LEAVE YOUR MARK: Freshly Brewed Career Advice with Aliza Licht

Raise your hand if you want to upgrade your personal brand but don’t know where to begin? Today is the day you can start to take your first steps! Dive into my latest episode and discover how small changes can make a big impact. This episode delivers actionable steps that you have no excuse not to employ TODAY. From updating your bios and profile pictures to creating a compelling email signature and leveraging your network connections, I provide practical steps you can take immediately. Tune in to learn about the importance of visualization, overcoming fear, broadcasting your achievements through storytelling, and using fashion to make a powerful impression. Whether you're starting out or looking to advance your career, this episode has invaluable insights for everyone

Do you have to brag to build your personal brand? The answer is no. In this episode, I address the common confusion between personal branding and bragging, emphasizing the importance of creatively shaping your narrative to show off your skills without boasting. I share a personal anecdote highlighting this issue and provide practical advice for showing your professional worth, especially on LinkedIn. Topics covered include the significance of storytelling in conveying skills, creating diverse content on social media, and avoiding the overuse of self-promotion. I also discuss the importance of embracing video content and teaching others through your posts.

Imagine what your life would be like if your mother was the CEO of a global company. She could provide advice to propel your career and help you overcome the many stumbling blocks that keep people from fulfilling their full potential at work. In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I sit down with the inspiring Karyn Schoenbart, the co-founder and managing director of Duo Partners, a New York-based investment and consulting firm. Karyn shares incredible insights into how you can master your career growth, learn to be a leader, and build a robust network. The episode delves into Karen's illustrious professional journey, from leading the MPD Group, joining illustrious boards, and co-authoring the book Mom, B.A., Essential Business Advice from One Generation to the Next, a practical guide to everything from effective first impressions and workplace politics to relationship development, skill-building, and achieving balance between work and family. The book is based on the real-life business lessons Karyn amassed during her career. Our conversation highlights critical career lessons and debunking myths, such as the stigma around making lateral career moves. Karen shares practical advice on overcoming imposter syndrome, negotiation strategies, and achieving work-life balance through strategic calendar management. You won't believe how she manages her calendar! She's also a master connector and shares how she builds significant relationships and mutual support through 'Conversations and Cocktails', a vibrant private community for C-level women. This episode provides a blend of inspiring personal anecdotes and actionable steps you can take right now.

In this fascinating episode of Leave Your Mark, I speak to Human Design expert and author of Human Design Made Simple, Emma Dunwoody, who shares transformative insights on this unique system of self-knowledge. Emma delves into the origins and scientific validity of Human Design, a system combining elements of astrology, the chakra system, Kabbalah, and I Ching to offer a comprehensive blueprint for understanding personality, strengths, weaknesses, and communication styles. Discover the five Human Design types - Manifestors, Generators, Manifesting Generators, Projectors, and Reflectors - and learn how to navigate your unique strategy and authority to minimize resistance and increase life flow. Emma also discusses the impact of Human Design on parenting, business, mental health, and the importance of self-acceptance. Tune in to explore Emma's personal journey, the healing power of aligning with one's true self, and how to achieve success and abundance by being authentic. Don't miss out on Emma's vision of a future where children grow up true to their design and how you can work with her through her authentic success club and personal coaching. 00:00 Welcome to Leave Your Mark 00:30 Introducing Emma Dunwoody and Human Design 02:25 Emma's Journey to Human Design 05:57 Skepticism and Science in Human Design 11:42 Understanding Human Design Types 17:32 Writing the Book: Human Design Made Simple 19:42 The Specificity of Human Design 20:28 Personal Transformation Through Human Design 24:11 Impact on Relationships 27:30 Understanding Shadow Selves 30:20 Human Design and Mental Health 34:15 Finding Flow State 36:01 Creating Abundance by Bending Time 38:41 Working with Emma 39:26 Emma's Legacy and Conclusion

In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I sit down with Gwen Whiting, the innovative founder behind the eco-friendly brand The Laundress, later acquired by Unilever. Gwen recounts her unique journey from her crafty upbringing to becoming a pioneer in the premium laundry sector. She shares the highs of building a celebrated brand and the sobering challenges faced post-acquisition. The discussion is a cautionary tale about the realities and risks of selling a business to a large corporation, highlighting the lack of personal care and attention that often accompanies such transitions. Listeners will learn about the importance of instinct in branding, fostering genuine supplier relationships, and the often-overlooked realities of selling a business. Now, with the launch of The Fill, Gwen is once again reinventing the cleaning industry with sustainable solutions and a private members community. Aspiring entrepreneurs will find invaluable insights into maintaining passion, managing growth responsibly, and the significance of staying true to one’s vision despite corporate challenges.

In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I sit down with Emily Tisch Sussman, the creator and host of the award-winning podcast 'She Pivots', a Tony-nominated producer, the Co-owner of Gotham FC, and a political strategist. We discuss Emily's viral article 'My Children Killed My Career,' which explores how having children shifted her career trajectory. Emily candidly shares her struggles of balancing a demanding career in political strategy while raising three young children, her journey of self-discovery, reclaiming her professional identity, and the importance of building personal brand equity. She also touches on her experiences entering the sports industry and the significance of meaningful connections. 00:00 Welcome to Leave Your Mark: Meet Emily Tisch Sussman 00:57 Emily's Viral Article: My Children Killed My Career 02:51 Balancing Career and Motherhood: The Struggles 05:38 The Turning Point: Finding a New Path 08:41 Reinventing Success: Building Equity in Your Name 11:38 Navigating New Spaces: Authenticity and Adaptability 12:40 Law School Challenges: Overcoming Self-Doubt 15:39 Embracing the Unknown: The Drive for New Challenges 17:29 Burnout and Intensity 17:43 Gotham FC and White House Challenge 19:09 Parenting Perspectives 21:26 Sports and Family Legacy 25:24 Networking and Meaningful Connections 28:58 Personal Boundaries and Success Metrics 31:22 Skincare and Final Thoughts

I've been getting so many questions about my social media strategy, so I finally made an episode about it! In the latest episode of Leave Your Mark, I share my personal rules and tips for authentic engagement. I delve into my personal strategies and unwritten rules for effective social media engagement and performance, especially on Instagram. Spoiler alert: I discuss why I avoid a content calendar, emphasize posting out of passion rather than obligation, and outline the importance of brand guardrails. I provide insights on identifying stakeholders, staying genuine, and using native platform tools to optimize performance. I also share practical tips on content creation, visual identity, and cross-platform strategies to enhance personal branding. The episode spills a lot of tea on how to creating meaningful and impactful social media content. 00:00 Introduction to Social Media Rules 01:17 The Importance of Authentic Posting 02:16 Understanding Brand Guardrails 02:54 Defining Your Social Media Goals 05:41 Content Pillars and Visual Identity 13:34 Effective Use of Social Media Tools 18:36 Collaborations and Posting Strategies 24:27 Final Thoughts and Platform Strategies

In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I welcome esteemed writer and professor Estelle Erasmus. Together, we delve into actionable tips for creating writing that stands out and resonates with readers. Estelle shares insights from her book, 'Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published,' and her extensive career in public relations and editorial roles, offering practical advice for pitching to editors and finding one’s unique voice. You’ll also learn about the importance of crafting compelling titles, starting stories in the middle, and using specific, evocative language to paint vivid pictures. Additionally, Estelle emphasizes continuous learning and maintaining a beginner’s mindset to excel in the writing field.

