Gina Nam
Courtesy of AMY O Jewelry.
Age || 32
Company Name || AMY O Jewelry
Job Title || Founder + Designer
Years Living In New York || 11 years
Social Handles || @amyojewelry
Company Website || AMY O Jewelry
What did you want to be while growing up?
I wanted to be an artist or a fashion designer.
What’s the best piece of advice you were given when you were starting AMY O?
Allocate your time wisely and trust others to help you with tasks.
How do you define success?
To see how far my team and I have come and how much we’ve grown as individuals and as a company. We’ve worked through some obstacles together and it’s incredible to see what we’ve been able to overcome.
Courtesy of AMY O Jewelry.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned since starting out?
To trust my gut instinct and to make decisions based on what is best for the company.
When did you start creating jewelry?
My parents had their own jewelry company, so I started making jewelry from a young age.
What is your creative process like?
I have an area in my workstation that is dedicated to designing. The times that I am most productive is when I am alone and can completely focus on design.
How do you choose which materials to use to ensure longevity of your pieces?
All of our metals are precious metals, 14K Gold and Sterling Silver. We want to provide our customers with the best quality, so we always choose the best materials to work with.
What pushed you to take AMY O from an idea to reality?
When I started the company, I was working on it part-time for about 1.5 years. I finally made the leap when my roommates in the apartment that I was living in wanted to move out and live in another area in Manhattan. I started my company from my own apartment.
What’s your favorite piece that you’ve created and why?
My favorite piece is not one piece but a collection—our O collection. The O Collection is a patent pending product that is made for layering necklaces. It is a new product that no one has ever done before and helps solve all the annoying issues when layering.
Courtesy of AMY O Jewelry.
What is your go-to motivational quote or personal motto?
“I never dreamed about success, I worked for it.” - Estée Lauder
What made you interested in starting AMY O?
I worked in the mass-production fashion jewelry industry prior to AMYO and saw how price always outweighed quality and design of a finished product. I also saw how wasteful it was when jewelry would go out of trend. I wanted to create a sustainable company and produce timeless pieces that would never go out of style.
Which women inspire you?
Women who are independent, self-sufficient, and who overcome adversity inspire me.
How do you overcome moments of self-doubt?
I try to understand the root causes of my self-doubt and then try to work through them. It's always better to face your self-doubt, than letting it boil up internally because ultimately, they will never go away unless you address them.
How do you balance your schedule?
Honestly, I still struggle to balance my schedule between my work and personal life. When starting your own company, oftentimes your company becomes your main priority. But I do try to make an effort to have a better balance.
Courtesy of AMY O Jewelry.
How do you handle situations where you feel overwhelmed?
I never keep it in. I always talk it through with my team or those closest to me. I also go to a therapist that helps!
What has been the most rewarding thing since starting out?
The most rewarding thing has been seeing how hard work, effort and dedication pay off. There were times when we had no experience with working on a certain project. We just had to figure it out.
What advice would you give to other women trying to enter the jewelry field?
Don’t be afraid to reach out to others for help or advice and listen to their advice.
What are some of your goals moving forward for your brand?
I would like to build more awareness and credibility for our brand. I truly believe in our brand and what it stands for. Not only in our products, but also to have a social impact with a mission to empower women.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.