s growth while helping out with the tiny humans in their family. “It was fun and we love him. But we were both like, ‘This is cool; let’s just be an aunt and uncle,’” Sampat says with a laugh. “We still see him every day, we get the beautiful hugs and when they need a break we can take all the kids for them. We are getting our fill.” LEARNING TO LEAD

While Sampat was hunkered down in her home with a baby, her parents-in-law and husband, she also happened to be on another quest to raise money for Contentstack. After growing the company 150% since their first round (Series A), where she had to pitch 100 times to companies in New York and Silicon Valley before securing an investment of $31.5 million, Sampat was poised to grow her company even more with an even bigger valuation. This time, it was all virtual, and the investors came to her. Of the thousands of businesses that venture capital firms invest in annually, only 2.3% of them are woman-led. Between the amount she raised in Series A and the $57.5 million she ended up raising in Series B, Sampat’s company was in the top 5% of the most money raised by a female-led enterprise company. Sampat is hopeful more investors are seeing the benefit of investing in women-owned businesses. And some are. True Wealth Ventures, based in Austin and run by two female veterans of the tech industry, commits to only investing in women-led businesses—not just for personal reasons, but because it makes financial sense. “Data show that women-led companies outperform financially,” says Kerry Rupp, general partner of True Wealth Ventures (along with her business partner, Sara Brand, the 2017 Austin Woman magazine cover woman). “There have been numerous studies on this topic over the past five to 10 years [that] show that women-led companies raised 45% less capital but generated 10% more revenue and 2.5 times higher returns.” Conentstack is no exception. With the substantial investments, Sampat can now grow her team exponentially, putting their product into as many companies as possible. Her company already serves some of the largest Fortune 1000 brands, and the leadership team has their eyes on growing as big or bigger than their main competitor, Adobe. Even though that growth may come with substantial change, Contentstack’s COO, Matthew Baier, has no doubt Sampat is the woman who can lead the charge. “When you’re a super tiny company, everyone can dream big,” says Baier. “As you grow the key is to add to the magic, not to dilute the magic.” Adding to the magic includes making strategic and thoughtful

decisions—in business and philanthropy. While many corporations have blanket give-back programs as part of their overall portfolio, Sampat has a much more deliberate and personal approach with her company’s community impact. Recently, she hosted a party called Black Out Austin at her own house to raise money in support of Partnerships for Children, an organization that supports foster children in the area. When COVID-19 ravaged India, she raised $75,000, which provided millions of meals to the community where her Indian team is based. She also immediately took action to protect her employees. “Early on, she recognized the gravity of COVID and had everyone start working remotely,” says Renee Holland, the head of people at Contentstack, who leads their HR team. “The engineers in India were set up with internet at home with two backup internet sources as well. When the Delta variant hit India hard, she made sure her team there was taken care of, that they had hospital beds if they needed it, that we had oxygen if we needed it.” Sampat not only seeks out ways to encourage women and underrepresented minorities to join the tech space; she has her own company actively seek out employees who may not have obvious access to the industry. And it’s not about only doing right by those underprivileged. Her friends and colleagues say Sampat just does right by people, period. “I work with a lot of executives,” says Mason. “She is one of the few who has turned around and asked how she can help me. And she does it. She bought a whole table at the [Woman’s Way Business] Awards and introduced me to other executives. That’s how she is.” Sampat may be newer to Austin, but she exudes the old Austin vibe. Yes, it’s a cutting-edge city, a tech powerhouse and rapidly growing, but it’s also relaxed, inclusive and happy. Sampat may have spent much of her career in Silicon Valley, but her upbringing in a small California town in a house constantly filled with relatives and friends, with a spot always open at the dinner table, taught her early on that building community is more important than building a resume. As her father always reminded her, true success isn’t just personal achievement; it’s remembering to extend the ladder down and bring others up along the way.

