#i believed that i could do well my first golf camp tournament and i won

[sleepless-crows]

i really believe that anyone can do anything. its just that we get better at the things we spend effort doing. and you'll only progress if you believe in yourself. like i believe i could draw if i spent hours learning how to. i believe i could play the piano really well if i actually practiced. i believe i can be a good dancer as long as i actually dance instead of just cringing at myself. i believe i can learn sleight of hand if i practice playing with cards every day. like it may be cliche and cheesy but my life motto really is you only live once. and i want to spend my life being able to do as many things as i can, acquire all the skills that i can, and live my life fully

[portfoliomasterclass]

Women on Fire

Women on Fire

Three female creatives from Portfolio Studio crack the glass ceiling, talk about their hot, new careers, awards, and how to overcome challenges young women face in the workplace.

By Gina Greco

In 2014, the (now-former) President Barack Obama stood facing the nation on live television and stated, “Equal pay for equal work. It's not that complicated.” He then signed into law the Lilly Ledbetter Bill for Equal Pay. But what he said next, in his landmark speech, was the most compelling:

“Now, here’s the challenge: Today, the average full-time working woman earns just 77 cents for every dollar a man earns; for African American women, Latinas, it’s even less. And in 2014, that’s an embarrassment. It is wrong. And this is not just an issue of fairness. It’s also a family issue and an economic issue, because women make up about half of our workforce and they’re increasingly the breadwinners for a whole lot of families out there.”

Pretty profound. But, change has been slow to come, if at all, and representation in the workplace is still severely lacking. The share of Fortune 500 chief executives who are female remains very small, just reaching a record 5.4% in the first quarter of 2017. 

Fleishman-Hillard Inc. estimates that women will control two-thirds of the consumer wealth in the U.S. over the next decade. We can attribute over 80% of all consumer purchasing decisions to women, yet, according to research by The Terry & Sandy Solution, that 91% of women said that advertisers don't understand them. Perhaps that's because, in the advertising industry, there are still very few female creatives making the ads that women see. In 2008, just 3.6% of the world’s creative directors were female. Since then it has tripled to 11%, but that's still shockingly low.

Interesting Facts >>

70% of young female creatives are working in a 75% male-dominated department

70% of young female creatives says they have never worked with a female creative director or executive creative director

60% of young females say they believe advertising is a career that doesn’t support young families

(Courtesy of The Guardian)

The founder of the Adobe 3% Conference (which gleans its name from the fact that women lack representation in the advertising industry) recognizes this reality. It’s what inspired her to create the conference. She explains on her site, that after some digging, she figured out why women were down in the 3 percent dumps: “Most of the issues start with a two-word phrase: lack of,” she explained. Lack of support during pregnancy, no childcare support, lack of female-based mentoring to help younger women get ahead, salary negotiation skills—lack lack lack!"

So, what’s the point of all this?

Well, quite recently, three smart, highly talented students from Portfolio Studio (who happen to be women) scored some great achievements that I would like to highlight and share with you.

These ‘Women on Fire’ are breaking into new careers in male-dominated spaces, winning Awards and using Portfolio Studio to gain the chops they need to succeed. They hope to change things. 

Without further adieu, here’s their three experiences, a bit of advice, and success stories. We hope they inspire you, drive you further, and help you accomplish your dreams despite the challenges that will unfold—starting now.

THREE WOMEN. THREE STORIES. THREE CRACKED GLASS CEILINGS.

ONE >> Lisa Papada

WHAT SHE’S UP TO NOW 

Papada currently works at a Texas-based digital marketing agency as a Digital Copywriter for AT&T Business Solutions. Right now she's working for the Masters Tournament.

AWARDS REDUX 

While attending Portfolio Studio, Papada, along with Stephen Chu, won student scholarships from Adobe to head to the The 3% Conference. 

“After attending, I can joyfully say there are some strong women out there who aren’t afraid to voice what’s right,” Papada recalls. Overall, she explained that the validation of winning an award is a lot like a little hug, “...you know you’re doing matters,” she said.

PAPADA’S ADVICE TO YOUNG CREATIVE WOMEN 

“Be tough, but not bitchy. I know that might be hard to gauge, but it’s all in how you talk. Stay strong and don’t budge on the small things. The last thing you want to be is a pushover. Your gut speaks volumes, and when you have an idea, own it. Have fun with the ‘What if?’ game and remember, a job should be fun, even with the frustrations.

