Oh hi there, Rebekah!

what are your favourite things to do in your spare time?

I am just a big nerd
I love reading books and watching documentaries on all sorts of strange topics. The interpretations of historical events from ancient Egypt are fascinating.
I also enjoy playing video games. I love working together with friends to build armies or kill zombies!

who is your mentor / hero? why?

Hero: My brother Elijah. He has more passion in life than anyone else I have ever known. He has never let outside influences disrupt his dreams, beliefs or ambitions even when others did not believe in him.

Mentor: My former boss. He always saw greatness in me even when I struggled to see it myself. I owe so much of my initial growth to his time and attention. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn so much from someone who I respect and admire.

your favourite quote?

“Life has taught us that love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.”

This quote resonates with me because I believe we can accomplish so much more together then we ever could attempting to imitate one another. Educating each other through advice and experience ensures our efforts toward greatness are not wasted.

I also heard something that I liked over the weekend:
“You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are.”
-Alice in Wonderland

Rebekah in her snorkling gear

something silly or unique about you?

I used to dye my hair a different color every week! My best friend and I would try to think up crazy new combinations to test out on my hair. It would definitely be hit and miss!
I also have a parrot Cockatoo named Daisy Mae. She has been with me for 7 years and if all goes well she will be will be with me for 60 more!

One of her many hair colours

what drew you to lululemon? favourite part of your job so far?

The people! Everyone I have met at lululemon has had a special energy that feels so good to be around and be a part of. I feel that I learn from everyone I meet, and there is always something exciting to be a part of and create!

My favorite part of my job has been building up a new team to add to the awesomeness of the lululemon family. I am SO excited to see us get closer to our vision with every new member.

Rebekah will definitely be looking to add new awesome people to her already awesome US team! If you live in the Washington area and consider yourself to be quite awesome, check out the opportunities available at the new US DC... www.lululemon.com/possibilities

Welcome to the lululemon team Wynn!

what is something unique or surprising about you?

I completed the market mapping of Amsterdam for Starbucks on bicycle as part of a four month European assignment. I rode around Amsterdam for 5 days straight 10 to 12 hours per day. It was a great experience and a test of endurance.

Biking in Amsterdam

what is one of your biggest passions (outside of store development!)?

My wife, nieces and nephews and playing hockey. I married my high school grad date so we are like soul mates. She also puts up with my other passion – store development, which trust me requires a lot of understanding.

Wynn's wife, with their nieces and nephews

favourite place in the world?

Paris, France. There was so much history and the Louvre museum was awesome.

a goal you've achieved that you're proud of?

Completion of my first yoga class - a Bikram hot yoga class! I survived and am ready for another one. My goal is to now attend at least one hot yoga class per week.

what do you want to be remembered for?

Having fun and sharing what I love – development and being part of a great team.

If you want to be a part of the Wynn legacy in Store Development, keep an eye on the lululemon careers page!

]]> http://lululemon.com/community/blog/fresh-face-friday-meet-wynn/feed/ 6 http://lululemon.com/community/blog/fresh-face-friday-adding-a-little-colour/ http://lululemon.com/community/blog/fresh-face-friday-adding-a-little-colour/#comments Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:26:32 +0000 Ashley http://www.lululemon.com/community/blog/?p=9568 lululemon just got a bit more colourful when we hired Asmin, the first ever colourist on the production team! In the true spirit of lululemon, Asmin will be creating from nothing and setting the tone for what it means to be a colourist here at lululemon. Say hello...

Asmin, in her Olympic gear

what is your lululemon story?

Being not just the one & only, but also the first ever colourist at lululemon is very exciting for me. I have the privilege to take initiative and make things happen. Although there is a lot to do, I really look forward to "colouring up" my lululemon world. It's challenging, but all of the teams are working together and I'm learning and solving problems everyday.

which line in the lululemon manifesto rings truest for you?

This is a tough one to answer. I can't decide between "Friends are more important than money" or "Life is full of setbacks. Success is determined by how you handle setbacks." I'm living the first and learning about the latter everyday in my life.

Asmin with friends at Kits Beach

so far in your life what has been the "perfect day"?

I'd have to go with the day I hiked up to Kbal Spean in Cambodia with my friend and a bunch of local kids we met on the way. We brought free pencils to give to any kids we met on the trip. When I called them and showed them the pencils, they immediately came to us and lined up to recieve the pencils with both hands out. Then they taught us how to count from one to ten in Cambodian language. A day with sunshine, good exercise, great sight-seeing, lots of laughters, good friends, and a little good deed as well!

what is something unique or surprising about you?

