What is your relationship to Oliver Scholars? How long have you been connected with the Oliver community?

I have been on the Oliver Scholars Junior Board for close to two years. I was asked to join by a member of Oliver’s Board of Trustees, who felt that I might be a good fit with the organization. He was right! I know firsthand how important it is to have a support network when applying to independent schools, especially for families with limited means, or for a student of color attending an academically competitive school in New York City. The Oliver Scholars Junior Board has allowed me to connect with like-minded professionals and lend our support to the extraordinary kids that this organization serves. We have an opportunity to plan fun events that bring our networks together to raise funds to support Oliver’s work. For this year’s event, which takes place on December 6, we have teamed up with TopSpin and other charities to put on a ping pong tournament. For an entire evening, people can watch both professionals and amateurs play while raising money for educational organizations like Oliver.

What are some leadership lessons you have learned over your career?

You should always lead by example, and never expect anything from others that you would not expect from yourself. Regardless of the field, people respect hard work and passion. I have worked as a fashion designer for over 10 years now. While fashion is a wonderful and creative industry, it is also highly competitive, with many applicants vying for a relatively small number of positions. You have to seek roles and positions that really help you to stand out, which in turn makes you a candidate for increased responsibilities, promotions, and raises. I currently lead a team of four people. Although I am a fairly demanding boss, I do not ask my colleagues to work more than I do myself. I am right there with them if we need to work late or on the weekends. We get things done as a group, and I make sure to share our lines’ success with the entire team. Positive feedback is a great motivator. People are far more likely to work harder and with more passion if they receive positive feedback and believe that their hard work is counting toward the success of the team.

What experience (short- or long-term) has shaped you most in your life?

Growing up in New York City as a child of biracial parents has had a huge impact on my life. I was constantly exposed to diverse groups of people and cultures with different viewpoints. Both of my parents chose careers based around serving others. My dad runs a nonprofit in the city and my mother is a psychologist. They encouraged me to be successful in my career but also to make sure to give back to my community.

What is one piece of (career) advice that you would give to a new Scholar (or new Alum, i.e., college grad) about taking that next step?

Never shy away from an opportunity because you do not think that you are capable. Even if it might be difficult, it is always better to put yourself out there rather than playing it safe. Very few people are successful without taking some risks, myself included. When I was hired at my current company, I was the number two to the senior designer of the line. We had a very successful line launch and, as a result, my boss was asked to head up other areas of the brand. That left an opening for a senior designer on my team. My boss asked me to step into that role after only a couple of months with the company. I took the chance and said, “Yes!” At the time, I was not completely confident that I was ready for the responsibility. After a couple of false starts and a pretty steep learning curve, I figured out how to consistently execute in the role, which included designing an entire collection, traveling to Asia and Europe multiple times each year, and managing a team. The hard work and belief in myself paid off and our collection is now one of the most successful in the company.

What are three adjectives that describe your life right now?

Exciting, challenging, and rewarding.