I've been waiting a month to discuss the Blake Lively It Ends With Us controversy on the podcast because I wanted to see how it would all unfold. First and foremost, the marketing strategy of It Ends With Us leaned heavily into a floral theme. For those who haven't read the book, Blake Lively's character, Lily Bloom, is a florist. However, the film is far from a rom-com; it tackles the severe issue of domestic violence. Simultaneously launching her new haircare brand, Blake Brown, alongside the film only added to the misalignment. Originally, the movie was slated for an earlier release, but delays pushed it to coincide with her brand launch. This scenario should have triggered a reevaluation and rescheduling of the launch dates despite the costs involved. But, the most shocking misstep was Blake's interview to promote the film. Last, the haircare brand has taken some PR hits, with customers giving it negative reviews on TikTok and many returning it to Target. Is this just typical retail woes or grassroots activism from angry fans? Dive into my analysis.

In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I sit down with my friend, Mindy Scheier, the founder of the Runway of Dreams Foundation. This episode begins on a personal note, discussing our shared experiences as mothers of sons with different forms of Muscular Dystrophy. Mindy discusses her journey from the fashion industry to creating adaptive clothing inspired by her son Oliver's desire to wear jeans. His issue? He can't close the buttons. This plea sent Mindy off on her journey, starting with the groundbreaking collaboration she secured with Tommy Hilfiger to launch an adaptive clothing line and the importance of making fashion inclusive for people with disabilities. Mindy also talks about her non-profit's initiatives, including adaptive runway shows and college programs, and her talent management company, Gamut, which advocates for the inclusion of people with disabilities in fashion and media and helps companies find authentic ways to engage with, create products for and represent people with disabilities. The episode highlights key moments, such as Mindy's collaborations with major brands, the creation of the Gamut Seal of Approval, and even the successful adaptation of her son Oliver's accommodations at Tulane University. This episode is incredibly inspiring as we end with Mindy's aspiration to make the world more inclusive, hopefully aiming for a future where the need for discussions about disability inclusion is obsolete.

Struggling with your professional introduction? In today's snack segment on Leave Your Mark, I share easy tips to nail your intro every time. I provide simple yet essential career advice on the importance of crafting a concise and impactful professional introduction, emphasizing the need for clarity, brevity, and prioritization of vital information when introducing oneself. The episode underlines that a well-crafted introduction is key to being memorable and effective in professional networking.

In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I sit down with my friend and former colleague, Gayle Perry, a renowned fashion personal stylist and interior designer known for her empowering and healing approach to style. Gayle shares her journey from a challenging childhood where she was bullied to how she turned pain into purpose and became a force in the fashion industry. With a deep belief in the power of clothing to instill confidence and transform lives, Gayle discusses her unique styling techniques, her experiences working with high-profile fashion brands, and how she helps clients of all body types and budgets feel their most confident. Gayle's story is one of resilience, creativity, and the healing power of style. Main Takeaways: Fashion as Empowerment: Gayle emphasizes that clothing is not just about appearances but can serve as armor, helping individuals feel confident and capable. Her personal experience of finding strength through fashion informs her approach to styling others. Turning Pain into Purpose: Gayle's childhood experiences, including being bullied and growing up in a divorced home, led her to discover the empowering potential of fashion. This has fueled her mission to help others feel confident and strong through what they wear. High-Low Styling Philosophy: Gayle advocates for a mix of high-end and affordable fashion pieces, demonstrating that style is accessible to everyone, regardless of budget. Her approach includes practical tips like the "Gayle tuck" and "Gayle tie" to enhance any outfit. Importance of Presentation: Gayle discusses how thoughtful dressing impacts not only personal confidence but also how others perceive and trust you. Even in a remote work environment, she stresses the importance of dressing well to boost productivity and self-esteem. Personal Connection and Mentorship: Gayle's work goes beyond mere styling; she often acts as a mentor and emotional support for her clients, helping them rediscover their self-worth and confidence through personalized fashion guidance. Whether you're looking to reignite your passion, redefine your style, or simply find the confidence to stand out, this episode will inspire you to take action.

Rebuild and Rebrand: Managing Unexpected Career Setbacks A CONVERSATION WITH AMY SHOENTHAL AND ALIZA LICHT This might be the most comprehensive career advice episode on Leave Your Mark!! Recently laid off? Didn't get that promotion you were working towards? Impacted by company restructuring? Hitting a career slump and in need of motivation? Award-winning marketers and leadership experts Aliza Licht (author of On Brand) and Amy Shoenthal (author of The Setback Cycle) hosted a live mentorship session, sharing actionable steps you can take to navigate inevitable career setbacks, using them to shape your narrative and propel you forward. We share guidance that will help you identify the best time for a pivot, show you how to confidently navigate any setbacks you're facing, and offer ways to strategically position yourself as you craft your path forward. Topics covered: MINDSET/OVERCOMING FEAR/ JUST GETTING STARTED JOB MARKET + LAYOFF NAVIGATION SETBACK NAVIGATION PERSONAL BRANDING SENIOR-LEVEL TRANSITION SOCIAL MEDIA BALANCING MOTHERHOOD and AGEISM FEELING STUCK IN A ROLE CONSULTING/SIDE HUSTLE GOAL SETTING STAYING MOTIVATED

In this new Leave Your Mark episode, I sit down with Vanessa James. Vanessa is the CEO and Founder of Vanessa James Media (VJMedia), a multi-media company where she celebrates her passions for voiceover, storytelling, travel, and on-camera hosting. You may not know her name, but you definitely know her voice. Known as "the voice you hear everywhere," Vanessa is a sought-after, seasoned multicultural voiceover actress who has lent her voice and talents to some of the world's most iconic brands. Her captivating voice can be heard nationwide on television, over 30 radio stations, and in the bustling yellow cabs of New York City on 103.5 KTU. Vanessa has voiced campaigns for Netflix, CW Network, PGA Tour, Amazon, IHeartMedia, and more. Vanessa's early years were marked by a significant speech impediment—a stutter that could have easily deterred her from pursuing a career that relies so heavily on clear and precise communication. Instead of letting this challenge define her, Vanessa transformed it into a powerful narrative of overcoming adversity. Her story is a potent reminder that our perceived weaknesses can be harnessed into our greatest strengths with determination and the right mindset. In this episode, you'll learn how Vanessa transformed challenges into triumphs, empowers women in media, and why she never stops learning how to perfect her craft. Vanessa's story is a powerful reminder that anything is possible with determination and hard work.

From the get-go, Tanya Taylor's upbringing set her apart. Growing up with parents who traveled the world with the Red Cross, Tanya was immersed in a rich tapestry of cultures and experiences. Her childhood home brimmed with diverse artifacts from around the globe, from Indonesian carved wooden temples to Thai silks. This exposure cultivated an insatiable curiosity and an appreciation for the world’s diversity, laying the groundwork for her fearless approach to fashion. In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I sit down with Tanya to discuss her journey and the driving forces behind her brand. Though Tanya initially pursued a degree in finance at McGill University, her creative spirit led her to Parsons School of Design. Here, she found her tribe and realized her true calling. Her subsequent internship at Elizabeth and James under Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen allowed her to blend her business acumen with her design passion. This experience was instrumental in shaping her understanding of the industry and inspiring her to create her own brand. Entering the fashion industry is no small feat, and Tanya’s journey was significantly shaped by the mentorship she received through the Vogue Fashion Fund. Collaborating with industry veterans like Anna Wintour, Jenna Lyons, and Diane von Furstenberg provided her with invaluable insights and guidance. Tanya’s journey and insights offer a beacon of inspiration to anyone looking to carve their own path in the fashion industry. Tanya’s brand stands out not just for its vibrant prints and hand-painted elements but also for its emphasis on size inclusivity. Inspired by her mother's fluctuating confidence tied to available clothing options, Tanya set out to create a brand that offers comfort and empowerment to women of all sizes. Her approach to fashion is deeply rooted in making every woman feel confident and comfortable in her own skin. In this episode, Tanya provides insights into her brand's success, leadership style, hiring practices, and how she cultivates creativity within her team. Whether you're an aspiring fashion designer or an established professional, this episode offers valuable lessons on following passion, embracing creativity, and building a successful brand.

