Keri Shahidi
What does life in her JJ’s look like for Keri Shahidi?
The best part about a day in my life is that it is EVER CHANGING! One day I may be working out of my office in California, and the next on my way to Paris with a client!
How do you balance wife, motherhood, and career so effortlessly?
My goal is to give my all to the areas that matter. My marriage, my children and my career ALL have a large piece of my heart. I am a Leo, and if you are a believer in astrology, you would understand that I want to give my all to each of these areas, but to be clear, none of it is effortless! I think what shines through is how happy I am. During my 12-15 hour workdays, it is clear to me and others that I LOVE every piece of my life and the people who are in it.
What advice would you give someone looking to start a family while managing a busy career?
My advice to anyone looking to balance these two worlds is exactly what my father has always told me, “She who CAN, does”. We can create a world where both coexist, but we have to be willing and open to the constant renegotiation of time and energy needed to balance it all. I move with strategy and my heart, so some moments I under think and know that the universe will guide me, and other moments I take an extraordinary amount of time to plan my action steps. Yara, my husband and I have just begun our production company, and from the outside looking in, I had no available extra time for this new endeavor, BUT we had a family meeting and talked about what each of us would be willing to do to accommodate our new adventure. Starting a family is just the same, be in conversation with your partner, throw traditional expectations out of the window and create your ideal world.
Your career warrants you to travel quite frequently, what are some of your style must-haves?
My on the go style must-haves are simple:
1. A fedora- which dresses up a business suit or a tracksuit (you would be surprised!)
2. A tracksuit that can go from airport to casual client dinner.
3. A pair of slim denim jeans and a crisp white tennis shoe.
Your style both personal and professional is about clean lines, minimalism, and spiritual alignment. In what way did Edgar compliment your style?
You have NAILED my style, and what I love about Edgar is that it screams understated luxury. I love that people see me and my life and my wardrobe as aspirational! And I love to show my high-low strategy of how I build my wardrobe. While Edgar is a boot that will last forever and be passed on to my daughter, I LOVE that I can throw a blazer and some jeans on and create a look that is an INSTANT classic. I most recently took my Edgar’s on a trip to Italy and was asked repeatedly about where I had them made!
What can our readers expect to see from Keri Shahidi in 2020?
Someone just asked me how my year was going and my response was 2O2O IS MY YEAR! I plan on remaining in a space of learning, developing media with my family that is impactful and continuing to travel the world for work and play! Oh and mini-vacations with my husband every 5-6 weeks!
Best advice you ever received?
The best advice is always from my father, the first feminist I knew in my life. He has always told me that we are put on the planet to be of service to others and that building a relationship is more important than building networks.
What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue a career in entertainment?
To anyone looking to step into the vast world of entertainment, I would say to be open to the moments of learning that present themselves. If you want to become an actor, immerse yourself in the worlds that surround actors. Attend movie screenings, question and answer events, intern or even work at a production company! The path is not linear and as soon as that is metabolized, many more paths reveal themselves.