13 minute read
Feature: Flower of the Andes
Feature by Veronica Verdaguer
I grew up in Ecuador in a picturesque and very busy port city called Guayaquil. Guayaquil is the largest city in Ecuador, and while it is not the capital of the country, it is the most important industrial and commercial hub. When people think of Ecuador, they think of the very small country in South America off the Pacific Ocean. What many do not realize is that, while it is a small country, it is also one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world. Ecuador is also very diverse when it comes to geography and climate. The coastal region is hot and humid (perfect beach weather). The central region is graced with the majestic Andes mountain range, snow-capped mountain peaks, volcanoes, and a colder climate. The Amazon region, with its spectacular sights, includes cloud forests, amazing wildlife, huge rivers, and a warm, hot and rainy climate all year round. And finally, the insular region known as Galapagos Islands, is a ‘bucket list’ destination with beautiful beaches and lots of friendly wildlife ranging from sea lions to giant tortoises. And the best part is that all this diversity is packed into a small country, making it possible to visit these diverse regions within a matter of a few hours.
Veronica Verdaguer for ELLA Inspires Magazine
www.ellainspires.com
When I think of my country I often think of the delicious food. Despite very little international recognition for Ecuador’s food, if you have visited Ecuador you can attest to a variety of food packed with so much flavor; simply talking about it makes my mouth water! Just as diverse as its landscape are Ecuadorian people and culture. And while the political and socioeconomic situation of the country is not ideal, most people you meet in Ecuador are happy, generous, and extremely friendly. It is definitely a country worth visiting. As far as my personal experience growing up in Ecuador, I can tell you there were many times we complained about the circumstances that surrounded us.
Veronica Verdaguer for ELLA Inspires Magazine
www.ellainspires.com
I love my parents very much, and I am thankful for they helped me to become the person I am today. To talk about my parents is to talk about two very different people with very distinct personalities; yet they complimented each other so well. They did everything within their power to teach my siblings and I good values from a very young age.
I definitely get the urge to be adventurous from my dad. My dad is a retired Naval Chief Engineer, which gave him the opportunity to travel the world. I grew up listening to his stories at sea as well as his visits to Europe, Asia, and North America; he had so many stories to tell, and he had seen and experienced so much. I have come to admire how knowledgeable and interesting he is because he travelled the world. At a young age this instilled in me the desire to see the world and experience other cultures firsthand. I was blessed to find a husband who loves to travel as much as I do! My dad also taught us to be kind and generous with everyone. I can remember times when the economy at home was better than others, yet, he always a had a very big heart and was ready to help those in need. I hope to follow in his footsteps and to be as generous with my time, knowledge and resources.
Veronica Verdaguer for ELLA Inspires Magazine
www.ellainspires.com
My mom on the other hand taught us to be brave and positive. She had a difficult childhood; she grew up with very limited resources and was raised by a single mom. Nothing came easy for my mom who had to struggle for things most of us take for granted. Yet, she was brave, resourceful and always positive. She never settled for less than she deserved. Also, as I previously mentioned, my dad’s job required for him to travel often which meant he had to travel sometimes a few months at a time. While my dad was gone, my mom was our everything; our mother, our friend, our tutor, our provider, and our protector. Up to this day, I cannot understand how she did it all. I can proudly say is she overcame all those challenges with grace and boldness. She taught us not only with words, but also with her example what it meant to be brave and positive.
I am also very meticulous in organizing and cleaning thanks to my mom. I can honestly say I have NEVER met someone as organized and clean as my mother; she makes it look so easy. I mean, she had a place and a system for everything, and she made sure we kept things neat and tidy around the home. This has proven to be so helpful over the years in my home and my business. Of course, there were things where my parents very much agreed on and were non-negotiable at our home such as education, moral and family values.
Veronica Verdaguer for ELLA Inspires Magazine
www.ellainspires.com
At one of point of his career, my dad only within Ecuador, which in turn allowed him to spend more time close to the family. We would travel each week to pick him up from the beach then wave goodbye when he left.
It was very normal for us to pack our books and do homework beachside waiting for my dad to arrive. We would try to finish our homework as fast as possible so we could go play in the ocean. This also meant we got to spend the weekends at hotels which was so much fun. Even now I am beach lover… there is really no place I’d rather be. When we were not at the beach spending time with my dad, we were back home busy with school and afterschool activities.
My siblings and I were involved in so many programs. My brother ran track and played soccer. My sister went for cheerleading, and I tried it all; basketball, swimming, cheerleading, and dancing. I have no idea how my mom was able to support all of those activities, but she was there for all of us.
She would also take us to each other’s practices if we were not doing any other activities. Once again, we would sit there on the benches doing our homework, while the other would finish doing what they had to do.
We had a great support system: we had each other.
ROLE MODELS
Our neighbor Mrs. Sandra Vazquez, ‘Mrs. Sandrita’ as we called her, was the epitome of a ‘girl boss’ before the term was coined.
She balanced between being a dedicated wife, loving mother, good friend, great architect, and a very savvy businesswoman. As a friend she was always there for our family and always encouraged us to reach our full potential. Even now she is always rooting for us.
Veronica Verdaguer for ELLA Inspires Magazine
www.ellainspires.com
Veronica Verdaguer for ELLA Inspires Magazine
www.ellainspires.com
Veronica Verdaguer for ELLA Inspires Magazine
www.ellainspires.com
When I first started, I thought more in terms of creativity so I played with a lot of different colors and styles. To me, there is a time and a place to let it all out, like fashion shows or editorials. The bridal industry, however, calls for a more classy and graceful style (which has now become a staple of the work I do). I also have a wonderful team of artists who have been handpicked and trained by me to ensure every one of my clients has the same experience and end result.
