The Shocking Truth About Overconsumption in Beauty – And How Isan Elba Is Fighting Back

Summary

Podcast Summary: Superwomen with Rebecca Minkoff
Episode: The Shocking Truth About Overconsumption in Beauty – And How Isan Elba Is Fighting Back
Date: January 22, 2026
Guest: Isan Elba – Creative Producer, DJ, Founder of Beauty Access and Beauty Forward
Host: Rebecca Minkoff

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Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Rebecca Minkoff sits down with Isan Elba—a multi-hyphenate creator, DJ, and founder of two initiatives tackling waste and overconsumption in the beauty industry. The conversation explores the realities of materialism and self-care culture, the logistical challenges of responsible donation, and Isan's strategies for building purpose-driven companies that encourage giving back and sustainability. Drawing on her experience as a young creative entrepreneur, Isan shares honest insights on confidence, balancing multiple passions, and the importance of authentic community impact.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Genesis of Beauty Access and Beauty Forward

[02:51] – [09:20]

• Isan describes her realization of having excess beauty products as a creator and the challenge of donating them responsibly.
• Initial attempts to gift products to local shelters revealed how complex donation logistics are (e.g., sorting, storage, safety regulations).
• This challenge catalyzed her to create a community event—a gifting suite for teenage girls—which also featured a career panel (leading to real-world opportunities like a Conde Nast internship for one attendee).
• Quote:

  "I know I have a lot of products, but I don't exactly know how you're gonna be able to distribute them... they just said, like, we can't accept this right now. And that's also a safety reason." —Isan Elba [04:32]

Building Proof of Concept & Redistributing at Scale

[05:27] – [09:20]

• The gifting event became her "proof of concept" for Beauty Access, an organization focused on sustainable and inclusive beauty redistribution.
• Beauty Forward emerged as a tech-enabled system for on-demand product pickups from creators, tracking, and regular distribution to shelters.
• Quote:

  "Beauty Forward is a tech enabled redistribution system that lets us do on demand pickups from creators and then sort through all those products, log them... and then... distribute them to women in need’s shelters." —Isan Elba [08:45]

Overcoming Uncertainty and the Power of "Fake It Till You Make It"

[01:54] – [10:51]

• Isan credits her drive and confidence to curiosity and embracing the "fake it till you make it" approach.
• She emphasizes the necessity of moving through fear and uncertainty to build new solutions.
• Quote:

  "I faked this confidence, fake this I know what I'm doing energy, because I knew that I would do the other work on the other side to know what I was doing." —Isan Elba [09:48]

The Tension of Creator Culture and Authenticity

[11:14] – [19:53]

• Isan explains the pressure creators face to constantly promote new products—even those they may not use.
• She candidly discusses the importance of aligning brand deals with her sustainability values and using her platform for more than consumption.
• Quote:

  "We get paid to tell people to use this product even if we don't use them, how would we be able to use so many products?... You don't need a million products to feel happy." —Isan Elba [16:55]

• Her DJing career offers a financial and creative buffer, allowing her to be more selective in her creator partnerships and focus on social impact initiatives.

Community, "Other Care," and the Myth of Endless Self-Care

[12:42] – [15:33]

• The conversation critiques wellness culture’s turn toward excessive individualism and suggests that fulfillment comes from community engagement and supporting others.
• Quote:

  "When you spend so much time just thinking about yourself... you don't actually know what you're missing until you collaborate with other people. As a society, we weren't meant to be as individual as we are." —Isan Elba [14:42]

• Isan promotes a balance of self-care and community-care, advocating for collaboration and vulnerability over mere performative gestures.

