News and Insights

#FINNFam Friday | Meet Celia Jones

April 29, 2022

What is the one principle that has guided your life and career?

Treat everyone with respect. My parents were first-generation immigrants from the Philippines, who worked incredibly hard to make a better life for me and my brother. Even though we grew up never having to face the hardships that they did, they instilled this within us from the beginning. No matter who you are, whatever walk of life you come from, at whatever level you are in a company, everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

Who in history would you like to have dinner with (you can name up to four people)?

Bono, Anthony Bourdain, Toni Morrison and Roger Federer.

What is your favorite app, and your favorite electronic gadget?

My favorite app is Instagram. When it first came out, I, along with everyone else, was posting all the random minutia of life. But I’ve come to embrace it as a creative outlet and exercise in seeing and being present in the beauty of everyday moments. Nearly all of my posts on @sea_glass are #nofilter – life is stunning if you just train your eyes to see!

Gadget? I know, it’s the digital age, but truth be told, I’m an analog girl. I love #IRL books, moleskin notebooks, Uniball pens, and paper planners.

What would be your splurge meal, and at what restaurant?

My perfect meal: There is a charming restaurant in a piazza off the beaten path in Rome called Clemente alla Maddalena. They make a crazy delicious homemade fettuccine dish with huge fresh scampi and a light broth that tastes like the sea. Dessert is warm chocolate souffle balls (extra crust surface area!) with whipped cream and custard. Loved it so much I came back the next day and ordered the same exact meal!

What is the one professional development tip that has been invaluable to you?

Tell a story. The most powerful communications are anchored in stories—activating different parts of your brain, increasing retention and even commanding more trust.

Also, anticipate the objections. I learned this in law school and it applies to just about every business (and personal) context. Who is the audience? What are you trying to get them to do? And most importantly, what are the barriers—both conscious and unconscious—that you need to overcome?