Growing up, Emmanuelle was always fascinated by fashion and luxury living. She even dreamt of becoming either a fashion designer or a fashion merchandiser. Now, she owns an online fashion accessories and perfumes store after being inspired from her trip to Dubai. Find out what makes Emmanuelle a badass mom and more.
I challenged my status quo to rewrite my own story
What's your job title & how did you get where you are today?
I owned and managed an online store. I was at a very low point in my life when I decided to take a trip to Dubai with my 10 years old son. That’s when I was inspired to start my own business.
Tell us about a day at work you'll never forget!
While I owned my online store, I also work full-time as a personal injury paralegal, and most of the times, it’s hard to manage the two because they both bring their own set of challenges. So one day, I had a demanding project at work that I absolutely needed to finish, and I also had orders from my store that needed to be mailed out that day, plus pick up my son from school before a certain time. I was really stressed out and even wanted to scream/cry because I had to handle everything. But I calmed myself down and started calculating the minutes I could allow to each activity, and I am proud to say that everything was handled.
What's your advice about growing a brand or a personal brand?
Be your authentic self no matter what people tell you or the insecurities you might feel, and be patient-very patient with the growth process and yourself.
“the loudest negative voice was mine, and I had to learn to silence it with my past accomplishments and my talents.”
How do you prepare for negotiation conversations?
I mostly negotiate with vendors and they are mostly Muslim and are not used to a woman being in charge, negotiating prices with them and being firm and assertive like a man. I have to say so far, all the negotiations have always gone well. I think it was a learning experience for me and them.
Did you ever agree to something in a negotiation you now regret doing?
Yes!!! When I first started. I agreed on a price for a couple of merchandises and find out later, the person quadruple the price compare to another vendor. Now I do more thorough research and sleep on it before making a move.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve experienced imposter syndrome, or not feeling good enough? How did you overcome this?
When I first started my business, I was constantly afraid nobody would take me seriously because “hey, it’s Emma. She’s not a businesswoman. She is a paralegal and a single mom.” But because I wanted this dream to manifest itself so bad, I had to do an introspection and realized that, while some people might feel that way indeed, but the loudest negative voice was mine, and I had to learn to silence it with my past accomplishments and my talents.
What one tip would you tell your younger self about negotiating?
Do your research. Be polite but assertive. Don’t be afraid to get off the negotiation table if the conditions are not advantageous to you. There’s always another opportunity around the corner if that one doesn’t work.
What’s your favourite quote?
One of my favorites would be “You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes, you just need balls.
