Posts tagged with "CEO"

MASERATI × MONTEREY CAR WEEK

On Friday, the MC20 Cielo was unveiled at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering by Global Chief Executive Officer, Davide Grasso, and Maserati Americas CEO, Bill Peffer, along with Head of Maserati Design, Klaus Busse. The 621 hp convertible was the star of the show, with thousands of fans experiencing the new spyder under the California sky. The Quail display also included the Grecale Trofeo SUV and the MC20 Coupe, there to represent the diversity of Maserati’s vehicle offerings.

A short distance away the “House of Maserati” was created to showcase the Maserati lifestyle with VIP client-drive opportunities, trademark Italian hospitality, and moments to enjoy music and fine cuisine, including the chance to experience partner Sonus faber’s audio capabilities throughout the residence. The “House of Maserati” was converted specifically for the Trident Brand to provide a weekend oasis in which aspects of Maserati’s DNA including style, comfort and elegance could be front-and-center.

On Sunday, during the main event of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the MC20 Cielo took a prominent position on the Concept Lawn, drawing eyes to the clean lines of the open-topped super sports car, which perfectly epitomized the sophisticated yet laid-back California lifestyle that Monterey Car Week has become known to represent throughout the world.

MASERATI IN MEDIA:

All-electric Maserati GranTurismo Folgore on YouTube HERE.

During this year’s Monterey Car Week, Italian-American comedian Sebastian Mansicalco joined Maserati on a drive along the California coast. In the presentation, they share top speed and 0-60 numbers.

Voice’s Director of Partnerships & Artist Relations, Eliza Fish, talked about our focus on environmentally responsible NFTs. On a different stage, the CEO of Voice Salah Zalatimo discussed the future of NFTs, and the CTO William Anderson spoke about the future of digital art.

Voice x Street Theory collection drop

Voice’s community showed up in full force to celebrate an incredible collection, with beats by DJ Center and gorgeous displays of each artwork.

EXPLORE THE COLLECTION »

Meet the Voice NFT Partner Studio

Voice’s booth welcomed steady traffic throughout the week, as they met members of the broader NFT community to discuss their platform and partnerships. The highlights: giving away succulents (and earning ourselves a nickname of “the plant booth”), meeting Voice artists IRL, and airdropping free NFTs to everyone who stopped by.

GET IN TOUCH »

About Voice

Voice is an NFT platform that is carbon neutral, easy to use and multi-chain compatible. At Voice, we believe that NFT technology will change the internet by introducing verified ownership to our digital world. We’re building a way for digital art to be collectible.

TOYOTA CONNECTED × CABIN AWARENESS

Toyota Connected North America (TCNA), an independent software and innovation center of excellence, today introduced its Cabin Awareness concept technology that uses millimeter-wave, high-resolution 4D imaging radar to help detect occupants (including certain pets) in cars and has the potential to detect them if ever they’re left behind.

The Cabin Awareness concept takes a unique approach to in-vehicle occupant detection using a 4D imaging radar sensor, mounted out of sight above a vehicle’s headliner that can detect presence of a life form in the vehicle, even after a driver exits.

Specifically, the Cabin Awareness concept has the capability to sense micro movements, such as a heartbeat, motion and respiration of occupants across three full seating rows, the cargo area and footwells. It also classifies all occupants according to size, posture and position – supporting advanced safety applications. The platform provides robust sensing even if the occupant is covered with a blanket, a scenario which a passerby would be unable to see the occupant. It differs from other technologies on the market such as weight sensors, that can be prone to false alerts and mis-detects, cameras limited by blind spots or other radar systems with a limited range of passenger detection.

“Toyota Connected’s talented software engineers and data scientists are leveraging cutting-edge technology to bring innovation and advanced technologies to customers’ vehicles,” said Zack Hicks, CEO and president, TCNA and executive vice president and chief digital officer, TMNA. “We are extremely proud of our efforts to take this idea from the drawing board to a full-blown concept, and, hopefully, developing a technology that has the potential to save lives.”

