Meet Cecy Martinez: Handbag designer and pharmaceutical executive

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cecy Martinez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cecy, how do you think about risk?
I consider myself a risk-taker. I believe that the beginning of any success story starts with a person who is willing to take a risk. Success is not achieved through a series of lucky breaks. It is the result of a dream imagined and goals set by a risk-taker, who had the dedication, commitment and perseverance to carry out all that was required to realize that dream. It’s easier to play it safe and not take risks. However, I believe the success I have achieved in the three companies I built can be attributed to the risks I have been willing to take along the way. It has been an essential part of my career and life.

Tremezzo/Lake Como, Italy, 2016 Fashion Fair, Milan, Italy, 2019 Factory in Bergamo, Italy, 2018

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
After two decades running a company, The Med Ed Group, that organizes medical conferences around the globe for pharmaceutical companies, five years ago I decided to pursue my life’s passion and I began to design handbags, CECY(R). CECY is my name but it also stands for Classic Elegance Classic You. My line of exclusive handbags transcend classic beauty and elegance. They are handcrafted by skilled artisans in USA and Italy with the finest quality leather and materials, and they reflect the classic styles of the 1950s. I believe that class never goes out of style. I also wanted my logo to have a special meaning. I used my favorite flower, the calla lily, to represent peace, along with my two favorite symbols, the heart and infinity sign. The logo means peace and love through infinity. I later filed for a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and it is now a registered trademark. I also received a trademark for my name, CECY for use in handbags. It was important to me to protect my brand as it is central to my company. Today, I run both the medical meetings company as well as my handbag business. It has been challenging at times, but it is always fun because I love what I do. It’s never easy. If it were, it wouldn’t be worth it. I overcome the challenges by staying focused on why it is that I am doing what I am doing, and I work relentlessly until I achieve it. It matters little how many times I fall, as long as I can get up, reevaluate, and try another route. The greatest lesson I have learned along the way is to listen to my heart, trust my instincts, and take the risks. I have achieved success in my profession because I have always done what I love to do. I don’t view it as work, I view it as life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am blessed to have best friends from out of town visit me frequently. As a matter of fact, at Christmas time I have a weekend with best friends that go back forty years. Our routine is usually the same: spend time in my tiki hut and drink, eat and talk all night… we actually do this quite a bit during their visit. The next day is a trip over the bridge to Palm Beach and go shopping on Worth Avenue, lunch or dinner at Taboo Restaurant or Bice’s. Another day would involve going to the Royal, on Royal Poinciana Way, not far from Worth Avenue. There, we would eat at Palm Beach Grill or go across the street to Henry’s or Almond’s Restaurants, there is also lots of shopping in that area. We also go to an event, fashion show, art exhibit or music venue. But the best part about visiting with old friends is spending quality time talking, usually into the middle of the night, laughing about things we did years and years ago that still make us laugh, no matter how many times the story has been told.

Mar-A-Lago Club, Palm Beach, 2019

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, I am most grateful for my faith in God and total trust that all will work out in the end as it was intended to, and that I will always be guided by light and by a force greater than me. This was instilled in me by my parents. My mother had the greatest impact on my life. She was my greatest mentor. She inspired me to take the risks that allowed me to accomplish all that I have achieved in my life.

The books by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking, and You Can If You Think You Can, had an impact in forming my philosophy in business and life.

Website: CECY.com

Instagram: cecy.inc

Linkedin: Cecy Martinez

Facebook: Cecy Inc.

Image Credits
Cecy promotional materials. Cecy factory in Italy Fashion fair in Milan buying chains, leathers, materials for handbags, etc.