Navigating Sustainability in Beauty and Everyday Practice

[15:52] – [19:18]

• Isan dispels the belief that quantity equals happiness or care, encouraging listeners to be mindful about consumption and recognize the power of marketing.
• She describes integrating her mission into every aspect of her professional and personal life, challenging notions that social responsibility is a niche interest rather than a foundational one.
• Quote:

  "I don't feel like I should be praised for this. I think that this should be the foundation of what people are putting out into the world." —Isan Elba [19:53]

Multicultural Perspective and Pursuing Multiple Passions

[22:23] – [23:24]

• Isan shares her upbringing between Atlanta, London, and her parents' diverse backgrounds (Africa, Korea, Denmark), attributing her open-mindedness and ability to relate to many people to this multicultural environment.
• Her early curiosity and willingness to try new things (DJing, creating) reinforce the practice of lifelong learning and adaptability.

Advice on Building a Unique Career and Making Corporations Do More

[23:41] – [26:23]

• Isan describes being “cheeky” when negotiating with brands, leveraging her value as a multi-talented creator to push for more meaningful collaborations (e.g., including donation drives as a package deal).
• Quote:

  "You don't get anything unless you ask and you try. There's always, like, one sign that says, maybe it could. I try to do that. I try to put myself out there." —Isan Elba [24:29]

Lessons for Young Creators & Listeners

[26:23] – [29:06]

• Isan stresses that genuine success comes from doing what you love, not simply chasing fame or money, and from persisting through the considerable work involved.
• Quote:

  "If you want to do it, then you will do it. ... When things get hard, they just stop doing it. And that's what separates the people who say they're going to be rich and famous, and the people who are rich and famous." —Isan Elba [27:14]

Getting Involved & Practical Steps

[29:06] – [30:05]

• Listeners can follow Beauty Access on Instagram and check the Beauty Forward website for information on donating products and upcoming opportunities.
• Isan is transparent about her ambitions to scale and continually refine the support system for redistribution.

Final Takeaways: Kindness, Authenticity, and Boldness

[30:05] – [31:47]

• Isan advocates for leading with kindness and genuine interest:

  "Being kind and genuine … has done more for me than anything is just actually asking people how their day was and caring about it. ... If someone sees your true intentions, then you're going to be on the right path." [30:41]

• She encourages listeners to push past fears of rejection, emphasizing that bold, uncomfortable asks can unlock powerful opportunities.
• Quote:

  "This right here, like I'm on a podcast with you, like, this is literally my testament. I just started asking a bunch of questions, so you can too." —Isan Elba [31:37]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Donation Challenges:
  “People like to donate things. That’s great and amazing, but we also need to think about the people who…spend hours sorting through these things…just dumping a bunch of products on a shelter isn’t the easiest thing for them.” —Isan Elba [03:54]

• On Redefining Self-Care:
  “I love my nice things…my makeup and my hair care…But it’s a balance. I can have my me time…as long as I’m making sure to tap back into my community and…there’s a lot of [perspectives] in my life.” —Isan Elba [14:07]

• On Asking Boldly:
  “You don’t get anything unless you ask and you try. …If all the signs are pointing, maybe that wouldn’t work…there’s always, like, one sign that says, maybe it could.” —Isan Elba [24:29]

• On What Drives Persistence:
  “If you want to do it, then you will do it. ... I always think about the end goal. I’m not just thinking about the short term reward, I’m thinking about the long term reward.” —Isan Elba [27:07]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–01:11 – Intro/ad removal, host introduction
• 02:51 – Origin of Beauty Access and donation struggles
• 05:27 – Combining event production with philanthropy, first gifting suite, launch of Beauty Access
• 09:40 – Reflection on confidence and curiosity
• 11:14 – Balancing creator work, DJing, and activism; intersection of monetization and mission
• 13:50 – Host and guest critique the pitfalls of self-care vs. "other care"
• 15:52 – Overconsumption in beauty and the role of influencers/marketing
• 17:58 – Balancing business, sustainability, and authenticity as a creator
• 22:23 – Isan’s multi-cultural upbringing and its influence on her worldview
• 23:41 – Navigating multi-industry roles, negotiating meaningfully with brands, and the need for passion
• 27:07 – Advice for young people and aspiring creators
• 29:06 – How to get involved with Beauty Access/Beauty Forward
• 30:21 – Final advice: authenticity, kindness, and boldness

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How to Connect and Get Involved

• Beauty Access on Instagram: Stay updated on donation opportunities.
• Website: beauty-forward.org for more details.
• Follow Isan Elba: @IsanElba on all major social platforms.

