Whether you are a freshman in college or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, everyone has people they look up to. Some they may know intimately; others they may only know through admiration of their accomplishments. But having role models and sources of inspiration are important to achieving success in our own personal and professional lives.
CollegeFashionista’s own Sammy Walsh is a major source of inspiration to the CF team. She went from being an OSG (original Style Guru) and blossomed into this confident, gracious, hustling Brand Marketing Director.
As inspired as we are by Sammy on a daily basis, we asked her to discuss the five women that inspire her daily life.
1. Sarah Jessica Parker – Ok, ok, hear me out. I know everyone and their mother loves SJP because she played Carrie Bradshaw in Sex in the City, and she kills the fashion game, but this woman is seriously cool. She’s super involved with causes that are important to her like the New York City Ballet, the CFDA and politics. She uses her power to make a difference in education and organizations she believes in. I’ve never heard anyone who’s met her say anything but wonderful things about her, which is truly a rarity in the worlds of fashion and entertainment. Embarrassing fact: when I was 15, I went to Chicago with my mom and a friend to stand in line for over five hours to meet her at her perfume launch. SJP spent over two hours to take the time to talk to and shake hands with every single person who stood in line. When I spoke to her, she was so genuinely kind and interested in me – the way she made me feel sticks with me to this day and makes me want to be a better person.
2. Sarah Potempa – When I first moved to NYC, it was not easy to adjust to the fast-paced harshness that the city can bring. I was lucky enough to go to some exciting events and meet people who I had idolized, but found a little disappointment from big egos and underwhelming qualities along the way. When I found out CollegeFashionista was doing a photo shoot with celebrity hairstylist and inventor of the Beachwaver (my one, true love), I was nervous that everything I had built her up to be would come crashing down IRL. The shoot just happened to fall on my birthday, and Sarah, her sister Emily and everyone on her team were truly some of the nicest, warmest people I’ve ever met. It felt like I was spending the day with old friends. Success doesn’t have to mean you need to become a frigid person, and Sarah Potempa is proof of that. She inspires me to work hard and stay true to who I am.
3. Tracy Porter – Growing up in Wisconsin, it seemed like everyone cool was either in NYC or LA – the rest of the country didn’t really matter when it came to my interests in fashion and interior design. Remember, this is a world before the Internet was cool and before Instagram could connect you to anyone’s world. In the late ’90s and early ’00s, I started to develop my personal style and was really influenced by everything whimsical, layered, sparkly and shabby chic. It was then that I discovered Tracy Porter, a former model and current designer. She lived in Wisconsin, not far from me, where she had her own store (it was truly magical), designed home goods and wrote books. Her aesthetic and view on the world made such an impact on me at a pivotal time in my life – she made me realize that you could be from anywhere, live anywhere and still be a cool person making your mark.
4. Amy Levin– I’ve never met someone more tenacious, personable and energetic than Amy. I’ve worked alongside her everyday for almost three years, and through the internet for four years prior – she’s taught me everything I know about working, and working well, in an office. The skills she’s passed on to me are countless, and the experiences we’ve shared together are unforgettable. It’s an honor to call Amy my boss and one of my best friends.
5. Kelli Luterbach – If you don’t know this woman, you should. She’s the hardest working and most selfless person I’ve ever met. I’m surrounded by creative, talented people in NYC everyday, but I’ve never met anyone whose talent has surpassed hers. She juggles a million roles and never lets anyone see her sweat. I’ve learned and continue to learn everything from her. She’s my mom 🙂
