LEAVE YOUR MARK: Freshly Brewed Career Advice with Aliza Licht

Dr. Marcus Collins is an award-winning marketer and cultural translator with one foot in the world of practice—serving as the Chief Strategy Officer at Wieden+Kennedy New York—and one foot in the world of academia—as a marketing professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan. His book For The Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want to Be examines the influence of culture on consumption and unpacks how everyone, from marketers to activists, can leverage culture to get people to take action. Marcus's understanding of brand strategy and consumer behavior has helped him bridge the academic-practitioner gap for blue-chip brands and startups. He is a recipient of Advertising Age's 40 Under 40 award and Crain's Business' 40 Under 40 award and an inductee into the American Advertising Federation's Advertising Hall of Achievement. Most recently, he was recognized by Thinkers50 and Deloitte among their class of 2023 Radar List of 30 thinkers with the ideas most likely to shape the future. Before joining Wieden+Kennedy, he served as the Chief Consumer Connections Officer at Doner Advertising and led Social Engagement at Steve Stoute's advertising agency, Translation. Before his advertising tenure, Marcus began his career in music and tech with a startup he co-founded before working on iTunes + Nike sport music initiatives at Apple and running digital strategy for Beyoncé. In this episode, we dive deep into marketing and where brands go wrong. We discuss why balancing short-term activation with long-term brand growth is essential and the danger of doing things to be seen rather than heard. Marcus shares his expertise on culture, why we need a language to define it, and the importance of perspective in shaping your worldview.

Welcome to the LEAVE YOUR MARK snack segment on direct-to-consumer marketing for creative entrepreneurs and small business owners. Sam Safer Valentine is the co-founder and COO of Norby, an intelligent marketing and communications platform for creative entrepreneurs that helps them grow by amplifying their work through a lightweight website, collecting leads, hosting events, sending text and email campaigns, and analyzing everything. This episode will specifically focus on how to build a database from scratch and all the tools Norby has to offer- all of which I use for my marketing and especially my launch campaign for my new book, ON BRAND. PLUS THIS EXCITING NEWS! LEAVE YOUR MARK x Norby are thrilled to announce the Brand Builder Grant, an unrestricted grant of $2,500 to a brand builder or small business owner looking for funding to achieve their marketing and business goals. From the beginning, Norby's mission has been to lift up creative entrepreneurs. It started as a community; they know what it's like to build something from the ground up and how precious your resources are when you're just starting. Our goal with this Grant, just as with Norby, is to lower the barrier to entry to marketing and growing your brand and business. To give small business owners, authors, podcasters, consultants, personal brand builders a place to showcase their work, create meaningful relationships with their audience, and grow their business. Apply by June 2, 2023 for the LEAVE YOUR MARK x Norby Brand Builder Grant by texting BRAND to +1 888- 291-4241 or at leaveyourmark.norby.live.

Theresa Ebagua pursued her dream of becoming a luxury shoe designer after studying computer science, getting her MBA, and working in corporate America for ten years. As a Nigerian-born, LA and London-based luxury footwear designer, she founded Chelsea Paris, a luxury footwear brand, in 2012 inspired by her African heritage and named after her two daughters. Her mother's passing made her realize that life is short and there is no better time than the present to pursue her passion. Many celebrities, including Zendaya, Beyonce, Lupita, and Selena, have worn Chelsea Paris. Theresa acknowledges that the footwear industry is tough, but her initial ignorance of its difficulties helped her persevere and realize this dream. The ethos of her brand is craftsmanship, sustainability, and giving back. Chelsea Paris shoes are designed in London and expertly handcrafted in small artisan factories in Italy. In this episode, we discuss Theresa's determination to make it in an industry dominated by people who didn't look like her. As an outsider in a white male-dominated industry, Theresa faced challenges. She recalls people assuming she was the salesperson at trunk shows and even some advisors suggesting that she had a new "face" of the brand represented by a white man. Theresa shares her journey of making it, her early supporters like Barneys, who took a chance on her, the importance of community and paying it forward, the role of identity in fashion, and the challenges of managing a successful business. Lastly, Theresa shares her approach to self-care and the importance of giving herself that one hour.

According to serial entrepreneur, author, and Harvard Business School Senior Lecturer, Christina Wallace, pouring yourself into a single full-time job is the riskiest move you can make. Focusing on one career path doesn't work anymore for reasons ranging from recessions to student loan debt, the gig economy, climate disasters, and a global pandemic (to name a few). We need a dramatically different relationship with work that allows us to define ourselves beyond our paid labor. In her new book, The Portfolio Life: How to Future Proof Your Career, Avoid Burnout and Build a Life Bigger than Your Business Card, self-described "human Venn diagram," Christina Wallace adapts tried-and-true practices from the business sector to help you eschew the cult of ambition and experience the freedom of building the flexible, fulfilling, and sustainable life you want. Drawing on research, case studies, and her own experience, she walks you step-by-step through designing a strategy for the long haul. Because you deserve rest, relationships, and a rewarding career—not someday, but today. After all, you only live once. Wallace talks about building a life like a portfolio rather than a linear career as disruptions become more frequent and diversification and flexibility become more valuable. The Portfolio Life is an anti-hustle, pro-rest approach to work-life balance, built on three tenets: You are more than any one role or opportunity. Diversification will help you navigate change and mitigate uncertainty. When (not if) your needs change, you can and should rebalance. In this episode, we discuss the idea of a portfolio career and how having multiple areas of expertise can be beneficial. Christina emphasizes the importance of recognizing the value of diverse experiences and networks and how a Venn diagram can identify areas of opportunity and help you connect the dots between many areas of expertise. Christina shares her startup failure story and how it's now a case study at Harvard. Though crushed and paralyzed, she got back on her feet by committing to 70 coffees in 30 days. You'll learn the three crucial questions she asked her network that brought her back in touch with her self-worth and clarified her next steps.

Jane Green has written twenty-one novels including 18 New York Times bestsellers published in over 25 languages with over 10 million books in print worldwide. She is now giving busy women audio dramas as the new head of Emerald Audio, a new podcast network producing shows from some of the best-loved writers in the world. As if that wasn't enough, she's also navigating her Dear Jane column in the Daily Mail. How does Jane Green manage to do it all? The answer lies in how Jane describes herself, an energizer bunny with only two moods: on and off. In this episode, Jane takes us behind the scenes of her creative writing process, how she manages her day, her career, and her relationships. We talk about burning bridges, anxiety and fear, and how to let go of the negativity. We discuss the power of discipline in writing and how a single photograph inspired Jane to write her newest novel, Sister Stardust. Her advice for aspiring novelists is to write what you want, not what you think will sell. Don't be put off by rejection. And don't hand your book out for everyone to read and seek validation. Jane says, "Whenever we think we'll write something capturing the zeitgeist because we'll be a bestseller. The moment is gone, and you're not writing from your heart."

"Are you planning to get married in the next two years?" was the question that a hiring manager asked Maricella Herrera on a job interview in finance in 2012. That moment would change her professional journey forever, rerouting her from her finance path to empowering a women+ community. Today, as CEO of the Ellevate Network, with over 200,000 women+ members globally, she is helping to create a culture of equity and inclusion in business. As someone who has been with her company for over ten years and was promoted from within to CEO, Maricella is exploring the challenges and exciting opportunities to step up from her previous organizational role as COO to one of strategy and vision. In this episode, we discuss Maricella's journey from war-torn El Salvador and her upbringing of resilience. We discuss how her side hustle of helping Janet Hanson, founder of the former 85 Broads, became Ellevate and how Maricella joined her efforts once she withdrew her application. Maricella recalls that was the tipping point, not just a decision based on one interview. She wanted to stay in New York, and she wanted to change the world. As an outspoken Latina who readily shares her voice, Maricella expresses the importance of finding your allies and how you will be louder if you have people around you who can support you, even if you can't be loud yourself. We compare the difference between being a "generalist" versus niching down in your skills and how to think bigger, especially when you've been promoted within the same company. Maricella dispels the myth that only hard work gets you to the next level and that talking about your accomplishments and ensuring people know your value is the answer to getting ahead.

