Join us for The Founder Series, an inspiring and empowering talk series where we shine a spotlight on the remarkable stories of four local women who have forged their paths in the entrepreneurial landscape of our community. This engaging series is designed to celebrate the achievements, resilience and innovation of local women founders who have defied norms and continue to navigate challenges to build successful ventures.

About Gia Miller

Gia is an award-winning journalist, the editor-in-chief/co-publisher of Connect to Northern Westchester magazine and the co-owner of Sonder Publishing. Raised in New Orleans, she went “north” for college, earning a magazine journalism degree from the University of Georgia before continuing north to the Big Apple. She worked at O, The Oprah Magazine and ELLE Décor before temporarily switching paths to PR (not her thing, but she learned a lot). After birthing her two children, she became a freelance journalist and found her mojo.

Gia has written for countless national publications, ranging from SELF and The Washington Post to Healthline and Parents, mainly covering health & medicine, mental health and parenting. As is often the case these days, Gia’s current gig began as a pandemic project with her business partner-in-crime, Justin Negard (the creative director and other co-publisher & co-owner), which organically grew into a publishing business. Despite her very specific degree, Gia never dreamed of starting her own magazine or publishing business, but she doesn’t regret the decision.

In her current role as editor-in-chief, Gia has been instrumental in defining the magazine’s concept, vision and voice in print, online and throughout social media. As co-publisher, she’s played an integral role in growing the print circulation from 15,000 to over 21,500 in under two years and implementing the magazine’s rebranding last November. And as co-owner, she’s helped build a profitable business model that pushes the boundaries of local publishing in creative and original ways.

When she’s not writing, editing or strategizing world dominance, Gia enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, laughing at her crazy dog and listening to a good podcast. She thanks multiple alarms, fermented grapes and her incredible husband (whose name is Marc, NOT Justin) for helping her get through each day. Her love languages are food and humor.

Each talk is limited to 20 attendees.

What to expect at each talk:

Each talk will feature a different local woman founder who will share her entrepreneurial journey. From the inception of the idea to navigating the complexities of business, these women will provide a firsthand account of the highs, lows and lessons learned.

Explore the innovative approaches and unique perspectives that local women founders bring to the business world. Gain insights into how they have disrupted industries, introduced fresh ideas and embraced creativity to build successful enterprises.

Hear stories of resilience and perseverance as our speakers discuss the challenges they faced and the strategies they employed to overcome them. From funding hurdles to breaking through gender biases, these women have triumphed against the odds.

Engage with the speakers through interactive Q&A sessions, allowing attendees to delve deeper into the challenges, triumphs, and strategies shared by the women founders. This provides a unique opportunity for a direct exchange of knowledge and experiences.

Connect with like-minded individuals, aspiring entrepreneurs and established professionals in the local business community. The series will provide a platform for networking, collaboration and the exchange of ideas, fostering a supportive ecosystem for women in business.

Delicious desserts from 351 Bakery will be served along with wine and other beverages.

Tickets:

Social & All Access Member: $20

Community Member: $22.50

Non-Member: $25

Other talks in the series:

About Lizzie Agnew, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Modern Citizen / Thursday, March 7 at 6:30pm

Lizzie is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Modern Citizen, a fashion brand with an elevated point of view and thoughtful price point.

An Art History major, Lizzie has always had an appreciation for how the aesthetic can bring meaning and joy to our lives. It was not a surprise that her first career working in Finance, while helpful for her future in business, did not last long. A few years later, she attended Stanford Graduate School of Business to make a career pivot to fashion.

In 2015 Lizzie met her co-founder in San Francisco, and they have since grown Modern Citizen online, in stores, and through wholesale partners like Saks and Rent the Runway. She still finds the daily connection to others through art and fashion to be deeply satisfying, and she has been especially energized by Modern Citizen’s recent work to improve its impact on people and the planet.

Lizzie recently moved to Bedford, New York where she lives with her husband and two small children.

About Anne Mayhew, Founder and Head Baker, LMNOP Bakery / Thursday, March 21 at 6:30pm

Anne began with studies in art, earning an MFA in Fiber from Cranbrook Academy of Art, and continuing to work professionally at various Broadway millinery shops as well as the Metropolitan Opera. Bread baking started as a hobby in the off-hours, and quickly became an addictive craft. Soon there were more loaves being made than Anne’s family could eat. Sharing fresh sourdough bread with friends, family and neighbors, was the beginning of LMNOP. During the pandemic demand soared, and the time came to take the leap and build a bakery.

LMNOP Bakery opened its doors at 25 Katonah Avenue in October of 2023. Staff has grown from 1 (in 2017) to 25 in 2024. LMNOP produces daily a robust menu of pastries, sandwiches, breads, and drinks. LMNOP strives to serve our local community, to make excellent innovative baked goods made from organic and sustainably grown whole grains.

About Inge Brouard Brown, Founder, Katonah Museum of Art / Thursday May 9, at 6:30pm

Inge was born and has lived most of her life in Katonah. She attended Skidmore College where she was an Art major. Inge is an artist, weaver, designer, mother, and founder of the Katonah Museum of Art. Her first rug was purchased by a trustee of the Museum of Modern Art. Her careers have taken her in interesting, but always artistic directions, including as a designer for a British textile designer and for Georg Jensen, a more than 100-year-old lifestyle products company. She also started her own Christmas card business.

In 1953, lnge approached the Katonah Library to ask for the use of the upstairs attic room to display art. That was the beginning of the Katonah Gallery. With the help of five other couples, including Jack Bauer, who became the Director of the Whitney, the new Gallery was launched in 1954 with the mission of mounting a flexible exhibition program of quality art and with the belief that art should be a part of residents’ everyday lives. The group of founders curated the exhibitions, painted the walls, hung the art, and tended to all the details that come with maintaining a tiny museum, all in the spirit of volunteerism.  

lnge became the first President of the Gallery and was pivotal through its early years of dynamic growth. She was involved in almost every aspect of mounting an exhibition, including graphic designer. From the very beginning, lnge was dedicated to education and involving area schools. In 1969, after raising funds to build an extension, the Katonah Gallery was able to move to the street-level of the town library. lnge remained a critical force, “encouraging volunteers to be more professional than the professionals” with the unselfish intent of demanding high standards for the Gallery. For family reasons, lnge moved to the Midwest in the late 70s. Fortunately for the community, she returned to Katonah and is a proud member of the Museum she was instrumental in founding.