Meet Aurelia Vanderburg | Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aurelia Vanderburg and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aurelia, how do you think about risk?
Risks have navigated my professional life. The curse is that I believe that I can do ANYTHING I want without any regard to what ANYONE says.  I don’t know where this attitude came from, but I certainly embrace it.

When it comes to making career moves, I consider any and everything.  My thought process is that “it’s at least worth a conversation 😊.”  I don’t mind failing, publicly or privately; I just try again and find another way or an alternative resource. I always give 110% to something that I want professionally, and I will do what is necessary to make my vision happen.  But it must be said, my actions are not blind or unintentional.  Prior to embarking upon any adventure, I do my due diligence, conduct a cost-benefit analysis and create a list/plan.

To date, conducting myself in this way has greatly increased my bandwidth and business acumen.  Professionally, my desire is to be an entrepreneur. Within my entrepreneurial journey I’ve encountered many losses. Financial, time, and relationship losses have all come with the risks of entrepreneurship. However, overall, through taking risks, much has been learned, and peace has been obtained. I have found that previous professional experiences served as lessons and tools that were later utilized in new entrepreneurial pursuits. I have learned the possibility of what could or could not be.  And, in this I have found peace in knowing that the dreams or desires that burn so intensely within my spirit were answered/explored.  This removed the gnawing “what if?” question that would have always been present within.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Aurela Vand is a lifestyle brand that I created to share high quality, trendy, and stylish items with the world for a reasonable price.   The inspiration for the brand came from a Coptic Cross pendant that I designed for myself.  The pendant is a common conversation piece and stimulates quite a bit of unsolicited positive feedback.  Given my entrepreneurial spirit, creative prowess, and love for my piece, and Coptic crosses in general, I decided to create and sell a collection of Coptic Crosses.

It should be noted that even though my first collection features Coptic Cross pendants, Aurelia Vand is not a religious company/brand.  The crosses are a representation of God from a spiritual perspective.  In fact, I fell in love with Coptic Crosses because they are a subtle, non-traditional, and artistic way to acknowledge my relationship with God.  When I think of Aurelia Vand and what is to come, I plan to create more accessories and other lifestyle products.  I am currently in the process of finalizing the designs of stud earrings that will be added to the current collection.  I am so excited about the earrings and cannot wait to share them with the world.

What I love most about my Coptic Cross collection and what I believe sets us apart from our competitors, is that our Coptic Cross designs are traditional in their meaning and core design characteristics but not in their presentation.  The Coptic Cross pendants in our collection are trendy in their design and composition, making them pieces that are sustainable and versatile in with and how they are worn.

The road to the development and creation of Aurelia Vand has been a great experience but has not come without its challenges.  I have found that patience is a challenge for me.  My excitement to share my first collection with the world has cost more resources than originally expected.  Not doing accurate due diligence and skipping steps in the process of obtaining my final product caused some delay and undesirable results.  So, as I move forward and continue to grow Aurelia Vand I have been very conscious to make sure that I reflect on my past mistakes and consciously make sure that I am truly happy with what is transpiring.

But, keep an eye out for Aurelia Vand, I am just getting started 😉

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend came to visit, I would create an itinerary that included the following:

Monday:

Morning: Chastain Park to take in the fresh air and beautiful architecture as we stroll the 2.5 mile trail that outlines the park. And the Flying Biscuit for a post morning workout recharge.

Afternoon: High Museum of Art for a bit of artistic appreciation and expression.

Evening: Upbeet for dinner to get a flavor filled healthy bowl and a taste of the eclectic energy that resides in Atlanta.

Tuesday:

Morning: Stone Mountain to observe Atlanta from the highest point in the city.

Afternoon: Brown Sugar desserts for the best sweet treat from scratch on Three Dollar Tuesday.

Evening: A movie at The Spring Cinema and Taphouse where one can watch a movie in heated leather recliners while devouring the best bar food.

Wednesday:

Morning: Piedmont Park for a nice stroll and great people watching.

Afternoon: SCAD Museum of Art.  A beautifully adorned facility for artistic inspiration and admiration.

Evening: Hal’s where everything on the menu is delicious. The Veal salad is to die for- yum!

Thursday:

Morning: Zumba with Dawarttis Proctor.  He combines Latin, Jazz and hip-hop dance very well in his routines…. the perfect dance session to burn calories.

Afternoon: Bear and Honey Candle to create custom scented candles in the most unique vessels.

Evening: Kat’s Café for a night of great entertainment and mingling.

Friday:

Morning: Yoga with Whitney Jones of Yoga & Wellness. After each session you feel  renewed and at peace.

Afternoon:  Spelman College to tour the campus and experience Market Friday.

Evening: A Candlelight Experience featuring the Edgewood String Quartet.  Their string instrument skills and beautiful music are breathtaking and memorable.

Saturday:

Morning: Nobi Cha Bubble Tea for a deliciously quick breakfast on the way to a nail appointment at Jane’s Mini Salon where NO nail design is impossible.

Afternoon: Melange, et al. Of Miami Circle for a bit of art and furniture shopping.

Evening: Yebo Beach Haus for some of the best drinks and food in town.  The Bobotie Crepes are my favorite. 😊

Sunday:

Morning: Sunday worship service at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Afternoon: The Ginger Tea Room for high tea.  They have the most extensive tea menu and the most delicious finger sandwiches.  Also, the customer service is fantastic.

Evening: Dinner at Houston’s.  The place for the best version of All American Cuisine.

This is just tentative; we live on such a tight schedule daily and live so far away.  We would also try to find time to catchup and relax somewhere in-between, lol. 🙂

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So, I would like shoutout the seasons of my life for my journey and success.  From, my parents who are two of my favorite and most trusted friends in my life. To all the good and not so good relationships and experiences I have had throughout my life.  I am grateful for them all because in each interaction there has been a lesson and experience that has shaped who I am today and how I approach life.

Website: www.aureliavand.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aurelia_vand/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aureliavand

Image Credits
Haigwood Studios and Prim and Proper Photography