Tag Archives: accomplishments

Goodbye 2014

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Our Wedding, September 4, 2014-Amalfi Coast, Italy

 

Hi Friends:

In my heart 2014 will forever be one of the best years of my life. It was a year of celebration, change and growth. Today, I will count all the blessings that came my way and be thankful for them.

Thank you for supporting me on this blogging adventure. I am still learning every day but I am so excited to bring to life the vision I have for this project! Great things to come-I am ready for you 2015! Bring it baby!!! 🙂

Happy New Year Friends!

 

XO

 

Q & A with Diana Heredia

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Hi Friends!

Happy Saturday! Today I have the honor to share with you my most recent chat with a friend. Diana Heredia is the Director of Textile Development for Jason Wu. She is incredible woman who is career-driven and inspired daily by her family and friends. She is a go-getter and continuously looks for ways to challenge herself with projects, hobbies and new travel experiences. I hope the interview motivates you to push yourself harder to do what you love!

Need a little more inspiration? Well then head over to Diana’s blog at www.goodgirlgone.com

Job title:  Director of Textile Development for Jason Wu.
Job Duties: Manage the development of raw materials for 4 ready to wear collections per year.
What is a typical day look like? 
I don’t really have a set routine…it all really depends on what I have going on that specific day. But usually I have breakfast immediately after I wake up… that currently consists of dry raisin bran cereal with a side of unsweetened apple sauce and a shot of carrot juice to take my vitamins. I don’t generally workout in the mornings because I like to work out in the evenings or weekends. I don’t like to put time restraints on my fitness, but I’ll do something quick- like a few pull-ups. I don’t plan what I will wear until the morning which is a problem…{she laughs}. I make it look effortless but sometimes I try many outfits before I  head to work… at times it takes at least four tries! A good day at work is if I can leave by 7PM and my scale of how good or bad my day is based on how productive I was on that day- how many things got accomplished. In the evenings, I’ll attend salsa socials or have dinner with friends. If I have had a really stressful day I do a lot of sit ups when I get home. I consider that a little reward to myself!
Who/What inspires you? 
I am completely driven by experiences. Honestly, the notion of me wanting to do it all inspires me to push myself to not only do my daily job but to make sure I’ve nurtured myself in all aspects of my life. My inspiration is the freedom I have to just be… It’s very liberating.
What are your hobbies?
Reading, running, dancing salsa and listening to live music.  Oh, and if traveling is considered a hobby then that, too.   
3 words that describe you? 
Intuitive, spontaneous and honest.
Talk to me about your project/blog Good Girl Gone. 
Good Girl Gone (GGG) became a personal project- it sort of happened organically. I had this idea, I spoke to friends about it and they pushed me to formalize it. It became a creative playground/outlet for me and also a way for me to connect with others outside of my career. It has evolved from the initial idea I first had. I guess over time it has become a personal representation of who I am. In essence, a modern day story of a curious girl living in NYC. GGG has given validity to my visions and has provided a platform for my ideas to come to life. 
Do you have any mentors?
My mentors are my sisters and my friends because they are my sense of reality. I tend to live in a dreamy world. What I do for a living is a bit more superficial and for some it can be unrealistic. So while I stress at work because a button didn’t match, I have my sister who is in law enforcement and deals with the safety and well-being of human lives. It just put things into perspective. They keep me grounded.
Do you have any regrets?
No, I don’t have regrets. I feel blessed.
Has fear ever stopped you from achieving something?
It has made me hesitant, but it hasn’t stopped me. Even when I get anxious about something, I work through it. I always tell myself, “what is the worst that can happen.” 
Do you have a specific cause/philanthropy you advocate for and care about?
 I don’t have a specific one. I am passionate about many. An experience dear to me is giving back on Thanksgiving to a women’s homeless shelter in the Bronx. A few friends and I provide a home cook meal for them. I think service is important and I believe it’s our duty as citizens of this world to honor humanity in one way shape of form. It’s humbling to be able to give back once in a while. 
Can you tell me what challenges you think ambitious and career-driven women face today? 
The fear of settling and not doing something to your full potential.  My biggest challenge is myself. I set myself to a high standard. If my name is associated with something, I want it to be credible.
Favorite city in the world?
Depends on my mood. For my life…New York because it has a sense of legitimacy. I am of Dominican descent and I have a sense of culture here, this feels like home… the music, the food, the language. There is a freedom here that I haven’t experienced elsewhere. And of course, the industry I have dedicated my career to thrives here. Right now, this feels right. My new favorite place to unwind is Puerto Rico. It’s a blend between DR and Miami. I love the convenience of it. No passport required, no need to exchange currency, my cell phone still works, great weather… works for me!  
Favorite NYC Restaurant? 
The Greek restaurant Periyali.
Describe your fashion style: 
I feel like I have a bipolar sense of style! I have times that I dress for the mature “grown-up” version of me, but at times I tap into the younger, urban girl who grew up in Uptown Manhattan (Washington Heights). Both lifestyles flourish equally in my life. In three words: understated, relevant and androgynous.
Career wisdom for young professional women? 
Authenticity goes a long way and having a sense of self should always prevail. I will also say if you can find a career that compromises your personal life and you don’t mind it, then you know you are on the right track.
Diana 1

