We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Samantha Hertz a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Samantha, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hope that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
Throughout my life, I have struggled significantly with anxiety, which at times has been debilitating. However, I have come to view my anxiety as a superpower. This gift of catastrophic thinking allows me to foresee potential issues, thoroughly consider every possible outcome, and devise solutions for any problem that may come my way. In many ways, anxiety has been advantageous for me; it ensures that I am always prepared and ready for anything. As an excellent event planner, I anticipate every detail that could go wrong and have already identified multiple solutions for each potential issue. My anxiety also motivated me in my corporate jobs, driving me to be the first one in and the last one out. My fear of being late or viewed as lazy pushed me to succeed in ways I never imagined for myself. I have learned not only how to cope with my anxiety but also how to harness it, grow from it, and use it to my advantage.
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?
When I left my managerial position at a prestigious luxury fashion company, I took a leap of faith. Having worked in luxury retail, I managed visual experiences in stores, coordinated the production of pop-up events and window displays, handled logistics, managed budgets, and navigated the global fashion market for high-end Italian brands. This experience made me uniquely qualified to help people plan their special events, with a focus on weddings and mitzvahs. I felt I was in a prime position to curate their dreams. Working in the fashion industry instilled in me an unmatched attention to detail and a luxurious approach to operations. Since leaving my corporate role, I have orchestrated and organized numerous highend weddings. During the off-season, I developed a luxury concierge service that has been tremendously successful. This service curates everything from exotic trips to Europe and the Middle East to personal shopping and styling for high-end clients. I also collaborate with musicians to plan personal events, ensuring the best possible experience for my clients and their loved ones. In addition to what I call “life styling,” I have begun working as a luxury consultant specializing in visual experiences and business development. I assist fashion brands in revamping and elevating their visual identity. While these elements may appear somewhat disjointed, I am focused on achieving my goal of curating unique experiences for clients through art, fashion, music, food, and much more.
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?
The three most important qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that have been most impactful on my journey are hard work, dedication, and persistence. I attended the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), where every student juggles a full course load, a low-paying job, and often an internship. The motivating environment at FIT encourages students to strive harder and pursue their goals. When I first started college, I realized that having only one internship and lacking salary-producing work experience put me at a disadvantage. To overcome this, I took the initiative to get a job at my favorite store steaming clothes in the back of the store, allowing me to develop skills I would later use to get the internship of my dreams. When it came time to seek an internship, I actively researched every company and position I was interested in. I reached out to individuals whose jobs I aspired to through LinkedIn, persistently following up until someone agreed to speak with me. Upon graduating, I had just completed an internship at an esteemed luxury fashion company, and I was eager to work for them. I loved every moment of my internship and worked diligently to prove my worth, always going above and beyond whenever possible. At that time, there were no job openings, but I made sure to stay on their radar. For an entire year, while I worked at a different job, I emailed various team members each month—alternating who I contacted and when. In these emails, I expressed my eagerness to join their team, highlighted my availability, and referenced work that I admired from them. Through dedication and persistence, I ensured that the team knew I was ready when they needed me. When a position finally opened, I was the first person they called, and I got the job. I can sincerely say that with hard work, dedication, and persistence, anything is possible.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
My favorite quote is: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent,” by Eleanor Roosevelt. I have reflected on this quote countless times in various circumstances. When I discovered the book “My Year With Eleanor,” I knew it was a must-read. In the memoir by Noelle Hancock, she shares her experience of losing a job and everything seemingly crucial in her life. During this challenging time, she comes across another quote by Eleanor Roosevelt: “Do one thing that scares you every day.” Inspired by this, Hancock embarks on a journey of self-discovery by committing to do one scary thing each day. Through her experiences, she learns and teaches several important lessons:
1. Confronting Fear Can Lead to Growth; by stepping outside her comfort zone daily and facing various big and small fears, there is the opening to discovering new strengths, insights, and opportunities for personal growth.
2. The Importance of Self-Discovery Pushing boundaries and challenging oneself are potent ways to understand better who you are and what you are capable of.
3. Courage is a Habit: Courage isn’t an innate trait but a skill that can be developed with consistent effort. Small, everyday actions can help cultivate bravery over time.
4. Embracing Imperfection: Hancock’s journey isn’t perfect, and the book highlights the humor, humanity, and even the stumbles involved in attempting to live a fearless life.
Eleanor Roosevelt’s life and philosophy serve as a guide and a reminder that resilience and courage are key to navigating life’s challenges, providing a sense of direction and inspiration. I take these lessons daily and frequently re-read the book for positive motivation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.saturdaysinthesun.com
- Instagram: @saturdaysinthesun
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthahertz
Image Credits
CAROLINE ROCCHETTA PHOTOGRAPHY
MADISON FENDER
JOSEPH LIN PHOTOGRAPHY
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
