Women’s History Month Spotlight
As part of our Women's History Month celebrations, we are highlighting some of the incredible women at our organization. We're excited to introduce you to our next spotlight, Lindsey Miya, who is part of the Ecommerce team at Hello Eyes.
Q: What’s your title and how long have you worked for our company?
A: My title is Ecommerce Manager for Hello Eyes, and I’ve been here for 1.5 years. I started at Liingo for about three months and then moved over to Hello Eyes.
Q: What drew you to our organization?
A: A friend and former coworker knew that I was looking for a change. They sent me the job listing and got me in touch with Kristen Jolley. Kristen and the whole team that interviewed me seemed fantastic and had amazing things to say about working here… and I didn’t feel like they were “blowing smoke.” I’m so glad I made the transition because the work/life balance, support for employees, and general atmosphere here are truly amazing. Now, I’m a number one promoter for people in my network to join us!
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Mostly Ogden, Utah with a brief three years in Fairfax, Virginia.
Q: How do you like to spend your free time?
A: Playing with my three-year-old, cooking challenging recipes with my husband, making and drinking coffee, hiking, playing board games with friends, skiing, and biking around.
Q: Favorite quote or mantra?
A: “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
This is sometimes attributed to Dr. Seuss and sometimes to Bernard Baruch (financier and advisor to President Roosevelt). I often feel compelled to be agreeable over being direct or outspoken – I think that most women are socialized to be this way. I heard this quote in high school and think of it often as a reminder to be myself, speak my mind, and know that I can’t please everyone and that’s ok.
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Q: Tell us about your unique career path.
A: I studied Economics and International Studies at the University of Utah and grew an interest in social enterprise and the massive impact that empowering women in developing nations has on the whole economy. Right out of college, I started an online Fair Trade business selling goods from Turkish women artisans. I successfully imported goods, launched a website, and made a few sales, but also quickly realized that I knew nothing about ecommerce. I wanted to surround myself with experts and mentors to learn from, so I applied for an entry-level merchandising role at Overstock.com. After about a year of doing both my own business and working at Overstock, I decided to close my business. It was the best “failure” I’ve ever had, and I learned so much – I call my business failure my MBA. I moved up the ranks in merchandising at Overstock over a nine-year period and eventually led the charge on launching an entirely new site merchandising division in the company before coming over to 1-800 Contacts.
Q: What are some ways companies can strive to create a more inclusive workplace?
A: One great way to be more inclusive of women is to support parents. Providing parental (maternal and paternal) leave and being flexible and understanding of different schedule needs goes a long way in keeping women in the workforce and protecting their ability to nurture a career and skillset. I would love to see our country supporting parental leave and affordable childcare – not just individual companies, which tend to address this issue mostly for middle class and wealthy Americans.
Q: If you could give your teenage or childhood self a piece of advice, what would it be?
A: Love your body! It’s the only one you’ve got, and it can do amazing things.
Q: What challenges have you faced in your career, and how have you overcome them?
A: Besides my business failure (“MBA”), the number one career challenge that I have faced is becoming a mother. My son was born in November 2019, and after that point, I felt like my energy and leadership skills were being used in new and challenging ways that sometimes made me feel like I had “spent” all of it outside of work. My priorities were shaken up and flipped on their head, and my vision for my future shifted. And then came the pandemic where I was doing double-duty working full-time as a “stay-at home-mom” while daycares were closed for four months and my husband was working outside of the home (as an essential healthcare worker), as well as working my full-time job in a senior leadership position.
I wouldn’t say I’ve overcome this challenge yet as it’s ever-changing, but I have learned how take a step back sometimes, and I’ve learned that I have to try and prioritize myself and accept help. I am now regularly assessing and re-assessing my roles at home and at work, and how they fit together.
We appreciate Lindsey's willingness to share her journey and experiences with us. Be sure to keep an eye out for future spotlights in our newsletter, on LinkedIn, and on our Instagram channel,?@lifeat1800contacts.
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