Meet Taleen Akopyan

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Taleen Akopyan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Taleen, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
Both my parents were hard working immigrants and did the best they could to instill similar values in me and my siblings. I have been working ever since I remember, during high school and throughout college. I’ve also had the opportunity to work with some of the best peers, mentors and LEADERS, from whom I’ve learned valuable lessons! I’m a huge believer that a strong work ethic is vital for success in any profession.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My education and career background are in business and finance which have helped tremendously with starting the PurseRehab venture! However, I’m super excited to have an opportunity to expand my artistic skills, learning from our team of experts and especially my husband/partner who is a master craftsman and has led the business over the past 30 years. We have the unique skills to think outside the box and find solutions for projects that are not repairable by most fashion houses or repair shops; be it a burnt bag, a torn/cut up one, or one that has intricate repairs including vintage and exotic handbags. We have also mastered the skill of color matching and color changing CHANEL and HERMES bags without compromising the texture and original look of the bag. Similarly, we have the ability to patina most natural Varchetta leather(primarily used with Louis Vuitton bags) to match parts of the leather not being replaced. I’m proud to say, I’ve almost perfected the “patina’ing” skill and those projects are headed by me!

An area we’ve seen tremendous growth and great satisfaction is upcycling material. This is where we repurpose designer material like Louis Vuitton, Gucci or Goyard and create new smaller pieces. Some of our popular creations are repurposed Birkenstocks, Apple watch bands, Hello Kitty key chains, card holders and bracelets. Not only is this a great way save material from landfill but it allows for an opportunity to celebrate our team’s artisanal work and old school craftsmanship!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
To be successful at work, you need to be organized, have strong leadership and communication skills, and most importantly, be able to say “no”. This is something I’m continuously working on, and it’s not easy! On a recent podcast I listen to regularly, “Think Fast, Talk Smart” one of the guests discussed the idea of “Empowered Refusal” basically, it’s the difference between saying, “I can’t” or “I don’t” One denotes, disempowerment and the latter allows for persuasion and reduces push back! I have discovered when I say, “no” it opens up room for more important “yes’s!”
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
So many people to thank for helping me build my character and strength to overcome challenges and obstacles along the road. Be it my teachers, colleagues, mentors, but more importantly myself for not letting life’s challenges paralyze me, as difficult as some may have been, and I am sure more will be ahead.  I’ve learned to accept each challenge and take it head on. Of course, having a strong support system at home helps.  Without my family and husband pushing myself harder and taking risks may not have been possible!

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Image Credits
PurseRehab

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