We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Heidy Henke a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Heidy, appreciate you joining us today. Have you ever had an amazing boss, mentor or leader leading you? Can you us a story or anecdote that helps illustrate why this person was such a great leader and the impact they had on you or their team?

Lisa McConnell contacted me out of the blue several years ago, looking to carry a new jewelry line in her custom fine jewelry store in Fort Worth. She took me under her wing and helped me refine my wholesale offering, and gave me great feedback and advice on what customers are looking for, and my business is stronger now because of it.

I was thrilled when she invited me to travel to Tucson, which is a rite of passage for jewelers. All of the world’s jewelry suppliers – from tools to rough stones to diamonds of every grade – gather in January and February each year for epic trade shows. It was an amazing experience when we went in February 2020, and I was so grateful for the opportunity to go, especially after the world shut down right after that.

Having the support of Lisa has helped build my confidence in my business decisions and it has been a blessing to have someone to ask questions and get an experienced answer, usually delivered with lots of humor too. I am incredibly grateful for her support and advice over the years.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I have been making jewelry since 2000, when my aunt showed me how to string pearls. My jewelry is dainty and delicate, in part because I prefer to wear jewelry that is lightweight and comfortable. I can’t make it through the day wearing big, heavy jewelry and a lot of my customers say they have the same issue.

My work is inspired by gemstones and nature, and my intention is to design pieces that are easy to wear and have a laid back, understated feeling to them.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

When I started making jewelry I thought the making itself would be the best part of the process, but it turns out that connecting with customers and being a part of their celebrations is even more rewarding. At its core, so much about jewelry is positive – it is given as gifts, used to mark special occasions, and is worn to express one’s style and personality.  Probably the best part though is when a customer connects with a design and feels like it reflects her style – it’s such a great feeling to help someone else feel beautiful and be a positive part of their day.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I was stuck in a creative rut a few years ago, and read several books trying to find my path back to feeling creative. The Artists Way by Julia Cameron is a wonderful resource, as is Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon and Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. If you are trying to find your creative mojo, those are great starting points. Staying in touch with our creativity is good for the soul.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.heidyhenkedesigns.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidyhenkedesigns/