What inspired you to start your own business? Did you always want to be a businesswoman and have your own event space?
When the concept of Triangle Loft first came to fruition, it was because Karen lost her job like many others during Covid. She shared with me that she went from corporate event planning and hospitality to running the event space of Triangle Loft. I asked her if there were any doubts or anxiety about creating the business. She tells me, “Of course. I cried and just looked at this empty loft with my few pieces of furniture and was like now what?” She tells me she went that same day on a walk with her dog around the Meatpacking District and asked herself, “how the hell will I create a business as a woman my age?” The idea of Triangle Loft came as she walked around and started noticing the street art. Karen says, “I always was interested in local artists and street art. I started writing down Instagram handles that day, went back to the loft, and started reaching out to artists, asking them how can we support each other?” I see Karen as a creative herself. During a time of uncertainty with covid, she started the business from the ground up– painting her new business on a fresh white canvas. She was savvy as an entrepreneur pulling together contacts and trying to build a creative community around the concept of having an event space that would generate revenue to house the work of local artists.
Early on, Triangle Loft was all about survival before, Karen tells me. She says the loft’s landlord believed in her to start this business. She says, “I had not received a paycheck in months because of covid. All I knew was how to work hospitality and events. It was my life, but who can hire me now as a woman my age?” She says, “People tell me I have a big mouth.” Karen’s self-doubt about the job market reflects the more significant societal problems of discrimination against women who speak their minds boldly in the male-dominated corporate industry, especially among women in her generation. It is a ridiculous societal prejudice, as women like Karen have what it takes to run a successful business and rebrand themselves after a career pivot.
Karen mentions that the first several months of the business were about proving herself as a businesswoman and surviving as a business. She said she spent her days making calls and strategizing with local artists in the city, art curators, local restaurants for catering events, chefs, and bartenders. Karen also worked tirelessly to build trust within her new community of creatives and business partners. She tells me, “For the first time in my life, I started believing in karma and that what you put out there, you will receive back.” As she speaks, I can see how Karen’s determination and skillfulness lead her to take an idea and create something tangible. She recognized the floating pieces around her by listening and responding to the first few events at the Triangle Loft and then took negative and positive feedback to adapt and grow her business.
Karen is a true entrepreneur, evident in her boldness and leadership qualities. She likes to think she defies what is considered appropriate for women her age and tells me her most significant advice is to always stick to your self-worth and personal essence. From her past professional experience, she said she was often considered too assertive or even abrasive. Karen’s firm conviction and self-assurance make people uncomfortable who expect women to be quiet and less opinionated. Karen rejects those assertions about being a woman in society. She has a humble nature and generosity, evident in how she offers a space for local artists to house their pieces. At the same time, she runs corporate events at Triangle Loft that bring in the business’s revenue.
Karen tells me it wasn’t always easy for her as a woman working and demanding leadership roles and for her ideas to be taken seriously. She tells me that her experience working in corporate early on in her career was tough. She says, “I was known as cocky if I knew the answer, and other times it was assumed I did not know enough. She says Triangle Loft enabled her to return to her essence and own her ideas and creativity. She is proud of her business today and says it is a chance for her to take charge of how she wants to work professionally. She explains that women around the loft space seemed inspired by the business’ growth and liked it. Karen notices that women see the evolution of Triangle Loft from when the business was just shooting from the hip to now when the business has become more organized. Karen is happy that now she works in an area that professionally supports women’s evolution. She wants a space that empowers women and gives them a chance to transform professionally and unapologetically in a male-dominated industry.
Written by: Nada Elrhalami
Photo credits: Virginie Carolina @virginiecarolina