Meet Michaella Bloom | Brand Therapist, Entrepreneur, and Sustainable Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michaella Bloom and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michaella, what role has risk played in your life or career?
No risk, no reward. I am a big risk taker and would say I often dive in head first without knowing if I’m diving into the shallow end or deep end. Ive definitely figuratively bumped my head more than once but I always rise back to the surface and dive again.

When you run your own business (or businesses in my case) you can’t really get anywhere without risk-taking. The entire concept of being an entrepreneur is a risk in itself. Not knowing where your next paycheck is coming from at times but simultaneously knowing your next project could have you making 5X the amount you made annually in a corporate job.

I don’t think I am ever going to stop risk-taking because the only way to evolve and expand both professionally and personally is through going outside your comfort zone which some would say is taking a risk. I have gotten comfortable being in a frequent state of unknown – you never know where your next decision or action is going to lead you but you always have to take that first step towards the edge of the pool or end of the diving board.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I have two businesses that have become very intertwined. I used to separate me as an artist from my consulting business but then realized my creativity is what makes CLTR LAB, my social-first cultural creativity lab, stand out. We consult for legacy brands that are looking to refresh their brand identity through social-first content + cultural strategy, creator partnerships, and IRL activations with a focus on building human connection specifically among Gen Z.

We have been working with Pinterest for the past 6 months on cultural strategy and it’s been an absolutely incredible experience. Working with a brand as committed to championing diverse creators as we are is something I manifested. CLTR LAB is deeply committed to making people of all ages, backgrounds, sexualities, and abilities feel seen, heard, and valued and being able to collaborate with massive brands and businesses that care about long-term impact means so much to me. Aligned partners is where the magic happens.

CLTR LAB also has a talent management arm and we are the management team for April Kae, the iconic artist, viral bass-player, activist, and undeniable IT-girl. We have a ton of exciting collaborations and something big coming soon.

Getting to where I am today business wise has not been easy at all. It’s still not easy but I know as long as I am leading with my heart and listen to my intuition, then I am on the right path. I’ve had to pivot and shift my business as I learn more about what truly ignites my creative spirit in a way that I can make the most positive impact on people and the planet. It has also taken a lot of time and patience to find the right team members – I couldn’t do what I do without the help and support of my team and amazing creative talent we work with daily.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am a West side girly…. I have lived close to the Santa Monica Pier which a lot of people view as a tourist trap but I will be the first to tell you- the Santa Monica Pier is iconic. I actually draw a ton of creative inspiration from the energy of the Pier, from the rides to the arcade, it’s always a beautiful experience. I prefer to go at night. I mean maybe avoid on weekends in the summer but other than that a must visit.

For food, I love the chicken ceasar wrap from Ggiata’s in Venice, Acai bowls from Coco Loco on Abbott Kinney (they play impeccable music), I am a big tea drinker and having tea at Shutters on the beach any chilly night is fabulous (they usually have live music most nights of the week). Finally I love my dessert and hands down the best place is B’s Sweet Desert Bar in Sawtelle. They are only open on weekends though and you need to try the slutty brownie immediately…

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to one of my favorite boss’s I ever had. His name is Tony Bruno and he took a chance on me before anyone else was ready to. He lived by the philosophy of at work “ask for forgiveness not permission”. He gave me the space to be creative and to make decisions for myself. It was the first time someone had really trusted me and didn’t micromanage my work. He fostered a professional environment that allowed everyone to thrive and expand professionally and personally. He was always there for guidance but never tried to micro- manage his team. His leadership style is something I will forever be working to emulate. I am so grateful for his mentorship and support that he gave me early on in my career. If he didn’t take a chance on me and believe in me before I fully believed in myself, I would never have been confident enough in my ability to take the risks I have to become the entrepreneur I am now.

Website: cltrlab.co + malfyb.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malfyb/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaella-lee-bloom-7a391781/

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@malfyb

Image Credits
@danalaurengoldstein
@pinterest X @kateelay
@aprilkae X @laneyachristine
@redbulldance X @jennifermika_ X @jessinemecc X @phoebe_ryonne
@poptartsus X @emmarogue