Career Adaptability: Cressell Lim's career highlights the importance of exploring personal interests and being flexible. Starting with accounting and shifting to fashion, she learned that passion and adaptability can lead to unique opportunities, like becoming an influencer and creating a supportive platform for working parents. Her journey inspires others to follow their dreams, even when paths change unexpectedly.
Cressell Lim's journey teaches us that career paths can be unexpected and often nonlinear. Initially studying accounting, she discovered her passion for fashion through a unique program in her college. Despite thinking she might pursue a traditional role as a buyer, she realized the job involved more math and analytics than she expected. This led her to focus on merchandising and styling. Ultimately, she became a successful digital influencer and co-founded Bumo to help working parents. Her story shows that following your interests and being open to change can lead to fulfilling careers, highlighting the importance of adaptability and courage in the pursuit of dreams.
Fashion Career Fundamentals: Building a successful career in fashion styling hinges on hard work, responsibility, and learning from mentors while managing high-value items and taking ownership of one’s actions.
Starting a career in fashion styling is often challenging but deeply rewarding. It requires a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and the willingness to take on various tasks, no matter how small. Learning from experienced professionals can help cultivate confidence and skills necessary for managing responsibilities. Interning at a reputable PR agency can expose young stylists to the industry and connect them with influential figures. Overcoming initial fears and understanding the hard work behind the glamour is crucial for success. Skills acquired early in one’s career, such as responsibility, problem-solving, and creativity, serve as a foundation for future growth in the fashion industry, especially in the digital age where self-promotion and branding have become essential.
Creative Journey: Passion and creativity in content creation led to early successes in fashion blogging and YouTube, showing the importance of being authentic and consistent.
In the early days of fashion blogging and YouTube, there was a unique freedom in creating content without the pressure of business models or influencer strategies. The journey began with a genuine passion for styling and creativity, often leading to unexpected opportunities. By experimenting with different formats, such as outfit posts and videos, it allowed a personal connection to develop with the audience. As the industry became more saturated, standing out was both easier and harder, showcasing the evolution of content creation. It was about sharing an authentic creative journey, rather than seeking immediate success or financial gain. This approach highlighted the importance of consistency and staying true to oneself, paving the way for future opportunities in a rapidly changing digital landscape. This experience serves as a reminder that passion and creativity can lead to unexpected paths and growth over time.
Passion to Growth: Pursuing your passions can create valuable opportunities and growth, especially when you embrace collaboration and delegation.
Creating content that resonates with you can lead to unexpected opportunities and growth. Balancing passion and work, as seen through the journey from blogging to brand partnerships, showcases that investing time in what you love can yield fruitful results. Forming strong collaborations with brands like Tiffany and Coach illustrates the importance of being open to new possibilities while staying true to your vision. The gradual process of expanding your team, based on evolving needs, highlights that recognizing when to delegate tasks can enhance productivity and creativity. Every step taken, even if daunting at first, contributes to a rewarding career that combines personal interest with successful business ventures.
Entrepreneurial Growth: Entrepreneurs should focus on reinvesting in their businesses and recognizing their strengths. Effective management isn't for everyone, and it's vital to adapt and expand organically without overextending. Creating opportunities like Sync Studios demonstrates how to grow while managing personal limits and leveraging existing resources.
Successful entrepreneurship involves making smart decisions on where to allocate funds for growth, often reinvesting profits into the company rather than taking personal pay. As businesses grow, the importance of effective management becomes apparent, though not every entrepreneur enjoys management roles. Recognizing one’s strengths is crucial; some may excel in creativity rather than managing people. For instance, starting Sync Studios came organically from demands in the industry, allowing for business expansion without overextending oneself. This venture exemplifies how entrepreneurs can diversify their offerings based on existing resources and market needs while adjusting to personal limits, pushing growth beyond their immediate presence in the brand.
Career Transition: After struggling to find adequate childcare and facing the challenges of working while parenting, I created Boomo. Initially meant for physical locations, we pivoted to offer online classes during the pandemic, which turned out to be a lasting success. The need for quality childhood education became clear, and we've continued to grow since then.
After becoming a mom, I faced significant challenges balancing my career and parenting. Realizing that existing childcare options were insufficient, I decided to create Boomo, a licensed childcare service at workplaces. When the pandemic struck, we quickly adapted by offering online educational classes for children. This pivot not only helped us stay afloat but also highlighted a crucial need for quality early childhood education. Surprisingly, even after schools reopened, many families continued using our program, demonstrating a lasting demand for engaging learning experiences. This journey has shown me that innovation can emerge from personal struggles, and that there's always a market for solutions that address real-life challenges.
