Shiara Robinson is a designer, athlete, and producer living in Brooklyn. She told us about the importance of confidence and always following her passion. This story was submitted in collaboration with ENVSN.

Where are you from? 

I like to say I’m from the Midwest by way of the south, but specifically, a suburb of Columbus in Central Ohio called Pickerington.

What did you study in school and why?

I knew pretty early in life that I wanted to be an entrepreneur and own my own businesses, so I studied Business Marketing & Management in undergrad, then got a degree in Fashion Design at Parsons after moving to New York. At the time, going into undergrad, I really wanted to work in sports marketing on my way to working for myself, and felt a business degree made the most sense.

Where do you live today?

Now I live in Brooklyn baby!

What is your job/career?

Wow, what a question. Well, I am a designer, an athlete, and occasionally a producer. I’ve been in New York for 6 years, and about 5 of those years were spent behind the scenes producing photo shoots, fashion shows, events, product launches, and more. Now, as a captain for Adidas Runner NYC, I get to guide a community of people through one of my first passions, running. At Adidas Runners, we conceptualize events on several scales, and I still hop on to jobs with some of my industry faves from time to time. Designing has always been a back burner love for me, but I’ve moved it to the forefront, and am getting my lingerie brand, LaSette, off the ground!

What is a challenge you faced or currently face and how are you overcoming it?

A challenge I’m currently facing is fear of the unknown. With social media, it’s so easy to start comparing your life to others. To overcome that, I stay prayed up and continue to tell myself that my journey is not based on someone else’s timeline.

What does it mean for you to be powerful?

For me power is two-prong: confidence and results. I think a large part of power is appearance. If you evoke confidence, you will be seen as confident and powerful, at least that’s what I think when I see people who look confident. Then there’s actually being powerful, can you get shit done?

Do you have a favorite product or item you love that makes you feel great? It can be clothing, soap, socks, or anything.

I love so many products, but one that makes me feel like I can take over the world is a fragrance by Bond No9 called Chez Bond.

What are your passions, hobbies, interests?

No surprise, I love working out and being active. Outside of hitting the gym and running, some of my hobbies are, constructing/deconstructing clothing, playing sand volleyball, traveling (love a beach), dancing, and spending time with family. I’m very interested in film photography, so I love to be around photographers and art.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

If you’re truly passionate about something, give it everything you’ve got. If it doesn’t work, you know you tried wholeheartedly. I never want to look back and think of how badly I wanted to do something. With that being said, follow @lasette__ on IG and stay tuned for our launch!