How vibrant life can be when you surround yourself with people that are very different than you are.
It was Amy’s parents, immigrants from Venezuela, who always taught her to pick her head up and enjoy the journey. Here’s what else she learned early on.
I’ve always been a people-first person. At the end of the day, really getting to know people for who they are beyond their qualifications is something that gives me a ton of energy.
San Diego taught me a lot of things... the importance of community, and the right answer to the very contentious ‘where can you find the best tacos’ debate.
When you believe deeply in the message your company or brand represents it’s so much more than business. A lot of VMG’s brands are about bringing a healthy mission to a broader audience. That’s an easy thing to get excited about.
Seeing people’s faces light up when they talk about how much they love the brands in our portfolio is amazing.
How would you describe yourself when you were in 5th grade?
Inquisitive. I’m the youngest of three siblings (years younger than my sisters), and I always wanted to understand what was happening in their worlds. I wanted to sit at the big kids table.
What early lessons did you learn from your parents?
My parents immigrated from Venezuela and had to start over. I learned that opportunity comes from hard work and keeping things in perspective. They’ve always been there to remind me pick my head up and enjoy the journey.
Is there anything distinct about where you grew up that defines who you are today?
San Diego taught me a lot of things – how vibrant life can be when you surround yourself with people that are very different than you are, the importance of community, and the right answer to the very contentious ‘where can you find the best tacos’ in the city debate.
What attracts you most about brand building?
Seeing people’s faces light up when they talk about how much they love the brands in our portfolio is amazing. Knowing the backstories and hard work that lead to that brand devotion makes it even more rewarding. It’s really humbling to play a role in helping these entrepreneurs achieve that kind of success.
A lot of the brands you work with are in the ‘better for you’ category. Why is that interesting to you?
What was it about the VMG culture that attracted you in the first place?
The passion for the portfolio – not collectively, but for each individual company. Every one of them gets full support and attention. This is a group of incredibly bright and impressive people, but they are so humble, warm, and thoughtful.
What is it about you in particular that you think contributes to the VMG culture?
What’s the right answer to “where’s the best taco in San Diego”?
I’m going to have to answer that off the record.