#GirlBoss | Interview with Tania (Jewelry Boutique Owner)

I’m excited to share today the second post in what I am calling my “Girl Boss Interview Series”. If you missed the first post interviewing photographer Ally Matos, go check it out! With this series every few weeks I’ll be interviewing a different successful young woman and asking her the same series of questions and sharing her answers below. I hope this will inspire you!  

Today’s interview is with Tania- the owner of online boutique Olive & Piper. (Reminder: you can get 20% off all O&P jewelry with the code LegalLee) Below is her #GirlBoss Interview.

Q: What do you do for a living?
A: I make people fashionable and sparkly! I have an online jewelry boutique called Olive & Piper.

Q: How did you get into it – tell me about your path?  
A: Surprisingly, I went to school in cell biology and genetics. After graduation I had a hard time finding a job in that industry, and really I had no idea what I wanted to do for a living. I ended up getting a job as a receptionist at an internet marketing company and it was actually interesting because it was the sort of start of the social media boom. It was when twitter was just becoming a thing and I really was able to learn about e-commerce through being at that company. After that, I took future jobs in e-commerce and realized I wanted to build something from scratch. I’ve always loved accessories (I used to work at Aldo Accessories) so I thought I would start a jewelry website. I love fashion & accessories, but it was definitely the business side of the whole thing that drove me.

Q: What motivates you / inspires you / makes you keep doing what you do?

A: I think being able to achieve a goal. When you start a business you’re thinking ‘Ok, what can I do with this?’ Being able to layout steps and reach goals is very fulfilling for me. Also, being able to see people wearing the jewelry! I didn’t design the jewelry at the beginning but a few years ago I started designing some of the pieces and so now there ‘s this awesome experience when I see someone wearing one of my pieces of jewelry. It’s just so cool!

Q: What is the biggest struggle with what you do?
A: I think that would be keeping myself motivated all the time. There have been so been many times where I question ‘Am I going to do this forever? Can I do it?!’ I think there’s a bit of instability, especially for people that work by themselves like I do. You don’t have others around to bounce ideas off the same way you would in a traditional office. I think that, and figuring out what to do are the biggest challenges.

Q: What does being a GirlBoss mean to you?

A: Being able to do what you want to do. It doesn’t have to be owning your own business, it can be working any job – as long as you’re t pursuing your goals and being able to do what you want. A big part is also discovering yourself; getting to know yourself and growing as a person.

On to some fashion questions!
Q: What is your favorite fashion trend right now?

A: Statement Earrings (…and the hat I’m wearing!)

Follow up question then; where did you get the hat!? Every holiday season I go down to the fashion markets in LA and shop around for gifts and add-ons for the Olive & Piper site. I came across this hat and just had to have it. We recently did an O&P blog post on 10 things you have to have for fall and this hat was one of them!

Q: Any thoughts on fashion and your career?

A: I feel like I’m in a time where I’m lucky to be able to do this. I think back to even 15 years ago if you wanted to start your own thing, any online boutique or blogging, it wasn’t really a career. I love now that there is this opportunity if you’re interested in fashion that you can get into it through creating a store or a blog.

Q: What is the one item you own that makes you feel most empowered?
A: Right now I would say it’s this jacket I bought from Zara – its one of those ‘marching band’ looking jackets. I just love it. Oh, and any pair of pumps!!

Last Thing: I couldn’t resist sharing with you all my current favorite pieces from Olive & Piper. Check em out: 

linking up with: weekend wear // friday favorites // FFF  // creative mondays