Ever wonder if your LinkedIn posts are hurting or helping you professionally? Do you ever consider how people in your network feel consuming them? Are you someone that people want to mute? In this episode of 'Leave Your Mark,' I focus on effective personal branding on LinkedIn, sharing practical tips on how to post valuable and engaging content without coming off as self-centered or insincere. The episode explores common pitfalls like oversharing, bragging, and creating disingenuous posts. It also provides actionable advice on crafting posts that foster a positive personal brand. 00:00 Introduction: Are You Being Muted on Social Media? 00:36 The Importance of LinkedIn for Professionals 01:18 Shaping Your Narrative: Dos and Don'ts 02:15 Avoiding the Bragging Trap 03:18 Creating Value-Driven Posts 05:03 Engagement Strategies and Pitfalls 09:05 Balancing Vulnerability and Professionalism 11:48 Authenticity vs. Disingenuous Content 13:37 Final Thoughts on Personal Branding

In this episode of 'Leave Your Mark,' I sit down with Erica Diamond, a certified life and career coach, yoga and meditation teacher, and founder of the women's empowerment brand EricaDiamond.com. We discuss prioritizing self-care, recognizing burnout, and practical tips for time management. Erica shares her personal journey from a young entrepreneur facing burnout to a wellness advocate, providing actionable advice on managing stress, setting boundaries, and incorporating self-care into daily routines. You'll also learn about the importance of delegation, the power of walking and breathing exercises, and the concept of 'smart care.'

Jennifer Lopez has a lot going on right now, and her personal brand isn't telling a pretty story. You might assume her celebrity woes are due to overexposure, but I have a different take. You see celebrities, they're not like us. They don't like to pay attention to the chatter, and lord knows they don't like reading the comments. But when you find yourself performing in an almost empty stadium in Italy, it's time to take a long, hard look at yourself and do a brand audit. Can JLo reset and evolve, or is she over? Analyzing perceptions from social media, I delve into criticisms of JLo's public image, including her perceived lack of relatability and fan engagement. Drawing from my experience as a former fashion publicist who has worked with JLo, I make some recommendations for JLo's necessary rebrand if she wants to stay relevant in today's social media-driven world.

In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I welcome my longtime friend and former industry colleague, Larissa Thompson. We discuss Larissa's path from graphic design to the fashion industry and eventually co-founding Onda Beauty in 2016. She aimed to create a beauty and spa destination dedicated to a curated collection of clean, conscious, and safe beauty products. Larissa shares her journey of identifying a gap in the market, manifesting her vision, and building a community in a trusted space to discover, learn, and experience clean beauty products. The episode also delves into her many challenges, including the sale and eventual repurchase of Onda Beauty from bankruptcy. With anecdotes about friends helping during tough times and the importance of authenticity, Larissa gives a deep insight into her personal and professional growth through these experiences. The episode is filled with career advice, entrepreneurial spirit, and the importance of following one's intuition.

There are millions of people doing commentary on last night's presidential debate. You don't come to the Leave Your Mark podcast for political commentary. Instead, I have broken down the three most important takeaways from the debate, based on my book, On Brand: Shape Your Narrative. Share Your Vision. Shift Their Perspective., ones that can significantly impact your career.

In my first solo episode of the Leave Your Mark podcast, I dive into the common myths of personal branding. Does it make you cringe or does it make you credible? There are many misconceptions surrounding strategy, and I address common misconceptions about personal branding, such as the idea that it is primarily about self-promotion or that it requires complete transparency. I also deliver tactical and specific actionable advice on how to build a personal brand that accurately reflects your professional identity and values, underscoring the value of taking up space confidently. This episode serves as a teaser of much more advice in my book, ON BRAND, and how to manage your personal brand effectively, both online and offline.

In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I sit down with Aliza Freud, founder and CEO of SheSpeaks, to discuss the evolution of influencer marketing and the nuances of understanding women's consumer behavior. We explore Aliza's experiences from her time at American Express, the concept of the female reality gap, and the importance of authentic influencer collaborations. The conversation highlights how She Speaks uses data and qualitative research to help brands target their audience effectively, as well as the ongoing challenges and successes in the influencer industry, particularly for women. We also explore how the industry has shifted towards content that is native to social platforms and the continuing battle for pay equity among female influencers. This insightful discussion provides actionable career advice and underscores the importance of diversification, authenticity, and understanding consumer benefits over product features.

In this episode of 'Leave Your Mark,' I sit down with my friend, Amy Shoenthal, a seasoned journalist, marketing consultant, and author of The Setback Cycle: How Defining Moments Can Move Us Forward, a USA Today bestseller. We all know what failure feels like, but what if we are sleepwalking into a setback? What does that feel like? How do we proactively protect ourselves against it, or is it a defining movement that will ultimately move us forward? Amy and I discuss the pervasive nature of setbacks, especially in the context of societal and professional challenges. Amy shares insights from her book, which includes stories of leaders who have overcome significant obstacles to create impactful ventures. We explore the concept of setbacks through a four-phase framework: Establish, Embrace, Explore, and Emerge. The conversation also delves into the importance of resilience, combating self-doubt with an 'inner hype person,' and the role of continuous learning and personal branding in navigating and rebounding from setbacks.

Sex & the City meets Six Feet Under was how Alix Strauss' novel, The Joy of Funerals, was described by the LA Times 20 years ago. Inspired by a 1988 piece for the Lives section of the New York Times Magazine, this trend, culture, and lifestyle journalist and award-winning and four-time published author discussed her obsession with funerals. As an only child, Alix's personal experiences and unique perspective on life are deeply intertwined with her work. She felt the greatest connections to others at family funerals, the only occasions when she would see most of her relatives. The Joy of Funerals is a collection of humorous short stories that will both captivate and disturb you. But this trend journalist and author was way ahead of her time. In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I sit down with Alix to discuss her decision to give her groundbreaking and controversial book a second chance by rereleasing it for its 20th anniversary at a time when grief and a loneliness epidemic are even more prevalent in today's society. Alix shares her personal experiences, and the profound narratives explored in her work, shedding light on the human desire for connection amidst life's extremes. The discussion also touches upon the broader implications of social media, pandemic influences, and the changing landscape of storytelling. Host's note: This episode was recorded prior to October 7th.

