For international women’s day, we sat down for a Q&A with five trailblazing women, all of which we personally work with here at Alice & Wonder.
From influencers to showroom owners to CEOs of their own companies, get a first-hand glimpse into how these incredible women impact the fashion industry.
- How did you get started in your industry?
I opened an online boutique in 2014, sold in it 2018 and kept my social platform to start my blogging career.
- Walk us through an average day in your work life.
Between all of my mom duty's, I communicate with my management team on scheduling, getting posts live etc. Each day is different depending on my content schedule but I typically have a day or 2 each week that I spend shooting content. Answering DM's is another big part of my day! It is so important to me to connect with my audience so I try my best to answer all that I can!
- What is a challenge and a win you’ve faced working in your industry?
Win: I had a reel get 43.5 million views! It was really cool to see something take off like that!
- Tell us one of your favorite Women-owned businesses. We want to shout them out!
Spanx, Honest, Lux unfiltered
- Who’s your woman crush/inspo/icon?
I love @marylawlesslee on Instagram! I love her style, photos and family content that she shares. She is just all-around mom goals
- What’s a word of advice you would tell your younger self?
Be who you are and do what makes you happy!
- How did you get started in your industry?
I found my moms old film camera when I was 12 & fell in love with the art of photography. I decided to chase my passion & give a shot at turning it into a career. Here we are 18 years later!
- Walk us through an average day in your work life.
Every day is very different which keeps things interesting! A “normal” day would look something like:
Email catch up & scheduling client shoots for myself & associate photographers in the morning.
Late morning meetings or zooms to plan upcoming projects.
Afternoon client shoots in the city of at The Studio Chicago.
Evening editing
After dinner editing & catching up on emails again!
- What is a challenge and a win you’ve faced working in your industry?
One of my largest challenges has turned into one of my most meaningful wins. A huge challenge I have faced over the last decade information asymmetry. There is no road map for pricing and placing a value on creative work. Over the years, not only have I overcome this challenge and been able to put a numeric value on things such as image rights & exclusivity but I have made it a mission to share that information. My largest challenge has turned into a huge win in being able to helping other creatives and business owners navigate through that same challenge and teaching them to value themselves and their work!
- Tell us one of your favorite Women-owned businesses. We want to shout them out!
Can I say Alice and Wonder??!! Also adore, Hannah Schweiss Photography, Kido Chicago, Dana Rebecca, Gals Abroad Getaways!
- Who’s your woman crush/inspo/icon?
Serena Kerrigan! Her drive, vision, branding, creative & marketing is next level. She’s 100% true to who she is and always levels herself up.
- What’s a word of advice you would tell your younger self?
I would tell myself that the hard work pays off. To keep hustling, never burn a bridge and to kindly release the toxic/dramatic people from life earlier on.
- How did you get started in your industry?
Growing up, I’ve always had a bit of an eye for jewelry. I loved to take apart the chains and designs from my mother’s old handbags--with her permission, of course, and reassemble them into unique, “Jina-exclusive” accessories that could not be found anywhere else. I always loved how my homemade jewelry made me feel as a kid. So throughout high school and college, I constantly sought that same feeling through each new jewelry piece I purchased. However, I wasn’t able to find jewelry that captured that uniqueness to showcase my personality. I began to design pieces that I only dreamt of and Girls Crew was born.
- Walk us through an average day in your work life.
It's difficult to describe an “average day” for me because each day feels so different. But I always start off my mornings by making a cup of coffee and going through my planner to see what I have planned. Some days I shoot for hours, some days I’m replying to emails all day, and other days are spent designing new collections. But most days are spent in back-to-back meetings with team members to manufacturers, and everything in-between. As Girls Crew grows, my average day is an everchanging adventure, and something I never get tired of!
- What is a challenge and a win you’ve faced working in your industry?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was growing the business from me, myself, and I, to the 12-member team we are today. Finding the right people to join the team is challenging as it is, but learning to let go and trust those individuals to take over your tasks is a bigger challenge in itself. Fortunately, I have been able to hire many inspiring people over the years who have played key roles in taking Girls Crew to the next level.
- Tell us one of your favorite Women-owned businesses. We want to shout them out!
Huge shoutout to Jordynn, Sharon, and the entire team over there!
- Who’s your woman crush/inspo/icon?
Sophia Amoruso!
- What’s a word of advice you would tell your younger self?
Everything happens for a reason. So just keep doing you!
- How did you get started in your industry?
I have to give the credit for this to my co-founder James! After an enlightening trip to Hawaii together, he inspired me to quit corporate life and start a lifestyle brand with him. We haven’t looked back since.
- Walk us through an average day in your work life.
Being a small business, no two days are the same! My days can range from designing and executing content for our social media platforms, to working with influencers to create organic content and impressions for our business and even packing orders for our retailers and buyers!
- What is a challenge and a win you’ve faced working in your industry?
Starting a business completely from scratch has been the biggest challenge we’ve faced. There are so many brands out there and creating a product and a brand identity that sets us a part from others is definitely something we work on each day. Our favorite moments that feel like a win every time to us is when someone reaches out or posts our brand saying how much they love our products. Words can’t describe how awesome it feels when someone loves something you’ve poured your heart and soul into.
- Tell us one of your favorite Women-owned businesses. We want to shout them out!
I’m a huge fan of Twin Flames and the Mayfair Group! They both have the trendiest sweat sets and graphic tees that I live in.
- Who’s your woman crush/inspo/icon?
Sam Abrahart is hands down my biggest inspo. She’s so honest and vulnerable on social media, which I really admire. Not to mention, she’s created such a powerhouse of a brand that inspires me each day.
- What’s a word of advice you would tell your younger self?
There is no “right” career path. Do what makes your heart happy and your soul full.
- How did you get started in your industry?
- Walk us through an average day in your work life.
- What is a challenge and a win you’ve faced working in your industry?
- Tell us one of your favorite Women-owned businesses. We want to shout them out!
- What’s a word of advice you would tell your younger self?
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