Meet Christine Mansoor of Lia Sophia

I’ve known Christine Mansoor for several years. Our daughters go to the same elementary school. Last year when our kids were in second grade, we worked together as Room Moms for the classroom. If any of you have volunteered at your child’s school or for the PTA, then you know how quickly those volunteer sessions can bond you with others. Having the opportunity to get to know Christine a little better, I’ve seen how dedicated she is to her daughters & her faith. She is a strong, independent woman, a straight-shooter and an all-around girl’s girl.

Please meet lia sophia Advisor, Christine Mansoor!

Christine Mansoor wearing a lia sophia Curio necklace

How/why did you begin your business?
Christine: I started my lia sophia business three years ago. I honestly never thought about ever having my own business. Prior to marriage and having children, I was a writer/producer in the television industry. I quit shortly after the birth of my first daughter to become a full time stay at home mom. Four years later, I found myself divorced. I was a single mom with two kids needing to make money and I was out of the industry for several years. Truth be told even if I could find a job I didn’t really want it because I wanted to be home with my kids. I found freelance writing jobs here and there, but I need to make more money. A friend invited me to her lia sophia jewelry party. She knew I didn’t have any extra money to spend, but she encouraged me to come nonetheless, telling me I was in great need for some girl time and that I didn’t need to feel pressure to make a purchase. I decided to go and support her and quite honestly it was the best thing that ever happened to me. My friend explained how she too needed extra money and how her lia sophia was helping her pay her bills. It was then that I decided I had nothing to lose so I started my lia sophia business.

As a working mother, what is one tip or piece of advice that you would give to other female entrepreneurs?
Christine: Having your own business is wonderful! You can set your own schedule and still be available to your family. My biggest advice to female entrepreneurs whether you have a direct selling business, work from home or have a storefront is to be in control of your calendar and give yourself a ‘working’ schedule and stick to it. When you are your own boss it’s easy to run out to lunch with a friend or get a quick mani/pedi, but this is your business. So if you schedule yourself to work 9-2, then work 9-2.

What do you like best about having a business in the San Fernando Valley?
Christine: I love the San Fernando Valley because this is where I grew up. I’ve lived here all my life and my entire network of family and friends are here.

If there was one thing you wish you knew before you began your business, what would that be?
Christine: I love my business and I guess I did go into it blindly since I never did sales before or had a business before. I guess the one thing I wish I knew going in would have been to fully understand that this is a business without a storefront so if I don’t do something to promote or work my business everyday, then my business would not grow.

I find Christine’s background fascinating. To me it illustrates that just when you’ve closed one chapter of your life, you realize that are the author of your own story & can just as easily pivot to another direction & start “Chapter 2.” I worked in marketing for various companies before having my daughter. I can relate to Christine’s experience with leaving an industry (after putting in so much time & effort into it), in order to spend time with your family. As someone who does not work a traditional 9-5 job, I love Christine’s advice about giving yourself a “work schedule & sticking with it.”

I know several of my readers are lia sophia jewelry fans. If you’d like to check out the Fall/Winter 2014 lia sophia collection, then click here. Happy shopping!!  🙂

Disclosure: No monetary compensation was received for this post. The image shown in this post is used with permission. As always, my opinions are 100% my own.

**EDITOR’S NOTE: Lia Sophia, a direct-sales jewelry business, closed its doors after being in business for 28 years. Christine is now with adornable.u & you can see her jewelry catalog here: http://issuu.com/christinesadornable.u/docs/adornable.u_spring2015/0**