At bbatx, our programs are effectively postponed through May 1 due to COVID-19 orders. And we are taking the hit—we want to flatten the curve. We’re thinking you’re probably right there with us. And if you’re anything like our team, staying put and staying quiet isn’t quite what we do best. Especially in times of uncertainty.

So, to keep us indoors and connected, we’re launching STAY HOME CLUB. STAY HOME CLUB is a once-weekly virtual gathering on Saturdays in April, featuring creatives, entrepreneurs and leaders from our programs. We’re going to share resources, explore rest and new routines, talk about layoffs and career pivots and show up for our creative and small business community.

All genders and professions welcome.

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— A VIRTUAL WORK CONFERENCE: SCHEDULE OF E-VENTS —

On April 18, 2020, you can join us for an online version of our biannual creative and entrepreneurial conference, WORK, with an all-day schedule of workshops and mentorship sessions.

9:30 AM CT: Doors are open! Feel free to log on, say hi, and get comfortable before our first workshop begins. You can also use this time to sign up for mentorship sessions occurring later in the afternoon.

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM CT — PR & Social Media Strategies: Our first workshop of the day will explore how to pivot your communications when a crisis hits, led by our partners at Giant Noise.

11:30 AM to 12:30 PM CT — From Dreams to Done: In this session led by Mélissa Peng, serial entrepreneur and founder of Curly Executive, attendees will learn how to craft an effective 12-week action-based plan to help crush procrastination and accomplish their goals.

1:00 PM to 2:00 PM CT — Put It in the Contract: How can we use contracts to set expectations and negotiate our value? Designed for freelancers, side hustlers and small business owners, this session will explore contract-building and client management with lawyer Nicole Swartz.

2:30 to 3:30 PM CT — How To Co-Work (Online) with Bumble Bizz: In this session led by Bumble’s Special Project Manager, Kyra Seay, we’ll discuss tactics to best navigate your new WFH reality so that you may practice mindful communication with your coworkers, feel empowered in your virtual workspace, and be equipped with tools to continue to build meaningful relationships virtually.

4:00 PM to 5:00 PM CT — Compelling Content, Compelling Stories: What part does storytelling play in our personal and professional branding? In this session, attendees will learn from photographer and small business owner Riley Blanks on how to create social media imagery that has something to say—especially in noisy times like these.

4:00 PM to 6:00 PM CT: Take a one-on-one 20-minute mentoring session on career pivots with trademark attorney Nik Sallie Franklin, Front-End Developer/Designer Jessica Tremblay, Product Marketing Manager Mandy Reyes, serial entrepreneur Corina Frankie, photographer Chelsea Laine Francis and Dos Mundos Creative founder Kana Livolsi. Click here to sign up.

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— FEATURED SPEAKERS AND MENTORS —

Giant Noise

Giant Noise is a modern public relations firm. At Giant Noise, they watch the PR world change every single day, right before our eyes. Their friends, clients, fans, and brands are using tools to communicate that have changed the face of traditional Public Relations and how it is viewed. Business leaders and brand managers are looking for help as they navigate the new world of digital media, social sharing, word of mouth, and public opinion. This is where Giant Noise comes in – educating clients on what’s working, maintaining their focus on grassroots relationships, using experience to get results in a changing landscape, while introducing services that focus on new technologies and communication tools. The heart of their business is about adapting and growing with their clients as they do the same – building memorable experiences and long-term success stories.

Mélissa Peng

Mélissa Peng a.k.a the Curly Executive is an award winning brand marketer turned entrepreneur, content creator, and business coach. Mélissa’s journey in marketing started at the ripe young age of 8 as her mother's right hand woman in door to door makeup sales and eventually several network marketing organizations. Mélissa earned her MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and held roles with marketing behemoths including Procter & Gamble, Macy’s, and NBC Universal. After 10 years of successfully climbing the corporate ladder and earning the title of Director of Marketing at the age of 30, she left corporate and her six-figure salary to build a lifestyle focused on pursuing her many passions and her newfound purpose of helping others do the same. In addition to founding Curly Executive Mélissa is the artist behind Camellias and Curls, a handmade flower hair accessories brand and it’s tutorial arm Flower College , and the creator of Pon Di Beat, a Dance Hall and Afrobeat dance masterclass series in Austin, Texas.

