Her Story
About Jillian
Jillian Davis is a jewelry designer based in Alpharetta, Georgia. With 12 to 14 years in the jewelry industry, her expertise centers on CAD design, 3D modeling, and custom design. Davis earned a bachelor's degree in industrial design from the Design School of North Carolina State University. Her career path began with five years in packaging design, followed by an apprenticeship with a bench jeweler. She gained further experience in custom design during a couple of years working in California and then spent about 10 years at Icebox in Atlanta, where she focused on custom design projects. Davis attributes her success to her work ethic and determination not to give up. She values showing up punctually, putting in consistent effort, and being kind to others.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jillian
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say work ethic. Just keep giving up? Not giving up.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My parents were always really gentle and just supportive, and they were completely supportive of sending me to the design school and supporting me pursuing that field. The advice is pursue what makes you happy.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Just don't get discouraged. If you do get discouraged normal, at times you start something. Allow yourself to be discouraged, bounce back from it, you'll feel better the next day, but just don't give up and just keep at it, because even if you're not good at something, which you won't be, because I've never been good at anything I started trying to do, you will get better if you keep at it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
We had major challenges last year when the gold spiked so high. That's just a generally jewelry industry challenge. There's also just a shift in the way the industry's going... lab diamonds are becoming more prominent in our field than natural diamonds. And there's design options opportunities, I feel like, with them, because you were quite limited... just because of the cost of natural diamonds and The size they needed to be, and there's a lot just more you can do with labs now.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Family and friends are very immune in my personal life. Pets are part of my family. Just be kind to others, say, just, you know, try to leave situation better, as before. Don't leave it worse. Value for, work, but it's just, like Ethic, and just always show up punctual, show up on time, just show up in general, just be there. Put in a lot of like, put in the effort, and You will get somewhere.
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