![]() Nunez: How do you balance your passions between Candela and Well Aware? Keeping that in mind reinforces our goal to do all things with a purpose higher than just making a living. We have made it a point to remind each other -failure is not an option. A major key was acknowledging that leaving our ego at the door is the only way everyone grows. ![]() We have learned to embrace each other’s strengths and accept our own weaknesses. Communication and aligning our visions have been our greatest challenges. Lopez: Even in best case scenarios, being part of a family business is always a work in progress. Nunez: What were the most difficult parts of working with family and how did you navigate them? It is our responsibility to respect and be humbled by the sacrifices that got us to the position we are in. I also feel strongly that as Latinas, in my case a 1st generation, we are the manifestation of our parent’s American Dream. She has taught me to creatively communicate my vision and find my voice to motivate. I am also extremely fortunate to have an exemplary mother who brings passion to both our family and business. I surround myself with those that empower my efforts and affirm my strengths. You have to want it! Being that my business is in a male dominant industry I strived early on to find women role models. No one should feel pressured into a family business. Lopez: Be sure your heart is in the right place before committing. Nunez: What advice do you have for Latinas who are taking ownership of the family business? Ultimately, we respect each other’s lanes while complementing one another. ![]() Of course, there were disagreements between their old school ways and my “we have to work smarter, not harder” attitude but in reality there is value in both. The transition was less about what I knew and more about the respect and love I showed for the foundation and legacy they had built. If I was to rebrand a space it needed to match my personal brand, my style and my vision. old daughter but he made sure I ALWAYS felt his and my mother’s unconditional support. My father knew it was a huge undertaking for his 23 yr. Maria Lopez: At the time I might have been a little too confident probably because I had never worked in a restaurant in my life. Vivian Nunez: How did you navigate the transition from working for your dad and his vision of Candela and taking ownership of it and making it your own? “I want to see my vision realized not someone else’s.”īelow Lopez shares tips on how to navigate family businesses and managing more than one hustle. “ allows me to be in control of the supply chain and the intricacies that go behind a company that wants to give back,” shares Lopez. Well Aware sells six bracelet styles and is completely self-funded by Lopez. None of the available options were aesthetically pleasing, and let’s be honest, we all want to look good on vacation, even while conveying important information to first responders.” I found myself researching medical ID bracelets to wear if something were to happen. “Since I have a severe penicillin allergy, I wanted to make sure to have peace of mind while traveling abroad. Our medical ID bracelets fulfill the gap between style and function,” explains Lopez. “Well Aware encompasses my passion for culture, entrepreneurism, creativity and philanthropy. Now, she’s taking her experience to build on her own passion project - Well Aware, a lifestyle brand that creates wellness jewelry. Over the last decade Lopez has been intentional about building a full-service venue that expands, instead of erases, her father’s initial vision for the space.
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