This is an interview I did for Dr. Martens, reproduced here. To read the original CLICK HERE.
GRL PWR Gang are a force to be reckoned with – individually and as a collective. Founded by Kirsti Hadley, GRL PWR Gang is made up of female creatives, artists, bloggers, designers and generally amazing women whose mission it is to provide a network for like-minded girls. They’re the ladies making ‘nice’ cool again.
We tasked some of the gang with styling our new DM’s Lite Rigal boot and caught up with founder Kirsti to hear more about GRLPWR.
Hi Kirsti, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
I grew up in inner-city Birmingham and I had literally no clue what I wanted to do. I didn’t have any female mentors or role models – women to inspire me. It wasn’t until I was older, and I started working in clubs, that I would meet these really cool girls that were doing their own thing in music or the media and I knew then that I wanted to do something like that.
But I was a relatively late starter, I didn’t fully start my career until my late 20s. I wish I had someone to tell me then what I know now. I started my own agency with a roster of talent, and as time went on, I realised companies were asking for more and more girls specifically. So, I thought – yeah, females are the way to go.
What is the GRLPWR Gang?
It’s a group of girls helping girls. GRLPWR Gang is a collective of talented and creative women coming together because they have a passion for supporting women in the creative industries and female empowerment.
We collaborate on networking events and branded projects, hosting talks for young girls on body image, beauty, feminism, social media and career access. We’ll be offering mentoring events for females – giving them first hand insight on how to break into the creative industries.
Why did you start GRLPWR Gang?
I felt there was a gap in the market for a support network. Many of the members are freelancers and so it can feel isolating, working alone. This is a sisterhood of likeminded individuals there to help each other, and girls who want to enter the creative industries.
What does it take to become a GRLPWR Gang member?
Most of the collective are my friends who I said to ‘look I’ve got this great idea, do you wanna be a part of it?” and they were like “yeah”. So it’s quite organic, and not forced which is nice. It’s important that GRLPWR Gang is inclusive, not exclusive – so it’s open to anyone.
If you want to join then you should come to one of our events and meet us, or sometimes we meet inspiring girls and then keep an eye on them. Like, they’re on our radar. Mostly you just have to be kind, respectful, want to help girls and be able to think of new and creative ways to generate revenue.
What advice do you have for any girl wanting to pursue a career in the media or creative sector?
My biggest bit of advice is to just DO it. Don’t say you’re going to do it, don’t think about doing it, actually go out there and do it. The most important thing is to start that journey, and if you mess up, it doesn’t matter. It’s fine to be scared, but don’t let it stop you from doing anything, harness that fear and turn it into a positive. And if you, like me, are living outside of London, or don’t have any contacts then find your own GRLPWR Gang.
The internet and social media is amazing, because you can find your own network, no matter what you’re into. So go online and interact, find friends with similar interests on Instagram – it’s so good for meeting people you might otherwise not have the chance to.
Finally, what do you stand for?
Girls helping girls and promoting kindness.
Chez Shez 
