Coffee Chat with Inspirational Women: Featuring Jasmin Zunzunia
Welcome to my third post in my new series called “Coffee Chat.” This series is focused on inspirational women who love their jobs and want to inspire other women to find their passions and transform their lives. Today’s coffee chat features the talented, Jasmin Zunzunia, who is Fashion Personal Stylist. Keep reading to hear all about Jasmin’s life and her new endeavors.
1. Name, where you live and one fun random fact about you to break the ice with our readers.
Jasmin Zunzunia, San Diego, my dad is from India and my mom is from Germany. Whenever someone tries to guess my ethnicity I get everything BUT Indian and German!
2. Describe what the day in the life looks like for you?
Every day is different, which is something I’m still getting used to! One day I can be planning content and shooting pictures for my new blog Geek Turned Chic, the following day I can be styling clients one-on-one and working with a line of couture clothing I represent, and another day I can be meeting with other creative, like-minded women to brainstorm with and most importantly SUPPORT one another on our journeys.
Growing up I loved math and computers, but looking back I loved fashion more! You get to a certain point in your life where you realize you spend at least one-third of your day at work and another portion of your day talking (and stressing!) about work, so you might as well do something you’re PASSIONATE about.
4. What was your very first step to get you where you are today in your career?
Letting go of a stable 10-year career at a Fortune 500 company was my first step to get where I am today. Sometimes when you hold on too tightly to something you realize you just need to LET. IT. GO. When I left my corporate job I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next, but I knew I had to take that leap of faith into completely unknown territory. As a former risk-averse person, I now consider myself a calculated risk taker 🙂
5. What is one challenge you had to overcome in order to reach happiness with your career?
The biggest challenge I’ve had to overcome is to not focus on the money, which can be really difficult after having a steady, six-figure income paycheck. What I’ve realized is that making money my #1 priority is what got me into the wrong career in the first place. I had the best intentions because I wanted to be financially independent, but what I’ve learned is that my happiness (and mental peace!) comes first. As cliché as it sounds, figure out what you LOVE doing (I went back to my childhood to figure this out!) and then try to build something around that. Your first few or first 10 attempts might not work out but keep going!
6. What are three habits you would recommend to someone pursing their dream career in fashion?
Do your homework! There are so many angles and niches in the fashion world. When people think about fashion they automatically think you have to be a designer and you don’t.
Consider non-traditional routes. I didn’t go to fashion school (and sometimes wish I did!) but depending on what you want to do in the industry, fashion school isn’t the only option.
Remember that where you start isn’t where you’re going to end. We all have to start somewhere and more often than not things aren’t as glamorous as they seem, but I truly believe that everything we have done brings us to where we are today.
7. How would you describe your support network? Who’s in it?
My parents are my biggest support system. My mom provides me with fashion advice and a LOT of emotional support on a daily (and sometimes hourly!) basis. I don’t know what I would do without her. My dad is a CPA and has owned his own business for over 30 years so he provides me with all of my business and financial advice (at no cost!) 🙂
8. What’s one skill you’re currently working, that will help you further your career?
Sales sales sales! As a business owner you are selling your brand, your message, a product and/or service. This is quite a change for me from the corporate world so I have a lot to learn.
9. To balance out your work life, what’s your fitness and health regime?
I love hikes at Torrey Pines State Reserve in La Jolla and hot yoga. I get some of my best ideas while hiking and the only time my mind is truly at rest is during hot yoga. Sugar is my vice–I’d rather eat dessert than dinner but I try to eat gluten free and dairy free most (but not ALL!) of the time.
10. What is one book that helped you on your career journey that you would recommend?
Girl Code by Cara Alwill Leyba. Starting your own business can be extremely lonely, and I don’t think anyone really warns you about that. There are a lot of days where you think things are not going to work out so those are the times when I reach for this book (it never gets old!)
#BossBabe #Careerwomen #Careeradvice #Supportwomen #Career #Womenpower #Coffeechat