We’re looking forward to introducing you to Gina Agderian. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Gina, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I am fortunate to work with my husband and work from home, so my mornings are seldom rushed. I wake up and immediately drink 24 oz of water to hydrate. I then put my workout clothes on and make something to eat. Breakfast is usually steel-cut oats with banana and cinnamon or two eggs and a toasted English muffin with peanut butter. I get my movement in after breakfast, whether that’s a 45-minute walk, yoga, or weights. I then shower and begin my day!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I published my second novel The Faceless Woman in November 2025, which is available on Amazon. The story takes place in the fictional seaside town of Ocean Corner, NJ, where a young woman named Chloe keeps seeing a very familiar-looking woman walking around town. She then goes down a rabbit hole of family secrets that have been kept under lock and key for decades. The story is inspired by mental health awareness, family relationships, and generational trauma.
I am also the Chief Development Officer for Conrad’s Concessions, a premier concession rental company for events in the Tri-State area. My husband Adam started the business in 2008 while we were dating and still in college. He started out renting a couple of chocolate fountains, and the suite of products grew to include frozen drink machines, hot chocolate carts, popcorn carts, cotton candy carts, photo booths, and dozens of other products and services. We provide services for events such as weddings, baby/bridal showers, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, First Communions, etc., but corporate event rentals is where we really shine. Many of our carts are brandable and customizable using vinyl wrap, which is very common for brand activations and other corporate events. We’ve worked with household names such as Tiffany & Co., Google, Spotify, Intimissimi, JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch, and Meta, as well as many capital/PE firms and law firms that own or do business with well-known companies and brands. I work directly with clients to reserve their event date, and I also oversee social media, website copy, and all other marketing activities.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I had wanted to write and publish a book ever since I was a child. I have always loved to read, and writing a story gave me a creative outlet and a place for all my thoughts and ideas to go.
Amazon did not exist when I was a child in the ’90s and early ’00s, so I had always assumed that I would have to write a book that would catch the eye of an agent, who would then have to catch the eye of a publisher in order to get a book out into the world. This always seemed like such a daunting task and for years stopped me from trying to write a novel. I didn’t think that what I would write would be good enough, or that people would want to read it. I had such a fear of rejection that instead of putting myself out there and doing my best, I pushed off the dream of publishing a novel and told myself that it was for “other people” who supposedly had more talent than I did.
I then learned about self-publishing through Amazon, and after doing some research, I decided to go for it. The excuse of being afraid of getting rejected by an agent or publisher was gone, so I put in the work and self-published my first novel The Letters in the Old House. I hosted two book signings and was shocked when readers showed up! It feels like a warm hug every time someone tells me that they enjoyed reading one of my books.
The moral of the story is, don’t ever think that you are not “good enough” to do something that you want to do. You’ll regret more of what you didn’t do than what you did do.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I suffered with tremendous anxiety for most of 2019. I have always been an anxious person, but I was in a toxic work environment and my anxiety was at an all-time high. I couldn’t sleep, I was barely eating, and I did not feel like myself. I was fortunate enough to have a great support system and to find a therapist who armed me with tools to manage my anxiety, but I will never forget the kindness and compassion that was shown to me during that time. I remember having a panic attack while getting a pedicure, and I was sitting in the pedicure chair crying because I felt so horrible. The two sisters who own the nail salon that I’ve been going to for years sat and comforted me until I calmed down. One of the sisters said to me, “If you are ever not feeling good and you feel alone, you can always come to the salon and talk to me.” That kindness meant the world to me.
Suffering shows you just how strong you can be and also reveals the true character of those around you. My husband and parents did everything they could to help me. I still get anxious from time to time as I always have, but I’ve learned how to manage anxiety and change my thought patterns. Suffering with anxiety has helped me appreciate each and every day and has deepened my compassion and empathy in a way that success never could.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe that if someone was friends with me or nice to me that they automatically wanted the best for me. As my professional accomplishments have grown and as I’ve grown as a person, I have come to realize that this is simply not true. For this reason, I keep my circle very small. It is important to me to keep quality people in my life who cheer me on and who I can in turn cheer on. There are times when people will continue to stay in touch with you because they want fodder for their gossip mill, or they want to secretly loathe you. Anyone who is committed to misunderstanding me or gossiping about me is not someone that I want to have as part of my life, regardless of who they are or how long I’ve known them.
As we grow and change, I think it’s also important to match the energy that people give you. If someone is not going to clap for you, support you, or even put in the effort to keep in touch with you, then you must throw that right back to them. Putting energy into a friendship or any other type of relationship where it isn’t being reciprocated is a waste of time. In the past, I had given so many people the benefit of the doubt on multiple occasions, or say to myself, “They’re just busy” or, “They have a lot going on.” We ALL have a lot going on, whether it’s work, family, or just the general grind of life. I have learned to accept that relationships change and that there are some people who are just not meant to be in your life forever.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. Doing my best is about maintaining my personal brand. I never want to do just enough to skate by; I want to max out my potential and be the best I can be, regardless of who notices. External praise is great, but doing my best and doing the right thing is what helps me sleep at night.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gsellsseashells.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gsellsseashells/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-agderian-mba-652b5525/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gsellsseashells
- Other: https://conradsconcessions.com
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