Real-World Testing

While Cabin Awareness is currently a concept, the feature is getting a real-world trial through Toyota’s partner May Mobility. The autonomous-vehicle company is testing the technology in its fleet of Toyota Sienna AutonoMaaS (Autonomous Mobility as a Service) minivans at its headquarters in Michigan and will soon begin testing in public AV deployments in Arlington, Texas, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, with additional deployments coming in late 2022. Recently, May Mobility announced that a portion of the fleet will be modified to become ADA-compliant and accommodate passengers in wheelchairs.

“May Mobility was founded with a mission of making roads safer through autonomous technology – and we’ve kept safety as our top priority as we’ve advanced our technology and worked with key strategic partners like Toyota,” said Edwin Olson, CEO, May Mobility. “As we move closer to driver-out operations next year and continue to scale our global business with more public AV deployments, technology like the Cabin Awareness concept is essential for our riders.”

In the future, one possible application for autonomous shuttles is alerting parents when their children complete a ride. Conversely, a shuttle may delay driving to its next stop if it senses someone is still in the vehicle upon reaching its destination.

“The key difference with this system is the improved resolution and accuracy, full-cabin detection and scope of functionality Cabin Awareness provides,” said Simon Roberts, managing engineer, TCNA, who has spearheaded the development process. “With the precision of these sensors, we’re designing Cabin Awareness with the aim of reducing false positives and false negatives.”

Applying Technology to Alert Drivers

In 2021 in the U.S., 23 children died from heat stroke after being left in vehicles, according to the nonprofit Kids and Cars. On average, one in four children that die in a hot car obtained access to the car while it was unattended or not operational. Depending on the circumstances, the inside of a car can get up to 125° F in minutes even when outside temperature is as low as 60° F. Studies show children’s body temperatures rise three to five times faster than adults. If left in a vehicle during the summer, the inside cabin temperature can reach dangerous levels in just 10 minutes.

“We are excited to explore and leverage new technologies, connected intelligence and existing safety platforms, with the ultimate goal of reducing child fatalities in hot cars. This Cabin Awareness concept has the potential to do exactly that.” said Brian Kursar, chief technology officer, TCNA and group vice president, chief technology officer and chief data officer, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). “I’m so proud of the Toyota Connected and TMNA’s Connected Technologies teams for developing this concept and believe in the talent and dedication of our engineers.”

As currently designed, the Cabin Awareness concept provides an array of warnings to help alert the driver (and potentially, passersby) to check the back of the vehicle if a living being is detected. First, a warning light signals on the instrument cluster. Then, the horn honks. Emergency lights flash. Following all the early warnings, the owner may get a notification on their phone through the Toyota app as well as text messages.

If programmed, Cabin Awareness could even send alerts through smart home devices or send text messages to designated emergency contacts assigned by the primary user. Further alert options include having Toyota’s Safety Connect® emergency assistance system contact first responders through the integrated SOS vehicle function.

The team is continuing to explore additional notification alerts such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications and the incorporation of smart infrastructure retail signage to further expand the reach of this alert.

Born from Innovation

The idea for Cabin Awareness was born in 2019 out of the inaugural Toyota Connected Hackathon, a 36-hour innovation event that challenged teams of software designers and engineers to ideate, develop and test real-world solutions. This winning idea quickly grew support following the Hackathon, allowing Roberts to assemble a team of engineers and further develop the technology.

The Cabin Awareness concept also allowed Toyota Connected to evaluate and develop hardware for the first time in addition to building innovative software systems and creating new processes. The Toyota Connected team evaluated millimeter-wave suppliers and began working with technology provider Vayyar Imaging’s in-cabin monitoring platform.

Vayyar’s high-resolution, single chip, 4D imaging radar is the only solution on the market that has the capability to monitor an entire vehicle cabin with a single sensor. The platform provides exceptionally dense point cloud imaging, enabling developers to independently develop a wide range of advanced applications and deploy them remotely using over-the-air software updates.

