"I wanted to sing like Barbra Streisand and dance like Martha Graham."\n- Donna Karan\nHey guys, welcome back to ONKEN RADIO, the podcast where we explore the body, mind, and soul of the creative entrepreneur. It\u2019s my goal to help you take your creativity, business, and life to the next level. I\u2019m so glad you\u2019re joining me on this journey!\n\nWhat does it mean to be a purpose-driven artist? How can you blend your values and passions together into a career that leaves a mark on the world?\n\nFor us as creative entrepreneurs, those questions are always at the center of our hearts and minds. I know I want my work to reflect my creativity as well as the ideas I care about, so I\u2019m always looking for ways to do that.\n\nMy guest today has spent her life building a career around a desire to create an impact in the lives touched by her work. Her name is Donna Karan, and she lives at the absolute top of the fashion world. Donna has been working in fashion design for decades, but it\u2019s her passion for philanthropy that continues to drive her.\n\u201cI wanted to create a community of consciousness and change. And I had this vision of really dressing and addressing people [and] creating a community where people come together to create change in healthcare, education, and culture.\u201d\n- Donna Karan\nDonna believes in the power of her art to create opportunities for people to live better lives. She\u2019s an incredible force for good in this world, and I\u2019m excited to have her on the show. Let\u2019s get started.\nWho Is Donna Karan?\nDonna Karan, \u201cthe Queen of Seventh Avenue,\u201d is a global fashion icon. She\u2019s the owner of the fashion companies Donna Karan and DKNY as well as Urban Zen \u2014\xa0a lifestyle designed by Karan to offer an outlet for artisans and creators from around the world to sell their products and create social impact \u2014 but we\u2019ll talk more about that later.\n\nDonna claims that fashion and design were always in her blood \u2014\xa0she was born on Seventh Avenue, after all \u2014 but her career began when she attended the Parsons School of Design in New York City. There, she began to hone her talent and skill for drawing and design, and that led her to a job working for Anne Klein.\n\nEventually, two significant events happened at the same time: Unfortunately, the great Anne Klein passed away on the same day Donna Karan had her first child, a daughter. But a large collection was due, and Donna rose to the occasion. She produced a beautiful collection of clothes, one thing led to the next, and eventually, she built her own fashion empire.\n\nDonna has spent years designing beautiful clothes for modern women, but today her passion lies in social impact. She has contributed to numerous philanthropic organizations, and she\u2019s passionate about providing not only money but opportunities for people to grow their own businesses.\n\nBeyond being a fashion magnate and passionate philanthropist, Donna Karan is officially an accomplished author. Her book My Journey is a reflection on her life and a beautiful testament to a creative life. Trust me \u2014 you\u2019re going to want to read it after this interview.\n\nDonna Karan is such an inspiration to me. She knows what it takes to build a life around your art, and she knows how to synthesize artistry, business, philanthropy, and a holistic and aligned mindset into a beautiful, full life. In that way, she\u2019s the ultimate Creative Alchemist. She shared a lot of wisdom with me today, and I know you\u2019re going to learn a lot from this episode. So without further ado, let\u2019s dive in.\nCreating a Holistic Life by Finding Your Zen\nAs a creative entrepreneur, it\u2019s essential that you\u2019re tapping into your inner creativity every day. That means taking time for yourself to get into a good headspace for your creative work.\n\nBut there are a ton of ways to do that. I talked to Donna about some of the most important things she\u2019s done to grow and build a holistic life that facilitates her creativity, and she described some really beautiful practice...