We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Breyana Wright a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Breyana, really appreciate you joining us to talk about a really relevant, albeit unfortunate topic – layoffs and getting fired. Can you talk to us about your experience and how you overcame being let go?
I’ve actually gotten laid off twice. Both lay offs happened the same way, around the same time frame, and I experienced the same wave of emotions. The first time that I got laid off I knew it was coming. I had been praying for a way out of my toxic work environment for months, but when an opportunity arose I would be scared to take the leap because I was getting paid well and had a pretty good schedule. At that time I was working in corporate and I wanted a visual merchandising job so I could return to the fashion industry and hone my skills. While looking for jobs I actually found a visual merchandising role and applied. They called me in for an interview and the week before my interview my entire department got laid off. Most people were crying, sad, and in shambles, but the experience was peaceful and freeing for me.
The second time that I got laid off it happened a few years later. It happened towards the beginning of the year just like my previous layoff, I was in corporate once again (but this time for fashion), and I felt the layoff coming. The only difference was the people weren’t toxic, it was how we were being worked that was toxic. In this role I worked from home so I was about to clock in for my shift and my credentials weren’t working. I opened my email to let my manager know what was going on and saw that I (and my whole team) had been relieved our duties and that our roles were being eliminated. I cried tears of joy and once again felt that peaceful feeling.
Both layoffs have showed me that I was destined to pursue entrepreneurship. From those experiences, I’ve now learned how to pivot when challenging situations occur and it’s also been a huge motivator for me to work hard in my business. Although I felt peace when those situations occurred, I never want a company to have that much control over my livelihood. So after that second layoff I decided to work on Styled by Breyana full time.
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 name is Breyana Wright and I’m a personal brand stylist and the founder of Styled by Breyana. Styled by Breyana is a virtual style consulting firm for entrepreneurs and career professionals in management. What makes our style consulting firm so unique is that we offer a full service experience (we offer garment care products to keep clothing look fresh and well maintained, classic, timeless, and well made clothing options that can be worn year after year, and premium styling services that help our clients stand out in their industry). Our goal is to help entrepreneurs and career professionals dress professionally while also showcasing their own personal style so they can boost their confidence, show up authentically, and grow their business/career.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, I think the most impactful skills on my journey have been marketing, creativity, and the ability to pivot. I think that these skills are best developed through real life experiences. The more that you implement these skills while working in or on your business, the more you can improve in each of these areas. That’s exactly what I did and it changed my business completely! As a result, I’ve been able get really clear about my audience and who I serve and create some unique ideas that make me stand out as a stylist.
How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client is an entrepreneur or career professional in management that desires more out of their business/career. They want to increase their salary, they want that promotion, they want to look amazing and well groomed when meeting with prospects and clients, and they want to stand out in their industry. They understand that they can achieve these goals by making an investment into their wardrobe and image and are willing to do so to stay a step ahead of their competitors.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.styledbybreyana.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/styledbybreyana
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Styledbybreyana
Image Credits
Drae Brown Photography