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PAY IT FORWARD

THIS GIVING TUESDAY

Local nonprofits host meaningful end-of-year fundraisers to catalyze support for Austin women. In graduate school, Allison Orr watched a man clean some windows. The former social worker was studying BY STACEY INGRAM KALEH choreography at the time and had spent the whole day in the studio. The campus foreman, Manuel Godinez, faced her from outside and swept his tools across the window with ease and forethought. It was 1998, so there were no “satisfying” viral videos of perfect window cleanings yet. There were no TikTok dance challenges to oliday real shopping season is uponconsumable us. It’s the time of yearBut we often spend thinking of interpret life into something in seconds. pattern creative ways to bring joy to our loved ones through gift giving. Immediately following recognition is universal. Black Friday and Monday‘Well, is Giving Tuesday—a day that reminds us that we can put “I watched himCyber and thought, that’s the most interesting the spirit of giving to work our greater On Giving choreography I’ve seen in afor long time,’” Orrcommunity. recalls. “There’s a veryTuesday, we are invited to pausepattern and think about how we can spread joy, notclear only and among our inner specific to his window washing. It was very precise. It circle, but to all our neighbors, especially those need. It’s a day in to terms ask ourselves, “How can we put wasofabsolutely rehearsed. And it was in very determined of timing. our dollars andyou talents fortothe greater good?” It was all that wanttoa use dance be.” A worldwide generosity Giving Tuesday ignitesa people to actively make She approached Godinezmovement, to introduce herself and explain aperformance lasting impact, helping the vitalon. work of local nonprofits, the leaders and series she’dsustain been working Collaborating with campus innovators that serve Austin’s most vulnerable community members. In 2020, Giving employees, she choreographed routines to mimic their everyday Tuesday that atagreed least $2.47 billionhis were donated justOrr 24 hours in the United activities.reported The foreman to perform solo. To thisinday, States. According to I and Live“generosity” Here I Give Here, a local nonprofit helping remembers his dance as emblematic of her goals as a to lead the movement in Central Texas, thousands of Austinites collectively performed more than choreographer. 20“The million “actions forofgood” in 2020. These actions included raised for hundreds gorgeousness the movement, the perfection of that dollars dance....It’s of local nonprofits, volunteer still what I’m doing,” says Orr.hours donated and social media posts advocating for local causes. We’ve lived through nearly two years of a global pandemic, accompanied by major transitions in schools and the workplace, as well as cultural paradigm shifts. These challenges have exacerbated the preexisting inequities facing women. Women have exited the workplace in greater numbers than men, creating what some call the “shecession” and often resulting in women taking on more child care and household responsibilities. Increased anxiety has taken a serious toll on the mental health of women and girls. In general, women are psychologically taxed and financially strained. “As Austin’s wealth continues to increase exponentially, the opportunity gap continues to widen, leaving many Central Texas women behind and disproportionately impacting women of color,” says Misty Whited, VP of marketing and communications at the Austin Community Foundation. “Locally, 59% of women of color are housing cost-burdened— meaning they spend more than a third of their income on rent. A single head of a household with two children needs at least $50,000 annually in order to make ends meet. Only 25% of jobs in the Austin Metropolitan Area pay enough for women to attain the necessary annual income.” The need women face this year is profound, and we have an opportunity to help address it. “In an effort to close this widening opportunity gap, we must invest in women,” says Whited. “Research consistently shows that economic growth for women has a proven ripple effect—when women flourish, so do cities. Women invest 90% of their income back into their families and communities.” Giving back to your community may be easier than you think. While monetary donations are always needed and appreciated, you can also get involved by volunteering, organizing a food or clothing drive with your friends, donating your skills by serving on a nonprofit board or committee, sending thank-you notes to health care workers, offering a ride to a neighbor and much more. We all have something to give. These five local nonprofit organizations are hosting fundraisers to support local women, girls and the LGBTQIA+ community. Read on to learn how to give and make an impact on Giving Tuesday. 46 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

Photo by Christine Torres.

“” It’s a day to ask ourselves, ‘How can we put our dollars and talents to use for the greater good?’

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DRESS FOR SUCCESS AUSTIN

austin.dressforsuccess.org Brigette Oakes 48 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

Allison O

Photos courtesy of Dress for Success.

Advancing its mission to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and development tools to help them thrive in work and life, Dress for Success Austin (DFSA) is centering its Giving Tuesday campaign on giving confidence. Throughout the month of November, DFSA hopes to raise $10,000 to support Central Texas women as they return to work to support themselves and their families. In addition, they will share an Amazon Wishlist where community members can easily donate the items their clients need the most. Leading up to Giving Tuesday, DFSA has partnered with several companies to host a live social media series about building and maintaining confidence through difficult times. Topics include leveling up your skills, taking care of your mental health and preparing to re-enter the workforce. “When most people think of Dress for Success Austin, they think of the professional clothing aspect—it’s in our name after all!” says Teal Garth, DFSA communications manager. “We find that many Austinites don’t know that providing professional clothing is only one out of seven workforce development programs we offer. A new outfit can give our clients the extra confidence they need to nail the interview, but the tools and support we provide through our additional programs help women build the lifelong skills they need to continue growing their careers, even during difficult times like these.” Additional programs include offering services like one-on-one resume and cover letter writing, LinkedIn profile building and mentoring. Ninetyfive percent of DFSA’s clients actively seeking employment find a job after graduating from Path-to-Employment, a six-week mentoring program that gives women the tools to succeed long-term. When you give to Dress for Success Austin, you help local women in need go after their dream jobs, change career paths, go back to school, pay off debt, increase their salaries and more. Make a donation at secure.givelively. org/donate/dress-for-success-austin/giveconfidence-for-givingtuesday or purchase a much-needed item on the Dress for Success Austin Amazon wishlist. You can also donate professional clothing, organize a clothing drive and help spread the word by sharing their social media campaign.

FLO CODE

Launched in 2017 as an effort to provide underserved women, girls and members of the LGBTQIA+ community with access to menstrual products in Central Texas, Flo Code has expanded its mission to advance health, education and reproductive justice in our community. Over the past four years, they have battled stigma and rallied the community to donate over 600,000 menstrual products to nonprofits, shelters, schools and natural disaster victims.

