01 WHERE I’M FROM
Origins
I grew up in Chicago, a beautiful and gritty city. For one place, it showed me more than I could have asked for: the communities, the art, the creativity, the skyline and the architecture. It gave me grit and independence.
My mom worked in both fashion and design. She never pushed me into either, but she influenced me anyway. My sister and I played hide and seek in department stores. I sat in fitting rooms giving my totally uneducated but very critical opinions. I was even at one of Valentino’s last fashion shows when I was two. I don’t remember it, but it still feels like part of my story.
02
WHAT TRAVEL TAUGHT ME
Respectful
In Japan, respect wasn’t just a word. It showed up in how people treated each other, how spotless the public spaces were, even how animals were cared for. It taught me that success is also about how you carry yourself and make others feel.
Open-minded
In Dubai, most of the population are foreigners, and people still coexist peacefully. It made me see different perspectives as a strength, not something to manage.
Well-rounded
In France, I learned how savoir-faire, pride in craftsmanship and tradition, shapes both fashion and the way business is done.
03 WHAT I BRING
What I Bring
Plenty of people have good experiences. What makes me different is how I go into mine and what I take away. People get caught up in certain things and miss what’s right in front of them. I walk in with an open mind and some background knowledge, and afterward I actually think about what it taught me. That works the same in a foreign country or in an everyday conversation.
I’m adaptable, and I don’t mean fake. I have a lot of sides that came from everything I’ve seen, so it’s easy for me to work and communicate with very different personalities. I can be the creative lead or the quiet observer, depending on what the moment needs. I also believe your personal brand starts with how you present yourself. That matters in business especially, but it matters everywhere.
04 WHAT I LOVE
What I Love
Fashion, because it’s art. It tells a story about the person wearing it. Travel made that click for me. You would never see a Parisian walk out of the house in sweatpants. I love design for the same reason. In a past class project, my team built a café concept called Green Room, and my role was the menu and the interior aesthetic. That’s when I realized design is about creating an experience people want to be part of.
05 WHERE I’M HEADED
Where I’m Headed
I started college at the start of the AI era without knowing which part of business I wanted to go into. Taking entrepreneurship classes, and living in Miami, a city full of entrepreneurs, settled it for me. I want to start a business that solves a problem I deal with, one a lot of other people deal with too. The businesses that last are the ones with real passion behind them.
I’ve also always been around real estate. Growing up in downtown Chicago, I watched developments go up and change how a whole area felt. Long term, I want to do both: build my own businesses and work in real estate.
My independence came from where I grew up, and my open-mindedness came from everywhere I’ve traveled since. Together, they shape how I lead in business.
CECE LATSKO