We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jennifer Young a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
My resilience has been forged over time through the numerous challenges I have encountered throughout my life. In the first grade, I underwent my initial surgery—a spinal fusion aimed at halting the progression of severe scoliosis. The recovery process required a significant amount of time in the hospital, followed by the need to relearn how to walk. Subsequently, I endured six months in a body cast, followed by a brace. While the experience was far from enjoyable, I was determined not to let it impede my enjoyment of childhood and friendships.
Although my family provided unwavering support and love, they were not inclined to coddle anyone. My upbringing emphasized responsibilities, commitments, and resilience regardless of the circumstances. Learning the concept of mind over matter at an early age played a crucial role in developing strength during challenging times.
In high school, I faced two more back surgeries while simultaneously serving as the captain of my field hockey team and contributing to the financial responsibilities of attending private school. This period was undoubtedly one of the most challenging in my life. Upon graduating, I embarked on the journey to college, officially moving away from my parents’ house. With the support of my sister, I spent six months in her house in another state before finding roommates, securing a steady job, and enrolling in the next semester of college. My primary objective was to achieve self-sufficiency, independence, and personal success.
This determination led me to take on multiple jobs while attending school, if necessary. Although not an ideal situation, facing adversity at a young age and learning from others how to cope and overcome challenges significantly contributed to building resilience over time. Fast forward to the present, and I have lived in four different states, relocated across the country, and accumulated over 20+ years of experience in the corporate and independent side of the fashion industry. Today, I am proud to run my own company.
This journey has not only equipped me with the resilience needed to overcome entrepreneurial challenges but also inspired me to share these experiences with my son, helping him build his resilience in the face of adversity.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Together with my co-founder, Jessica Elliot, we created our contemporary jewelry brand called ELLIOT YOUNG, a play on both our last names. Our brand is what we like to call an IMPACT brand. Our mission is not only to create beautiful, contemporary fine jewelry but also to make a positive social impact on youth crises across the United States. As mothers, our commitment to youth welfare drives us. We actively support charitable organizations addressing youth crises in Los Angeles, Seattle, and across the United States. We have initiated the EY Impact Program, where we collaborate with non-profit and youth-focused organizations to support programs addressing youth crises.
Jessica and I have over two decades of collective experience in the jewelry and fashion industry. We’ve worked with major retailers and independent designer brands, wearing many hats from design to buying and planning. We started our company in 2019, just before the pandemic. As you can imagine, this was not ideal timing, but somehow, we survived and made it work! We sell to one major retailer and several independents, as well as through our website. We have been nominated twice by the Accessories Council of America for Design Excellence in Social Impact. We were also chosen for the Designer Spotlight by Zales Jewelers.
Our designs infuse a contemporary edge with our hallmark two-tone, mixed-metal styling featuring precious metals and stones. We launch new styles each season that will always complement our current products, perfect for the EY collector and clients who love to layer their looks. We also create custom pieces for clients, as well as for our impact partners who are nonprofits supporting youth crises. A percentage of every piece we sell goes back to supporting these organizations with programs for youth crises. We have several pop-up events each season, so be on the lookout for an event near you and come to say hi and make an impact with us!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The qualities that were and continue to be most impactful on my journey are curiosity, self-motivation, and determination.
Curiosity is the drive to keep learning – to be a sponge and soak up all the knowledge we can from mentors or even people we don’t agree with. We are still learning what we want to take from it or what we don’t.
Self-motivation is what gets you started. We must have self-motivation to get going, and determination is what helps us finish what we started and meet our goals.
My advice is patience. Sometimes, it is a slow burn, and things don’t always happen as quickly as we would like. That is a part of the journey too. If it came easily, we wouldn’t learn from it or evolve with new ways of doing things.
To improve or develop, you could listen to podcasts, read self-motivational books, or look at others you admire and follow them on social media to learn from them. There is so much access to tools or people now; use them and don’t try to do it alone. Find advisors and mentors to help you through it.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
Our ideal client is a dynamic woman aged between 35 and 55, seamlessly balancing a career-driven mindset with a strong commitment to family. As mothers, they embody the essence of being both nurturing and professionally ambitious. Our ideal client is not just a consumer; she is a woman with a heart for her community, always eager to give back. She effortlessly blends a stylish and trend-right aesthetic, favoring timeless elegance over fleeting trends. With a passion for travel and an eye for interior design, she curates spaces that reflect her refined taste. Surrounding herself with a circle of close girlfriends and family is paramount, as these relationships are central to her life. Embracing the joy of shopping, she values quality and uniqueness over price-conscious decisions, appreciating the artistry and craftsmanship in each carefully chosen piece.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elliotyoungla.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliotyoungjewelry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliotyoungjewelry
Image Credits
Erin Wagnild