In this episode, Aliza Licht, award-winning marketer, author, and host of the Leave Your Mark podcast, discusses her new book, ⁠ON BRAND: Shape Your Narrative. Share Your Vision. Shift Their Perception ⁠and how to level up your career by working on your personal brand. Aliza is interviewed by culture and trend journalist, award-winning, four-time published author, and New York Times contributor Alix Strauss; they discuss the behind-the-scenes of ON BRAND and dive deep into what the reader can expect to get out of it. In a world where the lines between personal and professional are blurred, and we communicate nonstop in both obvious and subtle ways, getting your message right and learning how to market yourself is paramount to success and can determine which opportunities are presented to you or handed to someone else. How you show up in person, over email, and on social media communicates your personal brand. That brand deserves thoughtful cultivation and crafting as you shape your narrative, build your network, grow your confidence, and plot your future. Aliza Licht, a former fashion executive who successfully turned her communications expertise into a multimedia brand and consultancy, shares both personal and professional advice from her lived experiences and from expert contributors to help you discover what your brand is: who you already are, who you want to be, and how to ensure others see you that way. ON BRAND is ideal for anyone seeking personal development to help them level up, pivot professionally, or support through a transition. It's for the new graduate seeking their first job, the middle manager looking to level up, the executive who wants to become more notable, the entrepreneur building from scratch, the person who wants to pivot to a new career, the social media influencer who is their own brand—it's for anyone who wants to affect the way people perceive them and feel proud when they hear the words "that's so on brand for you."

Laura Gassner Otting's superpower is seeing your greatness and reflecting it back on you so that you can get "unstuck" and achieve extraordinary results. In her book, Wonderhell, Laura explores "why success doesn't feel like it should and what to do about it." Wonderhell offers a roadmap to creating the mindset that lets you move forward in life, even when your success tells you to stop right there. Did you know fear and excitement manifest in our bodies in exactly the same way? The reason that success feels stressful is because we feel the burden of what else we can achieve. Wonderhell is the sign that you are made for more. The book draws from Laura's experiences and interviews with successful entrepreneurs, activists, and artists who have faced similar challenges and come out on the other side. One of Laura's suggestions is that instead of pursuing endless growth, people should determine what they are maximizing for, whether it is profits, impact on the world, or personal freedom and flexibility. Laura frequently contributes to Good Morning America, the TODAY Show, Harvard Business Review, and Oprah Daily. Her entrepreneurial edge defines Laura's 30-year resume. She served as a Presidential Appointee in Bill Clinton's White House, helping shape AmeriCorps; left a leadership role at a respected national search firm to expand a tech start-up; and founded, ran, and sold her own global search firm. Her first book, Limitless, was a national bestseller. In this episode, we discuss the definition of success and why it isn't an endpoint but a waypoint. Why working hard doesn't end when you succeed; every time you succeed, it just gets harder. We dive into the dangers of comparison culture but the importance of surrounding yourself with people who won't let you settle for mediocrity. And the reason you feel like an impostor is because you are somewhere you never thought you'd be.

Lydia Fenet knows what it feels like to own a room. In her two-decades-long career as the leading charity auctioneer in the world, Lydia has changed the fundraising game—single-handedly raising over a billion dollars for over 800 organizations globally. At night she graces the stage alongside celebrities including Bruce Springsteen, Hugh Jackman, Matt Damon, and Jerry Seinfeld while raising money for the most notable charities in the world. As a keynote speaker, she travels internationally, speaking to groups about unlocking their sales potential and empowering their teams in the workplace. In her new book, CLAIM YOUR CONFIDENCE: Unlock Your Superpower and Create the Life You Want, global thought leader, Christie’s Ambassador, and author of The Most Powerful Woman in the Room Is You, Lydia Fenet is back on LEAVE YOUR MARK to share hard-won wisdom on how to look within, overcome fear, and claim your strongest self. Navigating a two-decade career at the world’s leading auction house while raising three children, Lydia had her own journey of learning self-assurance. Through relatable stories of big and small challenges, Lydia demonstrates that confidence isn’t something we are born with; instead, it is something that we learn by pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone and facing fears head-on. In this episode, we discuss why you should ask for forgiveness, not permission, how to create a "Teflon Shield," slam your imposter syndrome, get comfortable being uncomfortable, persist even when you want to give up, and untether yourself from what other people think about you, and more.

Melissa Nightingale is an internationally recognized expert on management and the modern workplace. She's the co-founder and partner at Raw Signal Group and has helped thousands of bosses worldwide show up with more confidence and competence in how they lead. Previously, she spent 20 years working in tech and held executive roles that spanned marketing, customer success, community, and growth. Melissa is also the author of two books: Unmanageable: Leadership Lessons from an Impossible Year and How F*cked Up Is Your Management? An Uncomfortable Conversation About Modern Leadership. When employees aren't happy at work, it's usually because of their boss, but many bosses lack the skills to manage a team. And fun fact, it's likely that if your boss is not happy with you, the odds are their boss is equally unhappy with them. In this episode, we dive deeeeeeep into management and the big mistakes bosses make, starting with identifying the actual job of being a manager. Spoiler alert: it's not necessarily what you think. We analyze the difference between being internally promoted as a manager versus coming from an external role, what should happen within the first 90 days, and how the dynamic changes when you suddenly oversee colleagues that used to be peers. We discuss how introverts and extroverts differ in management and how to make sure that people know your worth no matter how you identify. Melissa advises how to build trust with a new team, particularly in a remote setting, delegate appropriately, and establish working guardrails for your direct reports and work processes. This whole episode is a master's degree in management, no matter what you do or who you do it for.

Noora Raj Brown knows what it feels like to be uncomfortable, but she has never let it stop her. Whether it's been learning on the job or pushing unconventional conversations into the mainstream, Noora is on the front lines of what it means to be an entrepreneurial marketer. As Executive Vice President of Brand at goop, Noora has been instrumental in working with Gwyneth Paltrow to transform goop from a newsletter and multi-brand site into a full-fledged brand (and not a celebrity brand) since 2016. As a member of the executive team, Noora oversees brand and integrated marketing, corporate positioning, talent outreach, television production, social media, influencer marketing, and press strategy for the goop brand and all initiatives. She also serves as chief spokesperson for the company and CEO. Prior to goop, Noora worked in various creative industries, most recently at Time Inc, where she led communications for their fashion and style brands, including InStyle, People StyleWatch, XoJane, and Wallpaper*. She is also a founding board member of political engagement organizations I am a Voter and Commit2Change. In this episode, we dive into what makes a strong brand, and the mental filter Noora employs to decipher what's on brand for goop. We talk about the importance of hiring experts and giving them the autonomy to do their best work, why you should be learning all the things you don't find interesting, what she looks for in a hire, and why if you want to succeed, you need to be useful. We also discuss what it's like to work for one of the most famous women in the world and how feeling lost in your career is natural but can also bring the gift of time and self-reflection.

Reshma Saujani is not satisfied. As a leading activist and the founder of Girls Who Code and MOMS F1RST, Reshma is not waiting around for change to happen. She's making it happen. She has spent over a decade building movements to fight for women's and girls' economic empowerment. Girls Who Code has taught over 500,000 girls through direct in-person computer science education programming, working to close the gender gap in the tech sector. Her newest non-profit, Moms First, advocates for policies to support moms impacted by the pandemic. Moms First believes America doesn't work if we don't work for moms. Reshma is also the bestselling author of Pay Up: The Future of Women and Work (and Why It's Different Than You Think) and Brave Not Perfect: Fear Less, Fail More, Live Bolder. Her influential TED Talk: "Teach girls Bravery, not perfection," has more than 6.2 million views globally. Beginning her career as an attorney and a Democratic organizer, Reshma surged onto the political scene as the first Indian American woman to run for US Congress. Her approach to movement building has been recognized broadly, and she's been covered in Fortune World's Greatest Leaders, Fortune's 40 under 40, WSJ magazine Innovator of the Year, Forbes Most Powerful Women Changing the World, and Fast Company, 100 Most Creative People. In this episode, Reshma is incredibly transparent about her decisions, how she thinks about her priorities, and her passion for fighting injustice, particularly for women and girls. We discuss her career pivots and how she used to chase shiny objects in search of credibility before realizing that the only thing she wants now is to pass policies and see cultural change. We discuss the challenges mothers face in the workplace and the economic benefits of retaining women. Reshma would like nothing more than for corporate leaders to rip up their ERG playbooks and give working moms what they need– support and flexibility.

