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After 23 years at VSP Global, I know that our company's greatest asset is our employees. As we celebrate VSP's 60th anniversary and look forward to another 60 years of helping people see, I sat down with several women across the organization to learn about their unique insights into navigating a successful career within the optical industry.
What resources would you recommend to someone looking to become a better leader?
I scan newsletters and industry reports daily. They're great exposure to what's happening in the world. You have to be curious about the world, curious about how it's evolving. Think about how that knowledge might enrich our ability to increase access to those in need of vision services in the U.S. or abroad.
What advice can you offer to others so they may continue to grow and develop as a leader?
Don't re-invent things that have already been done. Learn from others and leverage your experience. Develop a network of mentors and sponsors; they 'll be your best advocates. Develop a group of people you trust and can have candid dialogue with. Reach out to others for help. People love helping other people solve problems. It's not a failure on your part — it's a compliment to the person you're reaching out to.
As an organization gets larger there can be a tendency for the "institution" to dampen the "inspiration." How do you keep this from happening?
I focus on things that motivate and interest me and carry that spark through all that I do. We're a mission-driven company which energizes and inspires me daily. It's my job as a leader to share that passion with my team.
What are some characteristics you feel every leader should possess?
Honesty and integrity. When these standards are set at the top they filter down throughout the organization.
How do you encourage creative thinking within your role?
In The SHOP, we're predicated on design thinking principles and often hold ideation sessions to address challenges faced within the organization and industry. Design thinking means truly embodying the perspective of the end user and thinking creatively about how to address their unmet needs. We encourage open-mindedness; we dismiss preconceived notions; and we approach every challenge with the user in mind.
In a world where it's every (wo)man for herself, how have you adapted in relation to your field of work?
I'm comfortable in traditionally male-dominated work environments and academic settings, but it's a never-ending learning process. There's an artful skill to gracefully and respectfully stand your ground as a woman in any male-dominated environment.
As I look back on my own career, I can attest to each of these valuable insights: be as curious as possible, surround yourself with talented people, be optimistic and be an active and confident contributor. Great tips from great women I am honored to call my colleagues as we work together to support and promote the professional development of women involved in all the growing facets of the optical industry.
Breaking News: VSP Global recently announced that Kate Renwick-Espinosa has been appointed to president of VSP Vision Care, effective October 1, 2015. Kate has served on the OWA board since September 2013. Christie Walker, the president of the OWA remarked, "We couldn't be more proud of our board member Kate. Since the OWA's inception, our mission statement has included the words, 'Supporting the leadership role of women.' Kate exemplifies this phrase, and we know she is going to take on her new role with enthusiasm, dedication and her unique feminine touch that will make her a great leader both for the OWA and VSP."
Over the years, Luxottica Group has made major contributions toward the improvement of vision and eye health worldwide. Here's a report on its key initiatives:
Last year Holly Rush, president wholesale North America of Luxottica, and her team crafted a vision for the next five years. At the heart of it was a singular purpose: to increase consumer awareness of the importance of vision health.
In one year's time, Luxottica has contributed nearly $3 million and driven more than 1 billion impressions with the simple message that a comprehensive eye exam is an essential preventive health measure.
Why? Only one in three adults today visits an eye doctor regularly. That's more than 100 million who don't. We send our children to school with all their vaccinations, yet only one in seven has had an eye exam.
Luxottica is a lead underwriter of the upcoming documentary film "SIGHT: The Story of Vision." Written, produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Kris Koenig, SIGHT will debut this fall.
The documentary will mark the first time U.S. consumers are widely exposed to the history, science and technology behind vision. And it will provide an in-depth look at the global vision crisis we face today — the hundreds of millions of people who are affected by avoidable blindness because they or their family members don't have access to eye exams, eyewear or surgeries such as cataract removal.
The film, which speaks to Luxottica's own mission to raise awareness around vision care, is expected to spark a national conversation on the issue. For more information, please visit the film's website.
You can also watch the film trailer, which Luxottica debuted at Vision Expo East.
Under Holly Rush's leadership, Luxottica is also a key sponsor of Think About Your Eyes, an optical industry initiative that conveys the importance of annual eye exams through a national advertising campaign. Through this initiative, we can have a significant impact on changing consumer perceptions of vision care.