Empowering Parents: Finding investors who understand the need for childcare solutions can lead to building a supportive network. Expanding into workplaces is key for helping working parents thrive.
Building a business aimed at helping working parents is challenging but rewarding, especially in a post-COVID world. Initially, securing funds from traditional investors was difficult, so focusing on supportive women who understood the need for child care solutions proved successful. By emphasizing connection with fellow women, the founder created a robust network of investors. Their goal is to expand their service into workplaces, recognizing that modern parents need new perks beyond the typical offerings. Ultimately, the focus is on doing what brings happiness and fulfillment, hinting that success lies in passion and purpose in one's career.
Balance in Life: Balancing career aspirations with personal life is vital for happiness. Prioritize family time, network for career changes, and focus on the present instead of worrying about the future to truly enjoy your journey. Embrace the uncertainty and take actionable steps towards your goals without burning out.
Finding the balance between career and personal life is crucial. It’s important to recognize that you are more than just your job. Slowing down and prioritizing family time, like drop-offs and game visits, can lead to greater happiness. Experimenting with creative ideas is great, but spreading yourself too thin can hinder success. Networking and seeking mentorship from those you admire can provide the courage to pivot in your career. Instead of obsessing over the future, it's better to focus on the present and take actionable steps towards your goals. Enjoy where you are today; uncertainty is part of life, and being present allows you to appreciate your journey.
Mindfulness in Success: Chrysel Lim highlights the significance of being present in our current activities rather than obsessing over future goals. By focusing on the moment and working hard, opportunities arise naturally, allowing us to appreciate our journey while still striving for success. It’s a reminder to enjoy each step we take along the way.
Chrysel Lim shares an important lesson about staying present in our activities instead of getting overly focused on future achievements. Many people often rush into what comes next, missing out on enjoying what they are currently doing. Lim emphasizes that by being mindful and working hard at the moment, we allow opportunities to naturally unfold. Success will come if we engage fully with our current tasks and responsibilities. It's a reminder that each step we take matters and should be appreciated, rather than always chasing the next best thing. This mindset not only enhances our experiences but also leads to better opportunities in the future. Lim’s insights encourage us to find joy in the present while maintaining a proactive approach to our goals.
Chriselle Lim: Digital Influencer and Co-Founder of Bümo
Recent Episodes from Second Life
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Gail Simmons: Food Writer, Culinary Multi-Hyphenate, and Top Chef Judge
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Who What Wear with Hillary Kerr: Celebrity Hairstylist Mara Roszak on Crafting Emma Stone's Award-Season Looks and Getting Red Carpet–Level Hair at Home
With the Oscars only days away, celebrity hairstylist and Roz founder Mara Roszak is dropping all the details behind creating her gorgeous red carpet looks. Her client list includes stars like Olivia Wilde, Juno Temple, and Zoe Saldaña, but it's been an especially busy award season for her longtime client Emma Stone on the heels of her Oscar-nominated film Poor Things. Roszak is not only sharing the inspiration for Stone's hair looks this season, but she's also giving the full breakdown of how you can re-create her sleek Golden Globes lob and romantic BAFTA braid at home. Plus, if you've ever wondered how to achieve the elusive "wet look"—as seen on Roszak's clients Kristen Wiig and Natalie Portman—look no further.
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Sandra Oh Lin: Founder and CEO of KiwiCo
Sandra Oh Lin is the founder and CEO of KiwiCo, the company that’s helping millions of children develop creativity and problem-solving skills through art- and STEM-based activities. Remembering how much she loved participating in hands-on projects with her mom when she was a child, Lin sought to inspire that same sense of innovation and “creative confidence” in her own kids. Soon, other parents began asking about the activities she was creating for her children’s playdates, and she realized that she wasn’t the only parent wanting to provide fun, educational experiences for her kids. With her engineering and business degrees, alongside her experience at major companies like eBay, Procter & Gamble, and PayPal, Lin started KiwiCo out of her garage. Over the last decade, she has scaled the company to include more than 1500 products, sent out 50 million shipments of KiwiCo products, and developed partnerships with over 400 educational organizations.
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Dianna Cohen: Crown Affair Founder and CEO
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Who What Wear with Hillary Kerr: New York Fashion Week F/W 24 in Review
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Maria Dueñas Jacobs: Super Smalls Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer
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Who What Wear with Hillary Kerr: Amy Smilovic, Founder of Tibi, Gives a Style Master Class Through Her Lens of Creative Pragmatism
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Charlotte Cruze: Co-Founder of Alice Mushrooms
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