Women's History Month 2019 Profile: Heather Kaplan

Heather Kaplan, Creative Services Manager

How would your peers describe your personality?

Optimistic with a can-do attitude and a side of sass.

When did you consider yourself a success? How did this make you feel?

Realistically I don't know that there really is one defining moment. I'm constantly looking ahead and planning my next goals and steps so whenever I've met a milestone I'm already looking for something bigger. A boss once told me "never be comfortable" and I live by that.

What is the biggest challenge you have come across in your career and how did you handle this?

Breaking into my field! When I first graduated college the economy still hadn't recovered, and it felt like everyone in LA was trying to make it as a creative. I lived way outside the city and no one wanted to take a chance on me. I went on dozens of interviews before I finally met my first Art Director who really took me under her wing and gave me the chance to prove myself.

What do you do to keep yourself motivated and interested in your work?

I surround myself with interesting people and things. I'm always reading or looking at what other artists are doing and trying to find ways of incorporating what I learned from them in my work.

What are you most proud of?

That I managed to forge my own path and turn my passions into my profession.

What inspired you when you were younger?

Watching my mom at work. She has the respect of every person who ever worked with her and seamlessly balanced her work with her family.

What nail color makes you feel most confident?

I feel the most like myself in a vampy red. My go-to would be The Antidote.

What is a piece of advice you would give to young women?

Stick to your principles and don't back down.