Amazing women are all around us. At Vionic, we’re fortunate enough to have many of those women working in all aspects of the company, with a great amount in leadership roles. As part of our ever-growing appreciation, we want to celebrate the women who make Vionic what it is by highlighting their stories, achievements and more with our Women of Vionic blog series.
Lisa Fuentes is the Director of Customer Care at Vionic. Now in her 7th year in the Vionic family, she has made a lasting impact as a trailblazing leader at the company. With fearlessness, determination, and humor, she continues to pave the way for others while always remaining true to what matters most in her career and family life. Read her Q&A, and learn more about our Women of Vionic spotlight of the week!
How long have you been with Vionic?
Seven long, glorious, and educational years.
What’s your title role at Vionic, and what does that entail?
My current role at Vionic is Director of Customer Care. I manage various teams, and I manage the wholesale order book of business, made up of Standard Accounts, Key Accounts and International Accounts. Along with that, our Returns Department falls under the Customer Care umbrella. I acquired the Wholesale Returns Department in 2015 so that we could standardize and improve the entire wholesale order process from start to finish. In a nutshell, my goal is and always will be to create a positive customer experience.
Why did you choose to work at Vionic?
I left a long career in the mortgage business and was looking for stability at a time when the economy and housing market were very volatile. Vionic afforded me a place where I could use my skill set to grow professionally. Coming in when Vionic (formely Vasyli) was in its infancy, was ideal and gave me the opportunity to grow an internal team to fit the exponential growth we have experienced through the years.
One of the first exercises we did as a company was to identify our core values. Instead of having management plastering values on a wall, they empowered the employees to identify what core values were important to us. This ultimately meant that we held ourselves accountable to our values! I knew after that team building experience Vionic would be a career.
What do you feel has been your greatest accomplishment at Vionic?
My greatest accomplishment is my customer care team. When I was the customer care supervisor in 2011, I had three team members. Over the years, my team has grown into a self-sustaining department. Training employees from the ground up has enabled them to take a motivated stake in owning their “piece” of Vionic. I am proud to share that many of my former team members have been promoted to other parts of the business and made their initial tenure with Vionic a career.
How does Vionic empower women?
Professionally, Vionic empowers women who are looking for something more than just a “9 to 5” job. The hands-on training and culture have proven to be a perfect recipe for success. The work environment is fast-paced yet rewarding. Many people have come to Vionic and made this a career and not just a job.
From a consumer perspective, Vionic empowers women to get on their feet! A lot of times, people take for granted the ability to walk around, pain-free. Vionic has helped millions of women start walking and living again while looking stylish.
What are 3 things that are important to you when working on a team?
Communication, appreciation and leadership.
What advice do you have for young women starting in the workforce?
Work hard, support your team, stay hungry. Your success will come. Oh, and take notes!
Where do you see the future of Vionic heading?
The sky is the limit. When I walked in 7 years ago, I could not have imagined this kind of success. Changing people’s lives will always be at the forefront of what we do at Vionic.
Do you have a favorite Vionic style?
Our Satima Sneaker and Tide II Sandal are SOLID styles that have held the test of time. I would back up the truck on these, any day of the week. (That’s a shipping joke!)
What’s your secret to feeling your best self?
Sleep! I’m a Director at Vionic and a mom, and there are a lot of responsibilities that come with those titles. I often feel like I can “sleep later,” but it will eventually catch up with you. It is important that I carve out time for myself to meditate and get enough sleep. I am a better version of myself for my team and my daughters.