Walanya Vongsvirates
Full House Resorts & Love, Hand + Heart
Las Vegas, NV USA
"Allow yourself the flexibility to try out as many things as you want and discover your passions."
Career Roadmap
Walanya's work combines: Art, Entrepreneurship, and Being Creative
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Sierra Vista High School
Bachelor's Degree
Journalism
University of Nevada, Reno
Graduate Degree
Hospitality Management
Cornell University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Corporate Marketing Manager & Small Business Owner:
Bachelor's Degree: Journalism
Graduate Degree: Hospitality Management
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
Graduated from University of Nevada, Reno with a degree in Journalism.
2.
Interned at a news station and realized it was not a good fit for me. Time to pivot!
3.
Started working in marketing and gained experience in a few different industries.
4.
Started working at Full House Resorts in 2016 as Social Media Manager.
5.
Attained a Masters Certificate in Hospitality Management from Cornell University.
6.
Promoted to Corporate Marketing Manager.
7.
Started my business, Love, Hand + Heart in 2019 in conjunction with my full time job.
8.
Featured in Las Vegas Weekly Magazine in May 2021. Featured showcase at Alice + Olivia, an international luxury fashion brand. Love, Hand + Heart sold in multiple stores in Las Vegas.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
Truthfully, I am very lucky to have a great support system that has always encouraged me to go after my dreams. I think getting over the "imposter syndrome" at the beginning of starting a business was the biggest hurdle I had to push through!
How I responded:
My love for my craft always comes first. Instead of worrying about "succeeding," I focused on the joy I got from creating and seeing how happy my jewelry makes people. This really helped me confidently build my business MY way. I was able to get over my doubts simply by placing my focus on what really mattered—having fun doing what I love. The more I focused on my passion for my craft, the easier it was to build a business that aligns with my personal values.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
The most intimidating thing for me at working at Full House Resorts was that I didn't necessarily have that casino or hospitality background. I think learning those aspects of the industries applies to all industries.
Since I didn't have experience running a small business, I had trouble with technical things. I didn't know what I needed or didn't need. I asked myself questions like: do I need a business license?, what kind of license?, do I get an LLC?
I am proud to be a first-generation college student. I'm so thankful for the work and sacrifices my parents had to make in order for me to be able to go to college. I didn't feel like this was a hurdle, but a motivator to keep going and aim higher!