Field Notes: What It Really Means to “Find Your Voice” ✏️

Hope you all are having a restful weekend. I’m dedicating this week’s Field Notes to something I’ve been asked about a lot lately as I’ve taken on more public speaking engagements: how to “find your voice.”

When I first started creating content, I thought “finding your voice” meant choosing the right tone, the right words, maybe even the right aesthetic. I thought it was something polished and packaged and strategic. But the more I build—this newsletter, the podcast, the business—the more I realize that finding your voice is less about deciding and more about revealing.

This isn’t a one-time thing. It’s a slow, messy, deeply personal process. Some days, I feel clear and confident. Other days, I’m unsure if what I’m saying is too much or not enough. But I’ve learned that your voice only gets stronger the more you use it (I’ve loved leaning on Instagram stories to talk to you all). The act of sharing regularly—especially the things that feel raw and real—is what shapes your voice over time. Obviously, this comes with some boundaries, as my content is primarily focused on business, marketing, and topics outside of myself. But what’s interesting is that I’ve learned the most about what I want my voice to become when I’ve shared my personal opinions and thoughts with you all. I’d say this newsletter is where I’ve felt most comfortable sharing the most about my journey in building my Social Currency brand — there’s something about writing vs talking out loud to a camera that makes the written word feel less intimidating.

Your voice isn’t a brand asset. It’s a living part of you. And the more honest I am in my work, the more the right people seem to find it. So if you’re still figuring out how to “sound like yourself,” you’re not behind. You’re just in the middle of the work. And honestly, that’s the best part. Keep challenging yourself to lean into the uncomfortable practice of putting your thoughts out into the world. The more you practice, the faster you’ll find what works best for you. -Sammi

Business, Economy & Culture🛍️📈💸

💄 E.l.f. Beauty to Acquire Hailey Bieber Skincare Brand Rhode in Deal Valued Up to $1 Billion E.l.f. Beauty is set to acquire Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand Rhode in a deal valued up to $1 billion, marking its largest acquisition yet. The move aims to expand E.l.f.’s Gen Z reach and leverage Rhode’s viral success, minimalist branding, and celebrity-driven appeal. With this acquistion, Bieber wants to reach “more faces, places, and spaces.” (cnbc)

🛁 Sydney Sweeney’s Fans Wanted Her Bath Water. Now They Can Buy It. Sydney Sweeney teamed up with Dr. Squatch to launch “Sydney’s Bathwater Bliss,” a limited-edition soap made with her actual bathwater. With only 5,000 bars released, it’s a cheeky nod to fan demand. After this article came out, Adweek followed up with another update yesterday that apparently over 1 million people signed up for this…(nyt)

👜 How Coach Handbags Became a Gen Z Status Symbol Coach has successfully rebranded its handbags as must-have items for Gen Z consumers, blending affordability with a luxury appeal. The brand's strategic marketing and product design have led to a significant sales increase. (bloomberg)

🏕️ Repositioning Banana Republic to Regain Relevance Banana Republic is reviving its adventure-inspired roots with a modern twist of elevated fabrics and storytelling to appeal to today’s style-conscious explorers. The brand is leaning into its original spirit of exploration while refining its look for a more premium, lifestyle-driven audience.(wwd)

📺 YouTube Is Swallowing TV Whole, and It’s Coming For the Sitcom YouTube is increasingly competing with traditional television by offering content that mirrors sitcom formats, attracting audiences seeking on-demand, relatable programming. (bloomberg)

🚴‍♂️ Peloton Opens Resale Marketplace For Used Equipment Peloton has launched "Repowered," a resale platform for pre-owned fitness equipment, allowing users to buy and sell used bikes and gear, aiming to make its products more accessible and sustainable. (wsj)

👛The Boatkin Bag is Part Birkin, Part Boat and Tote The Hathaway Hutton "Boatkin" bag, a hybrid of the classic Birkin and the utilitarian boat tote, has become a fashion sensation, combining luxury aesthetics with everyday practicality. Functionality meets luxury fashion! (nyt)

🥗There Is a Salad War Brewing In San Francisco Mixt is suing Uber Co-founder & former CEO Travis Kalanick’s CloudKitchens startup, Picnic, for reselling its salads without permission for a cheaper price and compromising quality. The clash underscores the heat in SF’s premium lunch market, where even greens aren’t safe from tech disruption. (business insider)