Nicole Swartz

Nicole Swartz is an attorney for women business owners. She started as a corporate attorney having attended Tulane Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her work on cryptocurrency law has been published in the Tulane Journal of Technology + Intellectual Property. She has worked at the Securities and Exchange Commission, and then went on to start her own skincare company. She created a formula, packed her car with products, and headed to a trade show. In two years, her business went from bring a side hustle to a full-time international company. Her skincare line was in the Golden Globes Gift Bags and hundreds of stores around the world. She met so many women business owners who started asking her for legal advice. She then realized that she loved working with women to start and grow their companies. She then sold the skincare line and started her own law firm — a law firm for women.

Riley Blanks

Riley Blanks is a storyteller, explorer, and lover of many things. In her short life, she has lived in 15 cities and six countries. Her journey has been vast and continuous; and through it she has learned that the best way to hold on to special, fleeting moments is to cherish them, love them, photograph them. Through her transient life, she’s encountered so many incredible women - many of them have been resistant to appreciating their own beauty; the very beauty she sees and loves. In an effort to disclose her perspective, she has made it her mission to capture an elusive glance, a contagious laugh, warm eyes or wild hair with the instrument she holds dear, her camera.

Jessica Tremblay

Jessica Tremblay is a front-end developer, designer, passionate community leader and local activist living in Austin, TX. She loves working with like-minded thought leaders to drive change and inspire others to do the same.

Nik Sallie Franklin

Nik Sallie Franklin is a trademark attorney and branding expert who works with women entrepreneurs to create legally protected, soul-injected brands that manifest their purpose into profits. She’s sharing lessons learned from her years of experience in law, tech and marketing to help her clients confidently avoid costly mistakes, stay legally protected while building their dream business and live their true purpose. After all, when we know better, we do better. So stay in the know - join her exclusive Facebook Group for support, accountability and real-world business insights from experienced entrepreneurs.

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— HOW TO RSVP —

All events within the STAY HOME CLUB series require an individual RSVP and can be attended for free or by donation. The series begins at 5 PM CT on April 4 and ends at 6:30 PM CT on April 25.

To RSVP for events in the series, select one or all events you’d like to virtually attend. For every event you’re RSVPd to, you’ll receive a pre-event email at least 24 hours in advance, containing relevant links, schedule info and ZOOM meeting invitations.

To donate when you RSVP, name your own ticket price during checkout. If you can’t donate right now (times are swirly! we get it!), but you'd like to support our recovery efforts and the STAY HOME CLUB team, you can: 

• support our partners

• become a member when we launch our membership program in May

• or donate later. :)

All STAY HOME CLUB event registrants will receive an archive of STAY HOME CLUB event recordings, complimentary copies of bbatx’s guides (normally $5 to $10 each), the option of receiving bbatx’s continual COVID-19 resource guide, and discounted perks from our partners.

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— MEET THE PRODUCERS —

About bbatx (#bossbabesATX): We’re a Texas-based nonprofit that amplifies and connects women and nonbinary creatives, entrepreneurs and organizers. We create space to share our crafts, catalyze multi-industry coalitions, promote intersectionality across disciplines, seek guidance and provide each other with practical and emotional resources. Anyone interested in our mission, core values, and initiatives are invited to participate—and learn more about how intersectional gender equality can improve their daily lives. We provide 1500 opportunities to women and nonbinary creatives, entrepreneurs and community organizers per year. More than 20,000 community members also annually attend our showcases, markets and dialogues—and in the last three years, our programs generated an additional $1million for the Austin economy. So, whether you apply to participate in one of our programs, attend our workshops, conferences and dialogues, or come out to a festival or market to support the community we’re building, you’re a member of this movement. All babes, all people, are welcome. :) Learn more at bossbabes.org.

STAY HOME CLUB has been made possible by our year-round partners at bbatx. Without them, we’d be shuttering our doors. Thank you for supporting us.