One of the things I have had to learn as an entrepreneur is to introduce myself to complete strangers – people I know of and want to know, people who have no idea who I am. I always have to give myself a pep-talk before walking up to them (them usually being beauty industry executives, although I did walk up to Brad Pitt once), and then just do it. From those pep-talks have blossomed numerous wonderful and wonderfully useful relationships (sadly, not with Brad Pitt). At a recent tradeshow, something amazing happened – another beauty executive walked up to me to introduce herself. JuE Wong, CEO of Strivectin no less, had seen me a few years ago at a Henri Bendel event and wanted to connect. I loved being at the receiving end of this greeting, and already a new relationship has started to blossom…
AP: What city were you born in? JW: Singapore, literally a punctuation mark on the world map!
AP: What city to do you live in? JW: Manhattan, a city I wanted to be part of since I was 12 years old. I remember looking out of my family’s 26th floor apartment and remarking to my mom that one day I would be living in the Big Apple. To which my mom smiled and said “yes you will.”
AP: What is your middle name? JW: I don’t have one as in the Chinese culture we don’t have middle names.
AP: What is your astrological sign? JW: Gemini.
AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? JW: I can be a couch potato watching marathon reruns of Law and Order.
AP: What is your most prized possession? JW: My Hermes Birkin bag that my late husband, Bob, ordered and paid for to surprise me for our wedding anniversary; when the bag arrived, he had already passed.
AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? JW: My late Husband. I took so much of our time for granted that only having lost him, I realize what I am missing…
AP: Describe your fashion style in three words maximum. JW: Current, classic, colorful.
AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? JW: Yes, a Rolex Oyster which I bought myself when I started working in 1989.
AP: Diamonds or pearls? JW: Diamonds.
AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? JW: Sleep. And StriVectin’s AR Night Treatment.
AP: What fragrance do you wear? JW: Unfortunately, I am allergic to fragrance.
AP: Botox or not? JW: Not.
AP: Hair color: natural or not? JW: Natural.
AP: What are your special diet tips, if any? JW: Wild Alaskan salmon.
AP: What do you do for exercise? JW: 50 sit-ups, 20 bench-presses, and walking 1 mile in 12 minutes, every day.
AP: What are three things that you always have in your fridge? JW: Apples, apple juice, and salmon.
AP: What is your cocktail of choice? JW: A virgin Mojito.
AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? JW: My dog; he needs me.
AP: How many miles do you fly per year on average? JW: 20,000 miles.
AP: What are your three top tips for travel? JW: 1. Keep a toiletry bag ready at all times. 2. Pack clothes you can mix and match. 3. Pack 1 pair of heels.
AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. JW: Fire in the Rain by Adele, 100 Years by Five for Fighting, and Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship.
AP: What book are you reading right now? JW: I just finished Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg.
AP: Quote to live by. JW: Regrets are not about failures but about things you never tried and wish you did.
AP: What is your worst pet peeve? JW: Tardiness.
AP: What time do you usually wake up in the morning, and how many hours of sleep do you usually get? JW: 6am, and about 8 hours.
AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? JW: The innovations.
AP: Least favorite thing. JW: Emerging brands losing ground with all the buy outs.
AP: Who is your mentor? JW: Mindy Grossman, CEO of HSN.
AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. JW: Take Your seat at the table, own it, and deliver on your promise.
