To All The Ladies in the Place
CELEBRATING WOMEN WHO LIGHT THE WAY
We believe in the power of impactful stories—especially those that evoke action and bring about change for our collective good.
In the spirit of connection and empowerment (and of course, #womenshistorymonth), we wanted to shine a light on some of the women who inspire us. Each of these ten incredible women embodies the essence of what we stand for: community building, elevation, and positive change.
Kelli Haywood
A visionary in Education and Community Engagement, Kelli has been a source of hope and transformation in the academic and social spheres. As the Founder and Executive Director of non-profit Dream On Education, Kelli has dedicated herself to providing incredible academic enrichment opportunities for high-achieving, low-income middle school students in Chicago. Kelli is not only purpose-driven but knows how to get shit done and we are in consistent awe of her as a team.
Carli Nicholas
Carli is an absolute wizard when it comes to supporting some of the most impressive brands in the way in which they position themselves, communicate, and attract the right communities. She blends strategy, creativity, and a deep understanding of consumer needs to evoke action (or dancing) whether her audience is on the floor of Gran Blanco or making their next conscious purchase. She's encouraging, her teams love her, and she leads by example in every sense of the phrase.
Katherine Danesi
Katherine is a key partner for us at Sun & Sol Co. and someone we deeply respect and admire. With her, we personally feel unstoppable within our business and empowered through every process. She illuminates a path for female entrepreneurs, helping to support us in discovering our “why” while ensuring that business best practices are never too abstract. She challenges us, helps us with gaining a deeper sense of clarity, and encourages us to step further into our power. If you're feeling like you're in need of a compass for your business - Katherine's your gal.
Danielle Black Lyons
Danielle is a passionate advocate for inclusivity and representation in the surf community. As a Co-Founder of Textured Waves, she's on a mission to redefine modern surf culture by promoting surfing to women of color - and she's succeeding. Adidas, Vans, and Vogue (amongst many others) have also recognized her magic and it's about time. Through Textured Waves, Danielle and her co-founders offer hope and community for underrepresented demographics in surfing, aiming to foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all.
Laura Rubin
We hold Laura close to our hearts, and if you know her, you'd know that it's with great reason. Laura not only serves as a beacon of creativity but also a vehicle for those seeking to explore themselves on a deeper level. Laura founded AllSwell Creative and carries a big mission: to help people wake up to their own voice, personal path and radical self-worth through creativity. From the interesting questions she asks to the journey she takes her community on in her workshops - her work is nothing short of transformative. She offers her community group opportunities to explore as well as personalized 1:1 coaching, both of which we have experienced and have found profoundly expansive.
Eva Gajzer
Eva embodies the profound impact of transformation and interconnectedness, making every interaction with her a journey that leaves us feeling expanded and our hearts cracked wide open. As the founder of Oneness, she is dedicated to fostering unity and collective growth. Through her work, Eva promotes awareness, intentionality, and a deep sense of connection, propelling individuals and communities towards embracing their roles in crafting a more harmonious and conscious world. Her qualities of being expansive, mind-blowing, grounding, and incredibly conscious resonate with all who have the privilege of engaging with her or Oneness, making her not just a leader but a true inspiration in the journey towards the collective good.
Karin Kildow
A force to be reckoned with, Karin Kildow has been a social and content-based storytelling leader for the last 10 years, leading teams at brands like Red Bull, UNINTERRUPTED, SpringHill, and Beyond Meat. It goes without saying, she forged her career in uplifting athletes and bringing their stories to life. Pairing her talents and passions, Karin founded CCG Social, building the social channels of the world’s top athletes and entertainers like Naomi Osaka, DeAndre Hopkins, and more.
Kim Woozy
When you think of equality in action sports, you think of Kim Woozy. A Bay area local, Kim is a passionate community leader, a powerful voice, and bright light in the skateboarding community and beyond. As the Director of Marketing & Partnerships at Skate Like a Girl, a 501c3 community-led non-profit, she challenges the idea of who and how people skateboard - breaking down the barriers to entry of the sport regardless of gender, race, ability, or resources. Skate like a Girl’s mission is to create an inclusive community by promoting confidence, leadership and social justice through skateboarding.
Christen Nino De Guzman
Meet Christen Nino De Guzman, a one-of-a-kind woman changing the creator ecosystem as a Latina creator, mentor in the tech space, and Founder of Clara for Creators. Spending her career in tech at top-platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest, Christen worked with creators of all sizes. One through line amongst every campaign? No matter the size or following of the creator, she saw extreme pay disparity. Drawing upon her deep understanding of the pay gaps experienced by Latina women and the existing gaps within the creator ecosystem, Clara for Creators was born. Clara is a platform which allows creators to connect, share knowledge, rates, experiences and ultimately be discovered by top brands to help grow their brand and value.
Elise Grigar
Skater. Photographer. Storyteller. Community Builder. Elise Crigar wears many hats. With a passion for bringing athlete stories to life, Elise has forged a career in working with the world’s best athletes from the intricate world of surfing to the world stage of sports like tennis. If her background working for the WSL or Octagon weren’t enough, Elise went on to design the first comprehensive hardback book on female skateboarding “It’s Not About Pretty”.
And the list goes on.
Each woman's story is a testament to the fact that when we harness our collective passions and beliefs, we can make the world a better (and brighter) place.
We're curious, who inspires you and why? Tell them today. Celebrate them. Honor them.
To the women who light the way 🥂
Thank you for being here.
