---
title: Piera Gelardi INBOUND17 Keynote - Session Recap | Niswey
description: Piera Gelardi INBOUND17 keynote was all about courageous creativity. And how to sustain a child like wonder & exuberant creativity.
---

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# [Piera Gelardi INBOUND17 Keynote - Session Recap | Niswey](https://www.niswey.com/blog/piera-gelardi-inbound17-keynote-session-recap)

 Written by [Boris Poonia](https://www.niswey.com/blog/author/boris-poonia) | Sep 27, 2017 2:43:55 PM

After the first day of #INBOUND17 we were pretty excited for the first full day of the event.

> It’s the first full day of [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash)! Who’s ready? Our speakers are! Here’s who is taking the stage today: [pic.twitter.com/X1S9kSqasL](https://t.co/X1S9kSqasL)
> 
> — INBOUND (@INBOUND) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/INBOUND/status/912645688684695553)

And kicking it off in style was the Piera Gelardi INBOUND17 keynote. Piera happens to be the Executive Creative Director and co-founder of the award-winning digital media company, Refinery29. From her look to what she’s accomplished with Refinery29, it all screams creativity, so we were pretty excited for her keynote and turns out we were’t alone.

> So excited for [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) keynote this am! [#INBOUND2017](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND2017?src=hash) [#courageouscreativity](https://twitter.com/hashtag/courageouscreativity?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/GbeOm18ay3](https://t.co/GbeOm18ay3)
> 
> — Refinery29 PR (@Refinery29PR) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/Refinery29PR/status/912654922247802881)

> Have arrived at [@INBOUND](https://twitter.com/INBOUND)! Super excited for [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa)’s keynote. Awesome atmosphere here.[#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/rfZmpsaEs5](https://t.co/rfZmpsaEs5)
> 
> — James McKinven (@jmckinven) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/jmckinven/status/912661553824124930)

> So excited to hear [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa)!! [@Refinery29](https://twitter.com/Refinery29) is a must read! [#inbound17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/inbound17?src=hash)
> 
> — Heidi Schmidt (@missheidi) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/missheidi/status/912665501184217088)

And then it finaly happened, the moment we’ve all been waiting for … yup, she made it to the main stage. Let the session commence!!

> “This is my Beyonce moment.” – [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/4gaNr2vOg8](https://t.co/4gaNr2vOg8)
> 
> — INBOUND (@INBOUND) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/INBOUND/status/912667329355534336)

> When you are so freaking close to [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) 😍 gotta love [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash) pic.twitter.com/fgrJxynVWu
> 
> — Katherine A. Hayes (@KatherineAHayes) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/KatherineAHayes/status/912665929099759616)

Before even going into her session, she introduced the notion of calling her office the “peach pit”. And every month she sits with “a bunch of different people, anyone from the company can sign up” and they discuss how to solve tough challenges and help each other come up with new ideas.

> [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash) “At the Peach Pit we explore new ideas without any limitations” – [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa)
> 
> — Kaylynne Hatch (@KaylynneHatch) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/KaylynneHatch/status/912666489878192128)

> I’m pretty certain that [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) is my spirit animal. The Peach Pit with rosé sounds like a magical place. [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash)
> 
> — Roxanne McCool (@roxannejmccool) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/roxannejmccool/status/912666637026938880)

> “We shake it out at the peach pit because play creates trust”

> Play creates trust. [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash)
> 
> — Rachel Mann (@rachelizmann) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/rachelizmann/status/912666642425024512)

> “Shake it out with [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa)!” [@INBOUND](https://twitter.com/INBOUND) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash) [@PHLHUG](https://twitter.com/PHLHUG) [#phlhug](https://twitter.com/hashtag/phlhug?src=hash) [#Day2](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Day2?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/YScbCT2AGp](https://t.co/YScbCT2AGp)
> 
> — Elena W Gatens (@ElenaWGatens) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/ElenaWGatens/status/912667042054107136)

> Shakin’ it out this morning with [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/1OgTMUrHps](https://t.co/1OgTMUrHps)
> 
> — Éadaoin Murphy (@Eadaoin_Murphy) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/Eadaoin_Murphy/status/912667302189047808)

She then went on to describe how the media industry wasn’t catering properly to women. And she wanted to fix that with Refinery29 by “creating for a new generation of women”

> [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash) “We didn’t like the media landscape. So we changed it. We wanted to create content for a new generation of women” – [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa)
> 
> — Kaylynne Hatch (@KaylynneHatch) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/KaylynneHatch/status/912667874048856064)

> Women to feel, see, and be their power. [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/oHFdByzzm0](https://t.co/oHFdByzzm0)
> 
> — Brittney @ INBOUND (@BBorowicz) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/BBorowicz/status/912668571846823936)

> “Be a catalyst for women to feel, see and claim their power.” [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash)
> 
> — Jessie-Lee Nichols (@jhyphenl) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/jhyphenl/status/912668564288569346)

> “Our company’s mission is to be a catalyst for women—to seal and claim their power.” [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash)
> 
> — Rani Wise (@raniwise) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/raniwise/status/912668890223845376)

Moving on, Piera then directed the audience through a simple exercise, to find internal strengths and be able to rely on these and turn them into “I am” statements so you can lean on these in times of need.

> I am….what? [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/Qmtgh5WXn7](https://t.co/Qmtgh5WXn7)
> 
> — ccorniuk (@ccorniuk) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/ccorniuk/status/912670413192355840)

> The fun activity [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) walked us through. I am curious, I have perspective & I am optimistic. [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/2JLorL1VB9](https://t.co/2JLorL1VB9)
> 
> — R Public Relations (@RPRBoston) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/RPRBoston/status/912669909976567809)

> “When we lean into our strengths we know who we are and what we value.” [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash)
> 
> — Jennifer Murray (@murrayejennifer) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/murrayejennifer/status/912669985369153537)

After sharing some of her past work experiences and how she used to deal with them, she then went on to share a few pointers on what she learned.

> If it doesn’t fit, tailor it to fit better. Bring your strengths into new and unfamiliar territory. [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash)
> 
> — Brittney @ INBOUND (@BBorowicz) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/BBorowicz/status/912671256209690624)

> Amazing advice [@INBOUND](https://twitter.com/INBOUND) with [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) [#inbound17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/inbound17?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/V3JKQX9kEJ](https://t.co/V3JKQX9kEJ)
> 
> — Crystal Childs (@CrystalJChilds) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/CrystalJChilds/status/912671576146968576)

> “Create the Conditions for Creativity” [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash) [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) [pic.twitter.com/bd5csJYa0X](https://t.co/bd5csJYa0X)
> 
> — NR Media Group (@NRMediaGroup) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/NRMediaGroup/status/912672356090437632)

> “The number one way to get my creativity moving is to bring someone I trust into the room and share ideas.” – [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash)
> 
> — Clayton Dorris (@cedorris) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/cedorris/status/912672441666867200)

“Friction creates sparks”. And with their “No Apologies” collection of images they sure created some friction. But as she goes on to explain, it was that friction which made them recognizable from other brands. Their images were immediately identifiable and caught fire on social media because women could relate to these far more than the stock images being used in the industry.

> Take this moment of friction and let’s do something with it. [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/n29rcV3gIh](https://t.co/n29rcV3gIh)
> 
> — Brittney @ INBOUND (@BBorowicz) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/BBorowicz/status/912675334851612674)

> “We don’t think women should have to apologize for who they are or what they look like.” [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) of [@refinery29](https://twitter.com/Refinery29) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/yRjX0dAJrw](https://t.co/yRjX0dAJrw)
> 
> — INBOUND (@INBOUND) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/INBOUND/status/912675928555364354)

> [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) reminds us all that friction creates sparks. Embrace the uncomfortable. [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/UvL3MP2cVZ](https://t.co/UvL3MP2cVZ)
> 
> — Spencer Barrett (@spencerbarrett) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/spencerbarrett/status/912676736780947457)

Alas, all that’s good must come to an end. Piera rounded out her keynote by encouraging “Courageous Creativity”, because creativity is contagious and  
“when you are courageously creative it creates more courageous creativity in the world.”

> 1. Be the most you. 💁2. Friction creates sparks.⚡️3. Create the conditions for creativity.🎨 –[@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/LYRizE5Eik](https://t.co/LYRizE5Eik)
> 
> — INBOUND (@INBOUND) [September 26, 2017](https://twitter.com/INBOUND/status/912678464737726464)

And to cap it all off, a photo shoot.

> [@pieraluisa](https://twitter.com/pieraluisa) feeling the photoshoot vibes at [@HubSpot](https://twitter.com/HubSpot) [#INBOUND17](https://twitter.com/hashtag/INBOUND17?src=hash) 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻 Work it! [pic.twitter.com/dZMhT3BJVU](https://t.co/dZMhT3BJVU)
> 
> — Meagan (@meagantaylr) [September 27, 2017](https://twitter.com/meagantaylr/status/912889331064492032)

You can watch the full keynote here:

Well that’s all from Piera Gelardi’s keynote at INBOUND17. If you would like to check out our entire coverage of INBOUND17, including the other keynotes and sessions, do check out our INBOUND17 page.

 

[View full post](https://www.niswey.com/blog/piera-gelardi-inbound17-keynote-session-recap)

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