In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I sit down with Kim Shapira, celebrity dietitian, nutritional therapist, and author of "This is What You're Really Hungry For: Six Simple Rules to Transform Your Relationship with Food to Become Your Healthiest Self." Kim breaks down the fundamentals of transforming one's relationship with food, and we relate all of this to work. Whether it's stress eating or feeling like you "deserve it" after a hard day, our relationship with food and our careers are intertwined. Drawing on her 25+ years of experience, Kim breaks down her 'Kim Shapira Method,' which includes six simple rules to help people eat healthier and manage their weight. She delves into the influence of emotional triggers and the importance of sleeping well, staying hydrated, and getting enough physical activity. Kim also shares personal anecdotes from her journey and insights on the controversial diet drug Ozempic. The episode provides actionable advice for anyone looking to change their eating habits and overall well-being.

In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I sit down with my friend Karen Robinovitz, a multi-faceted entrepreneur and visionary. Karen shares her diverse career journey, from a journalist contributing to major publications and authoring a book to pioneering the digital influencer management industry with Digital Brand Architects (DBA) and co-founding Sloomoo Institute, an interactive experience focused on joy and play through slime. Karen discusses her unique ability to foresee trends, from the rise of digital media to the influencer movement and the therapeutic role of tactile play in her personal grief recovery. The episode also explores Karen's contribution to addressing mental health, inclusion, and neurodiversity through Sloomoo. While discussing her career, Karen and I discussed the rise of antisemitism and the importance of speaking up against hatred. It's worth noting that this episode was filmed before October 7th. Karen's story is a testament to the power of resilience, healing through passion projects, and the impact of reinventing oneself and one's career.

In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I sit down with Shelmina Babai Abji, Founder and CEO, ShowYourWorth.ai, a distinguished speaker, bestselling author, and former high-ranking executive at IBM. Shelmina discusses her journey from humble beginnings in Tanzania to becoming a key female figure in the tech industry and her mission to advance gender equality in leadership roles. She shares insights from her book, 'Show Your Worth: 8 Intentional Practices for Women to Emerge as Leaders at Work,' offering strategies for women to maximize their leadership potential and create unique value in their careers. She highlights the importance of overcoming fear, building a personal brand, and demonstrating value for advancement. Shelmina's story is a testament to resilience, empowerment, and the critical role of intentionality in achieving professional success.

In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I welcome Madison Ciccone, a former Hollywood executive assistant turned top SoulCycle instructor and confidence coach. We discuss Madison's career transformation, from her early days in Hollywood to finding her true calling in fitness and coaching with SoulCycle. Madison shares insights into the fast-paced Hollywood lifestyle and her transition into fitness, emphasizing the importance of aligning success with purpose and fun. She also talks about creating her brand, Wicked Fearless, aimed at motivating women through virtual coaching sessions initiated during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Today, it embodies her mission to help women identify their purpose, harness bravery, and take bold action in their lives. Madison's approach is unique and intertwined with her journey and struggles, making her teachings all the more powerful and relatable. At the heart of Madison's story is the theme of fearlessness — not the absence of fear, but the courage to confront and dance with it. She highlights the importance of spirituality, self-reflection, and letting go of past baggage to uncover one's true message. By embracing the highs and lows of her journey, Madison advocates for authenticity, resilience, and the continual pursuit of self-discovery. Our conversation covers a range of topics, including the power of vulnerability, the role of spirituality in achieving success, and strategies for overcoming the comparison trap and building confidence. As Madison emphasizes, leaving a mark on the world isn't just about achieving personal success; it's about amplifying the greatness already within others and making every interaction a chance to impact someone's life positively. Her story is a powerful reminder that finding and following one's joy and purpose can lead to unimaginable fulfillment and inspire others to do the same.

As the first woman to serve as Secretary to former Governor Cuomo, the highest unelected position in state government, Melissa DeRosa knows how to thrive under pressure. In her riveting memoir, "What's Left Unsaid: My Life at the Center of Power, Politics & Crisis," she candidly shares her journey through politics, government, and becoming an author. From the frontlines of the COVID crisis to the real events behind Governor Andrew Cuomo's meteoric rise and unfathomable fall, Melissa, one of the most powerful women in New York State government, has been on the frontlines every step of the way. She opens up about personal sacrifices, navigating crises, and the support and controversy surrounding Governor Cuomo. Reflecting on her sudden thrust into the public eye, Melissa touches on the complex dynamics of personal branding, calling into question the narratives we construct around public figures and advocating for a more nuanced understanding beyond superficial judgments. In this episode of Leave Your Mark, Melissa shares her career journey from her early days in fashion PR to her rapid rise in New York State's political arena, with an unprecedented view into the behind-the-scenes crisis management of the COVID-19 pandemic. On this show and in her book, she shares the personal challenges she faced with raw honesty and vulnerability—a failing marriage, infertility, death threats, misogyny—all while navigating unprecedented professional landmines along the way.

In beauty, few names resonate as vibrantly as Marisa Meltzer. Renowned for her thought-provoking journalism and bestselling books, Meltzer has become a beacon of insightful commentary on the personal and professional narratives that shape our cultural landscape. Her latest book, Glossy: The Inside Story of Emily Weiss's Glossier, not only cements her status as a leading voice but also offers an unparalleled glimpse into the potent mix of ambition, innovation, and struggle that defines the beauty industry today. In this episode of Leave Your Mark, Marisa discusses her career, the beauty industry, and the making of Glossy, the bombshell exposé that reveals—for the first time—exactly what happened at Glossier, one of America's hottest and most consequential startups, and dives deep into Emily Weiss, the enigmatic, visionary woman responsible for it all. We explore social media's pivotal role in its success and Marisa's take on the 'girl boss' era. She also touches upon the standards of beauty and body image in the current era, the intricate process of her reporting, and her next book project on Jane Birkin. The episode dives deep into the intersection of personal branding, industry dynamics, and the evolution of beauty standards.

In a world brimming with stories of success and determination, few are as captivating, hilarious, and inspiring as that of Jen Lancaster. Best known for her candid memoirs and inventive novels, Jen's journey from corporate vice president to bestselling author embodies resilience, wit, and an unmatched knack for storytelling. She is the New York Times bestselling author of nine memoirs, five adult novels, and one YA book. Jen has sold well over a million books. After a corporate layoff in 2001, down on her luck, and stuck selling off cars, jewelry, and designer purses [which she says sucked, FYI] Jen launched a website to air her frustrations about unemployment. She began detailing her descent from designer clothing and spa visits to the unemployment line on her blog jennsylvania.com. Her acerbic wit quickly won the blog a massive following. Jen’s first memoir, Bitter is the New Black, was published in 2006. Since then, she has published [at least] one book a year, and her memoir The Tao of Martha was optioned for a sitcom by FOX. In this episode, she shares insights into her creative process, advice for aspiring writers, character development and the shift from non-fiction to fiction, her experiences with traditional and Amazon publishing, and the importance of personal branding and marketing in an author's career. Additionally, she discusses her recent projects, including her latest book 'House Moms', her work as a ghostwriter, editor, and her lessons learned along the way. Fun fact: Jen edited my latest book, On Brand!

In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I speak with the CEO at Fire Memos, career coach, and author Octavia Gorodema, who shares her expert insights on navigating career transitions and overcoming obstacles. Octavia, who founded the Twenty Ten Agency and has worked with major corporations like Google and Nike, discusses her mission to help professionals thrive in their chosen fields. Known for her impactful career development work and Audible original series 'How to Change Careers,' Octavia shares invaluable insights on navigating career transitions, defining personal success, and actioning immediate career strategies. Highlighting her initial conversation with her clients about what success means to them, she emphasizes the importance of understanding individual career goals and the subjective nature of success. We discuss the challenges of career advancement, the necessity of recognizing one's worth, the concept of a 'portfolio career,' and the implications of workplace dynamics, especially in relation to management. Octavia provides: A six-step plan for preparing for career setbacks. Advocating for self-documentation of achievements. Recognizing the common mistake of underestimating one's worth. The power of energizing and motivating others to leave a lasting mark in their careers. Octavia also talks about her book 'Prep, Push, Pivot,' which offers career strategies for underrepresented women, dealing with changes at work, handling difficult bosses, and the mistake many make of underestimating their worth. The episode is packed with practical tips for career advancement, the value of tracking accomplishments, and the power of energizing others through one's work.

