#WomenWednesdays | October - November Recap

Erin Trybulec • Dec 01, 2019

#WomenWednesdays | October - November Recap

During October and November, we had the opportunity to collaborate with some of our own team members, as well as business owners and a future reporter. Below you will find our Q&A collaborations.

Be Sure to Support Our #WomenWednesdays Collaborators with their social media links ⬇️

Nicole | Accounting Specialist @ U.S. Water Heating Solutions

She joined our team earlier this year and has been unstoppable since then!

USWHPRO: Is there a woman who inspires you?

Nicole: My sisters — because they have stepped out of their comfort zones and pushed the boundaries while still maintaining their work/life balance.

USWHPRO: What is your favorite thing about working at USWHPRO?

Nicole: The people — I like knowing that I am able to voice my opinions and concerns because my co-workers are approachable.We have so many opportunities to grow with the company because this business is expanding on a daily basis. I also like that it is a dog friendly office.

USWHPRO: Do you feel you have faced adversity as a woman throughout your career? How did you overcome it?

Nicole: With coaching volleyball, males coaches and athletic directors aren’t always as fair to females, based on my experience in high school volleyball coach/program director. As female coaches/athletic directors, we are not always taken as seriously as men. I broke that mold by obtaining certifications (ie Concussion Protocols, First Aid & CPR, Sports Psychology) and by being able to back my credentials. I would also educate others on the importance of obtaining those certifications, especially other women, because it helps you give the best version of yourself to your team members and your employer.

USWHPRO: Do you have any advice for other women in the business/athletic world?

Nicole: I think it’s important to be confident and to stay educated because your opportunities are limitless if you are able to step outside of your comfort zone and push boundaries. It is important for us to break the stigma of women being “less knowledgeable.”

Luvia | Owner, maker, & social media expert behind Mar and Soul Soaps | Chicago, IL

Instagram: @iximmiii | Business: @marandsoulsoaps

Facebook: Mar & Soul Soaps

Website/Online Store: Mar & Soul Soaps

USWHPRO: Is there a woman who inspires you?

Luvia: The woman that inspires me would be my Tia Milka. Her parents came to the United States to give their children a better life and she took the chance and ran with it. Growing up I would watch her, in awe with her sense of style, her intelligence and big bouncy curls and wish to be like her. Being queer in the Latino community is a struggle and even more so when you're in the education system, but my Tia has surpassed all her hurdles and is now known as Dr. Ramirez. I am so proud of her and thankful for the wisdom and humor she has bestowed on me.

USWHPRO: What inspired you to start Mar & Soul Soaps?

Luvia: I came along after my cousin Malenis was three months in with Mar and Soul. I am currently a manager at a financial company and felt that I was missing something in my life. I wanted to make a difference in any way that I could and when I heard from my Tia what my prima was doing I jumped at the opportunity to help out. Our goal is to eventually help clean up the oceans and donate to clean up the coral reefs.

USWHPRO: Have you faced adversity as a woman in business? How were you able to overcome it?

Luvia: I would say that at first pop-up we received some comments about our soaps being "too" feminine and that men or boys would not like our soaps. We received theses comments from women and men, so at first, we worried that we weren't providing a good products to all people in our community which is what we strive for. As time went on we took suggestions and asked some people for what type of scents we should do and tested them out. We now have a new bar called "Papi Chulo" that we are really excited for!

USWHPRO: Do you have any advice for other women who are interested in starting their own businesses?

Luvia: My advice would be: Don't let your fear or anxiety hold you back, jump at new opportunities. If you fail, know that you succeeded in trying.

Sylvia D! | Owner & creator of SoulPazLife | Chicago, IL

We first met Sylvia at the @clever_aperture meet-up (Thank you, Joe, for introducing us!) & couldn’t resist the scents of her products and her uplifting personality and positive vibes.

Instagram: @soulpazlife

Facebook: SoulPäzLife

Website/Online Store: SoulPaz

USWHPRO: Is there a woman who inspires you?

Sylvia D!: Yes, my Grandmother Ezra Mae Falconer..... She sacrificed so much to make sure all of her kids and grandkids had the opportunity to go to college. Her motto was "I just wanna help" and I aspire to help in as many ways as I can. My primary contribution is through wellness, motivation and overall positive vibes.

USWHPRO: What inspired you to start Soul Paz Life?

Sylvia D!: I was inspired by a personal need to find skincare that was non-toxic and smelled great. I started in my kitchen and whipped up things that I loved using essential oils. The positive feedback and lack of options in the market motivated me to take what was just my personal wellness routine and turn it into something that everyone could benefit from.

