More than 200 LA women gathered Wednesday night to celebrate the launch of POPSUGAR founder and President Lisa Sugar's new book, Power Your Happy: Work Hard, Play Nice and Build Your Dream Life, and to get inspired by women who have built successful lives and careers from the ground up.
With the purchase of a ticket, guests received a copy of the book and a Must Have box featuring items curated by Lisa and POPSUGAR's team of editors and experts. After the panel discussion, guests snapped photos with Lisa, sipped on wine, and made new connections with influencers like Katie Dunlop of Love Sweat and Fitness and Alyssa Campanella of The A List, all in the gorgeous Hollywood event space designed by Gold Sky Productions.
The panel discussion was full of unmissable gems about locating your passion, forging relationships, and staying centered. Read on for highlights from the LA event!
Meet the Panelists
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Tony Lee
From left to right
Erin Westerman, senior VP of production at Good Universe
Orly Shani (moderator), E! host and Hallmark contributor
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Angela, Erin, and Anita on the Very Best Piece of Advice They Can Share
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Tony Lee
"When in doubt, do nothing." — Erin
"There's a quote I love: 'There are three rules. Number one: be kind. Number two: be kind. Number three: be kind.'" — Anita
"No is a one-word answer." — Angela
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Lisa on Why Finding Your Dream Job Is a Process
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Tony Lee
"It's OK to be clueless. You don't have to know what you want to do at 16, 26, 36, 46," Lisa assured the crowd. "I spent my 20s in a lot of crappy jobs."
Lisa also got quite a few surprised laughs when she revealed that she was once voted most likely to never leave her hometown in high school. Now, she's the editor in chief of a global media company!
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Anita on the Power of Saying No
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Tony Lee
Finding balance was a theme that came up plenty during the course of the evening. Anita, who splits her time between LA and NY — where her boyfriend lives — says she's gotten better about managing her time as the years have gone on.
"I think that's come from saying no, which is something I've just learned," she said. "There are days when I'm like, 'I totally got this, everything is as it should be!' And then I'll have a job that I'm desperate to do, and at the same time, a fabulous trip, and I'll say yes to both, and I'm completely spread to thin. I think it's OK to not be balanced all the time! Things happen. It's not realistic."
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Erin on Her Secret to Taking Charge of Your Career
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Tony Lee
"The thing I learned sitting on a desk at an agency (as an assistant) is that there are, I call them 'pressure-point jobs,'" Erin said. "There are companies that aren't yet hiring but that are going to be close to hiring, so that just sort of became my thing. I was going to pinpoint the place I wanted to work and get in there before it was open. It's just easier to get the job if you don't have to compete with other people!"
Erin's persistence paid off. Early in her career, she took a job at a production company with offices at Disney because her goal was to eventually work at Disney itself. She spent her work breaks introducing herself to executives and producers around campus, and when a spot opened up on a Disney executive's desk, he thought of her for the position.
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Angela on How to Pinpoint Your Passion
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Tony Lee
"If anybody is trying to find out what that purpose is, what that passion is, it's finding those little clues," said Angela.
As a kid, Angela told the audience her parents were always commenting on what an "encourager" she was. Now, as an athlete, trainer, and instructor, that aspect of who she is deep down is central to what she does every single day. For people still trying to locate that passion and purpose, she suggested meditating and taking time to simply check in with yourself: "It's all about listening to that still, small voice, because that's what gives you direction."
