50 Selfmade Scholarship Seats Are Now Open!

Nov 01, 2022

You are driven, creative, smart, and ready to go out on your own, today or someday. Brit + Co's business program for women, Selfmade, can help you get there with a community of women who will inspire you, share what they know, and lift you up so YOU CAN DO THIS!

Thanks to our incredible partner, Verizon, we're offering 50 scholarships for a free 12-week membership to Selfmade (details below!). Verizon and Selfmade are both on a mission to support women on their entrepreneurial journey. Sign up for Verizon’s free Small Business Digital Ready program to be eligible for a scholarship to Selfmade.

Selfmade now takes place 24/7, 365 via membership and ongoing programming. It's all virtual so you can choose to join in-person for live sessions or at your own pace!

Connect with an amazing community of CEOs, professional coaches, and entrepreneurs like you and learn valuable skills, like how to brand your business, how to reach more customers, understanding your worth, and how to make a powerful pitch to investors. Access robust resources and the following:

Weekly live workshops with coaches
1:1 mentoring and group chats with like-minded entrepreneurs
On-demand courses
Customizable templates for P&Ls, pitch decks, marketing assets, and more
Access to world-class experts in tech, finance, marketing, sales, and investing
Seasonal pitch competitions with thousands of dollars in grants and cash prizes
Community break out sessions and meetups

It’s like business school, but so much better.

How to apply for a scholarship

Selfmade offers four different membership tiers, but this season Verizon is granting 50 FREE scholarship seats to 12 weeks of the annual program. Simply sign up for Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program to be eligible. Scholarships are open to U.S. residents, focusing on women of color, women from underserved and underrepresented communities, and women in need of support turning an idea into a dream business, or growing an existing business. Selfmade offers a powerful community of women cheering you on in a positive, goal-setting environment.

The deadline for scholarship applications is November 30, 2022. Apply today! We can help you develop everything from a business plan to a marketing and sales plan throughout the course with one-on-one mentoring and more.

Be your own boss, finally: Apply for a scholarship to Selfmade today!

Collaboration Hacks Every Small Business Owner Should Know

Verizon

verizon

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Therise Edwards, founder/CEO of Teshley Solutions, an education consultancy firm that helps students and families navigate the complexities of the education system K through 12.

What is an unexpected business challenge that you faced and how did you overcome it?

I wouldn't call myself a FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) expert, but I ended up having to know a lot more about it than I ever anticipated. FAFSA is what administers Pell Grants, which is what a lot of colleges base their financial aid on. I knew about the application changes, and some were excellent, but they made a series of critical errors and a lot of parents were scrambling. It was not my intent to have this as my area of focus; it just became a necessity.

What's a recent small win for your business?

Recent small wins are my collaborations. I formed partnerships with one organization that focuses on students with special needs. I hosted a webinar with the executive director of that organization. I formed a partnership with members from an insurance company on planning and paying for college. That was my first corporate sponsorship. And I've got a series of events coming out because others actually reached out to me. One of them I met through another networking platform, but I got to that platform from one of the sessions that I did with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program.

How did you start to collaborate with external partners?

Just changing my strategies and my approach, and just being more secure and more emphatic in making connections. It ends up being this continual cycle.

Is there a woman in business that you admire or that you look up to?

I have two. Leontyne Anglin, who runs a nonprofit called Beyond Expectations. She works with a small pool of students, but she just gives them enormous exposure and opportunity. She's brilliant with collaborating with individuals and businesses and really bringing the students what they need. And then the other on a bigger scale is Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary, who taught her Business Plan Bootcamp through the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. She is just a dynamo. She is just so supportive of women entrepreneurs. She's awesome.

How did the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program help propel your business forward?

All of the collaborations and partnerships with the exception of one all came from joining the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. I’ve taken all of the free classes and the one on projections and pricing, something every entrepreneur struggles with, was very helpful. There have been so many of them. Sometimes you're completely ignorant in a category so you take the class and it's like, okay, that's good to have. But then sometimes you sign up for it and it's like, oh, yeah, I did know 90 percent of that, but this other 10 percent is going to be very, very helpful.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Teshley Solutions.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces

Kate Middleton's "Amazing" Cancer Update From Prince William Has Us Breathing A Sigh Of Relief

After revealing her cancer diagnosis back in March, Kate Middleton just announced she's finally finished her nine-month long chemotherapy treatment. Instead of releasing a written statement or an Instagram post, Middleton shared an emotional, gorgeous video featuring her entire family. It's a serene celebration of her loving family as they take the next steps in her cancer journey together. Here's what the Princess of Wales said.

