and exercise—things she learned to do at her pageant camp. By the time she was 23, her company was one of the biggest modeling schools in the city. Then life took another major detour.
Come fly with me In 1997, the U.S. Army and Air Force had bases stationed in Hungary due to the Bosnian War. She met an American, a major in the Air Force named Irene, who she conversed with by translator, since Gabriella did not speak English. They exchanged addresses and phone numbers, assuming their paths would never cross again since Irene was heading back to America. A few months later, Gabriella’s mom insisted she call Irene since they had access to a free English translator. Irene eventually invited Gabriella to America. Selling most of her clothes to buy a ticket, she headed to the States with $500 in hand.
A foundation for success On May 12, 1997, Gabriella landed in Irene’s hometown of St. Louis. She started taking English classes and watching news programs to develop better communication skills. She admits now that she was completely overwhelmed by everything in America, especially the malls, which were unlike anything she had ever experienced. “I never saw a T-shirt in 10 different colors,” Gabriella recalls. While at a Macy’s department store, a woman from the cosmetic department approached her about a job with Clinique, which because she thought was in a hospital (clinic), she initially turned down. She eventually relented and landed a position with Dior. “I was extremely excited since I knew Dior very well from living in Europe,” Gabriella says. “I had only been in America for four months and had no idea what an interview was. I remember the saying to the interviewer, ‘I know I am probably not a perfect
candidate but, if you give me a chance, I will make you proud.’ And that was the start of my career with Dior.” From counter manager to account coordinator and account executive, Gabriella continued to advance in her career. By the time she resigned in 2014, Gabriella oversaw 49 stores in four states and generated $4 million in annual revenue. And that’s when her latest adventure began.
Giving—and getting—back Since Gabriella was in the retail industry at Dior, she had always worked on Christmas—a time when shoppers are desperately spending money and trying to complete their holiday shopping lists. She vowed one day to help take care of the less fortunate during the holidays. In 2010, she had a rare Christmas off, so her and Carl drove to downtown St. Louis with 50 sandwiches, cookies and drinks to serve the homeless. It was
Gabriella (left) with sister Krisztina.
Gabriella and Carl in Egypt.
How sweet it is In 2009, Gabriella met her husband, Carl, while traveling. They married in 2013. Since she had focused on analytics and finance throughout her career, he convinced her to work for one of his many companies. For the past five years, she has served as vice president at Cedar Lake Cellars winery, an event venue located on more than 370 acres of land in Wright City, Missouri. While Carl is the man behind creating the countryside wonder, Gabriella is the face of the winery, whether it involves creating special events or driving growth through her strategic financial forecasting. Looking back, Gabriella admits she could never hold this type of job in Hungary, a role she said would only be occupied by men. “I am grateful for all of the opportunities I have had throughout the years, particularly the one I have now because I believe I am making a difference.”
gone in 10 minutes so they came back in the afternoon with even more food. And thus began the Bolm family tradition. Today, Gabriella, Carl and friends drive a Christmas Eve caravan of trucks and trailers filled with clothes they collect throughout the year. The goal is to make nobody goes without. Gabriella remembers one year meeting a homeless woman walking with a trash bag that held all of her belongings. Gabriella asked her how she was and she replied, “I can’t complain.” The moment stayed with her. It made her thankful to have a home filled with food, a loving husband, an amazing job and good health. And it made her proud of the journey she has taken.
Gabriella Bolm is VP of Cedar Lake Cellars Winery and Event Venue. leadupforwomen.com
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