Full name?: Ashley Marie Zygmunt
Position / Job title?: CEO & Designer of ZAMRIE
1. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A business woman wearing suits. It was always about the clothes for me.
2. Fast-forward several years/decades. How did you land (or create) your current position?
Hard work, not taking no for an answer and surrounding myself with people who believe in my purpose and my brand ZAMRIE as much as I do.
3. Did you have to take on internships to get there? How important in general, do you think, are internships?
Of course! I think internships make or break you. It is a great way to find out whether or not you love the industry you are in or not. I believe it is just as important to know what you don’t like as much as what you do. I interned at Zac Posen, Peter Som and then went to corporate design and got a freelance position at Li & Fung USA – Wal-Mart Team.
4. Tell us what a typical work day looks like for you. What is your job REALLY like, both the glamorous and not-so-glamorous parts?
Depends on the time of year. If we are in production, I am working at the factory, which sews our garments and running back and forth between the factory and cutting room. I only design about 5 days a year, and develop collections for a total of one month per year. The rest of the time is spent sourcing fabrics, making sure all the POs, invoices and ship dates will be in on time. I also do a lot of back end website work, organizing production ie (care labels, size labels, and any info) to help it (production) run smoothly. I also am the face of my brand so I answer a lot of interview questions, and develop partnerships with other organizations.
5. What is the biggest career mistake you’ve ever made?
I do not believe in mistakes. Everything is a lesson learned for me. If I made mistakes, I wouldn’t be doing anything right.
6. What is the single most important piece of advice you would give to other career-minded women?
Work hard. Play hard. And don’t forget to have fun while doing all of it. Always smile and be grateful for any experience.
7. Let’s talk about work/life balance. What does that mean to you? Is it important?
Yes. Ask me that 5 years ago and I would have told you “ I don’t have time for a man,” and “I don’t go out because work is too important.” Now I would say, work like a dog but don’t get sick as a dog. If you aren’t healthy and happy your career won’t be either. I actually met my fiancé, 5 years ago, when I had just started my company not expecting to meet someone, and we are getting married next weekend. Since I met him, I have realized work is important but nothing beats coming home to his open arms every night. I am NOT saying balancing is easy because its not. I feel I have a more balanced life now, but ask him, and he will say I never stop… I think part of it is my personality. So you can have it all in your own terms, everyone has their own opinion, but its your life, so only you know if you are balanced or not.
I also think there is confusion because we have all of these reality shows of women running their own businesses but also seeming as if they have time to do everything- a majority of the time those women on tv aren’t driving their kids to school, their driver is, they aren’t the ones doing laundry and cleaning house because they have help. So its okay to have help or no help but finding what you would prefer to do ie drive your own kids to school or be at the office is your choice. Stick to your choice and nobody else’s opinion matters.
8. On that note, do you think women can have it all? Both the baller career, and the happy family?
Of course! But they don’t do it alone. Like I said earlier they have help. And women should not feel guilty asking for help. It is okay to ask for help that’s what a support system is. Major companies aren’t run by one woman or one man they have a team or teams helping them. It is okay to have that in the home too if you can afford it.
9. If you could look into a crystal ball and see 20 years into your future, what would you want to see?
Happy and healthy family and friends, & steady career of team members helping me expanding the ZAMRIE style brand.
10. Do you have any career role models? Who are they?
My dad. He is a doctor, podiatrist. So he never really was on call when I was little allowing him to be around. He always told me careers are a combination of hard work, treating others well, and being with your family. It is your own choice to treat others well. It is your own choice to whether or not spend time with your family, and it is your choices which create your life. He made the choice to work hard, spend time with our family and still have time for fun.
11. What is the best piece of advice that you have ever received – career-related or otherwise?
“Every day you wake up with a choice, to be happy or not, to work hard or not, to get ahead or not. I can’t make those decisions for you. Your choices create your life.” -My Dad
12. Parents love to say, “just wait ’til you have to face the real world…” When you were in college or high school, what did you think the “real world” looked like? What is the difference between what you thought and reality?
Its funny, my parents never really told me that… they always said work hard now and the real world won’t be so bad because any time in life there can be ups and downs, so learn to truly enjoy those happy moments and its okay to be sad for not so happy ones.
13. Should you work for the money, or do what you love?
Money is always an issue. I am not going to hide that. But I do think if you truly love doing something, lack of money, is not an excuse to not do it. I would say start doing it on the side and let your passion slowly grow and then you will one day hit a point where you don’t have to be waiting tables anymore. I am not saying its going to happen overnight but you always have to see the light at the end of the tunnel, even when you just want to give up! Because trust me, I have had my own dark tunnel moments, still to this day.
14. How important is money to you when considering a job?
Only you can make that choice. I do think it entices people to do things that they don’t necessarily love but the most important question is “Will that money fulfill you?”
15. What is the single most important factor of a job?
Being respectful, working hard and loving it no matter what. There will always be times that are slower and some that are super busy but the good has to weigh out the bad.
16. If you married a millionaire husband and didn’t have to work, would you? (Be honest.)
Yes. But again I would be able to have the finances to have a team of people to help so I wouldn’t necessarily have to work so much/so hard which of course would make things easier. I always have to be moving and doing. If I didn’t work… I’m pretty sure I would get really bored really fast. I like having a purpose.
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