Everyone, Meet Austin Combs
Role: Director of Operations
Time with the Company: Three months
Go to Jewelry Piece: His college class ring and his wedding band, both meaningful pieces that represent important chapters of his story!
First, Let’s #BreakTheIce
Before jumping into the bigger questions, we wanted to start with a few easy ones. Think of this as a warm up. A chance to loosen up, have a little fun, and break the ice.
“If you were a piece of jewelry, what would you be and why?”
- If Austin were a piece of jewelry, he would be something a little unexpected. He gravitates toward pieces that are not the norm, eye-catching when they need to be, but subtle enough to stay behind the scenes. Bracelet or anklet energy feels like the right fit. Purposeful, flexible, and quietly impactful.
“What jewelry trend would you bring back (or ban forever)?”
- When it comes to jewelry trends, Austin is happy to leave oversized, ultra chunky costume jewelry in the past. He would also vote to retire shell necklaces that had their moment years ago. For him, timeless style always wins.
Okay, but Hypothetically…
Time to get creative, y’all. I chose these next questions to invite in a little imagination and encourage Austin to dream beyond the day to day.
“If jewelry had superpowers, what would yours do?”
- If jewelry had superpowers, Austin believes it would have the ability to meet real needs. He imagines jewelry that could provide food, water, or support to someone who needs it most, using sparkle as a symbol of care and connection.
“If you could create jewelry for one moment in life (first job, wedding, everyday confidence), what would you design?”
- If he could design jewelry for one specific life moment, it would be a championship ring. As a sports fan, creating something as iconic as a Super Bowl ring would combine achievement, celebration, and storytelling all in one meaningful piece!
A Glimpse Behind the Sparkle
Here is where we take a look behind the scenes. This section highlights the work, the process, and the passion that help make the magic happen.
“What’s your favorite part of the process behind the scenes? “
- One of Austin’s favorite parts of his role is watching people grow. Whether it is team members stepping into new responsibilities or the company evolving as a whole, he finds the most fulfillment in seeing progress come together over time.
“What’s a moment at work that made you think, ‘This is why I love what I do’?”
- A moment that truly stood out to him was participating in the Angel Tree initiative. Being able to see the direct impact Ryze Party had on the community was a powerful reminder of why the work matters beyond the day to day! What many people may not realize about Austin’s role is how much preparation happens long before anything reaches the field. A large part of his job involves anticipating challenges, solving problems early, and putting systems in place weeks or even months in advance. When everything runs smoothly and stress stays low, his behind the scenes work is doing exactly what it is meant to do.
Signature Question
I wanted to wrap things up with a question I ask everyone, it’s going to be our “signature question” of this series. It is a moment to reflect, connect, and share something meaningful with the field.
“What’s one thing you hope the field knows about our corporate team?”
- Austin hopes the field knows just how deeply the corporate team cares. Every detail, no matter how small, is approached with intention and ownership. There is an incredible level of thought, care, and pride woven into the work that supports the field, even when it goes unseen.
We are SO lucky to have Austin on our corporate team. Thank you, Austin, for always bringing leadership, heart, and a steady sense of sparkle to everything you do!
Tune in next week for more #BehindTheSparkle