Inspired by Space Technology

Inspiration for the Cabin Awareness concept came from microwave radar technology created by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to support underground rescues after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal in 2015. In this application, NASA engineers and rescuers were able to detect human breathing and heartbeats under more than 30 feet of rubble, helping responders know where to dig holes.

“NASA’s use of radar technology was inspiring,” said Kursar. “The idea that you can listen to heartbeats using contact-less technology opens up new possibilities to give Toyota the potential to produce a service that is beneficial to the evolution of our in-vehicle services.”

“The Cabin Awareness program is an innovation first for Toyota Connected and Toyota in so many ways,” said Roberts. “The most important goal we’re working on, though, is to build technologies that empower occupants and give them greater peace of mind.”

JULIE LAMB

NFT-VIP: Bridge to Reality

Julie Lamb, the CEO, Founder, and Executive Producer of How-To with Julie Sue, is a problem solver, storyteller, digital content creator, and economy connector. She is a collector of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum and is passionate about helping brands build their identity using current tools and a highly selected network of virtual agents to develop the entrepreneurial capacity of brands. She has already collaborated with multiple popular brands such as iHome, Disney, KidDesigns, Hasbro, CES, KeaBabies, Michael Todd Beauty, and Crown Goose USA.

Listen to Julie Lamb’s full conversation with Vaughn Lowery on the 360 MAG Podcast HERE.

While studying music, Julie went to Europe and started working on fashion collections. She finally settled in New York, where Julie has 30 years of experience working as a model. By highlighting the activity with Brunello Cucinelli on Saks Fifth Avenue, Julie mentioned that her creative confidence was greatly inspired after moving from a small Southwestern town to the Big Apple, New York City.

Julie has long loved the worlds of tech, digital, and speed: ‘I like being able to share things digitally.’ At the forefront of the crypto wave in 2017, she bought Ethereum, a digital platform used to make smart contracts, allowing entrepreneurs to create decentralized applications, as in the case of Julie.

Immersed in the realm of cryptocurrencies, the trailblazer supports projects like Non-Fungible Token (NFT). As a rapidly developing industry, NFT is becoming an increasingly popular way to buy and sell digital art, spanning industries like sports, music, fashion, film, games, etc. The annual NFT conference, held in multiple cities (including New York City and Los Angeles) around the United States, attracts hundreds of guests from various fields who speak about exponential growth and future trends in different verticals and how the digital landscape can incorporate this new tradeable product.

As an NFT-VIP (in which 360 MAGAZINE will serve as one of the media sponsor), Julie’s mission is to shape the NFT industry into diverse communities made of global thought leaders who share like-minded values and beliefs. Last April, she attended the Miami NFT week and served as its Executive Producer, where she focused on igniting new dialogue amongst attendees and tastemakers on topics related to technology, creative installations, immersive art, and performance. Julie can be recognized as an economy connector for providing the space for several minority-owned businesses in this conference to discuss the present and future of the meta-universe and how it affects them.

Although the attendance was underrepresented and some representative minority-owned businesses felt left out, Julie declared her conditional support for the voice of women and the LGBTQ community. Meanwhile, this kind of offline meeting takes highly digital products further into reality, narrowing the society’s discrimination against aging. In addition, she is fascinated by using Web3.0 and its implementation with artists in the fields of music, fashion, and the token economy.

An example of this is that the international brand Gucci has started a multi-directional exploration to embrace the digital world, which associates a luxury brand with emerging technologies through a series of avatar experiences; i.e. exhibitions of Gucci art, mini-games, and digital item purchases.

Julie is now preparing a private event in New York City with NFT VIP sponsorships from June 19th-22nd at Margaritaville Resort Times Square, owned by the real estate and investment firm Soho Properties. Surprise celebrities will be attending that directly tie in with her message and bring new inspiration to the community. Sponsorship opportunities available for this four-day event.

In the field of cryptocurrencies, that features multiple sponsors, will have an additional sponsor called the crypto coin concierge. They will cover the luxury travel for the most elite global clients in the world of cryptocurrencies and with payment through these. Julie tells us that her company has also partnered with iHeartRadio on Crypto Radio in the marketing industry.

