Denise Hewett in her West Hollywood apartment getting ready to DJ. 
Shot by Allie Pohl

Why did you create Scriptd?   

At Scriptd, we believe that storytelling is the quickest way to create change yet Hollywood, an industry of storytelling, has a story problem. Audiences are hungry for diverse content but the existing models are outdated and can't catch up to the current landscape of viewers. 

Scriptd is a script database for the entertainment industry (google for scripts if you will) that is a true pipeline for diversity and content discovery.  We are also creating script culture like book culture so the public can pay to read scripts for the first time ever (like e-books) and upvote them on the site. This allows us to tap into audience bases, capture the data behind them and make better buys and bets to achieve greater commercial success. 

How does Scriptd help equal the playing field? 

I believe we have to start from an inclusive space to create equality which is why our platform is free for writers. We want to create a pipeline and that starts with eliminating the barrier to entry. We had 5 movies optioned off the site last year and 4 out of the 5 were written by women.  We're extremely proud of that.

As a female entrepreneur what is your biggest feat thus far?

Engineering change is a really challenging task. Whether it's technological change or social change. The hardest part is asking people to shift the way they are used to doing things. 

You handled sales and marketing at the famed nightclub, The Box. What was it like working at a nightclub?

I was young and it was an amazing opportunity to help curate and drive one of the most iconic places in Manhattan but now I realize how integral the skillsets I learned there are.  Working in hospitality is the absolute best way to build a network. Everyone goes out. At the time, I didn't know I'd later be starting a company but so many of the people I worked with, became friends with, are part of the fabric of our company. I always joke that nightlife is the best boot camp. You're dealing with people often at their worst, in a service oriented business. You have to learn how to protect your company's interests, keep people happy all while most of them are drinking champagne. My years there are some of the most treasured of my life. 

You were are stylist (clear from our shoot!) and worked on huge projects (such as Sex and the City 2)! What made you stray away from that industry?

I LOVE fashion as a mode of expression. My major in college was clothing as culture. The more I got into the fashion world though the less passionate I found myself about clothes. To love it fully, I realized it had to be a hobby. The business of fashion wasn't for me. 

You are a DJ! How did you get into djing and what are some of your go to tunes right now?

It's actually a really amazing story. I was at a liquor focus group (yes it's what you think) and I started talking to a guy that was there. He was in A&R and we started talking music, sharing songs we liked. I happened to mention a band that he had signed and he quickly started to trust my opinion. We became fast friends and would exchange tracks regularly. He kept joking that we should DJ together and then one day he called me and told me he booked us a residency in Williamsburg and I was like well, I guess I have to learn how to DJ. The rest is history. 

What I listen to is constantly changing but I've recently fallen back in love with The Smiths and ELO, playing through their full discography. Mura Masa, Jerry Folk and Sofi Tukker have fun tracks to spin. You'll get a different answer to this question depending on the day you ask me. 

What does empowerment mean to you? 

Empowerment means personal and professional fulfillment. I'm a big proponent of doing the work, career work and inner work.  Confidence comes from knowing and trusting yourself. That's when you are most empowered. 

What do you like most about being a woman? 

Too many things!!!! I love female camaraderie.  Female friendships are pretty epic. 

What is an ideal woman to you? 

An ideal woman is every woman. We have to get better at expanding our view of what women are. 

  
Who are you crushing on an why?

I admire so many women but Sheree Waterson gives me LIFE. She is a an example of the type of leader I aspire to be. She is equal parts kind and bossy. I'm so so lucky to call her a friend. 

Denise Hewett's picks: 

    

Mitra Ebadolahi in the streets of North Park San Diego, Photographed
by Allie Pohl

What inspired you to be a ACLU attorney? 

I am a proud immigrant raised by politically-engaged parents committed to the principles of social justice, equality under the law, and fair treatment for all. I went to law school specifically to become an advocate for marginalized communities so that members of those communities could assert their basic human and civil rights successfully.