The latest Think About Your Eyes television, radio and digital advertising campaign is expected to reach about 129 million adults and generate 1.1 billion impressions this year.
Luxottica has also committed to helping solve the global vision crisis through its support of the non-profit organization OneSight. Here's how:
Luxottica is OneSight's largest supporter. For more information, please visit http://www.onesight.org.
This summer, set your sights on sunglasses with enough personality to add an extra touch of style to any outfit. Choosing the right pair of shades is as significant a style marker for a woman as picking the perfect sun dress. Think sophisticated transparent hues, camouflage butterfly-print frames, metal-accented retro styles, and gorgeous color combinations to complement the season's biggest trends. Whatever your personal style, Marchon Eyewear has something for everyone from brands including Valentino, Calvin Klein Collection, Chloé and Salvatore Ferragamo.
Embellished — If you're into making statements, there's really no easier way than with a pair of bold patterned sunglasses. With these Camubutterfly custom-made acetate frames from Valentino (V707SB), you can easily transform your look with an eye-catching camouflage design on an on-trend oversized silhouette.
Transparent Color — Up the ante with a pair of transparent, acetate sunglasses in a sophisticated shade like this style from Calvin Klein Collection (CK7993S). The crystal red coloration really makes this wayfarer-inspired shape pop.
Sumptuous Metal Details — This retro-inspired round style from Chloé (CE117S) displays a beautiful contrast between the gold metal frame and the silver metal embellishments. The translucent temples provide a glimpse of the metal core wire, revealing the soul of the frame.
Color-Blocking — Throw on a pair of colorful sunglasses for a chic and easy way to update your look. This Salvatore Ferragamo (SF724S) frame is a bold shape, enhanced with an elegant color block effect that can easily take you from day to night.
Infants should have their first comprehensive eye exam by an eye doctor starting at six months of age, according to the American Optometric Association (AOA). For school-aged children, the AOA recommends an eye exam every two years if no visual health problem is previously identified, and no vision correction is required.
According to Think About Your Eyes, a national public awareness campaign designed to educate the public on the benefits of vision health and to promote the importance of annual eye exams, 50 percent of children have not had an eye exam, and one in four school-aged children have vision problems. Early identification is crucial because if left untreated, some childhood vision problems can cause permanent vision loss.
A child's eyes are constantly in use at play and in the classroom. In fact, experts believe that as much as 80 percent of a child's learning occurs through his or her eyes. Yet, one in every six children around the world has some kind of visual defect, many of which require prompt correction.
To help parents of children in need of vision correction, global eyewear manufacturer Safilo Group, recently developed a Kids by Safilo eyewear collection devoted to 0- to 8-year-olds. These eyeglasses are not just scaled down versions of adult eyewear. They're designed from a medical scientific approach and engineered with advanced technologies and materials to suit children's specific eyewear needs. Working with Società Italiana di Oftalmologia Pediatrica (SIOP), and in compliance with the design guidelines of the World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (WSPOS), the eyewear meets four requirements:
Safety: The frames are flexible, safe and free from sharp surfaces and edges. And, made of light, safe materials, these are biocompatible, hypoallergenic, nontoxic and washable.
Comfort: The frames are lightweight and stable, thanks to the presence of a lower bridge — designed for a child's developing nose — and the special design of the temples with a horizontal bend. The enhanced design of the front allows the lenses to cover the child's entire field of vision, ensuring effective correction, and soft rubber nose inserts distribute pressure to avoid skin redness.
Resistance: The frames are made with flexible, stable and washable materials so they won't get weak or twisted.
Aesthetics: The frames are designed to be discreet on a child's face. The collection is based on a dedicated color approach featuring transparent frame fronts for the very youngest of children — allowing the frames to virtually "disappear" on the face — while children ages 5 and up have a selection of more vivid colors and color/contrasts to go with their ever-evolving self-awareness and personal tastes.
As Prof. Paolo Nucci, professor of ophthalmology at the University of Milan and president of SIOP, explains: "These frames for children were designed with the specific aim of creating a product truly suitable for children, guaranteeing safe and durable eyeglasses for kids, created with bio-based materials and the best fit for the various age groups."
The Kids by Safilo line will be available starting this month.
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