It's been a while since I've introduced myself, so hello! My name is Crystal (she/her). I'm a corporate trained creative hippie in my 9th year of entrepreneurship. I'm a daughter, partner, sister, friend, plant mom, yogi, nature lover, & magic believer.
I'm an inclusive branding & leadership development consultant for socially conscious leaders. I provide a blend of brand strategy, coaching, consulting, messaging development, & brand visuals in one place. Everything is approached with an inclusive, human-focused, values-aligned lens.
My clients are usually creatives, coaches, consultants, therapists, educators, thought leaders, & professional speakers. Many identify as women, BIPOC, or LGBTQ+. They often use their platform to advocate for people & the planet.
Most importantly, all of them care deeply about diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging, because around here, we believe true leadership is intrinsically inclusive.
I believe in recognizing people as whole human beings which is why I've been asking folks: 'What is something interesting about you that you wouldn't put on a resume, but you know the people you want to work with would be intrigued or feel a connection to it?' It's okay if you have more than one answer. Here are 3 of mine👇🏾 (continued in comments)
As an inclusive leadership development and brand coach, I understand the power of aligning your business and leadership practices with your core values. This is your invitation to embody your authentic self and create inclusive, human-focused environments that elevate, welcome, and encourage authenticity.
Through my inclusive coaching, masterclasses, and mentorship programs, I provide a brave space for you to reimagine your business and leadership approach.
Swipe 👉🏾 to learn how Crystal Lily Creative can help you.
ID: 10 teal graphics describing ways to work with Crystal Lily Creative through masterclasses, Empowered Branding, aligned coaching, brand photography, custom consulting, guest and keynote speaking.
#leadershipdevelopment #diversity #representation #inclusion #inclusivebranding #DEItraining #antiracism #impactfulbrand #branding #brandconsulting #brandstrategy #impactfulbrand #corevalues #brandpersonality #targetaudience #brandidentity #brandconsultant #brandwithpurpose #creativeconsultant #brandphotography #brandphotographer #yogi #inclusivebrand
What is this book even about?!
First, shoutout to my dear friend, Derek for being the most animated hype man.
When I told him I was writing a book, he got so excited because he knows what I've experienced in life that has made me brave enough to choose my path.
If you're curious about what 'Brave Leadership is a Choice' really means, beyond creating belonging (although that is THE most important element), here's what I want you to know...
Brave leaders are people who care deeply about cultivating inclusive, human focused environments to support greater connection, creativity & collaboration.
Brave leaders understand the magic of being rooted in core values to make aligned decisions, even if it means doing uncomfortable shit to disrupt the status quo, because they know there's a better, more human way of doing things.
Brave leaders aren't afraid to identify & disrupt bias on personal, professional, & community levels. Including reflecting on their own behaviors & impact in the world.
Brave leaders are lifelong learners who embrace new information that helps them evolve & embody an inclusive leadership style that reflects their core values & how they want to support others.
Brave leaders aren't afraid to connect with the deepest parts of themselves to understand how to create a sense of belonging from within so more people feel brave enough to be who they are in the spaces they engage in.
Brave leaders cultivate space for people to direct energy towards creativity, collaboration, & productivity, rather than worrying about whether or not they’re welcome or belong in a space.
There are people in the world who aren't open to new information or different perspectives because they're comfortable with the status quo. They're likely to use the expression "that's just the way things are" without questioning why. Or worse, they benefit from the status quo & if it doesn't negatively impact their quality of life, they choose not to care or use their privilege to make things better for people with less privilege.
That's not brave. It’s harmful & it upholds oppressive systems.
Brave leadership really is a choice & you get to choose how you lead.
Earlier this year, I launched a leadership and brand development project to support transgender, nonbinary, and gender expansive business owners in L.A. The program has been deeply connective, enriching, and supportive for everyone involved -- participants, facilitators, and partners. We're near the end and celebrating with an in-person launch event in L.A. to showcase the leaders and their businesses. They have all put in so much work and I hope you'll support them by amplifying their businesses.
You're invited to TGX Connect: Supporting Transgender, Nonbinary, & Gender Expansive Business Owners on Saturday, May 23rd 2-4 p.m. PST at @the.wuum
Register to connect, network, and support TGX business owners centering community, authenticity, and genuine inclusivity; and learn about the TGX Economic Empowerment Project supporting small TGX-owned businesses.
*To request accommodations, email [email protected].
*The Wu:uM is a shoe free sanctuary. Socks will be available for registered guests.
This event is being hosted in partnership with @lacdmh and @the.wuum
Registration link in bio.
Today, I'm celebrating 10 years of entrepreneurship! I've had quite the journey and learned a lot.
