EREA is a brand built by a woman, for women. While we sculpt metal into wearable art, the true foundation of our work is the community of women who wear it.
The statistics tell one story: Today, women still face a profound global pay gap, and true economic equality remains decades away. Across the corporate world, women hold roughly 10% of Fortune 500 CEO roles. In the startup ecosystem, female founders receive less than 3% of all venture capital, and for Black and Latina women, that number drops to a fraction of 1%.
The traditional blueprint for success simply was not designed for us. Yet, despite these structural barriers, women every day are quietly and forcefully engineering their own paths.
For International Women’s Day, EREA is proud to present "Women We Admire." We wanted to step back and shine a light on the builders in our own community. These are women from vastly different backgrounds, from sustainable fashion and hard tech, to Forbes 30 Under 30 leaders and visionary creatives. Their paths are different, but their resilience is the same. We share their stories to inspire, to connect, and to remind us all of the power of women elevating each other.
Here is to the women who don't wait for a seat at the table, but build their own.
Amy Appleton Dreyer
A self-made entrepreneur and mother, Amy has built more than just a retail space for sustainable fashion; she is an architect of community. Entering the fashion world in her thirties and founding Blackbird Collection in her forties, Amy is living proof that it is never too late to reinvent yourself and boldly pursue your vision.
Today, she is the founder behind a curated space where sustainability, fashion, and intentional brands intersect. But her work extends far beyond retail. She is a devoted advocate for female empowerment, hosting comprehensive 'WOMAN' events that foster financial, mental, and physical well-being. Guided by the philosophy of "throwing down a rope after reaching the top," Amy is actively building the kind of world she wants to raise her children in one where women continually make more room at the table for each other.
Amy's anchor: The 06 set in Gold and Silver and the Laria Ring.
Sesana Allen
Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and investment strategist Sesana Allen is redefining the power of capital. With a background spanning growth investment and strategy, Sesana is proving that capital and purpose can powerfully coexist.
As the Co-Founder of the Anti Racism Fund, she has successfully raised and directed over $1 million to inject tangible social change into the world. By connecting resources to purpose driven organizations focused on justice reform, education parity, health access, and community outreach, Sesana is a masterclass in using investment strategy to build a better, more equitable world. She is completely redefining the landscape of modern, intentional leadership.
Sesana's anchor: The 04 Ring and Medium Hoops in Gold
Emily Lee
In Silicon Valley, where less than 3% of venture capital goes to female-founded companies, Emily is not just defying the statistics, she is rewriting the code. Women make up a fraction of tech founders, and even fewer come from the rigorous world of mechanical engineering. Emily Lee is the rare, inspiring exception.
As the Co-Founder and CEO of Terra, she is carving out a space for women at the intersection of infrastructure and emerging technology. Her journey from engineering to leading a startup is a masterclass in resilience and vision. Emily is a powerful reminder that women belong at the forefront of innovation, proving that true builders don't wait for an invitation to the table; they engineer their own resilient systems for tomorrow.
Emily's anchor: The 05 Ring in Gold
Juliana McCormick
Juliana McCormick is a devoted advocate for educational equity and community impact. During her tenure as a Recruitment Director at Teach For America, she found and coached mission-driven leaders to fill critical Title I vacancies, directly impacting over 15,000 students.
Her relentless dedication, including her specific work to increase the representation of Native teachers in the classroom—proves that the most enduring structures we build are the ones that empower the next generation. Juliana brings relentless passion and structural intention to everything she creates, ensuring that the foundations of our educational system are built by those who truly care about the community.
Juliana's anchor: The Pulse Garnet Necklace
Thoughtful. Eternal. Wearable Art.