If you had to reflect on your life, what would be your defining moment? For Harper Spero, it was walking in NYC one day and, out of the blue, being unable to breathe. Harper has a rare Immunodeficiency called hyper IGE syndrome (there are only 300 people diagnosed in the world) and, after a life-altering surgery, decided to change the entire trajectory of her career. "The doctor said, 'You have a cyst the size of a golf ball in your right lung, and you need surgery immediately to remove it.' Everything about my life is before that call and after that call. It was such a defining moment." After the surgery, Harper realized that she needed to prioritize her health and mental well-being, which led her to leave her job in the beauty industry and explore other career options. She eventually found a job with a boss who prioritized personal development and wellness, which gave her the accommodations she needed to take care of herself. It was that role and a chance meeting that would lead to her discovering her love of coaching. After completing her certification in 2014 to become a professional coach, today Harper supports solopreneurs and small business owners in brainstorming, launching, and building their businesses. She is often referred to as the external COO/CMO of her client's businesses. In 2018, after years of not finding content related to her rare condition that resonated with her, Harper launched Made Visible, a podcast that amplifies the stories of people living with or affected by invisible illness. In 2020, she began facilitating writing classes for the Made Visible community to give them a safe place to share, feel more seen and heard, and learn from established authors. She is working with companies to create content, community, and inclusivity amongst employees living with invisible illnesses to have and experience support from their employers. In this episode, Harper and I discuss what it means to have health get in the way of a career and why it's imperative to prioritize and advocate for yourself in the workplace. We also dive into Harper's superior skills in making authentic connections, writing a compelling pitch, how she never fails to meet a deadline or a follow-up, and so much more.

What happens when you don't take a no for an answer and look at it with a win-win mindset? Answer: Great partnerships. Felita Harris is a forward-thinking executive with extensive experience driving sustainable revenue growth, formulating business strategies, and cultivating collaborative partnerships. During her career, Felita has served in senior positions, including those of Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer at Harlem's Fashion Row (HFR)/ICON360, Executive Vice President of Alexander Wang, and Senior Vice President of Donna Karan Collection (LVMH), where we worked together side by side for over a decade. She has a track record of increasing revenue, identifying innovative business opportunities, and cultivating partnerships with brands such as LVMH, Tapestry Group, Amazon, Nordstrom, and Pinterest. In this episode, Felita discusses her journey in fashion and her experience as a Black woman who was supported early on for her talent and potential. Felita credits the leaders who provided her with mentorship, networking opportunities, and a sense of inclusion. From this experience, she believes that if black and brown individuals are given the same tools and opportunities, they too can feel and experience the same sense of belonging and success she has felt throughout her career. In addition, we learn how Felita expertly taps her network and connects with one person to get to the next and next to get the introductions needed to make her projects happen. Felita also shares the difficult decisions she has made and why it's imperative NOT to get paralyzed in the now and to make any decision to see another tomorrow. Felita is passionate about professional development and building a pipeline for marginalized and underrepresented businesses in a constantly evolving industry. In 2020, she earned a certificate from Cornell University in Diversity and Inclusion. Felita is a founding member of RAISEfashion, a nonprofit network of fashion industry leaders that provide pro-bono consultation to Black-owned businesses and individuals. Additionally, she is a thought leader for Open to All®, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the principle that everyone should be welcomed regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, religion, or disability. She advises brands in wholesale strategy, pipeline programs, merchandising, and diversity & inclusion. Among her business achievement awards are Fashion Group International Hilldun Business Innovation, Luxury Daily Women to Watch, Accessories Council Design Excellence Awards for Tech Innovation, BRAG, and Girl Scouts of Greater New York Women of Distinction.

How many times can you reinvent yourself? The answer lies in how many career risks you are willing to take. For Bee Shapiro, it's been many. After starting a career at a major law firm, Bee leveraged her strong skills and love of writing and pitched herself cold to the New York Times, where she landed a job covering fashion. When the Time's beauty columnist left, she raised her hand to take on beauty. It turned out to be one of the best things to happen in her career. When Bee became pregnant, she started cleaning up her beauty routine and found there were no sophisticated, clean options for fragrance. This was 2013 and the beginning of clean beauty as we know it today. Skincare and makeup had already made exciting strides, but fragrance was still stuck in another era where ingredients were almost intentionally murky. There was a lot to clear up, but Bee saw a lot of possibilities. Ellis Brooklyn officially debuted in June 2015, named after her daughter, Ellis. Ellis Brooklyn is carried at Sephora, Ulta, Credo, Revolve, and many more retailers. At the beginning of Bee's beauty brand journey, she faced challenges being an Asian woman in an industry dominated by Caucasian French males. But being an outsider proved to be an asset and gave her a unique perspective and a distinct point of view in the beauty industry. "I think in order to find what you love to do as your career. It's very similar to finding the love of your life. If you're going to fall in love with somebody or find a partner, you have to take a risk, and that's really putting yourself out there for whatever it is. It's terrifying. A lot of people are not willing to take that risk." In this episode, Bee takes us on her journey and shares all the times she questioned herself on what she was doing. We talk about how she navigated her side hustle while maintaining her full-time job and how she organizes her time juggling her writing, company, and being a mom of two young daughters. Through her story, we learn how reinvention is always possible, but the older you get, the more commitment you have to put into it.

Candace Nelson, a serial entrepreneur, founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes, and author of Sweet Success, got laid off during the dot-com bubble, leading her to reevaluate her career path. Growing up baking, Candace decided to fill her unemployed free time by attending pastry school. This experience unlocked her passion, making her realize that she needed to pursue a career that brought fulfillment and joy. She took a considerable risk and poured her life savings into creating the world's first cupcake bakery. As the original trailblazer transforming the cupcake from a commodity to a luxury experience, Candace was a pioneer. She also came up with the idea of the cupcake ATM, which allows customers to purchase cupcakes 24/7, a solution to her problem of not being able to get her hands on a cupcake late at night while having a pregnancy craving. But as you'll learn from this episode and her new book, you can't just rely on your one big idea. Innovation doesn't sleep, and competitors are just one step behind you. Candace has now expanded into pizza with a brand called Pizzana. Her book, Sweet Success, is a comprehensive guide to entrepreneurship, not a sugarcoated version--she shares the mishaps, mistakes, and hard-earned lessons she learned. In this episode, Candace speaks about the importance of perseverance and resilience and reminds listeners and aspiring entrepreneurs that before a 'yes,' there will be many more 'no's.' She also shares her approach to decision-making, which includes using her gut, heart, and mind, and emphasizes the importance of being intentional in everything. As we face an economic downturn, many people worldwide are forced to reevaluate their careers and what direction they want to go in life. Candace's story and Sweet Success are the perfect inspiration and toolkit for anyone who wants to build a brand.

Is career cushioning a new Olympic sport? It may as well be. In this special LEAVE YOUR MARK snack segment, 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. You can see her frequently on shows such as TODAY, Good Morning America, and CBS Mornings sharing insights on managing your career. Catherine's newsletter, Career Companion, is published monthly on LinkedIn. In this episode, we cover the following: The best way (and hacks!) to search for a job on LinkedIn. What career cushioning means, and why you need to do it. Why despite increasing economic uncertainty, LinkedIn's new survey has found that most professionals feel confident in their career prospects. Should employees be bold right now and ask for raises? The most important soft skills employers are looking for now. The most in-demand skills employers are seeking out. Why it's about playing the long game of building a career, not solely focusing on your current job. Advice for people on how to network on Linkedin and get mentorship. What company culture means today. The best way to fortify your network. The top three most coveted roles right now. The best way to leave your mark on LinkedIn! And more!

