Episode 10: Life on Wheels, Cannon Balls, and Living Your Best Weekend | Monique Vizzerra | Skateboarding Industry Leader
Monique Vizzerra has spent over 15 years in the skate and action sports world, building a career most people can only dream about. From working with top brands to fan-girling over skate legends, she’s created a life filled with friends, travel, and plenty of cannon balls on the weekend. She’s passionate about honoring the history of the sport, supporting the athletes who make it great, and keeping joy at the center of her hustle. In this conversation, we get into what it’s like to be a woman in the skate industry, why your “friend family” matters, and how to protect your time for the things that make you happiest. Monique’s story is a reminder that you get to choose how you spend your days, and make them count.
“You have the choice every single day of how you’re going to spend your day. You wake up and you’re going to be like I”m going to rule today. Then you go just do it. There’s no questioning it. You get to be and do whatever you want and you decide that. Nobody else. If you tell me no. Yeah right. Watch me.”
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Supra Footwear
Gilbert, Arizona
Skate Shop
PLM: Product Line Manager
Skateboarding
California
Active Ride Shop
Orange County, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Merchandising
ASR
Buyer
Michelle Smith
Brent Futagaki
Neff
Surfing
Snowboarding
Cannon Balls
Solstice Intimates
Booty Boot Camp
Squats
Boxing
Cardio
Vibrators
Fit Model
Sales Meeting
Italy
Pasta
Tokyo
Jim Greco
Chad Muska
Accountants
Disney
Nike
Palm Trees
Coconut Margaritas
Audible
Road Trips
Budweiser
Donald Cerrone
UFC
Bluemoon
Angry Orchard Cider
Mike’s Hard Lemonade
Elephant Trainer
Mexico
Day Dream
Palm Springs
Morongo Casino
People Watching
Downtown
Sneaker Shops
Silver Lake
Vintage Store
The Fox Hole on Sunset -
Follow along using the Transcript
Chapters:
00:00 Building a career in skateboarding
02:15 Falling in love with action sports culture
05:30 The value of a “friend family”
08:10 Lessons from 15 years in the skate industry
11:20 Why honoring the sport’s history matters
14:00 Balancing work, fun, and personal priorities
16:45 Making time for cannon balls and weekends away
19:10 The hustle behind the scenes
22:00 Staying grounded while working with legends
25:15 How skateboarding shaped her life philosophy
28:00 Protecting your joy and your time
30:15 Advice for women breaking into male-dominated fields
33:00 The role of community in personal success
36:20 Choosing your own version of a best life
You have the choice every single day of how you're gonna spend your day. You wake up and you're gonna be like, I am going to rule today. And then you go and you just do it. Like there's no questioning it. You get to do and be whatever you want. And you decide that. Nobody else if you tell me no. Yeah, right.
Watch me. Go do whatever I need to do.
That's Monique Vizzerra and this is The Powerful Ladies podcast.
Hey guys, I'm your host, Kara Duffy, and this is The Powerful Ladies Podcast, podcast where I invite my favorite humans, the awesome, the up to something, and the extraordinary to come and share their story. These are people that inspire me and remind me that everything is possible. I hope that you'll be left, entertained, inspired, and moved to take action towards living your most powerful life.
You guys are in for a treat today. Today's guest is one of my favorite ladies of skate, Monique Vara. She's passionate about skateboarding and honoring the athletes and history and participants of the sport. She spent 15 years working in the skate and action sports industry from a small shop in her hometown to one of the key accounts to the brands, and every day she gets to hang out with her friends and still fans out.
When she gets to spend time with one of the sports legends. She's on my list of favorites. She works her ass off. She's funny and is super clear on what her priorities are so that she can live her best life. On this episode, she shares what's like to be a lady in the skate world, why it's important to build your friend family, how you can hustle all week and live for cannonballs on the weekend, and how she balances being a babe and loving Budweiser and so much more.
All that's coming up. But first, did you know that there is a way that you can show a powerful lady some real love? You can be a Patreon of The Powerful Ladies Podcast. Go to patreon.com/powerful. Ladies, there are over six choices for you to figure out how you would like to support us from $5 all the way up to unicorn support.
Really, that's what's called you can be a Powerful Lady Unicorn. Who doesn't wanna be that? The great part is by your contributions. You get more cool free stuff and access to new and exclusive opportunities. Everything from Hidden podcast to free merch, to free coaching. What you can be a unicorn and get free coaching or win a trip to LA paid for by us.
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You are welcome.
Thank you so much for coming to the Poverty is Podcast. Thank you for having me. Let's start by, you can introduce yourself.
Well, my name is Monique Rochelle Vizzerra Woo. And I am a powerful lady. You are. And how do you spend your time? Oh, goodness. Working and thinking a lot. Always thinking. Whether it be about work or what am I gonna do after work?
Or how else can I be hustling in this small downtime? What can I do to make more money? What can I do to, you know, make a better, make this place a better or make this world a better place? Yes. What can we do?
You're always very considerate when I first, so, um, for everyone who's listening, I met Monique when we both worked at Super Together Super Footwear, the Skate Brand, and one of my first impressions of you was how considerate and compassionate you were for everyone else.
In the room like you're talking about, like thinking about stuff and you definitely think for everyone else as well. Like you're very aware of what might be occurring in somebody else's world. Yes. Yeah.
I
try
to, you know, yeah, try not to waste anyone's time. Let's, how can we be as effective and productive as possible?
Yes. And you always are. And I loved having you on my team, which is why I invited you here. So usually the first thing we ask people to talk about is just tell us about your life from about zero to 18 or 20. Where did you grow up? What did you spend your time doing?
I grew up in Gilbert, Arizona. I'm the fifth generation, be born and raised in Arizona.
My whole entire family, great grandparents, everyone there.
You were in Arizona before? It was Arizona.
I was my whole damn family. Um, my first job was a skate shop and I worked in a skate shop for 15 years. Um. I was running retail for super footwear and they brought me in-house and I became a PLM. And here I am today, three years later, still crunching numbers like a nerd.
Well, that's one of the things I think that there's so many, like you and I have both worked in skateboarding for big chunks of our lives, and you, your whole career has been in the skateboarding world. And I don't think people realize how many women work in skateboarding, let alone how many women are professional skateboarders.
So what got you into working at the skate shop? What got you excited about it? How did you get there and stay here this long?
Oh my goodness. Um, all my friends in high school, skateboarded, we grew up, uh, skateboarding and that's just a familiar place for me to be. We, uh, shopped at this one skate shop down the street, like the hometown shop.
Um, and when I was old enough, I just bugged them. Finally they hired me. They brought me on and um, I worked there for a little bit. And the second I turned 21, I was out of Arizona and straight to California. Um, I interviewed with Active Ride Shop and, you know, the, the guy interviewing me was like, Hey, you know, when, when do you plan on moving out to California?
