Hello and welcome to Work In Progress (WIP) with me, Ilana Lipsztein, for The Brasilians Newspaper! I am very happy to be here with you and share innovative tips and news about Brazilian women in entrepreneurship.
During the pandemic, people had to adapt, be creative, and think of viable solutions to problems we never imagined facing. Being a woman and an immigrant, I know the importance of resilience, hard work, and persistence. We need to be strong, creative, and able to 
handle many tasks under pressure. It’s in our genes.
Yes, we go to meetings with the grocery list in our bags and have special codes with our children to answer the phone at any time if it’s an emergency. We practically prepare for disasters every day while ensuring our children are happy and fed. It has never been easy to be a woman, and now it’s even harder.
During quarantine, I started a new blog and consulting business to help women unleash their talents and find new opportunities despite everything happening around us. In my journey, I have met incredible entrepreneurs and new business ideas. In my column IlanaWip, I will share stories that will surely encourage and inspire you to find new paths, talents, or passions hidden under the pressures we all face daily.
To start today, I will present the story of a successful entrepreneur. I am sure her journey will inspire you to unleash your own talents and realize that you too are a work in progress (WIP).
For over 8 years, Brazilian Gislene Luz started her business as a Dessert Stylist, working with top event planners like Diana Gould and David Beahm 
at some of the most famous event venues in NYC, such as The Plaza Hotel, The Manhattan Club, and 583 Park Avenue. She was truly at the top of her game, with clients from around the world, including India, Portugal, America, and of course, Brazil.
If you don’t know what a Dessert Stylist is, it’s the fashion designer for all the delicious sweets offered at the most memorable events of our lives. Gislene elevated the traditional dessert table to a whole new level, turning desserts into a party attraction.
With the pandemic, all in-person events were suddenly canceled, throwing many professionals and artists like her into unemployment. With a small child and many bills to pay, Gislene needed to reinvent herself and her business, adapting to the new situation, the “new normal,” and all the insecurities that came with it. She managed to turn her fear into challenges she could overcome and eventually got back on track.
Gislene launched her online business, growing her blog and Instagram page by offering tips and advice on party decoration that people could do from home. On her Instagram page, Gislene has over 12 thousand followers and counting. Now, her amazing dessert stylings are available to everyone, not just celebrities at big events in NYC.
She also needed to rework her business plans due to the pandemic. Now, instead of designing for over 200 guests, Gislene caters to small events of up to 30 people. It’s the “new normal,” she says, and she believes that smaller event sizes are here to stay.
To survive the crisis, Gislene highlighted the importance of learning new skills online and seeking new trends and market opportunities. When one door closes, we need to pay attention to the new ones that may 
open.
Ilana_Wip is about brave women like Gislene and what they can share with us as we all try to become our best version.
Ilana Lipzstein, the voice behind Ilana_Wip, is a journalist and entrepreneur from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, living in New York for 20 years. She is passionate about helping people find their voices and pursue their dreams.
Ilana_Wip recently partnered with Simone Goldstein (Entendeumidia.com), a Marketing and Social Media expert, bringing even more efficiency to her goals.
It’s never too late to start and never too early to change. Follow @ilana_wip and her journey, as she too is and always will be a Work in Progress. Check out Ilana_Wip’s Instagram and Facebook, and also her lifestyle blog www.ilanawip.com
ILANA LIPSZTEIN
Journalist & Entrepreneur
Instagram: @ilana_wip