Ever wonder how someone builds up enough credibility to become quoted in the media or a regularly booked public speaker? Peter Shankman is a five-time bestselling author, entrepreneur, and corporate speaker. It's been 24 years since he had a typical job after he lasted one week at a magazine. As someone with ADHD, Peter learned later in life the driver behind his "faster than normal" brain and why he couldn't focus at work in the way an office job requires. Today, he travels the world as a speaker educating audiences on two of his favorite topics: how to win at customer service and why Neurodivergent employees need to be celebrated and accommodated. His book, Faster Than Normal is a New York Times bestseller. In this episode, Peter shares what it meant for him to pivot as a speaker during the pandemic and why having so much free time as someone with ADHD was a considerable challenge. He shares what it takes to get the media's attention with insider tips he knows better than anyone as the founder of HARO (Help a Reporter Out), a company he started that helps journalists find sources on deadline. Cision ultimately acquired it. Peter's depth of experience in marketing, social media, and PR has made him an expert on what it takes to make people happy, and spoiler alert: a big bag of M&Ms can sometimes do the trick. We dive into the importance of learning about people and how small personalization touches can impact someone's experience with you or your brand, leave a lasting impression, and build loyalty.

Emily Palmer is an investigative reporter whose work has taken her from a jail cell at Rikers Island to small mountain pueblos in Durango, México. She has traveled across the country inspecting child welfare laws, uncovered environmental damage in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and embedded with the Sinaloa Cartel to tell the story of the drug war from across the border. Emily has daily covered high-profile trials from New York, including drug lord Joaquín Guzmán "El Chapo" Loera and R&B artist R. Kelly. She has also gained exclusive access to inmates, including El Chapo's wife, Emma Coronel Aispuro. She had just finished covering El Chapo's trial when her editor asked if she was interested in covering the trial of Upper East Side con artist Anna "Delvey" Sorokin. Her answer: "Did anybody die?" Her editor said no, and Emily said, "I'm in." Going from her usual coverage of murder and heavy drugs to pursuing the trial of Anna Delvey seemed boring. That is until she met her. In this episode, Emily shares what it takes to do her job. Spoiler alert: A LOT, and it's often dangerous. We dive deep into the challenges of covering high-profile cases, sacrificing her personal life for the endless pursuit of the story, and how she and Anna Delvey have become very "close, close, close" source and reporter friends, and regularly texting while Anna continues to be on house arrest.

This week’s episode is a little bedtime story from me to you. I decided to record the introduction of my book, ON BRAND: Shape your narrative. Share your vision. Shift their perception. as a podcast episode narrated by me! Get ready for some self-reflection! In less than 20 minutes, I guarantee that you will start to think about yourself and your career in a totally new way. In ON BRAND, I share my strategies for developing your own personal brand to ensure your name gets dropped in rooms you’re not in, and you are put in a position to succeed because people know the value you add. A well-defined personal brand can secure your professional longevity because what you do today may not be what you do tomorrow. I’ve spent over two decades immersed in the business of shaping perception. In my early years at high-fashion magazines, I observed how influence and taste are cultivated. When I moved to the corporate PR side, I learned what it takes to build a brand with cultural impact and longevity. I’ve worked with some of the most prestigious luxury brands and have been on some of the best marketing and communications teams in the fashion industry. But I never imagined that the same tactics and marketing principles I had applied to my corporate work for years would later be pivotal in rebranding myself. In doing so, I evolved from a corporate employee to someone with a multimedia personal brand that includes two books, a podcast, speaking engagements, newsletters, a private online community, and a creative brand marketing and digital strategy consultancy. It didn’t happen overnight; it took hard work, consistency, and passion. The good news: I’m about to share all my insider secrets with you in ON BRAND. I hope you enjoy listening to this introduction!

In the early years of her career, Kimberly Lee Minor rose through the ranks quickly. But at the exact moment that her star was on the rise, she had to make a personal choice to leave her role and take care of her family. Today, Kimberly is an accomplished executive with an impeccable record of building brands and developing strategies to keep business competitive and nimble. As an executive member of leading domestic and international retailers and brand organizations, Kimberly is currently the President and Chief Commercial Officer at Bandier, where she oversees the direction of design, multi-channel merchandising, marketing, production, sourcing, and human resources. As a Black woman who was often the only or the first, Kimberly has made it her mission to move people of color, especially women, forward in the workplace. She also serves as the CEO of Bumbershoot, a boutique consulting firm that provides C-suite leadership, cultural and market insights for inclusive, equitable, and diverse representation across brand, content, product, and customer experience. She also serves as the founder and president of WOCRA (Women of Color Retail Alliance), supporting the careers of women of color in the retail industry through hard and soft skills training, leadership development, and networking opportunities. Kimberly sits on the board of BlueConic and Together Digital. WWD included Kimberly on their 50 Women in Power 2022 list. This episode is full of incredible and truthful advice. Kimberly says it like it is, and here are some of the nuggets of wisdom she shares and more! What happens when you need to put your rising star on the shelf. Why being a personality hire has its benefits. How to advocate for what you want and show up like an owner. Why you should decline an offer that’s not getting you to NEXT. How to be a part of things before you are a part of things to prove to management that, yes, you do deserve that promotion. The reason women of color need to take roles that have financial responsibility. How to build the strength of your agency. The importance of being strategic about your next career move and ensuring it fits within the narrative you are trying to tell. Know what you’re good at and why it's important to be told what you're not good at. One reason people who say that are willing to help ghost you.

Some people can't master one job, but if you're Rachel Johnson, you own your own 19-person law firm and double as a health and wellness founder. While working the high-stress life of being a lawyer for venture-backed high-growth startups, Rachel found herself never leaving her desk. Couple that with being a working mom, and it was time to make some profound health changes. In addition to being the co-founder of J&O Law, Rachel is the founder of @ahmi.health. She is on a mission to change dieting by sticking to a simple mantra of Greens. Water. Move. Repeat, and the focus is on creating small, sustainable habits you can build on to accomplish big changes in your life. What began as an accountability group would soon become a passion project for Rachel. After the birth of Rachel's second child, Rachel wanted to get healthy for good but couldn't find a company to connect and understand her needs, so she created one. That was how Ah.mi (a play on the French word for friend) was started in January 2019 when a few of Rachel's friends committed in a group text to eat healthier through simple meals and move their bodies regularly. After three months of committing together, *big* changes started to happen — Rachel and her friends felt happier and fitter than ever. The best thing was they didn't want it to end. What began as a group text has grown into an innovative health and wellness company on a mission to make healthy living *realistic* and doable for all. ah. mi's Le Health Club is a virtual health club membership that emphasizes community support and gives you the tools and resources to get healthy for good. In this episode, Rachel shares some valuable advice to those considering starting their own companies, inexpensive options if you plan to start your own business, and why you should pay attention to the things that really make you happy.

Let’s face it: Work can be complicated. Layoffs are widespread, and workplace issues like harassment and discrimination can be daunting. But then there are also less scandalous topics like non-compete agreements and new offer contracts. This week on LEAVE YOUR MARK, I talk with Peter Rahbar, my friend and personal attorney, and we unpack all of this. Peter is the founder of The Rahbar Group and has represented individuals and major companies in nearly every aspect of employment law and other workplace issues. After almost twenty years of representing major international corporate clients in high-profile matters, including over a decade as the chief employment attorney for Hearst, Peter has established a boutique employment practice representing individuals, including C-Suite executives, media personalities, and other professionals working in finance, media, sports, real estate, fashion, and tech. Peter has a unique perspective on workplace dynamics and trends due to the broad scope of his practice. He has real-time insight into hiring trends through his extensive experience in the negotiation and drafting of employment agreements, talent agreements, and separation agreements, and his specialty of representing individuals in negotiating non-competition agreements. Peter is also a tireless advocate for equal treatment in the workplace – representing and advising individuals in the negotiation, investigation, litigation, and mediation of employment disputes, including employment discrimination and harassment claims. Peter is based in New York City. He received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. Pete and I dive into every major employment law issue in this episode and cover their do’s and don’ts. This is the episode you will save and play on repeat. The big topics we cover are layoffs, non-compete agreements, pay transparency laws, how to deal with harassment in the workplace, and so much more. *This episode will provide commentary and tactical career advice from a workplace expert. It is not intended to provide legal advice or counsel.