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In Summary:
This episode is a candid, insightful deep dive into the intersection of consumerism, responsible action, and creative entrepreneurship. Isan Elba offers a roadmap for turning excess and overwhelm into community impact, led by authentic connection, technological innovation, and relentless curiosity. Her journey and advice are especially resonant for anyone seeking to align their passion with service and sustainability.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Protein is now at Starbucks and it's never tasted so good. You can add protein cold foam to your favorite drink or try one of our new protein lattes or matcha. Try it today at Starbucks. Beauty brands put out so many products and a lot of those products are actually based on trends. Buying this next product isn't going to solve whatever I'm feeling right now.

[A]

Today's guest is. Not only is she gorgeous, let's just start there. But she is a creative producer, she's a dj. She's the founder of Beauty Access and Beauty Forward. Isan Elba.

[B]

Sustainability or giving back, Caring about others. Like I always say, like, I don't feel like I should be praised for this. I think that this should be the foundation of what people are putting out into the world.

[A]

We're all suffering from materialism. You've done something beautiful with it and you have such a passion for what you do. So I'm so excited to talk to you today.

[B]

I love being a creator, but I think that being a creator is definitely a foundation for something. Not necessarily my full thing.

[A]

You had no idea what you were doing. You don't take no for an answer. Where does that drive? Where does that confidence come from?

[B]

The biggest thing is definitely fake it till you make it. I faked this confidence. Fake this. I know what I'm doing. Energy, balance is what people are missing. When you spend so much time just thinking about yourself and what's wrong with yourself and how do I keep improving yourself? You don't get any other perspective. You don't actually know what you're missing. Rebecca.

[A]

I'm Rebecca Minkoff and this is Superwomen. Each week, inspiring women are interviewed to uncover the unexpected journeys, the challenges and the unwavering spirit that makes them powerful. Get ready to be motivated by stories of resilience and discover the keys to unlocking your own potential. So tell me, what gave you the idea for both of your companies? Because you didn't Just do one. So what inspired that moment within you?

[B]

So there are two versions of that answer, but I'll. I'll start with the non boring one. The non boring one is that I've been a creator for four years now, and I have so much stuff. I think we don't realize how much that we accumulate over time. And my apartment was being overrun by all these beauty products. And it was interesting for me because I had never thought in a million years that I would complain about having a Sephora in my apartment. It caused me to kind of look inward and think, you know, I don't want these products. I know this can go to a better place. What would be the first step in figuring that out? So I did a little bit of research. I tried reaching out to different shelters and figuring out how to donate, and the process was just way more overwhelming and harder than the process of getting the products. And that's when I started thinking further of like, okay, that feels like that's an issue as well. Why is it so hard for me to donate these products?

[A]

Because there's rules around it or because.

[B]

So a lot of shelters, which I've discovered over time, we have partnered with Women in Need. They're the largest women's shelter network in New York. And they have just provided so much insight into the other side of donations. People like to donate things. That's great and amazing, but we also need to think about the people who. Who spend hours sorting through these things and collecting them and making sure that they actually have, you know, enough space for the coats as well as the baby formula, as well as food and other hygiene needs. So when it comes to beauty products, especially with, you know, different shades and products and whatever, just dumping a bunch of products on a shelter isn't the easiest thing for them as well. And that was something I was kind of cautious of. I know I have a lot of products, but I don't exactly know how you're gonna be able to distribute them. Do you just put them up? Like, what is the. And there was one shelter where I went and they just said, like, we can't accept this right now. And that's also a safety reason. They have to make sure that all the products are actually able to be used by the women and are safe for them as well.

[A]

So when you had this idea that you thought initially, oh, this is good, I have, you know, a Sephora in my house. I'm going to donate it. And then you start encountering the barriers to even giving.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

What was sort of the point where you were able to say, okay, I want to push through this, you know, you might not even see an ROI today. Right. Of doing good. So what gave you the. What gave you the sort of, okay, I'm going to keep doing this. This is critical. Women need this, especially women in need.

