Full name?: Tess Johnson
Position / Job title?: Founder & Creative Director of TessJohnsonDesign
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was young, I was a competitive figure skater. I totally had dreams of the Olympics, but I found myself caring more about my costumes than my actual skating.
Fast-forward several years/decades. How did you land (or create) your current position?
I spent a lot of years in school, interning, working and learning from the best in the industry. Then I realized “I think I want to do this for myself”. I launched my brand in 2011 and I work every single day to make sure we keep growing in the right direction!
Did you have to take on internships to get there? How important in general, do you think, are internships?
I took on tons! They were the most valuable experiences to me. When I was at Parsons, I really learned a lot, but having that hands-on experience in successful companies gave me a whole new perspective. I learned just as much during those internships as I did in school. I would encourage anyone, no matter what industry, to intern while in school. You make great connections, good friends, and learn so much.
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?
I typically start my day checking & sending e-mails. After that, it’s a lot of running around getting materials, samples, checking in on production, making changes & updates. I stay on top of shipping and time lines, and other administrative work to get the business side covered. Then comes the fun part – I am always sketching and pulling things that are inspiring to me. I try to constantly be designing or creating to keep my brain moving. I am always working on the next collection!
What is the biggest career mistake you’ve ever made?
Early on I wasn’t the best advocate for myself or my brand. I was shy and didn’t network well. I have since learned that networking, and being the biggest supporter of my brand is the most important thing to do in getting the word out about my products and designs. Building great relationships in the industry, and networking is essential to success.
What is the single most important piece of advice you would give to other career-minded women?
Think big, and don’t let anyone discourage you or deter you from your goals. Learn from everyone around you, and believe in yourself. Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way because you never where or when a door will open for you.
Let’s talk about work/life balance. What does that mean to you? Is it important?
The best advice I received was to always remember to keep a balance. When you lose sight of your friends, family, and free time, your work suffers. I remember I got sucked into that hole once and I really could see a difference in the quality of my work. I focus now on getting my work done efficiently, but also leaving time to decompress, so that tomorrow is just as successful!
On that note, do you think women can have it all? Both the baller career, and the happy family?
100%! I think that is actually really important to have a happy family and life outside work to continue to have a baller career. That is what keeps you happy, inspired, and ready to work! I have a successful career that I love, a great relationship, and family and friends that i love and value and make time for in my life.
If you could look into a crystal ball and see 20 years into your future, what would you want to see?
I would love to see my company continuing to grow, and my personal life happy and fulfilling, and I definitely would want to see a Tess Johnson design in every closet.
Do you have any career role models? Who are they?
This might be cheesy but it’s true – my parents. Both of them have started their own companies in their own fields. They work harder than anyone I know and are both really successful. They have always supported, motivated, and helped me no matter what.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever received – career-related or otherwise?
To cast a wide net, and to believe in myself. To not get discouraged and keep knocking on all doors.
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?
Well I guess I thought the real world would be easier. That if you had a great product, a great design, it would sell itself. I have now realized that it’s MUCH harder work than I thought it would be. That nobody is just going to hand you a job or financing; that you really have to go out there and let people know what you have and how good it is.
Should you work for the money, or do what you love?
That is such a hard question. When I was younger my parents would always say “work a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life”. I have always tried to follow that by being in a career that I do really love. If you do a job you don’t like, you probably wont be very successful at it anyway. But, it’s not always fun or creative. Most of my days are spent doing financial/technical/business-y things as opposed to just creating garments all day. Those days feel like more work than others, but when I see that my hard work pays off financially, I feel better.
How important is money to you when considering a job?
I would love to say it’s not important and working is all about the love of what you do – but it’s not. We need money to live. I live in New York, and things are expensive! I love the feeling of having money in the bank and feeling secure. Fortunately, I love working, so it’s definitely a plus. I would never work at a job I didn’t like just for the money.
What is the single most important factor of a job?
The people with whom you work. I have been in some great companies, with a bunch of sad & stressed people. I have also been in some really small start-ups with a bunch of excited & happy people. When you work somewhere that has a good atmosphere, it allows everyone to preform their best and the quality of work is really outstanding. Everyone needs to work in a place where they are valued and their contributions are recognized and appreciated.
If you married a millionaire husband and didn’t have to work, would you? (Be honest.)
Oh I don’t think we are living in those times any more! Haha. Marrying someone with money doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t have to work. Regardless of a spouse’s financial situation, we all have to be productive in the world in our own right. Building a career and financial security is an important thing, especially for women. If your husband is rich, that’s awesome! He can probably offer you great advice on making your job or business more successful.
Leave a Reply