M+A Edit

Growing up, Jesse Draper attended a lot of conferences in the venture capital space with her dad, and these early experiences helped shape the way that she viewed her future and what she wanted to do in her own career. But once she began looking deeper into becoming an entrepreneur herself, the lack of visible female role models really began to dawn on her. She started to push for higher representation of women in all aspects of her work, and this has been a driving force throughout her work and...

Whether you’re taking a two-year pause, hanging up your work hat indefinitely, or working a flex job during naps—staying at home can come with just as many feelings of guilt, identity struggles, and stress as going back to the office. And what’s harder: “There’s this antiquated narrative around stay-at-home moms—that they’re bored and now growing anymore,” says Neha Ruch, founder of Mother Untitled and a Stanford MBA taking her own pause to lean into motherhood. “We need to shift the conversation to be more about the growth and creativity that’s...

Whether you’re anxious over (re: dreading) the return, under-the-radar excited to sip coffee and answer emails again, or somewhere in between, there’s no getting around it: transitioning into your new identity as a working mom can be really tough. And while there’s no remedy for the pit that might come with leaving your babe those first few weeks back, there are steps you can take to help blend your two worlds—and maybe even keep your head on straight. 1. Treat your maternity leave like any other work project Long before...

From selling her first collection at age 16—to seeing her jewelry on celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Mila Kunis—designer Dana Gordon, of Dana Rebecca Designs, is a story in staying steadfast on your path. (Listen to her entrepreneurial journey on this week’s episode of The Mentor Files.) Now, inspired by her friendship with M+A’s main mom Monica Royer, and the other close women in her life, Gordon’s teamed up with Monica + Andy to launch a trio of necklaces meant to connect generations of moms and daughters. Shop the collection...

As the youngest of three siblings, Dana Gordon was always looking to tag along on her family member's adventures. But the one person she always wanted to shadow was her dad, a diamond cutter by trade. Her experiences with her dad inspired her to start her own jewelry line at the age of 16, running everything herself with no outside help. Little did she know that years later, her work would be featured worldwide. Our guest today is Dana Gordon, founder of Dana Rebecca Designs, a jewelry brand that designs...

Putting together a nursery or baby registry can feel like learning a foreign language—Uppa-what? Bugga-who?—which is why every mama needs a set of trusty crib notes. Can you survive without these products? Totally. But will they make life ten times easier? Like you wouldn't believe. From strollers to baby clothes to activity mats and nursing covers, here are the hero baby products we've found are worth every single penny. 1. 4moms Mamaroo Nothing soothes a newborn like motion, and this cult combo of a bouncer and swing may be the...

Our guest today is Mia Duchnowski, cofounder of Oars & Alps. When every option for men's skin care was too expensive, full of chemicals, tailored to women or just plain inconvenient, she and her cofounder took matters into their own hands, creating no-nonsense products without any pointless toxins, senseless rigmarole or needless middle men.Before starting her new business, Mia Duchnowski had her dream job working as an anchor on Bloomberg Television. While there, she learned about skin care through her makeup artist, who often sent her home with tons of...

1. Avoid leather. Spilled milk and formula do not bode well for your new leather bag. Look for bags with cotton or polyester lining. Bonus if they’re machine washable! 2. Polyester interior lining is key. You'll find snacks, pouches, napkins, and who knows else in the floor of your diaper bag. Anything with an easily wipeable interior will make your life a bit easier. 3. Avoid velcroIt’s super hard to clean, and you’re not going to want to rip that bag open with a sleeping baby nearby! 4. Pockets are...

You’ve probably heard the stats: all it takes are a few bad sunburns in childhood to double a person’s chance of developing skin cancer. But what exactly is in the SPF we’re supposed to slather on our babes (that is, after six months), and which brands offer the safest, most effective ingredients? Read on before you hit the kiddie pool. Babies Under 6 Months: An umbrella, stroller canopy, and lightweight, long-sleeved clothing are your best bet for sun protection if you’ve got a little babe under six months. Doctors recommend...

Growing up in Pakistan as the daughter of a doctor, Umaimah Mendhro was always encouraged to dream big, and fantasized about starting her own company and becoming the CEO. And on her first trip to the United States as a teenager, she saw just how real her dreams could be. She later wrote down on a napkin, 'I want to study in America', and it wasn't long before she was on her way to Harvard Business School.Since 2014, VIDA has created clothing, accessories and home decor designed by independent artists,...