Leave Your Mark is like The Devil Wears Prada meets career advice. That's what I thought of when I wrote my book in 2015. And this podcast is a continuation of everything I started back then. I'm your host, Aliza Licht. I'm an award-winning marketer, two-time author, and personal branding expert, and I am your trusted guide every week, bringing you career advice and stories that you really don't hear anywhere else. Because here's the difference: my podcast is keeping it real. And I want to make sure when you listen to these episodes, you walk away feeling like, I can do that. I can literally take that advice and employ it tomorrow. Because we don't need fluffy advice and we don't need to hear people just bragging about their careers. We need to hear real information that we can use. So join me this season, Season 14. I am so excited to be back. We have a stellar lineup of guests and this season I'm going to be doing something new. I am going to start some solo episodes based on my new book, On Brand, on specific topics. And I think it'll be really fun to have those episodes too. So subscribe to the show. I can't wait to have you listen. And please remember that whatever you're going through right now, if change doesn't hurt a little, it's not change. Keep on rocking. Aliza x

How many journalists do you know who can simultaneously report a story and inadvertently become the story? Taylor Lorenz sits in a class by herself. As a technology journalist for The Washington Post, she doesn't just report on the latest trend but writes about topics with more significant meaning and what they say about the state of technology, media, and culture. But as a creator and internet personality, Taylor has often become the story herself and a target by many. The backlash comes swiftly, frequently, and usually from right-wing media. Tucker Carlson's favorite pastime is bashing her every move. Fox has held entire segments around Taylor, and #TaylorLorenz is often a trending hashtag on Twitter (now X). Elon Musk has gone after her many times. The minute she publishes a story, she'll start trending, and the trolling begins. None of it is slowing Taylor down. Taylor Lorenz has been the authority on internet culture for over a decade, documenting its far-reaching effects on all corners of our lives. In her first book, Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet, debuts this week, she presents a groundbreaking social history of the internet—revealing how online influence and the creators who amass it have reshaped our world, online and off. "It's important to set the record straight on where the "creator economy" emerged from because, in 2021, when Silicon Valley finally woke up and was forced to take internet culture seriously because of the pandemic, there was just so much revisionist history. They were talking about how MrBeast founded the notion of productizing himself — that's just not true. Beauty vloggers were doing that back in 2012. Mommy bloggers pioneered a lot of these revenue streams, so I wanted to also talk about that. No one has written that history. I want to tell the stories that have been written out of history by Silicon Valley," says Taylor. In this episode, Taylor and I map her journey from former aspiring fashion publicist to globally renowned journalist. We cover the state of the creator economy, how she follows trends and the future of tech, where she sees social media heading, and most importantly, setting the record straight on its birth and evolution. I am honored to be included in her book for my work as the former DKNY PR GIRL social media personality I created and was the voice of from 2009-2015. I have loved watching Taylor's career. Fun fact: her first work experience was as a PR intern at DKNY in my department! She has an exceptional finger on the pulse of the internet and the ability to see patterns others don't. I truly admire her strength and resistance to her haters. In her new book, Extremely Online, she shares "the inside, untold story of what we have done to the internet and what it has done to us."

You don't need to invent something new to be a wildly successful entrepreneur. According to Liz Elting, one of Forbes's "Richest Self-Made Women in America," you only need to identify something you can do differently and better. Her new book, DREAM BIG AND WIN: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion Dollar Business, captures all her learnings.After living, studying, and working in five countries across the globe, Liz Co-founded TransPerfect out of an NYU Stern dorm room in 1992. At the time, there were already 10,000 language solutions companies in existence. In fact, she was working at the biggest one. However, Liz saw flaws in their service offerings and set out to do it better. She succeeded and built the largest language-solutions company in the world. She served as Co-CEO until 2018. Following her departure, Liz founded the Elizabeth Elting Foundation to break down systemic barriers, bridge gaps, and foster systemic change for women and other underserved communities so that people of every stripe can succeed, thrive, and reach their potential. In 2020, the Elizabeth Elting Foundation launched the Halo Fund, a comprehensive multimillion-dollar pandemic relief initiative to directly support medical needs, hunger relief, health equity, and on-the-ground efforts in underserved communities. When Liz was at NYU, she tried to find books on starting a business, but none resonated with her, and she read many. In DREAM BIG AND WIN, Liz reveals a counterintuitive approach to success and divulges practical and inspiring tips you can implement immediately. Her refreshingly frank and humorous recollections of lessons in life and entrepreneurship serve as a guide for anyone who seeks to fulfill their highest potential. DREAM BIG AND WIN is for anyone who has ever dreamed of translating their passion into purpose and creating something bigger than themselves—from one of the most successful women in America.This episode is full of tactical and sometimes surprising advice. Liz shares everything from why your goal should be to replace yourself, the shocking question she asks every candidate she interviews, why you should never be a 50/50 partner, and so much more.

In this special edition of LEAVE YOUR MARK, I sit down with Catherine Fisher, Vice President of Integrated Data and Consumer Communications for LinkedIn. Because who's better than Catherine to share the information we need right now to ensure we navigate our careers strategically? Catherine is an established marketing and communications leader and has worked for some of the most notable consumer brands, including Netflix and eBay, with more than 20 years of experience. Currently, she leads the consumer communications strategy for LinkedIn and serves as the company spokeswoman educating and inspiring people on how to think about and grow their careers.

After decades in marketing and communications and a new role as an operating partner at Traub, Kate Doerge never anticipated that she would also become a CEO. This new job, however, is the one her whole career has prepared her for and the one she was meant to do. When Kate's daughter Penny rolled off the bed at four months old, what seemed like a typical tibia fracture uncovered a diagnosis called Neurofibromatosis, also known as NF. One out of 300,000 kids is diagnosed with NF. This genetic disorder causes tumors to grow on nerve pathways anywhere in the body. At the time, doctors encouraged them to focus on healing the leg and not google NF. As parents, they were determined to make sure Penny lived a big, beautiful life. Even though she had her first surgery at 15 months old and was in a body cast for four months, she would commando crawl across the room in her bright pink cast bedazzled with gemstones. Nothing stopped Penny. Throughout her life, Penny was never defined by her ailments. She also didn't hide from them. She knew she was different from most people but never referred to it. Over her short years, Penny endured seven orthopedic surgeries and 11 brain surgeries. She never felt sorry for herself. Penny lived as a typical social and funny teenage girl with a beautiful smile and someone who was always the life of the party. Sadly, NF took Penny at 16. Within days of Penny's passing, Penny's Flight was launched in celebration of the extraordinary life of Penny Doerge and the qualities she personified — joy, artistic expression, and humor — while bravely living with Neurofibromatosis (NF) since infancy. The Foundation's mission is to make much-needed advances in medical research on Neurofibromatosis and related disorders — with a lasting impact on altering the course of this disease. There is no cure for NF, and research around the disease remains underfunded despite being one of the most common genetic disorders in the United States. Through Penny's story and bright light, the Foundation aims to expand knowledge around NF while inspiring others to find beauty in imperfection, positivity in the face of challenge, and faith over fear. In less than a year, they have raised over $3 million for Penny's Flight, and this is just the beginning. There is no greater tragedy than losing a child. Still, Kate Doerge and her husband, Chad Doerge, made a choice: to choose joy and positivity and focus on spreading their daughter Penny's light because living life with joy and optimism came naturally for Penny. In this episode, Kate shares how she and Chad handle adversity and how their mentality of choosing joy and positivity has led them. Kate shares the steps they took to build this Foundation in a few days and how anyone can model this mindset to push through even the most tragic times. As Kate says, it's not about your lifespan but your wingspan. Penny always spread her wings and shined her light. This episode is about strength, resilience, and the power of positivity, everything Penny embodied. Penny lived her life's purpose and will continue to inspire others.