Erica Domesek is the Queen of DIY and the founder of the innovative DIY lifestyle brand P.S.– I Made This, which launched in 2009. Since then, Erica’s passion for entertaining and hand-making beautiful objects in ways that make everyday life more colorful and fun has become her calling card. She is a distinguished expert in the areas of design and style, as well as a leader in brand marketing for 15 years. Her personal mission is to inspire and encourage people everywhere to embrace the concept of crafting the life they want. Her new book, P.S.- We Made This: Super Fun Crafts That Grow Smarter + Happier Kids!, encourages parents (and kids!) to step away from the screens and help their littles learn essential sensory, motor, developmental, and life skills. From self-expression and imaginative play to problem-solving, these projects keep kids entertained, curious, and growing. Each chapter has simple out-of-the-box crafts, recipes, and ideas to engage kids of all ages. Erica’s success is built not only on her artistic gifts but also on her belief that her network is her net worth. More than that, Erica is an expert on marketing brands and herself. Her pitches are successful because they come from an authentic place where what she asks for will ultimately benefit everyone. Erica has appeared on The Today Show, Rachael Ray, The Martha Stewart Show, E! News, among many others. She was a judge on TLC’s Craft Wars, and her work has been featured in Glamour, InStyle, Teen Vogue, Elle, Vogue, and The Wall Street Journal. Erica’s personal brand is happiness, vibrant colors, and creativity, but what happens when you suddenly realize that your world isn’t? In this episode, Erica takes us along her journey from using her talents to bring joy to others to someone who bravely recognized when it was time to say goodbye to her old self and move forward personally and professionally.

Lauren Maillian is a change agent committed to diversity, innovation, equity, and inclusion. She’s an award-winning marketer, prolific investor, advisor, entrepreneur, and board member with a multi-hyphenate career spanning over 15 years. She advised and invested in over 40 startups, and her portfolio represents over $5 billion in market capitalization. She is the CEO of digitalundivided, the leading nonprofit leveraging data, programs, and advocacy to catalyze economic growth for Black and Latinx women entrepreneurs and innovators. Their mission is to create a greater world where all women of color own their work and worth. She is also the Founder and CEO of LMB Group, a strategic marketing, and advisory company. A pioneer in the tech and funding space, Lauren was the first Black woman to start an early-stage venture capital fund as a founding partner and managing director at Gen Y Capital Partners. At 19, Lauren became the youngest winery owner in the country, co-founding the internationally recognized Sugarleaf Vineyards. She is also the author of her best-selling memoir, The Path Redefined: Getting To the Top On Your Own Terms. In this episode, Lauren shares her unapologetic view of the world, how she manages her day, tackles her goals (there are many), and works as a change agent in every room, she is in. Her advice and confidence will leave you feeling empowered to do the same.

Aya Kanai has done what most people don't know how to do— change industries. Over twenty years, she rose through the fashion industry ranks, with experience as a Fashion Director at publications including Cosmopolitan, NYLON, Women's Health, and Teen Vogue, ultimately becoming Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire. But then Aya started having the desire to evolve. She was genuinely curious to understand how the tech platforms that impact our lives daily shape their own narratives. Connecting the dots between fashion and tech was possible because of her expertise in visual storytelling. Today, Aya is the Head of Editorial and Creative for Google Shopping, where she oversees the development and execution of merchandising and consumer content. She was previously the head of content and creator partnerships at Pinterest. In this episode, Aya takes us on her journey from her college days, where she trained as a Puppeteer, to that junior year college moment when she wanted to put off getting a job and instead applied for an experimental puppet theater fellowship. That opportunity would take her to Poland, the Czech Republic, France, Japan, and the UK, with the only rule that she could not have her feet on American soil for that entire year. That experience taught her to be courageous, independent, and resourceful in challenging circumstances; remember, there were no cell phones or laptops! Aya explains her transition to tech, how she remained fearless while tackling her new experiences, and what she has learned from her peers. She also shares why it's okay to be a beginner and that at various points in your career, you will be a beginner again and again, for better or worse, so you better start getting comfortable with it.

This week's episode on LEAVE YOUR MARK is really important to me. My guest is Carly Pildis, Director of Community Engagement for the ADL (Anti-Defamation League). The ADL fights all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. They are a global leader in countering extremism and battling bigotry to protect democracy and ensure an inclusive society. Carly has dedicated her career to fighting for justice and equality on a global and national scale. All four of my grandparents survived the Holocaust camps. They witnessed and persevered through the horror in several extermination camps in Poland and were ultimately liberated from Aushvitz. I don't consider myself a political person, and I am not an activist. Still, the recent public antisemitic incidents have made me feel responsible for using my platforms to educate on this. The media largely ignore antisemitism; if it is covered, it's usually covered incorrectly. Carly Pildis is highly educated on this subject, and I hope you'll listen to this episode with an open mind. We all come from different perspectives, but I firmly believe in supporting everyone. But there are a lot of extremes at play right now, and we know that when things go to the extreme, whether at the far right or the far left, nothing good comes of it. I think you will learn a lot if you listen to the whole episode. Thank you in advance for your attention. In this episode, Carly shares the demands of her role, educates on the forms of antisemitism, why it's critical to abolish it, and behind the scenes of the ADL tackling some of the biggest headlines of late. She sheds light on one of the real misnomers about antisemitism which is that it only affects Jews. Antisemitism is hugely corrosive to democracy. "You'll see very well-meaning people be like, I support tolerance and support people of all faiths, and you're like, well, that's not really what antisemitism is. Antisemitism isn't about faith. It's about picking a group of people, an ethnic group, Jews, and blaming them for the world's ills, and sometimes that ends in violence or discrimination." The ADL's Never is Now is the largest antisemitism conference in the world. It's happening on November 10th at the Javits Center. If you're thinking about antisemitism, want to learn about antisemitism, wanting to know what you can do about antisemitism, you can learn more here. Thank you for listening, Aliza

What happens when you land your dream job and it isn't a dream in the end? Jenny Galluzzo started her career in journalism and spent many years researching, writing, hosting, and producing for Good Morning America, News 12, and Plum TV. She was excellent in her role, but after she had two children, she didn't see a path forward. Through her experience and that of her friend, Gina Hadley, they realized firsthand how hard it was to shift careers, especially after having children. Jenny understood that too many women are sidelined when family and work become overwhelming. That inspired them to come together to start The Second Shift, an innovative professional network connecting thousands of highly-skilled vetted women to flexible work opportunities with partner companies, including J.P. Morgan, Twitter, Etsy, and more. A fierce advocate for flexible remote work as a means for retaining female talent, Jenny is committed to placing women in the driver's seats of their careers so they can build lives rooted in confidence, intention, and optimism. In this episode, we discuss workplace trends, including Quiet Quitting, hustle culture, and the benefit of the limited engagement roles, aka "trying before you buy.” Jenny shares tactics for starting a gig, how to immerse quickly into a company even if it’s unorganized and there’s no direction, and why if you're a high performer, your role will be protected even during a time of layoffs.

In her own words, Hitha Palepu, a consummate multi-hyphenate who is incapable of saying no, drinks tons of coffee and admits that her secret to doing it all is not doing it all at the same time. She began her career at Cisco, but her path would eventually lead her back to her family-owned business. Today, as CEO of Rhoshan Pharmaceuticals, she oversees financing, partnerships, and strategy for the company. She led the raise of a $5M seed round and a licensing agreement with Hyloris Pharmaceuticals for the company's lead product. But along her journey to this point, she had to work harder to prove herself as someone who could handle the role when she was always the youngest and only woman in the room. Not to mention, most of her father's colleagues knew her from birth. Hitha learned that being herself was the best strategy, and instead of conforming to the conservative nature of her work environment, she would lean into her personal flair. Hitha's sense of style and mompreneur juggling know-how has made her a must-follow. Her longtime blog, Hitha On The Go, established her as an authority on lifestyle topics and gave way to her book How To Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip. She's collaborated with leading brands (Delta, Headspace, and Google) and has a highly engaged Instagram following and newsletter. She curates the Webby-honored #5SmartReads every weekday, which reaches nearly 100,000 accounts. In this episode, Hitha shares how she learned to show up in rooms where she was the minority while still being true to herself. She explains how she developed a confident voice. Spoiler alert: The answer for her lay in talking less, being firm, and establishing boundaries. Her mantra of "stop talking and listen more" is written on post-its on her computer. Ironic advice considering she's the author of WE'RE SPEAKING: The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris, someone she credits as a virtual mentor who has taught her to embrace rejection and never be put in a box.