“The pandemic seems to have increased focus to need in local communities, which is a positive,” says Lamanda Ballard, founder and executive director. “We are more aware than ever about how people are struggling even while many of us have been dealing with our own battles. It’s essential not to lose sight of that as [we hope] the pandemic winds down. Because menstruation happens monthly for most, the need for getting menstrual products in the hands of those who wouldn’t otherwise have them is still, and will continue to be, a critical need until they are freely available to all menstruators.” This Giving Tuesday, Flo Code amplifies the issue of reproductive health care for women and girls by advocating for social change, educating on reproductive health care issues and donating to underserved individuals, including those experiencing homelessness. Their goal is to raise $10,000 to help eradicate period poverty, which is defined as lack of access to menstrual products, reproductive health education, bathrooms and clean water. They will also host collection drives for period products at various sites throughout our region. Flo Code aims to donate one million menstrual products by the end of 2022. “With our partners, volunteers and the community’s support, we can achieve our goals,” says Ballard. Donate to Flo Code’s online fundraiser at secure.givelively.org/ donate/flo-code/flo-code-week, drop off product donations at Nina Berenato Jewelry at the Domain and volunteer to become a Flo Ambassador or Board Member by emailing info@flocode.org. flocode.org

Photos courtesy of Flo Code.

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FUTURE FRONT TEXAS

Get involved at futurefronttexas.org.

50 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

GIRLS EMPOWERMENT NETWORK

Through a range of programs, the Girls Empowerment Network teaches girls the skills to thrive and to believe in their ability to be unstoppable. One of those programs is Girl Connect—a weekly, groups-based program that meets on girls’ elementary, middle and high school campuses to foster self-efficacy and social well-being. It’s also the focus of the organization’s Giving Tuesday campaign this year. Girl Connect offers a reliable space for girls to bond, learn to cope and to gain skills like stress management, assertive communication and self-compassion while practicing a growth mindset. The constant change and uncertainty that’s accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic has weighed heavily on girls who have had to navigate social isolation, school closures, grief, technology issues, family issues, barriers to the identification and treatment of mental health concerns and more. While girls are already at higher risk for social-emotional health issues, the pandemic has only deepened the problems that can have long-lasting implications. “Our direct service staff have been hearing from their school contacts that Girl Connect is needed now more than ever before, as a place for girls to connect with one another and positive role models and tend to their social and emotional health,” says Ami Kane, chief development officer. “They’re sharing that many girls are struggling to cope with stress, anxiety, depression, making friends and advocating for themselves at school.” When you support the Girl Connect program, you help increase local girls’ self-efficacy, which in turn improves their school attendance and performance. Some of the new skills girls learn by taking part in the program include understanding the media and social media’s impact on women and girls’ feelings of self-worth, tangible stress and anxiety reduction techniques such as mindfulness and breathing exercises, and practicing healthy communication, self-advocacy and building positive relationships. Girls Empowerment Networks meets girls where they are to foster this supportive environment of peers and adult role models, and girls also receive a Spark Kit “girl power” activity box to take home with all the supplies needed for the weekly Girl Connect sessions. You can help Girls Empowerment Network celebrate its 25th anniversary and reach 1,600 girls in grades 3-12 weekly by donating at girlsempowermentnetwork.org. You can also sign up to volunteer or join a giving circle for adult gender justice advocates called Girl Advocacy League.

Photos by Chelsea Dean-Martinez.

Future Front Texas (formerly Boss Babes ATX) envisions a Texas where everyone has access to creativity and leadership skills. To provide direct support to the creative leaders manifesting positive change across our community, the nonprofit aims to raise $20,000 for its Creative Future of Texas (CFOT) Fund and Community Leaders of Color Mental Health Initiative this Giving Tuesday. The CFOT Fund offers $10,000 in micro-grants to women and queer creatives each year, and the Community Leaders of Color Mental Health Initiative will provide $10,000 in pro-bono therapy sessions to women and queer BIPOC leaders annually. Facing a long road to recovery after the COVID-19 shutdown, and coming off the heels of an organizational rebrand, giving to Future Front Texas on Giving Tuesday will help the organization build momentum and carry their mission forward. Donating to Future Front Texas is a way to support the creative projects, organizations and small businesses you want to see succeed. “Small businesses, independent creatives and grassroots organizations and projects have all been hit hard,” says Eunice Bao, communications associate. “Many of us didn’t qualify for the same kinds of funding, grants and loans as larger organizations, and we don’t have the same kinds of major benefactors or investors helping us. In our case, we were only able to reopen thanks to the community’s support, and it’s a privilege we don’t take lightly. We determined that when reopening we needed to put our best food forward, too, and that’s why our name changed as well. We want to continue showing up for the work we’ve done, as well as a vision for our future.” At the most recent Front Market and Festival, Future Front Texas welcomed 3,500 guests and raised $2,245 in donations for the Creative Future of Texas Fund. Joining in at one of their dynamic community events is a fun way to show your support, as every ticket purchased and donation made ensures Future Front Texas can continue to help local artists, performers, entrepreneurs and other creatives make our community a more vibrant place to live.