Although Lisa Niver has traveled in far-off locales from Vanuatu to Nepal, received numerous accolades as an award-winning travel expert who has explored 102 countries and six continents, and is the founder of the website WeSaidGoTravel, what people don’t realize is that this began fromthe wreckage of a rotten romance. As a newlywed, Lisa was on the adventure of a lifetime. She had quit her job, rented her condo, and traveled around Asia. To the outside world, Lisa was a woman living out her dreams of exploring ancient ruins in Cambodia and seeing orangutans in Borneo. She kept a dark secret in private: an abusive relationship. But, when she found herself lying on a sidewalk in Thailand, looking up at the sky in severe pain, she knew things had to change. At age forty- seven, Niver found the courage to set course on a new life. Feeling like a failure, pushing fifty, and moving home to her parents' house to start again from scratch, Lisa began taking one tiny "brave-ish" step at a time to take her life far away from the old one and into the adventurous world of travel writing. These small hurdles led to the challenge of trying fifty new things before turning fifty. From diving into shipwrecks, swimming with sharks, bobsledding at 3Gs, indulging in wild escapades, Lisa found herself traversing the worldon a journey of reinvention, personal growth, and discovering what it actually means to be "brave." Her new book Brave-ish chronicles Lisa’s inspiring expeditions to distant corners of the world, including Myanmar, Cuba, Morocco, Kenya, and Mongolia, but this is more than a travelogue. Brave-ish inspires readers to dream big, take risks, and embrace the unknown to create a life filled with wonder and excitement, even when courage seems elusive. In this episode, Lisa shares how she saved herself, took risks, embraced the unknown, and pressed the reset button when she fell off track. She also shares how she taught herself to rest, not quit. Lisa's story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of perseverance.

Amanda Baldwin never considered herself an entrepreneur because she's technically not a founder. But her mindset shifted when she won Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2022. Amanda earned this distinction as a first-time CEO of Supergoop! the first protective skincare brand that puts SPF at the forefront because she has been breaking boundaries and innovating in her role from day one. Supergoop!'s mission is to change how the world thinks about sunscreen through its clean, feel-good, highly innovative formulas that are fun and easy to use daily. She has taken the brand to places no other sunscreen category has gone before. Amanda was also recently named one of the top 25 Women in Consumer HealthTech and a Woman of Influence by the New York Business Journal. Amanda is a veteran of the beauty and finance industries, but this role as CEO is her first. Under her leadership for the past seven years, the company has grown well over 20x, become highly profitable, and secured a majority investment from Blackstone Growth, Blackstone's platform backing the next generation of category-creating brands. Beginner's luck? No way. Her educational and experience pedigree has shaped who she is today. She oversees the entirety of the organization, setting its strategy for growth, building a world-class team, and leading the company's marketing, sales, product development, operations, and finance divisions. Before joining Supergoop! Amanda was a member of the operating team at L Catterton with a particular focus on the beauty sector. Prior to L Catterton, she led the omnichannel marketing strategy of Dior Beauty at LVMH, Inc. and held several positions at Clinique, a part of The Estee Lauder Companies. Her career began in finance as a private equity investor at Apax Partners and an investment banking analyst at Goldman Sachs. In this episode, Amanda spills the secrets to her success, and spoiler alert: it involves putting in the hard work. We discuss what it means to innovate in a category, her views on marketing and partnerships, and why one of the biggest challenges of entrepreneurship is that you can see the big, big, big, big picture, but that doesn't mean you can do all of it right away. We dive deep into what she attributes to her success in gaining management's trust to test, learn, and iterate. She shares how she thinks about leadership, the matchmaking process of hiring, and why it's not just about knowing how to do the job but LOVING to do the job and how candidates can stand out from the pack. About Amanda Baldwin About Aliza Licht Book Aliza to Speak Books: LEAVE YOUR MARK: Land Your Dream Job. Kill It In Your Career. Rock Social Media ON BRAND: Shape Your Narrative. Share Your Vision. Shift Their Perception. Follow: On Instagram and TikTok @alizalichtxo @leaveyourmarkpodcast On X @alizalicht #alizalicht #leaveyourmark #leaveyourmarkpodcast #careeradvice #femalefounders #supergoop #podcast #amandabaldwin

Stacy Igel took the plunge from corporate to launching her fashion brand in 2001. As the founder and creative director of BOY MEETS GIRL®, she set out to launch her first trunk show the week of September 11th. What she could have never anticipated is what happened instead. The catastrophic attack solidified her mission to create a brand that leads with impact. She has given back to causes important to her and the world ever since. BOY MEETS GIRL® is known for its iconic double-silhouette logo and purposeful, edgy, contemporary athleisure wear. Stacy and BOY MEETS GIRL® seeks to promote the message that confidence and courage are trends that never go out of style. She has partnered with everyone from Bergdorf Goodman and Target to the NBA's Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks, to name just a few. She collaborates with musical artists, athletes, and activists, making an impact, as well as organizations including the Young Survival Coalition, BullyBust, Human Rights Watch, GLAM4GOOD, Youth Over Guns, and many others. Her new book Embracing The Calm In the Chaos: How to Find Success in Business and Life Through Perseverance, Connection, and Collaboration is one of Barnes & Noble's Top 20 Best in Business Books where she shares her entrepreneurial journey and provides practical tips and takeaways for others to use in life and business. In this episode, Stacy takes us on her journey of fashion disruption, embracing the calm in the chaos, how she thinks about partnerships, licensing, gaming, the Metaverse, and most of all, how she spends her time. As a working mom and someone who has her hands in everything, Stacy has been able to build a global brand while still managing to have fun.

When we talk about career changes, we don't normally talk about someone going from a media role to becoming the founder of a beauty brand, but that's exactly what Sophia Chabbott did as the founder of Testament Beauty, a skincare line known for being the Mediterranean diet for your face. Testament Beauty is centered around the simple and stunningly beautiful garden-grown ingredients core to her family heritage and traditions. How did she come up with her tagline of being the Mediterranean diet for your face? She was tired of opening her medicine cabinet and being bombarded with messaging like prevent, correct, and repair. Before founding Testament Beauty, Sophia was a journalist, and we worked together during her years at Women's Wear Daily and Glamour. I remember when Sophia told me she would launch a brand over dinner. Six years in the making, most notably because of her imposter syndrome, Sophia finally got out of her way and made her dream possible at the pivotal age of 40. "I was telling my brother somebody should do a skincare line that is, you know, sort of like how we grew up, like the Mediterranean diet but for your face, and he was like, why not you?" In this episode, Sophia shares her story and experience rising in her career to become a top-tier journalist and then saying goodbye to her media life to embrace the hustle life of being a start-up founder. She shares her fears, obstacles, and, ultimately, what made her move past her self-doubt to create something uniquely her own.