Initially, my only plan was to be a photographer. The prescribed adulting path left me feeling unhappy, unfulfilled, & unwell. I needed creativity, connection, & freedom. Speaking out about the lack of diverse representation in the wedding industry created a pathway to helping entrepreneurs & leaders integrate inclusivity through their values.
Centering values & human-focused leadership led to connections that grew from colleagues to friends I’m deeply grateful for. I'm proud of the brand I've built; & I want to be honest: entrepreneurship is freaking hard.
So, here are some things I think every new entrepreneur should know…
Entrepreneurship will shake-up & dismantle nearly everything about your awareness, beliefs, & in many ways, your actual life.
It will test & expand your courage, confidence, & capacity.
You need a bookkeeper before you need an assistant. (You also need to process your money story.)
You'll need a therapist & a coach. (Not always, & not necessarily at the same time, but both are important for well-being & growth.)
Your identity & lived experience will influence your work, but your value isn't dependent on your work.
Be intentional about building a values-aligned, trauma-informed business.
Being liked & pleasing everyone isn't worth the burnout. Set & honor your boundaries about time, energy, & compensation.
Block one day a week for uninterrupted internal administrative & personal tasks.
You need to document your systems & processes. Don't let them live in your head.
You're going to have to get comfortable talking about yourself & your work.
Asking for & providing clarity will save you time & stress.
You will probably cry over your business a lot & that's okay.
Find your community & be careful who you trust.
Owning a business is political. Neutrality is not helpful when politics encroach on human rights. Plus, people buy from businesses that share their values related to people & the planet.
I hope to continue doing meaningful work alongside those who are aligned. Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years!
If you’ve been feeling like it’s harder and harder to be a human at work right now, you’re not imagining it. That's why Rex Wilde (@rexewilde ), Erin-Kate Escobar, and I have partnered to offer a free workshop series this spring - Cultivating Our Collective Power: Tools for Community, Care, & Resistance.
Amidst the political climate and demands of everyday responsibilities, many of us are stretched beyond what’s sustainable. We need spaces that honor the truth of what we’re living through and provide us with strategies that truly work.
Whether you're leading an organization through funding uncertainty, managing diverse teams in fast-paced environments, or working in tech while trying to create positive change, this series gives you concrete tools to build power with—not over—your communities.
You'll leave with immediately applicable strategies to make your workplace more humane while amplifying your collective impact on the issues you care about most.
You're invited to attend one or all of the sessions and if you can't make it live you'll receive a link to the recording.
Register to join us: /cultivating-our-collective-power
You can also find the🔗in my bio.
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ID 1: Graphic for workshop series with save the dates for April 16th, 23rd, 30, and May 7th 10am - 11:30 am PST
ID 2: Graphic with workshop titles - Opening session, April 16th
Presence & compassion in Challenging Times, April 23rd
Embodying Values-Aligned Advocacy & Decision Making, April 30th
Allyship: Moving Forward & Taking Action, May 7th
🌈⚡️ Get ready for Queerly Connected—a fierce celebration of our queer wellness fam! 💥 Hosted by Open Space Therapy Collective, this isn’t just an event; it’s a revolution of love, support, and unapologetic connection! ✊✨
Join us as we unleash the magic of local LGBTQ+ creators and wellness warriors, featuring:
✂️Folklore Salon: Salon for Dames, Gents, and Everyone in between
❤️🔥Crystal Lily Creative: Defining your values to lead with purpose
🎙️My Therapist is Out! Podcast: Tune in for real talk and no BS about queer mental health!
🏳️🌈BabyGay: Celebrating our fresh faces in the community with style and authenticity!
🧘♂️ From art therapy to dance-offs, herbal workshops to financial wellness chats, we’ve got everything to help you thrive—while DJ Prep keeps the beats pumping! 🎧💃
🗓️ When: Sunday, March 22, from 1 PM to 4 PM 📍 Where: Sunset Triangle Plaza, 3700 Sunset Blvd, Silver Lake, LA
This event is FREE and open to ALL! Come as you are and let’s shake up the space for healing, joy, and a whole lotta love! 💖
Hit the link in our bio for all the deets and RSVP! Let’s stand together for queer wellness and show the world our power! 💪🌈
✨ You don’t have to have the perfect opener. You don’t have to work the room. You just have to show up. 🫶
At Queerly Connected, vendors like Crystal Lily Creative are here to meet you — no pressure, no performance, just queer community doing what it does best.
Meet Crystal Whitaker of @crystallilycreative — inclusive branding consultant, brand photographer, coach, and author of Brave Leadership is a Choice. 📸💜
She’s joining us at Queerly Connected to talk about leading with your core values and building brands that actually belong to you.