LATINITAS

Latinitas is creating courageous leaders through innovation in media and technology. Founded in Austin in 2002, they provide media and technology programs for girls throughout Central Texas. This Giving Tuesday, they plan to use funds raised through their “The Future is Chica” campaign to secure a pipeline from their programs to Austin’s most lucrative and creative jobs by strengthening their college scholarship endowment fund. Achieving their campaign goal of $5,000 would help ensure that Latinitas can provide scholarship opportunities indefinitely for its impressive 93% of program alumni who graduate high school. “Latina and youth of color are Austin’s biggest and most underestimated intellectual resource,” says Laura Donnelly, founder and CEO. “Less than 1% of our city’s tech workforce is Latina, yet 91% of those who graduate Latinitas’ Code Chica Certification programs say they want to explore computer science in college. Less than 2% of Austin’s newsrooms or production studios employ women of color in a city that is 47% non-white. Girls and teens, and girl-identifying and nonbinary students enrolled in Latinitas’ clubs, camps, conferences and teen certifications are learning hands-on skills in coding, filmmaking, podcasting, writing, virtual and augmented reality and robotics, [which are] powerful tools for innovation but also social change and celebration of identity and culture.” Latinitas’ impact doesn’t stop there. Donnelly continues, “[As] Austin’s only 100% bilingual STEM education nonprofit, Latinitas serves girls others can’t. Latinitas Startup Chica Conference, in its twelfth iteration this year, is the city’s largest annual gathering of girls of color exploring entrepreneurship. Same for video game making and Latinitas Game Chica Conference. Of the hundreds of robotics league teams statewide, Latinitas is the only all-Latina team. And 90% of Latinitas Code Chica coding boot camp is Latina. No other coding school in the city, and few nationwide, show that makeup.” Want to see a future with more Latina and women of color in STEM fields and leadership positions? Support Latinitas by donating at latinitasonline.org, spread the word about their programs on social media and volunteer to be a program helper or career presenter.

Interested in supporting several organizations that uplift local women? Consider these giving options:

Photos courtesy of Latinitas.

Austin Community Foundation Women’s Fund The Austin Community Foundation Women’s Fund is an investor-led collective giving funds to people who are passionate about improving life for women and children in Central Texas. More than 200 leaders in Austin work together to improve outcomes for all women, and fund distribution is driven by data and community voices. The Women’s Fund makes nonprofit grants in the areas of housing, child care, education and women’s health to support the economic security of women in Central Texas.

Last year, as the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the issues affecting women, especially women of color, the Women’s Fund took deliberate steps to center its grantmaking and funding strategies on racial equity. Through the fund, the Foundation aims to bridge the racial wealth and health divide facing women of color. Invest in the 2022 Women’s Fund at austincf.org/womensfund or volunteer to participate in the grant review and fundraising process.

I Live Here I Give Here’s amplifyatx.org Give to multiple nonprofits with a single click at amplifyatx.org, where you can search by cause category and keyword to discover organizations doing work that is important to you. If you need more inspiration or want to get involved to make generosity a lifestyle 365 days a year, Giving Tuesday posts monthly calendars with daily ideas to make a positive difference in your hometown and beyond. Follow along @GivingTuesday. ATXWOMAN.COM | 51

WOMEN IN FINANCE

Chermaine Hu Business: Episode Six Founded in: 2015 About the Business: Episode Six is creating fresh and innovative technology for financial uses and payments products that give consumers and businesses the best experiences possible. episodesix.com

Chermaine Hu entered the fintech realm after a 14-year career in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) banking at Morgan Stanley in London and New York. Though her stint at Morgan Stanley was fulfilling and successful, Hu knew she had to make the switch to fintech, a sector that includes any technology utilized in the financial services industry, if she wanted to have more ownership in the company she worked for and oversight into the results she helped produce. When looking into the industry, Hu remembered John Mitchell and Futeh Kao, her former coworkers from a payments technology company. The trio had bonded over a mutual vision of redefining what’s possible in financial services and payments industries. So in 2015, with that inventive goal in mind, they decided to found Episode Six, a company that gives banks, fintechs and brands freedom to quickly design and bring payment propositions to market. They were going to change everything, and with Episode Six, Hu can confidently say they did just that. According to Hu, the payments and banking industry had been burdened by outdated legacy systems for an unfortunately long time. So she and her co-founders have worked to open up opportunities to streamline payments and banking processes, and open the exchange and flow of value around the globe. “[We] found it important and rewarding to address the gaps in the industry by incorporating modern and flexible technology,” Hu says. “Our mission now is to…bring innovative payment propositions to market that enable the transfer of value of any kind: paper currency, crypto, reward points, gold, securities or anything else you can imagine.” By leaving M&A banking and creating her own business, Hu fulfilled herself and her ambitions in ways that would have been impossible otherwise. “As a co-founder and CFO at Episode Six, I enjoy having a hand in directing the company’s journey as we have scaled up our investments and global presence since launching in 2015,” she explains. “I find it rewarding to have made a clear impact on the business goals, alongside my co-founders John Mitchell (CEO) and Futeh Kao (CTO). 52 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