Speakers:

Julie Lamb

CryptoMondays: Andrew Yang, Lou Kerner × TJ Stone

Article:

Andrea Esteban, Armon Hayes, Krishan Narsinghani, Vaughn Lowery

Resources:

Inter Creative Media

How-To With Julie Sue

Follow Julie Lamb:

Twitter

Instagram

360 MAGAZINE named media sponsor for Julie Lamb's NFT VIP in NYC

Art Basel VIP Minting Event

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Established and renowned art dealer Avery Andon has collaborated with hip-hop legend and WuTang Clan founding member Ghostface Killah, along with the world-renowned jeweler Jason Arasheben, of Beverly Hills Minted Jewelry. This established team has joined forces to curate a minted NFT for the new art NFT platform and marketplace, ArtGrails.

Melting down Ghostface Killah’s Golden Eagle Bracelet, the 24k solid gold bracelet was transformed into a large one-pound gold coin that was minted as an NFT. The “Golden Eagle Bracelet” was made by jeweler Jason of Beverly Hills. Jason curates’ pieces for his clients that range from LeBron James, Drake, Mariah Carey, J-Lo and so many more phenomenal stars.

On November 30th the reimagined coin and an NFT video of the original form being liquefied and minted will be available as one exclusive set on the ArtGrails platform. This means that the piece will in the end only be purchasable by one buyer. ArtGrails is holding an invite-only VIP viewing event, art show and kick-off party on November 30th to celebrate the beginning of Art Basel 2021. The exclusive set of events will be held in the design distract of Miami. ArtGrails will not be posting content of the exclusive “minting event” video, so the auction winner will have the decision to make the video public or not.

The iconic 24k Golden Eagle Bracelet exemplifies an emblem in hip-hop history, and with the minting of the piece, now someone else will be able to own such a legendary piece of hip-hop history. The coin that is up for grabs will come with an NFT video that showcases Ghostface and Jason of Beverly Hills melting the bracelet into coin form. The video serves as a “tokenized physical asset that will accompany the minting of the video taken of the transformative goldsmithery into an NFT.”

Jason of Beverly Hills has continued to heavily influence and impact hip-hop history through the collaboration of this piece. While breaking down an emblem of hip-hop history, he also creates a new, reformed piece of that history. His work merges the physical and digital world in a way that has never been seen before. Avery Andon had the brilliant idea of the collaboration between Ghostface Killah and Jason of Beverly Hills for this creation. Andon leads ArtGrails upcoming NFT drops that highlight a wide range of renowned and influential buyers.

Andon comments on the event, stating, “this auction features some of the most monumental custom NFTs ever created, which required a platform that provides a truly custom experience for delivering high-end art. With NFTs en route to becoming an industry standard, ArtGrails pushes the industry forward, demonstrating that the future of fine art and collectibles goes beyond paper certificates of authenticity; therefore raising the standard for art buyers, owners, and dealers.”

The singular, unique set that includes the Ghostface Killah Gold Coin and the NFT Video of the melting and minting of the previous bracelet opens for auction on ArtGrails.com at 5:00PM EST on November 30th. The auction will end at 5:00PM EST on December 5th. To learn more about ArtGrails and to participate in the online NFT auctions, please visit the ArtGrails website at http://wwwartgrails.com.

Art of Pure × Chicago

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Art of Pure, a curator of clean beauty grounded in purity and sustainability, will open its first retail storefront this November. The new boutique, located at 958 W Armitage Ave. will offer a handpicked selection of local and internationally sourced skincare, makeup, haircare, modern wellness, personal care products, and eco-friendly home goods. Nurturing beauty, body, and wellness through truly natural, pure and potent products, Art of Pure ensures products are responsibly sourced, ethically produced, have a minimal environmental impact, and provide social good, while being free of any harmful ingredients. Art of Pure invites shoppers and the beauty community at large to access trusted and classic brands all while discovering unfamiliar gems.