🌈 Come connect. Come create. Come as you are.
Queerly Connected is a PERSON FIRST event — 40 featured
queer organizations, interactive experiences, great music, digital headshots & real community.
🔗 RSVP at the link in bio.
#QueerlyConnected #CrystalLilyCreative #InclusiveBranding #QueerCommunity #BraveLeadership LGBTQowned OpenSpaceTherapyCollective QueerLA ValuesLed RepresentationMatters
Yesterday, my book, Brave Leadership is a Choice turned 3! ✨️ This book is still so relevant, dare I say even more-so now *gestures broadly at the world* considering everything🫠
I'm still so proud of the fact that I wrote a whole book to help make leaders and spaces safer for folks like me who live with marginalized identities.
If you're new here, 🙋🏾♀️ hi! I'm Crystal. I'm an inclusive leadership and brand development consultant. I'm also a coach, photographer, professional speaker, facilitator, and *author.*
I help entrepreneurs and organizational leaders integrate their values into their brand, leadership, and company culture by doing the personal work first.
Because when you self-reflect, you transform how you lead.
And when you confidently lead from your values, your impact multiplies.
My approach is rooted in compassion to meet you where you are and simplify the complex goal of fully embodying and leading with your values by honing in on where meaningful change originates: with you, the person, the leader.
When you connect to and communicate your real, felt values...
Making decisions from a socially conscious lens becomes second nature, from program development to branding and marketing.
And the effects ripple through everyone you influence, from your community to your clients.
Brave leadership is about leading in a way that reflects your values and honors your identity. Whether you're wanting to integrate more inclusive practices authentically, or you want to work with someone who understands the challenges of leadership and entrepreneurship as a marginalized person, I'm here to support you.
If this speaks to you please help me celebrate Brave Leadership is a Choice turning 3 by sharing/saving this post and placing ordering a copy for yourself or someone else at the link in my bio. (Also available in audiobook!)
If you want to learn more about working together, email [email protected].
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ID 1 & 2: Photo of Crystal holding her book in front of the camera
ID 2: Graphic of Brave Leadership is a Choice: An Inclusive Guide to Creating Belonging
Brave leadership includes talking about things that make us uncomfortable.
Thank you to Crystal Whiteaker @crystallilycreative for sharing this extremely impactful excerpt from her book “Brave Leadership is a Choice: An Inclusive Guide to Creating Belonging” and for having this conversation with me on Carrie On!
If you haven’t watched or listened yet, do it now via link in bio! Interesting in going even deeper? It’s time to read Crystal’s book!
#dismantlingwhitesupremacy #whitesupremacy #blackhistorymonth #BHM #DEI
Brave leadership isn’t about being liked. It’s about being willing — willing to listen, willing to be uncomfortable, willing to look at where we’ve benefited from systems that don’t work for everyone.
In this episode, @crystallilycreative joins me to talk about what inclusion really looks like. Inclusion means asking hard questions. It means noticing who’s missing from the room. It means being honest about our blind spots — and choosing to grow anyway.
Crystal teaches us that brave leadership is a choice we make over and over again, especially when it would be easier to stay silent, to stay safe, or to stay the same. And real inclusion requires bravery — the kind that invites accountability, curiosity, and humility.
This conversation reminded me that progress doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from people who are willing to lead with intention, even when it’s uncomfortable. Especially when it’s uncomfortable.
If you care about creating spaces where more people feel seen, heard, and valued — this episode is for you. Watch and listen now via link in bio!
#diversityandinclusion #inclusion #whiteprivilege #racialequity #blackhistorymonth
If showing up right now feels hard, you’re not alone. It’s hard to ignore the horrors being inflicted on communities around the country and populations around the world, while being expected to operate like business as usual. It is heartbreaking and enraging.
It’s important to feel the heartbreak and rage. Then ask yourself: 'How can I transmute this into care?'
The obvious answers might be to protest, donate to mutual aid, and hold civic leaders accountable. These things are all important and they aren't your only options.
Perhaps you volunteer for organizations serving vulnerable populations.
Maybe you offer to do grocery runs for your neighbors who might be vulnerable to immigration profiling.
You might form an accountability group to learn, share skills and resources, and take action to support communities, causes, and movements you care about.
There are plenty of ways for you to be a brave leader.
If you want to talk about ways to transmute your rage into care, join me for the Brave Leadership Roundtable on Thursday, February 19th at 11 a.m. PST.
As always, this is a free community container for socially conscious leaders who give a damn. I would love to have you. Register at the 🔗 in bio to join.
ID: Photo of Crystal, a Black woman with shoulder length curly hair, wearing a black dress, holding a candle on the beach
