Operations

Background

Hello there, I’m Vanessa! 👋 I was born in Cleveland, although I don’t really like to talk about that — but I was raised in the suburbs just outside of Chicago. It would be much cooler if I could say I was born and raised here, but that’s okay! And if you’re curious — no, I will never move back to Cleveland.

My parents are from Montenegro, so I’m a first-generation college graduate. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Business Management at Northeastern Illinois University here in Chicago. Growing up, I was fortunate enough to meet and go to school with people from all over the world. My high school, Niles West High School, was recognized as one of the top-ranking schools in the nation for diversity. I grew up surrounded by so many cultures, languages, and backgrounds — including my own — and that truly shaped who I am today.

I spent summers in Montenegro with my family and friends — on the beaches, and even allllll the way up in the mountains where my dad’s village is (yes, village). As I grew older, I developed a deep desire to travel, which has become one of my favorite things in the world. I’ve visited Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, Mallorca, and Albania. My last job required a lot of travel, so I also explored parts of the U.S. I never expected to enjoy. For example, Utah is absolutely stunning, and Wyoming is breathtaking. My next dream destination is Japan — but my ultimate goal is to travel to every continent.

That’s one of the reasons I love sales. Although it can be filled with pressure, stress, and uncertainty, it’s so rewarding. You get to meet people from all walks of life. You learn how to think on your feet. You’re pushed every day to step into uncomfortable situations — but because you’ve met so many wonderful people and heard so many incredible stories, you realize there’s nothing to be afraid of. Life is all about learning, making mistakes, and waking up every day feeling blessed for another chance 🫶🏼

My Favorite Meals

• Mediterranean: Honestly, I think Mediterranean food is so underrated. It’s the perfect combination of fish, meat, grains, bread, sides, and sauces… My mouth is watering just thinking of fresh pita bread with garlic hummus and olives.
• Mexican: I mean, this one’s pretty self-explanatory. You’re not living life right if you can’t devour some spicy chicken tinga tacos on a corn tortilla with cilantro, onions, avocado, and a drizzle of salsa verde.
• Japanese: This cuisine has the freshest fish and the highest quality meat. I can do sushi all day, or I can do a Wagyu steak — but no matter what, there’s always a deep appreciation for craftsmanship and presentation in each dish.

What I’ve Been Learning Lately

• Nerdish: This is a new app I downloaded that gives you random articles. There are different topics each week — about history, health, fun facts, or other random things. For example, I just read about how Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, had his own land called Fordlândia. This was during the 1920s in the Amazon rainforest… like, what?!
• Podcasts: I love history, and there’s so much I want to learn. I’ve been listening to A Wiser World, and it has been my favorite podcast so far! But if you have any recommendations, please send them my way!

Get to know me a little better!

Family