“I enjoy overseeing the different puzzle pieces that scale our company,” Hu continues. “Every business, operational and people decision has an impact on our financial performance and the future of our company. I love bringing all of those aspects together to find the optimal sweet spot and then working with my co-founders and our teams to make the right decisions for future success.” Hu and her co-founders now operate their business across 23 countries and four continents. They have operations in most major cities including Austin, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore. “Our team couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve built and the company we keep,” she says. Despite Hu’s incredible success, she has had her fair share of setbacks, challenges and adversity. A 2020 study conducted by the AnitaB.org Institute found women make up 28.8% of the tech workforce. Women founders in the tech sector are even less common, especially in fintech, says Hu. She steadfastly refused to let this hinder her. She is wholly unashamed of her femininity and welcomes diversity in the workplace. “Born in Hong Kong, educated in the U.K. and now based in Austin, I myself have a pretty diverse background, which is why I value diverse teams and want to uphold diversity and inclusion values in the fintech field,” Hu says. “I have embraced being a woman in fintech and aim to lead a path for others who choose this field. It is full of exciting opportunities, and I want women to know we need their knowledge, skill sets and diverse perspectives in order to introduce even more innovation to the world.” Hu offers mentorship and guidance to all her peers but makes sure to offer strong and specific advice for women employed in the technology and finance fields. She has helped to create and implement programs dedicated to mentorship, leadership and professional development. She works to give those who are less experienced the advice she would have wanted when she was in their shoes. “[One thing] I wish someone would have shared much earlier in my career is to take time to build and nurture relationships, both personal and professional,” she says. “Don’t skip that lunch with an ex-colleague. Don’t forget to send a thank-you note to your co-worker in another department who helped you with something just because you are too busy with your ‘real’ work.”

For The Dreamer

Find out more about Chermaine Hu and Episode Six at: linkedin.com/in/chermainehu twitter.com/chermaine_e6 linkedin.com/company/episode-six twitter.com/E6_Technology

ATXWOMAN.COM | 53

WOMEN IN FINANCE

Robin Campana Business: Acumera Inc. Founded in: 2002 About the Business: Acumera works to manage security, network visibility and automation services for multiple industries. Their services, remote visibility dashboard, robust data security and simplified compliance services allow their clients to focus on growing their businesses. acumera.net

While some teens struggled to budget or keep track of money,

for Robin Campana, debits and credits have always come easy. Now, she is the only woman on the Acumera leadership team, leading the entire finance department of the company. “From a very young age, I was always great with numbers,” Campana says. “My first job began in my early teens filing for my dad’s company in Houston, Texas. Over the years, into high school and college, I worked my way around full-cycle accounting. Experiencing full-cycle accounting while you are taking college courses was invaluable. I was able to apply what I was learning to real transactions.” In July 2019, a San Francisco digital company bought the marketing company where Campana worked as VP of finance. While she could have stayed, she missed the autonomy of working as a senior financial executive. It was time for a new adventure. Then in October 2019, when Bill Morrow took on the role of CEO of Acumera, he looked for a senior financial executive to join him at the company. Having worked with Campana at CSIdentity in 2008, Morrow knew who to hire. “Bill knew that I could handle the due diligence and present at the investor meetings that were on the horizon for Acumera,” Campana says. “I am very happy to be working with him again. He always motivates his teams to achieve their very best. The future is very bright at Acumera with Bill at the helm.” Empowered women empower women. In 2010, Kendel Martin, the then president of Financial Executives International (FEI), empowered Campana to keep going in finance. Martin invited her to sit at her table and introduced her to FEI board members and other key members and sponsors. Campana admits making connections in this way helped her find her way to even more opportunities in the finance world. “If she had not reached out in such a welcoming way, I seriously doubt that I would have ended up joining the board in 2016 and then becoming the first VP of diversity and inclusion in 2018, creating a new board role for the chapter,” Campana reveals. “I used my experience being warmly welcomed by Kendel as an example of how to make all guests and new members feel [the same].” 54 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

Even in her first job out of college, Campana was the first woman in the senior executive meetings. She says her father influenced her work ethic and mindset, instilling in her the belief that she could do anything she set her mind to. “I was certainly capable of doing anything a man can do,” Campana says. “My father told me that I should always make sure that I am able to take care of myself. He said it was absolutely fine to choose to have a partner in life but always be able to pay my own bills and keep a roof over my own head at all times.” At each of her early career transitions, Campana quickly rose to senior leadership levels because she was never intimidated by anyone, regardless of their gender. She attributes this mindset to her father, too, saying she learned her leadership skills from him. “My father was and is my role model to this day,” Campana says. “I wanted to lead and manage teams just like I watched him do. I wanted to be a leader just like him.” As someone who never wanted to specialize in one particular area or industry, Campana says working in finance allows for that flexibility. Over the years, she’s worked in many industries, from nonprofits, to setting gas prices in the marketing department at a fuel jobber, to a couple of tours in advertising and marketing firms, to the managed network service provider where she works now. She’s even expanded past finance to start writing. In July 2018, she received an invitation to join Forbes Finance Council as a published author, where she shares her financial experience and knowledge with others. Campana says she typically finds more time to join expert panels than writing full articles; she hopes to make more time in 2022 to write, as she finds it fulfilling. When giving advice to someone looking to work in the industry, Campana says it’s crucial to practice presenting early and often. Getting this experience early makes the pressure less intense. “Look for opportunities to get in front of colleagues,” she encourages. “If you can interview well and sell yourself with confidence, you will typically stand out from the competition.”