COMING TO THE UNITED STATES
But things haven’t always been easy. The most challenging time for me was when we moved from Guayaquil to Dallas. This is not just because everything was new for me but also because I did not speak the language. In my hometown, I had built a good portfolio and a good reputation as a makeup artist. In Texas, however, I did not have any connections in the beauty industry. I realized I needed to handle everything from marketing strategy to payment methods differently. This may be basic knowledge to others, but it was completely new for me.
I think back to how I initially entered into the beauty industry. With the help of my lovely husband we created a new website and business cards. We also developed a new social media strategy to aid with marketing. He even helped me to contact as me people I could find from the industry; I started knocking different doors. Some of them replied immediately while others waited to see my work. One day, I decided to get dressed, do my own makeup flawlessly, and go to North Park mall in Dallas,TX. My goal was to find as many potential customers as possible and share my business cards. After walking around for two hours, I finally met someone browsing in a store. She complimented my makeup and I immediately gave her my information. Two years later, I did her makeup on her wedding day. Looking for contacts was not easy and communicating with them was even more difficult but I knew what I wanted. With husband’s help we created a plan of action and executed it in spite of my fears.
GETTING STARTED
When you live in the same city and country your entire life and then you leave, you never feel like a stranger. When I moved to the States, I felt like a total stranger; everything was new to me. I even felt like talking to other Spanish speakers was challenging due to the difference in vocabulary and culture. This was my opportunity to be adventurous, yet I felt like some of the differences were a little bit of a barrier. But it wasn’t long before I started coming out of my shell and embracing my new surroundings.
As the months went by, I started to feel Texas was my new home. I could not have done it without the help of my husband and friends. People often ask me if I have been discriminated against, and I would have to say ‘Perhaps.’ But, for every unpleasant person out there, there are several others who are kind and supportive. I choose to focus on those individuals and not pay attention to the bad qualities in others.
I am blessed to be surrounded by friends and coworkers who make me feel included and support me because of who I am not because where I am from.
LEARNING TO SPEAK ENGLISH
One word: Difficult. I knew that learning English was critical for my success. I arrived to this country four years ago, not knowing more than a few words in English. I quickly realized if I wanted more opportunities I needed to start speaking the language. When I first interviewed for the Estee Lauder, I had only been in the country for ten months. I had to work up my courage, so I wrote down a script of what I wanted to say. When asked questions, I just read the responses from my script. I almost didn’t go to the interview even thought I had practiced so much; I just did not feel prepared. I was so surprised when I got the job. I still feel frustrated at times; I have lost track how many times I have cried in front of the mirror, unable to pronounce certain words. At the moment I am taking some private classes with a tutor because I feel I am ready for a next chapter in my career.
Veronica Verdaguer for ELLA Inspires Magazine
www.ellainspires.com
INSPIRING WOMEN
There are so many amazing women that have influenced my career. I want to start with one woman from my hometown. When being a makeup artist was not a popular career in Guayaquil, Priscila Rendon paved the way for many women (myself included). Against all odds, she opened a beauty school and now owns one of the most reputable beauty schools in South America. Nowadays, I am surrounded by amazing and confident colleagues and team. These women continue to persevere in order to grow their businesses. This has inspired me to be more excited about the journey that I have ahead of me, I have gained knowledge from many people and experiences during my entire life. This wealth of knowledge has influenced who I am today.
Reading about the life of wonderful, female entrepreneurs is a great source of inspiration. In my case, I love reading about Mrs. Josephine Esther Mentzer; otherwise known as Mrs. Estée Lauder. She was a pioneer in the beauty industry and a visionary who was able to run one of the world’s most renowned beauty companies. Her legacy continues to be a source of inspiration to many in the industry.
HOW TO BE YOUR OWN BOSS
Create A Plan of Action
I personally promised myself I would be my own boss by the age of 30 and I knew I could not leave that goal up to fate. I had to sit down, write down specifically what I wanted to do, and how I was going to get there. I came up with strategies, deadlines, and budgets for everything. Also, because I am very visual, created a vision board to remind myself of where I needed to be. If you have thought about creating a vision board, please know it is a wonderful idea. However, always ask yourself: what am I currently doing that will get me closer to that goal, and what is my plan so I can get there?
Discover What Motivates You
Why do you want to accomplish your goals? What and who are you doing it for? Why do you do what you do each day? For many, their motivation begins with their children. For others, it may be their spouse, or their parents. For others still it may be to have a sense of fulfillment. In my case, what motivates me is having the freedom to spend time with my husband helping others develop a personal relationship with God, or their spirituality. That is MY why. I have pictures of my husband and I participating in such activities, and I mark those photos as my favorite on my phone so I can constantly see them and remind myself of who and what motivates me.
Invest in Your Education
No matter your industry, there is always someone who is better than you are so learn from the best! Never think you have reached a level where you cannot continue to learn from others. When we make that mistake, when we lack the humility to learn from others, we stop growing.
Save your Money
My other piece of advice, and this is the Economist in me talking, please save money and plan to be broke at least for the first semester you open your business. Even if you are making profit, keep saving as much as you can. The goal is to keep investing to keep growing.
Have fun and enjoy the journey!
Veronica Verdaguer for ELLA Inspires Magazine
www.ellainspires.com
About Veronica Verdaguer
Veronica Verdaguer is an international makeup artist specializing in bridal makeup. She has worked with international photographers, models, and media. Veronica’s work has been published in world-renowned magazines and exhibited in South America, New York, and Paris. She is part of Estée Lauder’s Elite Team of Makeup Artists.
Instagram: @stylesbyvero
