Career Roadmap
Anne's work combines: Art, Entrepreneurship, and Being Creative
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Visual and Performing Arts, General
Brown University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a General and Operations Managers:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Art
Certification: Perfumery
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
Had a creative and philosophical leaning, but was also book-smart.
2.
I studied mostly photography in college, but took a lot of time off to travel.
3.
After college, I moved to New York City (Brooklyn to be specific).
4.
While working at a design agency, I took classes in the evening (like jewelry, yoga, etc.)
5.
One night I took a natural perfume class and fell head over heels.
6.
I spent 3 yrs learning everything I could about perfumery from books, the internet, experimenting.
7.
Then I applied to the Grasse Institute of Perfumery in southern France.
8.
After graduating in 2009, I founded my own company.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Teachers:
Even once I was in perfume school, the idea that I would start my own business was really doubted. "The perfume industry works a certain way." "How will you ever make it?"
How I responded:
I had so much passion in my heart. I knew what I wanted to do, and I figured if I just stayed steadfast I would reach my goals. In addition to an unwavering passion, I had persistence, and need. I needed my business to succeed. I had no other option.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
When people think of perfume, they think of big name brands or celebrities. I started a company with almost no money. For my first run, I had stickers printed at Staples and spent all night cutting them out perfectly to label my bottles. It worked!
My mother is Korean and for her, and I know that in the beginning, she would've preferred that I had a more traditional job. The idea that I would be an entrepreneur scared her. I was 28 when I started my company and my thinking was, "Now or never."