Papada continues, “It is male-dominated—it just is—to stand out and show your strength is how you will earn the respect you deserve. Stay up-to-date on articles and in-the-know, and you’ll be the go-to person for ‘cool sh*t’ and relied upon.”

Also, "Don’t ever stop. If you see someone pass you up on a promotion, speak up. It’s never ‘That’s just how it is.’ Always ask questions because the worst thing that could happen, is you’ll get told, no. We learn from mistakes, we learn from what didn’t work. Your work will get criticized and pulled apart but at the end of the day, be proud of what you put forward and fight the good fight.”

TWO >> Elizabeth Lybrook

WHAT’S SHE UP TO NOW?

Lybrook’s Macco Diverse Media Campaign won two Gold for “Out of Home” and “Ambient Media” at the ADDYs. She completed the campaign in summer of 2016 during Portfolio Studio's Diverse Media course. “All the work paid off however,” she explained. Because, after winning the two Gold Awards, I was reached out to by Vitro, and just accepted a Jr. Art Director position that I will begin in April!”

*Here is a link to her winning campaign

AWARDS REDUX 

After she graduated college, she felt her weak portfolio was the cause of her struggle to find a job in the field. “I was living in Alabama and learned about Portfolio Studio's great program. I had never even been to California before, but packed up my bags and headed to San Diego!” Knowing no one, waiting tables to make ends meet, Lybrook scored an internship at a small San Diego agency. After a year of hard work in the Portfolio Studio Art Direction Program, Lybrook not only now has a strong portfolio, but she has won 10 different awards. 

For Lybrook, winning the awards really provides motivation to keep creating better work. “It is such a great feeling to be validated for all of the hard work put into your project. It has put me into a competitive mindset to continue pushing my concepts and think even more creatively,” she noted. 

LYBROOK’S ADVICE TO YOUNG CREATIVE WOMEN 

“I would encourage more women to take on masculine clients, such as ones in the automotive or sports industries. It is easy to be siphoned into feminine or 'girly' clients. Women in the ad industry have creatively pushed boundaries for a wide variety of clients, and should continue to do so. Having variety in your portfolio is key. ”

Lybrook also encourages younger women to work hard and love the work. Never settle on the first idea or the first 50 ideas, she explains. “I've found that my best ideas always come after I thought I had nothing left to think of,” she said.

THREE>> Kristen Sugihara

WHAT’S SHE UP TO NOW?

Sugihara was raised a tiny little island in Hawai'i. At 17 years old, she packed up her things and moved to San Diego to attend college. By 2015, she had enrolled in her first class at Portfolio Studio. “After that, my creative journey started moving at full speed. In a little over a year, I did a couple internships at Lambesis and i.d.e.a, won many awards, went to New York as one of AAF's Most Promising Multicultural Student, and developed a portfolio book from scratch. By the time I was 21 years old, I was hired as Vitro's youngest creative,” she says. "I'm now working on print, digital, out of home, and activations for a wide range of clients such as Caribou Coffee, UCSD, AGCO, and Adidas Golf.”

AWARDS REDUX 

Most recently, Sugihara and her copywriter partner won a Silver Addy at the “SDX American Advertising Awards” for Space Camp. She’s also received recognition and awards from the 2015 Addy's, Graphis, Applied Arts, and HOW.

"The most positive aspect of winning awards is being able to share it with your teammates," Sugihara notes. “You've gone such a long journey with your copywriter, designer, etc., that it’s always a breath of fresh air that your hard work was recognized.” Receiving recognition of any kind inspires Sugihara to create something even better for the next project. “I am motivated to beat the idea that won and to always level up on my work. I have the mentality that if I can win X award or get X job, then I wonder what else I can do,” she explains.

SUGIHARA’S ADVICE TO YOUNG CREATIVE WOMEN 

“I think one of my biggest challenges that I faced—and am still facing—is my age and the way people perceive me. Because I am so young, people often think I am unreliable and have no idea what I am doing—which may be true 50 percent of the time [...] I am always trying to prove people wrong and end up working twice as hard to gain the trust of my colleagues.”