🍫 Soaring Costs Expose a Trans-Atlantic Chocolate Divide Cocoa prices have tripled, but Americans are cutting back while Europeans stay loyal. U.S. brands like Hershey are feeling the squeeze, while European players like Lindt hold steady—proving chocolate is a daily staple abroad, but just a treat stateside. (wsj)

🌈 Big Brands are Staying Quiet This Pride Month Facing rising political backlash, major companies like Target and Bud Light are scaling down public Pride support—opting for low-profile or internal efforts instead. The result? Fewer sponsors, tighter budgets, and a quieter Pride Month in 2025. (cnn)

🏃‍♂️ Why Would Someone Fake Their Run? A new tool called Fake My Run is letting users spoof GPS data to appear as if they’re running on apps like Strava—without moving a muscle. Whether for laughs, likes, or leaderboard and online clout, it’s poking fun at the performance pressure in fitness culture. (nyt)  

🥔 They Bet Their Future on Barbecue Dreams A interesting deep dive on the Dickey’s restaurant franchise and how franchisees claim that they were sold into the business based on misleading information and financials. (nyt)

🧠 Idea of the Week: Identity Utility Theory

The Identity Utility Theory suggests that people derive value not just from a product’s function or pleasure (traditional utility), but from how well it aligns with their sense of self. Consumers are often willing to pay more, wait longer, or choose less convenient options if it affirms their identity — whether that’s being eco-conscious, a trendsetter, or a minimalist.

For example, Patagonia customers aren’t just buying outdoor gear; they’re reinforcing their identity as environmentally responsible adventurers. This theory is especially powerful for brands and marketers: by tapping into identity-driven motivations, companies can craft messaging, design experiences, and build loyalty programs that resonate on a deeper, more personal level. In short, people buy not just to have, but to be.

Venture Capital, Innovation & Entrepreneurship💰🌍💼

📓 Rosebud Lands $6M to Scale its Interactive AI Journaling App Rosebud has secured $6 million in seed funding to expand its interactive AI-powered journaling app. With features like emotion tracking and guided prompts, the startup aims to redefine mental wellness through personalized, tech-driven self-reflection. (tech crunch)

💬 Grammarly Secures $1 Billion From General Catalyst to Build AI Productivity Platform Grammarly has landed a $1 billion investment from General Catalyst to evolve beyond grammar correction. The company is building a full-stack AI productivity suite, aiming to compete in the growing market of workplace communication tools. (reuters)

🍕Pizza Hut Brings 40-Year-Old Book It Initiative Into the Mobile Age Pizza Hut is giving its iconic 40-year-old “Book It!” reading program a digital makeover—complete with gamified rewards and a mobile app. Kids who meet their reading goals can now earn one free Personal Pan Pizza per month, blending literacy with tasty motivation. (marketing dive)

💘 Meet LoveJack, the Dating App Designed For Users to Find Love Using Just Five Words LoveJack is a new dating app that challenges users to describe themselves in just five words, aiming to foster creativity and genuine connections by moving away from lengthy resume-like profiles and clichéd pickup lines. (tech crunch)

Resources/Links 🌶️🧥

🧘‍♀️💗 How to Have Self-Compassion (nyt)

📡🌱What You Give Airtime to Will Expand 

​​💄☀️The Summer Beauty Trends Worth Your Money—and the Ones to Skip (wsj)

👍💡What the Like Button Can Teach Us About Innovation (hbr)

🔁📈 How to Be Consistent: 7 Strategies That Actually Work

🪒✨ The Clarity Razor

Bi-Weekly Social Currency Podcast Breakdown

1) Rea Ann Silva: for anyone who is interested in starting any kind of CPG company, this is a must-listen.

2) Barnes and Noble’s Comeback: the unexpected revival of the great book retailer.

3) John Hu: this is such a great conversation about what it means to thrive in the creator economy today.

4) Private Equity and Saks: by popular demand, I turned my viral Instagram video into a podcast episode.

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P.S. - If you see any typos in this newsletter, know that I did it on purpose just like The New Yorker does via their style guide.

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I’m always looking for new companies, people and stories to highlight. If you have any ideas for a future newsletter, please feel free to drop me a note ✏️✍️ 🥰