Ofeliya Aliyev & Cristie Alvarez shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Ofeliya & Cristie, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of the day has to include a workout! It lowers cortisol levels and boosts brain function to get through the busy work day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
We are co-founders of The Social Hour, a social club in San Diego for people in their mid-20s to 30s. We host monthly private events for people to meet each other in low pressure environments. Our monthly events create space for authentic connection, new friendships, and memorable experiences. What sets us apart is our intentional focus on community—we don’t just bring people together, we also highlight the local businesses and artists that make our city special. By featuring them at our events, we introduce our audience to people and places they may not have discovered otherwise.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
We both come from immigrant families which taught us the importance of having good work ethic and how valuable it is to put your heart into what you do.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I (Ofeliya) would say, “One day, you’ll look back and be proud of how far you’ve come!”
I (Cristie) would say, “Don’t be shy or embarrassed about what you like. Do the things that make you happy even if it’s not what everyone else is doing. It’s okay to stand out because it’s what makes you special.”
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
We used to believe that we had to have everything figured out by a certain age.
But society’s timelines don’t define us — not everyone’s path follows the same pace. Growth isn’t linear. People reinvent themselves at every stage of life, and it’s never too late to go after the life you truly want.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
We feel most at peace in two places — in nature, where everything slows down and life feels simple, and when we’re with the people closest to us. There’s something grounding about both, being reminded of what really matters and feeling fully present in the moment.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialhoursd.com
- Other: TikTok handle for our friends without Instagram: @TheSocialHourSD
Image Credits
P.C.
Britta Wichary
Eli B.
Garrett Lansdown
