Rachel Parcell is the creator of Pink Peonies where she shares style and beauty tips, mixed in with glimpses of her personal life in Salt Lake City. She recently launched her own jewellery line with an eight-piece collection and is already working on her second collection. Her recent collaborations include Ann Taylor, Dove and Kate Spade.
How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?
In a family of 4 girls, you become a leader as soon as you can talk. You have to stick up for yourself! I've always been surrounded by amazing role models, specifically my parents and grandparents. They have been entrepreneurs, community and business leaders. It was just dinner table conversation. All of this taught me to believe in myself and to find my passion and use it. I must also add that church, school and extra curricular responsibilities definitely helped me to develop leadership skills.
How has your previous employment experience aided your tenure as a blogger?
I learned to get out of my comfort zone. When I got a job at age 20 with a local fashion business, I found myself on the very back seat of an airplane going to China on a buying trip. In all of the employment experiences I've had, I feel there has always been a take-away that I've applied to blogging and I'm grateful for that.
What have the highlights and challenges been during your tenure as a blogger?
The biggest highlights have been meeting so many new people, traveling to places I never thought I would, and collaborating with my favorite brands while connecting with women across the country who read my blog.
It's the negative people that have been the biggest challenge for me. Their main goal seems to be to bring someone down; I just have to stay focused and be positive.
What advice can you offer to millennials who are seeking to start a blog?
Find your passion and have an expertise in something, then take that passion and be confident in what you post. And as always, work hard! Focus on the positive, not the negative.
How do you maintain a work/life balance?
Well, my life is my work. I share my life and my love of fashion with my readers. This allows me to have the joy of living my dream. As long as I have a laptop and a camera, I can work from anywhere.
What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?
I'm a new mom and I think in the coming months I will really be getting an education in this very issue. Women hold so many titles and responsibilities from both work and home and family life, that it's hard to turn one off and another on.
How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?
I didn't necessarily have a mentor when it came to blogging; it was too new. But I do have a loving husband, supportive parents, and three amazing sisters who I can always turn to for advice or help, whether its personal or business related.
Which other female leaders do you admire and why?
These are just a few of the female leaders that I admire. They are smart, talented, beautiful women who have made and continue to make a positive difference in their field and in the world: Rosa Parks, Ann Romney, Megyn Kelly, Ellen DeGeneres, Savannah Guthrie and Angelina Jolie.
What do you want to personally and professionally accomplish in the next year?
I find such power and satisfaction in planning and reaching new goals. Professionally I plan to expand my blog and open new doors and opportunities as well as continue growing my jewelry line, Pink Peonies Collection. On a more personal note I'm excited to move forward in my adventure of motherhood as well as strengthen relationships with family and friends.