Who rules the world? Women do. Even more so in the month of March, which is Women?s History Month. This month is dedicated to honor the women of our past and inspire future generations. Here at Tukasa Creations we value the contributions women have made to our freedom, equality, and success. We are deeply grateful for the women who are part of our family at Tukasa Creations. We admire their strength and passion for their work. To celebrate these ladies who we consider our heroes every day, we want to give you a glimpse into their inspirations, motivations, and backgrounds.
Vienna J Flores
Who inspires you?
My entire family has inspired me throughout my life. I am a strong believer in education but I also believe that we learn the most through our experiences, hardships, and self-discovery. ?These experiences have inspired me my whole life.? I am proud to have a hard working mother, who always encouraged me to work just as hard as anyone else. My husband?s support for whatever I set my mind to is, in itself, inspiring. Finally, my children motivate me to be successful and are my daily inspiration.? I have worked hard to try to provide them better opportunities than I had, and I always strive to lead my children through example, including my work ethic and passion.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
It is important to learn and enjoy every phase of your life and do what makes you happy. I do not regret any of the choices I made when I was younger because they have brought me to this point in life. I am grateful for what I have done. If I were to be born again, I would make the same choices but add a degree in Interior Design because I believe education is super important.
How can we set the example for other women?
We can set the example for other women by being passionate about what we do, never ceasing to learn, and not being afraid to be creative. We should always have our family and loved ones in mind so we can set the best example, both professionally and personally. It is vital to not only be excellent in your career, but there needs to be a balance for everything including family, friends, health, entertainment, and work.
Glenda Brown
Who inspires you?
Sarah Richardson?she is a designer based out of Canada. I love her designs because they?re timeless and eclectic, and she?s not afraid to mix old and new. She mixes patterns and colors that I would never think to put together, but when she does, they look amazing. I love her thought process and her attention to detail. She started off small and then grew into a famous designer who remains humble and true to herself. She is someone I look up to and can relate to for her boldness and creativity.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would tell her to be more confident in herself and to know that she can do whatever she sets her mind to in order to be successful in life. When I was younger, I was shy and never spoke up for myself. Because of this, I missed out on a lot of opportunities. I was never the one that shined??nor did I want to. I became more independent as I went out and started working. My philosophy now is to be the best I can for myself and for whoever?s life I touch.
How can we set the example for other women?
To be true to oneself. We should not compare ourselves to others or try to be someone who we are not. When we compare ourselves to others, we are setting ourselves up to be unhappy. We owe it to ourselves and the people around us to be authentic to who we are as individuals. My rule of thumb is to treat others how you would want to be treated, and that includes how you treat yourself.
Iris Segura-Fernandez
Who inspires you?
My mother inspires me. Despite a medical condition that almost took her life, my mother continues to be courageous and self-driven. Not once has she let that experience define her in any way. Instead, my mother has become stronger and embraces life more than ever. My mother?s strength drives me to have a positive outlook on life and make the best out of any situation. Life is too short to dwell on the past, especially when tomorrow is not promised.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would tell her to listen to the advice your parents are giving you. They have experienced the highs and the lows in life. The advice they give is only to benefit you and to prepare you for what life has in store.
How can we set the example for other women?
Being self-motivated has helped me achieve even my most difficult goals. For example, I took a break in my career to finish school at the age of 26 because it was a goal of mine to graduate college. It is never too late to work on what you have planned for yourself. Life may not always go according to plan but it is important to never give up on your dreams. The sky has no limit, the only person who can stop you is yourself.
Kelsey Flores
Who inspires you?
My mom and my siblings inspire me through their resilience. They have all been through difficult situations in life but they have not let that keep them from chasing their dreams. My mom did not let her upbringing define the outcome of who she, or who her children, could be in life. Because of this, I am determined to never stop trying to learn and achieve my goals.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would tell her not to become disheartened by the small mishaps in life. When you are younger everything feels like the end the world, when in reality, it is just a small bump in the road. I would tell her to listen to the advice of her parents because, more than likely, they have experienced what you are going through. You do not realize your parents know what you are feeling until you are older and gain perspective. When I was younger, I would get caught up in the details and not be able to ?see? the big picture. Now, in retrospect, I see that life is a series of moments and not details.
How can we set the example for other women?
It is important to be confident in your abilities and to utilize those abilities to empower the women around you. No one is perfect and we cannot expect ourselves to be, but if we work together, we can pave the way for others to be successful. Being confident doesn?t mean being oblivious to your flaws, but instead accepting those flaws to become a better version of yourself.
Laura Lopez
Who inspires you?
Zaha Hadid?she is an architect that I admire. I love her work and how her architecture represents so much more than just architecture. She brings art, functionality, talent, vison, and movement into her buildings. Everything she creates has a certain elegance to it, and I wish to someday come close to her skill level. She has made a major impact on not only the built environment, but on humanity as well. The Heydar Aliyev center is the perfect example of the significance of her work as it honors the environment and integrity of its location.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would tell her to be more confident in herself. When I was younger, I was shy and introverted because I was bullied. I missed out on a lot of social opportunities that could have helped lift my confidence. Now, as a young adult I have become more outgoing and social, which has opened the doors to many opportunities that have allowed me to meet new and wonderful people.?
How can we set the example for other women?
I do not believe anyone is entitled to anything in life. You must earn your right to be a respected woman by leading through example. A woman without independence is lost. No woman can do it all, but she learns how to handle it all. Real strength is knowing when to ask for help. Knowing how to handle it all is what distinguishes a woman from a girl. The world needs a woman?s touch, but a woman does not need the world.
Celeste Escutia-Rendon
Who inspires you?
My mom and my sister have been very inspirational to me throughout my life. I have seen them face great adversity and still have such joy and selflessness in their hearts. They have taught me to work hard and be ardently dedicated to anything I do. If I could be half as good of a person as either my mother or sister, it would be a huge accomplishment for me.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would tell her to enjoy life in the moment. When I was younger, I was always thinking ten steps ahead and then stressing out about those ten steps ahead. I do not think I enjoyed my adolescence the way I should have. I was in such a hurry to grow up that I did not take a moment to enjoy being that young and carefree.? Because of this, my advice to younger women is not to rush growing up, you have a lifetime to be an adult. It is okay to allow yourself to have fun and relish being young with few responsibilities. That is the point of your childhood.
How can we set the example for other women?
As corny as it sounds, confidence is key. If you are confident in yourself and what you have set your mind to, you have already won half the battle. The world is full of people waiting to put you down for any reason. But if you believe in yourself, no one can belittle you except yourself. Confidence is also contagious. ?If you are confident in yourself, the women around you can benefit from that by learning to be more confidence in themselves as well.?
In the end, whether it be your wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, or co-worker, we all have a woman who we look up to and could not live without. Take this month to thank them for their contribution to your life and to their community. If you are a woman yourself, do not forget to thank the women of our past who tirelessly worked to ensure that every woman would be provided fair and equal opportunities. As author Diane Mariechild once said, ?A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture, and transform.?