For The Dreamer

Learn more about Robin Campana and her work at Acumera at: linkedin.com/in/robincampana financialexecutives.org/Network/Chapters/Austin/Home.aspx forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/people/robincampana robinscrystalroses.com (“For those that want to see my crafty side.”)

ATXWOMAN.COM | 55

RECIPE REVEAL

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH PECAN FILLING AND MAPLE MERINGUE

FUN FALL FLAVORS AND PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Ingredients: For the Crust: 3/4 cup oats 1/2 cup + 3 tablespoons oat, gluten-free or allpurpose flour 1/2 cup + 3 tablespoons light brown sugar 1 1/4 teaspoons salt

Pastry Chef Gabby Roberts has a new spin for a classic fall treat.

1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

BY ALLIE JUSTIS

7 eggs

1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons brown butter, melted For the Cheesecake:

1 1/4 cup sugar 5 cups cream cheese

Gabby Roberts, the executive pastry chef at

56 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

2 tablespoons oat, gluten-free or all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup cream 2 tablespoons vanilla bean paste 15 oz. pumpkin puree For the Pecan Filling: 1 cup + 2 tablespoons light brown sugar 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons maple syrup 1/2 cup light corn syrup 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 teaspoon salt Photo courtesy of Chef Gabby Roberts.

Chameleon Companies, offers up a unique spin on a classic fall favorite. Although Roberts didn’t get her start in baking, through hard work and incredible guidance she worked her way up the ladder to the executive pastry chef position. Currently, Roberts works at four different locations across Austin, combining exotic flavors to make innovative desserts like sesame Twinkies and ginger panna cotta with lychee sauce. “My favorite part of my job is getting to combine a bunch of different flavors to create great desserts that people will love,” says Roberts. “For a pastry chef, I actually have a big salt-tooth, and I’ve always loved combining sweet and savory flavors. Now I get to do that for a living, and it’s so great.” Roberts chose to reveal her pumpkin cheesecake with a pecan filling and maple meringue. She selected the cheesecake because it’s an easy recipe to make at home that’s also fairly inexpensive. Roberts suggests for those who’d love to try this recipe to set out all the ingredients an hour or two beforehand to bring them all to room temperature. This helps blend all the ingredients together and ensures they don’t get too lumpy. Roberts says taking the time to enjoy these fantastic fall flavors is an important step for self-care and overall long-term happiness. “People should indulge more I think,” says Roberts. “Sometimes it’s hard on a tight budget, and at the restaurant, we’ll be lucky to get more than half of our customers to eat dessert sometimes. But I think it’s important to savor the little things in life and enjoy yourself by getting that little bit of dessert every once in a while.”

2 1/2 cups + 3 tablespoons chopped pecans For the Maple Meringue: 6 egg whites 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon maple extract

Directions: Crust Directions: Preheat the oven to 325°. Mix together all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Stir in melted brown butter until well combined. Press crust into a greased and lined springform pan. Bake for 15 minutes. Allow to cool while mixing cheesecake batter. Cheesecake Directions: Lower the oven temperature to 300°. Whip eggs and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add cream cheese in small pieces until all combined. Add flour, spices and salt. Drizzle in cream, vanilla bean paste and pumpkin. Pour batter into the prepared crust. Bake for 55 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

Pecan Filling Recipe: In a small pot on the stovetop, bring all ingredients except the pecan pieces to a boil. Reduce to a simmer by stirring in the pecan pieces, simmering for about 6 minutes. Allow to cool at room temp. Maple Meringue: Heat egg whites and sugar over a double boiler to dissolve sugar, whisking continuously so whites don’t cook. Whip to soft peaks, then add salt, cream of tartar and both of the extracts while the mixer is still going, until fully whipped into stiff peaks. Once the cheesecake has cooled completely, remove from the pan, top with pecan filling and maple meringue and serve.

ATXWOMAN.COM | 57

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Families Looking to Reunite for the Holidays: Family Reunion Round-up

Make up for lost time by completely losing track of it, with your family by your side. The majority of families did not gather in 2020, only individuals and immediate family members celebrating the holidays in their own homes. As more people get vaccinated, families are looking to schedule reunions and holiday celebrations at locations around Texas. We found three that are ripe for the gathering.

By: Marika Flatt

Casa Cartel, Austin

Casa Cartel in Austin is not for the ordinary. This stay is anything but. If you are looking for a bold and immersive experience, this villa is the one to book. Though the villa sits secluded in Southeast Austin, it is still near enough to downtown, local shopping and restaurants to enjoy both the allure of the city and the privacy that the location offers. Upon arrival, expect to be greeted by a 20-foot mural, a testament to the bold fusion of colorful artistic design and preservation of the home’s historic integrity. This expansive five bed, five bath home sleeps 17, and it has wow factor from ceiling to basement.

