Tell us a bit about yourself! How did you get started with your current career path/business journey?

After struggling to find a corporate path that aligned with my desire for sustainable luxury, I started focusing more on creating the type of business and product I would be proud of. My partner and I created Alterre with the dream of making sustainable fashion both accessible and functional. As avid travelers we also craved a product that would satiate our need for versatility without bloating our tiny New York closets. We were ultimately led to creating Alterre because the interchangeable straps are so simple to use and answered all of our needs.

How are you overcoming challenges during the pandemic as a business owner?

Whew! 2020 has been quite the whirlwind for us and in many ways a blessing. Since our sales plummeted this year, we took this opportunity to look into the nooks and crannies of our business. For me, that meant mostly focusing on accounting, customer service, social media, and shipping/handling. That's a lot of hats to be wearing in areas I don't specialize in! So, I started asking for help from friends in different industries. While we couldn't afford to bring them on full time, it was incredibly useful to do brainstorming sessions and restructure things based on their input. I also started looking for opportunities like being a Luminary! Best. Life. Choice. As a business, we hired fashion business consultants to help us do a SWOT analysis and address our overall weaknesses. Lastly, we closed our office in New York after realizing the money saved could go toward outsourcing the most time consuming menial tasks. Now, working from home feels like a blessing because we're ultimately in a better place for 2021.

What behavior or personality trait do you most attribute your success to, and why?

Being genuine and kind. There have been so many moments when someone I had met randomly or lost touch with will reach out a few years later with an opportunity we need.

What’s a mistake you made early on in your career, and what did you learn from it?

What’s one professional skill you’re currently working on?

In what ways are you taking care of your personal well being and what are your #selfcare tips?

I'm honestly still working on this. It's been an uphill battle to carve out time for myself, and I struggle with chronic stress . The two self care things I haven't sacrificed is making sure I sleep at least 6 hours a night and eat nutritious balanced meals. I do love to exercise though and hope to get back to it before the end of the year.

How are you inviting others to take a seat at the table #virtually?

I've been personally reaching out to other female entrepreneurs I know to ask what I can do to support them and what they need most right now. It's been a great opportunity to make intros or offer my time. I'm finding the opportunities can go both ways as well! As a business, we've also been opening our time to customers so they can meet with us virtually and ask any questions. We're additionally working on curating a networking opportunity for our Alterre community.

What impact has Luminary made in your career? eg: Business Generated, Revenue, New Clients, Career Connections, Advancement Opportunities