“At Art of Pure, we are on a mission to prove that beauty can be synonymous with sustainability,” said Monika Joshi, founder and CEO of Art of Pure. “For years I have envisioned a store where green beauty lovers can shop without worrying about the ingredients, and I am thrilled to be able to share that vision with the community.”

Joshi, a former investment banker and mother, felt an urge to enter the beauty industry after spending countless hours researching skincare ingredients in an effort to understand her daughter’s eczema as well as her own issues with sensitive skin. Joshi became an expert in the field and decided to share her knowledge and product recommendations by launching the Art of Pure e-commerce store in 2017.

Art of Pure promises to bring safe, non-toxic, and entirely green solutions to customers through brands that seek to promote a health and wellness forward lifestyle. The new boutique will boast 1,000 square feet of space and serve as a physical extension of the online store, featuring products with high-performing, plant-based ingredients and actives. The store will carry all existing lines and categories along with new product lines including feminine wellness, environmentally friendly home goods, and gifts. As the focus is on sustainability, the store will include a soap and lotion refilling station. Customers will also be able to book a clean makeup application session with a professional makeup artist or a clean swap consultation. Additionally, Art of Pure will host wellness events, panels + discussions, and mini markets, all while helping foster community and dialogue. A mask bar will be offered at the store in the coming months as well.

Health and safety standards are uncompromising for Art of Pure. Ensuring transparency and thoughtful sourcing, Art of Pure tests every item, ingredient, and brand for performance and potency. Building on a foundation of growth and discovery, Art of Pure continues to learn and expand its knowledge base within the cosmetics industry, focused on continued research, thoughtful partnerships, and expanded knowledge.

For more information about the Art of Pure and its offerings, visit www.artofpure.com or follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

Interview with Melissa Snover

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Everyone loves good vitamin gummies, but what if there was a way to customize them? That’s the idea behind Nourished, led by Melissa Snover, an entrepreneur and top UK female entrepreneur according to Business Leader. I had the opportunity to interview Snover about her career and Nourished.

How did you get into 3D modelling and nutrition?

I founded my first company when I was 23 and have been developing innovative products to bring to the consumer market ever since. When running a gummy candy business called Goody Good Stuff, I became frustrated by the limitations of mainstream manufacturing and in 2015 started looking into 3D printing technology to create bespoke products on demand. This led me to launch Magic Candy Factory which 3D printed customized confectionery in retail outlets, amusement parks and private events – depending on the customer’s requirements. It was this technology that gave me the inspiration and foundation to create Nourished and personalize the way we take vitamins and make our nutrition regimes more enjoyable, convenient, and effective.

What are the benefits of personalized gummies?

Many of the vitamins made using traditional manufacturing methods can be largely ineffective by the time they reach the consumer. They often come from lengthy supply chains, are sat in a warehouse or on a store shelf for months and most importantly – are not produced with the individual’s needs in mind. At Nourished we combine 7 different superfoods, nutrients, and vitamins into one delicious and sugar free gummy, which are totally bespoke to the end user. We 3D print each stack on demand to ensure optimum efficacy and can change the customer’s customized blend each month as their goals and lifestyle also change.

How did you develop the idea behind Nourished?

I have been an avid consumer of supplements since my 20s and used to carry around with me a large transparent bag of various supplements and vitamins, and accidentally dropped it on the airport floor in security. Crawling round in my suit and heels picking them, I thought there must be a better way to do this and then I thought, well I have a 3D printing food business, maybe I can do it?

From there I sought to find a way to simplify the way we take vitamins and make the combinations 100% customized to the consumer.

How did you feel about being included in Business Leader’s list of Top UK Female Entrepreneurs to Look Out for?

It was a huge honor to be recognized amongst such inspiring and impressive peers, and I am extremely grateful to Business Leader for celebrating female entrepreneurship. I am a passionate and proactive supporter of women in business, so this is very close to my heart, and I was delighted to involved.

Why use the personalized packaging?

Personalization is at the heart of everything we do at Nourished, and we didn’t want to stop at our packaging! Each of our individual wrappers are printed with the name of the customer, as well as being 100% plastic free and home compostable in just 32 weeks!

