I am part of the generation that grew up with tech—playing Oregon Trail in the computer lab, a cell phone at 13. So by the time I got to college, I was already pretty immersed in tech. As an undergrad, I worked remotely for companies in Silicon Valley, and leveraged that experience to get my foot in the door upon graduation. It helps to have demonstrated interest in whatever career path you hope to pursue—knowing what you want and not being afraid to take that leap and go for it!

I was pretty crafty growing up, but it was all self taught (I was especially proud of a purse I made from empty Capri Sun packets at 16). Like a lot of women, I lost some of that creative spark as an adult. Life as a young professional had left me without many hobbies, so I had to identify what brought me joy outside the office. It was actually through planning my wedding, and thanks to some time off after I left Google, that I was able to discover this passion for making and learning new things. This is what eventually led to the creation of Brit + Co—it started as, and continues to be, a place to help others find that same creative spark.

There are a lot of good things that come with working with amazing companies like Apple and Google. For one, the inspiring people you get to interact with on a daily basis, and the ability to think big—really big—about the future. I think it also helped to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit and inadvertently helped prepare me to be a CEO. I had opportunities to work in a lot of departments, ranging from communications to product development to being a spokesperson, and these skills all translate to my day-to-day roles at Brit + Co.

It was a big leap of faith. I left Google with plans to start a health start-up, but quickly found my passion for making during my time off, and the idea for Brit + Co emerged. I felt there wasn’t anyone speaking to new innovations in technology and how they could be translated into living creativity, so Brit + Co became that place.

Writing a book was actually not something I thought I’d ever do, but I’m glad I did! Brit + Co is always celebrating creativity by balancing the digital and the analog, but it felt like there was no great resource for the modern homemaker. I hope the book can be a guide for creative living, both in and out of the home. It was written to serve people like me, who grew up on the Internet and may have missed out on some skills and technology that help bolster creativity in everyday life. It also explores what homemaking looks like today, and what it will look like down the road, as tech continues to evolve and integrate itself into our homes and lives.

That comparison is flattering, of course, because Martha has succeeded in building a very successful empire. More and more though, we’re seeing many makers and DIYers create and build, and they’re sharing their creativity with the world through such diverse platforms. I draw inspiration from that community. Worth noting, too, that the average Brit + Co reader is a busy millennial, looking to find savvy ways to simplify their lives through creative hacks, rather than looking to create the perfect 8-course meal for an elaborate dinner party. Homemaking for our generation looks a little different, so the teachers and resources should look a little different, too.

There have been some huge milestones along the way, for sure! As the business continues to grow, more exciting things keep popping up for our team, like the book release, and our annual conference, Re:Make.

Right now, what I wake up looking forward to is the ever-exciting world of being a new mom! Of course, Brit + Co has some pretty cool things in the hopper, too, like brand partnerships with Lays and Pinterest (can we mention?) and some other new initiatives to help inspire creativity (click here for more on that front). As always, we’re digging into new, emerging technologies and techniques and figuring out the coolest ways to share them with our readers through projects and products.