Meet April Le

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful April Le. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with April below.

Hi April, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?

Self-care isn’t just something I carve out in the evening or on weekends. It’s woven into the fabric of my daily life, a 24/7 commitment to my well-being. I prioritize myself, which means savoring home-cooked meals most nights, embracing takeout when we’re too tired to cook, and indulging in a special treat now and then. It’s about getting my heart rate up and challenging my muscles with weights four times a week. It’s both receiving and giving massages, honoring my body’s need for rest with 7 hours of sleep each night, and luxuriating in weekend lie-ins.
My self-care thrives in moments of connection – laughing with my mom and sister, and finding comfort in the audio messages of thunder and rain my dad sends from the Philippines. It’s in the unbridled joy of spontaneous dance parties with my husband and daughter. It’s allowing myself a cathartic cry during therapy and relishing that perfect stretch after a good night’s sleep. It’s the unexpected delight of spotting a vibrant purple thistle in an otherwise dry, brown path.
I nurture my relationships through texts to best friends and our regular Zoom calls – a pandemic-born ritual we’ve kept alive. Playing with my daughter and sharing K-drama nights with my husband are integral parts of my self-care routine. Prayer and meditation, which I see as two sides of the same coin, ground me and provide spiritual nourishment.
I used to think self-care meant taking time out of your life to de-stress, so I tried it all: acupuncture, massage, craniosacral therapy, Rolfing, cupping – you name it, I did it. While these practices helped, I’ve discovered that true self-care is simply living my life as a continuous act of nurturing myself.
When I want to cry, I cry. I encourage my daughter to do the same. When I feel like singing, I sing. This approach to life fuels my creativity and motivation. It makes me feel like anything is possible because I’m honoring every facet of my experience – the joys, the sorrows, the mundane, and the extraordinary. By fully engaging with life rather than escaping from it, I’ve found a deeper, more sustainable form of self-care that empowers me to pursue all the things I want to do.

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?

I am April Ordoñez Le, the creative force behind Ordoñez Le and Casa de Goddess. Ordoñez Le is my passion project – a small-batch, handcrafted jewelry line that caters to those who understand that time is their most precious luxury. Each piece is a testament to this philosophy, designed to be both beautiful and meaningful. Alongside this, I run Casa de Goddess, a print-on-demand design shop that allows me to express my creativity in a different medium.
Ordoñez Le came to life in 2023, and by 2024, it had blossomed into my full-time pursuit. Every piece of jewelry bearing the Ordoñez Le name is lovingly designed and crafted by my own hands in my intimate San Diego studio. I work with an array of stunning gemstones, complemented by gold-filled chains and components, to create pieces that are either unique one-of-a-kind treasures or part of carefully curated limited editions.
My creations are more than just accessories – they’re perfect for those seeking a special gift that carries meaning and intention. I take pride in ensuring that each order is presented in beautiful packaging, reflecting the care that goes into every piece. In line with my commitment to sustainability, I use reusable and recyclable materials for packaging, minimizing our environmental footprint.
At Ordoñez Le, we believe that jewelry should be as unique and precious as the moments it celebrates. Whether you’re treating yourself or searching for that perfect gift, our pieces are designed to be cherished, serving as daily reminders of life’s beauty and the value of our time.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

One – When you’re starting out and can’t afford to hire help, you need to be a jack-of-all-trades. I’m bringing on my first part-time employee this year, but until now, I’ve been doing everything solo. For both my businesses, I wear every hat imaginable. I design the shirts, source jewelry components, create logos, craft the pieces, and taught myself to use Shopify and Etsy. I built the websites, learned about affiliate marketing and how to pitch to journalists, manage all social media, take photos, design the lookbook, and write the captions. Basically, I run the whole show.
Two – My 15+ years of digital marketing experience is a huge advantage. It gives me complete confidence in handling that crucial aspect of my businesses.
Three – You’ve got to be persistent. Or maybe “obsessed” is a better word. Without passion and drive, what’s the point of doing this?
My advice? Take courses on things you want to learn or improve. Want to understand PR? Take a class. Interested in jewelry-making? Sign up for a workshop. Curious about how AI can help your business? Learn how to use it. Knowledge is power, especially when you’re running your own show.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

Until a few weeks ago, I was running both my businesses full-time. Now, I’m a director at a biotech company, which has shifted my focus. Time and resources are my main challenges. It’s tough to come home after a full workday and still have energy for creating, posting, and all the tasks that used to fill my entire day.
Letting go of running my jewelry and design shop full-time was difficult, but I’ve come to appreciate the benefits. These businesses can now be side hustles, and I can hire help. This new challenge is actually exciting because it’s pushing me to scale both companies in ways I hadn’t considered before.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ordonezle.com/ and https://casadegoddess.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ORDONEZLEJEWELRY and https://www.instagram.com/casadegoddess/