I guess it's the combination of many little things (isn't everyone unique because of the many little things in them?)... I'm AB negative, which is not common. I have absolutely straight hair, which many people envy, but sometimes I want it to be curly! And... I'm super organized. People keep telling me that I'm so organized that it surprises (sometimes scares?) them.
Other than that, I've been a part-time tour guide in Taiwan. I did it because Taiwan is such a beautiful island and I wanted to visit different places. Also, I worked for the 2010 Olympics at the Main Media Centre. Simple and small tasks, but I put on the "Game Face" everyday!

An extra organized desk

If you want to add your own touch of colour to our lululemon team, check out www.lululemon.com/careers today.

Jen is new to Vancouver, so let's do everything we can to make her feel at home here!

Jen kisses her new skates for Rollerderby.

what are your favourite things to do in your free time?

In my free time I love to practice yoga, rollerskate (I play rollerderby) and explore Vancouver since I'm new to town! I'm also actively working on setting up a foundation that teaches yoga to youths, and young women in particular. I believe that yoga can foster self awareness and self confidence which is important during their formative years.

what is the biggest goal you achieved in 2009?

2009 was really a foundation-setting year for me. It is too easy to get into a "rut", and after taking a hard look at my life and considering my goals, I decided to take some risks and go after my dreams. I sold my house, began a yoga teacher training program and was lucky enough to secure a spot in the Olympic Torch Relay.

Jen with the Olympic torch.

who has had the most influence in your life? why?

Family and friends have played key roles in my life, and in particular my mom and dad have been very important. They have always stressed the importance of living unselfishly and honestly, and encouraged exploring creative solutions to any issues I've faced.

8 year old Jen with her baby sister.

what super-power would you most like to have, and why?

I would love to be able to fly. Aside from the thrill of gliding through air, flight would make travel quick, and I could explore new places and visit distant friends on a whim.

what drew you to lululemon? favourite part of your job so far?

lululemon's people and culture drew me to their website, and to a posting for the IT QA team which matched my skills and interests. The people here have made me feel welcome and my manager has encouraged me to acquire the knowledge I need to do my job as I see fit, which is really empowering. I've really enjoyed learning about all of the processes and departments within the company that work together to ensure top quality products and an amazing experience for all our guests. I feel lucky coming to work everyday, and I'm proud to be a part of a company with as much integrity as lululemon!

We need more rockstars (or Rollerderby stars) like Jen on our quickly growing IT team. Spread the word. www.lululemon.com/careers

Luckily for us at lululemon, we've just welcomed Gerardo into the Benefits Manager role... he's definitely got his heart in the right place, and he has the mind to make great things happen. Say hi to Gerardo!

Gerardo, with his family.

what are you most passionate about?

I have a great family that I love with all my heart. My wife is a fitness trainer (who loves lululemon clothes) and we have two boys. They're very active and have allowed me to see the world with new eyes. My five-year-old is fascinated with the night sky. He constantly asks questions about the stars, planets and the Milky Way. My eight-year-old loves science and riding his bike anywhere he can (particularly to the local convenience store). He's taking Tae Kwon Do and is pursuing his goal of becoming a black belt.

what's your favourite way to sweat?

Cardio and some weight training three to four times a week has kept me in shape. I love sweating using the treadmill at the gym. I also do 30-minute power walks at least twice a week.

Playing in the snow.

biggest goal you want to accomplish in 2010?

Career goal: Review our current benefits offering and propose those changes that will have the most impact to employee health and wellness.

Health goal: Learn to inline skate and then go skate along Stanley Park’s seawall at least two times this year.

what would an ideal gerardo day look like?

A day spent with people you love doing something you don’t do every day, like go swimming in the lake or ocean. Go hiking or camping somewhere really peaceful. That would be the perfect day.

Gerardo and his kids, in front of the Olympic torch!

what is the best thing about your role at lululemon? most challenging?

The most challenging is to define a benefits philosophy/guiding principles that will be acceptable by all stake holders. This is the first step towards having a consistent benefits strategy.

The best thing is that I get to work with great, optimistic people with many goals and full of good ideas. I really enjoy talking to our educators and asking them what they think about our benefits offering, and getting suggestions that may help improve what we are doing in this area.

