We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Viola Choice a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Viola with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I definitely get my work ethic from my parents. I saw my parents work hard my whole life just to give me the best. My dad is an entrepreneur and my worked the same Job at the post office for almost 40 years. Neither of them went to college but they made sure I did. My parents always instilled the value of hard work in me and pushed me to challenge myself. They taught me how to be independent and how to work hard for what I want.
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?
Hello, my name is Viola Choice and I’m a business owner, fashion stylist, designer and Fashion show director. I fell in love with fashion at a young age. From having the play fashion shows with my cousins to playing in my moms heels, I always knew I had a passion for expressing myself through my outfit. I always just dressed like myself but when I won best dressed in high school, it gave me confidence to take fashion seriously. Following high school I attended Clark Atlanta University. My sophomore year of college I suffered from a major tragedy in my life. My boyfriend, and best friend Keenon, passed away unexpectedly. I was so lost and was looking for anything to make me happy again. That’s when I started my business. I began selling glasses and accessories and over the past 7 years I’ve grown to clothing as well. These past 7 years have been a huge blessing. Over 5 magazines, multiple collections, over 10 fashion shows and counting. My purpose is to spread motivation and to show others that no matter what you been through , you can still make the CHOICE to have an amazing life.
I am now located in Oakland, CA and ship everywhere! I am also the fashion show coordinator of TRAPXART Oakland, which is truly my dream job!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The 3 most important aspects of my journey that I’ve learned is to always be open to learning. Never think you know it all, always be coachable. Second, don’t compare your journey to anyone else, be yourself and trust your own authenticity. And Lastly, don’t be afraid to start small. Don’t let things like not having enough money or resources hold you back, start somewhere.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
My biggest area of growth has been my development as a leader. While I’m a business owner and manager of a major production company, I’m also a mother. Being a mom is the most joyful gift, but it has taught me so much about trusting myself as a leader. I used to be nervous when speaking to a large crowd or when put in leadership positions but now I have embraced it and chose to do the work and learn how to be an amazing leader. Taking this leap of faith has showed me that im more than capable and im so excited to continue grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: chosenofficial.com
- Instagram: @vchoice_
- Linkedin: Virginia Viola Choice
- Other: Tik Tok : violachoice
Image Credits
@framedbytwoface @artbyblack