And I just very blunt, 21-year-old, well, am I hired? 'cause if I'm hired, I'll move in two weeks. And then that was, that, that was, it was all, uh, the, the start of my mm-hmm. California life.
Did you always wanna come to California or was it based on that call that you just said Yes to the opportunity?
Um, I always wanted to be in California.
I did, I knew, um, I was just trying to figure out how, how to get out here and. I was 21 years old. I was kind of felt like I was maxed out on pay. It was a small skate shop. They couldn't afford to, like, I couldn't make a career there. Yeah. Um, and California's where all the skate brands are, so. Mm-hmm. Um, yeah, it was a no brainer for me.
I spent the first two years in Orange County. Woo. And then I've been in LA for about 10 years.
Yeah. When you were at the skate shop in Arizona, what did you like about being there and in that environment? Like, did you, what did, what did you like and what surprised, how did you surprise yourself about what you got out of that experience?
For me, then it was just merchandising the shop. That's all I wanted to do. I would tear down a whole entire wall and just to build it back up. Um, it was straight into, out of high school and into college. Um, I didn't even wanna be at class. Mm-hmm. I wanted to be in the skate shop. And all day I'd be thinking about, you know, I gotta write this order and I'm looking at what people are wearing and we should probably order more volcan for the shop because that's what everyone's wearing right now.
Um, and that's all I thought about, like, didn't finish one class in college. I couldn't, I couldn't focus and I was such a good student in high school and I crushed my parents' dreams by not going to college. But I couldn't, that's not what I wanted to do. I wanted to be in a skate shop.
Was that a hard choice for you to make or did it just kind of come easily like, I need to just stop gonna school and be here?
A hundred percent.
Oh my God. Yeah. I, I just haven't, I just stopped going to class. Mm-hmm. I couldn't really, strange to think about that. I was just graduated with a 3.8 GPA, I think you needed 21 credits to graduate. I graduated with 28. Just super nerd. Real nerd. Got to college and I was like, Ugh, you mean I can leave whenever I want?
I'm outta here. I went back. Oops.
Well, but I think, like to me, you are one of the most organized, process driven, um, smartest people I've ever worked with because you really put yourself in the shoes of the athletes that we worked with, the customers that we're going after. You get what the store guys are thinking and the buyers like you understand the whole world.
Like it's not, I've worked with some product managers, merchandisers, and to them the whole world is the spreadsheet and the math and that's it. But to you, like it's a whole living, breathing thing. Like you see it in color in five dimensions. Like you're always like, I remember having to coach you to whatever you could do.
Don't worry about that thing. Like, you know, let's just say for example, like a, a marketing event because. It wasn't our responsibility. And you're like, I'm just gonna come in on Saturday and do it. And I'm like, you're crazy. But you can't, like, you can't help yourself from thinking about the whole picture.
And when you, when classic stories of people who drop out of college or just decide not to go and where their path takes them, it is by no means as specific and diligent, organized as you are. Like, you left going to school 'cause you knew what you wanted to do instead. And it wasn't like hang out in, in the pool and do cannonballs all day.
It was be at the skate shop though. You do love cannonballs.
Oh no. That is my second favorite thing to do. Yes. Um, yeah. I feel like if I wasn't going to be at school, which was a huge disappointment to my family mm-hmm. To my parents, um, I couldn't be a complete fuck off. You know? I had to work, I had to hustle, otherwise I was gonna get.
Banned from the family. So, um, and that also took a little while because I think up until I started working for Supra, my mom was like, Hmm, still in the skate shop, huh? How long are you gonna run this? When are you gonna get a real job? Um, now they appreciate it. Now they understand and I'm happy. And I love this, like, this is my life entirely.
Work is my life, and I love it. I, it's, it really is just like a lifestyle and that happens to be my job.
Mm-hmm. How many, sorry, you're gonna have to edit this one now because I have to rewrite my sentence in my head. How many pushups can I do? Yes. How many pushups can you do? Like three? No, I was gonna ask, um, you know, going through the skate industry.
I always was aware that I was the only female in the room, but didn't really care. Yeah. Because that's what it was also like, very often outside of a work environment. Yeah. But have, have there been moments in your career where you've been really aware of like, oh, like I'm a girl in this moment right now, or I have to be team mom or, you know, the, the classical female roles that you can take on in a group setting, let alone a work setting.
Have you have, had those moments happened for you and what has that been like?
I feel that growing up like younger, working in skate shops, you know, you would go on these trips where we'd go to a SR and I just be like, oh, I have to, we only get one hotel room to go out as buyers, you know, we were kids and I have to share a room with all these stinky boys.
Like, I mean, they're my friends and I grew up with them, but they're still stinky boys. Yeah. I'm a lady, but it wasn't in the budget for me to have my own hotel room. Um, even, you know, like voicing your opinion and being passionate about something, you're often looked at like, wow, you're being an emotional woman right now.
No, I'm not. I'm speaking very factual and this is how it needs to be, you know? Mm-hmm. These are facts and this is how, this is the most efficient way that it's, it's going to work. And I don't know, you just kinda have to, others have to deal with that. Yeah. It's just how I, how I operate. But um,
and it's crazy.
I think about that example, right? Because today with the Me Too movement and what's happening and all the sexual accusations and assault cases, like no business in its Right mind would ever allow. Like men and women to share a hotel room, but in the skate industry, especially in the past 20 years. Yeah.
Like you said, you were just, you were part of the group. Yeah. They weren't thinking about you as a girl. Like no. You're like, oh no, that's just another person on the team. Yeah. What do you, you don't get your own room. You're not special. Like get in there. 100%.
Yes. Um, and I think that just kinda like standing in your ground and not getting really bullied or don't let anyone talk to you in any way that you don't like.
Mm-hmm. I feel like anyone that knows me knows I'm pretty spicy, so don't even look at me and for sure. Don't touch me.
Yeah. Well, and I've talked to um, Michelle Smith, our, uh, friend and colleague from our super times, and she's also been in the skate industry a lot of her career, if not most of her career.
And we were talking about how we've never, there's been very few instances in our career where we've ever had an issue to have to even say anything. Yeah. Because. We were like family most of the time. And like you said, they were the stinky boys. Yeah. And we were like the bratty sisters in the room or something.
Yep. And it never even crossed my mind that there would be something that would happen. Yeah. And so for me, I feel really lucky that not like working in the skateboarding industry, there's just not a lot of that nonsense. No,
there's not. And I feel like there's just this, it's like a level playing field that we're all in it to win it.
And there's no, like I feel like I'm being held back because I'm a woman.
Mm-hmm.
Ever, ever. It's always just been like, okay, Monique, if that's what you wanna do, go do it. And then I go and get it and what's next, you know? Well,
I think too, because so many of the brands and the shops have come up through a phase where.
