Show notes
Jackie Cohen began her career by working on Wall Street. After years of working in Finance, she left feeling unfulfilled and travelled to Africa, India & Israel. Her family has a jewelry business which she worked in after Wall Street. She tried IVF and eventually ended up adopting a daughter. She created a ring to celebrate the birth of her child, which she received a lot of compliments on. This led to the creation of her brand, My Story Jewelry. Proceeds from sales of her pieces go to Helpusadopt.org. Jackie was one of Delia's vendors at Barneys New York, which is where they met.
- In reading your biography on the My Story Jewelry website, you’ve had a very interesting life. You’ve travelled a lot and have been influenced by India in particular. Did I read you joined the Israeli army? What inspired you to do that and what did you learn from it? After leaving Wall Street, she felt burnt out and angry. Wall Street can be a toxic environment for women. She did a volunteer program where she lived for 3 weeks. She got to meet Israeli soldiers who live every day as if it is their last instead of so focused on work like in America. There is a sense of fearlessness there.
- What was it like working with your family in the jewelry business? She wasn't sure about it at first. She fell in love with the business: putting together the stones, coming up with designs, building a business, etc. She made the line more feminine.
- What challenges did you face starting your own company & breaking off from your family business? She and her brother ran the business together for 8 years: bridal, engagement rings, classic look. Jackie isn't married, so she didn't find it that inspiring. Most people get married once and get one ring, they may upgrade, get a halo, or reset it. Jackie did well with the band category because it was something she could wear and enjoy. Once My Story was growing, there was tension between Jackie & her brother for the first time. She was focusing less on the family business, and more on My Story. Therefore, she started working with My Story full time, which relieved the tension between herself & her brother.
- What skills from working on Wall Street have you applied to your business? You learn about hustle. It is a man's world. She was always in a room with 20 men, but never felt intimated or took no for an answer or thought she couldn't do something because she was a woman or because of her education, it doesn't matter where you went to school, etc. She was in sales trading, which requires a lot of networking.
- How does it work if someone wants a custom piece? Coming from a bridal background, every bride wants something custom, and every stone is custom. There was a lot of CAD (computer aided design) work, so she was familiar with this. My Story is about telling your story, because everyone is unique, and wants something unique and special to them. She gives the specs (the specifics of the piece) to the CAD designer - measurements, fonts, colors, stones, etc. She gets a drawing in CAD, she sends it to her client making sure it is what they want. Once it is approved, then you get a wax which is sent to casting. It can take 3-4 weeks, but can also be rushed.
- What was the first piece of jewelry you created for My Story? The one piece she wears everyday. It is called the Julia ring. To commemorate Julia's birth, she wanted to make something understated that isn't screaming mommy jewelry. She put Julia's birthstone in it. When she would be selling her family's jewelry, people would complement her on the piece. They liked it so much that after hearing the story of Jackie becoming a mom, wanted to place an order before she had a brand. She was selling without having an idea of putting something into production, and her brand was born! Easier to sell 12 bands than 12 engagement rings.