Photo by: Orlando Manuel

Diana 2b

Photo by: Orlando Manuel

 

 

Q & A with Naira Musallam

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Hi Friends!

I couldn’t be more excited to finally start my Girl Talk Series with you all. This series is dear to my heart because I get the opportunity to share with you all the women I have met that inspire me with their work and passion to live life to the fullest.

I will start this series with my former Professor from NYU who I now have the honor to call my friend. She’s an incredible woman who has accomplished so much in her lifetime and yet is so humble about it all.

Background:

Naira Musallam is Clinical Assistant Professor of Global Affairs at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU. She holds a Ph.D. in Social-Organizational Psychology (2011) and an M.A. in Psychology in Education (2005) from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a B.A. in Psychology and Communication (2001) from Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Dr. Musallam has over ten years of experience consulting with multiple industries in the private sector on related research, governmental agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations. She is the recipient of awards and scholarships from the Earth Institute, Columbia University, and the U.S Department of State.

Current Job: Teaches National Security in the Middle East, Applied Statistics, Analytical Skills, Human Security at NYU.

What does a typical day look like?
I wake up between 5-530. I need to have coffee within 10 min. By 6AM, I  am already working out at the gym or running outside (for 2 hrs). At 9 AM, I enjoy a big breakfast and head out to teach. Some days I meet with friends after work and before winding down and sleeping, I enjoy 30 min of reading material that is not related to my career. So, adventure books…like books on climbing..etc.

If you weren’t a professor what else would you be doing?
I would own an “adventure company” that takes people not only to physical challenging places but also to ones intellectually stimulating. I would encourage people to learn and live more and learn about cultures.

Has fear ever stopped you from achieving something?
It has. I think fear is always there. Fear tells you that something is not “wise”.
I don’t like the term fearless…I think living without fear means to be disassociated from life. I see fear as something that just is…and you just learn to live with it and achieve your goals with it present. You dance with it. But It’s not a motivator. It simply just is.

Who/What inspires you?
Inspiration comes in different form. I often find it in a very non-heroic way…like the woman and men who go to work at 4AM…in a factory or my students….or the grocery owner…places and people you don’t expect. My mother is a central part of my inspiration. Her resilience, hard-work, generosity to the world with the means that she had inspired me. These things go deeper than inspiration…they become values. My mother is beyond inspiration… she shaped the way I’ve become and that’s not just inspiration…that is beyond…it’s a human being trying to shape the life of others. This is a way of life. It’s beyond inspiration.

What causes/issues are you passionate about?

I have a vision of living in a world where everyone is living in decency and free of suffering. Believing in this vision prompts me to support many causes including research to end diseases, poverty, and promote education, equality, peace, and taking care of our planet.

Do you have any mentors?
I don’t. But I have close people who I consult with and share my struggles with…and I get their opinion. I have different people who I can go to for different things.

In 10 years what would you like to see yourself doing?
I would like to be alive and healthy.

What are your hobbies?
Mountain climbing, Scuba diving, Traveling, the Outdoors, music, and reading. I spend  my time with family and friends.

Favorite climbing experience?

The Himalayas are my favorite climbing region. It’s majestic and you are surrounded by Buddhist monks who also happen to be the best and strongest climbers on this planet.

Favorite NYC Coffee shop?
Reggios Café

Favorite city in the world?

New York City and Kathmandu (capital of Nepal)

Career wisdom for young professional women?

Follow your passion. Hear what others have to say. And don’t listen to anyone.

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Naira climbing highest peak in Ecuador!

Naira climbing highest peak in Ecuador!

 

 

A Traveling Mongolian Man. Photographer: Naira Musallam.

A Traveling Mongolian Man. Photographer: Naira Musallam.