In Bed With
Karina De Jesus
Editor’s note
If Karina looks familiar to you, it might have to do with the fact that we’ve featured her around these parts before :). Tiff and I first photographed her (and her roommate Camilla) for the brand when we launched in 2015. At the time, she was living the #bushwicklife and working as an account executive in wholesale. Now, years later, it’s inspiring to see her trajectory and growth – from a generous and stylish blogger putting down roots in the city into an entreprenuer fronting a new business + showroom.
Rachel
Who’s that girl?
You just started your own business after working in the fashion industry in NYC for many years. What gave you the courage and grit to decide now was the time to start your own thing?
I’ve wanted my own business since I started college… so for about 10 years now. I went to business seminars and read books but it was never the right time. Then, while I was working at my last company, I was actually happy to just build the vision of the founder and take ownership that way. However, things changed (in a positive way for everyone) and I was left with a choice - to start my own business or… actually, for me there was never a second choice. I just always knew that when the opportunity presented itself, I had to jump on it. I believe that my God opened the door at the right time. Funny how things work out. They say that when you love someone you have to let them go. I feel, it’s that way with many things in life. You have to let your dream die before it can sprout and grow.
What has surprised you or stood out to you the most from your experience of entrepreneurship to date?
Two things, and I can’t say that they are surprises but they have definitely stood out - this is the most rewarding job for my personality ( I say that because it’s not that way for everyone and that’s TOTALLY FINE), and that flexibility is everything. One must be able to take ups and downs and not be affected by them. Just find a solution and move forward. One event leads to another and not many things will go exactly according to the plan. Also, that an entrepreneur must be people focused. Entrepreneurship should never be about oneself. It’s all about what I’m contributing to this world, how am I actually helping someone?
They say that when you love someone you have to let them go. I feel, it’s that way with many things in life. You have to let your dream die before it can sprout and grow.
Do you think women bring a different mindset to entrepreneurship than men?
100%. And it’s not a better or worse mindset, it’s just different. We have emotional capacity that most men don’t and we should be using that in our advantage. We should be using that in leadership, business, philanthropy. Instead of suppressing who we are and what we feel, we should ask ourselves - why do I feel this way? What does that say about this circumstance? How can this be used to advance the situation? But, of course, there is a lot of learning to be done to take charge of our emotions in this way.
What have you learned about yourself through this journey?
I’ve learned that I LOVE starting things. Thank God for all those seminars and business books that drilled in me that “implementation, not ideas, is the key to success”. So, I’m not trying to jump to the next thing. BUT, I would be lying if I said that about 5 days a week I’m not thinking or talking about starting more ventures.
Like any pressure, entrepreneurship squeezes the good and the bad out of me. I reevaluate my words and actions every day and focus on growth. That has been the most gratifying.
Like any pressure, entrepreneurship squeezes the good and the bad out of me. I reevaluate my words and actions every day and focus on growth. That has been the most gratifying.
In This Story
The High Waisted Undies
in Black and Jasper.
The Triangle Bralette
in Jasper and Dusky Pink.