64 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

Around every corner, there is something to catch your eye. Bold color choices and historic structural designs create an experience unlike any other. As the only television in the house, a home theater that seats 15 prompts intentionality with time and encourages togetherness. This gives families an avenue of entertainment without the looming presence of all-around technology. At the heart of the property is a large pool that the villa’s balconies overlook. The basement, though, is where the party is at. Downstairs, adventurous guests can find an on-site speakeasy, complete with dimmed lighting, a high-end poker set and a vintage record player for aesthetics.

If a getaway means only eating out to avoid the hassle of cooking, consider the villa’s option to hire a private chef. Your family will enjoy home-cooked yet high-end meals straight from the kitchen. The spacious 6,000-square-foot home goes for $700-2,000 per night, depending on the season, so guests are encouraged to book well in advance.

Medina Highpoint Resort, Medina

Photo courtesy of Texas Lifestyle and Travel Magazine.

Truly a hidden gem deep in the Hill Country, Medina Highpoint Resort is reunion perfection. Part of the RVC Outdoor Destinations group, this quiet piece of Hill Country bliss exists between the two small towns of Medina and Kerrville. The reason this location is absolutely ideal for a family reunion is the ranch house that was designed in the 1940s by a famed architect who was involved with the design of many buildings on the campus of UT Austin. Completed in 1948 with the same limestone that the LBJ Library was constructed out of, the house has been the host of many politicians and dignitaries over the years. The ranch house was the original home of the owner decades ago, which has been renovated to perfectly accommodate 10 people with its three suites, living room, dining room and adequately appointed kitchen where you can rotate meals and cook for the entire family. The kitchen features a deluxe range top oven, plenty of space and a large refrigerator. The house offers a washer and dryer, and two out of the three suites include a foldout couch (a double) that can sleep two small people. The master suite offers not one, but two full bathrooms! But the hero of this house is the back porch that runs the length of the ranch house and overlooks the resort’s pool. With a lovely green space between the house and the pool, there’s easy access to enjoy the infinity pool with adjoining hot tub. (Average cost of the ranch house is around $870 per night on a weekday and up to

$1000 per night on a weekend.) Additional members of the family can rent their own cabins. There are many to choose from on property, some with a bedroom downstairs, with a foldout futon and bathroom, and a loft upstairs. (Average cost is around $250 per night). There are a total of 45 cabins sporting six different types and styles. The resort even has its own mountain, boasting its title as the second highest elevation in Texas’ Hill Country. With a high-flying Texas flag at the mountain’s summit and the vantage point of the surrounding mountains and valleys, the observation deck provides an Instagram-worthy backdrop. The property also offers RV hookups, grilling, hiking, fishing, and pets are allowed. There is free Wi-Fi (but no phone service), a children’s play area and live music seasonally.

Cinnamon Shore, Port Aransas

A seaside village, Cinnamon Shore is a master-planned community, full of pastel-colored beach houses and condos, where most people ride cruisers or dune buggies (golf carts). It calls to generations, young and old. Families from around the state have built a tradition of spending their time off at Cinnamon Shore, splashing in one of three pools, tossing the football on the open-space lawns or traversing the dunes to get to the beach. Once you arrive at Cinnamon Shore, you park your vehicle and have no need to drive until it’s time to depart. Because you have a full kitchen, washer/dryer and even restaurants, this is a self-contained vacation destination for the whole family! Highlights of Cinnamon Shore include: The property is a self-contained unit, safe enough to let teens roam on their own. They love the independence of heading over to the coffee shop for a drink or visiting Dylan’s Pizzeria to order their own meal.

ATXWOMAN.COM | 65

There are three community pools that provide hours of enjoyment for guests of any age: the Dune Pool, which hosts paddleboard yoga in a palm-lined setting; Kiera’s Pool, with an infinity edge looking to scenic Lake Gavin; and Stillwater Pool, heated year-round. Of course, you can cook in your own kitchen all day long, but there are also on-site dining options. Upscale Mediterranean-style Lisabella’s Bistro; family-friendly Dylan’s Pizzeria, where you can enjoy outdoor seating; and Coffee Waves, with a premium selection of java, smoothies and breakfast fare all make it feel like your own little town built especially for you. With their entertainment and activities, the resort is designed to be everything you need. Live concerts on an outdoor stage, which provides such a fun and relaxing Saturday night; movies on the grassy Town Center lawn; yoga on the beach; paddleboard yoga at The Dune Pool; bike and fishing gear rentals all exist to put the cherry on top of your stay. There are two community lakes that really add a relaxing touch to an already relaxing atmosphere: Lake Colby, which is fully stocked with a fishing pier for everyone to use, and Lake Gavin.

They make it easy to rent a golf cart onsite from Top Deck (a must!) and reserve beach chairs with umbrellas (set up and ready for you first thing in the morning). Both of these amenities add to the experience that is Cinnamon Shore. Homes and condo units vary in size and price. Marika Flatt, who organizes her own family reunion every year, is the travel editor of Texas Lifestyle Magazine and was named “Outstanding Austin Communicator” 2021 by Women Communicators of Austin. Flatt has been the voice of the “Weekend Trip Tips” on NPR’s Texas Standard for nearly five years and is a regular travel contributor to TV shows across the state.

