Home: New York, NY and Mondim de Basto, Portugal. Age: Much older than I look! Birthplace: Bethesda, MD. Profession: Creative fashion production. Organization: Dizon Inc. Title: President/CEO. Significant other: My husband, Russell Fernandez.
Recent recognition: Recently interviewed on a podcast talking about the future of fashion shows. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Knowing that I could create a company within the fashion industry that treats people with kindness and integrity. Hobbies: Cooking, reggae dub music. Last book read: To Paradise, by Hanya Yanagihara. Recently viewed and recommended: Atlanta; Triangle of Sadness. Recent unique acquisition: My new home in Portugal.
Personality profile: INFJ: Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging. Moral compass: Live by example for my kids. What is your greatest fear? Not having enough time to make art. What is your guilty pleasure? Dirty Tito’s martini. What natural talent have you neglected? Cooking. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? Travel. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? Sun and sand.
What three emojis best describe you? 😜 🙌🏽 🤓.
What was your first paying job? At a record store. What was your favorite college course? Linguistics and Gender. What was your favorite childhood toy or game? Operation. What movie have you repeatedly watched? In the Mood for Love. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? A lithograph by Louise Bourgeois, The Guilty Girl is Fragile. What is your go-to source of creative inspiration? Pinterest. What personal circumstance has had the greatest influence on your life? The death of my father when I was fifteen.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Insuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion is top of mind in our work. What change would you like to see in the world? For women to be in charge. What widely held belief do you reject? That you’re only on this earth once. What mega-trend most excites you? Digital interconnection.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? Finding Your Way. Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? Ruth Bader Ginsberg. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? My father’s watch. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? Partying and dancing with my husband, kids, brothers, mom and friends with everyone’s pets running around. What advice would you give your younger self? You don’t have to be so scared.
Personal motto: Just be cool, dude. Favorite quote: “Like a bird on the wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir / I have tried in my way to be free” (Bird on the Wire (1979), Leonard Cohen). Desired epitaph: Loving wife, mother, sister, daughter and duppy conqueror.