If you're interested in joining Gerardo at the Store Support Centre, check out our current opportunities.

Could it be you?

Our current Design Director, Jill, has grown up with lululemon and has a pretty inspirational story. Check it out.

Jill, looking out over Hong Kong.

what's your lululemon story?

I started working in our Toronto Queen Street West Store while I was going to school in 2003. I finished school the following year and moved to Vancouver to work on the design team.

I would always make sure I talked to Chip or Deanne whenever they were in Toronto and just let them know that I really wanted to work on the Design team and that it was in my goals. In fact, it was in my goals to be the Director of Design within 10 years, and lo and behold I achieved this goal through hard work but in 5 years time!

Now I am living my dream job and loving it, and it's time to live the rest of my dream life too! I will be having my first child with my husband in September!

Next on the list? A marathon next year! (Great way to lose the baby weight!)

Taking part in a photo shoot!

what has been the best part about being the design director? most challenging?

The best part is working with creative, passionate people everyday in an open and supportive environment. Most challenging? Hmmm... it has been such a great learning curve, I would have to say the most challenging thing has been deciding to be great in my personal life too, and leave this job that I love so much (if only for a short while).

biggest goal you've accomplished while at lululemon?

I have a few I would love to share:

• I got married
• I achieved the role of Design Director
• I ran my first half marathon
• I conceived my first child

Jill and her husband

what's your BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) for the lululemon design team?

To be the happiest, most productive design team in the world. lululemon will be known as having the best athletic apparel designers in the business.

Jill leading her fellow design team members to the finish line at Chip's Not Dead Yet!

Are you our next design director? Apply here! http://tbe.taleo.net/NA1/ats/careers

This fantastic group of people support our guests, stores, ecommerce team, and online communities. It's also a bit of an insider secret that the GEC is an awesome launching pad into other roles in the company-- just ask our Public Relations Coordinator, Lindsay, or our Online Community Manager, Carolyn!

Right now the GEC is growing. Meet Robin and Jennifer, the newest GECers:

meet robin

Robin, living the West Coast dream!

what is your most memorable childhood experience?

Family vacations. Almost every year on Christmas break or summer vacation we would pile into the family car and drive from Ontario to Nova Scotia and spend two weeks there. They were never big or fancy but definitely something I’ve always treasured.

why did you join lululemon?

About 10 months ago I decided to move out to BC to pursue a career goal in firefighting. I began my search for a flexible job that would help me reach my goals. lululemon stood out and I’ve been with the company a month and a half now. It's not only congruent with my life style but my values, too.

Robin, when he's not at the GEC!

what's your favourite way to sweat?

Pumping iron! No better feeling than putting those numbers up and reaching your goals.

who/what inspires you?

My family inspires me. I’ve been blessed to have some really amazing teachers and role models. Other things that have had a great impact on my life are: arts, culture, traveling, and the amazing people I’ve met along the way.

what’s your BHAG (big, hairy,audacious goal)?

Although its sort of an 'on the spot BHAG' I can honestly say that owning my own fitness centre/health store is something I would thoroughly enjoy.

meet jennifer

One of Jennifer's biggest passions is dancing. Here she is on stage performing.

what has been the biggest surprise working for lululemon?

How much everyone here cares about each other personally as well as professionally. This really goes to show how support from peers speeds up progress, as everyone here is striving for and achieving goals every single day. It amazes me just how much positivity is in this one room as a result of the ongoing support and encouragement from others.

what is your guilty pleasure?

Chocolate. I have a stash in my desk at all times.

what are you passionate about?

I have a passion for life, but if I had to be specific, my passion lies in dance. I have wild dreams about performing in huge venues, and I can talk about dance for hours on end. It’s my way of expressing myself and inspiring others to live their dreams as well.

what drives you crazy?

Fruit salad/mixed fruit cups—I have a distaste for oranges in my fruit salad/mixed fruit cups. The citrus flavor contaminates everything and you can’t enjoy your other fruits!

what quote/piece of advice has had the biggest impact on you?

"When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” There’s a positive and a creative way to look at all situations. Things are never as bad as they seem at first.

More exciting opportunities for fresh educator faces are popping up at the GEC! Visit http://tbe.taleo.net/NA1/ats/careers to find out more.

Jocelyn's nephew welcoming her in Toronto.

what are the biggest surprises since joining the team?

 The culture lives throughout the company. I knew that lululemon’s culture was strong, but it has been so amazing working with such an open and supportive team throughout my on-boarding.

