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

Hi Valerie, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I used to struggle with finding work/life balance. I am such an “all or nothing” person that sometimes it gets the best of me. My work life balance has changed because now I intentionally manage my time and carve out time for all of the projects and tasks I need to complete. It certainly took much practice and effort, but I finally found a sweet spot that works for me.

Having balance is everything to me now. Having had so much pride in being “productive” all the time, I look back and while I appreciate that work ethic, I appreciate the balance of work and my life much more. I find that having a balance allows me to bring my best foot forward to my work more consistently then if I was constantly running on “E” because I was working all the time. Ultimately, having a balance has blessed me with the gift of time to enjoy the parts of life I’ve worked so hard for.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve worked in HR for the last almost 10 years. I absolutely love this field because I actually get to make a difference nearly each and everyday in someone’s life. I know HR has a bad rep, and I take pride in knowing that I’ve been able to positively impact people way more than the traditional HR person. I also have been blessed with the opportunity to work at an organization which is closely tied to my passion for fashion (@StockX). I overcame challenges in my career by remaining optimistic and always trying to find solutions to obstacles that came my way. I’ve learned that having a balanced approach it significant in so many ways.

I want the world to know that I am just getting started. Ready or not, here I come!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shout out AJ (@arnoldmsj), who has been a part of my creative journey since the creation of Lavish Citizen and has helped bring all of my visions to life through his photography.

Website: lavishcitizen.co

Instagram: lavishvaal

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-rodriguez-246b54a0/

Image Credits
@lavishvaal @arnoldmsj

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