Justfab is a company that just so happens to employ a plethora of inspiring, hard-working women! That’s why we couldn’t wait to celebrate International Women’s Day by introducing you to some very empowering women and sharing the advice and lessons they have learned over the years. Find out what they had to say below!
Stephanie Mazepa, VP of Legal
Q: What’s something you were told you couldn’t do but accomplished anyway?
A: I was always told that If I didn’t go to an Ivy league school I would be limited in my career choices and the opposite has been true. I’ve worked at one of the most prestigious and largest law firms in the world, have represented large class actions in state and federal courts and am now a VP at an amazing fashion/tech company!
Q: What would you tell your 20-year-old self?
A: Don’t spend time or energy worrying about what other people think of you!
Q; What three words would you use to empower other women?
A: Persistence, vision, and gratitude!
Barbara Rice, Director of Market Research
Q: What empowers you?
A: Approaching everything with a growth mindset – how can I learn something new from whatever situation or experience I find myself in.
Q: What’s something you were told you couldn’t do but accomplished anyway?
A: I was told growing up that I didn’t have the physique to be a runner or athlete. I changed that thinking when I was in college and started training to participate in endurance sports. I have, to-date, completed 20 triathlons, 4 half marathons, and 1 full marathon.
Q: What would you tell your 20-year-old self?
A: To speak up more and ask a lot of questions. It’s the only way to really learn, and it’s ok to not always say or ask the right thing.
Q: What three words would you use to empower other women?
A: You are enough!
Aditi Sahni, Sr. Member Insights Manager
Q: What empowers you?
A: Internally, the feeling of accomplishment – doing something well motivates me to do more. Self-recognition of my own capability is very empowering.
Externally, the feeling you get when coming out of a group meeting with high energy, alignment, and team support is very exhilarating to me and knowing that I have a supportive team is very empowering as well.
Q: What’s something you were told you couldn’t do but accomplished anyway?
A: Many times, I feel like I’m my own worst enemy and the one who puts limitations on myself – so rather than anyone else telling me I couldn’t do something, it was more my own voice. If I think back about the number of times I’ve doubted if I could do something… it’s very depressing. So, I would say that it’s even better to do something that I thought I couldn’t – be it bungee jumping, or going to a great business school, or even being able to work in a fashion company – these are things I thought I couldn’t do but somehow, they happened anyway!
Q: What would you tell your 20-year-old-self?
A: Take time to take care of yourself – life only gets busier as you move forward and if you don’t set a routine of looking after yourself physically and emotionally, it gets harder and harder to do so later.
I’d also tell myself to be nice to everyone – and when it comes to moral conundrums, do what’s hard, not what’s easy – because those moments when you did something easy instead of doing what is right and hard, are the moments that will haunt you later.
Q: What 3 words would you use to empower other women?
A: Yes, you can!
Jennine Matthias, Influencer Marketing Director
Q: What empowers you?
A: I’m empowered by my own progress. I’m very driven to learn more, do more, and improve myself – these things make me confident that I can take on anything. I know that I can accomplish what I set my mind to, that I’m not limited by what I don’t know or what I haven’t done before.
Q: What’s something you were told you couldn’t do but accomplished anyway?
A: I’ve never let anyone tell me I couldn’t accomplish something! Luckily, I’ve always had super supportive people in my life who’ve believed that I can do anything. If there had been someone holding me back and doubting my ability to accomplish something, I’d have ignored them. Only positive, supportive people deserve a place in my life!
Q: What would you tell your 20-year-old self?
A: You don’t have to know it all, but trust yourself! Keep following your passion even if it seems scary – in the end, you’ll be much happier (and more successful) doing what you love. Also, realize that things happen for a reason. If something happens that seems like the end of the world, know that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
Q: What three words would you use to empower other women?
A: Confidence is key!
Hollace Henderson, Public Relations & Strategic Partnerships Manager
Q: What empowers you?
A: I am consistently setting goals to pursue new challenges and create exciting opportunities for myself. I also strive to make a difference in the community.
Q: What’s something you were told you couldn’t do but accomplished anyway?
A: My high school guidance counselor told me I wasn’t cut out for going to college. Not only did I attend college, I also earned a Master’s Degree.
Q: What would you tell your 20-year-old self?
A: Everything you need will come to you at the perfect time…you just have to be patient and wait for it.
Q: What three words would you use to empower other women?
A: You. Are. Amazing.
Traci Inglis, Brand President
Q: What’s something you were told you couldn’t do but accomplished anyway?
A: Wear yellow as a blonde.
Q: What would you tell your 20-year-old self?
A: Keep it up – you totally have this. Ignore those people who are telling you to slow it down, to smile more, to be less ambitious. Ambition is what will get you to where you want to be.
Q: What three words would you use to empower other women?
A: You got this.
Q: What empowers you?
A: I am empowered by the number of strong, savvy and intelligent women I get to work with on a daily basis and they encourage me to want to be better and work harder every day.
Q: What’s something you were told you couldn’t do but accomplished anyway?
A: At a young age, I had it in my mind that I could pretty much accomplish anything I set my mind to with the encouragement from my mom and siblings so I don’t think anyone ever dared trying to tell me otherwise.
Q: What would you tell your 20-year-old self?
A: You can’t force a life you dream of to happen. You need to be patient and perseverant and know that life will be filled with endless ups and downs but it will end up just as it should be.
Q: What three words would you use to empower other women?
Strength, Pride, Respect. <3
Marcelina Restrepo, VP Creative Director
Q: What’s something you were told you couldn’t do but accomplished anyway?
A: I got all my ducks in a row and moved from Medellin, Colombia to NYC on my own at age 20! My family didn’t take my wish too seriously nor could they support it. But a year later, and after having saved up enough money through modeling and teaching English lessons, I was on my way to meet the Big Apple for the first time with a scholarship and a job in place. And BIG dreams.
Q: What would you tell your 20-year-old self?
A: A sneak-peek into your (my) life 20 later (now) will make you pretty darn proud and confident. ☺
I would remind myself that restrictions can only make you more creative. And that motion (doing, trying, failing, achieving, accomplishing) boosts your empowerment like nothing else.
Q: What three words would you use to empower other women?
A: 3 phrases: Work hard, stay true, be kind.
Q: What’s something you were told you couldn’t do but accomplished anyway?
A: I’m lucky that for most of my life I have been surrounded by very supportive people, so most of my challenges have been in my own self-perception. When I was a kid, I always avoided PE class whenever possible because I was too afraid to be bad at it. I always told myself I would never be an athletic person. Fast-forward 20 years later, I decided to challenge how I viewed myself and started participating in the Couch To 5k training program. Three months later I ran my first 5k race, and four months after that I ran 7 miles across San Francisco for Bay to Breakers.
Q: What would you tell your 20-year-old self?
A: Take time for yourself. So many things happen in your twenties – graduating college, moving into your first apartment, old friends moving away, new friends coming into your life. It’s easy to get sucked up in all of that and lose your direction. Always keep your own needs in mind and don’t let other people’s priorities steer you away from your goals and your own self-care.
Q: What three words would you use to empower other women?
A: “Enjoy the process.”
No badass is made overnight. Getting what you want definitely takes hard work but don’t forget to take the time to appreciate where you’ve come from and the progress you’ve made.
What is your empowering story and how are you celebrating International Women’s Day? Share with us in the comments below & stay tuned for our JustFab empowering t-shirts, available soon!