[B]

Absolutely. I really wanted Community last year. I have a platform of thousands of people, but I don't know anybody. And I am very much a yapper. I love meeting new people, going into rooms, saying, hi, I'm a thon. So I figured, why don't I put on like a in person event? Like, why don't I figure a way to get people, you know, in one room where I can meet them and we can like convene around something that we all like. And when I was feeling that at the time, I was also having the same problem with products. So somehow my mind just said, why don't you put the two together and you put together a gifting suite? So that's what I did. I had no clue whatsoever what I was doing. I'd never put on an event before. In the creator industry, it's a little taboo to give away products. So there was kind of that feeling as well. Like, there was a lot of different things, but I think the main thing that made me feel like I could push through that was the fact that I. I've always kind of been the type who, like, you can't tell me what to do type of thing. I was like, you know what? I've never done this, but just because I've never done it doesn't mean that I can't do it. So I had an event for girls 16 through 19. We had around like 20ish girls come in. I had five of my creator friends, friends donate just around like a thousand products. And I had a friend donate the space to me. And I set up shelves, set up the products, and they all came in and everybody was able to leave with two huge bags of products. What I also wanted to implement, which I think is important, is education and knowledge and just spreading what I know. And I love being creator, but I think that being a creator is definitely a foundation for something, not necessarily my full thing. And at that age, you think, oh, I want to be an influencer. I love free products. I love, you know, being glamorous and getting to go to these cool events. So I was like, okay, how do I show more? I put together a career panel of different women in the industry. One was the head of PR for Mac Cosmetics. Another was A vice president at Carlo Otto, a journalist at Bernie, and then the head of talent at my management company. And the whole premise was that these were people who made my job possible. I wouldn't be able to make the income that I do without them. And so it was really amazing. One girl actually got an internship to Conde Nast after that. And it was, that was my proof of concept. That was the, you know, I didn't know what I was doing, but something in me told me I should keep going and just to figure it out. And after I was done with that event, I was like this, this is what it was about, this is what it was for. And I got so many great people reaching out and just giving feedback and also just sharing their story about how they have so many products. I'd love to be able to find a place to donate them and how do I get involved? So that really started what was the beginning of Beauty Access. And so I kind of explain Beauty Access as like a parent company. Our whole mission is making more sustainable and inclusive initiatives within the beauty industry. And didn't really know where I was going with that. I just knew that's what I wanted to do. But how do we do that? What are we actually building? What do you do to create something like that? And I say Beauty Forward is kind of our first product of how we do that. And Beauty Forward is a tech enabled redistribution system that lets us do on demand pickups from creators and then sort through all those products, log them, we're able to tell what the product name is, what the brand is, is it an essential or a non essential product, and what even is the value of that product. And then from there we distribute them to women in needs shelters on a monthly basis. So that's our first real proof of concept. So it's, you know, kind of a two prong thing.

[A]

So you said something earlier meaning you had no idea what you were doing. You don't take no for an answer. Where does that drive, where does that confidence come from? Because so many people get stopped at the enormity of taking on something that's unfamiliar. And I'm just curious, have you been that way your whole life? Was it values your parents instilled into you?

[B]

No. I love this question because I constantly am asking this to myself as well. I'm how did you do that? I get impressed by myself quite often because I never would have thought that this is where I would have been in my life. And I think it just came from curiosity. I'm very curious about Things I want to know how something works and why it works. And also the biggest thing is definitely fake it till you make it. I faked this confidence, fake this. I know what I'm doing energy, because I knew that I would do the other work on the other side to know what I was doing. If I said I was going to build a program that redistributed products, I was going to do it even if I didn't know how. In that very moment. I'm glad that I did that. And I got to a point, the more you fake it till you make it, you get to a point where you really can't go back. Like, there's no way for you to back up from what you're saying. So it just pushed me in this direction and I have passion for it no matter what. Like that. Fake it to you, make it. Energy came from me knowing that I would love to be the person who could do this, even if I didn't believe it right then.

