Jana Platina Phipps

I am an embellishment expert, designing trimmings and sharing embellishment fabrications as a create form of self-expression and powerful design tool. As a byproduct, I have gained Instagram Agility which I now also teach.

Early on, I joined WithIt at its inception and my early mentors supported me with introductions that opened doors. These ladies taught me to step up, volunteer, connect and be gracious. This has served me well for 25 years and I still stay active in peer-mentoring that keeps me motivated and accountable.

Work / Life balance is a myth. See below.

I LOVE the CREATIVITY and the people. There are a million ways to use your skills in this industry, finding the right niche and company to empower creative design and thinking is the challenge.

Mistakes are for learning! That’s what I teach my kids and tell myself in business, life, and on the tennis court. My dad encouraged me to try and fail when I was young because I didn’t have as much to lose then as I do now.

My biggest challenge to date was having a baby and continuing to work. No one ever prepared me for how hard it was, and I am a tough broad w stamina, but having my daughter and working at full speed nearly put me in the hospital with exhaustion. This experience motivated me to start my own business.

My work and life are integrated. I don’t seek balance because it’s elusive and I end up feeling defeated. Once I changed my expectations of balance, I felt more winning. Work and life heat up at different points, I ride the wave and feel best when I fit self-care in both scenarios.

I pivoted, I analyzed my assets and created programming and a product line that I could do and sell virtually. E-commerce baby!

Sleep is my drug.

No guilt!

To eventually retire part-time in Venice, Italy and create textile art.