Kate Middleton announced her cancer diagnosis in March 2024 after stepping back from public life.
She also says she has "a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life" after completing chemotherapy.
And royal author Robert Jobson says she's "doing very well" as we enter the holiday 2024 season!

What's the latest update on Kate Middleton?

Kate Middleton has finished chemotherapy and it appears she's doing "very well," which we're so thankful for! "From what I understand, Catherine is doing very well," royal author Robert Jobson says in an interview withHello!. "She is back training at the gym and doing all the things she wanted to do."

After Kate stepped back from public view, and the internet went crazy over her supposed disappearance, Robert seems to feel confident she's ready to reenter public life. "I do think that we will start to see a lot more of her, and that she will carry out engagements as well as continuing to work behind the scenes," he says.

Prince William also offered a look into Kate's recovery journey before the Earthshot Prize awards on November 6, telling British journalists (via People) that “She's doing really well thanks. And hopefully, she is watching tonight. So cheering me on.”

“She's been amazing this whole this whole year," he continues. "I know she will be really keen to see tonight be a success."

We're sending Kate Middleton and the rest of the Royal Family so much love!

This three minute video packs in a lot of love — and a lot of life – after such a grim circumstance for the beloved royal family. Middleton opens with what a relief it is to announce that she's finished her chemo treatment, and continues by explaining, "The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown."

The Princess of Wales elaborates that cancer is "complex, scary, and unpredictable," especially for friends and family. She says, ""This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved."

Middleton says that her main goal is to remain cancer-free, and continue on her long healing journey. She plans to "each day as it comes," while also hoping to join some public engagements in the future. She says, "Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life."

The Princess wraps up her statement by saying that she and Prince William are "grateful" for everyone's enduring support, noting that the overall graciousness and kindness has been "truly humbling." She says, "To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright."

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Throughout her contemplative statement, the video features gorgeous shots of the entire family out in nature, splashing through the beach, walking through a nature trail, and just generally being together. With three grown, yet still young, children, this family vibrancy resonates deeply, reminding us all to hold those we love closely.

We're so thrilled for Princess Kate, and the entire family, on this incredible health milestone, and we continue to wish them well!

When did Kate Middleton get cancer?

Kate Middleton officially announced her cancer diagnosis back in March of 2024. The Princess never explicitly stated what kind of cancer she's battling, only that she was in the midst of a thorough treatment plan.

Back in January of that same year, Middleton underwent abdominal surgery that many assume is associated with the diagnosis at hand. After the described "successful" surgery, Kensington Palace stated that Middleton wished that her "personal medical information" remained "private." They further explained that the public would get updates "when there is significant new information to share."

The next update we received was the March video, explaining Princess Kate's cancer diagnosis, leading us to believe that each incident is tied together.

Regardless, it's great to hear that the Princess of Wales has officially completed her chemotherapy treatment as of today!

Looking for more pop culture news? Be sure to follow us on Facebook so you never miss a thing!

Header image via Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

celebrity news royal family pop culture pop culture news kate middleton

Meet The Top 3 Founders In Our Selfmade Pitch Competition!

When you launch a business, you have to know how to sell it: to customers, to potential investors, and to the people you bring on board. In the Selfmade Fall 2024 Pitch competition, we challenged our female entrepreneurs to sell us their big idea and compete to win over $10K in prizes to build and grow their business. The judging panel was made up of a group of inspiring women in business, including Emily Merrell, founder of Second Degree Society and Ready Set Coach; Niki Shamdasani, CEO of Sani Lifestyle Brand; and Joanne Oparu Ayebo Eriaku, business transformation strategist and founder of SOAR AI School of Readiness.

Selfmade is a unique, hands-on business membership for female founders. Our coaches support our mission to help make the dreams of female founders a reality. "Our mission is to even out the odds and offer a clear route to success for business owners who've been marginalized," Emily said during the competition.