[A]

And do you find that you are parallel pathing your creator goals, your goals as a dj? Like, that's where you're going to make your money and your stamp of your creativity and then Beauty Forward and Beauty Access is your give back or is your goal? Like. No, this actually can be a legitimate foundation, something that continues to give back but also creates jobs.

[B]

Yeah, I make money from being a creator and being a dj. I do not make money from Beauty Forward and Beauty access. But I'm 23, so I don't really fully know where I'm going with this, I guess. But what I have realized is that it's going pretty well and it's connecting me with more opportunities that feel more aligned with what I actually believe in and what I actually really like. And being a creator is, is very much about what you create around. So if I wanted to just do beauty and outfit videos, I could do that. But now I've been able to switch it to how do I create content that is informative about the landscape of where beauty sits in the sustainability sector and over consumption and bring awareness to different things like that. So I'm figuring out my voice within that. But I'd say that this has helped me build that kind of path to where do I want to be as a creator. I also think a lot of founders now are becoming creators and are finding ways to explain what they do in their real life on a digital platform. And it's really insightful. I'm so appreciative of founders like yourself who are sharing this knowledge because before you didn't know how someone did something and now it's even easier for other people. It lowers the barrier of entry to be a founder and to make change.

[A]

Everyone, sorry for the quick pause. I want to share something really exciting. Superwoman has a brand new YouTube channel. It's still under construction, but big things are coming in 2026. You'll find past episodes, new episodes, and some bonus content I cannot wait for you to see. Just search SuperWoman Media on YouTube and hit subscribe so you don't miss a thing. Okay, back to the pod. So I want to double tap on the making Change because I was watching an interview and the woman on it was like, dare I say this? But it's too much self care. Too much me, me, me has actually made people so much more unhappy than if it was like, what can I do for someone else? How can I support another? And in this culture of she was calling it other care, how can I do other in caring for others or in doing things for others? That's actually what's going to make you feel better. Not this like, let me light a candle and go do my gua sha, which is good. But like, you know, I think we've become so focused as a society on this, the, the morning shed and like all this stuff. You're just like, whoa, this is so only about myself.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And so what would you parlay to others who go, I don't have time for it, or I don't know, or self care is important, but how to sort of peer outside of that and say, no, there's, there's people that need help, there's people that need support, that you know that what you're doing and this doesn't take a lot in order to participate.

[B]

Yeah, I have so many thoughts on that ever since I've started in this journey. I've said from the beginning I'm not the most sustainable person in the world. I am still a little bit bougie and love my nice things and, you know, my makeup and my hair care. And what I want to try and do is kind of redefine what it, what it means. I think that it's a balance. I can have my me time and do my morning shed and do all the crazy things I want to do as long as I'm making sure to tap back into my community and make sure that there isn't just one perspective in my life and that there's a lot of them. And I think that balance is what people are missing. When you spend so much time just thinking about yourself and what's wrong with yourself and how do I keep improving yourself? You don't get any other perspective. You don't actually know what you're missing until you collaborate with other people. And as a society, we weren't meant to be as individual as we are. I felt like I grew up with phones. Like I've had a phone since I was like 6, 5, 6 years old. So I've always had this sense of like being tapped into like an online thing. And the more that I've gotten out in my community and met people and had real life experiences, the happier that I've been because there's only so much you can get out of a screen and self care that's reflected from some creator that you saw online.

[A]

Yeah, people have gotten so obsessed with this that anything that wouldn't even, even if it's doing something good and like being like. But if I don't capture it. Did anyone notice? No. Do it for yourself. Do it for yourself. Like for them and yourself not to capture it and show it, you know, virtue single that you showed up and volunteered one day.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

So let's talk about sustainability. Because every industry, fashion, beauty, there's a lot of industries that are filled with waste. I still get nauseous at how much garbage we throw out that I can't recycle or compost. What do people not realize about this industry and what can they do to change and or participate in beauty access or beauty forward?

