Jaclyn Johnson

It was really like selfishly to meet cool women and throw cool events. But I would say the turning point was, I would say, 2015 for Create and Cultivate, where it got big enough that I brought on a partner into that company, invested my own capital into it, and was like, this is a serious thing.

And then the other business was acquired in 2016, which, again, was another big year for Create and Cultivate. I stayed on board with that company for a year after selling it and did both full time, which I highly do not recommend. Very brutal. Yes. And so I did that. And then I went full time at Create and Cultivate after that.

And then the other business was acquired in 2016, which, again, was another big year for Create and Cultivate. I stayed on board with that company for a year after selling it and did both full time, which I highly do not recommend. Very brutal. Yes. And so I did that. And then I went full time at Create and Cultivate after that.

And then the other business was acquired in 2016, which, again, was another big year for Create and Cultivate. I stayed on board with that company for a year after selling it and did both full time, which I highly do not recommend. Very brutal. Yes. And so I did that. And then I went full time at Create and Cultivate after that.

I think circumstance really. I had moved to Los Angeles from New York. I'd always worked in corporate. So it was like a corporate girly and essentially got to LA and got laid off and didn't know anyone.

I think circumstance really. I had moved to Los Angeles from New York. I'd always worked in corporate. So it was like a corporate girly and essentially got to LA and got laid off and didn't know anyone.

I think circumstance really. I had moved to Los Angeles from New York. I'd always worked in corporate. So it was like a corporate girly and essentially got to LA and got laid off and didn't know anyone.

crazy. So I worked for Interactive Corporation. I see. I worked at CitySearch. I don't know if you remember CitySearch. But yeah, so I worked for them and then basically was laid off after three months. And it was really challenging for me for a number of reasons. One, I just moved to a city where I knew no one. Two, LA at the time, this is 2009, was entertainment and entertainment really only.

crazy. So I worked for Interactive Corporation. I see. I worked at CitySearch. I don't know if you remember CitySearch. But yeah, so I worked for them and then basically was laid off after three months. And it was really challenging for me for a number of reasons. One, I just moved to a city where I knew no one. Two, LA at the time, this is 2009, was entertainment and entertainment really only.

crazy. So I worked for Interactive Corporation. I see. I worked at CitySearch. I don't know if you remember CitySearch. But yeah, so I worked for them and then basically was laid off after three months. And it was really challenging for me for a number of reasons. One, I just moved to a city where I knew no one. Two, LA at the time, this is 2009, was entertainment and entertainment really only.

There was really no industries and I obviously had no experience in entertainment coming from New York.

There was really no industries and I obviously had no experience in entertainment coming from New York.

There was really no industries and I obviously had no experience in entertainment coming from New York.

and three was like my identity was really wrapped up in being a successful career woman so getting laid off was not part of the narrative i was trying to build and so after that i essentially was applying for jobs not getting anywhere and started freelancing for clients and so built up that roster enough to bring on another employee ended up getting office space ended up launching an agency by happenstance just as an aside you mentioned you got laid off which can be so painful have you ever been on the other side of that have you ever had to do a layoff

and three was like my identity was really wrapped up in being a successful career woman so getting laid off was not part of the narrative i was trying to build and so after that i essentially was applying for jobs not getting anywhere and started freelancing for clients and so built up that roster enough to bring on another employee ended up getting office space ended up launching an agency by happenstance just as an aside you mentioned you got laid off which can be so painful have you ever been on the other side of that have you ever had to do a layoff

and three was like my identity was really wrapped up in being a successful career woman so getting laid off was not part of the narrative i was trying to build and so after that i essentially was applying for jobs not getting anywhere and started freelancing for clients and so built up that roster enough to bring on another employee ended up getting office space ended up launching an agency by happenstance just as an aside you mentioned you got laid off which can be so painful have you ever been on the other side of that have you ever had to do a layoff

Yes, we had to do a small amount of layoffs during COVID, which was awful. I actually was very proud about how many people we kept on being that we were in events business. But yeah, it was awful. But I haven't had to do that in any other kind of circumstance. And I think COVID was a special one for sure. Not ideal, though, obviously for anyone.

Yes, we had to do a small amount of layoffs during COVID, which was awful. I actually was very proud about how many people we kept on being that we were in events business. But yeah, it was awful. But I haven't had to do that in any other kind of circumstance. And I think COVID was a special one for sure. Not ideal, though, obviously for anyone.

Yes, we had to do a small amount of layoffs during COVID, which was awful. I actually was very proud about how many people we kept on being that we were in events business. But yeah, it was awful. But I haven't had to do that in any other kind of circumstance. And I think COVID was a special one for sure. Not ideal, though, obviously for anyone.

Oh, yeah. So we were bootstrapped. So it was obviously everything is felt 10 times more, I think, when you're bootstrapped.