👋 Hi, we’re Lisa and Julia. Ladysmith was born from a long creative partnership, and shared alignment that deepened over time.
We’ve been colleagues and friends for 17 years. We met early in our careers and over time we’ve collaborated on more creative projects than we can count, across agencies, studios, startups, and independent ventures.
Both of us built long careers at the intersection of design, production, and storytelling, bringing ideas to life, shaping brands and experiences, and working with ambitious teams who cared deeply about craft.
And then, somewhere along the way, as friends, mothers, and professionals, something shifted. We were craving work with heart, projects with purpose, a sense of contribution, and a desire to connect with, and support other women.
We realized something important: the community we wanted didn’t quite exist, so we decided to build it.
We started simply, with salons, intimate gatherings designed for conversation, storytelling, and shared experience. From there, Ladysmith expanded into the Founders of San Francisco series, a portrait-led storytelling project spotlighting 12 female founders, their work, their stories, and the unique ways they contribute to the fabric of our city.
Ladysmith is where we’re choosing to put our energy and passion, firm in our belief in the power of women supporting women and that visibility matters. It’s both a love letter and an open invitation to the women building, making, and leading across the Bay Area.
Lisa is an independent designer specializing in brand design for emerging food and wellness brands. Food is her creative language. Through her design practice, she uncovers and amplifies the stories behind what we eat, and extends that work into edible experiences: multi-sensory gatherings, installations, and moments designed to nourish connection as much as the body.
Julia built her career as a producer and Chief of Staff, working across creative technology, design, and robotics. She co-founded and led production companies, later holding senior production and operational roles at Google and serving as Chief of Staff at a robotics startup. In 2023, Julia took an intentional pause to raise her daughters, a chapter that clarified her priorities and led her to the work that fuels her today: growing Ladysmith and amplifying the visibility and voices of women across the Bay Area.