Today we’d like to introduce you to Andreas Alfaro.
Andreas, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Five years ago, I worked my very first Hamptons party in New York as a bartender. Little did I know that very soon there would be a major shift in my professional life. It was at this party that I met my very first boss who would soon hire me as his personal assistant. I was 19 at the time and still in college. He was an interior designer in New York city who offered me a part-time position with him while I was still in school and during the summer time I would work for him full time. I became a full time, live in personal assistant for this amazing guy. I hit the jackpot! I had met the coolest, most down to earth successful and inspirational guy I could ever asked for as a Boss. (Not to mention the Richest guy I’ve ever met! Ha). He took me under his wing for the next four years and taught me everything I know about interior design and construction and much more! I learned to cater to his lifestyle and soon we became like family. Then early 2018, I was offered another personal assisting position in Beverly Hills for a Woman who is notorious for how demanding she can be. I took this up as my next challenge, where I would expand my education to a whole new level!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest struggle I’ve encountered was the last person I worked for which as mentioned before is notorious for how demanding she can be. Picture the devil wears Prada, only worse. Every day was a challenge. Just like Ann Hathaway in that movie, I worked for her just under a year but boy oh boy it felt like ten! She was the type of person that nothing was ever enough. For her the glass was always half empty. Which to this day I still find extremely funny because she is the prime example that money does not buy happiness. She has everything she desires in this world yet is the unhappiest person I know.
In this industry you have to learn to think like your boss, so consequently I had to see the negative side of all aspects so I could prepare for damage control. I had to think ok so what’s it going to be today, what could she possibly complain about and what can I do to fix it before she can even think about it. I found it quite difficult to be a step ahead of her as she was a veteran in this game, actually not only a veteran but a leading player who seemed to thrive in negativity.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I specialize in catering to the rich and famous everyday needs. As a personal assistant you must become a jack of all trades. Skilled in many tasks and qualified to perform many duties. Sometimes you are not qualified at all actually and you have no other choice but to learn on the job! A personal assistant is in charge of managing their employer’s life. You have to make sure everything is in order and confirmed for many major projects, to meetings, to vacation scheduling, etc… So this involves many phone calls and back and forth emails for all these logistics in order to make sure everything runs smoothly.
It can be very stressful at times because you rely on many people to perform their duties on their end in order for you to complete your job. So when they don’t perform you have to find last-minute solutions if plans A, B and C don’t work out (which you should always be prepared for). Personally, I am known for my “jack of all trades” title. You ask me to do something I will get it done! If I don’t know how to or if I haven’t done it in the past, I will learn, and I am a quick learner too! I consider myself to be a social chameleon. There is not a single setting my employers could take me nor put me in where I wouldn’t be able to adapt. I speak four languages and am multi-cultured, well educated and very hard working. So I think this is what I consider to be my most valuable asset that most of my employers in the past have appreciated.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memories were when I used to dress up as a superhero. I had a phase for every single one of them from Disney Characters to all the marvel and DC universe heroes! The ones that prevailed the most however where always Batman and Spiderman, which to this day are still my favorite heroes.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alfaroandreas/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andreas.alfaro.9
Image Credit:
Photo Credit: Charles Ryan Barber
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
