Her Story
About Terri
I have been in education mentorship for 20 years, currently serving as a business teacher and mentor for Keller ISD. Before entering education, I spent 16 years with L'Oreal Incorporated, where I worked as a territory manager in product launch and consumer division. L'Oreal actually employed me when I was only [young age], which was a very good opportunity, and I moved up and elevated from there. The only reason I left was because I got pregnant with twins. My most notable professional achievement is probably the Operation Beautiful organization, which I've been growing since 2008. I have over 250 members, and I influence girls on a daily basis on everything from decision making to etiquette, to applying to colleges, to empowering themselves. Those girls still reach out to me through the years and are still thankful, which means everything to me. I'm leaving teaching in May and looking to do something that's more flexible than the classroom, even though I love the students.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Terri
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think growing up where I did, I grew up in a very poor community. I mean, not poor, it was just very blue-collar. My dad was a San Francisco police officer. I was born in California. And so, it was grit. Just literally grit. I wanted more than that, and so I worked to do so. L'Oreal actually employed me when I was only [young], which was very, very good, and then I just kind of moved up and elevated from there. The only reason I left is I got pregnant with twins.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say that you absolutely have to draw clear boundaries from the beginning, and stay with them. It doesn't mean you have to be a big ol' B, but you've got to not go back, because they'll eat you alive, especially in high school.
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