Lianna Villarreal shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Lianna, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Something that’s really bringing me joy lately is having more time to focus on personal interests and my own business ventures now that I’ve completed the MCAT. The months leading up to that exam were incredibly intense, so the freedom to explore other passions again has been extremely relieving.
My boyfriend actually surprised me with a trip to Ischia as a post-MCAT celebration, which was absolutely amazing. Being able to disconnect, swim in the bluest water I’ve ever seen, and just soak in the breathtaking scenery felt so refreshing after months of rigorous studying. It reminded me how important it is to celebrate milestones along the way, especially when you’re pursuing a demanding path in medicine.
Now I’m really enjoying having the mental space to dive back into my business projects and pursue some creative interests that I had to put on hold. I am excited to approach these activities with fresh eyes and renewed enthusiasm.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I bring jewelry to life at the intersection of art and science. As an aspiring physician, the dichotomy of art and science intrigued me. Medicine is a realm where both of these fields integrate synergistically. The art of jewelry making and the practice of medicine are both acts of creation– each imbued with a sense of purpose and meaning. The parallels between the two disciplines emphasize the artistry and humanity inherent in both practices.
I earned my BSA in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin, where I spent my time testing microbes for their ability to degrade plastic, mentoring pre-health underclassmen, advocating for harm reduction, contributing to campus creative communities, and creating jewelry that mirrors the scientific concepts I studied. It’s there, with a pipette in one hand and round-nose pliers in the other, where I discovered a deep yearning to create with purpose.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I believe the biggest thing that breaks bonds between people is when we stop truly seeing and hearing each other. When conversations become about waiting for our turn to speak rather than genuinely listening to understand, relationships begin to fracture. People feel invisible and invalidated, and may begin to withdraw from the relationship. Another major factor is the absence of empathy. When we’re so focused on our own perspective that we can’t step into someone else’s shoes, we lose the ability to connect meaningfully.
What restores those bonds is deep, intentional listening. When you’re not formulating your response while the other person is speaking, but truly absorbing what they’re sharing. When someone feels genuinely heard, it creates space for connection. When we can communicate that we understand not just what happened, but how it felt for the other person, authentic connection is rebuilt.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me that failure is inevitable, but that ensuing action is simply a part of my journey. Looking at the world through this new lens ensures that I learn after each nuisance. Failure is helping me discover what it means to be human: to experience life in all its colors by learning. Failure is an option that one is presented with in the midst of difficult trials. Everyone is faced with the opportunity to either learn and try again, or to genuinely quit and fail.
I have “failed” countless times. From failed genetics exams and plateauing practice MCAT scores to inadequate prong settings and melted bezels, I’ve been unsuccessful in a plethora of areas. I’ve curled up on the cold tiles of my bathroom floor and wondered if I would ever be good enough. However, I ensured resilience in the face of adversity after each “failure”, and my choice to do so is precisely what made my “failure” not a failure at all.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest misconceptions in the jewelry industry is that pearls are waterproof simply because they come from the ocean. This is such a pervasive myth that I’m actually working on a blog post to debunk it.
Although pearls are born in water, once they’re harvested and processed into jewelry, they become immensely vulnerable to moisture. Their naturally porous structure means that water can penetrate and weaken them from within. The drilling process for stringing creates entry points where moisture can seep in and compromise the pearl’s integrity. Additionally, the nacre layers that give pearls their beautiful luster can actually be damaged by prolonged exposure to water, chemicals, and oils from our skin.
Yet the industry continues to market pearl jewelry with imagery of ocean waves and aquatic themes, implying this sense of durability that simply doesn’t exist. This disconnect between marketing fantasy and product reality does a disservice to both customers and the industry’s credibility.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m definitely doing what I was born to do, and I know this because it’s something I found entirely on my own. I am the first person in my family to make jewelry. I felt this instinctual pull toward creating wearable art with my own two hands.
The fact that I’m pursuing this path despite having no family blueprint for it actually reinforces that this choice comes from something authentic within me. This dream is genuinely mine, and that makes every aspect of my journey feel more meaningful because I know it’s rooted in who I truly am, not who I was told to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://villaatelier.co/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/villaatelierco
Image Credits
Karla Bruciaga