It was a hustle for everybody. Like you were just hoping people would help out and help out cheat because like you, you weren't getting big loans, like investment groups weren't buying these companies back then. Yeah, so it really was all hands on deck and what I really respect, what people who, male or female who have come to the, that industry is, doesn't matter what your title says you are okay to unpack boxes, pack a shoe bag, carry it through 18 airports, do a presentation, have a conference call pitch, a collaborate, like you're willing to do all of it.
Yeah. And most people can, which I really admire because in a lot of other industries. It's not that way because everyone's been so divided up and there's sure there's hierarchy, but most of the time, no. Like, people are polite. They help each other. Yeah. And it's whatever it takes, you do it. So I'm proud.
I'm proud of that. I'm proud to come from that. I'm proud that that's what that industry is.
Yeah, it is. It's such a comradery because I feel like in maybe other industries, it's like, I do this, this is my job title and this is all I'm gonna do.
Mm-hmm.
Where we don't really do that. It's like, oh, you look like you need help.
Let me help you. Or you don't feel all right to present, I'll do it for you. Or, oh, you can't go and hand out water bottles at the skate park for kids. I'll do it. Yeah. Like, I don't think twice about that stuff. It's just what needs to be done, um, to make shit happen.
It is. So going to the industry, who, who've been your mentors and what have you gotten from them and what stuck, stuck with you?
Um, for sure getting hired at Active by Brent Fuga, who is now working marketing for Neff, I believe. Um, he was like my role model. He was so cool. Everyone loved him. He knew how to run a shop. Um, I mean, I was just a kid and I just knew that he was just such a legend in the community, whether it was skateboarding or surfing or snowboarding.
He was just good at everything and he was such a good leader.
Mm-hmm.
You know, never a hothead, never played favorites with the, with the employees. Never. He just led and led by example and, um, I always wanted to be just like him, you know, just a cool guy, get shit done, make sure everyone was happy as long as your employees are happy, you know?
Mm-hmm. I like that.
Well, and you've really enjoyed your time when you were managing the superstore where you had a team, you got to do the visual merchandising, you got to do the buying. Like you got to really create what was going on in those bubbles. What has it been like for you managing people?
Um, I mean, I feel like I did that for so long that, um, when they, I got pulled in-house for super, I was like, wow, I just ended the longest babysitting gig of my life.
That was 15 years of being a man, of managing other humans. And not even adults, but like sometimes kids first job where they're like, I'm gonna not come to work today and smoke weed instead I'm sick. Like, you know, and then you gotta work those shifts. Um, I like managing Yeah. Despite, not, despite feeling like it was a babysitting job sometimes.
Yeah. Because I feel like those are such, um. You know, these are kids coming out of high school and this is your chance to show them that you can be cool and not be a hunk of crap. Mm-hmm. You know, you can be cool and work hard and be a good person and make that look cool. You know, um, when I first started at Active, um, they promoted me to a manager after, like two months of being an associate.
And I was like, this is my chance to contribute to the world. So I had, you know, kids in high school that weren't allowed to get hours unless their grades were up and they had to show me their grades every quarter. And as long as their grades were up, they got hours. Um, I don't know if I was allowed to do that, but that's how I ran my shop.
You know, you weren't allowed to mess around a school. School came first. You have to be. Just a good student studious. Do what you gotta do. And then I know, you know, like I did growing up, how I didn't wanna go to school. I just wanted to be at work all day and hang out at the shop. Um, I had to find that, that balance for my employees.
Yeah.
Did you always feel compassion towards helping other people and making the world a better place? Or is that something you discovered along the way?
Um, I've always been like this. Yeah. I really have, uh, what was 8-year-old Monique like, oh my gosh. Such a little cutie pie. I dunno what happened, to be honest, I was just so like, shy Tim and nice and not so much of a loud mouth spicy brat.
Well, I would never describe you as that at
all. Um, yeah, always just helpful around the house. Um, growing up it was me and my mother and my brother and I had to help look out for him. And my mom worked long hours so, uh, our allowance was. Living there, you know, and we had to, uh, do chores and just anything I could, I knew my mom was young and she had two kids, and that's crazy to think about.
She was 23 with two kids. Um, but anything I could, I could do to, to help and make sure my little brother was all right.
And I, what I ask, I also love about you is how close you're with your family. Like, I haven't met them and I know all these amazing things about them. Um, so what do you wanna tell people about your family?
Oh my gosh, they're the best. It's just a perfect balance of, you know, growing up, my mother was my arch nemesis. She was rude and let me take, I take rude back. She was out to ruin my life. You know, I was always grounded. I spent, I was grounded up until like 18 years old. I wasn't allowed to do anything. I wasn't allowed to hang out with friends.
My cousins were my friends. You wanna go have a sleepover with your friends? Cool. She'd call my cousin and be like, she's on her way. And that was it. It was wild. Just so strict. Um, but now, you know, my brother and I are adults and we're all friends and we go on family vacations and it's so rad. It's, it was a perfect balance growing up of her being, you know, a mother and not a friend.
And now she's, she can lay off the, the strict mom stuff and be, be my best friend.
And sometimes she still is trying to set you up with somebody back home and have a buy a house down the street. Oh my gosh. Is that, are those questions? She wants
nothing more than for me to just, you know, find the one and get married.
'cause she wants grand babies. I'm like, sorry mom, I got shit to do. I would love to fulfill your dream, but I'm real busy doing my thing right now. Mm-hmm. Um, yeah. But you know, my brother has a girlfriend now, so now I can just pawn that pressure off on him. I talk to him about kids. I, uh, it's not my time yet.
When you moved to LA how quickly did you start to ha find the family that you have out here, your friend family?
Oh man, I talk about this often. Um, so I moved out here to work for active and no joke. Every single person I'm friends with today is probably through Active ride shop or, well, no, that's it.
Just skateboarding in general. Everyone, um, LA is a big place. Mm-hmm. And, um, it's tough out here. It really is. Uh, but you kinda, you know, you meet people and you know immediately if they're gonna be your people or not. You know, you can kindly nice meeting you, I'll never see you again. Um, or you meet somebody and you're like, damn, that's my person.
Yeah. That's on my team for sure. I'm gonna keep that one. Yeah. Um, I have such a solid family out here. When my parents come out, they get to meet the people that I spend the most time with. And when I, you know, we'll do a road trip back home to Arizona, it's kind of like, okay, I'm going, I'm going home.
Who's coming with? And we just load up the truck and go, um, out and spend the weekend at my, at my parents' house. So it's, I know at first, uh, my parents were worried about what is she doing in LA all by herself. Her whole entire family's in Arizona, but you know, I've been here for 10 years now. So they know that, uh, that I'm all right and I'm taking care of if I need anything.
I got homies everywhere. Um, it's good. My people are good.