USWHPRO: Do you feel you have faced adversity as a female business owner? How were you able to overcome it?

Sylvia D!: In corporate America I believe some of us often struggle with just "being heard" and having our comments and suggestions respected in fast paced environments. My communication style has never been loud or boisterous, however it seemed that those voices received the most praise. I learned to find my authentic voice and am learning more and more each day about how to express my truest self in every situation I find myself in. Whether it's asking for a raise, saying no to time-consuming projects or just taking credit for the work that you've done, I learned that you must stand-up and speak up for yourself even if it's scary and you'll find strength in doing so!

USWHPRO: What advice do you have for other women who are interested in starting their own business or creating their own homemade products?

Sylvia D!: Just do it! As soon as you have the idea, run with it and don't wait. Don't let naysayers stop you even if they are friends, family or a significant other. Even if it's not "perfect" know that perfection will come along the way! Your ideas are so deserving and you are worthy of seeing your vision, your dream, your business into reality! The world is waiting...for you and you'll have people cheering you on that you would least expect it. The World is waiting...for you!!

Jane | Head of Accounting Dept. & Office Manager @ U.S. Water Heating Solutions

(Jane has been with uswhpro since the beginning!)

USWHPRO: Is there a woman that inspires you?

Jane: I am inspired by women such as Harriet Tubman and Corrie Ten Boom. These women held strong convictions and were willing to risk their lives to help others. It takes an extreme amount of courage to “swim upstream” at times such as those in which these women lived. It is truly thought provoking to consider myself in a similar situation.

USWHPRO: What is your favorite thing about working at U.S. Water Heating Solutions?

Jane: I enjoy the fast paced nature of the job. The next phone call may bring a complete revision of the day. We are very customer oriented and need to get hot water restored as quickly as possible. In doing so, we must make sure we match the technician with the materials needed and customer availability. Putting all the pieces together to replace a leaking commercial water heater in a matter of hours brings a tremendous amount of satisfaction to all our staff.

USWHPRO: Do you have any advice for other women interested in becoming accountants or women in managerial positions?

Jane: My advice for women is to keep learning. There are so many opportunities and new avenues available to those willing to step outside their comfort zone and explore something new. For instance, out of college I was a tax accountant. Tax accounting is a far cry from a fast paced exciting job. Take the chance and trust yourself!

Hillary Flores | Multimedia bilingual reporter, Social Media Editor for The DePaulia (DePaul’s student newspaper), Founder of La DePaulia (The DePaulia's Spanish Section), Blogger via CaféConLeche, & Host of Café Caliente | Chicago, IL

Instagram: @hillaryflores._ | @thedepaulia

Facebook: The Depaulia

Website: The Depaulia | CaféConLeche

USWHPRO: Is there a woman who inspires you?

Hillary: There are so many women in this industry who inspire me. But, if I would have to choose two it would have to be Cheryl Burton from ABC7 News and Erika Maldonado from Univision. They are women who represent the epitome of what it means to never give up and fight for your dreams. They embody power, knowledge, and beauty– showing that women can achieve whatever they set their mind to.

USWHPRO: What inspired you to start Café con Leche and Café Caliente?

Hillary: I wanted to make a platform that reached the Latino community with stories that bring out a voice to youth and immigrants. I want to show that there is no such thing as a ‘small story’ and be able to illustrate the beauty of Latino empowerment and culture through my blog Café Con Leche. With that same purpose in mind I created Café Caliente– which is like its sibling– concentrating more on entertainment news topics in our native language (Spanish) that can bring energy and even a few laughs when talking about the latest celebrity scandals within our communities. I feel that a lot of U.S media outlets miss the chance to highlight stories in our local communities, so I wanted to bring change to that.

USWHPRO: Have you faced adversity as a woman in journalism? How were you able to overcome it?

Hillary: I think that the journalism industry in itself is extremely competitive and being a first-generation college student makes it difficult. Now on top of that pursuing this dream while being a Latina woman, I have to work 10x harder. Sometimes the industry is looked down upon, or sometimes others say that I won’t make it because either I’m going through some financial struggles or I’m juggling various things at once. It’s never easy to overcome the negative things that others tell me, because I’m human and sometimes it does get to me. Though, I remember other women that were in my same position years ago and how they were able to make it into the top markets in TV news and other top media outlets. I keep thick skin, dust off my feet, push forward and think “if they can make it why can’t I?” I honestly think that with kindness, courage, and faith, everything is possible.