Pitch day was filled with uplifting, celebratory moments as all members cheered on the 10 finalists. Winners were judged on creativity, inspiration, authenticity, uniqueness, and evidence of impact. The finalists were phenomenal in their pitches, but the judging panel had to make the tough decision of picking three women who really stood out. Here are the winners of the Selfmade Fall 2024 pitch competition, plus our amazing finalists below!

Meet the Selfmade PItch Winners

Hyacinth Tucker

1st Place Winner

Hyacinth Tucker | The Laundry Basket

A US Army veteran and wife, Hyacinth owns and operates The Laundry Basket, a laundry subscription service that provides expert, laundry-on-demand and dry cleaning services in Maryland, DC, Northern Virginia, Northeast Ohio, and Toronto Canada. The company is committed to sustainability, offering zero-waste practices in partnership with non-profits like Impact Zero. They are also paving the way for minorities and veterans to build careers and businesses through their workforce development program. Hyacinthhas a masters of business administration and is a mom of two. When she’s not running the show, she loves traveling, reading, and playing games with her family.

Monica Casillas

2nd Place Winner

Monica Casillas | Amor Movement

Founder Monica Casillas recognized that many young Latinas faced the same challenges she did in high school, experiencing the weight of generational traumas and their impact on growth and potential. Driven by her own experiences and determination, she set out to create a transformative movement with love as its guiding force. The mission behind Amor Movement is to ignite the passion and leadership potential in young Latinas in high school. The nonprofit is dedicated to equipping these future leaders with essential life skills, professional development, and civic engagement opportunities, empowering them to break barriers and create the lives of their dreams.

Yolanda McCray

3rd Place Winner

Yolanda McCray | Skyler M Style & Wellness

Yolanda's passion for clothing, accessories, and custom products inspired the creation of Skyler M Style & Wellness, named after her Cocker Spaniel who passed away from cancer in 2019. Skyler M Style & Wellness is an online boutique and pop-up shop in South Carolina that offers clothing, accessories, and custom gifts. They are also launching gift and subscription boxes that empower women to embrace their unique style while prioritizing wellness. Their carefully curated products offer a blend of fashion and self-care, solving the common struggle women face in balancing both.

Selfmade

Meet Our Other Amazing Finalists!

Ashley Rankin | AR Naturals Skin
Brooke Hanson | Bumble Fleur
Christine Chen | Bridge.WQ
Melissa Booth | Sustainable Trades
Renee Ecckles-Hardy | Brown Butterfly Press
Sara Anees | Astrolabe LLC
Vivian Bell | NextGen

Thinking about becoming a member of Selfmade? Founders can join Selfmade for just $39 per month and have a chance to pitch your business at our next pitch competition! Here's how our Selfmade community is breaking barriers and connecting you with like-minded founders:

On-demand courses
Live coaching
1:1 mentorship with leading industry experts
Opportunities for pitching your business (such as this pitch comp!)
Digital events
AND of course, our community of 4,000+ women founders, just like you!

Learn more about the Selfmade Founder Fund and join us!

Be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter for more tips and news!

Header image via Meghan Lamle on Unsplash

female entrepreneurs female founders inspirational women small business selfmade selfmade pitch competition women in business startups business course entrepreneurship

12 New Christmas Movies To Bring You Comfort & Joy This Year

Holiday movies are one of the best ways to get into the spirit of the season and luckily, there are plenty of options to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud comedy or romance, we’ve got you covered. Pour yourself a mug of comforting hot chocolateand snuggle up with a blanket. Here are our picks for the most highly anticipated new Christmas movies releasing soon!

Trivia at St. Nick's — On The Hallmark Channel November 8, 2024

Hallmark Channel

Let’s be honest, we all love when Pretty Little Liars co-stars reunite for a new project and the Hallmark Channel is delivering with Trivia at St. Nick’s. When Celeste and Max end up on the same team for their university's annual faculty Christmas Bar Trivia Tournament, they discover a newfound friendship — and chemistry. Who knows what could happen between the two of them before the championship?

Trivia at St. Nick’s stars Tammin Sursok and Brant Daugherty.

Hot Frosty — On Netflix November 13

Petr Maur/Netflix

The holidays can be hard for those dealing with a loss, which is something Kathy is still experiencing. However, what will happen after she magically brings a handsome snowman to life? Will she learn to love again?