You do have great people. Like I love seeing how loyal you guys are to each other and how much you celebrate each other. Like the number of social media, like tag backs and compliments and hell yeah. That exist in your world are amazing. Yeah. Um, and I think it speaks to the fact that you have found this balance of being very focused and serious in some parts of your life.
And also, I always know you're having fun and like you have fun. Well, I mean, your license plate as an example, do you wanna tell everyone what your license
plate is? My license plate reads the freaking weekend.
Yes, that's real. And why did you choose that license plate?
Because, you know, we work all week, so when it's a Friday, it's a freaking weekend
that needs to be celebrated.
Mm-hmm. You also have a big friend, family of people who are super creative, people who have their own brands, their own shops, their their own entrepreneurs. What has impressed you about seeing them on those journeys, uh, like their own path and what surprises you about what that world looks like when you're not working for.
A bigger entity.
Holy smokes. I'm constantly amazed by my friends. They make cool shit. They do cool shit. It's, you know, whether they're in band and they travel the world and do cool things. Or, um, my homegirls back home in Arizona that run solstice intimates where they make cute bras and panties and it's, everything's done by hand in shop.
It's incredible. Mm-hmm. It's incredible. Um, to just, you know, blogs and printing t-shirts and just having these creative outlets. Um, honestly, all my friends do cool shit. It's very inspiring. All your
friends are babes.
Hell yeah. They are. Mm-hmm.
What, so we, we, before we started recording, we were talking a little bit about you and how you worry.
Yeah. So how would you describe that? Is it, is it anxiety? Is it worry? Is it stress? Is it overthinking? And how does it affect. Your life and what you choose to do?
Um, I don't wanna say that it's so much anxiety, it's just an unnecessary nervousness. Like, I, I get shy and when I have, I'm like sweating right now thinking about this.
Um, I just don't like the attention. I don't, I like to just like hide it back in the, in the corner and observe. Um, so when I'm micd up or it's my turn to speak, I get,
but for knowing you, you definitely have those moments when you're like, I'll hang back. And then there's the moment when you're like Uhuh and you're the first person to speak up and say no.
And especially when it's something that you're committed to at work or you know is the wrong way or it's not honoring the project or the athlete or you know, why we're doing the project. It's really, I think it's really insightful for when you choose to speak up and when you choose to hang back. Like, I never worry about you ever being inappropriate or, or any of that stuff 'cause you're such a good listener, but you choose when to speak up when you're like, no, it has to be now.
And I think there's a, there's a balance that a lot of people wish that they had. So you should feel good about that.
Well, thank you. I feel like, you know, there's a time and a place and you can't. You can't always be speaking up or you're just that annoying guy in the meeting, you know? Mm-hmm. You gotta pick and choose your battles.
Um, for me it's whenever I feel the integrity of our brand or our team riders or the project is in jeopardy is when I'll speak up. You, you know, you guys can run your business however you like, but you know, when it's time for me to speak up, I will. And it's always just my opinion. You take it or leave it.
But if I feel strong enough about something, I'm gonna, I'm gonna speak up and it's up to, you know, the executive team to move from there.
If you could give advice to 20-year-old Monique, what would you give advice on? What would you tell her to like, avoid that roadblock if you can? Or like, what would you tell her if you went back in time?
Oh gosh.
Um. Probably drink more water for sure. My early twenties are just a mess of Jack Daniels. And, uh, honestly, I, I think that everything kinda worked out how it was supposed to be. Um, I think it's my life right now is, or I am a good balance of, you know, being tough and strong, but also being soft, um, not being a cold, lonely bee.
Mm-hmm. Um, yeah, probably just drink more water, exercise, be good to your body. You
only got one. What are you focusing on now? Like, what's next for Monique's Big life, uh, how to
take over the world. Um, really though the master plan, um, just making sure that I'm good every day is just make, honestly, is just making sure that my cup is full and I don't.
Exert myself too much because then I'm not happy and the help you're receiving from me is half-ass and you're not gonna be happy. And that does no good to the world. If I'm not 110% when I wake up, I just kind of lay low and do my thing. Um, but yeah, every day I just make sure that numero uno I am good first, uh, exercise about an hour a day, got a sweat for a bit.
Um, what type of exercise do you usually do? Ooh, this morning I did booty bootcamp. Ooh. Which was like an hour of jump squats. Choose Louise. Um, but usually during the week it's just an hour of boxing. And if I have it in me, I'll do cardio. And it's not so much, um, to keep my physical appearance up. I don't give a shit, to be honest.
It's mostly for my brain. Um, I spent a long time with anxiety and not really knowing how to. Manage it. So I was just kind of like an anxious mess all the time. Just kind of sick to my stomach, just kind of held everything in. Um, and then I realized that I could just exercise first thing in the morning and I feel like a million bucks and I don't give a shit about anything.
Now I just do my thing. Mm-hmm.
And you've done quite a bit of boxing too, right? Yes, yes.
It's a lot of fun for me. It looks like stuff. Uhhuh.
What are the biggest things that you're taking on for 2019, whether it's at work or personal, fun, more weekends.
Hmm. I think for me is more, um, how can I fine tune my skills?
And even last night I was just toying with the idea of maybe going to school. Don't tell my mom though. I don't want her to hold me to this. Um, uh, I feel like when I'm not at work, I'm kind of scatterbrained about what I want. To do so to organize my creative outlets and kind of focus on one. Um, what are your creative outlets outside of work?
Oh gosh. I'm just forever looking at, this is such nerd, like nerd, PLM talk, but how other brands are showing up in retail. Like I cannot, I have no, I'm forever shopping, just going out and looking at window displays. What are people wearing? Um, how are things merged inside of a store? Uh. Trend forecasting.
It's, it's never ending work for me, but I like it. It doesn't feel like work. It's fun. It is fun.
No, like I'm, I miss having more of that in my life. Where, and for anyone who doesn't know, A-A-P-L-M is a product line manager or a product line merchandiser, which every, any product you've ever seen has one.
Like, I have a amazing story that a friend told me of going to a dinner party in New Year's Eve in Sweden, and he got sat next to a PLM and he's like, oh, for what company? And she said, an electronics one like Phillips. And he is like, oh, what kind of like what product category? She's like small electronics.
He's like, what? She was a vibrator. PLM what? So you can, every product that exists has a designer, a developer engineer. Yeah. And a p lm, I
guess you don't really think about that, huh?
Well, no. And then we went to an entire path of like, what does their sales look like? Who are their fit models? What like, you know, fit models.
Right, exactly. So that running joke went on for, it's still going on, obviously, like it's, it's still there. Yeah. So, um, A PLM is the one responsible for the strategy of the product, the pricing, what it looks like, the competitors, how it should go to store, like into the market. I selfishly, having done it for so many years, think it's one of the most important roles that there are.