[B]

Oh, goodness. Okay. I think the first thing is just being a little bit more aware of what you have. I think the practice that I've been trying to do is realizing that buying this next product isn't going to solve whatever I'm feeling right now. I think we've gotten used to retail therapy in that sense. And also thinking about the fact that beauty brands put out so many products and a lot of those products are actually based on trends. I like a practical product. If it's a two in one, it moisturizes your face and also takes off your makeup. Great. I'm going to get that product and if I like the product, I'm going to keep using the product. I don't need to go try three other different products because they're out there or because they're trending. And as a creator, like we get paid. I mean this is, maybe this isn't something that I should necessarily be talking about like that, but I think we get paid to tell people to use this product even if we don't use them, how would we be able to use so many products? People just need to get a little bit more aware of marketing and how marketing plays a part in how you perceive achieve things. Because you don't need a million products to feel happy. You don't need a million products to feel like you're taking care of yourself. There are other practices that are probably better suited towards whatever you're dealing with than shopping for it.

[A]

So then how do you now knowing you don't want to have a million products, you also need to make an income. So how do you temper the business side of yourself with the sustainable side of yourself with the like honest like hey, big, big corporate company is going to pay you six figures to post, but it's a product you'll never use. Like where do you now sit in that world?

[B]

I'm in the in between. I've never liked the idea of random people on the Internet determining whether or not I'm relevant enough to be paid a salary. And I think that that's what a lot of creators kind of go through is this sense of I have to keep posting even if I'm unhappy or I have to keep doing this and appeasing this brand and this brand because I want to. And I'm grateful that I have other talents and skills that allow me to do that. I mean, I branched off into DJing and that's been something that's allowed me to do way less brand deals and the brand deals I've been doing more recently. I've even been able to factor in my work with Beauty Access and Beauty Forward, partnering with these brands to either amplify what I'm doing or actually like come together and create an event. That's what I did with House Labs. You know, I created content with them, but they also helped me put on our donation drive where we gave away a thousand products. And it was a brand that I actually, you know, they have inclusive shade ranges, their products are cruelty free. Like I actually felt good about supporting them and it was a great proof of concept that I don't have to sacrifice my career as a creator. I just have to be more specific about finding like minded companies to work with.

[A]

I think that's a great lesson for so many people to learn because until you have that and I. This is a terrible word, but that authenticity.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, then you'll never resonate anyways. You'll just be the shill for everything. And like you said, I get gifted stuff all the time and I Sit in overwhelm. I look at it and I'm like, oh my gosh, I can't get through this stuff.

[B]

No.

[A]

You know, I think it's great that you've been able to parlay your mission into what you're doing because then, then it makes sense and then you can, then it's easy to adapt into your life too. It's not like, oh, separate thing, new headspace. Let me go focus on that.

[B]

Yeah. No, I've really been trying to integrate all the parts of my life together because sustainability or giving back, caring about others. Like I always say, like, I don't feel like I should be praised for this. I think that this should be the foundation of what people are putting out into the world. It shouldn't just be selfish. So I hope that my story and what I do can resonate with other people and they can figure out other ways to or small ways to just start implementing, you know, how do I take care of others into my daily life?

[A]

I always tell people, like, there's always a way to take your passion and what you like. Mine is women and them succeeding. And then how do you make it part of your brand? How do you take what's natural to you and really integrate it into, into what you love?

[B]

Yes, absolutely. There's a lot of performative good doing out there. And I think that that could be fixed by people just looking a little bit deeper and thinking like, what do I actually feel that I can contribute to community and society rather than what I think would give me the most likes and the best title.

[A]

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[B]

Life.

[A]

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[B]

Oh, goodness. Well, actually, my dad's side of the family is from Africa, but he grew up in London. And my. My mom was born in Korea, but she grew up in Denmark. And I grew up between Atlanta and London. So I've always had a lot of different perspectives in my life. I've always, like, I can say I can talk to a wall. And that's not because, like, I don't find people interesting. I find them so interesting that I can talk to anybody and find something that we can relate to or relate on. I'd say that, like, I constantly put myself out there. I constantly meet people. I constantly try to learn about things. There's some times when, yeah, I want to be 23 and I want to go out with my friends and do things, but there's other times where I'm like, what do I want to say I'm good at at 55? Maybe that's the guitar or something. Okay, I'm going to start trying that now, even if I'm not good at it. That's how DJing came about. I said I wanted to be a DJ, and then I started practicing and here I am.

