Enthusiasm and smiles. A girl-power kind of ambition.
Meet the lovely Hollman Wong.
I initially met Hollman at a women's business networking event and later sat down to chat at a local coffee shop to learn about her and her businesses. One of the things I appreciate about Hollman is that while she is a driven businesswoman and entrepreneur, she's also the type of person who makes you feel like you just spent the afternoon chatting it up with your best girlfriends - complete with the laughter over the things women struggle with and the understanding that we gals, at the end of the day, just want to do something great in this world.
As with every glamour photo shoot I do, it is my hope that the photographs along with the story behind each beautiful woman, help to influence other women in a meaningful way. Complete with a "girl power" fist bump to the air, of course.
And now, over to Hollman...
Give us your “elevator speech” – a snapshot of who you are, what you do for a living, and how we should “know” you.
Meet the lovely Hollman Wong.
I initially met Hollman at a women's business networking event and later sat down to chat at a local coffee shop to learn about her and her businesses. One of the things I appreciate about Hollman is that while she is a driven businesswoman and entrepreneur, she's also the type of person who makes you feel like you just spent the afternoon chatting it up with your best girlfriends - complete with the laughter over the things women struggle with and the understanding that we gals, at the end of the day, just want to do something great in this world.
As with every glamour photo shoot I do, it is my hope that the photographs along with the story behind each beautiful woman, help to influence other women in a meaningful way. Complete with a "girl power" fist bump to the air, of course.
And now, over to Hollman...
Give us your “elevator speech” – a snapshot of who you are, what you do for a living, and how we should “know” you.
I am an Event Planner at heart. I've been planning events since I
was a kid. I fell into the event marketing world in High Tech and toggled
between that and planning weddings and celebratory events.
I have always believed that, there is always something to celebrate. Small touches can turn the most ordinary gathering into something very special and memorable. I'm in a career transition at the moment. I just finished my studies at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and am a Certified Holistic Health Coach. My mission is to help people figure out the right mix of whole and real foods to eat for their body so they can feel great in their favorite jeans!
I have always believed that, there is always something to celebrate. Small touches can turn the most ordinary gathering into something very special and memorable. I'm in a career transition at the moment. I just finished my studies at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and am a Certified Holistic Health Coach. My mission is to help people figure out the right mix of whole and real foods to eat for their body so they can feel great in their favorite jeans!
Who or what 3 things have helped shape you to be the
woman you are today? Tell us about the path you took to get where you are
today.
- Making mistakes and learning from them
- Speaking up over injustices and or crummy work that can affect the integrity of a project or the company
- When I started my first, "real" job out of college, a manager in my department told me to "take this time to learn - really learn.” I have always remembered and followed this sage advice.
If you knew then what you know now, what would you
tell your 18-year-old self? What advice would you give to other women in today’s world?
- Ask more questions. If you feel sick to your stomach about asking the question, all the more reason to ask the question.
- Have the audacity to be who you really are regardless of what anyone tells you, what your family thinks or what you think society thinks. What matters the most is what you think of you.We can all mold ourselves into something else but your authentic self is going to kick her way out for one reason or another very soon.
There was
a philosophy at a company I worked at. It made me laugh and frightened me at
the same time but I loved the sentiment behind it: "It's better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission."
When things get tough, how do you keep yourself going?
After wallowing in self pity for a good 10 minutes, I write out everything that is bugging me and figure out a plan of attack. I also have a Blue Me folder which is a collection of compliments written by friends, former managers, and clients that I read to cheer me up when my confidence has dropped.
What leadership qualities do you most
admire?
The ability
to acknowledge a really messed up situation, then inspire the troops to keep going
in spite of this. Former NYC Mayor Giuliani is a beautiful example of
this. I was out of the country for six months when 9/11 happened but when
I returned, I read and watched so much about him and his leadership for the people
of NYC and frankly, for the whole country and found it incredibly inspiring.
How do you get balance in your life?
What I have learned is that what I do on a daily basis matters much more than what I do
once in a while. Hence, I have worked hard to create healthy habits that
feeds any schedule I have. I know what I need physically and mentally to
feel my best so I protect these habits to the nth degree.
If I can't make it to a 90 minute yoga class then I walk for 30 minutes. If I can't walk for 30 minutes, I have a 10 minute crunch and push up routine so I can get some kind of exercise that makes me feel powerful. I also stay away from bad food which to me means processed and fast food. If I'm not eating a sit down meal I whip up a black smoothie and eat a handful of nuts to fuel me up. When I have these basics managed, I know I'm balanced.
If I can't make it to a 90 minute yoga class then I walk for 30 minutes. If I can't walk for 30 minutes, I have a 10 minute crunch and push up routine so I can get some kind of exercise that makes me feel powerful. I also stay away from bad food which to me means processed and fast food. If I'm not eating a sit down meal I whip up a black smoothie and eat a handful of nuts to fuel me up. When I have these basics managed, I know I'm balanced.
For a woman (or anyone starting their own business),
what three things are most critical for them to be aware of?
- Understand why you're going into business.
- Have a plan so you can gauge your progress.
- Don't be all things to all people or you will drive yourself nuts and waste your time.
Why did you choose your career?
My career
chose me. I actually did not know event planning was a career. I
have a natural ability to organize details and it's very easy for me to meet
and talk with people; put the two together and voila - event planner! Now
I'm taking the very best pieces of me and creating a new career. Watch
out world!
If you were stranded on a desert island, what three
things would you want with you?
· A note book and a blue medium point ball
point pen because I must jot down thoughts and ideas. (These are two
things but they go together ;D )
· Neutrogena lip balm in fresh plum.
I am lip balm freak and must have one with me at all times!
· My iPhone
What is your personal motto or mission statement?
Honor self,
have fun, connect to spirit, make it cute, keep it real, no drama, and play
fair. Don't preach, judge, or hurt any one's
feelings. Take power naps, share your sweet treats, be in the
moment, and enjoy it.
Besides your daily work, what are you passionate
about?
Nutrition
from the inside out. This not only means good quality whole and real food
but good quality relationships and activities because these things feed our
soul. What is the point of eating an organic diet if your personal
relationships drain you and junk TV deadens your mind?