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

Hi Lisa, can you tell us about a book that has had a meaningful impact on you?
I am enamored by Greek mythology actually. My son and I are both obsessed. I love the stories because of how the lessons endure the test of time. There is relevance to humanity in these stories that endures generations. I sometimes wonder if everything in modern day entertainment is not derived from these stories in some way.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am the founder and creator of Lisa Nik, a luxury jewelry firm.
The brand is most well known for its bold colorful gemstones and artful elements set in rose gold and accented with diamonds. The mission of the brand is to create timeless and elegant jewelry that can be worn for any occasion.

I was the EVP of a major Italian jewelry brand before creating my own collection. This journey was triggered by a deep innate desire to embark on a more creative path after acquiring extensive experience working in a corporate capacity. What I really want the world to know about my story is that the jewelry industry can be for everyone, and not only for multi-generational businesses and corporate businesses. I am very supportive of female owned businesses and entrepreneurs and I want aspiring jewelry designers to know the they can achieve success, compete at the highest levels, and still maintain a healthy life work balance.

There are so many lessons in the entrepreneurial path that I can share. Starting and growing a business is one of the most challenging sports. It is a test of endurance and mental strength, and it requires constant refinement of skills. It also requires the willingness to change and adapt as necessary to keep up with changes happening that are often beyond our control.

When I look back on this journey, the only regrets I have are not being more aggressive during the early stages of founding the brand. Being too careful and cautious can create limitations to a new business. Choosing partners and affiliates is also so important. If you align with people that do not have similar goals, or competing agendas,you can slow yourself down and even harm progress even without knowing it.

It is so important to be straightforward when dealing with others. In the long run, I think this is what people respect the most and I believe this is what builds a long term reputation in business.

I have always been a visionary about establishing my own brand and I have always had a clear vision about what I wanted to it look like. This vision continues to evolve and adapt with the changing times and trends. I would say that my greatest skill as an entrepreneur is having this creative vision while also understanding how to run a business day to day. I have an MBA in Management from NYU’s Stern School of Business and I have 25 years of experience conducting business internationally.

The ability to connect with people comes from this background. This experience has provided me with a unique communication skill that resonates with people from many different cultural and social backgrounds. Perhaps this is my greatest gift.

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.
I would start the week off with a hike in Griffith Park so that my friend could see a beautiful view of The Hollywood Hills and The Hollywood Sign. We would then head to the Soho House for dinner and continue enjoying the views of the mountains and city lights.

We would venture for a day trip to Malibu and a sandy walk along Zuma beach. We might stop at Lucky’s for dinner on the way back and drive through the beautiful Pepperdine University campus.

On day three, we would go for a walk through Beverly Hills and window shop Rodeo Dr., then have lunch at The Ivy. We might head to Santa Monica for another beach walk and stroll around the Pier. We might even ride bikes along the bike path.

On day four, we would go to LACMA and the La Brea Tarpits. These are my sons favorite spots to visit and a great place to spend the day with kids. We could explore who is playing at the Hollywood Bowl or at The Greek Theater and arrange to see a performance. Or, depending on the time of year, we could take our guests to an ice hockey game at the Crypto arena.

We would conclude our trip with a visit to Universal Studios, or Warner Brothers. It’s always fun in LA to take a moment to learn how movies and tv shows are made. Los Angeles is so much fun all year around, we love living here and showing people around town when they visit.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am grateful to every single person who has believed in me and has supported my ideas and goals –most importantly my family and the many industry people who encouraged me to start my own brand.

Website: https://www.lisanik.com

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisanikjewelry

Image Credits
Lisa Nikfarjam

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