A former international investment banker at a top financial institution and the CEO of a Nasdaq-listed tech company (all before the age 28), Heidi Nazarudin decided in 2013 that she wanted a career change. A seriously different career change.
And so she launched The Ambitionista (formerly The Successful Style) – a website dedicated to showcasing how women can be stylish while also professional and ambitious. Going on to also manage blogging network Blogger Babes in addition to juggling roles as an author and public speaker – Heidi is the epitome of #girlboss. A fact that has seen her selected to appear on the cover of Marie Claire in November last year.
Here, we speak to the style influencer and successful femalepreneur about everything from her top career tip to getting her start in media.
Missed the last articles in the 50 Questions series? Click the links to read interviews with Carmen Huter, Elise Cook, and Angel Food Style creator Sophie Elkus.
1. Best beauty product of all time? SK-II facial treatment essence – I can’t live without it
2. Your go-to five beauty products? SK-II essence, Hourglass compact powder, Kiehl’s lip balms and my Oribe texturizer
3. Hair “done” or messy? Done
4. Makeup or no makeup? Makeup
5. Favourite fragrance? Chanel Chance
6. Favourite item of clothing? My Mou boots which feels like you’re walking in a cloud – but I don’t get to wear them for work
7. Favourite fashion brand? I buy way too much Max Mara
8. Sneakers or heels? Comfortable heels
9. Gym or exercising outdoors? Gym
10. Yoga or running? None of the above – I power walk
11. Healthy eating or treating yourself? Healthy eating but I treat myself often
12. Can you cook? I’m very good at making… reservations
13. Favourite food? I love sashimi and ahi tuna anything
14. Favourite drink? Sparkling water
15. Best place to eat out? I go to a lot of places – Gjusta on Abbot Kinney is my current favourite
16. Happiest moment? Every time when I get to walk with my sweetheart is pure happiness for me
17. Saddest moment? When I see other people spending their energy bringing others down. I don’t understand why they can’t see all that negativity will only consume them
18. Instagram or Snapchat? Instagram
19. Blog or YouTube? Blog, but I am also doing videos now
20. iPhone or camera? The iPhone 7 plus is amazing, but for sponsored campaigns – only the best SLRs
21. Type of camera? N/a
22. VSCO cam or Snapseed? Don’t use it
23. Facetune or untouched? Facetune – but I use it 90 per cent of the time not to tune my face (lol) but to get rid of wrinkles in my clothes, background editing, fixing the lighting etc
24. Favourite filter? The ‘fade’ filter on my iPhone, it makes everything rose gold
25. 9-5 job or full-time influencer? I’m a full-time blogger/content creator… and I also own a consulting company
26. How did you first get your start in media? Years ago – and all I wanted really was to write about fashion. I didn’t know it would develop into all this
27. How much time goes into a normal picture found on your Instagram account? Depends. It can take 10 minutes or it can take an hour. Flatlays or product shots take the most time
28. What’s your top Instagram tip? Create beautiful images that tell a story
29. Who takes your pics? For campaigns – a pro photographer. For every day, myself or my boyfriend using my iPhone
30. Most exciting moment since being an influencer? Being on the cover of Marie Claire – it was shot in Milan and I was wearing Dior. That’s pretty hard to beat
31. Most terrifying moment since being an influencer? There’s not a lot of terrifying moments
32. Best campaign you’ve ever worked on? Oh so many. I have worked with so many brands and campaigns from Fendi and Armani to Prada… I am so blessed. I recently wrapped up an amazing campaign with SK-II and Rolls Royce – I can’t wait for it to go live
33. The best gift you’ve ever received as an influencer? I’ve received so many amazing gifts but a brand once flew me on a private jet to see the VP. That was amazing, lol
34. Last thing you googled? “When will the iphone 8 come out”
35. Favourite film? I love ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’. Oh and the new ‘Wonder Woman’ – all women need to see it!
36. Favourite book? ‘The God of Small Things’ by Arundhati Roy
37. Favourite song? Anything from Beyonce and Mariah Carey
38. Favourite band? Neon Trees
39. Living in the city or living by the beach? I am a city girl… and I am lucky I live on the beach in Los Angeles 🙂
40. Favourite travel destination? Florence, Italy
41. Going out clubbing or quiet dinner with friends? Quiet dinner. I want to be able to sit and talk to my friends
42. Partner or single? With the right person – having the right partner
43. Siblings? I’m the eldest of four
44. What city are you currently living in? Santa Monica, CA
45. Celebrity girl crush? Gal Gadot
46. Celebrity boy crush? So cliché, but Ryan Reynolds
47. Pets? I am a cat person but my boyfriend is allergic…
48. Top five Instagram accounts to follow? @nameglo (who knew neon signs are so cool), @shortstoriesandskirts (I love her style so much), @destinationluxury, @moo and @parisinfourmonths
49. Favourite quote you live by? “Make your own luck”
50. Top career tip? At the start of every year, write your goals down and break it down to what you have to actually do every month to get there – then schedule it in your calendar and do it
All images: @theambitionista
