Her Story
About Paola
I came to the United States from Colombia with a drive to succeed that I can't fully explain - there's just something inside me that cannot quit. I started my career in luxury retail at Saks Brickell, working for prestigious brands like Jo Malone and Kilian in the beauty department, where I became a top seller. While working full-time and raising my daughter, I made the decision to invest in myself by pursuing my master's degree at Keiser University, waking up at 4 in the morning to complete my education. That degree completely changed the way I see the world and gave me more credibility - the bosses at Saks and even at Estée Lauder started to hear me more and give me more voice when I prepared myself. Recently, I transitioned to Clive Christian, and within just a month, they began discussing promoting me to coordinator or executive account because of my preparation and success as a seller. Working in this environment is completely different from other retail - it's like a private club where you have to be the best of the best. My husband is Italian-American, and I'm proud that my daughter has followed my path of continuous learning. I'm now even investing in the stock market, always focused on learning more and creating a better future for my family. Being a Latina woman in a different country, there were times when I thought I might not make it, but that energy and drive inside me has carried me through this journey to where I am right now.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Paola
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to discipline and never quitting. I believe that discipline is what makes changes in your life, because a lot of people want everything now and that's why they quit so easily. When you don't think about the results momentarily and just focus on doing little by little without quitting, that's what makes changes in your life and your future. I also believe in always trying to learn something new, because when you are in a routine and you don't learn, you become the same person every day. Learning is so important - it makes you better every day, so don't stop learning. Another key is having intelligent control of your emotions. A lot of people are very impulsive and fail in my job because they lead by emotions, but when you have emotional intelligence and control of your emotions, you are unstoppable. You can do anything that you want because you are in control of your life and you don't just react. I also invested in myself by getting my master's degree, which changed completely the way I see the world. When you invest time and money in yourself and prepare yourself to learn more, learn different languages, and develop your skills, it makes such a difference in your life. There's something inside me that I can't explain, but this energy and drive has carried me through my journey to where I am right now.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I hold true to is discipline. I learned that discipline is what makes changes in your life, because a lot of people want everything now, now - they want results immediately, and that's why people quit so easily on the goals they make for the future. I think when you just don't think about the results momentarily and you focus and just do little by little and don't quit, that's what makes changes in your life and your future. Always try to learn something new, because when you are in a routine and you don't learn, you become the same person every day. Learning is so important because it makes you better every day, so don't stop learning. My education at Keiser University taught me about emotional intelligence and how to control my emotions. A lot of people are very impulsive and fail in my job because they lead by emotions, but when you have intelligent control of your emotions, you are unstoppable. You can do anything that you want because you are in control of your life and you don't just react. If you feel a little bit nervous, that's okay, and if you feel uncomfortable, that's okay - we are humans, but always try. Don't quit.
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