Written By botanica team - March 23 2020
Welcome to our new column, Botanica World, in which we interview our favorite creative women about inspiration, sustainability, business, and social distancing for public health.
The objective of this series is to bring some positive content to the social media space.
Artists and creators have always persevered and thrived even in times of adversity, and we wanted to check in with our community to share experiences- we are all in this together.
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Stefani Padilla, Hair Stylist
La Tierra Sagrada Hair, Los Angeles
Where have you found inspiration in 2020?
My husband and I became parents in January and it has been the most profound, transformative, and inspirational experience of my life. It completely altered my relationship to challenges. Human beings are so powerful and the human spirit is a wellspring of untapped potential. It may seem cliché, but our experience was such a potent reminder that challenges are what bring that potential to the surface. As I begin to learn how to draw inspiration from them I am really learning that challenges truly are opportunities for greatness!
What does sustainability mean to you or your business? What systems have you implemented to prioritize sustainability?
We were able to begin working with a UK based company that makes plastic bottles entirely from sugar cane waste. Since we are launching a baby line this year (!) we wanted to find a solution besides glass- since it can be dangerous in the tub for tinies- and we are so excited with what we were able to find.
We are also working on bulk distribution of our products for 2020, something we are very thrilled to achieve for the line!
Who are the women in your community that inspire you? Do you have a mentor?
I am inspired by all the women in my life who own small businesses and were able to do it themselves organically. It has been incredibly powerful for me to witness each of their businesses grow alongside our business. Alea Joy of Solabee Flowers, Amanda Chantal-Bacon from Moon Juice, Magdalena Wosinska (photographer/director), Kelly Harland of Crosby Elements, Tracy Conti-McCarty of Solar Return... I feel like I could go on and on. Watching these women shape the world is what empowers me to continue along my chosen path when it gets the hardest! They are all my mentors and I am so grateful for them.
What has been your biggest challenge in your career? How did you approach it?
Running a business means constant daily challenges that pile up and become monsters that keep poor entrepreneurs up at night. Backordered bottles and ingredients, taxes and licenses coming back incorrect and needing to be filed again, state and federal compliance with practices, a complex digital marketplace where it can seem impossible to get noticed, managing a team, forecasting, bookkeeping... the list goes on and on and on. There is literally always something to work on. My approach? I am a hardcore believer in the humble day planner. Write a list for the day and cross of the things you accomplish. If you don't get to it, write it down for tomorrow. It really works!
Society is facing an unprecedented situation with the effects of COVID-19. What have you been doing to stay grounded and mindful during these times? Do you maybe have a recipe or favorite pastime to share while we are all at home?
Broths, baths and baby cuddles are the things that are getting me through, keeping me grounded and lowering my stress. We love drinking tea and get beautiful living teas from our friend Ivy at Qi Fine Teas in Portland, OR (she ships!), and we recently have been introduced to delicious Goji tea- made just by boiling a couple teaspoons of Goji berries in water for ten minutes. It is beautiful and so delicious! Our good friend also turned us on to Root + Spring- a company specializing in wonderful, nurturing broth kits. Staying nourished and as destressed as possible makes me feel like I am taking good care of my immunity, which makes me feel good and less stressed, which helps my immunity... You get the idea :)
Learn more about Hair Healing Rituals and hair care products on her website.