What is your proudest accomplishment as an ACLU attorney? 

During my five years as an ACLU staff attorney, I have had the great privilege of participating in a range of cases highlighting government abuses of basic constitutional rights, including the First Amendment right to free speech, the Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, and the Fifth Amendment’s guarantees of Due Process. I was part of the team of litigators who challenged our federal government’s sweeping warrantless surveillance of Americans’ electronic communications at the Supreme Court in 2012. I was also part of the team of litigators who successfully challenged the federal government’s coercive use of process-free deportation procedures in Southern California, which had resulted in the unfair deportation of scores of immigrants. There is no single “proudest accomplishment.” I am thrilled every day to have the opportunity to do the work that I do and defend the constitutional rights of all.

If we take the President-elect at his word, the Trump administration will be much tougher on America’s immigrant populations. I think it is safe to assume that the ACLU will be at the forefront of ensuing immigrants’ rights battles throughout the United States. What do you expect from Trump's administration and how can people support and further the ACLU's work? 

People need to be very clear on the very real threats posed to our most precious freedoms by the incoming administration. My brilliant colleagues throughout the ACLU prepared a constitutional analysis of Donald Trump’s statements and policy proposals back in July 2016. That analysis is publicly available online and is important reading for anyone who cares about safeguarding our fundamental rights under the Trump Administration.

It is absolutely critical for people to continue to educate themselves (relying on credible news sources and non-governmental organizations with issue-area experts). An informed citizenry is a prerequisite to meaningful action for change. If you’re trying to figure out what sources are credible, take a look at the organizations, reporters, activists, and academics I follow on my Twitter feed @MitraEbadolahi.

Non-profit organizations, including the ACLU, need public support now more than ever. Become an ACLU member today. To do so, and to make either a one-time donation or establish a recurring monthly contribution, visit our website.
 

What is an ideal woman to you? 

An Ideal Woman to me is a person of conscience who is committed to taking action every day – however small – to promote sisterhood and equality.

What do you like most about being a woman? 

I’m a big fan of nail polish. 

Who are your crushing on right now and why? 

Today’s crush is Katie Orenstein, Founder and CEO of the Op-Ed Project and author of “Little Red Riding Hood Uncloaked: Sex, Morality, and the Evolution of a Fairy Tale.”

Ms. Orenstein founded the Op-Ed Project in 2008 with the goal of increasing the number of women thought leaders contributing to key public commentary forums. Her work highlights the following facts:

• Men are 80-90% of contributors to key opinion forums, 84% of TV pundits on Sunday morning talk shows, 87% of Wikipedia contributors, 85% of Hollywood producers, and 83% of Congress.
• Because of this, women—who constitute half the population—are left out of most public debates.

Innovative leaders like Ms. Orenstein and the Op-Ed Project are absolutely critical to changing the way we as a country think about and discuss pressing social problems. I admire her vision and applaud what she is accomplishing!

30% of the 14k Rose Gold Mini Stud will go to ACLU throughout the month of December 

Natasha Case in the CoolHaus HQ. Photographed by Allie Pohl

At what moment did you realize you “had something” with your cookie baking and ice cream making into “cool houses” debuting at Coachella in 2009?

What's so rare and fortunate about our story is that the brand truly went viral right after Coachella. We built a following on the grounds by literally going 'tent to tent' selling the sammies to concert-goers. But the question still remained as to whether we could become a force to be reckoned with outside of the concert walls. On the way home from the festival, Freya powered her phone back on after it had died, and she was getting an email every few seconds saying we had a new follower. She thought we had been hacked and called to tell me, and I told her I had also received media inquiries from LA Times, Dwell, Apartment Therapy, Angeleno, LA Magazine and more. Knowing that we had made operations work even on a most fundamental level at Coachella coupled with that kind of viral PR was a recipe we knew meant we 'had something.' I would say the other major milestone was first getting our products on the shelves at Whole Foods---that proved we could take a gourmet street food brand into a more mature and scalable forum for consumer products. 

You have lots of unique and interesting flavors! I love how you use architects names for your ice creams, bringing more awareness to architects and architecture in general.  How do you choose the architects names? Is it from your admiration for their designs or that there name goes with the flavors?

I would say it's a combination of both. Sometimes we are directly working with an architect for a special event, activation or ceremony, and we create a flavor in their honor for the occasion. For example, we made 'Peter Cook-ies & Cream' when Peter Cook spoke at SCI-ARC one year, or 'Michael Chocolate Malted-zan' when Michael Maltzan was being honored for his pro-bono design of Inner-City Arts. We knew we wanted to create a flavor for Mia Lehrer, as we are a huge fan of her work, and she is a personal friend; so we created 'Cara-Mia Lehrer,' which we have brought to her offices and for events where she is present. Sometimes, though, we come up with a name based on a flavor we love: Balsamic Fig & Mascarpone became 'Eric Owen Moss-carpone.' Eric Owen Moss found us sampling the flavor at his local Gelson's and was floored! He loved the flavor, and we sent him an autographed cookbook right away.

How do you manage living, working, and soon to be being mothers together?

Freya and I founded and grew the brand together for four years. I will say, though, that even in that time, Freya had a second job for two years of it (real estate development), and then after another two years decided it was time for her to move on from the day to day grind. She took time off and founded her own amazing company: Ludlows Cocktail Co, an innovative RTD spirits and wine brand. So, I think if you are going to work and live with your significant other, having that potential for one to be able to exit a business day-to-day and not have everything fall apart is SO key. The brand has to be bigger than either of you and the two of you together. I also am fortunate to have an investor partner that came in a few years into the business, and I now run the brand day-to-day with him... so I wasn't left on my own when Freya needed to move on. I would say that Freya is the 'first lady' of Coolhaus though! She has my ear for sure, and her advice is so much more helpful now that she has perspective, and I would say the same for myself giving her advice on Ludlows. As far as the motherhood part, we are over the moon excited for that! As an entrepreneur and owner, it's actually one of the most ideal situations for taking a family leave: I can set my own amount of time on my own schedule to be with her and our newborn, and she can do the same for me when I have a child... I am fortunate to have an incredible team behind me, so I won't have to worry when we have our little boy (Remy Leo!) in the world. Also, the whole experience has inspired me to give a generous (by US standards) maternity/family leave to my team... employers should value their team when it comes to their employee's needs to be with a growing family. The employees will be more loyal and do better work because of it! 

In your TedX talk, you discuss creating your own social and cultural norms- dream world! What are three suggestions of ways to execute this alteration of idealized norms?

First, I would say to question everything. So much of what we perceive as reality is learned. Don't take anything for granted and really ask yourself, "is this what works for me? Is this who I am?" Next, I would say talk constantly with your trusted circle about these norms and how to shift them. Nobody can make changes without help from their network. Next, don't get discouraged! Change takes time. You may need to engage the same argument 17 times to change someone's mind. But, if you don't have to do it 18 times, that's a change made. 

Women raising money and getting funding is extremely difficult in the “good old boys club.” After going through this process (successfully!), any insights or suggestions to fellow female entrepreneurs besides thinking big?!

Thinking big is so important, and I would also say sell them on your brand, your culture, you---don't get too tied down in the numbers of what is there---the right partner will bring so much more to the table than money, and it will be your vision that ultimately knocks things out of the park. Also, work to be profitable, so that you don't get into desperation money raising mode; there is a lot of pressure right now to just spend, spend, spend for marketing, but it's not sustainable growth. Sales can't run a business - it has to be a sustainable brand.

What is the secret to finding great talent to fill in your own personal work gaps?

You've really got to know what you know, and what you don't. Nobody can do everything well. Bring people to your team that you can learn from, but that enjoy your quirks and compliment them well. Think of whom you will want to spend each day hashing out problems with and creating solutions. People do business for people! So much of success at a brand is about culture, so that is a super key touchpoint when hiring. Also, think about incentives and perks that will bring amazing people and keep them around: we, for example, are expanding our corporate healthcare and dental program---it's something I value, and I know my team does too.

What do you like most about being a woman?

I love the challenge of making changes where there is opportunity for women to make strides. I want to be part of that change and the future. I also love surprising people by not fitting into a box of what is expected of women---being more confident, not being afraid to speak up and be myself, being a fiend for numbers---whatever the stereotype may be, I'm proud to break it.

 What is an ideal woman to you?

The ideal woman is confident in herself and has a powerful and unique vision, and she is warm, kind and generous in the way she shares that with the world: both men and women (and children!) 

Who are you currently crushing on and why?

Heather Hasson and Trina Speer of FIGS.

Natasha's Picks: 

Melissa Poh in her Westside home. Photographed by Isaiah Teofilo

What led you to being a plastic/ reconstructive surgeon?

When I was in high school, I wanted to be a graphic artist. Perhaps work in some ad agency. Either that or become a marine biologist. Science was my other love. I also enjoy working with my hands- tinkering and thinking.   Fast forward to college, and I wasn’t so sure what pathway I wanted to head down. My father suggested medical school since he knew I liked biology and systems, so I applied. After med school, I did my first residency in general surgery because I wanted to be a transplant surgeon. But after my exposure to plastic surgery, mainly reconstruction surgery, in the later clinical years, I finally found the area where I could merge my right (creative) and my left (analytical) brain. So I completed a second residency in plastic surgery and a fellowship in reconstructive microsurgery and here I am.

You are a partner in your practice. Have you found any/ many gender inequalities in the medical field? 

Surgery is typically a male dominated field. So I have essentially grown up with most of my colleagues as men. I do not discount there is sexism or implicit and explicit bias in our field, but fortunately we, both men and women, are becoming much more aware of these situations and most feel charged with a desire or necessity to improve the work setting and dissolve the inequalities.   I teach residents and I am trying to train them to be competent surgeons and good doctors, regardless whether they are male or female. There is no difference in the level of capability based on gender.

One of your specialities is reconstructive surgeries- what has been the most rewarding experience from these surgeries? 

I would say about 95% of my practice is reconstructive surgery- mostly related to cancer or trauma. I think the most rewarding experience is the little things like patients or family members hugging you and thanking you. Or watching videos of a kid ride his bicycle after you reconstructed his leg injured from an accident. It’s definitely a good feeling to know you’ve done right by some people.

You are currently learning how to perform transgender surgeries. What are you most excited about in this process? What are you most worried about? 

The surgeries are quite interesting and technical but the best part is helping a community that has until recently had limited options to just feel normal. The program we are building at my hospital is a large endeavor so I want to make sure it’s done right and very well which can be rather stressful.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given? 

My swim coach used to say “that which does not kill you will make you stronger” right before he pushed us into the cold water for morning practice. In general surgery, our attendings would always tell us “just do the right thing”. When I was growing up, my mother told me“you are never too old to learn”. And often I tell myself “just breathe”.

What is an Ideal Woman to you? 

The ideal woman does not exist really, meaning there is not just one. I think each woman or person has a backstory: goals, aspirations, burdens, anxieties, fears and we try somehow to work through life and share experiences with friends and family all with some integrity and perseverance.

Who are you currently crushing on and why?

Katerina Markov Schneider, a brilliant entrepreneur, mother, wife and friend who started her company Ritual last year all while having a newborn. Ritual was named by Business Insider as one of the top startups to launch in 2016 and Schneider recently just spoke at Forbes “Under 30 Summit.” Katerina is the bomb.

Melissa's Picks: