Women's History Month 2019 Profile: Colleen Foxworthy
Colleen Foxworthy, Director of Product Development & Product Testing at ORLY International
How would your peers describe your personality?
Thoughtful & Loving, Driven & Strong
When did you consider yourself a success? How did this make you feel?
My concept of success isn't a specific metric or destination to arrive to. Goals and growth should be ever changing - it's more of an unfolding process. The woman I am today is stronger, wiser and more evolved than who I was a year ago. In another year, my hope is to be more so. That to me is true success & it feels full of promise.
What is the biggest challenge you have come across in your career and how did you handle this?
My passionate nature has been a highly valuable asset and yet also a challenge to balance. It took time to realize that it’s possible to be both fully passionate about my professional life while also applying the same level of commitment to a healthy lifestyle and fostering loving relationships. It is not an "either/or" situation and my life happily reflects that today.
What do you do to keep yourself motivated and interested in your work?
I consistently recognize the magic of it all. Something as seemingly simple as a gel manicure is actually a complex chain reaction of polymerizing molecules... all sparked by the reaction that occurs when UV light is absorbed by a photo-initiator molecule, causing electrons to move. Chemistry is nothing short of magic- the ability to bring concepts to life and create beauty every day is more motivation than I could ever need.
What are you most proud of?
The accomplishment I am most proud of is my role in bringing ORLY's Builder in a Bottle to the market. An innovation of this magnitude- one that completely disrupts the existing landscape in both formulation and delivery, is a huge source of pride- for myself and for the team who accomplished the feat alongside me.
What inspired you when you were younger?
Nature has been a profound source of inspiration for me for as long as I can remember. Her breathtaking beauty, delicate intricacies and enormous power captivated my attention from a young age and still holds it today.
What nail color makes you feel most confident?
What is a piece of advice you would give to young women?
Follow whatever it is that creates a spark in your heart. When you find yourself naturally being drawn to something, take notice without judgement and explore. Often times those areas of interest are clues along the journey to find our life's passion and purpose.