Peyton Ladt of Bashed
Rendez-vous with the founder of Bashed, the online service that books your perfect venue for every occasion.
To run a business smoothly, you must be able to adapt, lead, and think critically. Peyton Ladt, CEO and founder of Bashed, exemplifies these qualities and more. The young, creative entrepreneur took her innovative leadership skills and created Bashed, the online service that books your perfect venue for every occasion. BWB had the opportunity to tap into her daily life, her New York City know-how and her refreshing, down-to-earth perspective on running a business.
Your Inspiration
For starting your business
After living in NYC for over 10 years, finding new restaurants to check out became a hobby of mine, and people took note. When friends or colleagues needed help, they’d tap me for recommendations for where to go, especially when it came to planning for larger groups. After organizing several group events over the course of a busy month, it finally hit me: the current group booking process was broken and unnecessary.
I realized this was a problem I needed to solve.
It was all a drain on both time and resources: having to do endless research, engage in back and forth with several venues at a time, discuss pricing and menus, review complicated contracts. I realized this was a problem I needed to solve.
How to be an effective leader
I am always learning how to be a better leader – I think the day we say we know it all is the day we know nothing. What I have learned over time is that listening carefully, not only to what people say, but also to how they say it, and understanding people’s personalities – what motivates them, what they fear — has been imperative.
How to stay creative & in-the-know
Experience life.
If I’m in a work slump or not feeling super creative, one of the best ways for me to change that is to put my phone down, close my computer, and experience life. Even something as simple as getting coffee with someone who inspires me, or taking a weekend trip out of the city (and into nature) will always do the trick.
Your Business
Overcoming challenges
I have always taken my work seriously at any job, but when it’s your company, those challenges feel even more weighted and sometimes personal. There can be long-term challenges, which I try to see as opportunities, and more short-term challenges that come up in the day-to-day business. In both cases, I’ll stop to take a deep breath – sometimes several.
It’s nice in those situations to feel like even if something is not going your way, you have someone on your team to help you get through it.
Then, I’ll step away from my computer to think through the challenge without the distraction of incoming requests and emails. Next, I’ll talk through the specific challenge with my co-founder. It’s nice in those situations to feel like even if something is not going your way, you have someone on your team to help you get through it.
Finding a community
Bashed has two target customers:
1. Corporations in NYC that use Bashed for deal-closing dinners, team off-sites, holidays, and other company-related events.
2. General consumers in NYC who need a space for a birthday, graduation, engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette party and, if you’re me, basically any excuse to get a group of friends together.
NYC has been an incredible place to launch Bashed because there are so many outlets to meet and get in front of people.
The following are some great resources to explore super niche networking groups, women’s networking groups, workshops, workshops and events.
Your Go-To Venues
For nutrition
by CHLOE., Spring Natural, Quantum Leap, Juice Press
For outings with friends
The Meatball Shop, Public, Huertas, Sel Rrose, La Pecora Bianca, Sunday in Brooklyn
For taking clients
Strip House, The Gander, Landmarc, Quality Meats, Blue Fin
For on-the-go
Your Beauty
Must-have skincare products
Lemon water! This is the first thing I drink when I wake up, and I try to have it as much as possible throughout the day. Water has so many wonderful effects from improving complexion, to increasing energy and boosting the immune system. Adding lemon can amplify those effects, plus it makes drinking water more interesting ☺.
Because it recently occurred to me that I am not 25 any more… I use the Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum.
The Algenist Color Correcting Primer smooths over my pores for more seamless coverage and helps even out skin tone. The primer also helps keep make-up on longer.
Exercise routine
Exercise has been apart of my life since I was a child, though then it was through more traditional outlets like soccer, tennis, and dance. Overall, I like to have diversity in my workouts because I get bored very easily. My perfect week is a couple of HIIT classes at Equinox, a day of treadmill intervals/sprinting, and a day of yoga.
Favorite Makeup Products
The Urban Decay Naked Eye Shadow Palette is great. If all you can do in the morning is a tinted moisturizer, mascara and a shaped/filled brow with the Anastasia Brown Pen , you’ll be good to go. Also, the weight of the NARS lipstick is perfection.
Your Nightstand
A good read
The wildly changing landscape of our country has inspired me to learn more about our history, and the history of the world
Rise to Globalism by Stephen Ambrose. It’s not exactly a light read, but the wildly changing landscape of our country has inspired me to learn more about our history, and the history of the world.
Night cream
Caudalie’s Overnight Renewal Cream
Favorite tea
Evening relaxation
At the moment, hanging out with my fiancé and re-watching Downtown Abbey is doing the trick.
Taylor is a recent honors graduate of Rhode Island School of Design’s Painting and Art History Department. A dual-citizen in Belgium and the U.S. with frequent wanderlust, a passion for editorial, and an affinity for sketching, she is now exploring the connection between art and beauty.
I am always learning how to be a better leader – I think the day we say we know it all is the day we know nothing.
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