Create + Cultivate Atlanta Recap

Hi loves! As you may have seen on my Instagram, I had the opportunity to attend Create + Cultivate Atlanta last weekend as Bebe’s brand ambassador. The weekend was a TOTAL whirlwind, and I finally had the chance to sit down and collect my thoughts on the conference. If you haven’t attended Create + Cultivate before, I would recommend going at some point if you can. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the experience left me feeling incredibly uplifted, rejuvenated, and inspired to continue my journey as a content creator.

Create + Cultivate Atlanta Recap

I took a red-eye to Atlanta Friday night, landed at 5am, took a quick nap at my Airbnb, and then got ready for the conference. Physically, I was exhausted, but mentally I was stimulated and completely awake the second I got to Create + Cultivate Atlanta. Immediately you are surrounded by almost 500 women that share a common interest and goal: creating. You can instantly feel the energy in the room. The day is jam-packed with speakers and panels, but you can take it at whatever pace you like.

The conference was a well oiled machine – practically every little detail imaginable was thought out. The entire space is a Pinterest lover’s dream, and every corner is Instagram-able. I loved the beauty lounge (for makeup and hair touches throughout the day, as well as free mini massages and manicures!) and the snack/refreshment stations that were set up around the building.

One of the highlights of the conference was definitely the mentor session – small group sessions with an influencer who acts as your “mentor” and answers all of your burning questions.

These sessions alone are incredibly valuable and worth attending for! I know for me, it’s much less intimidating to ask questions in a small group than in a large crowd. The intimate settings allow you to get to know your mentor and some other girls better than you would be able to otherwise. I will say that meeting Jessi Malay of My White T was one of the highlights of the day – she is truly as talented, savvy, and beautiful IRL as she is online!

I won’t go into the details of every panel I sat in, but I will summarize the two main themes I heard over and over again throughout the day.

Focus on yourself.

This came up so many times at Create + Cultivate Atlanta.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”

“You have to just do you.”

“Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.”

It all comes down to the same message: focus on yourself, not what other people are doing.

Nicole Richie was asked about the difference between being competitive and ambitious.

Her response? No one should ever be competitive. Because being competitive means that you are inherently comparing yourself to someone else. Be ambitious – strive for more, but not at the expense of comparing yourself to someone else. You are building the career you want for yourself, so what someone else is doing shouldn’t matter.

I couldn’t agree more with this advice. It’s easy to compare yourself to others, but if there’s one lesson I’ve learned in my almost 1 year of blogging, it’s to focus on yourself and not what others are doing. Spending your precious time and energy thinking about other people and what they’re doing will only hold you back. You’re the only one that can live your life, so make the most of it. Take your journey at your own pace, and make sure to celebrate small victories along the way.

Find your people.

Every single speaker, founder, business owner, & entrepreneur at the event attributed some part of her success to the people that have supported them. When you have a solid support network, it makes a journey that can feel overwhelming and scary that much easier. I’m not saying surround people that only tell you you’re the shit, I’m saying surround yourself with people that care about you, will listen to you, and support you through the ups and downs. These are the people that matter – always make time for them. Blogging can be incredibly time consuming, but I will always make time for the people that matter most – my family, boyfriend, and close friends. They’re the ones that have believed in me and supported me, the least I could do in return is give them my love, support, and time.

To hear such successful and creative women say the same things over and over was truly empowering. Whether you’re just launching your blog, a slightly experience blogger, or have been at the game for years, Create + Cultivate is an event that sparks a fire within. I can’t express enough how happy I was to attend Create + Cultivate Atlanta.

If I had to sum up the experience in one word: inspiring.

It was so inspiring to see these women that have built brands and communities out of nothing. To hear them talk candidly about their successes and failures.

It’s so crazy how an entire industry has evolved over the past decade, and the digital space continues to grow.

And of course, a huge thank you to Bebe for bringing me on as their brand ambassador for the weekend. It was an honor working with a brand that I grew up with, and one that I’m more than happy to become reacquainted with. Their new collection is stunning, and this top and embellished skirt combo was the perfect outfit for a long day in Atlanta.

Thanks for following along! My mind is totally buzzing now thinking of what to do and where to go next. And if there’s ever anything you’d love to see or hear more of, let me know in the comments below or shoot me an email/Instagram DM/Snapchat/etc. I love hearing from you guys : ).

xx, Amy

top: bebe | skirt: bebe | boots: zara (similar)

photos: ryan chua