'cause you become the hub at everything that's kind of happening. And there's tons of grunt work involved in it too. But so much the fun parts are that you get to travel the world usually and do a lot of what looks like shopping. But it's actually not shopping because you're looking at 20 different metrics, whether on paper or in your head of like, why is it in the store here?
Why is it hung this way? Why these colors? Why this price? Like, it's the same way people who work in restaurants can never go into a restaurant again. Like people like you and I can never go into a store online or like in like brick and mortar.
Yeah.
And look at things the same way.
No, never.
I can't even look at what people have on their body the same way.
No.
So, but it's fun. Like I miss the shopping part. I miss looking like spending the day diving into a customer profile and really getting to know that customer. Yeah. What, what have been working in the industry? What have been some of your favorite memories?
Oh man. I'll tell you what, last summer was such a fucking ultimate summer.
Like some, it was one of those like dream job situations where it was like, wow, this is really what I'm doing. I spend a week in Italy eating pasta. I mean, I was doing work, but you know, like, yeah. How many people get to do that? Maybe a lot, but skateboarding's tight.
Yes. No, and, and as my favorite thing about managing people is that getting to create scenarios where they get to do things they never thought that they could do, whether it's career based or life based.
Yeah. I was talking to, um, we had a friend over for dinner. Last night and we're talking about his career path and what he's doing and where he wants to go. And I was like, don't worry about the work so much or the industry, just what do you want your life to be? Yeah. Like ages ago I was like, I wanna live abroad.
I wanna travel the world. I wanna make stuff and have fun. Oh, guess what? People will pay you to do that. Yeah. Do you know that? Like
it's great. Yeah. It's so incredible. I never in a million years, like would thought that this is what I would be doing. I get to hang out with my friends every single day at work.
Mm-hmm.
That's rad. Sometimes they're like, Hey Monique, we need you to go to Tokyo for an inspo trip. Go look at things. I'm like, oh shoot. Alright. Just joking. I'm fucking hyped. Like, this is what I get to do. This is my job.
And in this industry, meet your heroes and get to work with them. Oh.
Big time. It's insane to me still.
Who,
who are the people that still cause you to have to fan
out? Even just working, uh, for Supra now we have, you know, they'll call Jim Greco in for a meeting. I'm like, wow, you're my favorite skateboarder growing up as a kid or just having regular conversation with Chad Muska. Are you joking me? Mm-hmm.
But this is my life. It's normal hanging out with my heroes.
And for anyone who's not hanging out with their heroes right now, it is possible to find that path for yourself. Like I've even known people who have been accountants, which I would say is like the opposite end of the product creation world, who have gotten to travel the world and meet their heroes.
'cause they were really strategic about what type of brands they worked for. Like, I'm gonna go be an accountant for Disney or for a Nike, and suddenly you're like in the same mix. Yeah. Um, so it's all possible. When you look at the things that allow you to stay hyped on life and excited and inspired, where do you go to keep that energy up?
Honestly,
this, this city's pretty damn good to me. I love Los Angeles. Um, I really do. I have my like little secret spots where sometimes you get overwhelmed with work or sometimes you wake up with the blues, you know, and I got this, this good spot that I go to where you can oversee the city and all of the palm trees and life is good, you know?
And sometimes if I need a recharge, I'll just jam out to Arizona, hang out at my mom's all weekend, and sit by the pool and joke with her and drink coconut margaritas, you know, mom and daughter stuff.
Yeah. Regular. Are there, um, sources you go to that other people could have access to, like podcasts or books you're reading or?
I don't know. Ted Talk. What do you do? Where do you get your, your knowledge when it's not from the city and your mother?
All my knowledge comes from my mother. Um, honestly, I, this is shitty. I don't listen to podcasts. I should, well, you're gonna start listening to this one. I 100%. Um, and I'm a spaz. I can't sit down and read a book.
I'll read a chapter and be like, I have no idea what I just read. I just, I'm, my brain moves way too fast for me to sit and read. Although it's something I've been working on. I have like five unfinished books on my bedstand
right now. Like, um, how many of them are ones that I recommended or gave you?
Three of them? Yeah. I'm a book, I'm a book pusher. Mm-hmm. It's because of you that I am even attempting to read these days. I just can't imagine life without reading. Like now I do Audible as well, and so I'm. Increasing my consumption of books because of it. But it took, it was a long time for me to switch from reading a, a tangible book to listening.
And it takes like specific books for me to really get into it.
Yeah. Just
listening.
I'll try. I can't, I don't know what it is. I honestly will get so frustrated. I'll sit there, read a chapter and I have my list of things to do for tomorrow in my head and I can't tell you anything I just read. Yeah. 'cause you know the 25 things you have to do in
alphabetical order.
Yeah.
Yeah. 100% yes.
When, so what are other things
that you
love?
I love being outside.
Mm-hmm.
I prefer to be outside most of the time. Um, I love road trips. Sometimes I just get in my car and go, that was one of the stipulations of buying my vehicle. I needed something that I could sleep in just in case, because I'm known to just pick up and, and go and listen to music.
Rap, real ugly songs in the car with the windows down. Just be myself. Why not? And you also have a favorite American beverage. Oh my gosh. I don't always drink, but when I do, it's Budweiser. It's so damn good.
Did, did you fall into love with Budweiser because you, it was like one of the first things you drank, or one day you were like, holy shit, this is actually a tasty thing to drink.
Um, I don't know when, my love for, probably when I just stopped drinking cheap, shitty beer. I mean, not that Bud weer iss much better, but, um, you know, there's nothing better than in the summertime. Just a cold, cold. Budweiser. Do you like
the crack, like when you open the can? Yes.
Yes, 100%. Um, although I do prefer, um, to drink Budweiser outta bottles.
Don't gimme no draft. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. No bottles cans. If we're sitting by the pool, they go fast though. Yep. Bottles clans. Just clap your hands.
Yeah.
Ooh, ooh.
You and Donald Cerrone, the MMA fighter are the only two people I know who love and preach their love for Budweiser. So I'm gonna figure out a way for you guys to meet each other at some point.
I'm sure there's like one degree of separation, but it's amazing. It's just so good, crispy, clean. I look forward to people listening, commenting so we can find the other Budweiser diehards. And you guys can start your own like LA club or global community.
Yeah, but it's not like a drinking contest. I'm not really one.
No, no, no. You know, just a, a beer or two. I'm good. It's a classy beverage. I'm a classy lady. You
are. You're a powerful lady. I sure am. Did you have a question, Jordan?
Oh, I was gonna say that this episode is sponsored by Budweiser. No, I prefer beer Way more than any, like classy drink. Margaritas are pretty solid.
Yeah. But I am a Blue Moon fan. Like I'm solid on that. But Bud is also pretty good. Yeah. With, with the
orange or without the orange slice?
