Presenting

10 | GRAVITAS MAGAZINE GravitasMag.com C Creating an issue of GRAVITAS is a thrill for me. Compiling the ideas, writing the ar ticles, designing the layout, directing the photo shoots, all of it, is a joy. I wear many hats here, but my favorite hat is the one that allows me to meet the amazing women we feature. While I've had many interesting jobs in my career, I've never had one that spoke to my hear t the way GRAVITAS does. Showcasing these talented, accomplished, and strong women in our community is the most rewarding job I've ever had. When I embarked on this journey, it was a gamble to go outside the conventional parameters of the women's magazine genre, which is basically crafted around high fashion, airbrushed beauty and celebrities. I felt that real women were not being fully engaged, inspired or shown the real face of today's modern women. While fashion and beauty is lovely, it is a very small par t of most women's lives. So I set out to create a magazine that was much more than pretty fluff; instead, I created a magazine I wanted to read. Thankfully many of you feel the same. I am grateful for the extraordinarily positive response to our inaugural issue. And I want to offer everyone who helped bring this issue to life my deepest graditude. In this issue, I pen an ar ticle about the Ar t of Reinvention. At first, I questioned if I was qualified to speak on such a life-altering subject. Then, I realized that I am par ticularly well-suited for the task. While I do not have a Ph.D in psychology or decades of experience coaching individuals, I've lived a life of reinvention. Early in my career, I worked in the international ar t and antique industry, then moved to the marketing and adver tising side of the home furnishings business, to becoming a luxury marketing consultant with clients across the East Coast. Next, I gave myself a time out to travel Europe for a year. Upon my return home, I opened a swanky nightclub where I welcomed Beyoncé, Pink and Sinead O'Connor on opening night. All of this, before I was 30. I suppose, I've learned a few things on the subject. Through my incarnations, I utilized many of the skills outlined in my ar ticle. I feel it's crucial for women of all ages to embrace change and grow with the different cycles of life. I hope you find the ar ticle inspiring as you choose your path in life. Also in this issue, we meet some extraordinary women leading corporations in our area. We also invite a few amazing ladies to join us for an ode to the classic dinner par ty at Rococo's Steakhouse, which of course, turned into a memorable evening. Put seven fascinating women in a beautiful room with superb food and fine wine, a few laughs are bound to happen. We share video and audio out-takes from the evening on the web at GravitasMag.com We also discuss the New Face of Feminism sweeping the globe and share some interesting ideas and exciting events coming to the region. My Last Laugh column sparked quite a controversy around the office. I was reprimanded by some who thought it too racy, while others howled with laughter. Regardless how it strikes it you, I hope it leaves you with a giggle. Because regardless how fabulous and fierce, we aspire to be; in the end, Girls Just Want to Have Fun. WELCOME from the Publisher SUBSCRIBE to GRAVITAS at GravitasMag.com 5 issues annually for only $12.95. 100% of our subscription proceeds go to local non-profits supporting women and children. Jules Lewis Gibson Publisher & Editor-In-Chief For Modern Women of Style & Purpose TAMPA BAY - SARASOTA EDITION | WINTER 2015 WOMEN IN CORPORATE AMERICA GravitasMag.com Leisa Weintraub Vice President Neil Communities The NEW Face of Feminism The A rt of Reinvention P E O P L E I D E A S S T Y L E C U L T U R E N E W S $4.95 US G winter15 master FINAL.indd 1 2/24/15 5:09 PM

• Cover