Listen to the latest episode of Fast Company’s podcast Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Google Play, or Stitcher.
Since launching in 2005, Refinery29 has become a powerhouse in media.
In addition to its content that fully leans into the intersectionality of women, Refinery29’s influence has extended to reimagining stock photos with Getty back in 2017 through their No Apologies partnership. Refinery29’s annual event 29Rooms started as a way to celebrate its 10th anniversary but has evolved into a cultural staple, selling more than 150,000 tickets to date and traveling to Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Toronto, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.
The buzz around Refinery29’s brand was enough for Vice Media to scoop the company up in a recent acquisition reported to be worth $400 million.
To get to that level of success, Refinery29 cofounder and executive creative director Piera Gelardi had come to terms with some pretty frank truths about creativity and leadership. For starters, impostor syndrome is something you never really get over, control is an illusion, and there will come a time when you have to kill part of your own creativity to give life to something new.
In this episode, Gelardi details the learning curve in her creative process and leadership skills, why a physical event like 29Rooms is essential in an ever-increasing digital landscape, and how she sees the Vice acquisition playing out long-term.