We were lucky to catch up with CHRISSY LIU recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have CHRISSY 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?
My grandparents on my dad’s side were immigrants from Italy. They came to this country and didn’t speak the language, nor did they go beyond an elementary school education. My grandfather was a cobbler (shoe maker/repair man) and my grandmother a seamstress. They raised two sons, both of whom received doctorate degrees. They valued education and hard work above all things. They were married just shy of 50 years.
My mom’s parents were decedents of Irish immigrants. My maternal grandfather fought in WWII under General Patton. He experienced some of the bloodiest most deadly battles. He liberated a concentration camp. He was awarded a bronze star. He worked for many years at one company, and even after retirement, he went to work for my mom at her travel agency. My grandmother lost her father in a mining accident when she was very young. She had to grow up quickly to help raise her younger siblings. During WWII, she went to work supporting the war effort. They were married over 50 years.
While my grandparents have very different life experiences, I was able to learn so much from each of them about hard work, about showing up even when things are tough, about resiliency and challenges, and most importantly about love.
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?
In search for a creative outlet after leaving my career as a healthcare administrator to be a stay-at-home mom, I took my first metalsmithing class in 2018 and was instantly hooked.
As an avid lover of fashion and jewelry, I have always been drawn to bold pieces. My love for big and bold stems from the fact that I am five feet tall and it drives me crazy when fashion dos and don’ts put parameters on what I should or shouldn’t be wearing because of my size.
As I learned to create jewelry, I naturally gravitated toward making bold pieces, and being a new mom, my primary goal was to make pieces that were wearable as well.
Fast forward to 2023, and Chrissy Liu Jewelry continues to grow year after year. This year, I was excited to launch my first ever solid gold collection.
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?
Looking back I would say the three key qualities and skills that had the most impact on my journey have been speaking my mind, never giving up, and learning to really listen to those around me.
As a woman, it can be hard to speak up and be heard. Many times in my career I stood alone when I spoke up, but I never let that stop me from standing up for myself or for what I felt was right in my workplace. Don’t ever be afraid to use your voice. Don’t stay in the shadows and let others take the lead. Be the leader of your own life and own the power of your voice.
Early on in my professional career, I left the practice of law to pursue a career in hospital administration. I had spent three years in law school studying and working hard so that I could become a lawyer, and when I was one, I realized that practicing law wasn’t what I wanted or thought it would be. I had to work that much harder to transition careers. I started at the bottom and worked my way up by never giving up. I never listened to the people who said “why would you want to do this and not law?;” “we aren’t hiring for lawyers, we have no use for someone like you;” “why would you waste your education?” Transitions can be hard and there will always be naysayers. The best advice I can give is to never give up. Show the haters why you are the best person for the role.
Working in all levels of a hospital taught me so many things, but most importantly, I learned the value of listening. There were times when I thought I knew best, based on my experience, based on what my superiors told me, based on data. However, when I stopped to actually listen to my colleagues, to really hear what they had to say, my worldview changed. I became a better leader, a better worker, and quite frankly, a better human. It can be easy to get into a routine at work, operating on autopilot; however, you will be missing an opportunity to create meaningful connections if you don’t stop and truly listen to what others around you are saying. We can all learn from each other.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am looking to partner with more retailers. I have found that working with retail partners is a true partnership. Building a relationship that is mutually beneficial for both parties takes time, open and honesty communication and most importantly, collaboration. I would love to expand my reach in the area to show my work in more stores.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chrissyliujewelry.com
- Instagram: ChrissyLiuJewelry
- Facebook: ChrissyLiuJewelry
Image Credits
Sarah Renee Photography