Jocelyn's smiling face!

during the olympics, what was your favourite experience?

The first was watching Alex Bilodeau win the first Olympic Gold medal. Every Canadian was proud to have our first gold medal winner be someone who was so deserving. Secondly, I landed in Vancouver the night Canada won the gold medal men’s hockey game. The city was alive and everyone was celebrating the end of an amazing Olympic 2 weeks. It was amazing to be in Vancouver for that last night.

what is  a recent goal you've accomplished?

I recently purchased my home here in Toronto. I made it a goal to find a loft  that I loved as much as the one I had in Vancouver and  not settle until  I find the right one. A year after moving to Toronto, I found my place!

Jocelyn, with her sisters and nephew in Toronto!

what inspires you?

One of my favourite quotes has always been, "You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.” These words are powerful. It’s easy to get comfortable or to give in to our fears. I read this quote and it gives me that extra push to take the first step to try something new and encourages me during difficult time.

Also, so many members of the lululemon team I have met are incredibly inspiring. I have already met people who have quit their jobs to go on trips they never dreamed they could do, who have ran marathons as though it was as easy as a walk around the block. It's inspiring to see people that come to work each day and recognize the possibility in their team and support eac other  to accomplish goals. 

For all you other HR buffs out there who sigh with relief when you step on your yoga mat or tie up your runners, our HR team is growing fast and there are opportunities in Vancouver and the US right now. You can check out the roles on the careers website.

Meet Kristy with her family above, our new Area Manager for Canada.

Keep an eye out for this lovely face in stores across Canada, and if you see her, make sure to say hello and get to know her! Until then, learn more about Kristy:

what was your best olympics experience?

Saturday, February 13 – livin’ it up at the Robson store, educating to people from all over the world and taking part in my first flashmob amongst 3000 other people – exhilarating!

what are you most passionate about?

Hands down most passionate about two things: my kids and travel.

I have two boys: Tyson who is a born leader and risk taker, even at the ripe old age of four. He can download an app and launch off the bouncy castle while delegating recycling duties to his little brother with ease! Zack is one year old and much more chill… so far. While just starting to find his voice, Zack has an opinion on everything. Can’t wait to understand what he is actually saying!

The little guys, Tyson and Zack, who keep Kristy grounded.

When I am not chasing the kids around, my favorite place to go is the beach. Greece, south of France, and Maui are my faves so far.

what is your favourite guilty pleasure?

Celebrity gossip mags - terrible, I know - I just can’t walk away.

what quote/book/advice has made the biggest impact on you?

“Life is short,
Break the rules,
Forgive quickly,
Kiss slowly,
Laugh uncontrollably,
And never regret anything that made you smile.”
-Mark Twain

or

“Fashion fades, only style remains the same”
~Coco Chanel

what has been the biggest surprise working at lululemon so far?

The level of engagement from all the people working in the stores and the Store Support Centre is unbelievable. I had always heard what a great place lululemon was to work at, and it is beyond true. We are walking the walk and talking the talk – I love it. I am thrilled to be part of such a dynamic and committed team. I have never been so excited about life’s possibilities!

Say hi to Kristy when you see her in your local yoga studio or gym!

There you have it... another new lululemon face and another new world of possibilities opening up! Is it just me, or is it super exciting to see what the rest of 2010 will have in store for us? - both literally or figuratively!

If you are interested in being a part of Kristy’s growing Canadian team, visit our careers section and search for “store management”, “store operations” or “educators” to find the next possibility for your life and career!

A passion for dancing up a storm.

What came next was meeting some of the most inspiring and outstanding people I’ll probably ever come across in this lifetime. Oh, we hired hundreds of new, fabulous lululemon faces, and we launched exciting attraction programs too... the work was about as challenging, fast paced, and action packed as anyone could hope for! But an itching desire to strike out, take risks and have a grand adventure always slumbered within me, and I knew deep in my heart of hearts that there was something more, waiting for me, somewhere across the Atlantic.

The people resource team.

As a hopeless romantic I had spent my entire life wishing, dreaming and hoping that someday I’d live in Europe. However, I never really took any steps to make these visions a reality. It wasn’t until I learned and understood the skills of goal setting, received some incredible coaching and encouragement from Susanne Conrad, and created a vision board with my People Resources team, that it finally sunk in that I needed to DO IT NOW.

So I did.

Ashley achieving her goal to live in Europe 2 years earlier!

