Cristina Lynch is the founder of Mi Golondrina, a fashion company here in Dallas that works with artisans in Mexico to hand make beautiful dresses with intricate embroidery and detailing that can take in some cases as long as several months! Having studied theater and business, she is a unique woman who has embraced her mother’s love of Mexico and her family’s heritage in a way that is having a profound effect on the lives of hundreds of artisans throughout Mexico. There is so much to learn and unpack throughout this episode, I’m confident you’ll love it. Mi Golondrina was initially going to be a bedding and other home goods company that accidentally became a dress company because of a surprise twist in those first products and a hit of an opening party. Traveling quite a bit, Cristina has found a unique workout regimen that keeps her sane. We also talked quite a bit about that balance of family, friends, and work and how it is in some ways impossible to truly find a “balance” but rather more important to just make it work in a healthy way given the stage of life, family, and business you are in. This was my first episode to record live, and I’m so glad it was with Cristina because her passion and enthusiasm for her work and its impact on the artisans she works with shines through in every moment of this conversation. A family member once told her, “don’t quit”, and we’re all the more fortunate for Cristina sticking to that every day as she builds a company with products in extremely high demand (they are EVERYWHERE in Texas and growing) that has such a positive impact on hundreds of women across Mexico. Please stop by to visit her at their showroom here in Dallas, online at migolondrina.com, or on Instagram @mi_golondrina. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a woman in your life, please know that my wife is absolutely obsessed with their products! You can’t go wrong here.

Show Notes:

• 6:00 - The power of networking
• 10:00 - Lack of Latin inspired goods in the market and the initial idea for Mi Golondrina
• 12:25 -10,000 Small Businesses
• 15:30 - Why artisans and creatives are concerned working with new businesses
• 16:40 - The pieces that were cut up to make pillows became dresses
• 21:15 - Thoughts on competition
• 22:00 - “Don’t Quit Cristy”
• 24:00 - Treating people responsibly
• 25:50 - The name Mi Golondrina
• 36:45 - Use of stand up morning huddles
• 40:00 - Surveying team members for an honest pulse of the company culture
• 43:45 - How much Tory Burch inspired Cristina
• 44:10 - Cristina’s brother’s site: A Simple Model
• 47:30 - It’s OK to not be 100% happy all the time
• 48:14 - 30 Minute Tabata Videos
• 56:10 - A company culture that supports team members
• 1:01:00 - Come on in for a Topo Chico (and an amazing customer experience)
• 1:08:47 - Critical feedback
• 1:21:00 - Books: Leaders Eat Last and Just Start