How important are visuals when it comes to Nourished products?

Our Nourished stacks not only taste amazing, but they also look beautiful as the 7 layers of active ingredients each come in a different, vibrant color. Our mission at Nourished is to change the way people think about nutrition, and this means upgrading from popping pills and choking back on tablets each day. Our 3D printed vitamin gummies are the perfect visualization of what the future of nutrition can look like.

Why should people choose Nourished?

At Nourished we believe that of all the things we personalize – our health should take priority. We use only the highest quality ingredients and pioneering manufacturing methods to ensure our customers receive truly bespoke nutrition, with the highest impact possible. All our ingredients are vegan, GMO free, sugar free and free from all major allergens and our packaging is 100% plastic free; meaning Nourished is as good for the Earth as it is for our customers!

Do you have plans to release new products in the future?

We are constantly launching new active ingredients into our product range and optimizing our technology to ensure we stay at the forefront of personalized nutrition. We are also currently developing a personalized protein range and are planning on breaking into the pet market next year!

Bombazo Caribbean Skirts Featured at New York Fashion Week

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By: Javier Pedroza

Milteri Tucker Concepción is a busy and multi-talented Afro Boricua who holds degrees in Biology, Chemistry and a master’s in Dance Education. She is an author, a mother and was casted in Lin Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights the movie. As we approach #NYFW2021, Milteri puts on another hat, as designer.

Milteri is the founder of BOMBAZO and the artistic director of Bombazo Dance Co. The Puerto Rican-Bronx based non-profit dance organization’s focus is to educate, advocate, preserve and perform Bomba Puertorriqueña. As an author, educator and master Bomba dancer, she lectures across the United States and the world. I sat with Milteri and we spoke about Bomba, fashion and Puerto Rico.

Milteri, tell our readers, who is Milteri Tucker Concepción?

Well, I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and grew up with a passion for dance since I was 5 years old. I recall dancing in “la Sala”(the living room) with three of the most influential women in my life: my grandmother, mother and aunt. As part of my upbringing I remember dancing, planting and assisting my elders in the kitchen. I also vividly recall shopping for fabrics with my aunt and watching my grandmother Abuela Teresa, warmly referred to as “Mama” sewing. My aunt “Titi” Maria Concepción was a designer who attended FIT and designed clothes for top actors in Puerto Rico. I was blessed to have been raised in a household full of love, and love for my culture!

As a teenager, I studied dance in La Escuela de Bellas Artes in Ponce, PR. At 17, [I] moved to NYC to pursue careers in dance and science. In 2006, I graduated with a dual major of Dance and Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Hunter College. I currently hold a masters degree in Dance Education from NYU Steinhardt. Today I am a renowned Bomba master dancer, choreographer, scholar, dance educator and author. [I wrote] the first bilingual Bomba children’s book, titled “Bomba Puertorriqueña” and illustrated by Boricua artist, Mia Roman.

I’ve had the privilege to perform in multiple venues across NYC and the world – from the prestigious Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, City Center, Summerstage, Pregones Theater, BAAD, The Latin Billboards Awards, dancing for Don Omar with choreography by Maria Torres O’Connor, to amazing community centers.

I am a cultural warrior (guerrera cultural) who safeguards our traditions of Bomba Puertorriquenas, via [my] 501c3 non-profit dance organization: Bombazo Dance Co, Inc and international brand of Caribbean dance skirts: Bombazo Wear-Bomba & Caribbean Dance Skirts®. I was recently featured in Lin Manuel Miranda’s movie, In The Heights, as the Bomba representation.

How was your experience filming ‘In the Heights’?

Being invited to dance Bomba for In the Heights was a surreal experience and a dream come true! It was an honor to represent our African heritage through our traditional dances. However, one of my favorite memories came after the movie premiered…. I had the opportunity to open the 2021 Virtual National Puerto Rican Day Parade in NYC, where Lin and I danced Bomba together.

What is the history of Bomba?

