Love Letter to New York.
I remember applying to the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program back in 2018. I remember working late into the night on my application. I remember the interview process and being nervous as hell. I remember getting the call that I had been selected and jumping up and down like a little girl. I had to shorten my trip through Europe so I could commit the next few months to the program. Little did I know how much it would change my life.
I was a part of a very special cohort - the Tory Burch Foundation Cohort #6. Goldman Sachs and the Tory Burch Foundation partnered to specifically help female entrepreneurs.
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses x Tory Burch Foundation Cohort #6
It was a magical experience for me. I learned how to grow and scale my company alongside other women who understood the challenges of running a business. On the final day of the program, we had a pitch session - 3 minutes to pitch our business. I knew that representatives from the Goldman Sachs and Tory Burch community would be attending so I rehearsed and rehearsed until I was pitching in my sleep. I wanted to make an impression.
As the Goldman Sachs Program came to an end, applications for the Tory Burch Fellowship opened up.
Without skipping a beat, I immediately began working on my application. I closed my eyes, wished for the best and clicked "send".
A few weeks later, I learned that I made it to the interview round. However they were conducting interviews while I was traveling through India, so my interview was done over a choppy connection at some ungodly hour on the other side of the planet.
I managed to get through it; and a month later, I was thrilled to become a 2019 Tory Burch Fellow.
Rechelle Balanzat, Tory Burch Fellow 2019
Something Amazing Could Happen At Any Moment
I'm always in awe of how things happen. Sometimes you just have to be at the right place, at the right time. Sometimes you have to work your butt off to make things happen for yourself.
“People come to New York to have their own projects, dreams, ambitions realized. I think that anywhere there's that much heat there's going to be fire... I've built everything right here in New York” - Tory Burch
Earlier this year, I had just landed back from Miami when I received an email about participating in the Tory Burch Fall Winter Collection 2021.
Without a doubt, I immediately said "YES!"
I got to play dress up in her clothes and share my story about what New York means to me. I could only think of one word: MAGIC.
For me, the allure of New York City is that it makes you feel like you can do anything. New York is a city full of surprises. Something amazing could happen at any moment. - Rechelle Balanzat
What could be possible, if we believed everything is possible?
It's true. As I think back to those late nights working on applications - I applied to so many different things and received a ton of rejections.
I never stopped believing
I never stopped believing in opportunity. I never stopped believing in myself. And I definitely never thought that those little steps I took along the way would lead me to becoming a part of Tory Burch's Love Letter to New York.
That is what I love about new York. Something amazing could happen at any moment.
Thank you Tory Burch for including me in your Fall/Winter 2021 Collection and your Love Letter to New York 🧡
Check out Tory's Love Letter to New York here.