the curated column - a blog by Armoire
  • Start Renting
  • Sign In
Aparna Rae
August 17 2019

Boss Lady Spotlight: Aparna Rae

Armoire Everything, Meet Our Members

At Armoire, we’re casting a spotlight on some of the notable, powerful boss ladies in our community, and what being a boss lady means to them. Read on to learn all about female-founder and Armoire member Aparna Rae.

Her Life:

Aparna Rae

Past:

I moved to the US at 14, after living in 4 countries and spent the first decade of my career in education. Everything from being a classroom teacher, to leading STEM programming in South King County, to launching a nationwide teacher education platform in India. When I came back in 2017, I decided to use my background to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in organizations – ultimately starting 2 companies, Moving Beyond in 2018 and Future for Us in 2019.  

Present:

Working to advance the future of women of color and historically marginalized people, every single day! I love the strategy and evaluation work we do at Moving Beyond, shifting organizations and systems to create sustainable impact, and moving the needle for women of color through Future for Us’s platform. 

Future:

Thriving in a world that values women and sees the experiences of diverse voices as an asset. 

Her Career:

How she’s redefining women who work:

For starters, we’re redefining the kind of woman who works, especially at the highest levels across all sectors. Women of color in the US have been and been seen as ‘the help’ for too long – it’s problematic that at 20% of the population, WoC hold 50% of the lowest wage work. This has to change. 

Her biggest challenge:

The structural and cultural barriers are very real. Everything you read about a lack of flow of capital to WoC founded companies, micro/macro-aggression, having every choice being called into questions, living every statistic — it can make entrepreneurship even tougher. 

On the flipside, we now have language and awareness, and are in a place to have conversations about what needs to shift.  

Her secret to a work/life balance:

I have never believed in work-life balance. It’s hard, if not impossible, to build in a 40-hr work week. My advice is to know your values and priorities, and build a life grounded in those. 

What she wishes she knew 5 years ago:

There are no shortcuts to success and visibility, building mastery is important. 

Her advice:

There’s no such thing as work-life balance. Don’t feel guilty for occasionally taking work during vacation. Don’t feel guilty for skipping out of work early on a sunny day to drink lychee margaritas at Marination. You know what’s best for your life – go live it!   

Her Style:

Why she uses Armoire:

Armoire’s buyers and stylists have better judgment than I do. 

Her favorite part:

The speed at which outfits arrive – if I’m speaking at an event on short notice, it’s easy to find the right thing and have it delivered within 48 hours. 

Boss Lady Go-To:

This long sleeve black dress – I wore it to multiple galas, conferences, speaking engagements. I felt tall, confident, professional in it! 

Aparna Rae

You can learn more aboout Aparna Rae on her website.

Share

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

Boss Lady Spotlight: Allison Hamilton-Rohe Boss Lady Spotlight: Jamie Young

Related Posts

Everything

Founder and President of Nasty Woman Wines Joins Armoire as VP, Sales & Customer Success

Everything

Former Amazon retail and logistics expert named Armoire’s Chief Operating and Merchandising Officer

Everything

Microsoft and T-Mobile Alum Named Armoire’s Head of User Experience



Featured Posts

  • small biz sat option 2The Big Economic Argument for Shopping Small this Holiday Season
  • Not sure what to wear? We put together this guide to provide you ample (and easy) ideas for work outfits— perfect for every boss lady.Work Outfits in Under 5 Minutes: 7 Office-Approved Business Casual Looks
  • cropped-bosslady.pngBoss Lady: 5 Ways To Harness Your Power
  • 9 Easy Ways to Join the Sustainable Fashion Movement9 Easy Ways to Join the Sustainable Fashion Movement
  • As an Armoire member, you gain access to an enormous closet without the hassle or cost of ownership. Here's 10 reasons why you should rent clothes!10 Reasons to Rent Clothes

Follow Us

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Trending

  • Armoire Boss LadyMaking Your Passion Work for You: Zoe Kahn
    June 29, 2018
  • With a curated selection, 1:1 styling appointments and member drop off and pick up, Armoire's Carillon Point boutique offers the best shopping in Kirkland!Armoire Offers Rental Shopping in Kirkland
    October 18, 2019
  • IMG_5400-2Public Habit’s Founders on Building an Affordable Sustainable Fashion Brand
    January 16, 2020
  • DSCF0492Stop Consigning, Rent Clothes Instead
    April 11, 2019
  • ana-itonishvili-9eDK_TpHklA-unsplash5 Flattering Styles for Rectangular Shaped Figures
    May 27, 2022
Armoire
© The Curated Column from Armoire 2020. Made with ♥ in Seattle, WA.
 

Loading Comments...