Alumni
Our Alumni
Tanya Raquel Gruenberg, ‘08, Designer and Entrepreneur
Where do you live at the moment?
Aventura, Florida
What is your current profession and where do you work? How did you come to work in this field?
I was fashioning my own jewelry pieces from scrap metal in college (Parsons School of Design). Once I moved back to Miami, it was at a local craft market where I sold some of my first pieces of handmade jewelry. (A shout-out to fellow alumna Rachel Glick...thank you for helping me at the Miami Flea!) The result was my company: Studio Grun. I now have a line of distinctive and high quality pieces sold to stores across the US and online (studiogrun.com).
What educational path did you follow?
I attended Parsons School of Design in NYC, where I received a BFA in industrial design.
What is most rewarding about the work you do? What are the challenges?
The most rewarding part about the work I do are the stores and customers that choose to support you. It's a pleasure knowing that people invest in you.
There’s a plethora of challenges. I'd say my biggest struggle at the moment is time management. I wear twenty different hats, juggling the finances, the design, the production, the whole circus - and it can be challenging to balance work, play and life in general.
What is one essential academic or life skill you honed at Scheck Hillel?
Community. I am still very close to many of my peers I grew up with and am thankful for the support.
What is your advice for future Hillel students who might consider a career in your field?
I've heard this advice before, and it really resonated with me: Don't give up and don't take anything personally. Make sure to be disciplined, but also don't forget to live your life - you never know what you'll learn along the way.
What are you reading/listening to right now?
I am currently reading “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell, and I am listening to a great podcast on NPR called “How I Built This” with Guy Raz.
