When did you decide to join the family business? What were your career plans prior to making that decision?

I really didn’t decide to rejoin the family business until I was getting my executive M.B.A. Prior to that I was working for General Electric doing corporate finance. I really enjoyed being at a large corporation, as I got exposure to different business units as well as traveled and worked in different parts of the country.

While I was getting my M.B.A. I realized that I wanted to be at a company where I could use all the business skills I was learning, not just finance. I also wanted a job that I could be more passionate about. It was around that time that I realized coming home to work for L&L was the job that could provide that for me, and where I could make my greatest contribution.

How does your management style differ from that of your father’s? How is it similar?

My dad is, in my opinion, the epitome of an entrepreneur. I come from a very traditional business background—business undergrad, M.B.A., working for a large corporation—so there are a lot of times when we analyze and approach things in different ways. But I think because we have different viewpoints, it helps us come up with the best solution or idea in the end.

What is your company ethos and how do you ensure it’s maintained?

I think the L&L story is such a great one, and I’m so glad to be home and a part of it. Almost all of our 200 stores are franchised, with many of them being run by immigrants and families. It is so amazing to see the hard work and passion of our franchisees. It’s like being able to see the American Dream come to life every day. We have folks with us who came to the United States with nothing, not even the ability to speak English. Now they are business owners able to take care of their family and serve the community.

Is there a quote you live by, either personally or professionally? If so, what is it?

My parents always instilled in me that “if you don’t ask, you don’t get.” I have taken this mantra to heart in all aspects of my life and have found it to be generally true. You can find me asking for a discount when buying almost anything, as well as asking for a big raise when I think I deserve one. Often times you can get what you ask for, you just need to have the confidence to ask.

Do you feel that women have equality in the workplace? What could more women be doing to advance their careers?

I don’t feel that women have equality in the workplace. Every statistic about women in the workplace will tell you that inequality exists on almost all fronts. I do think it is getting better and will continue to get better. I believe that to continue to move the needle, we all need to keep pushing for change. It’s not going to happen by itself. It will require speaking up for ourselves and others when we see inequality and finding mentors and leaders who will advocate for us.