Meet Roeya Vaughan, the New Head of Tacori

Can you tell us more about your new-ish role at Tacori?

I joined Tacori in 2020 as chief commercial officer after a months-long “courtship” with the Tacorian family. Paul and Nadine, siblings and owners, sought a thought-partner with outside industry experience and a fresh perspective to help them chart a course for the next chapter of the brand.

Over the past few years, it has been a joy to collaborate with Paul and Nadine, and an honor to be now entrusted with the stewardship of the brand. I couldn’t be more excited about continuing to build the foundation for our future growth. We are currently celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Tacori Crescent, our signature design element. Honoring and shining a light on Tacori’s design legacy, working alongside our talented artisans and dedicated support teams, has been a real privilege.

What is your most cherished piece of jewelry?

All of them! I cherish the silver necklace my husband (then-boyfriend) crafted for me while taking a jewelry design course in college. And I cherish my wedding ring, which was totally redesigned and handcrafted by our Tacori artisans this year with my original center stone, bridging the past and the future.

I cherish the tennis bracelet I treated myself to when I took on my new role. And I cherish the friendship bracelets my daughter and I made together before we locked arms and sang our hearts out at the Taylor Swift concert. Each of these pieces captures a moment I want to revel in forever.

Which of your professional achievements makes you proudest?

Tacori is committed to inspiring joy and creating opportunity in the communities in which we operate. We contribute to programs that help people learn, grow and thrive in education, personal development and the arts. This resonates deeply with me.

Throughout my career, I’ve personally been committed to mentoring and lifting up women. I’m an active member on the board of Girls Inc. of Orange County and currently the vice president of marketing and communications for the nonprofit’s executive committee, whose mission is to inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold.

And in my role at Tacori, I’m proud of how we elevate women — [who make up] 70% of our leadership team — and of our ongoing contributions to the community at large. We’ve donated over $2 million to date to important causes like Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Orange County, Girls Inc. of Orange County, and the Ocean Institute.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Too often, when we are young, we believe there is one path, or one “right way” to do things or to become successful. We believe we have less choice than we really do, and we may end up in situations that sap our energy, our time and our talent. But the truth is that life is about choices.

We can choose how we spend our time so it’s aligned to our sense of purpose. We can choose who we engage with so we feel seen, understood and valued. Understanding that we have this power of choice is freeing.

How do you like to relax outside of work?

I love anticipating new experiences, and I have almost as much fun planning to go on a vacation as I do on the trip itself. I love having tickets for the next big concert, musical production, or sporting event. I tend to be the epitome of “booked and busy.” But when I don’t have tickets, I’ll happily curl up on the daybed with a good book and get lost in the pages for hours.

Favorite book you recommend to your friends?

I have eclectic taste and always have a queue of fairly diverse books on my nightstand. I just finished The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak and was blown away. In nonfiction, I’d highly recommend The Phoenix Economy by Felix Salmon (my brother-in-law!), which explores the “new not normal” post-pandemic.

What is your work motto?

I have a tiny tattoo on my left wrist of two X’s interlocked, representing the Viking symbol Inguz, which means “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” On a team, as long as you have a sense of purpose and alignment, there is nothing you cannot achieve.

Main image: Roeya Vaughan. (Tacori)

This article is from the November-December 2023 issue of Rapaport Magazine. View other articles here.