Women Empowerment Month - Meet the Nena Marketing, Operations and Customer Service Team
For Women Empowerment Month we had to include all of the amazing women on our US team. For this week let's meet our women from our Marketing, Operations and Customer Service Teams!
Kelsey Tuia- Marketing Coordinator
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am a wife to my very best friend in the world who is 100% my rock. He is my big ole' Samoan and my teddy bear who would stop for anybody on the freeway to change their tire and does so on a daily! (So lucky to call him mine.) I am a mother to a little 18 month old girl name Ever who is our world and I am pregnant with number 2 and we just found out its a BOY! We also have a little yorkie named Oliver who is everything to us, he is for sure our first born, yes we are 'those' people!
I am a professional organizer, a marketing guru and a lover of all new experiences. I love to travel and experience new cultures with my family, I would say that is my hobby! I would live at the beach if I could and the sun is for sure my spirit animal. But I am also so content with dinner in bed with my hubby while watching our favorite shows or dancing around our home and singing on the top of our lungs with our little Ever girl! Life is too short not to be fully lived, am I right?!
2. What's been your biggest hurdle thus far?
I have a painful disease and I began taking heavy meds to drown out the pain and quickly became an addict. I am now 8 years sober and more grateful than ever for my experiences and who I have become because of it.
3. How did you overcome it?
I had the most incredible support system in my family and friends and they quickly stepped in and got me to rehab. (My mom flew to New Jersey and drove me across the country while I was detoxing, talk about one INCREDIBLE woman!) I work daily to stay sober for them and my little family of my own and it is all worth it. I am still in incredible pain daily but I hold fast to my support system and they help me through it day by day!
4. What advice do you have for other women?
NEVER EVER give up on yourself or doubt how truly incredible you are! Life is too short to fall into the lies around you! Find your tribe and love them fierce, rely on them to lift you up when you can't seem to hold on. Get out there and LIVE!
5. Share with us one of your favorite inspirational quotes.
"Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive that is youer than you!" Dr. Seuss
Taylor Santo Tomas- Content Creator and Assistant Marketing Coordinator
1.Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Taylor Santo Tomas! I am 20 year old and a Utah native! I am currently a student at BYU applying for the Advertising Program in the fall. I work as the Content Creator for Nena & Co, which entails that I run the social media platforms of the company and has been such a dream to do! Quick facts: I love Cafe Rio more than most anything, it’s the way to my heart. I have a fear of ducks and my guilty pleasures include murder mysteries and musicals.
- What's been your biggest hurdle thus far?
The biggest hurdle so far… well all in all I would have to say would be coming to the understanding that trials are apart of life. Our lives aren’t perfect. Mine sure isn’t and I don’t intend for it to be. Life gets hard but here’s the thing: IT’S MEANT TO. Life is full of constant battles and the truth is, sometimes things don’t go as planned. Sometimes I get lost in the trials, my mind gets cluttered with negative thought and the uncertainty of my life scares me. Which leads to me getting stressed, anxious and ultimately, discouraged.
- How did you overcome it?
Truth is, this is a hurdle that is going to be a continuous battle throughout our lives BUT I have chosen to stay present, be optimistic and choose happiness in the midst of it all. I know I know, when you read it like this it makes it sound so easy which we all know is not easy. But I have faith, and having faith and continuing to do these things has gotten me through some of the hardest trials of my life. And I know it will help me get through all the trials to come.
- What advice do you have for other women?
My advice hmmm… Well like I said before: stay present, be optimistic and choose happiness :) I also would say, be grateful for the hard times. These times have made you who you are! You are that much stronger because of them. Always remember, life is supposed to be hard and... you are NOT alone! We are all on this crazy adventure together, so let’s be kind and help each other out.
- Share with us one of your favorite inspirational quotes.
“I hope you know you’re capable and brave and significant. Even when it feels like you’re not.”
Aly Saifoloi- Assistant Operations Manager
- Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Native American. Artist. Lover of dogs.
- What's been your biggest hurdle thus far?
Letting go of perfection. I've always been a perfectionist and this would always hold me back from starting projects.
- How did you overcome it?
I just start. No matter what the project or task is, I just start. I put all my tools in front of me and begin. I still have to push past the fears and thoughts of what might happen if something isn't perfect or doesn't turn out how I imagine. But I'm learning to trust my gut and have faith in the process.
- What advice do you have for other women?
Do what makes you feel liberated and powerful.
- Share with us one of your favorite inspirational quotes.
"A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing." -George Bernard Shaw
Emily Christian- Customer Service
- Tell us a little about yourself.
I am the wife of an amazing, gentle, loving man and have 4 rad kids, ages: 21, 20, 15, & 13. I love to bake and laugh and talk with anyone and everyone who will listen and laugh with me. I love to be creative and to share my creations with others. Usually this is baked goods- but sometimes it's quilts!
- What’s been your biggest hurdle thus far?
My biggest hurdle thus far in my life had to be my Mother's death. It wasn't something I thought I'd have to deal with. She only lived 64 short years. She was my idol and my hero. I wish daily that she was here to help me through parenting my teens and adult children and to just love me and support me like only a Mother can.
- How did you overcome it?
I don't know that I will ever overcome her being gone! It has made me realize, though, that I can be an influence on others the way she was for me. I don't know how long my life will be- so I want to make the most of each relationship, conversation, and opportunity that I can. I want to be a force for good and a pathway to happiness for everyone around me. I want to be a positive influence and be the best ME that I can be so I can help others find their best "ME" as well!
- What advice do you have for other women?
My advice for other women is to let go of anything/anyone that doesn't bring happiness or love into your life. Sometimes you can't get rid of people or things, so you have to shift your outlook/attitude and make it happy or lovely or uplifting for you. Don't go looking for the negative, and always assume others are thinking the best of you. Just be amazing and pretend everyone thinks you are too! :) (You'll never REALLY know what others think of you, so just assume it's positive!)
- Share with us one of your favorite inspirational quotes.
Mother Teresa said, "I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I know that prayer changes us, and we change things." I have the power. I make the change. With God. I love it!