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I AM AUSTIN WOMAN

I AM A UNICORN

CEO Sheri Ann Marshall says despite its changes, Austin remains home. BY SHERI MARSHALL

I was born and raised in East Austin and grew up in a home with my loving father, Curtis Jackson, mother, Beulah Jackson, and two brothers, Curtis Jr. and Vincent Charles. We were a middle-class family that loved spending time together and summer vacations. Austin was small, friendly and safe. We played outside until the street lights came on. We played softball and flag football in the backyard. We played with the neighborhood kids; night or day, we never locked the doors or windows. You could visit your neighbors all day, every day; their parents treated you like their child. Mueller Airport was 5 miles from our house. We used to stand in the yard and watch the planes fly over, so low since the airport was so close. Boy, how things have changed in my hood! Attending Johnston High School during my junior and senior years, I only had school half of the day. There was a program called Distributive Education that allowed me to work in retail for the second half of the day. I worked as a cashier at some department stores that are no longer in Austin: Foley’s, Joskey’s, Edison’s jewelry store, Spartan and Safeway grocery store. I always said I would own my own business one day. My background is layered with finance and accounting, from working in Wurzburg, Germany, as an accounting specialist, to the Department of Veterans Affairs as a pay specialist. I’m currently the financial secretary for the National Council of Negro Women and treasurer for the National Association of Black Accountants. I am also the CEO and owner of Best Choice Mobile Notary and the loan signing agent at Best Choice Notary Academy, which has become extremely lucrative. Anytime I can train others and give them another stream of income, I have done my duty as an entrepreneur. My ability to help others get their financial start is possible due to my early education at Austin Community College (ACC). I knew early on I wanted a job in finance and accounting. While attending ACC in 1974 I began to take accounting courses. This landed me my first pay specialist job in the Texas National Guard. In 1979, I graduated from Peay State University with a B.A. in accounting. In 1991, I applied for a job in Anchorage, Alaska, as the supervisor for pay and entitlements for the Air National Guard—Kulis ANGB. Once the Department of Defense notified me, they packed up my household, car and family. Off to Alaska we went. Who knew a 36-month tour would turn into 10 years? In this position I was able to travel to other bases in Hawaii, Seattle, Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado to train other troops. Anchorage became a place I loved! I missed Texas, but there was 68 | AUSTIN WOMAN | NOVEMBER 2021

something about this Texas girl in Alaska. (They used to tell me I had that Southern drawl!) I started my entrepreneur journey in Alaska, with the help of some great people. Alaska really grew on me! I did things outdoors I couldn’t have done in Texas. I cross-country skied, ice bowled, slush ran, bowled on the ANG league and did a lot of fishing. I chartered a chapter of business and professional women, the Forget Me Nots, with 25 ladies. Yes, we were some badass professional women who got things done! I started out as the president, then became the regional treasurer. I returned to school at the University of Alaska Anchorage and earned my business administration degree. I started as a notary back in Texas in the ’80s, and I wanted to continue my notary business, so applied for my notary commission in Alaska. I then created Best Choice Mobile Notary. Best Choice has flourished from Anchorage to Texas. Today, it is a six-figure business. From this success I created The Texas Notary Academy where I actually trained notaries to become loan signing agents. I am also the CEO and Owner of Umoveit WeCleanit Commercial Janitorial. This Texas girl has come a long way! In 2001, I returned to Austin. It had changed drastically. When I learned how many residents had lost their homes, it was quite disturbing. None of the neighborhoods looked the same. Ranch homes on the East Side were a thing of the past. All the childhood stores, places I used to go to and things I enjoyed doing were no longer there. I remember not only East Austin, but downtown, Woolworth, Bakers shoe store. Though Austin has changed in so many ways, those things will forever be embedded in my memory. Now there are high-rises and two-story homes everywhere. The feel of the old Austin is gone forever. We have beautiful tall buildings and major corporations here. Most of the people you meet are not from Austin, definitely not unicorns. I remember you could get anywhere in 10 minutes. The traffic now is off the charts; I-35 is such a death trap. Who knew little Austin, Texas, would boom and be named as one of the best cities to live in the whole country? I am still proud to be an Austinite. I am proud to be an Austin woman. We still have our homestead in East Austin on Bunche Road, where my Mom resides. The city has changed, but the roots are still there.

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November 2021

Articles inside

I AM AUSTIN WOMAN Sheri Ann Marshall

WOMEN IN FINANCE Chermaine Hu

WOMEN IN FINANCE Robin Campana

LAUREN SCHULER, JENNIFER SCHULER, MICHELLE SCHULER

KIMBERLY STORIN

COUNT US IN Student loan debt pandemic

MEREDITH GEORGHIADES, TAYLOR ADAMS, RACHAEL WYATT STEPHANIE ALLEN, LINDSEY UMIN, SUSAN LIANG

SEE HER WORK Ellie Ann Fenton

SPECIAL FEATURE Lisa Miller

ON THE MONEY Starting your own business

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

STAFF PICKS what’s a milestone you’re celebrating in 2021?

FROM THE DESK OF Kelsey Stone