Aviva Atri

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Website | @avivaatri | Pinterest

1. Tell me a little bit about you, who is Aviva outside of work?

Aviva outside of work is pretty loud, you could even say she’s ‘a lot.’ I love to listen to music and sometimes sing into my hairbrush or phone, though my husband and family will tell you I don’t have the best voice. I’m obsessed with my dog Charlie, who is a 4 year old labradoodle FLOOF. You’ll probably catch me squeezing her face and telling her how cute she is.

2. What do you do for work?

I am a designer, illustrator and self-proclaimed nail artist. Through color exploration (and sometimes confetti!), I love creating cheerful experiences for brands and individuals alike. I specialize in illustration, branding, GIF creation, packaging, creative consulting, and nail art.

3. As a female business owner working in a competitive industry, what are some of the biggest obstacles you have faced within your industry / the workplace?

The creative space is very saturated. I find that oftentimes my work can get lost in everything that’s out there. I kind of have to remind myself to take a step back and think about what sets me apart from other creatives. It’s nice to reevaluate your work/brand every once in a while and look at it from a new perspective.

4. How have you been staying creative/inspired during a pandemic?

It has definitely been tough. While there aren’t so many places to go for inspiration these days, I have definitely found that I’ve been noticing things I hadn’t necessarily noticed before. I am a lot more alert on my daily walks, noticing nature. There are so many great colors and shapes out there. I’ll usually snap a photo of a flower, the sky, plants, etc. and use it to pull color palettes. I definitely have been staying creative. Some days I feel super motivated and inspired to create. An idea will come to me while I’m lying in bed or in the shower (lol) and I immediately feel the need to execute it. Sometimes I feel a little manic creating so late at night or so early in the morning. Some of my best work has come from working weird hours of the day!

5. What women in your life inspire you and why?

I’d be insane if I didn’t list my mom as my biggest inspiration. My mom is an OBGYN, working all day and talking call at night to casually deliver babies. In her spare time, which I have ABSOLUTELY no idea how the woman has any, she has managed to master gardening, shoe making, needle point, crocheting, fixing anything known to mankind and doing tons of charity and community service. My mom shows me that there are always enough hours in the day to make anything happen!

6. What advice would you give to women who want to pursue a new life direction -- whether that be moving to a new city, pursuing a new career path, starting a side hustle or choosing a new major in school?

I’m ALL FOR IT! Whenever my friends or people I meet tell me they’re unhappy in their current work, I am constantly cheering them on and encouraging them to pursue what they’re passionate about. Whatever it is that makes you feel happy and fulfilled is what you’re meant to be doing. There is always a way to monetize your passions, you just need to be patient and consistent.

7. How do you balance a job, personal life and passions? Is there such a thing as balance?

Balance — what a trivial word in the creative field, especially if you are a business owner. I try my absolute best to shut my computer or stop whatever I’m working on at a normal hour of the evening, but it doesn’t always happen. Since I live on the east coast and have many clients on the west coast, the time difference makes it a bit challenging to stop working as early as I’d like. I think that working for myself lends itself to having more flexibility to be able to do things in my personal life. Being present is a challenge as well, since I feel like I am constantly ‘on’, but I’m still striving to find that ultimate sense of balance.

8. What are some ways you implement self-care?

Doing my nails is the most therapeutic activity for me! Sometimes, I’ll literally have a fully done manicure with nail art and all the works, and I’ll just take it off because I feel like painting again. Something about the steadiness of the hand and concentration required while painting just does it for me. I also looooove taking baths. Walking Charlie happens a few times a day, but for some reason the night walks just hit different. I love the weather at night and it’s so calming to let out some steam before crawling into bed.

9. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders, movers and shakers?

My sister is 17 and I am constantly telling her to pursue something she is passionate about and enjoys doing. When you are passionate about something, you will give it your all and in some way or another, make a massive impact on the world. My advice would be to trust your gut and do what feels right to you. Don’t look for external validation. Own it.

10. How can women advocate for each other?

I think it’s SO important for women to hype each other up and support one another. Whether it’s sharing their work or product on social media, or telling friends and family, there are so many ‘free’ ways to rise them up.

11. What is your power color and why?

While I always gravitate towards pink, I’m going to have to go with yellow as my power color. Many people have told me that I give off a yellow aura, so I’ll take it! Yellow is sunny and cheerful and I definitely feel powerful and confident when I have a little pep in my step.

12. What is your female anthem – the song that hypes you up and makes you feel like a girl boss and that you can take on anything in the world?

“Man! I Feel Like A Woman” by Shania Twain is definitely my female anthem. “Bad Girls” by M.I.A. is another great one. Okay one more - “Like This” by Kelly Rowland is impossible not to dance to and feel like a complete boss.