Hot Frosty stars Lacey Chabert, Dustin Milligan, Katy Mixon Greer, Lauren Holly, Chrishell Stause, Joe Lo Truglio, and Craig Robinson.

Red One — In Theaters November 15, 2024

Karen Neal/Amazon MGM Studios

Who doesn’t love an action-packed holiday adventure with Dwayne Johnson as the North Pole's main security guard and Chris Evans as a bounty hunter? Throw in a kidnapped Santa Claus and you have a Red One Christmas.

Red One stars Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll, Wesley Kimmel and J.K. Simmons.

An Almost Christmas Story — On Disney+ November 15, 2024

Walt Disney Studios

The third and final installment of Alfonso Cuarón’s holiday shorts collection for Disney+ is almost here, and it follows the adventure of an unlikely duo: a young owl called Moon and a lost little girl named Luna, both wanting to make it home for the holidays. This Christmas movie was was inspired by the tiny owl who was actually rescued from NYC's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2020!

An Almost Christmas Story stars Cary Christopher, Estella Madrigal, Jim Gaffigan, Mamoudou Athie, Alex Ross Perry, Gianna Joseph, Phil Rosenthal, Natasha Lyonne, and John C. Reilly.

The Night Before Christmas In Wonderland — On November 15, 2024

Universal Pictures/Hulu

There's nothing more festive than an animated musical and this year, we’re finally getting the film adaptation of Carys Bexington’s The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland, which is a perfect mix of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and Alice in Wonderland. Down the rabbit hole we go!

The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland stars Emilia Clarke, Gerard Butler, and Simone Ashley.

The Merry Gentlemen — On Netflix November 20

Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix

The Merry Gentlemen is your classic story of a former big-city girl returning to her parents’ small-town to save the day, but with a twist…a steamy, all-male Christmas-themed production!

The Merry Gentlemen stars Britt Robertson, Chad Michael Murray, Marla Sokoloff, Beth Broderick, Michael Gross, Maxwell Caulfield, Hector David Jr., Colt Prattes, and Marc Anthony Samuel.

Our Little Secret — On Netflix November 27, 2024

Chuck Zlotnick/Netflix

Christmas with your ex? Definitely not fun for anyone, especially when you’re stuck under the same roof with new partners. Prepare for a whole lot of chaos and mixed feelings!

Our Little Secret stars Lindsay Lohan, Ian Harding, Tim Meadows, Jon Rudnitsky, Henry Czerny, Judy Reyes, Chris Parnell, Kristin Chenoweth, Dan Bucatinsky, Katie Baker, Jake Brennan, Ash Santos, and Brian Unger.

Nutcrackers — On Hulu November 29, 2024

Nutcracker Productions LLC/Hulu

Ben Stiller is back on our screens after seven years in Nutcrackers! The comedy is filled with heart and tells the story of Mike, who's all work and no play. Everything turns upside down when he becomes the guardian for his orphaned nephews. What’s extra fun is actors Homer, Ulysses, Arlo, and Atlas Janson are actually siblings in real life.

Nutcrackers stars Ben Stiller, Linda Cardellini, Edi Patterson, Tim Heidecker, Toby Huss, Homer Janson, Ulysses Janson, Arlo Janson, and Atlas Janson.

A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter — On Netflix December 6, 2024

Mike Coppola/Getty Images for iHeartRadio

After Sabrina Carpenter’s incredible sixth album, Short n’ Sweet, she’s ready to give us the holiday special we deserve this season. That’s right, it’s a nonsense Christmas with the singer performing songs from her fruitcake holiday EP as well as some unforgettable covers. Plus, we all know there will be some fun surprises!

A Nonsense Christmas stars Sabrina Carpenter.

A Carpenter Christmas Romance — On Lifetime December 21

Lifetime/A+E

Andrea escapes to her family’s farmhouse to finish her novel. This leads to a run-in with her woodworker ex-crush, who's helping rebuild the town after a tragedy. Naturally, sparks fly.

A Carpenter Christmas Romance stars Sasha Pieterse and Mitchell Slaggert.

