Her Story
About Mariela
I've been in the luxury retail field for about 23-24 years, with approximately 25 years working specifically in the fashion industry. I had the incredible opportunity to work with prestigious brands like Valentino and Prada, which gave me the best experience and education in that industry. At Prada, I was managing locations and opening other locations in different regions. For the past 2 years, I've been serving as an Associate Gallery Leader at Restoration Hardware, a very high-end furniture store with huge galleries. My main areas of expertise are people and service. One of the greatest values I bring to any company is the way I treat people and the way I deal with difficult situations. I'm always able to help my team be successful and productive, and I focus on seeing the big picture in anything we do rather than getting caught up in small things. What I'm most proud of is my people leadership - I have people who have followed me from different countries and areas to work with me. I never make people feel bad or feel unworthy, even when I have to have tough conversations. I'm a people person, and that's one of my qualities that I will never change. I always motivate people with a smile, even when I'm having a bad day, because I believe in showing up happy and working hard together.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mariela
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say that having a good mentor or coach throughout your life is very important. For me, my coach or mentor was my VP of Retail at Valentino - a beautiful woman who saw things in me that I didn't even think I was capable of. Sometimes you say, no, I cannot do that, or I'm not good for that, or I never did that before. She made me think out of my box and really achieve amazing things. I was recognized in the business everywhere, in the entire company. She showed me my strengths, and for that I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to meet her and work with her for about 8 years. We still keep in contact, and anytime I have a question about leadership, about experience, about what should I do in this situation, I always connect with her, and she's always open to assist me, to help me, to support me. The relationship is still strong. Without a coach or a mentor, or somebody that really appreciates you and wants good for you, it's so important.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say never give up, and don't be afraid to show who you are and how your capabilities are. In this industry, some leaders come to you, and when they see that you have the potential to beat them or to do the same job that they're doing, they're gonna push you down. So never be afraid to show who you are, work hard for what you want, and never give up. Having a good mentor or coach throughout your life is always very important - without a coach or a mentor, or somebody that really appreciates you and wants good for you, it's so important.
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