We have all heard the term 'quiet quitting' circulating online. Before it was trendy, Jenny Blake referred to it as 'quietly unsubscribing from burnout.' From a young age, Jenny found herself promoted or exceeding expectations professionally, which always led to burnout. So the decision to work sustainably, setting aside the fears of being fired if she didn't give 200% at all times, led her to pivot again and again until she figured out her secret recipe for success. In her new book Free Time: Lose the Busywork, Love Your Business, Jenny teaches that it's not about working as little as possible. Nor is it about creating a lifestyle business purely for one's own gain. It is about creating a life-giving business that energizes everyone who is a part of it, from the owner to team members, clients, and the community. Free Time is about making small investments now to create greater optionality in the future. It's a playbook to free your mind, time, and team for your best work. This book will teach you and your team to operate efficiently and intuitively while earning abundantly, so you can make your greatest contribution as a business owner. You'll learn much from Jenny's philosophy, even if you're not a business owner. In this episode, Jenny shares how to go from friction to flow in all areas of your life, how micro guilt and focusing on what you should have done is not benefiting you, and so much more!

Lauren, aka “Lo” Harris, began her career in journalism. Early on, she was crushing whatever came her way and quickly became “too good.” Supervisors would suggest she slow down while she saw men around her moving up. Feeling like she was suffering from the “pet to threat” syndrome that many Black women experience, she felt stifled by the ceiling above her and decided that she had reached the limit of people-pleasing and trying to prove herself. As someone who had studied art in high school and loved art as a personal passion, Lo decided to explore her creativity. It wasn’t until 2020 that her work became more than just a hobby. After creating her personal illustration, Justice, reacting to COVID, the election, George Floyd, and the ongoing cause for BLM, the partnership inquiries started coming in. Suddenly, Lo was an in-demand artist. For someone who had never considered starting her own company, she faced the reality that one was beginning around her. Today, Lo is an NYC-based artist, educator, and children’s book illustrator, who uses bright colors, strong figures, and relational compositions to create celebratory work that promotes visions of a better world. The important themes incorporated into Lo’s work deal with social justice, female empowerment, and mental wellness. With an impressive client list including Amazon, Old Navy, Hulu, Warby Parker, Bombay Sapphire, and the United Nations, Lo Harris will inspire you to find a way to use your voice. She’s even been on The Ellen Show. As someone who sincerely wants to abolish gatekeeping, Lo dedicates time to educating other artists on the business. She has created her business with intention, clarifying her own brand pillars and vision for a Lo Harris Universe, which will evolve into a future lifestyle brand. In this episode, Lo takes us along her journey from the days when she had to fake it til she made it to today and how she structures her business and time. She shares why she is building a team around her instead of waiting to be chosen by an agency and why she’s not waiting for brands to call her. This episode will leave you motivated and inspired!

Melissa Ben-Ishay is not afraid to say it like it is, a characteristic that didn't go over well at her first job when she asked her boss why he didn't write the email himself if he had so many corrections. She knew she wasn't passionate about doing well in that role, and it showed. After she was fired, she was faced with what to do next. Melissa decided to turn toward her passion, baking. In 2008, together with her brother, they embarked on the journey to create Baked by Melissa. Love, passion, and dedication are part of the recipe Melissa has followed both in business and life. Today the company operates 14 stores and has sold over 150 million cupcakes. Every cupcake is made by hand using only the most delicious ingredients. Bite-sized flavors, gift boxes for every occasion, and custom nationwide shipping packaging ensure their treats arrive safe and fresh. Baked by Melissa has become an endlessly popular gift-giving brand across the U.S., and Melissa has one goal: to be happy and make people happy, one bite at a time. In this episode, Melissa transparently shares how she gathered the courage to take on the CEO role after eight years in the business. As the face and keeper of the brand, Melissa knows firsthand what it takes to create and maintain a strong brand and why she won't compromise on those principles. Melissa's strong work ethic and belief that your team is everything contribute to her success. She also believes in the importance of surrounding yourself with people who have the skills you don't. This episode is a refreshing breath of fresh air because Melissa is as real as they come. We also learn how she came up with her now famous Green Goddess salad with her 21 million views on TikTok and made by Lizzo!

Tiffany James is never going back to the financial life she led before. As a Haitian-Jamaican American from Brooklyn, New York, Tiffany had student debt after college, like most students. At 25, while working as an event manager at an NYC hotel, a co-worker persuaded her to invest in Tesla, and the rest is history. Two years later, she’s turned her initial investment of $10,000 into $2 million. In November 2020, she founded Modern BLK Girl, the largest digital platform designed for women of color to build wealth through investing in the stock market. As a self-taught stock enthusiast, Tiffany has helped over 225,000 (mostly) women break into the boys club and banish the taboos of investment. This first-of-its-kind platform has helped thousands of women of color earn over $3.5 million in the stock market, with a continued mission to get 500,000 black women in the market while growing into one of the largest online platforms for women of color to build wealth. Tiffany has been featured in Bloomberg, Fox News, Business insider, and Afrotech and has touted collaborations with Forbes, Motley Fool, and more. In this episode, Tiffany shares her motivation to learn the language of investing and so much more. If you don’t have the money to invest, think again. This is an eye-opening episode on the possibilities of changing your financial trajectory.

After a two-decade successful career in finance, Cate Luzio decided to bet on herself and become an entrepreneur. As the Founder and CEO of Luminary, she self-funded a collaboration hub for women who are passionate about professional development and expanding their networks. In this episode, you'll hear how Cate mastered the "boys club" of finance, created her own "whisper networks" and wrote the business plan for Luminary in a week. You'll also learn the importance of socializing your ideas, how to develop a thick skin, and why you shouldn't apologize for being the boss.

No one likes managing their money, but money expert and New York Times best-selling author of Boss Bitch, Rich Bitch, Becoming Super Woman, and now Miss Independent, Nicole Lapin, makes it easy. Have you ever wondered how millionaires make their money? Spoiler alert: it's not from saving money. My favorite money expert, Nicole Lapin, is back on LEAVE YOUR MARK with her new Wall Street Journal #2 bestselling book, Miss Independent. "Millionaires don't make their money just from their salaries, no matter how big their paychecks get. They have an average of seven additional streams of income, many of which are passive, meaning their money is making money for them while they sleep." Nicole had no choice but to learn the language of money, and empowering people to embrace and understand it has been her goal ever since. Nicole started out making $20K a year and getting into almost as much credit card debt. She never worked at a bank and didn't have an MBA. "I wasn't born into wealth or privilege. There were days when I didn't have food to put in my mouth, much less a silver spoon. For much of my early career, I either lived paycheck to paycheck, was in debt, and/or subsisted on a brown-rice-and-beans diet (it felt fancier than ramen). I tell you this because if I could become Miss Independent—totally financially set up and secure on my own—then anyone can, including you. I promise." Miss Independent is your best friend who knows and shares all the ins and out of saving money and investing it meaningfully. You don't have to understand finance to heed Nicole's advice. With in-depth tutorials and humor to boot, Nicole can transform your mindset to begin to think differently. In this episode, Nicole shares that she may not have been a financial expert, but she was an expert in being broke, and writing her four bestselling books was her way of teaching everything necessary to learn the language of finance. Nicole calls on a lot of BS cliches, and one of them, which she shared, was "knowledge is power," instead, Nicole says that 'action is power.' Nicole also points out that women can have it all, only if you define what 'it all' means for you and then stick to it rather than changing the goal post.