Mm, I'm either or, but lately I've been creeping into, uh, angry Orchard. I'm a hard cider fan.
Okay. Yeah.
Yeah.
I like it. Very good. I can only drink so many before. I feel like I used to drink Mike's Hard Lemonade in college.
I know, I know, I know, I know. And we can go back in time and talk to probably underage drinking Kara, and be like, dude, what are you doing? Quit that. Right. It wasn't the only thing we were drinking, but it was a common go-to.
Yeah.
But you would get that feeling in your stomach if you drank the whole six pack by yourself of like, oh, I'm rotting from the inside out.
And the level of sugar in the cider sometimes give me that same failing and I'm like, just one
and then a bunch of water.
Right. I'd rather make my own, um, you know, apple cider with fireball mix or something, so it's a little less.
Oh, that's good too.
I love Fireball. Okay, so we've gone on a tangent at alcohol, so I apologize.
Um, so we have lots of different people who listen to this podcast and, um, the main reason they listen is to hear from amazing, inspiring people like yourself. They also wanna hear like, what do we do to live our best lives? Like, what advice would you give to people, to a figure out what gets them hyped, how to go off and do it?
Like, what's their purpose? Like how can you just, you know, have the life you want versus the life that is in front of you? Sometimes
honestly, we, I was just talking, um, about this with my friend in the car not too long ago. You choose every damn day. Like, I know that sounds cheesy as hell, but my life's stoke levels are always through the roof because I decide they are every day.
I'm like, I'm really fucking feeling today. And then that runs throughout the day. Yeah. I interact with sometimes not so pleasant people, but it's my choice to let them affect my day or not. It's my choice to be happy or miserable. You know, you create your own misery. Um, and I choose not, I choose not to, like why we are only here this one time maybe.
Um, I'm just gonna try to make it as good as possible and it's pretty damn good. I think I'm doing all right. You're doing great. Thank you. Yes.
So while you're doing great. What are the hurdles that you've had to overcome to get yourself to this place today where you choose your mindset and when you look at your life, you're like, my life is great.
Um, well, I wasn't always like this, you know, that, like I said, the growing up I was kind of timid. Um, I struggled with anxiety. I was in a not that healthy of a relationship where I was just kind of kept everything in our four walls, and it was tough. And I, it wasn't, it wasn't a relationship that I know my parents would approve of.
Like, they raised me better than this. Mm-hmm. And here I was just taking it, not physical abuse, but just mental and not feeling loved and respected how I should be. And one day I was just like, you know what? Mm-hmm. This isn't working out. You gotta go. And it was heartbreaking and it hurt and it sucked, but I chose myself.
For the first time in a long time, and every day I choose myself now, and it's, you know, it's good.
How, how has that impacted, you know, it's a, it's a big deal to choose yourself and a lot of people don't even know what that looks like or how to make that choice. And I would say sometimes it's as simple as hearing like the 8-year-old version of you being like, what are you doing?
Yeah. Or your intuition. Like when you stop and get a quiet moment, you realize that you have this entire universe of your thoughts behind you and other people who are like mm-hmm. Like you said, you kept it in the four walls. Yep. If your family knew, or your close friends knew, like really how you felt or were feeling about yourself or them Yeah.
They would've been like, no, like, we're gonna take you out if you're not coming out. Yeah.
100%. Uh, it was just, it got to the point where I was like, I'm not even myself. Like, who, who am I? You know, it just. I wasn't myself and I didn't like that and I wasn't having it anymore. Like that was the last of that.
Monique, never again will she be like that. And I haven't, I can't, I couldn't imagine it knowing like I, it's strange and it's, it's so crazy to think that there was ever a time where I didn't choose myself, you know? Um, I would just overextend myself. I would say yes to everything, knowing that I would just be anxious in whatever situation I agreed to.
Um, and now I know that you can say no, and it's okay. You know, people aren't gonna hate you because you kindly to kind dinner. You know, your friends aren't gonna hate you because you don't feel like going out on a Wednesday night. Now, my friends know, don't even invite me anywhere. Sunday night to Friday night, I'm on a strict schedule.
I go to bed at nine o'clock. I wake up early. Um, I work out every day and my only available time is a Saturday afternoon. And that's why you make the weekends count? Yep, 100%. I
choose
me
every damn day. Would you say that you are constantly living in both worlds of work and not work? Or do you think that you are really focused in each area, like present there in that moment?
Um, I'm never not thinking about work. Um, you know, I'm always looking at what people are wearing and what are they doing, what are, you know, how are they speaking, what shoes they're wearing, you know, it's just, it's never ending of. Look at the colors over here. That's so inspiring. Taking notes on my phone, you know, and just, it doesn't end, but it doesn't feel like work to me.
Because you work in an environment where you are a part of the group making the products, the apparel and the footwear. When you consider dating someone, how much are you judging them on what they're wearing? Oh my God.
Well, I haven't had a boyfriend in three years and this is why. No, really? Um, I mean, uh,
if you were set up on a blind date, oh my God, and he was wearing his suit, that's suit.
When he showed up, would you stay and be polite and maybe talk to him? Or would you be like mm-hmm.
Oh, always polite. Yeah, I would stay for sure. Um, if he wasn't funny, I would jam out for sure. Like you can wear whatever and we can work on that. But like, if you're not funny, get out, get out. I can't imagine not.
Well, I don't know all everyone. That's what life is for. Just like, yeah, like if you're just like me, I'm not for you,
man. Sorry. So besides funny, what else are you looking for in the event he's listening?
Um, just respect, you know? Mm-hmm. Um, just having that love and respect, um, reciprocated. I don't, I'm a simple lady.
Just be funny, be cool. It's 2019. You can literally be anything you wanna be. Don't be an asshole. Yeah. That's it. You can do anything. You can tell me you're an elephant trainer. That's somebody's job. That would be, I mean,
I'd be impressed if you're like, call me up and like, dude, I'm dating this guy as an elephant trainer.
I'd be like, I wanna meet him. Mm-hmm. And the elephants. When can we make this happen?
Yeah. Um, literally you can be. Anything, just don't be an asshole, just be cool. Mm-hmm. Just be honest. Yeah. Just be funny.
Please, please be funny. Great news, you're in, you're in a safe space. In this environment that we're in mm-hmm.
There have been many comedians at the same table. So maybe like rub it for good luck. Make a wish. So when you and your family friends that are here, your, your crew, do you guys plan and plot like how you're gonna take over the world, like year by year? Do you just like come together and think like, we wanna go here and you, because you do a lot of traveling with people and besides all your work travel, like, I think you've posted 20 million pictures of Mexico that make me wanna go to Mexico every day.
And I keep thinking you're in Mexico and I'm like, oh, throw it back. Yeah. Daydreaming so hard. Yeah. So do you, do you plan all that stuff out? Does it come now like randomly as you guys are going through the day, like how organized versus spontaneous. Uh,
probably half and half. I mean, you know, I daydream a lot.