Bomba is Puerto Rico’s oldest musical genre, dating back to the 17th century and created by the African enslaved and free people of color from the Caribbean. This was one of the ways they communicated in our coastal sugarcane and coffee plantations. It is a secular practice, where the community gathers to sing, dance and drum.

Why did you create Bombazo Dance Company?

I founded Bombazo Dance Company to show the world that Puerto Rico has rich African ancestry, and that our traditions are very much alive. As a Bomba dance company, we communicate through dance and drumming. [This is] reflected in our traditional folk art dancers. It is also important to create a safe space to fuse Bomba with other forms of dance – such as ballet, contemporary, social dances and dances of the African and Caribbean diaspora.

What inspired you to create Bombazo dance wear?

At the same time I started Bombazo Dance Company, I was teaching Bomba classes to the community and needed skirts. Believe it or not, it was hard to find a seamstress who could make Caribbean skirts or a location to purchase them. I wanted to create skirts that fit all Caribbean dance styles, because I am that dancer. And voilà – Bombazo Wear Bomba Caribbean Skirts was born! My mother, Dr. Margarita Concepción, and I are the CEOs and we sew the [skirts] too. Our skirts are handmade, custom[ized] and tailored to each client. A part of the funds go to aid families affected by the earthquakes in Southern Puerto Rico.

How does it feel to be invited to NYFW 2021 / Harlem Fashion Week?

It is an honor to have been invited to showcase for a second time in HFM! The organizers are truly showcasing diversity within their shows and providing opportunities for designers of color to present their designs to the world. It’s important to me – as a woman of color, a Latina and AfroBoricua – [that] they understand my vision of dance as fashion. And my skirts have fashion written all over them!

Tell us about your upcoming collection “Resistencia y Libertá!” (Resistance and Freedom).

I am the creator of the Puerto Rican Bomba Flag Skirt®. A flag; its colors, represents a collective orgullo – pride for its people. Our flag was conceived and designed here in NYC. It was prohibited to fly The Puerto Rican flag in both Puerto Rico and New York at one time. Its pride is back after Hurricane Maria, [now] you see our colors in every town’s building and rinconcito (corner) in both Puerto Rico and the diaspora! Therefore, my new collection for 2021 is titled: “Resistencia y Libertá!” Where each skirt in the collection represents a social cause affecting Puerto Rico – such as the cultural resistencia by the people, No al Feminicidio, Boricua hasta en la Luna, Afroboricuaness, LGBTQ+ representation and support in the Bomba Community, ect. It is important to note that this is a brand and line designed and sewn by a Bomba dancer, a person from the community. These are skirts [are designed] with a mission. Part of the funds go to help families affected by the earthquakes in the South of Puerto Rico and organizations/community ensembles continuing the labor of safeguarding Bomba traditions in the island.

Any advice for the youth who want to connect and immerse themselves with their African roots and Culture?

Learn about all parts of you! That makes you unique and special. Speak to your elders: abuelas, abuelos, tias, tios and elders from your community. They have a lot of wisdom and years of experience you can learn from. Always connect to your culture, to your African roots! There is an African proverb I love : “Sankofa– in order to move forward you must know your past!” Know who you are, where you come from, so that you can pass the knowledge to your next generation! Ubuntu! (an African Proverb [that] means “I am because we ALL are!”)

For more information and to view images, please visit HERE.

Interview with Ooshma Garg

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Meal delivery services have gained a lot of popularity over the recent years and there are now many different services to choose. I was able to sit down with Oosma Garg, founder of one of these delivery services: Gobble.

Given all of the meal delivery services on the market today, what do you think makes yours stand out?

Unlike other meal kit services, Gobble’s meals only take 15 minutes to prepare. Gobble’s army of sous chefs do the prep work; like simmering sauces, marinating meats, and chopping vegetables, so that members can prepare a gourmet meal at home easily and quickly. We prep complex ingredients for 18 unique dishes every week, which gives members variety and new flavors with every meal.