- Let’s talk about IVF, and the different options women have in order to become a mother. What is it like going through IVF? What kinds of financial & physical implications does this have? Started when she was 40. She was dating yet another guy in Manhattan, probably for all the wrong reasons. She thought when this ends, I need to start figuring out how to have a baby on my own. She thought it was going to be easy. She is healthy, works out, why shouldn't she be able to get pregnant? She told her parents what she wanted to do, and they were excited. She started with IUI, which doesn't have drugs involved. She did it 3 times and got pregnant, but it was an atopic pregnancy (tubular pregnancy, which had to have surgery to remove). She then tried IVF 4 times (very expensive), she had 2 pregnancies, which were miscarriages. This process took 2 years. She was heartbroken each time, and was terribly sad. She didn't want to go out with friends because she was so sad. She would go into a dark spin class, and cry throughout the class. After the 4th IVF, she decided her body wasn't meant to make a baby, so she decided to try adoption. She didn't know anyone who had adopted, so she knew nothing about it and didn't know where to start. She couldn't find any information on the internet about it. She called a friend who knew someone who had adopted who gave her the information of a lawyer. She and her mom met with the lawyer who walked them through the process. Jackie is a single mom, so she warned her adoption would be tough. People giving up their baby for adoption will want to give their child to a mom & dad household, white picket fence, dog, waiting for baby to come home because if you can't give the baby the best life, then you hope the people who adopt it will. Then, they would prefer a gay couple. Next, would be single, Jewish mom living in New York City. You have a home study. The state comes to your house, asks you questions, does a background check, make sure you aren't crazy, you want a baby for the right reasons, you get fingerprinted, etc. For private adoption, you do an advertising blitz. She spent $13,000 of the ads in papers across the country with 20 words: looking to start a family, first baby, all expenses paid, loves to travel, etc. The first day, first phone call from the first birth mom, who was a single mom, so she didn't care that Jackie was a single mom. They talked for 2 hours, and Jackie asked if she would feel comfortable talking to her lawyer. She wanted to assure her she was there for her. The birth mom said she was due that week! Jackie was so excited because she had been waiting for 2 years. Jackie's lawyer hired a lawyer in that state to check out the situation. Jackie flew there that weekend and met the mom. The lawyer said anything can go wrong, so you must have a ticket home - don't get excited, don't get baby clothes, etc. Jackie went with the birth mom to a checkup, and she ended up having the baby right then and there. Jackie called her mom to get on a plane, because the baby was coming! The nurse asked the birth mom who she wanted to hold the baby first, and she said Jackie, so Jackie knew it would work out then. Delia and Alison lived together alone for a couple of years, which is why we are so close, similar to Jackie & Julia! Jackie loves being a single mom, because she can make all the decisions. She doesn't have to give anyone else attention.
- Let’s talk about HelpUsAdopt.org. Adoption is expensive, there is sadness that goes along with it, not having a baby on your own if you hoped to do that, or some people always wanted to adopt. If you're at your maximum with spending, HUA can help. The founder adopted 2 children. Some of My Story's sales go to HUA. You can change people's lives. They may need the last $10k. She got her Ashley Longshore painting from a HUA auction.
- How has being a mother influenced your creativity? More fearless and whimsical. Before she was afraid to color outside the lines. As a mom, nothing is perfect, need to go with the flow, things are unexpected. It is fun designing for people of all different ages.
- You have to travel a lot for work. Is that difficult because of your daughter, and how have you managed to make that work? Her nanny is really helpful. She was the first and only nanny they got. She lives in Jackie's apartment Monday-Friday. If Jackie is in NYC, she takes Julia to school. Her nanny helps her with life things: dry cleaning, birthday party coordination, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc. These are things Jackie wants to do, but may not have time for. Her parents help a lot. If she is traveling over the weekend, her parents come into the city and take her to their house. A lot of in advance packing, calendars, etc. When you try to do it all, you don't do any of it well, and Jackie never wants to feel that way! Jackie tries not to work when she is home. She posts on social media in the morning. Instagram is very important for her business, and leads to a lot of sales. Stores have found her through IG.
- Best selling pieces: the brand started with a color stone, that grew into 12 color stones, the Mama ring, rainbow styles. lockets.
- Everyone is influenced by their past, has your family history been an influence in the pieces you design? Jackie's family is Cuban, and is very proud of her heritage. She grew up in a small and close community. They grew up speaking Spanish, ate rice, beans, plantains, & Cuban sandwiches. Every Jewish holiday would go to Miami to spend the holiday with her grandparents. Her grandfather started a temple in Miami.
- Where do you see your company going in the future? The brand is in its infancy. They are in 20 stores in the country, but she is in the top stores she would want to be in. People say, you are doing a great job, but she is thinking she has so much more to go. Want to be in the #1 store in every city. She gets up every morning excited and ready. Also, going to launch a zodiac collection.
https://www.ashleylongshore.com
https://thestylethatbindsus.com/talking-ivf-fertility-issues-with-jackie-cohen-of-my-story-jewelry/
