Transitioning from your day job and pursuing your side hustle is usually the ultimate goal. But even though taking a big leap into the unknown future can be completely terrifying, if you’re sitting at your desk daydreaming about your passions, that might be a sign you should change your day job. Security is often something everyone wishes to have; it brings comfort and bills are being paid.
But while there is absolutely nothing wrong with feeling comfortable at your current job, it could be limiting your drive and preventing you from going after what you are truly passionate about. In today’s society, there are a lot of people who are working day jobs in addition to their side hustles. While the lifestyle can be tough, it is worth every minute when you start to see your dreams come to fruition. But if you are not sure this is the right path to take, the only way you will know is by simply beginning your journey.
Meet Karinna Rojas, who started as a Senior HR Advisor after working 25+ years in the corporate world. When Rojas left her job she decided to focus on her purpose and created her own specialized HR consulting firm with the mission to support organizations and professionals globally to adapt to new challenges, embrace new ways of working, design thinking and most importantly, help new generations of talent reach their full potential.
What does an HR Executive do? Develops and executes all human resources (HR) strategies and initiatives for an organization. These executives sit at the top of the HR structure working closely with CEOs and Leadership teams and take the lead when it comes to people’s strategy and play a key role in organizational designs and talent management to enable high-performance teams. HR Executives act as true business partners to executive teams and oversee short- and long-term human capital planning. Educate, train, monitor, problem-solve, and ensure company HR policies are fully aligned with the business vision and purpose. Additional HR Executive responsibilities include directing and overseeing the recruiting, training, developing, and managing compensation and benefits programs.
Rojas very much enjoys managing global diverse groups, and she’s strongly committed to team building, people development, and diversity. Rojas has lived in four different countries, she’s a daughter, sister, wife, and a mother who drives mindfulness in every aspect of her life.
‘’It was not an easy transition at first but has been so far an amazing learning experience.’’
What made you pursue your own specialized HR consulting firm?
I found myself in a unique career change situation that forced me to reflect on what really drives me and what transformation do I wanted to make as I move forward in my career. After leveraging on my network and getting key insights from former bosses, mentors, business leaders, and former colleagues, I realized the impact and value I could create by leveraging on my 25+ year career in the people side of businesses and support the challenges and opportunities companies are facing today and build on that sustainably.
What does your work entail?
Consultant ever-changing HR Consulting Services help organizations transform their path forward so they can unleash their abilities and potential. We provide end-to-end leadership frameworks for the most strategic aspects of an organization’s people function, including but not limited to talent management, learning, and development, talent acquisition, organizational development, executive coaching, change management, diversity, and inclusion.
What values are most important to you as a leader?
- Respect to self and others. Treating others with dignity and empathy.
- Integrity
- Authenticity
- Humbleness
- Positive attitude
- Decisiveness
- Adaptability. Super important during current uncertain times; more than ever we must be adaptable and flexible to change.
What does the future hold? Where is the company headed?
The future is uncertain for most small and medium companies due to COVID-19; the global pandemic is impacting organizations of all sizes and VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) is reshaping the business environment as never before. We will be faced with new challenges and demands which are going to require new skills to adjust to ongoing change and continued disruption.
Here is where I see an amazing opportunity as a consultant to influence the design and implementation of successful solutions by embracing new ways of working, tools, design thinking, and leadership required to navigate it successfully.
What is most rewarding?
I’m a true believer that change, challenges, and crises bring opportunities for growth and transformation; working with diverse teams and having the opportunity to support people and organizations during their transformation process by creating new ecosystems is very rewarding for me.
Share some tips from your past experience?
I supported the roll-out of Global – and Regional HR standards, processes, and programs which included strategic planning, coordination, and execution of global-wide programs and projects. Some tips that I always recommend to future leaders are:
• Use intercultural sensibility. Always be conscious of how you manage yourself in a global environment. Listen to different perspectives and treat the people with whom you’re working with dignity and respect. Hear beyond words!
• Create a network. Forming cross-cultural bonds and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds, expertise and knowledge serves not only as a lead source for new businesses but as a sounding board, a support system and references when you need them.
• Leverage collaboration. Each company and each situation are unique, so even if you have an area of expertise you must appreciate and learn from different points of view and use it to grow.
Where do you get your inspiration daily?
My inspiration comes from new opportunities, the wonderful power of change, and the amazing passionate people I’m fortunate to meet daily because of my work.
How do you stay motivated?
I’m a happy dreamer and doer; I set up my goals and work towards those, I see opportunities in the middle of chaos and practice mindfulness in every aspect of my life to learn, grow and create impact. My family and our dreams keep me going!
Share some tips for women who are in doubt of leaving their secure job and starting their own business.
Starting a new business can be scary and intimidating especially if you have been in a secure job for a long time. So, it will be important to evaluate on what stage are you on your career, your priorities both personally and professionally, what is your main driver, what really matters, and timing… sometimes you are just waiting for the right time and then the right time finds you, then embrace that moment, and explore carefully your options. There is one guarantee, it will be difficult, and like any change, you will have your doubts and challenges, but in the end, it will be very rewarding to go after what fulfills you, so go for it!
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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