Ciera Holzenthal and Kristy Oustalet - How To Build Creative Community

The Creative Leap

When disaster strikes your community, how do you respond? In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many people tried to look at it as a fresh start. As a city with an abundance of creative energy, businesses were launched and communities of entrepreneurs formed like never before. But according to Ciera Holzenthal and Kristy Oustalet, the same thing didn’t happen for creative entrepreneurs. So they stepped in and made the space themselves. Both of them had come back home to New Orleans with a desire to invest into the creative community. So they started hosting meet-ups and carved out a corner where creative entrepreneurs could connect with other solo business owners, and talk candidly about real issues. What started as happy hour meet ups is now the 4th Annual Venture Pop Conference, featuring some of the most inspiring creative entrepreneurs from around the country. On today’s episode, we talk their creative journeys, the evolution of New Orleans as a home for creative entrepreneurs, and what it takes to create meaningful community for those around you.