You Should Know: Soraya Darabi and Maxine Bedat

Soraya Darabi, co-founder of Zady.com, began her career as Manager of Digital Partnerships and Social Media at The New York Times.  Soraya quickly became recognized as a thought leader with her finger on the pulse of today’s ever-changing digital landscape.  While at The New York Times, Soraya positioned the global news leader on networks such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, partnered with startups large and small, and established award-winning campaigns.

Following her tenure at the Times, Soraya served as Product Lead for drop.io, a real-time online sharing, collaboration, and presentation service (acquired by Facebook). She then went on to co-found the mobile application Foodspotting, named by Apple and Wired Magazine as an “app of the year” before being acquired by Open Table.

Soraya was recently featured on the cover of Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business” issue, and Brandweek’s “Hot Digital” issue, and was named one of Inc. Magazine’s “30 Under 30,” and included in AdAge’s “25 People in Media to Follow on Twitter.”

 

Maxine Bédat, co-founder of Zady.com, with a background in diplomacy and the United Nations, in 2010 while in law school, Maxine established The Bootstrap Project, an organization dedicated to changing the lives of artisans in developing countries. The origin of The Bootstrap Project began one year earlier, when Maxine was clerking in Tanzania for the United Nation’s International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the court that prosecutes those responsible for the genocide. Maxine used her free time in Africa to explore, hoping to deepen her understanding of economic development.

The Bootstrap Project has become a platform for enterprising artisans to learn new skills, expand their businesses, share their customs and traditions, and revive the world’s most beautiful crafts.

 

Names: Soraya Darabi and Maxine Bédat
Occupation: Co-founders at Zady.com
Website: https://www.zady.com
Twitter Handle: @SorayaDarabi and @MaxineBedat

What are three words that best describe you?

Soraya: Passionate, motivated, mischievous
Maxine: Thoughtful, determined, optimistic

Tell us why you’re awesome in two sentences or less.

Soraya: I am awesome because I am co-creating a company that is creating great impact and ending fast-fashion for good.
Maxine: I am awesome because I am really passionate about changing the world for the better.

What are your three biggest indulgences?

Soraya: Game of Thrones, Cyc Fitness, my puppy Pepe
Maxine: Candy, Instagram, coffee

What’s currently your favorite…

Restaurant: Red Farm and ABC Kitchen

Food: Soup dumplings and brussels sprouts

Cocktail: A Mimosa and a Mojito

Shopping destination/store: Zady.com

Fashion item: A worn-in denim jacket and a good cashmere sweater

Place to hang out: The Marlton Hotel and Brighton Beach

City: Paris and New York City

Travel item: The Matea Weekender and The Hampton Duffel Bag from Zady.com

Beauty product: Lip gloss and Josie Maran argan oil

Skincare product: Coconut and rose oil and Vichy face wash

Hostess gift: The LE FEU DE L’EAU profound rose candle and Bimbi bowl from Zady.com

Home décor item: Eye cat pillows from the Bootstrap Project and the LE FEU DE L’EAU bleu phthalo candle from Zady.com

Book: “Passing” by Noah Larsen and “Overdressed” by Elizabeth Cline

Website: https://www.zady.com

Magazine: New York Magazine and The New Yorker

What’s the ONE thing you absolutely can’t live without?

Soraya: Music
Maxine: My phone

What is your biggest pet peeve?

Soraya: People that are judgmental.
Maxine: People who check their phones constantly at dinner.

If you could have dinner with anyone (living or not) who would it be?

Soraya: Oscar Wilde
Maxine: Martin Luther King Jr.

What does it mean to you to have a strong, engaging brand and how has having one helped you?

Soraya:  It allows us to standup for what we believe in and have a true point of view.
Maxine: It means being authentic, consistent and relatable. And it has allowed people to engage in the slow fashion movement.

What is your #1 tip for fellow women entrepreneurs?

Soraya:  Practice, practice, practice.
Maxine: We all lack confidence some times, so do a power pose before walking into a big meeting.

 

 

1.   Josie Maran Argan Oil
This Argan Oil is light enough to use as an everyday moisturizer, and powerful enough to soothe skin ailments.
$48, https://www.josiemaran.com

2.  Game of Thrones DVD Set
$59.99, https://www.amazon.com

3.  Profound Rose Soy Candle
Scented with tuberose, this candle is elegant and luxurious.
$60, https://www.zady.com

4.  Bimbi Painted Wooden Bowl
A beautiful and simple bowl made from sustainable mango wood.
$22, https://www.zady.com

5. Matea Weekender Bag
Substantial and beautiful, this bag will see the world with you.
$328, https://www.zady.com

6. Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion
$19.75, https://www.amazon.com

7.  Normaderm Triple Action 3 in 1 Cleanser
A unique combination of salicylic acid, glycolic acid and 25% clay with a soothing agent.
$20, https://www.vichyusa.com