USWHPRO: Do you have any advice for other women interested in journalism?

Hillary: I would say that if this is your dream go for it head-on! Do not be fearful because of how competitive and stressful the industry can sometimes get. Always remember that each ‘no’ you get is a step closer to that one ‘yes.’ Make as many connections as you can with other professionals and no matter how far you get in life remember your roots and where you came from. Being humble, kind, and passionate in what you do will set you apart from the rest of the crowd.

Evelia Torres | Owner/founder of De Mi Tierra Natural Bath and Body | Chicago, IL

She started the skincare company with the help of her two sisters, Sandra and Lorena.

Instagram: @demitierra_natural

Facebook: De Mi Tierra Natural

Website: De Mi Tierra

USWHPRO: Is there a woman that inspires you?

Evelia: I look up to several women, both in my personal and professional life! The number one person who inspires me every day is my mother. She migrated to the United States with my father when they were only teenagers. At that time she was already a mother of two and was pregnant with my brother. My mother is a resilient woman! She is the true definition of grit and determination, I think I get those qualities from her. Professionally, women in my community inspire me greatly! Especially those customers that I get the opportunity to meet every day.

USWHPRO: What inspired you to start De Mi Tierra Natural?

Evelia: De Mi Tierra was founded based on a passion of mine. I studied marketing and branding, and I worked in the skincare/haircare industry for over 10 years! After working alongside talented chemists, I learned a lot about the good and "not so good" ingredients that are used in the cosmetic industry. Not many people are aware of the number of toxic chemicals found in traditional skincare products. It's really scary! It wasn't until I became pregnant with my first daughter (9 years ago), that I began to really change not only what I was putting in my body, but also what I was putting ON my body. I was inspired by the simple holistic recipes that my mother and my grandmother would use to heal certain skin conditions. I always knew that I wanted to be an entrepreneur and I felt that this was my opportunity to service the largest consumer of skincare products...the Latino community! I am on a mission to create clean, sustainable and transparent skincare for everyone!

USWHPRO: Do you feel you have faced adversity as a woman in business? How did you overcome it?

Evelia: How were you able to overcome it? Being a woman in business is tough! During my college years, it was interesting to note that oftentimes I was one of the few women in the class and one of the only Latinas in class. Once I entered the corporate world it was the same thing. However, things are definitely changing now and more women are leading in terms of business and entrepreneurship! I believe that adversity in life is a good thing. It challenges you to become stronger, and more resilient.

USWHPRO: What advice do you have for other women who are interested in starting their own business?

Evelia: The biggest piece of advice that I can give other women is to simply do it scared! Starting your own business is definitely scary, however, we must have the courage to do it anyway! Simply start with what you have! If we don't follow our dreams, we fill our heads with excuses as to why it's not the "right time.” It's always the right time! Don't believe that you have to have everything in place before you start. The fun thing about starting your business is that you realize that everyone is trying to figure it out along the way. So just start!

Saarah | Co-founder of Golden Goddess | Queens, NY

She runs the business with her 2 sisters. They create jewelry and collect wonderful crystals to bring to their clients. When she isn’t running the business, she is writing or doing card readings.

Instagram: @golden.goddess.creations

Facebook: golden.goddess.creations

USWHPRO: Is there a woman that inspires you?

Saarah: Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez is a woman that inspires me. She shows women of color that we can be powerful forces within the government. Ocasio speaks up for those who are oppressed and under represented.

USWHPRO: What inspired you to start Golden Goddess?

Saarah: My sisters and I started Golden Goddess as a way to spread spiritual healing beyond the scope of our friends and family. Two of us were previously working on our own businesses but wanted to do something together. We decided that if we all came together to contribute knowledge and creations, we can share spiritual healing with more people.

USWHPRO: Do you feel you have faced adversity as a woman in business? How did you overcome it?

Saarah: One of the biggest adversities we’ve had to face is the lack of men being involved on our Instagram. After checking the insights of who views and interacts with our account, there was a huge gap between men and women! We decided that participating as vendors at different events can help us reach out to everyone.

USWHPRO: What advice do you have for other women who are interested in starting their own business?

Saarah: Don’t let fear hold you back! If your heart is calling you to start up a business, then you should follow that call. There are a lot of things that can hold you back from creating a business, but if you just take a few small steps then you’ll get the ball rolling! And making sure your business connects to your passions is definitely another important aspect when starting up a business.