the sparkher 4/1

personal branding, ftx, baltimore bridge, marketing, the token space

Author

Prasiddhi Jain
April 01, 2024

Hey Besties, welcome back! I can’t believe it’s April already 😵.

WHAT’S INSIDE

  • A digital diary

  • ICYMI, brainfeed, and things to send to the group chat

  • Upcoming events & deadlines

  • Her hustle & coffee: Anaya Barmecha @ The Token Space

LEVEL UP

Personal branding. That thing we're all supposed to have figured out, especially if we've ever as much as glanced at a TikTok or Instagram feed. One day, you're all about sharing those genius kitchen hacks that would make Gordon Ramsay nod in approval. The next? You’re a budding music critic, dissecting the latest vinyl release like it’s the Rosetta Stone of the indie scene. The identity crisis? Absolutely free of charge.

Let’s be real for a second—crafting your personal brand is less about sticking to one path and more about embracing your inner chameleon. Yes, you heard that right. It’s okay to switch it up. Imagine if your personal brand were a playlist. It would be pretty boring if it were just one song on repeat, right? The beauty lies in the mix—throw in a dash of your latest obsession, a pinch of your timeless passions, and voila, you’ve got a brand as multifaceted as you are.

But here’s the catch: while it’s cool to explore and evolve, there’s something to be said for keeping a common thread that ties your story together. Maybe it’s your unmistakable humor, your way of seeing the world, or that signature sign-off you use. That’s your espresso shot, the core of your brand that keeps people coming back for more, even as you experiment with the flavors.

So, what’s the secret recipe? Simply put, be you. Let your brand breathe and change just like you do. Whether you’re posting about your morning run, your midnight baking spree, or that new album you can’t get enough of, it’s all part of the grand mosaic that makes up your personal brand. Remember, in the end, it's the authenticity for me (and your followers too).

BRAINFEED & SHAREABLES

  • ICYMI – The collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, following a collision with a containership, underscores a harsh reality: bridges, despite being designed to withstand impacts, can face catastrophes beyond their engineering limits. Experts suggest this incident reveals the challenges of protecting aging infrastructure against modern maritime behemoths, raising questions about the cost and feasibility of retrofitting old bridges with advanced protective measures. With the government now spotlighting the incident, there's a looming expectation for increased oversight and perhaps a reevaluation of bridge safety standards and port operations.

  • ICYMI – Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison for defrauding FTX cryptocurrency exchange users. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan rejected the defense's arguments and highlighted Bankman-Fried's obstruction of justice and witness tampering. Bankman-Fried, who expressed regret in court, plans to appeal his conviction and sentence. The prosecution had requested up to 50 years, emphasizing the severity of his crimes and their impact on victims. This sentencing marks one of the most significant punishments in recent white-collar crime history, comparable to those received by executives of WorldCom, Enron, and Theranos.

  • 🎧: Beyonce’s new album, Cowboy Carter

  • 📖: Charlotte Tilbury is the first female-owned brand to sponsor F1. So excited for this.

  • ⚠️Women getting punched in NYC⚠️Y’all when I heard about this, jaw was on the floor because I didn’t see one video of people talking about this, but four?? Luckily the person was arrested. All this to say, be aware of your surroundings and don’t walk staring at your phone (guilty).

  • The product < the marketing for the product. Liquid Death just did a collab with E.L.F. Cosmetics and sold out the entire line, despite it being halloween-esque in the midst of Spring.

  • Sigh, RIP to my bracket, UNC lost to Alabama (barely) last week.

  • The next solar eclipse is April 8th, 2024. If you live in NYC, you can get glasses for free!

  • If you’re in NYC, check out my favorite restaurants.

  • What’s hot 🔥: “Going with the flow” mentality, trying new restaurants, leftovers

  • What’s not 🙅‍♀️: Pollen, long car drives, car sickness

  • 🔝High of the week: Tried Delbar in ATL – would recommend if you’re in the area!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

  • 🗽: NY's Biggest Business, Tech & Entrepreneur Networking Affair (5/20): A great opportunity to meet like-minded entrepreneurs in NYC!

  • (High school) : 1871 is hiring interns for this summer – check out this post to see if you’d be a good fit!

HER HUSTLE & COFFEE

I love finding new coffee shops and meeting other female founders, so I started a series to share stories of female entrepreneurs at coffee shops around New York City.

Anaya Barmecha, is the co-founder of The Token Space, a wellness gifting company.

Check out the full video interview here, or highlights from our conversation below.

Tell me about the story of how you started this.
I actually received a gift from my aunt– it was a breath work session, which ended up having a really big impact on my life when I least expected it. I After that experience I thought about all the people around me who are either navigating obstacles or celebrating milestones and just wanted a nice wellness boost. I wish I could support them.

Can you talk about networking in the space?
Definitely leverage where you are at. NYC is incredible for networking opportunities. Log on to an Eventbrite or Luma. Places like Her Workplace. Where I got the most immense amount of value from networking is NYC Tech Week. That one week had 300+ events.

📍Kona Coffee Roasters (Midtown): 6.5/10 – So much space (two floors), super bright inside, but kind of loud + busy

Reminder of this edition: Never lose sight of why you are who you are. 🤍

xoxo,
Prasiddhi
thinkers, founder