Eight out of the twelve members of our executive committee at Vera Bradley are women. Ahem, who runs the world? It’s no surprise that we admire women who shatter glass ceilings and break stereotypes in the workplace, but now we want to know how they do it. In search of the secrets of Superwoman, we’re studying highly successful females and how they spend the first few hours of the day. Take out your schedules; you’re going to want to write this down.
Last month, Sherry taught us that hard work and compassion for others can open up all kinds of opportunities. This month, meet Merchandise Planner, Jessica. She moved from the bright lights of the big city (New York, to be exact) to the twinkling stars of the Midwest skies (Fort Wayne, Indiana) for a job opportunity at the Vera Bradley headquarters. Jessica makes sure all of your favorite handbags and accessories make it into your shopping cart to purchase. As a planner, Jessica spends her days crunching numbers and analyzing shopping habits to determine how much inventory to buy for each handbag and accessory you want to purchase. She penciled us in for lunch and we jotted down her tips for success, morning habits and the one thing she eats for breakfast that she swears powers her through the day.
“It’s a little embarrassing to say, but I set about three alarms. The first two go off around 6:15 a.m. and alternate every four minutes until the real alarm rings about thirty minutes later. The “real alarm” is an app on my phone that sounds a tune until I get out of bed, walk 20+ steps, take a matching photo of an item in my living room, then complete a series of brain exercises. I wouldn’t call myself a morning person…”
I usually have to coax my dog, Coco, out of her sleeping place (we both struggle to get up) to go for a quick walk outside. By 7:30 a.m., my hair and makeup are done and it’s time to pick my outfit for the day. A little hack I use every time I love my outfit – I snap a picture of it and save it in an album on my phone. Then, if I’m running late one day, I can quickly refer to those tried and true outfits and pick one with little thought required.
Finally… breakfast! I recently completed a round of Whole30 clean eating, which made me feel awesome, so my breakfasts are sautéed chicken sausages and zoodles (zucchini noodles). It’s a good combination of protein and vegetables to get my day started. I definitely need a good breakfast; my job is mentally demanding since I work with a lot of numbers using different software systems and planning across three to four fashion seasons at a time.”
Jessica explained how important health and fitness is to her as she ate her veggie-packed lunch. So important, that one of her morning habits is to make sure her gym bag is packed (no matter what) so that she can hit a yoga class or work out in the office gym right after work. She uses the 4 pc. Cosmetic Organizer to keep her morning makeup routine and post-gym essentials separated.
“I use the larger cosmetic bags that come in the organizer for my brushes and beauty tools and I keep the smaller bag stocked with extra hair ties, face cleanser and a little make up – because post-gym dinner invitations should always be accepted.”
Gym bag and work bag in tow, Jessica is out the door and on her way to the office by 8:05. While her commute in Indiana is a little different from the one in New York City, she appreciates the small town life. From her first internship in Dallas, Texas to retail planning in Florida and project management in New York City, Jessica has held positions across the country and advises every woman to follow her passion until she finds the right fit for her.
Gym bag and work bag in tow, Jessica is out the door and on her way to the office by 8:05. While her commute in Indiana is a little different from the one in New York City, she appreciates the small town life. From her first internship in Dallas, Texas to retail planning in Florida and project management in New York City, Jessica has held positions across the country and advises every woman to follow her passion until she finds the right fit for her.
“Find a company that empowers their employees, allows you to have a voice and wants you to succeed. Speak up, make connections and remain humble – you never know when you might cross paths with people again.”
We left lunch feeling inspired and ready to crush our work (and fitness) goals. We love looking into the lives of those that inspire us; some say it’s nosey, we prefer curious. Stay connected with us as we give more glimpses into the morning routines of other successful women next month. If you’re still hungry to see more hustle – take a look at how seven female leaders spend their first hour at work.
We left lunch feeling inspired and ready to crush our work (and fitness) goals. We love looking into the lives of those that inspire us; some say it’s nosey, we prefer curious. Stay connected with us as we give more glimpses into the morning routines of other successful women next month. If you’re still hungry to see more hustle – take a look at how seven female leaders spend their first hour at work.
No comments:
Post a Comment