Debra Torres is the senior director of retail at Perry Ellis International. She has more than 20 years of experience in the fashion industry and a proven record of success in brand management, merchandising, planning, and operations oversight. She’s also a Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) member! In this member spotlight, we asked Torres series of questions about both her professional role and personal life, including the woman that inspires her, her leadership style, her advice for the next generation of female leaders, and much more.

  1. What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
    “Why Men Win At Work” by Gill Whitty-Collins. 
  2. What is a tip you have for productively leading a WFH or hybrid team?
    As long as the work is getting done and everyone is engaged, don’t micro-manage. But if you sense some slack, rein it in. Be alert to the energy levels. 
  3. What’s a mistake you made early on in your career?
    I didn’t negotiate. I accepted what I was given. And I didn’t own my voice. 
  4. What’s the toughest part of being in charge?
    The level of worry is greater than earlier in my career, both about business and the people I lead.
  5. What’s the best way you motivate team members?
    By staying motivated myself and being an example for them. And by acknowledging them as people. 
  6. What woman inspires you right now and why?
    My mom, because even in her 80s and after all the trials in her life, plus raising five children, she has an energy and a fortitude that blows me away. Plus she is authentic, stylish, creative, and talented at everything having to do with the home. 
  7. What are you looking forward to the most for the industry over the next year?
    I’m looking forward to discovering new companies that are contributing to a better world. I’m looking forward to watching continued growth for companies like Quince and Another Tomorrow. And I’m also curious to see how more established brands like Gap will shift into the future.
  8. What is one thing you look for when interviewing a potential candidate?
    I look for a genuine interest in our company, who we are, what we do, and whether they will be a cultural fit. 
  9. What’s something that you learned about yourself in the past year?
    It hasn’t been so much a learning, but an unlearning.  A removal of ways of being that aren’t the truth. I’ve been able to see my resilience, my inner strength, my confidence and through it developed a deeper appreciation and love for myself. 
  10. What’s your favorite podcast?
    The All-In Podcast. I learn a lot about current events, business, and major forces affecting our world. The hosts have considerable insights and are incredibly entertaining in an authentic way. They are real life friends and it comes across in the pod. So it’s fun and informative.
  11. What values are most important to you as a leader?
    Integrity. Authenticity. Honesty. Be truthful. Do what you say you’re going to do. And be real. 
  12. What’s the most important thing people should know about you?
    That I do my best to be the best person I can be. And that I’m always evolving. 
  13. What practices or boundaries have you implemented in your personal life to create more work/life balance?
    I’ve created boundaries around my time and space so that I’m not tempted to continue working after I get home. I don’t take my laptop home anymore unless it’s a WFH day. 
  14. How would you describe yourself in a single sentence?
    I’ve tried many times, but I can’t define myself. 
  15. What’s your favorite app?
    The Notes app on the iPhone. It’s my to-do list, some time journal, collector of URLs … I couldn’t live without it.
  16. What do you do to recharge?
    The simplest thing I do is to stop everything and do nothing. It could be for 30 minutes to a few hours or a whole day. But with all the doing in life, it’s the stillness that helps me truly relax. 
  17. What is your biggest accomplishment?
    Never giving up.
  18. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
    Discover who you are. Look inside yourself and  listen to your soul. Stay true to that with your choices. Actively manage your career/life. No one else will do that for you. Step into challenging opportunities. Don’t sell yourself short. Go for your dreams. Never stop learning.
  19. What gets you up in the morning?
    Sunlight, Cuban coffee, and a desire to live and create.
  20. What do you like most about being a member of Women in Retail?
    The openness and warmth of the community together with the caliber of women in the organization.

Interested in connecting with women like Debra Torres? Apply today to become a Women in Retail Leadership Circle member!