[A]

When you look at the dedication it takes to learn one industry or now master two slash three, what would you. What advice would you love to parlay of what it takes? Because you're now oversetting three different industries in a way.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I'll follow that up with. Sometimes you can be used. Not you. A person in your role could be used in a very transactional way. We want to hire her just to dj. We want to hire her just to create for us. And then you have to be like, oh, actually, no, I want you to, like, dig deeper and do more. And this how I want you to do it. So talk me through how you sort of get these bigger corporations to do more.

[B]

Oh, I'm. I, I say the word that can describe me is kind of cheeky. Like, okay, I like that. I'll push the buttons. Like, when it comes to even brand deals. There was a brand deal that I did, and this is the example for beauty access, where they asked me to promote something and I said, I only do it if I can include beauty access in the deal. And at the time, my manager was like, I don't really know. Like, that's not what they're trying to promote right now. And I was like, well, I'm not going to do it if they don't. So, Right. They ended up doing it. You don't get anything unless you ask and you try. There's a lot of people who I meet where if they ask me something that's like, kind of out of the box or confident enough, I'll probably say yes, because I like that. I like someone who's putting themselves out there. And if all the signs are pointing, maybe that wouldn't work. Like, there's always, like, one sign that says, maybe it could. I try to do that. I try to put myself out there. I also understand that on the brand point of view, you have to add value to them. So as a creator, I can also DJ for you. I can also create content about that. And if you're a beauty brand, then you could also have your beauty brand donate the products to us as well. Like, I try to build a world for them and have them step into that so that they understand all the things I do and why I do them. And the second part of that answer is passion. Like, I think people really, really underestimate how passionate you have to be about something. I'm passionate about music. I'm passionate about sustainability and giving back. I'm passionate about being a creator and wearing cute clothes and showing people that, like, I just love doing these things. And because I love doing these things, it's something that I constantly implement. And I've been finding it hard recently. I've been kind of struggling with how to balance all of these things together because it's a lot for me to do. But I kind of really think about what is one I think about, okay, well, I need to, you know, make enough to be able to live. But also, like, if I dedicate more time to the thing that makes me happy, then it'll be easier for me to be able to provide for myself. I'm not living to work, I'm working to live. I implement that philosophy into what I do.

[A]

So when you say you like the passion required, like, a perfect example is my daughter. Sometimes she'll be like, well, I'm going to be famous. I'm like, no, no, no, no, back it up. What do you love to do?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And you know, she'll say, famous and rich, and I'm like, nope, are that thing you love to do like that. Let's focus on those things that bring you joy. But there's a lot of that out there, right? There's the entire a lot of the creator economy is money thing. What would you say to someone listening who sometimes is like, oh, that, that feels good. But then it's like, oh, my gosh, this is so much work. So much work to do what you do. It's so much work to have a podcast and design. It's not just like, I get to come on here and then that's over.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So what would you say about learning that lesson young?

[B]