Do you know how to ask for more? Well, meet Alexandra Carter, best-selling Author of ASK FOR MORE: Ten Questions to Negotiate Anything. Alexandra is the Director of the Mediation Clinic at Columbia Law School and a world-renowned negotiation trainer for the United Nations. Her book hit #3 on WSJ's Best-Seller list. In this episode, you will learn the art of negotiation, the difference between mirror and window questions, and how learning to negotiate effectively will unlock all your future opportunities. This episode is essential learning no matter what stage of your career you are in!

Bevy Smith was my first guest on LEAVE YOUR MARK, and she's back with even more humor and incredible insights. In her inspiring book, Bevelations: Lessons from a Mutha, Auntie, Bestie, she captures her experience transitioning from a fashion advertising executive into a media personality, all while living a big, authentic, and unapologetic life. But what happens when everything you've wished for comes true and yet doesn't make you happy? In this episode, Bevy discusses the lessons of her memoir, Bevelations. The book is no holds barred- just like Bevy. This episode is full of inspiring and worthwhile lessons on living an authentic life at any age. In her fifth decade, Bevy is living her best life yet. Her TED Talk, "How to discover your authentic self -- at any age" is packed with wry wisdom where this pop culture queen shares hard-earned lessons about authenticity, confidence, mature success and why, if you put in the work, "life gets greater later."

JoAnna Hartzmark has worked in Finance, Fashion, and Tech. Instead of judging her meandering path negatively, her embrace of the unknown has made her a Swiss Army knife. As the Founder and CEO of Revelle, an e-commerce brand sitting at the cutting edge of fashion and technology, she's redefining what it means to have clothes fit for women. Her passion is solving issues at the intersection of tech and humanity. After all, the definition of clothing fit is personal. Ever since she was a young girl, her family lovingly nicknamed her a "change maven" because of her innate ability to adapt and connect with others in new situations. It was no surprise that she pursued a degree in Decision Science so she could further understand the way consumers behave and pivot in an increasingly digital world. JoAnna began her career in financial services before transitioning into luxury retail, where she supported teams at Gucci and Ralph Lauren as an e-commerce analyst. JoAnna realized that female-focused brands were not doing their part to solve female-focused problems as her career shifted through various industries. Then, Revelle was born out of her desire to address this glaring disconnect. Charged by her passion for change, Revelle is rejecting the norms of building a traditional "fashion" company and transforming the way women shop online. In this episode, JoAnna shares that pivoting doesn't necessarily mean that you have failed or your time has been wasted. She explains why you should aim to fail at least once a day. We dive into her non-linear path and learn the fun fact that JoAnna has a plethora of CVs, each telling a different story about her experience. As a new founder, JoAnna shares what it's like to build something from scratch, including the stark reality of loneliness in the beginning.

Kristy Hurt is the executive recruiter you need to know. As the founder of Kristy Hurt Consulting, she has more than 20 years of experience working with brands in luxury, fashion, and beauty. In this episode, you can expect to learn about what recruiters are really searching for, why they won't respond to your emails, the trick to negotiation, how to rock the interview process, write a killer resume, and so much more. If you're job hunting or hiring, this is a must-listen.

Fran Hauser wants you to know that you don’t have to choose between being nice and being strong. In her first best-selling book, The Myth of the Nice Girl: Achieving a Career You Love Without Becoming a Person You Hate, Fran teaches that being nice is a superpower. Now she’s back with a tactical workbook, Embrace the Work, Love Your Career, which is quickly becoming the go-to for women seeking more joy and fulfillment in their careers. Fran has pivoted in her career from accounting to media to start-up investing. Her passion lies in leveling the playing field for women through her roles of investing, writing, and speaking. Fran has invested in over 30 female-founded companies across consumer tech, CPG, media & publishing, and wellness. Much of her current work is informed by 15 years spent in media, where she rose through the ranks at Time Inc. to President of Digital. In this episode, Fran shares the importance of creating a “smile file,” having workplace champions, and why you need to build out a diverse network. She also warns about not falling prey to “distractors” at work. As an introvert, Fran shares some valuable advice on how to network, why you need to speak up no matter where you are in your career, and so much more.

I probably should have started this interview asking Hal Rubenstein what he can’t do. From reading at the age of three, teaching high school English, landing multiple magazine writing jobs out of college, owning his own successful catering business, being named the first men’s style editor of the New York Times, and defining high/low fashion as the fashion director of In Style, all while being a renowned food and fashion critic, author, and on-air personality, Hal has done it all. Hal’s passion is learning what he doesn’t know and hasn’t done. His upcoming mission is celebrating life after 50 with The Happy Grownup. This episode is one big life lesson. Hal preaches why cancel culture has gone too far, the merits of acquiring joy each day, and why you should focus on one thing you can accomplish today. He warns about the dangers of following someone else’s opinion and why you’re being judged just like a book jacket no matter where you go. Hal’s pro tip: dress like a best seller. Most importantly, Hal is banishing aging gracefully and replacing it with aging with excitement. He’s just getting started, and after you listen to this episode, you will also be.

“The path you are on is not necessarily the path you are going to stay on” is a lesson Zibby Owens wants to pass on but one she had to learn. Zibby always knew she wanted to be a writer, but when she tried her hand as an author, she was met with rejection after rejection– for years. Refusing to give up, she pushed past the pain and shame of countless nos and finally made her dream a reality. Her deeply personal book, Bookends: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Literature, shares a transparent tale of her life, its ups and downs, and twists and turns, including motherhood, leaving the workforce for over a decade, divorce, and a surprising second chance at love at 40. As an award-winning podcast host, entrepreneur, publisher, author, reader, and mother, Zibby’s life has all the makings of a movie and enough inspiration for moms everywhere or anyone striving for something they have yet to attain. As the founder and CEO of Zibby Owens Media, Zibby is determined to help busy people live their best lives by connecting to books and each other. Her brand Moms Don’t Have Time To, is the home for Zibby’s award-winning podcasts (Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books and Sex Tok), publications (including two anthologies), and communities. Zibby Books is a publishing home for fiction and memoir, which she co-founded with Leigh Newman. She’s also a regular columnist for Good Morning America, Katie Couric Media, and Moms Don’t Have Time to Write on Medium. In this episode, Zibby transparently shares her advice for pushing through the pain of rejection, how every day she learns how to let go of her Type A personality, and why when things go wrong, it’s not the right time for them to happen. Zibby continues to make the joy of writing and her love of books the centerpiece of her own bookends.

Growing up, Laurie Segall felt like she didn’t fit perfectly anywhere. As her high school newspaper editor, she always found herself writing about the odd and outcasted. But it’s probably her keen sense of what’s weird, interesting, and emerging that has made her an award-winning investigative reporter and the founder of Dot Dot Dot, a media company focused on onboarding the mainstream into a new era of the internet, Web3. Beginning in 2008 at 23 as a newly minted assistant at CNN and as Wall Street was crashing down, she began discovering a group of scrappy misfits rising from the ashes of the recession to change the world: the tech entrepreneurs. Seeing this space as an area no one at CNN was covering, she wrote a job description and pitched it. Over a decade, Laurie became one of the first reporters to give airtime to many of these founders—from Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey to Kevin Systrom and Travis Kalanick —while tracking their evolution and society’s cultural shift in the CNN startup beat she created. By the end of her tenure at CNN, she had become its on-air senior technology correspondent. She had witnessed the rise of second-wave tech, from the boom to the “complicated years” to the backlash, as her misfits emerged as some of the world’s most influential leaders. Her book, Special Characters: My Adventures with Tech’s Titans and Misfits is a memoir detailing her career journey with early access to some of the most influential people in the world during a time when they still answered their own phones. In this episode, Laurie shares her rise in investigative journalism, her struggles with the silent death of a thousand cuts of sexism in her industry, and how she learned to fight for what she knew was rightly hers. She shares that to be successful at something, you must immerse yourself in it, have the guts to ask for what you want when an opportunity presents itself, say yes, and learn how to tackle it as you go along.

