We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Emmi Saufley. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Emmi below.
Emmi, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?
The legacy I hope to leave is to always be your most authentic self, lead by example, take the risk or loose the chance. Most importantly, how many people do you wish to inspire?
There’s always room for one more.
Le Kim Associates, LLC & Runway for a Cause nonprofit organization are the foundations of something bigger than me. I strive to create a platform that is open, accessible and inclusive to all. It doesn’t matter how you choose to come, know that you are welcome, safe, heard and supported. My message is to make a positive impact on our society by bringing awareness to all kinds of organizations, opening the door to anyone who is ready to break out of their comfort zone, and pouring back into the community.
Whether it’s in the fashion industry or beyond the question is, “Where can we make the biggest impact?” “Who needs a little extra love?”
Giving back to my community, other organizations near and far, providing a platform for all kinds of talent to showcase their work, network and grow is my personal goal. I hope this message continues on for decades and inspires people to live their best life!
Emmi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Hello, I’m Emmi Saufley, I am a minority woman-owned business owner with two growing and successful businesses. I have been working within the fashion business industry for well over a decade! I’m an alumnus of the BOCES fashion design program where I learned how to sew, make patterns, design, and create an entire collection from scratch. After I graduated high school, I went to Tompkins Cortland Community College for Business Administration. I obtained my associate’s degree and decided to move back home to Elmira before venturing out to start my own business. A few years later with a good friend of mine, we started a non-profit organization. We put together a business plan that later developed Runway for a Cause of the Southern Tier non-profit organization. This became the highlight of my 20’s. I had the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, test the limits, and expand my network across the fashion and business industries. Just over a year ago, I created another business called Le Kim Associates, LLC. Le Kim is part of my Vietnamese name, “Le Thi Kim Thanh” Le Kim is an intricate hands-on 1-year fashion meets business workshop for anyone ready to take the next step in life, self-development, and business in all aspects. This business was developed with over a decade’s worth of experience and knowledge working within the fashion business industry starting from a young age. From modeling/runway to fashion design classes, to business courses, to starting a nonprofit organization to the start of Le Kim I’ve developed skills, experience, and knowledge from learning from others and actively hands-on in the industry. This developed the urge to want more out of life, help others, and become a resource for more opportunities for everyone. The ability to share experiences, expand a growing network, and provide open-door opportunities is the best feeling. Inspiration from the nonprofit has provided me with the passion and motivation to keep following my dreams. All of this hard work has brought me to where I am today with an abundance of skills and the ability to keep educating those around me, near and far. The first year of RFAC was incredible and impacted hundreds of people and that was enough for me to keep going. Seeing the joy in people’s faces, and knowing that you can make an impact on one or hundreds gave me so much gratitude and reassurance that I Can Do It. Being a part of something that is greater than you is powerful. It’s inspiring. This has now led me to travel globally, sit in rooms of opportunities, make a positive impact in my community, and inspire others. It has been a humbling experience over the past 5 years and I would not have wanted to be any other way. Being a business owner has been a true blessing to share my passion for creating an outlet for people to make a difference within their community. As well as creating a positive example within the fashion industry to always pursue your dreams! As a female entrepreneur of two businesses the inspiration I can offer is the only thing stopping you, is you. Always keep your head held high, surround yourself with those who are ready to support you in anything you do, and remain humble and confident. Find what makes you the most happy and execute. Lead by example, never cut yourself short, and give yourself credit for the big and the small wins. Learn from every angle, ask for clarity, and humble yourself if you read a situation differently, accept the differences, and face the challenges that are at hand.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
Building, managing, maintaining a team is no easy work, you encounter different opinions and have many personalities, and priorities that are just as important as the others. So how do you keep everyone including yourself from butting heads? The advice I have to offer for maintaining a team are three key components they are as follows: Listening, providing space for them to unleash their potential, and supporting them individually and as a team. Leading a team starts with listening to what they have to offer, their input is valuable to the success of your business. They are your backbone for growth!
Providing space for your team to unleash their potential is key. This allows creativity and creates a safe space for everyone to have an equal opportunity.
Supporting your team in all that they do even the things outside of what they may be doing with/for your business. Creating that relationship individually allows room for vulnerability, trust, and appreciation for their work. It develops growth feedback with the intent of helping people grow and feel confident.
Maintaining high morale starts with a positive work environment, collective goals, supporting/trusting team members, and encouraging a healthy work-life balance. Sometimes it is hard to keep the momentum going after putting in constant time and effort working towards an overall goal. From the beginning, in the middle, and at the end be sure to express your gratitude and appreciation for all of the work your team has accomplished. Be there to support them through it. When you trust and believe in them their confidence to accomplish anything increases!
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Resilience. I am a minority woman-owned business owner with two growing and successful businesses that have faced adversity at its finest. To those who do not know me, I am a woman of Asian descent, adopted from Vietnam, and brought into the United States, who has seen the world from a different perspective and has shaped my journey. Being an independent woman who is a minority within the area I grew up in almost all of my life has been challenging, but rewarding. It has given me a new outlook on how I hope to see the world transform into, inspiring tens of thousands of people, and leading by example. In most situations, I am the only Asian person in the room. This perspective provided me with the motivation to push for the underrepresented community, the ones who have to fight a little harder to get to the top and encourage people to be unapologetically themselves. All while representing exactly who they are and are meant to be in this world. Specifically, as a woman, it is hard enough for the world to see you for who you are and all that you represent. The power, resilience, and encouragement you bring to the table are often overlooked. Over the past 5 years of actively being in business, in my community attending events, speaking to high school to college students, sitting on panels, and having my face and voice be well-known it becomes overwhelming because you are faced with so much adversity in such a short period.
However, being an Asian woman who falls into the minority category is a constant battle between having your voice heard all while being watched for every move until you “slip up” to then be torn down by negative comments. The underrepresented community in which I fall has pushed me to be the entrepreneur that I am today. Fighting for minorities and the individuals who have incredible talent, knowledge, and experience but are often overlooked because of how they look, where they come from, and their background. This journey that I am on will only continue growing leaving an imprint on the world, and a positive message for all to follow. There’s always room for one more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://runwayforacause.org/ https://www.lekimfashions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.lekimfashions.com/ https://www.instagram.com/runwayforacause_?igsh=aWR2dG5mcmZ2bWZ0&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runwayforacause1
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmi-saufley-6a2b51248?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
Image Credits
Jason Thiel Frenchi Janie Kempf Carissa Fenner