Often we don’t have to reinvent the wheel to learn something new – we can just ask experts in the field who can draw on their experience to enlighten us. Below, we’ve shared insights insiders from various industries have shared with us.

Susanna Lovsky | Artist & Hustler

The time and effort making and releasing one song takes. Just one. From starting the idea and developing the concept, to solidifying the overall structure and sonic qualities, to then mixing and mastering (which includes a lot of technical aspects that most are also unaware of- do you ever wonder why and how everything sounds so crispy and quality?), and lastly the roll out/content side. That’s just the artistic angle. After all that is done, we then move to marketing, advertising, analytics/data in order to target and make the most out of the release. Read more>>

Xiaosi Wu | Founder & Education Consultant

A girl bursting into tears while explaining her plummet grades because of the sexual harassment that still haunts her; a father confessing his guilt to leave his 5 years old daughter in China to pursue his studies in the US; a student expressing his helplessness as he was rejected by colleges 3 years in a row, and a student falling asleep because he just finished a 20-hour shift. These are just some of the things I encounter on a daily basis as a college counselor. Many people think college counseling provides strategies for students to get into brand-name colleges, or more bluntly put, to game the admissions process. We are, however, educators who strive toward equipping students with the tools and motivation to take control of their success. We aim to do more than simply placing students in their dream universities. We are also mentors, life coaches, and cheerleaders. One of our important roles is to help students discover their advantages and potentials that they themselves may not even be aware of. Read more>>

Isabel Simpson-Kirsch | Clothing Designer

Something that many may not know about the clothing industry here in LA, is the extreme amount of waste and environmental harm it causes. From hundreds of thousands of discarded “damaged” garments, to millions of yards of fabric being produced here, and the effect the fabric production has on our environment, the industry is rough on our city. One of the driving forces behind my brand is creating Zero Waste clothing. Working as a designer for various brands here, I quickly saw the insanely high level of clothing and fabric waste as was upset by it. I tried to do little things here and there like donating damaged goods to the downtown women’s shelter, encourage use of old fabric that would otherwise be discarded, etc. When I had the opportunity to start my own line again this past year, I wanted to make sustainability a pillar in my design practice. All of my pieces are made from re-worked vintage items or cut & sewn from vintage & deadstock fabric that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Read more>>

Veronica Twigg | Hair Stylist

Going to the hairstylist has often been considered a luxury, and with the many expensive treatments and new color trends it can be. However, when it comes to your basic care such as grey coverage, and haircuts, I have found that people rather have a stylist do it for them rather than doing it them selves. Women and men are not retiring as early as their parents may have. The pressure to look your best and look youthful ( for women mostly) is a real thing. As hairstylists we provide our clients a service that not only helps them look great but provides them the confidence they need in the work place. Read more>>