Fast forward to present day, March 2010, and I have leapt over the pond and landed myself smack dab in the centre of Edinburgh, Scotland. By some force of fate, luck or magic, I have managed to stay a part of the lululemon recruitment team and continue to work remotely; providing creative project management for our key 2010 initiatives. Technology really is an incredible thing, when someone can log in to say hello to their favourite coworkers each morning via Skype, and at the same time, live out their wildest traveling dreams.

Ashley living in Scotland.

So far, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Chamonix (France) have been the hosts of my traveling office. In early March, I’ll be working from Spain, and I have an ambitious list of places that I plan to spread some lululemon love in the months to come!

A new life with a new view.

If you have big, wild, crazy dreams I recommend that you don’t delay.

Make a decision. Take a leap. Do it now.

A vision board makes your goals and dreams reality.

You only have one life to live, and trust me, it can be pretty darn spectacular.

Ready for exploration!

what is your proudest achievement?
I focus on setting goals for my life that challenge me, and then striving to achieve them. One that stands out is hiking BC’s West Coast Trail (78 km), which my team and I completed in 4.5 days. The technical challenges the elements and the terrain posed, and the constant rain (in the rain forest -who would have thought?) motivated us to complete the trail in great time.

Can you spot Russell?

what are some of your favourite ways to sweat?
Anything that gets my heart pumping and challenges me! This could include water rafting, snowboarding,  or Muay Thai. This year I am also aiming to hike Mt. St Helens in June.

tell us something unexpected about you...
Animals have always been a joyous (and sometimes batty) part of my life, and that includes finding fur balls in the strangest places or glasses being knocked from the coffee table by rampant wagging tails. Spending time with my cat is the calming balance to the physical activities that challenge me.

Not shown in this photo: Russell's cat!

what would you do with 1 million dollars?
Take a trip to the snowboarding hotspots of the world! I’d start down at Chile in the heart of the Andes, and follow with a flight to Europe to board in Switzerland and Austria. Then I’d invest the rest of the money into my own learning, to continue my personal and professional growth.

what excites you the most about working at lululemon?
The way lululemon has fused their culture and business model together attracted me to become a part of the lululemon community; lululemon doesn’t just sell a product, but a more positive way of life. I’m excited to contribute to lululemon’s unique customer experience as a part of the IT team.

Do you have passion to match Russell’s? Our IT team is growing fast! If you are a savvy Business Analyst or Technical Support Specialist, check out our opportunities in IT! http://www.lululemon.com/about/careers

She had us at hello!

Meet Toni, the newest member of our yoga design team! We're thrilled to welcome her expertise, glowing smile, and quick wit to the lululemon family. When Toni isn't whipping out gorgeous yoga designs, she can be found rock climbing, mountain biking, running, swimming, or dancing... if she hasn't already taken off on a globe-trotting expedition! Get to know more about Toni through our fresh faces interview...

tell us something surprising about yourself:

I was a professional dancer for about fifteen years: seven years of ballet class, five years of hip hop and street dance, plus a couple of years of teaching street dance and jazz to kids. Yes, I know - it's hard to imagine me in a tutu onstage dancing and jumping around. But at least it was always a black or white tutu, not pink!

what's your favourite way to sweat?

Mysore-style Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga at least three times a week. And on the weekends, my partner and I love to explore Canada's wilderness in our 4x4 camper van. Camping and hiking are a must!

tell us about your biggest, hairiest, most audacious goal:

My goal is to take our van on a road trip through South America, Japan and India. I'm looking forward to connecting with the locals and enjoying the incredible scenery. I'd also love to keep a blog of my journey, so I can share my impressions and inspire my friends at home.

what attracted you to lululemon?

The overall concept of the company. The sense of community is breathtaking and incredibly inspiring. Also, the products are truly functional since they're made with (and for) athletes. Due to my active life I have always loved designing clothing and accessories which bond function and style.

what excites you most about your new role?

Getting involved with the lululemon culture and community. After designing with great people at Adidas (sport-specific), Adidas by Stella McCartney, Aritzia, Maier-Sports and others, I'm eager to share my experience and knowledge with my new team. I hope to bring a touch of fresh style and originality to lululemon's yoga designs!

Could you be the next fresh face at lululemon? Our design team is still growing, so if you're interested in becoming a designer for Apres, Accessories, Mens or Run, check out our careers website and apply! http://www.lululemon.com/about/careers