She is named Top Entrepreneurs to Follow by NY Finance and has been recognized by leading publications such as CNN, Entrepreneur, and Forbes 30 Under 30. She is the author of The Year Time Stopped: The Global Pandemic in Photos, featured at the Grammys and winner of “the mind award” available in all major retailers.
In today's visual renaissance, we are experiencing an unprecedented surge in creativity and documentation, with a vast array of images being produced and shared each year. Rather than limiting ourselves to viewing these images solely on social media platforms like Instagram, it is crucial that they are widely distributed to reflect the diverse world we live in. This is where the concept of diversity in stock images becomes paramount.
The traditional notion of stock photos as finite libraries, accessible for use by businesses, bloggers, artists, and more, is outdated. We should redefine stock photography as a comprehensive collection of legally available images that can be searched for and utilized. By embracing diversity in stock images, we are revolutionizing the accessibility and inclusivity of visual content.
These images go beyond mere aesthetics. They hold the power to challenge biases, break stereotypes, and create a more authentic portrayal of society. They also give us more freedom to create things we want to create with this “fundamental” resource. Stock photos is the “water” of the internet used and needed for everything
What initially sparked my interest in this space was my frustration at not being able to find images of current events on social media platforms like Twitter the day after they occurred. I wondered why there wasn't a platform where people could share their images beyond the immediate moment of capturing them. I realized that these images hold significant historical value, and it bothered me that they weren't easily accessible to the wider public.
As I delved deeper into the world of imagery and its impact, I began to recognize the immense creative renaissance we are currently experiencing. It's not just photography; it encompasses all forms of creative expression, including art, illustrations, and videos. The abundance of imagery available online has fundamentally transformed the way our brains function and how societies operate.
My strong desire to make a meaningful impact on the world drove me since I was a little girl practicing my public speaking and planning my future as what I thought would be Secretary of State. As I grew up, I struggled to find a problem that was significant enough to pursue. At Columbia University doing my masters at SIPA, it suddenly struck me that image sharing was on the verge of exploding. This realization led me to believe that I could have a positive influence on a massive scale by shaping the way we perceive and understand the world and its people.
In fact, we have never been so exposed to such a vast array of cultures, individuals, ideas, and causes. Many people overlook the positive impact of social media, but it has played a significant role in making our world more interconnected, flattening geographical barriers, and allowing us to virtually travel and experience different cultures.
As a young girl growing up in Missouri with immigrant parents from Jordan, I always yearned for understanding and inclusion. Image sharing platforms give me hope that this understanding and inclusivity are now within reach. It's incredibly inspiring to witness how fast this transformation has positively impacted us, even though the positive aspects of social media are not always discussed widely.
My desire to make historical imagery more accessible, the recognition of the creative renaissance we are experiencing, and the belief that image sharing has the power to reshape our worldview, foster understanding, and bring people together from diverse backgrounds. It gives me hope for a more inclusive and connected world.
I have been waiting for a solution for accurate and socially appropriate titling. I hope that AI will solve this age old problem of incorrect image tagging. Regarding artists there is a massive divide on what they know about it and what they accept it and I am leaving the door open to hear what they have to say. Some days I get almost violent emails about the impact of AI on their careers, other days I see 14 year olds that are creating new concepts with old archives and it’s remarkable. The businesses are somewhere in the middle of this. The first thing I ever built was an AI engine
1:1 communication never ends, you will need to scale this as you grow, people like Gary Vee and Taylor Swift do a good job at this because they know randomness in conversation is important to their brand and to keep the pulse going and see random opportunities. Random things get you known. I also had a major growth hack via our book The Year Time Stopped published by Harper Collins which is 200 stories and images from 2020 which put us in every bookstore, and at the Grammy’s. I am looking forward to when I am 80 years old and this book gets recognized as the historic record of 2020 the way we wrote it and crowdsourced it, it is chilling on every page.
Almost half of my investors are successful business women. Not many founders can say that. I watch their careers and the way they talk and interact so I can grow and learn. I watch a lot of youtube videos of founders I like and if I read an article about a successful female founder I look up a talk to see how they carry themselves. I can’t wait until “female founders” in tech is not like a unicorn sighting after seed stage. I also am a part of CHIEF and the fact that the tone is already set of “help each other” makes it really easy to ask for things where other organizations you have to be really careful and like there is a finite set of asks, with CHIEF the pool is never ending which has become an oasis for a lot of ambitious women who need connection, support and ideas to grow.
Brain wise, work on your fear and risk tolerance. This might sound silly, but that is what you need to be out in the jungle of tech entrepreneurship. Get a coach for this or read some books, also the only way out is through so you will have to experience risky and fearful times. Practically, keep a spreadsheet or contact list of everyone who is interested in your work or positive to you when they learn more about your business, you never know who you are going to need to ask for help and for what. At minimum, add them on linked in as your meeting them so you can keep that door open for you. I heard a quote once that said impossible is just one more phone call away. I try to remind myself that on hard days.
Literally all of them. I am writing “If women” my second book right now and our human experience is so incredible. We are taking 200 stories and images, and it has been making me trying to understand our purpose on earth. We have stories from Iran and from 14 year old girls, the art and stories will bring you to tears. Just being born as a woman with what our bodies can do and how much we can take is INCREDIBILE. One thing I am working on is that women are not called “geniuses,” that carries male terminology historically. I admire female genius and we need to celebrate and call this out more. While I have met some of the most influential women in the world and value their grit, the woman I admire most is my grandmother who had a 6th grade education, whose husband died in his 30s and raised 8 kids on her own and brought them all to America. You can’t know your future until you know and appreciate your past and history and that understanding is there to give you fuel to be the best person you can be.
Whatsapp? It keeps me connected to everyone I love and talk to people all over the world. Can they do payments already?