What young people have a problem with is, like, really accepting that something super simple is true. And that is, if you want to do it, then you will do it. I was just like, your daughter, like, wanted all these different things, but when I thought about, oh my God, then I have to do this and then I have to do this and I have to do that. And everybody kept saying, well, you just have to keep working. Never give up whatever. It was like, okay, like, that's not helping me right now. Like, tell me what I need to do so I can quickly get to this point. It is that simple. It really is. It, it's, it's. Figure out what you want to do and keep going no matter what. And, and, and I'm not going to say there's never days where I'm like, I don't want to freaking do this, but I think I always think about the end goal. I'm not just thinking about the short term reward, I'm thinking about the long term reward. And maybe sometimes I'm not as, as sharp as I want to be in a meeting or DJ set or whatever, but as long as I'm showing up, I give myself a pat on the back. Because a lot of people, you know, when things get hard, they just stop doing it. And that's what separates the people who say they're going to be rich and famous and the people who are rich and famous. As I've been finding my passion, like, I didn't just find my passion by, like, stumbling across it. Like, I tried out a bunch of different things, and I continue to try out a bunch of different things. When I started doing, creating, I thought I would have a very different path. I would go from a creator to an actor, to doing YouTube and then having a cult following. Or whatever. Like, I don't know. I don't even really think I knew what I was doing as a creator. And then when it came to DJing, then I was like, oh, well, I love DJ. I'm going to keep doing this more and more and then I'm going to start playing at different clubs and I'm going to dj@coachella and whatever. And I think all those things can happen. It's just not right now. Because my passion right now is Beauty Forward and giving back.

[A]

Right. So for anyone listening, if they want to become part of Beauty Forward, what can they do? I'm sure everyone listening has a million products that they thought they were going to use that are untouched.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Do you want to receive packages? How do we do this?

[B]

So right now, where we are, we are receiving packages, but everything that we're doing is kind of a work in progress. We're a really small team, so there's only so many products that we can accept, but we're constantly posting about when we're able to accept products and the process that you go through to accept products. And so I would say to follow us on Beauty Access on Instagram and then check out our [e-mail] and that is where you can kind of keep up with this journey. Because I am constantly working on this. I'm constantly refining it and making it better. And my goal is to scale it, to be able to reach more people and get as many donations going as we can.

[A]

Awesome. So if you had any last piece of advice, I feel like you've given us a ton in this interview of just someone who wants to take a little bit of their attention off of their. Their self. Do good, give back, incorporate their passion into their career. What would you say?

[B]

We'll go back to my main point, which is always putting yourself out there and meeting people. But to add on to that, I will say being kind and like, genuine, like, be a genuine person, I think that has done more for me than anything is just actually asking people how their day was and caring about it. I think a great example of this is when I had the Career panel. I've been asked so many times, how did you get all those women to be on this fricking panel? And it was just because I was genuinely curious as for what they did and curious to learn from them and be the first person to say, I don't want to know something, because I was so honest, vulnerable and genuine with them. They said yes to coming to speak on that panel. So I would always lead with that because at the end of the day, if someone sees your true intentions, then you're going to be on the right path that they say yes or no.

[A]

Yeah. And I love that you said you're a bit cheeky. You'll ask the question. So many people are afraid.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, sometimes I'll say, like, I'll throw out something that makes me want to vomit in asking for it. But oftentimes that's what gets you across the line.

[B]

No. And this right here, like I'm on a podcast with you, like, this is literally my testament. I just started asking a bunch of questions, so you can too.

[A]

Yes. I. I just wanted to underline that because so many people are just scared to even just blurt it out. I'm like, blurt it out and deal with the nausea. Okay.

[B]

Yeah, you'll be okay. You won't die.

[A]

You won't leave your own die. That's the thing is like the worst that could happen is still not death after asking the question.

[B]

And that's the worst.

[A]

Well, thank you for coming on today. And if someone wants to follow your journey, where can they follow you?

[B]

You can follow me on all my social medias, which is just at Isan Elba. Isan E L B A.

[A]

Awesome. Thank you.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

Thanks so much for watching today's episode. Before you head out, I want to invite you to my brand new YouTube channel for all things superwomen. It's a fresh space I'm building out for 2026, packed with past episodes, future episodes, and some special new content we're cooking up. Just search SuperWoman Media on YouTube and subscribe so you're there for everything. Coming next. I'll see you over there. Thanks for listening to today's episode. If you've enjoyed it, take a second to rate and review the show. Wherever you're tuning in, it really helps others find the podcast. You can follow me on Instagram, Rebecca Minkoff and msuperwoman or for a slice into my personal life, Ecky Minkoff. And don't forget to check out my book, Fearless the New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage and Success. See you next week.

[B]

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