Stacey Stevenson dropped out of a rural high school in the South when they were pulled out of the closet. They worked at fast food restaurants to save enough money to move to Dallas to "do something with their life" because they were intent on making it in the corporate world. Stacey achieved just that with a long history of senior defense, technology, and finance roles. But in 2021, they turned their business acumen, lived experience, and passion to work for LGBTQ+ families and those who wish to form them. As the first Black Chief Executive Officer at Family Equality, Stacey is a trailblazing leader, selected as one of Out Magazine's Out100 list — a compilation of the year's most impactful and influential LGBTQ+ people — in the fall of 2022. Stacey has already ushered Family Equality through a tremendous chapter of growth. From expanding the organization's work to protect LGBTQ+ youth and families in schools to deepening the focus on lowering barriers to parenthood in our community, they have prioritized not only advancing lived and legal equality for LGBTQ+ families but also advancing racial and social justice for BIPOC communities, those living in rural areas, and those living at or below the poverty line. And they are just getting started. A powerful speaker and motivator, Stacey regularly shares their experiences growing up LGBTQ+ in the rural South, being pulled out of the closet, and navigating life as a Black queer parent. Stacey's advocacy has helped propel Family Equality further into the national spotlight with multiple appearances on The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart, a bipartisan panel discussion hosted at the U.S. Capitol, collaborations with movement partners, countless speaking engagements, and media appearances including an op-ed in USA TODAY. In the op-ed, Stacey shared their family's story of moving from their home state of Texas in search of a more welcoming community. Stacey, wife Cheralyn, and 8-year-old twin boys, Duke and London, enjoy the life they are building in Washington, D.C. In this episode, Stacey shares their journey, which is, at times, heartbreaking but equally inspiring. We discuss their work and mission at Family Equality, the importance of being an ally, and why people cancel themselves when they don't speak up for their beliefs. We dive into work-life balance, mindful Mondays, ruthless prioritization, how they leveraged transferable skills to crush an interview for a job they had no experience in, and so much more.

Dubbed by the New York Times as the Queen of Hoops, Jennifer Fisher's accessories brand is coveted by top celebrities and the fashion set. But Jennifer Fisher's creativity doesn't fit neatly into a box. As a former wardrobe stylist for commercials, this jewelry founder's exceptional eye has graced other categories like home and interior design, and her expert kitchen skills have made her custom salts the new must-have accessory to meals across the country with @jenniferfisherkitchen. How does a jewelry designer branch out into salts? Jennifer is laser-focused on creating what she feels deep in her gut and not caring what others think. In this episode, Jennifer shares her personal story of motherhood and serious health struggles and how her son's unexpected and miraculous birth quite literally gave birth to her jewelry collection. The baby gifts being sent to her just weren't cutting it. Her famous personalized stamped dog tag was the talk of the photo shoots she was on, and all it took was making one necklace for Uma Thurman (who wore hers on the cover of Glamour), and the rest is history. Founded 18 years ago, her brand is now omnichannel and just getting started. Jennifer shares her mentality around brand-building as an individual, being super direct, and why you can't attract everyone. Note: That's ok with her. Her energy and style are contagious; you'll leave this one inspired to be yourself. Jennifer is a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), a nominee for the 2019 Accessory Designer of the Year at the annual CFDA Awards, a recipient of the 2018 Town & Country Jewelry Award for Retail Innovation, the 2016 Influencer of the Year at the annual Accessories Council Excellence (ACE) Awards and was a nominee for the CFDA Swarovski Accessories award in 2014. She speaks frequently about strategic leadership, brand building, and empowering the next generation of fashion entrepreneurs, most recently at Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, Columbia, Savannah College of Art & Design, and Northeastern University.

What does it take to get on television and succeed in media today? Jaclyn Levin knows. As an accomplished media executive, executive producer, showrunner, advisor, and consultant, she has led network news broadcasts, content development, show creation, and the building and developing of modern, multimedia, and digital-first businesses. Jaclyn earned four Emmy Awards, four Gracie Awards, an Edward R. Murrow award, two Daytime Emmy Nominations, and was named to Variety's 2020 Power of Women Impact Report. Throughout her career in network news, Jaclyn has produced and overseen award-winning, quality content with the highest level of journalistic and production value. With a front-row seat to history in the making, she has led top-tier teams of journalists delivering millions of people their news daily. Her versatility is key to pivoting from breaking news coverage to features, entertainment, lifestyle, and short-form storytelling. As one of the first female Executive Producers at TODAY, Jaclyn ran the business behind the multi-million dollar hour of television she oversaw, managing relationships with not only high-profile news anchors and entertainment talent but also partnering with all internal teams. Jaclyn spent 15 years at TODAY, and 26 total at NBC News, leaving in the fall of 2020. Today she is the president of Shriver Media, working alongside her former colleague Maria Shriver, running The Sunday Paper and all aspects of Shriver's media organization in addition to consulting with other media clients. In this episode, Jaclyn takes us behind the scenes of broadcast journalism, what it takes to break through, what it means to be a discerning executive, and how she thinks about media today.

Success is a tricky thing. For starters, what does success even mean? Everyone has their own definition of success, yet we are often held to society's standards. In this unique live event, three notable authors, Aliza Licht, Laura Gassner Otting, and Christina Wallace, discussed this topic from their experienced perspectives and respective new books, ON BRAND, Wonderhell, and The Portfolio Life. Each author brings decades of experience and fascinating stories to the table: Aliza Licht is an award-winning marketer, 2x author, host of the Leave Your Mark podcast, and personal branding expert with over twenty-five years of experience in the image-making fashion industry. Her new book, ⁠ON BRAND: Shape Your Narrative. Share Your Vision. Shift Their Perception.⁠ is part career book, part personal growth guide, and a comprehensive roadmap to building your personal brand so your name is dropped in rooms you're not in and that you're recommended for opportunities other people haven't even heard of yet. In the WSJ bestseller, Wonderhell: Why Success Doesn't Feel Like It Should . . . and What to Do About It, Laura Gassner Otting leverages her 30-year-plus resume, defined by her entrepreneurial edge, to introduce the idea that success is often both a wonder and a hell. She answers the question: Why doesn't success feel like it should? What do we do with this confusing feeling, and how do we learn to live with this newfound potential that's both exciting and exhausting? In The Portfolio Life: How to Future-Proof Your Career, Avoid Burnout, and Build a Life Bigger than Your Business Card, What Color Is Your Parachute? meets Out of Office in this inspiring, practical playbook. Christina Wallace, serial entrepreneur, podcaster, and Senior Lecturer of Entrepreneurial Management at Harvard Business School, shares her solution for anti-hustle culture and how having a "portfolio life" (rather than pouring yourself into one single full-time job) will help you future-proof your career and achieve a sustainable work-life balance while optimizing your happiness, personal growth, and bank accounts.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger could not be more true for Natasha Miller. As the multi-hyphenate CEO of Entire Productions, Inc. and Poignant Press, Natasha is also a celebrated jazz artist with seven records released on her label, Poignant Records. Her success is in spite of an upbringing so unreal and tragic that it's in the process of becoming a feature film. As the WSJ best-selling author of Relentless, Natasha has gone from living as an Iowa homeless teen to achieving the entrepreneur dream. But unlike a typical homeless teen story, Natasha was not living in squalor. She was a classically trained violinist studying with a professor at Drake University. Her whole young life, however, was defined by living with a mother with mental illness and a father who did not do his part to protect her. At age 16, Natasha's father and, sadly, her younger brother dropped her off at a homeless shelter after her mother attempted to kill her. That was the culmination of years and years of verbal abuse. After that, she was unofficially emancipated. In this extremely moving and inspiring LEAVE YOUR MARK episode, Natasha shares her story with unbelievable understanding and perseverance. She shows how her positive outlook and always seeing the best in people directed her path. While Natasha will always have to carry the heartache of her childhood with her, she has not let it stop her from achieving her dreams. Today, Entire Productions is a go-to event and entertainment production company headquartered in San Francisco. With the support of her staff, Entire Productions' trusted expertise is relied upon to execute a slate of corporate special events for an enviable roster of clients, including Salesforce, Apple, Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, and the like. They have been on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in America for three years in a row. Her publishing company Poignant Press works with leaders to create impactful books that build on their authority while inspiring and motivating others. Natasha's passion and commitment to giving back drive her invariable contributions and participation with numerous charitable organizations. Her current focus is raising awareness and funds for the Covenant House. While Natasha maintains an active full plate, she always makes time for professional and personal enrichment. She is a proud Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (Babson College) graduate who studied entrepreneurship at the Harvard Business School and MIT. Her other prestigious industry memberships include The Recording Academy (Grammys), ASCAP, and various event industry organizations. She resides in Oakland, CA, and is a member and the communications "expert" for The Entrepreneurs' Organization.

