We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kristina S. Lechuga. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kristina S. below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Kristina S. with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
We both get our work ethic from our families. Both our grandparents came to this country for a better life and worked endlessly to provide and care for their families. You could say we inherited the “work ethic” gene. Once I started working in the film industry, I quickly learned that if you want to keep working, it’s up to you. You have to be self motivated and work hard to keep up with the pace of film production.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
During the summer of 2016, my business partner and husband, Linh T. Nguyen, was working in Oklahoma City. The heat and humidity made everything stick to you, and wearing a surveillance coil around your ear was already uncomfortable. Add the heat and sweat, and it became unbearable. For those unfamiliar, these surveillance headsets are essential for on-set communication through two-way radios. On his day off, Linh was roaming around a hardware store when he got the idea to wrap a surveillance coil. Once he figured out a prototype, he passed them around to his crew members to test. Soon after, we found ourselves taking orders via text message and email, and sometimes, running to the post office to ship out Walkie Woogies before our call times. We realized our casual sales approach was inefficient. Setting up a website for sales and information was something we wished we had done earlier. It was a great feeling to have everything organized through an online marketplace, giving us more time to concentrate on our product. In 2019, we officially trademarked Walkie Woogie’s, a significant milestone for our company. It showed us that we had a viable product on the market. We can confidently say that Walkie Woogies are being sold and distributed worldwide, with multiple vendors in Europe, Asia, and Australia. We ship just about anywhere in the world!
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?
1. Early in my career, I received some valuable advice: save for a rainy day. As a freelancer, you never know when your next job will come. It’s crucial to have savings to tide you over during those lean times.
2. I believe in staying curious. Keeping an open mind leads to new opportunities for learning and growth. Walkie Woogies is a perfect example. The idea came about organically, and we simply went with it, never expecting it would turn into a company. Whether it’s work, a personal project, or even self-care, make time to explore your interests.
3. Prioritizing self-care is essential, even when life gets busy. Whether it’s meditation, a run, cooking a healthy meal, or any activity that soothes your mind and body, find what works for you. Even a few minutes of meditation can bring a sense of calm and ease to my day. Think of it like the airplane safety announcement: secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others. Taking care of yourself enables you to better care for yourself and your loved ones.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
We’ve definitely had our share of challenges these past two years. Our biggest customer? They work on film sets. So, when the writers and actors went on strike in 2023, it really threw the whole industry for a loop. That, of course, impacted us directly in 2023 and 2024, and honestly, we’re still feeling the effects in 2025. Since Walkie Woogies are so popular in the film world, our business took a hit too. We’ve had to get creative and find new markets to keep things going. The good news is, we make all our Walkie Woogies right here in California, which means we can whip up custom colors and fill orders!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://walkiewoogies.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walkiewoogies/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WalkieWoogies/
Image Credits
Linh T. Nguyen
Kristina S. Lechuga
Abby Hauptman
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