Oh. What. Fun. — On Prime Video Soon

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Claire's preparing to celebrate Christmas with a special family outing, until they forget her (giving classic Home Alone vibes). While this could lead to a miserable holiday for everyone, Claire's determined to get back to her family.

Oh. What. Fun. stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Denis Leary, Dominic Sessa, Jason Schwartzman, Eva Longoria, Joan Chen, Devery Jacobs, Havana Rose Liu, and Maude Apatow.

Champagne Problems — On Netflix Soon

Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images for Clase Azul

Who doesn’t want to take a trip to the city of love? Friday Night Lights' Minka Kelly is set to play an executive who goes to France in hopes of obtaining a well-known champagne brand. But life has other plans when she falls in love with the founder’s son.

Champagne Problems stars Minka Kelly.

Here are 28 Insanely Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes For The Holidays to go with your holiday watching :).

christmas holiday holiday movies pop culture entertainment

16 Delicious Thanksgiving Proteins That Aren’t Turkey

Sure, we all love the idea of a roasted turkey on Thanksgiving, but IRL, they’re usually overcooked, bland, and in need of a good dose of gravy to make up for their lackluster flavor. This year, think outside of the box and treat your friends and family to a stellar meal that will awaken their tastebuds! You’ve DIYed your own pie stand, you’ve created the perfect tablescape, and you’ve even worked extra hard on your place settings. You might as well make one of these main course dishes focused on Thanksgiving proteins (including some veggie options!) that are just as impressive as your decor.

Life Tastes Good

Garlic Roast Beef

Feed a carnivorous army with this gorgeous garlic roast beef that is as juicy as it is flavorful. Slice this baby tableside, and your guests won’t be able to resist the aroma. (via Life Tastes Good)

The Healthy Foodie

Maple Walnut Crusted Salmon

This salmon deserves a place front and center at your Thanksgiving table. Not only do you have the sweet maple glaze, but you also get a welcomed crunch from the walnut crust in this recipe. (via The Healthy Foodie)

Pickles and Honey

Stuffed Butternut Squash with Tempeh

This meatless (yet protein-packed) dish is a feast for your eyes and your mouth! It’s a vegan Thanksgiving treat that is almost too pretty to eat… almost. Bring this out of the oven and let the “oohs” and “ahhs” ensue. (via Pickles and Honey)

What’s for Lunch, Honey?

Beef Wellington With Roast Pumpkin, Parsnip and Mushrooms

This luxe beef wellington is sure to impress even the classiest of Thanksgiving guests. Whip this up for your in-laws and your M.I.L. will be wrapped around your finger! (via What’s for Lunch, Honey?)

Running to the Kitchen

Cranberry Apple Stuffed Cornish Hens

If you’re having a small Thanksgiving gathering this year, go with some Cornish game hens. Everyone gets their own bird, which makes for a beautiful presentation, and this recipe is even stuffed with fresh cranberries and apples! (via Running to the Kitchen)

Salt & Lavender

Creamy Mushroom Pork Tenderloin

Time is of the essence during the holidays, so a hearty main dish is as precious as gold. Plus, if there’s a delicious gravy involved, it’s already a hit. This creamy mushroom pork tenderloin will be gone faster than it took you to make it! (via Salt & Lavender)

The Gourmet Gourmand

This post has been updated.

thanksgiving recipes holiday recipes

50 Selfmade Scholarship Seats Are Now Open!

What's the latest update on Kate Middleton?

When did Kate Middleton get cancer?

Meet the Selfmade PItch Winners

1st Place Winner

2nd Place Winner

3rd Place Winner

Meet Our Other Amazing Finalists!

​Trivia at St. Nick's — On The Hallmark Channel November 8, 2024

​Hot Frosty — On Netflix November 13

​Red One — In Theaters November 15, 2024

​An Almost Christmas Story — On Disney+ November 15, 2024

The Night Before Christmas In Wonderland — On November 15, 2024

​The Merry Gentlemen — On Netflix November 20

​Our Little Secret — On Netflix November 27, 2024

​Nutcrackers — On Hulu November 29, 2024

​A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter — On Netflix December 6, 2024

​A Carpenter Christmas Romance — On Lifetime December 21

​Oh. What. Fun. — On Prime Video Soon

​Champagne Problems — On Netflix Soon