We’re back with our second annual series of PowHERful Brands, a close look at women-owned and -led brands that intrigue us, in celebration of Women’s Small Business Month. So, speaking of intrigue, let’s get right to it.
Who in their right mind thinks about death when they’re busy living?
Lantern co-founders Liz Eddy, CEO (second from right), and Alyssa Ruderman, COO (far right), want to flip the script, to help people to proactively and strategically contemplate their exit long before it’s imminent. And for those expectedly or unexpectedly carrying the end-of-life planning burden for someone else, to uncloud the situation and make navigating through it more manageable.
The brand helps individuals overcome and work through big topics like life history, finances, possessions, final wishes, benefits, and legal matters with carefully curated checklists and chat-based assistance. You can also utilize the platform to find a funeral home, with transparency on price and reviews much like you might expect with other services. But there’s something much bigger here. Lantern will help you give voice to the legacy of a life, to honor the person, the milestones, and the relationships formed along the way.
Whether you join for free, or via individual and enterprise subscriptions with additional benefits, you’ll find Lantern to be a partner in normalizing end-of-life planning. It’s a tall order and a taboo topic. Liz and Alyssa, however, have experience in tackling complex issues and effecting social change. These natural problem solvers crossed paths at DoSomething.org some years ago. Later, a personal experience revealed their next challenge.
As Liz was working through end-of-life matters after her grandmother passed two years ago, she was struck by how obscure and complicated the process was. She wished there had been a reassuring yet straightforward guide. Seeing none, she decided to make one. And Alyssa agreed to help.
The company’s point of view is that anyone, at any time, can start to peel away the uncertainty, fear and confusion associated with death. Because, as Alyssa shared in our conversation, “You can’t control when, where and how you die, but you can control what you leave behind.”
We love PowHERful Brands like Lantern precisely because they embrace a new way of seeing the world and encourage all of us to do the same, too. While no one wants to actively think about dying, we love how Liz and Alyssa have confidently and gracefully created a more open and supportive space for end-of-life planning. Lantern artfully brings comfort, a sense of control, foresight, and practicality into a very difficult, nuanced part of ALL of our lives. We believe in Lantern’s ability to transform the way we personally and culturally prepare for death, and there is nothing more powerful than that. We look forward to watching this brand evolve.
Now in our 50th year of business, Vladimir Jones is Colorado’s original independent, integrated advertising agency, with offices in Denver and Colorado Springs. We believe in brilliant brands and love making the world love them as much as we do.