As for advice for women in creative roles, Sugihara says to tie your hair back, put on some lipstick, and kick ass. 

“Find as many mentors as you can. Find people who you aspire to be like and learn from them. The best part about my job is being able to work with and learn from all of the talented senior teams, CDs, and ECDs. I am able to take the best advice from each person and craft a style that is all my own.”

Gina Greco is the co-founder of Portfolio Studio, the creative hub that connects ambitious students with industry professionals for career training and portfolio building. 

[wsfsquash]

PSA Report : Semis

Matthew bows out of Professional Squash as Egyptians dominate Semi-Finals Day in Dubai

England’s Nick Matthew has played the final match of his glittering 20-year-career after he lost out to World No.2 Ali Farag on a day that saw an Egyptian quartet claim victories to reach the title deciders at the ATCO PSA Dubai World Series Finals taking place inside Emirates Golf Club.

37-year-old Matthew was set to retire after defeat to Germany’s Raphael Kandra at last month’s Allam British Open meant he failed to qualify for the World Series Finals, but a hamstring injury sustained by World No.3 Marwan ElShorbagy saw the Yorkshireman get a late call-up.

Three wins out of three saw Matthew top Group A but his tournament - and career - came to an end at the hands of Farag earlier today as he fell to a 11-5, 11-7 defeat. Matthew, the most successful male English squash player of all time, bows out with 35 PSA World Tour titles – including three PSA World Championship crowns – to his name, while he also claimed a trio of Commonwealth Games gold medals.

“I dared to dream for a second that I could go all the way but Ali was slightly too good tonight. Even a week ago, if you’d have offered me a semi-final place here I wouldn’t have believed it," said Matthew, who will now take on a coaching and ambassadorial role at England Squash.

“A few people this week have been trying to talk me out of retirement but that’s not happening. I’m 100 per cent going to stay in squash, I’m going to have a rest this summer, I’ve got some camps in the US and I’ll have a lot of family time and regroup.

“I’ve got a great role which I’m looking forward to doing with England Squash and I’ll be growing my academy around the world. I’m still going to play, I’m not going to totally stop, I’m too competitive.”

Farag said:

“It’s extremely emotional, I knew that if I was close to winning that they were going to be the last few points of Nick’s career.

“I didn’t want to talk about it at all because I think the more I talked about it the more it would have gotten into my head. Only such a legend would get a standing ovation for around 10 minutes."

Farag will play World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy in the final after the defending champion came through a cracker of a semi-final encounter with Germany’s Simon Rösner in a repeat of their meeting at the same stage of last year’s event.

Rösner squandered match ball on that occasion against eventual winner ElShorbagy and, while he wasn’t able to quite get in a winning position again, he made life difficult for the reigning World Champion, but ultimately succumbed to a 12-10, 10-12, 11-3 defeat which sends ElShorbagy through to an 11th final of the season.

"Every time it gets tough in any match I always tell myself that I live for these kind of moments, these are the moments I was born for,” said ElShorbagy.

“Ali’s fresh, he’s playing well and we haven’t played since last November. It’s great to have the last match of the season between the World No.1 and No.2, definitely.”

The top two players in the women’s game will go head-to-head in the final as Nour El Sherbini and Raneem El Welily claimed wins over France’s Camille Serme and World No.3 Nour El Tayeb.

El Sherbini, a losing finalist at last year’s tournament, picked up where she left off after topping Group B with a 100 per cent record as she overcame Serme by an 11-7, 9-11, 11-8 margin to ensure that she will take on El Welily in a sixth major final this season.

“It’s always a tough match playing Camille,” said El Sherbini.

“It was really hard from the first point and I have no idea what I would have done if it was longer than this [best of three] because I was tired.

“I’m really hungry to win it, I never won it before and this is my third year in a row coming here. It’s the second final so hopefully this time it’s going to be my title.”

El Welily, meanwhile, came through a quick-fire victory over El Tayeb to reach the final of this tournament for the first time since 2016.

“Nour is a really tough opponent,” said El Welily.

“This season has been great for her and we’ve had great battles. But it’s the end of the season, it’s the last tournament and the last push. We’ve all had tough pool matches and I’m happy with the way I pushed myself, even if at the end I let go and gave her a slight opportunity which she almost took."