I'm like, fuck, where could I be right now? Oh yeah, spreadsheets. And then, um, you know, you just plan vacations. But I get real antsy on the weekend. I feel like I need to do things. Take advantage of it. Yeah. So, you know, I usually just jump in the car. I'm like, who's available? Who wants to go to Palm Springs right now?
Let's get the hell outta here. Let's go drink Pina Coladas at Morongo Casino. And we go. Done. Yeah.
So one of the things that we ask all of our guests is on the Powerful Lady scale of zero to 10, zero being regular human, 10 being powerful, lady Wonder Woman status, where would you put yourself on average and where would you put yourself today?
Um, average, I feel like, uh, probably like a six or seven, just kind of. Day-to-day business. Um, I'm feeling real good today though. I'm really feeling it. The sun's out. Finally. It's been raining, got some shit done. Went to Booty Bootcamp this morning. Did my trillion squats, had a coffee. My palms are sweaty.
Um, feeling good about a nine, nine today. Excellent. Mm-hmm.
If you could tell people like the quick Monique Guide to Seeing Cool Shit in la, what would be on your list? Oh, shoot.
Cool. Shit. People watching, um, God cool shit. Like people or, I mean, I work downtown, so I often work, walk around down there, um, head up the sneaker shops.
Um, there's always cool people looking, people watching down there. Um. Miss today. I had lunch in Silver Lake, cruised around. My friend has a vintage store down there. So we, we stopped and uh, looked at some denim. Can we give them a shout out? What's the store called? The Foxhole on Sunset. All my denims from there, I often, I don't know why I always rip my jeans right underneath my, the back pocket.
Mm-hmm. But blow out. They repair my jeans every damn time I need to go. Like,
can you, this is my favorite pair. Like, what I got going on? Let's take 'em
in.
Yeah.
I literally will walk in and be like, Fox, I've ripped 'em again. And she's like, God dammit, what's your problem? Then she fixes all, is it, where is it A pocket?
You put your phone in? No, no. I don't really put my phone in my pocket. I don't know. It's always like, right. Is it the same side Fat Buns?
Well. PHAT though? Oh yeah. A hundred percent. So, Jesse, I asked for new, um, like leggings for working out in, for Christmas. Mm-hmm. And he got me a pair and we went to go run last this past week.
And I'm like, cool, I'll wear my new leggings. 'cause they're kind of like a spring sickness. They were, it's been way too cold to wear them. I put them on and I go to pull them up, like if they're already on, but like, you're adjusting them right. And pull 'em up. They're like an inch shorter than I usually like my waistband to be.
Oh.
But it was okay. I pull it up and I rip half the waistband off.
Rude.
And it was one of those moments, it's like when you break a chair, when you sit on it, you're like, I know that that has nothing to do with me, but it for a moment, it feels like it has to do with me.
Oh yeah. That's a freaking ego crusher.
For sure. You're like, right. God
dammit. Right. And that's, that's what happened when I, and I was like, oh. Okay. Nope, it's not about me. Someone just poor workmanship on this waistband. But it was a moment where I was like, okay, I definitely need to go running now. Thanks pants for giving me the kick in the ass.
Yeah, for sure. So are we talking about pants and blow off? It's hard. Yeah, because you find a favorite pair of jeans like the, the ones I'm wearing, I've had to repair for a month now,
oopsies.
And I'm like, can I sacrifice giving them up for, I mean it's gonna take what, three days to fix? And I'm like, ah.
Usually I'm just terrible at this. I'll drop off a pair and then I get antsy 'cause it's like my favorite pair. So then I'll buy a pair when I'm there and she's like, just chill. You don't need to buy another pair. I'll get this done in a couple days. I'm like, oh yeah, need more. Plus I got the best of them
obviously working in the skate world.
There's a different aesthetic than working in other industries. And I really appreciate that as a female. Like you can wear whatever you want and it's okay, like there's no rules about what you wear. Um, but when you look at your personal routine, like are there things that you're like, I have to do this.
Like, this is where I put my girl points on the board. 'cause like for me, a big thing has always been like, it's so easy to slide into the sneakers and jeans and sweatshirts and suddenly I look like I'm a 12-year-old boy.
Yep.
So like, what do you do to like, make sure you show up every day is like, no, I feel like me.
I'm feeling hot, I'm feeling ready. I don't,
perfect. Um, I'm in a sweatshirt and jeans and sneakers and I do, I I am that 16-year-old little skate nerd every day to work. 'cause I'm there to work. I don't want anyone looking at me. I don't need to be cute. There don't, yeah. No. Um, so I. I am sure when like the head honchos come in and they're like, oh, look at this cool guy.
Oh wait, that's a woman. Um, I thought it was a little dude. Uh, but I think that outside of my work is, is when I really get to, I love wearing dresses and cute shoes and pretty girly outside of work,
which blew my mind when we first became social media friends. And I saw you like put, I'm like, wait a second.
She wearing a dress. I don't think I've ever seen you not wear like your Yeah. Work uniform.
Yeah. Which is jeans and a t-shirt.
Yeah.
So, yeah. Well, sorry. Well, I can compare to that because being an engineer, I just wear like t-shirts, jeans, and like sneakers. But I, when I was looking for an apartment in LA I had a coworker who's a producer at Earwolf helped me and he was like, oh, why are you all dressed up?
'cause I was wearing a dress. I was like, I'm not at work. Yeah. I can't wear a dress to record people. Well, you could. I could, but it would not like, it's kind of in the manual. Do like wear something that you can easily move in? Like I have to crawl under tables sometimes. Oh yeah. You can wear a dress that have your buns out.
No time exactly.
Gonna gets you
real
fast. When you look at the women's movement that has swept across the, the world at this point, is it something that you relate to that you are happy is happening? Like what is your opinion of, of what's going on?
Yes, I'm happy it's happening 100%, but I've never felt that I can't do something.
I think that's case by case. Um, I'm very fortunate that my mother raised me the way that she did that I've never once in my life have felt less than. Um, so thank you for that, mom. Uh, but I think that it's, it's, it's a good thing and we need it. And that's it. That's all I got for that. Who are the women?
That's very case by case for me. I've done, I just, yeah. I don't feel it. So I can literally do anything I want. Yeah. And I've always felt that way.
I, I have too, and I think it's caught me off guard. How many women didn't think that they could or had situations where they were told they couldn't. And that part has surprised me.
It's, it's part of the reason why I've started Powerful Ladies because it, I get caught off guard how many women say I can't or how many women say I'm not a powerful lady. And I'm like, what? That's insane. Yeah. Like I would, I was telling Jordan before you got here, I got an an email back from a mentor of mine that I've known since I was just outta high school and asked her to be a part of this.
