Full name?: Heather Pierce
Position / Job title?: Designer and CEO of Raya Hanon
1. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a kid, I wanted more than anything to work for the US Department of Defense or the CIA. I spent about ten years preparing for the application process, which was actually what pushed me to live and work abroad in a few places and, in turn, influenced my clothing designs. It’s funny how one thing can lead you to another in life.
2. Fast forward a few years, How did you land (or create) your current position?
By the time I graduated from my University, I had lived in 4 or 5 different countries. In each place I was required to absorb the culture and learn the language.
I’ve always been really creative, and had been making jewelry almost my whole life. I started looking for a more challenging outlet for my creative energy. I’d been collecting fabrics, beads and charms from each place and decided to put them to use by making clothing instead of my usual jewelry designs. I chose to make a bikini because of my time in Brazil, bikinis being a big staple piece in their culture, and I found that I could easily incorporate some of my jewelry making techniques into the designs. I loved it.
About a year later I submitted 57 swimsuits to Sports Illustrated Swimsuit on a whim and, to my great surprise, two of my suits were photographed for the issue. And so, Raya Hanon, and my position as owner, was born!
3. Did you have to take on internships to get there? How important in general, do you think, are internships?
I did not have to take an internship to get to my position with Raya Hanon. The company and my role as owner was started from the ground up by myself. Personally, I feel that an internship can be used as an opportunity as a foot in the door to a particular company or organization that you wish to work for. Many companies may offer a starting position after the internship is over, which is incredibly valuable in a competitive industry. It may also establish important contacts in your field and look great on a resume.
However, if your dream is to start something for yourself, it is definitely not the easiest way, but a full on immersion in entrepreneurship, in my opinion, has the fastest learning curve. Don’t doubt yourself. If you have a passion for what you want to do and are willing to dedicate your life to it, go for it! Don’t waste your time and energy working for somebody else and achieving their dream when you could be chasing your own!
4. Let’s talk about work/life balance. What does that mean to you? Is it important?
Work-life balance is extremely important, and something I wish I had realized sooner. When chasing after your dream, it is easy to lose yourself in the work and struggle for it. It is easy to tell yourself to work and work to achieve your goals because it will be worth it in the end. That much is true, but it’s important to take care of yourself and make sure that you are staying happy. An engine can’t run on empty. Though it may feel that taking time for yourself is wasting valuable time that you could be spending on your business, your work will be much more productive and efficient when your mind and body are happy. What I had to do was make sure that I had my “me time” first. Go to the gym or take a walk outside. Have lunch with a friend. Schedule it in if it
makes you feel better. But stay happy and healthy! Both you and your business/career will benefit!
5. On that note, do you think women can have it all? Both the baller career, and the happy family?
Yes! I know women can have it all. Like I mentioned before, balance is key. When a family comes into the picture, schedule things out. Focus on work when the kids are at school or at sports practice. Their work time is your work time. Or maybe power through your week and dedicate weekends to them. Family comes first always, of course, so if you feel like work is slipping because of dedication to family life, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Delegation is an important characteristic to strong leadership. Never tell yourself you have to choose one life or another, career or a family. You can have any life that you choose.
6. If you could look into a crystal ball and see 20 years into your future, what would you want to see?
In 20 years I see myself with a beautiful, growing family. I see my business strong, successful, and profitable. Profitable enough that I am able to give back and invest in other young entrepreneurs and charities. I see myself owning more than one business and possibly starting up martial arts academy for underprivileged kids in the US and developing countries, something I’ve always wanted to do. I’d like to make sure that other young people with a dream have a chance to follow it. That’s a big part of what I work so hard for, to be able to give back.
7. Should you work for the money, or do what you love?
Love what you do and the money will come. Passion breeds prosperity.
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