Jenny Hutt says what she's thinking, what you're thinking, and what you'll never say. As a self-proclaimed anxious optimist, she truly believes that everything will work out, but while she's going through it, she is going to stress every step of the way. That's just Jenny, and from her many years on radio and television, and now in her podcast, Just Jenny, she knows that sharing all of this will help you too. As a lawyer, podcaster, radio and television host, author, entrepreneur, personal branding consultant, and influencer, Jenny has had a diverse background and career in entertainment, business, and law. She has also cultivated a deep passion for connecting with people.You probably know Jenny's voice from her first co-hosted show From 2005-2011, "Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer," on SiriusXM satellite radio. Jenny also co-authored the 2011 book, "WHATEVERLAND: Learning to Live Here: An Exuberant and Hilariously Irreverent Guide to Life." After that, she hosted "Just Jenny," a daily call-in show on SiriusXM radio, which later gave birth to the Just Jenny Podcast (which I had fun being on.) On her show, she tackles many subjects inviting listeners to engage in honest, humorous dialogue on everything from grieving the loss of a parent to transforming her body and spirit through healthy eating and exercise. In this episode, Jenny shares her honest and endearing outlook on life, parenting, and managing day-to-day anxiety. She shows us how to find humor in the worst situations, even death. We learn what it was like to grow up as the daughter of Bunny and Charles Koppelman. Charles was of the most formidable industry executives of the past 50 years. Her father worked with everyone from Barbra Streisand to Prince. Her brother, Brian Koppelman (screenwriter, director, and producer), is the co-creator and showrunner of the Showtime series "Billions. And last but not least, her sister Stacey Fritz is her co-founder and co-inventor of Bunny Eyez®, a revolutionary eyewear company they founded in 2017. Jenny's view of the world is honest and heart-warming. Her voice will brighten your day even if you think that's not possible. In her own words, "I have always wanted to make other people feel okay, and that's really it. I just want someone to see me getting through this life, warts and all messy, and let them know that they can do it too and that they're okay as they are. So many people strive for this unattainable thing they think is greatness. But it's all smoke and mirrors. Everybody has something incredibly powerful and special about themselves. But they also have deficits and areas in their lives that aren't so great. There isn't a person on the planet who has everything the way we think they do."

Tina Greenbaum knows that the ability to think clearly under pressure and manage in high-pressure situations separates great leaders from everyone else. Tina Greenbaum, M.Ed., LCSW, is the Founder and CEO of Mastery Under Pressure, a management coaching program for high-performing executives who must refine and master their interpersonal and inter-departmental skills. She incorporates sports psychology and neuroscience into her work, emphasizing mental skills and mindset. Mastery Under Pressure gives CEOs and senior-level managers the additional professional and personal tools to excel and empower their teams and associates. As a licensed psychotherapist and sports psychology consultant with over 40 years of experience, she has long understood that being good at your profession doesn't make you good at your job. Her ability to give high-performing executives the skills they need to work within any corporate culture has made Tina California's #1 Optimal Performance Specialist. In this episode, Tina takes us through her process of creating a high-performance mindset, unlocking your inner athlete, and thriving in a highly competitive world. She shares her techniques for understanding clients' reasons for seeking help, exploring body sensations and patterns, and uncovering how past experiences shape present responses. She explains how mental toughness and resilience can be developed and taught and how limiting beliefs can be changed through examination and questioning, keeping a journal, recognizing and addressing unconscious biases, and aligning with personal values and truths.

Dee Poku Spalding creates spaces where women can be transactional and ask and receive without the pretense of five coffee chats. As the founder and CEO of The WIE Suite (Women, Inspiration, and Enterprise), a private membership club and peer learning platform for women in leadership, which I am a proud member of, Dee's mission is to redefine the way women and leaders achieve success for themselves and their companies by providing the community and tools for them to succeed at the highest levels. She is also the founder of the initiative Black Women Raise, which works to accelerate the ability of leading black female founders to raise growth capital, scale up and create pathways for the women behind them. Growing up between the UK and Ghana has influenced her humble and reserved leadership style, of which she has many lessons to share. Before founding The WIE Suite (and previously WIE Network), Dee worked in entertainment marketing at companies like Paramount and Focus Features. In this episode, we learn about Dee's meticulous planning skills, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and considering one's emotional responses to external stimuli like social media when adjusting plans. Dee created The WIE Suite because she was missing a community to lean on, to challenge the scarcity mindset, and to help empower women to rise. We also discuss the wisdom gained from rejection and the learnings from being a quiet leader. Dee is one of Marie Claire's 50 Women Changing the World, a Crain’s Notable Black Leader, won a Gold Anthem Award from the Webbys, is a CUP Catalyst Changemaker, a Harlem Fashion Week Cultural Icon and one of TRUE Africa’s 100 Top Innovators. Dee serves on the Board of Directors of The Gotham Institute of Film and the Brooklyn Bridge Conservancy as well as the British Academy of Film & Television (BAFTA)’s DEI steering committee.

Respectfully challenging the status quo and advocating for change in a large corporate organization can seem impossible. In this LEAVE YOUR MARK "snack segment," Andrea Wasserman, a visionary, outcome-driven executive with over 20 years of experience across consumer and B2B2C sectors, shares her secrets to intrapreneurship. Intrapreneurship is when you have an entrepreneurial mindset within a company that is self-motivated and proactive. In this episode, we discuss how to be a change agent in a corporate role, how to bring people on board, work cross-functionally, and motivate people who don't report to you to help execute a strategy. Andrea shares tips on being a project leader with vision, making each team feel essential to the outcome, and customizing the communication approach based on each audience's specific needs and preferences. We also discuss how mid-level employees can manage up by understanding their manager's goals better and ways they can be supportive.