Jenna Habayeb, Los Angeles-Based Vice President of Marketing:

Fashion-Lover, Smart Businessperson, and Avid Traveler 

Jenna Habayeb is Vice President of Marketing at Splendid, a contemporary brand known for soft fabrics and classic casual designs, and Ella Moss, the company that makes life easier for all those who want to have the Coachella style year-round with “modern bohemian clothing for women and girls.”  Of course, one look at Jenna’s ethereal-but-classy Instagram page – where she mentions her “dreamer’s heart” and “gypsy soul” – and you can see that she has found the right place to work. She combines that sort of romantic outlook, however, with a Grande Soy Macchiato-fueled business acumen, listing “problem-solving,” “analyzing results” and “keeping my team motivated” as key functions of her job as a VP.

Her favorite quote is “not all who wander are lost,” and for an ardent travel enthusiast like her — with an immigrant father, who started taking her overseas when she was just a baby – that is particularly à propos.  Originally from New Jersey and attended college at the University of Delaware, she believes in being creative when it comes to reaching for job possibilities; when she first came to LA, she decided to apply for a job at Quiksilver, the high-end surfing/snowboarding company, by designing her resume onto a skateboard and sending it to the CEO (she got the interview, of course!).  See below for more about her energetic, bursting-with-curiosity-about-the-world insights, and her love of fashion, marketing and business.

Can you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?
Well, if you read my LinkedIn profile or check out my Instagram page (@wander_some), you’ll probably get a feel for who I am. I’m very driven. I love my career, and the fact that it’s the perfect marriage of fashion, business and creativity. And I’m always yearning for more: more knowledge, more inspiration, and more experience. I love to see the world for what it truly is (both the good and the bad). I love meeting smart people, and being able to really affect change.

What was your very first job?
My first real job was a camp counselor while I was in high school, which I have to say taught me a lot, especially how to manage so many different personalities – something I definitely use as a skill-set in my current career.

But my first real job after college was working for an Advertising Agency as a Junior Account Executive. I always knew I wanted to get into advertising and marketing, because it gave me the perfect opportunity to be business-minded, while still having a creative outlet.

What does a day in your shoes typically look like?
Well, I guess it depends on which pair of shoes I’m wearing: there are my power pumps that say “I mean business” and then there are my stylish stilettos that say “seize the day” and of course there are always my go-to Splendid flip flops that say “enjoy the ride.”

But really, there is no typical day. Every day is quite different. As a VP, there are a lot of challenges I have to face and solutions I need to come up with. Problem-solving is probably the biggest part of my day, but I love it. Everyday I have to keep my team motivated, ensure we deliver great work, analyze results, optimize customer experiences, and communicate, communicate, communicate! That’s what each day consists of.

What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning and the last three things you do before you go to bed?
When I wake up, I check my calendar on my phone to remind myself of my meetings and to mentally prepare for the day. Then I usually skim over my email to make sure nothing crucial came in while I was sleep (we have a NY office, so sometimes things come in early). Then – this sounds weird — but I go downstairs and drink an apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice concoction that’s supposed to really kick start your system. It’s not the most delicious thing, but it’s definitely made a difference!

When I go to bed after brushing my teeth and all, I usually watch a little TV to wind down and then peruse Instagram for inspiration. I’m always sending my team ideas I see on Instagram – photo shoot inspiration, designers, influencers to look out for, cool brands, etc.

What is your breakfast of choice?
Grande Soy Caramel Macchiato (with a light drizzle)…that’s how I like to kick start my day. Bad habit, I know, but it’s like a little present to me for getting up early and going to work each day.

What keeps you energized and motivated at work?
Working collaboratively keeps me energized. I always find that when you work with other people, your ideas just get stronger and you’re really able to make things happen. When everyone rallies behind one vision, the outcome is always stronger and it’s extremely motivating to see something come to fruition.

What is the favorite part about your job?
I love being inspired all the time and working with creative, smart people. We feed off each others’ ideas, and are able to really create amazing cohesive work that we all align on. It’s so exciting to love what you do, and I truly can’t wait to get to work every day. I practically dream Splendid and Ella Moss!

Who and what inspires your work?
Everything and everyone. I’m inspired by everything that surrounds me. I’ve worked with some extremely smart and intelligent women who fuel me (including my mom of course!). I look to brands that are innovating in my industry and even outside my industry to get inspired. My team influences me: seeing them grow, and being inspired by their ideas and passion. Travel inspires me. Music inspires me. Fresh air and walks in the city inspire me. Creativity and greatness is all around us. You just have to open your eyes and take it all in!

How does your culture/background influence your work?
My dad grew up in the Middle East, and started taking me  abroad when I was a baby. I’m an avid traveler and I love experiencing new cultures. It definitely gives me perspective and makes me appreciate so many beautiful things this world has to offer. I always try to use my experiences as inspiration. Especially now that I’m in the fashion world, so many aspects in this industry are influenced from all over the world.

How many times have you changed your career direction?
Never really. I’ve always wanted do something that would let me combine business and creativity, so that’s why I went the route of marketing. It’s funny, because when I had to pick my major it was between Business or Fashion, and look at me now! I started on the agency side and did that for 12+ years, and now am using my same skill-set — just on the client side working for fashion brands I love.

What are the most important qualities of a good leader?
Communication, passion, and a strong will. Without any of these qualities, a leader can fail. It’s not about being the smartest person, or even the hardest worker. It’s about inspiring the masses. It’s about believing in what you do so much that it becomes part of who you are. It’s about rallying the best people together and making sure they believe just as much as you do. And the best way to do that is to exude passion, collaborate and communicate, and build trust and transparency. And also by having a strong will to get through the tough days, knowing it’s all for the better good in the long haul.

What is your favorite leisure activity after a stressful work week?
Not sure if a cocktail counts, but I like to unwind with a nice glass of wine! But seriously, I do like to take [muscle-sculpting regimen] Cardio Barre. It focuses me, and I feel like I get to dance and get a good workout.

What advantages do you see as a woman in the workplace?
Well at Splendid and Ella Moss, where I work…the clothes! No, but seriously in fashion women sometimes have a natural advantage because we really get the industry and consumer mindset. It’s really exciting to work on products you understand in your core, because it helps you market them that much better.

What advice would you give women starting their career?
Do what you love, and don’t give up. Now that I’m working full-time in fashion, I love it and everything I do I feel like I can personally relate to and get excited about, which makes my job that much more enjoyable. Think about those things that put a fire in your belly and a sparkle in your eye, and don’t stop until you get them.