And she's like, I'm not a powerful lady, especially right now. And I was like, what? Like no crushing right? So now I have to call her and we have to talk about that because yeah, that's not okay in my world.
Yeah.
But it just, I don't. My hope for powerful ladies is that more women realize that they can have whatever life they want if they don't know that already.
And if you are stopped somewhere that you can, there's literally a button on our website. Like ask a Powerful Lady. Yeah. It's like our dear Abby. Like, you can ask anything you want. Yeah. And we'll address it on the podcast or in a, in a post because there's, I, there's nothing that should stop you from having the type of life that you want.
So I, so from a similar perspective of, I'm really glad it's happening and I'm shocked at how, um, how many women. Um, didn't have a voice before and I'm so glad that they're feeling like they're, they have it now. Yes. And I also really like the comradery. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What I like. Yeah. Like when they did the women's march this year, I did a post.
'cause even as someone who feels powerful, there are days when you do not feel powerful. Yeah. There are days when you feel like you are totally on your own by yourself. It's super lonely, and you're like, what am I doing? Mm-hmm. For sure. What am I doing? Yeah. Like, like I'm a, it's, there have been moments as an adult female where I've been like, I think I'm just gonna go home and let mom take care of me right now.
Yeah. And I don't think that's bad. Unfortunately, my mom's not as close as yours, so I'm like, guess I'll just call her. Um, but I, I think that we don't, you know, people who are declare themselves as powerful also still need their friends and their family and the support, because it's not, you're not attend every day.
Nope. It's a rollercoaster and we're lucky if we get above a five. Yep. But you do it anyway. We sure do. Who are women that have inspired
you? Um, well for sure. My mother always, um, she's just such a hard worker and she's never compromised her integrity to just get shit done. You know, she's, like I said, she was 23 years old, had two kids, worked from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM every single day.
Um, we only had like Sundays with her and she just made it happen. I didn't know we were poor growing up, you know, I thought everyone ate hot dogs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You know, she just made it like normal and fun. And she was, I'm sure she had hard days because how could you not at, especially at that age, but we never saw it, you know, she was always just.
Tough and fun and she just made it happen. And still to this day, you know, she, every week she flies to a new city on on Monday, flies home on Thursday, and that's her job. Like she just travels and she doesn't have to, but she does it because she knows her company needs her and she can do it the best. So she does it and she is incredible.
God, I could cry about my mother. She's so incredible.
When, uh, you took one of the financial courses that I, um, teach and I'll never forget you talking about how proud you were of your parents for like being on top of their budget and their finances and being regular working people and. Knowing how to live within their means.
How has that impacted how you think about your finances and how has the course now impacted it for you?
Oh my gosh. I would drive my parents crazy because I'm so, like, well, I can't take it with me, so I just like spend my money on everything and just have the best time. And they're like, okay, well you've really gotta stop doing that.
Because I'm like, what? I have zero obligations, like for why I'm having so much fun. I'm just like, God damn it. Um, but now I see that, you know, gotta grow up a little bit, gotta put some stuff aside. What if I wanna, you know, go to Portugal this week? Mm-hmm. You know, I gotta, I gotta be ready for anything. Um, but the, the financial class that we took, um, really put in perspective how you're supposed to assign your money.
I practice it now. Yeah. And now I can go to Portugal next week if I want.
Yes. You're one of my best students. Thank you. So as we wrap up, what else would you like people to know about you? What you're up to, or a message that you have for them?
Ooh. I think a, a message is just message you. You have the choice every single day of how you're gonna spend your day.
You wake up and you're gonna be like, I am going to rule today. And then you go and you just do it. Like there's no questioning it, you know? You get to do and be whatever you want. And you decide that Nobody else, if you tell me no. Yeah, right. Watch me, watch me go do whatever I need to do. Like, it's your choice.
Everyone has it in you.
I.
You know.
Well, thank you so much for being a guest in the Powerfully Podcast. You've been great.
Thank you.
So nice to see your face. Yeah, and I'm excited that we get to hang out tonight too, so Hell
yes. Budweiser,
all. Thank you. All right, thank you.
One of the reasons I love Monique is how easily we just go down silly rabbit holes of conversations that you all got to experience on this episode from nerding out about work to acting like children. Nothing's off limits with her. I find it super inspiring how Monique's figured it out. She's clear on what she loves.
I know she's going to spend her time and what's important to her. She's sassy and shy and bold and quiet. She's loyal to her friends and family and committed to herself and her happiness. I'm left thinking about where in my life am I dealing with bullshit? I don't need to, and where I can purge some nonsense in my space, my head, and everywhere else, so that I can be a bit close to living the life that I'm creating.
Thank you, Monique, for inspiring me today to cannonballs, to hanging out with Mom, to loving your job and living the freaking weekend. We could all be more like Monique. If you love Monique like I do, you can support and connect with her by following her on Instagram at mon V-M-O-N-I-V-E-E where you can see that she does wear dresses like we found out, and you can email her at m viera@gmail.com.
All of that is available in the show notes. If you'd like to support the work that we're doing here at Polities, there's a couple of ways you can do that. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Google Play, or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Leave a review on any of these platforms. Share the show with all the powerful ladies and gentlemen in your life.
Join our Patreon account. Check out the website, the powerful ladies.com. To hear more inspiring stories. Get practical tools to be your most powerful. Get 50% off your first order in The Powerful Ladies Shop, or donate to the Powerful Ladies one Day of Giving campaign. And of course, follow us on Instagram at Powerful Ladies for show notes and to get the links to the books, podcasts, and people we talk about, go to the powerful ladies.com.
I'd like to thank our producer, composer, and audio engineer Jordan Duffy. She's one of the first female audio engineers in the podcasting world, if not the first. And she also happens to be the best. We're very lucky to have her. She's a powerful lady in her own right, in addition to taking over the podcasting world.
She's a singer songwriter working on our next album, and she's one of my sisters. So it's amazing to be creating this with her, and I'm so thankful that she finds time in her crazy busy schedule to make this happen. It's a testament to her belief in what we're creating through Powerful Ladies, and I'm honored that she shares my vision.
Thank you all so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode. I can't wait for you to hear it. Until then, I hope you're taking on being powerful in your life. Go be awesome and up to something you love.
Hello, everybody. Are you excited? I'm excited. Do you know why I'm excited? Because there is amazing merchandise at the Powerful Ladies Store. Go there today, the powerful ladies.com, click shop, buy things for yourself. Be inspired, buy things for your friends. You can do it.
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Following her on Instagram @monivee Where you can see all the dresses that she does wear
Email her at mvizzerra@gmail.com
Created and hosted by Kara Duffy
Audio Engineering & Editing by Jordan Duffy
Production by Amanda Kass
Graphic design by Anna Olinova
Music by Joakim Karud