With freshly prepped meal kit ingredients, Gobble simplifies the process of eating healthy, nutritious, and flavorful food, ensuring that members don’t sacrifice time for taste or vice versa. Convenience is at the core of every Gobble product and experience — The company even launched a text concierge service so that members can chat with a “sous chef” and get real-time, educated answers at any time, especially during their cooking experience.

What inspired you to create the 15 minute meal idea?

I have always been a tinkerer and grew up curious, constantly experimenting. Women have been wondering ‘what’s for dinner’ since the beginning of time. Other companies in this industry approached this question through diets or teaching women to cook. Gobble was encouraged to solve the real problem at hand and fit into the fabric of everyone’s daily life. Gobble’s already prepped and prepared meal kits do the invisible work of solving this timeless mealtime question, in just 15 minutes. Gobble’s 15 minutes philosophy was inspired by the importance of quality time with loved ones, and when dinner isn’t stressful or time consuming, this is made possible.

Are there meal options to fit certain diets?

Yes there are. Gobble’s Lean and Clean meal options feature lean proteins, healthy fats, and are under 600 calories per serving. This meal plan also includes the same flexibility that Gobble’s other plans do, as members can easily add breakfast and lunch options, or skip deliveries with ease.

Additionally, Gobble is a great option for picky eaters, as customers can choose their own proteins, grains, and quantities. And, Gobble gives the user full ingredient control. Gobble does most of the prep, but it leaves the final amounts of sauces and most other ingredients going into your dish up to you (unlike oven-ready, or fully prepped/cooked kits).

Tell us about Gobble’s ingredients.

All of Gobble’s ingredients and production are fresh, as if it was cooked in small batches at home, and the production is devoid of shelf stabilizing compounds or preservatives. This makes the supply chain evermore difficult as the company cannot store these complex and custom prepped ingredients from one week to the next.

Tell us about being a female founder in this meal kit delivery space.

Being one of the only female founders in this space, I was inspired to solve a fundamental aspect of society, mealtimes. I saw my mom working 12+ hours a day while balancing her professional role alongside her role as a mom, that there was a void of solutions that allowed working women to provide for their families without sacrificing time or nutrition. Gobble is designed to solve a real problem and fit into the fabric of everyone’s daily life. I’m proud to be a female founder in this space, and am excited to continue to bring even more solutions to the table. (Literally.)

How did the pandemic affect Gobble?

Gobble has seen a 200% increase in basket size of non-dinner menu items, as people are home all day and demand increased deliveries for all mealtimes. Throughout this pandemic, many Americans found themselves facing COVID Burnout, which led them turning to other meal solutions. During Fall 2020, Gobble ran a survey to better understand how COVID was affecting its members. 78.5% of respondents reported that the pandemic affected how they shop for and prepare food with 48% of people sharing that they order groceries solely online. We offer members the ability to transform one’s kitchen into a new country and transport one’s tastebuds through unique flavors and ingredients by implementing adventure into everyday life at home.

Rodney

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Rodney Ramlochan is an executive, entrepreneur, and global business generator who has dedicated his career to empowering others, identifying strategic relationships, and building world-class organizations. Driven by his passion for technology, fashion, lifestyle, and culture, he serves as 360 Magazine’s global business manager. Rodney builds market position for 360 by locating, developing, defining, and closing business relationships with leading brands.

Alongside his role at 360 Magazine, Rodney serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Dev-Byrne & Company, a national technology expense management firm serving premier clients ranging from global not-for-profits to Fortune 500 firms. He is a highly accomplished leader known for laser-like vision in formulating and executing cutting-edge strategies to achieve business goals.

Over the years, Rodney has held multiple roles within the business sector over the past two decades. As Vice-President and co-founder of an award-winning telecom auditing firm, he garnered an elite list of clients, taking the startup from obscurity to highly profitable in under three years. At Verizon, he oversaw large business units responsible for service delivery for enterprise clients.

Rodney completed both undergraduate and graduate degrees, with honors at New York University. He is a published contributing author who has written papers on service delivery and Total Quality Management. In addition, he has served on the Alumni Board Committee of New York University and the chairman of the board for St. Frances Cabrini Academy in Brooklyn, NY.