We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marlene Perez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marlene below.
Marlene, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
My resilience comes from many different areas. But one that truly helps me move forward is self-reflection. I always try to look at every situation, relationship, or circumstance to see what I can learn from it. What I could have done differently? Or could I have handled it better? I think it’s so important. We all go through things at different points in our life but I believe that each challenge is to stretch and prune us. Even though while we are going through it it definitely does not feel like it. For me, some of the hardest moments nearly crumbled me… I felt defeated. Yet even in those difficult times there was something I gained. There was something good that came out of it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Well after graduating from The Art Institute with a degree in fashion design I thought I would start my career in New York, but life had other plans. I embarked on a professional journey in retail management, and what I initially saw has a road block has taught me some very fundamental lessons in business and fashion. I have worked for such companies has Ann Taylor, Restoration Hardware, J.Jill and The Jones Group. While in school I interned at Joan Shepp, a high end boutique in luxe area of Rittenhouse square in Philadelphia. It was there at Joan Shepp that I discovered my love for visual merchandising and rediscovered my love for business.
Through the years I continued to mature in my craft. In 2016, I went back to school as a full time student at Jefferson University for a degree in business management. Working full time and enrolled in school allowed me to put the daily lessons into practice both in school and at work. In 2019, I was invited to become a member of The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS). NSLS is a nationally recognized leadership honor society where candidacy is based on academic standings and leadership potential.
Currently I have started a few different business ventures. PuppyLVE, an online dog boutique and Et.for(t)less, an online gently used and new clothing store. PuppyLVE is open for business and Et.for(t)less will be live at the end of October 2023.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. When I was younger I was quite timid, and by quite I mean a lot. I wasn’t the coolest person. Never really had friends growing up, and thusly I was afraid to speak or ask questions because I thought I was only going to get made fun off or look at differently. Unfortunately, that fear carried over into my professional line of work in the early years. It wasn’t until one of my bosses empowered me to ask questions. Reenforced in me, that there is no wrong questions. Because if you’re thinking it good chances that someone else is thinking it too.
Nowadays, I ask questions no matter what. Whether to seek understanding or for others who maybe afraid to ask.
2. Patience. Patience is key. As a leader and in life patience is necessary. I’ve had the privilege of working with many different people from different walks of life, and different cultures. Each with their own opinion, viewpoints and ideas, and it has been very rewarding.
3. Keep learning, keep listening. Knowledge is power. I always say, there is a lesson to learn every day. No matter how small that lesson.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
A book that has helped me tremendously in my professional walk is 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It’s one that I try to listen to at least once a year (I have the audio version). Life can get so hectic, work, home, kids, spouse, but this book has helped me refocus. Some of the nuggets of wisdom that I can deposit into someone from the book are put first things first. What’s really important. Yes, we all have to work, but when work becomes the priority in my life it’s time to take a step back and reflect. Next, is begin with the end in mind—how do I want to be remembered. There are so many more nuggets, but those are the two I am focusing on this year.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.marleneaperez.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlene-a-perez
- Other: www.PuppyLVE.com
