Meet Stephanie Gerardino

We were lucky to catch up with Stephanie Gerardino recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I grew up surrounded by art and design—it was an essential part of my family’s everyday life. My dad was a painter and worked in advertising, and our home was like a gallery, filled with collectible pieces, from African masks to mobiles hanging from the ceiling. These influences sparked my creativity from a young age and made it clear to me that my path would naturally lead to the world of art and design.

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?

I studied Advertising Communications, but even before starting my degree, I knew I had a strong inclination toward graphic design. After graduating, I traveled to New York to take specialized courses in this field.

I have always been passionate about jewelry—something I inherited from my mother—so, through graphic design, I found the opportunity to create acrylic earrings and ventured into this world by launching my brand, Magnolias Statement Pieces. Beyond designing the earrings, I handle (almost) everything from conceptualization to digital marketing and other tasks that keep the brand growing.

Over the years, I’ve not only managed to build my own brand but also collaborated with prominent local brands, designing and creating content for them. This year, after five years of hard work, we took a significant step by opening a store in the heart of the city, experiencing exponential growth for which I am incredibly grateful.

Music is another constant source of inspiration in my creative process. For the past eight years, I’ve also been working as a DJ, a passion that has become an essential part of my life and creative journey.

I’m also a proud mother of two incredible children who inspire me every single day. Balancing these roles has been both a challenge and a joy, fueling my drive to create and innovate

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

I believe that what has helped me the most throughout this journey is having the drive to take the first step—to learn by researching, asking questions, or simply doing. I have always been very curious, a dreamer, and creative. I’m the daughter of an artist who believed that anything he dreamed of could become a reality.

Entrepreneurship is not an easy path, but it is incredibly rewarding. So, the advice I would give to those who have an idea they want to bring to life is this: take action, don’t wait until you know everything. Start where you are, with what you have, and let the journey teach you along the way.

Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?

This past year has been a significant creative challenge for me, both due to personal reasons and the opening of my store. At times, I felt creatively stuck, especially during the process itself. As entrepreneurs, we often take on multiple roles that, in a more traditional business structure, would be handled by different people.

The most important area of growth for me has been reconnecting with my faith and confidence as an artist. A key part of this journey was a book my husband gifted me, The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Since I began reading it, I’ve recommended it to many others. It has been instrumental in helping me clear my mind through journaling and has encouraged me to trust myself more deeply as a creative professional.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.magnoliasdr.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magnolias.pieces
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-gerardino-39b44a25/?originalSubdomain=do

Image Credits

Robert Gómez – Photographer