Amy Odell always knew she wanted to work in journalism. As a fashion and culture reporter, she has left her mark on countless publications, most notably New York Magazine's The Cut. But she got called to interview for a role at Vogue magazine during her time there. After an unsuccessful interview with the formidable Anna Wintour, she did not get the job. The truth was she probably wasn't right for it as fashion was still an industry she was trying to understand. But if someone would have told her then that she would end up writing ANNA: The Biography, the most comprehensive account of the life and reign of Anna Wintour years later, she would not have believed them. Because of my fashion background and experience with Anna, this episode turned into a very candid discussion covering the complexities of what it is like to work with Anna, who benefits from her loyalty, and who gets left in the dust when she decides that you're radioactive. Amy and I go deep into Anna's complicated and often controversial decisions, including the defense of the antisemitic John Galliano and Georgina Chapman during the height of the Harvey Weinstein #MeToo movement. Whatever you think you know about Anna Wintour, this book and episode will shed a different light on someone who has seized and held power for over 34 years and shows no signs of being dethroned any time soon.

When will I ever get this opportunity again? A question Nicole Jeter West asked herself when a new job opportunity arose out of the blue. Would she give up her dream of working in advertising to join the New York Knicks? The answer would set her on the journey of her career. Nicole has always followed her gut and curiosity, which has led her down a path she never anticipated. She is now the CEO of the Underdog Venture Team, an organization on a mission to change the game of sports business with a new "pay it forward" model that invests in unique, social-impact-driven business opportunities led by passionate passions and diverse leaders. As CEO, Nicole is responsible for the organization's leadership, strategic vision, and growth initiatives with a focus on empowering the next generation of women and BIPOC leaders to up-level the entire industry. With more than 20 years of experience in the sports and entertainment industry, Nicole joined the underdog venture team from the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, where she was the head of brand marketing and engagement. Before joining LA28, Nicole was the chief marketing officer for Legends, and Nicole spent five years as the managing director of ticket and digital for the United States Tennis Association (USTA). She started her career in marketing at Madison Square Garden and the New York Knicks. She has earned Sports Business Journal's "40 Under 40" and "Power Players" honors while also being named one of Sports Illustrated's "100 Influential Black Women in Sports". In this episode, Nicole shares the secrets to her success which stem from what her husband calls her secret sauce: infinite tenacity and being indispensable. Nicole's journey is a lesson in taking chances and seeing the opportunity in everything, even if at the time it doesn't fit the exact mold of what you expected. We talk about the importance of shifting your perspective on what is best for the team instead of personal gain and why she believes in harmony over balance. Nicole got comfortable feeling uncomfortable years ago, and she shares why you should too.

Can you imagine what it would be like to be crazy rich? Liz Lange can. In her new podcast, The Just Enough Family, she shares her story of growing up in the Steinberg family, a name as famous as Bezos back in the day. After graduating from Brown, Liz didn’t need to work but started a career at Conde Nast in the features department. She dreamed of becoming a writer, but that’s not what happened. Instead, Liz became an accidental entrepreneur as the “first maternity wear designer”, catering to pregnant A-list celebrities. In the early 2000s, Liz gained recognition as a retail pioneer and a global trendsetter by forging multiple major licensing deals with Nike, Target, and HSN that catapulted her into a household name. But Liz wasn’t enjoying work-life balance and recognized that while we love to say women can have it all, the truth is, something always gives. In this case, one of her life areas that needed attention was her kids. She decided to sell her business to focus on her family. Entrepreneurship always runs under the surface, though. In December 2020, Liz acquired Figure, a New York-based luxury resort-wear brand, most notable for their kaftans, dresses, and soft separates, that she is a fan and customer of. Today, she is the CEO and Creative Director, intending to continue the brand’s legacy of dressing fashionable women around the world while also expanding its categories and reach. In this episode, Liz delightfully shares her truth- the good, the bad, and the scandalous. She transparently explains her rise from building her incredible brand with no design or business background to recognizing where she was falling short. We dive into her leadership style and expectations and how her childhood has shaped her perspective. She takes us on her new journey with Figure and why she believes her second act will be just as exciting as the first.

"Either do it or shut up about it" is the phrase that would ultimately lead Deborah Lippmann on the journey of a lifetime to create an eponymous empire in the beauty industry. So if you are someone like Deborah who can't stop talking about a passion, unconsciously, you are ready to go and do it. You just have to find the courage to bet on yourself. Hands down (no pun intended), Deborah Lippmann is the leading authority in the wildly competitive nail category. Established in 1999, Deborah Lippmann was founded on an ethos of quality meets care. Informed by her years on the red carpet, fashion runways, and editorial, the award-winning brand reflects her ultra-high standards in terms of product performance. It is crafted to nourish and support nails and skin. Time and again, she's broken new ground and pioneered innovative practices in both the editorial and brand arenas. Her business is a family affair, working with her husband and brother since its inception. Deborah is the go-to manicurist for an awe-inspiring list of celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, Lupita Nyong'o, Laura Dern, and Lady Gaga, to name just a few. She also enjoys stellar fashion cred through her backstage magic for such houses as Chanel, Balenciaga, Dior, and Versace. But it's in Deborah Lippmann's eponymous brand, that her creativity and business acumen truly shines. She has been crowned a "mega-manicurist" by Vogue and "one of the best manicurists in the country" by Allure. But Deborah never gave up her first dream to be a jazz singer. She has a degree in music from Arizona State University, has recorded three albums, and has her own iTunes and Spotify channels. Deborah has performed in numerous New York City clubs, including The Carlyle, Feinstein's, and The Rainbow Room. She has sung the national anthem multiple times at Madison Square Garden and recently for the Minneapolis Twins. In this episode, Deborah shares how she navigated her true passion as a professional jazz singer– a lifelong love and also began a journey that would lead to building a luxury nail brand. We discuss the intimacy of her business, how to build authentic relationships and the secret to her longevity and success. Plus, the behind-the-scenes of what it's like working with Hollywood's biggest stars during award season!

After experiencing the utter bleakness of 2020’s ‘Work From Home’ life, Natalie Marshall couldn’t help but take to TikTok to poke fun at the current state of Corporate America. With 400K Followers on Instagram and over 375K on TikTok with 15.4 Million likes, she has made people around the world laugh and bond over the shared hilarity of ‘New Normal’ nuances. But while Natalie has experienced a growing social footprint, she has continued to balance her full-time corporate job. Natalie retains her anonymity to do just that! In this episode, Natalie shares her rise to social media stardom and how she balances her side hustle with her real corporate job. We also dive into the creator economy and what brands can learn from the creators who are native to these platforms. Says Natalie, “You have to speak the language if you want to be successful on Tik Tok.” We discuss the mental health aspects of being a public person and how she handles the haters and protects herself. She also shares the hard work of being a creator and the importance of outsourcing what isn’t your core competencies. Plus so much more!

If you were free from fear, who would you have the freedom to be? In her new book, Happy Days, Gabby Bernstein charts a path to heal trauma, unlearn fear, and remember love. "In order to figure out what is the path you are meant to be on, you first must unlearn all the fears that were picked up along the way," says Gabby Bernstein, who is a #1 New York Times Bestselling author, motivational speaker, spiritual leader, and podcast host. Her newest book Happy Days: The Guided Path from Trauma to Profound Freedom and Inner Peace, teaches nine transformational, yet untapped, techniques for serenity and genuine happiness—from "reparenting" yourself to bodywork practices for freeing the stuck energy of past trauma. Gabby started on her own journey from hosting intimate conversations with 20 people and evolved to speaking to tens of thousands in sold-out venues throughout the world. In 2009, Gabby was featured in The New York Times as a "guru" for the next generation. The Oprah Winfrey Network chose Gabby to be part of the "SuperSoul 100," a dynamic group of trailblazers whose vision and life's work bring a higher consciousness level to the world. Gabby connects with her community through her Miracle Membership and her podcast Dear Gabby. In this episode, Gabby shares her personal path from trauma to freedom. She explains the importance of showing up for yourself and how if you do, you will be able to show up in other areas of your life. Gabby teaches the differences between trauma with a capital T and a small t, how to broach trauma with your boss, undo the patterns that make you stuck in the past, and so much more.

You never know where your path will lead but when it shows itself, follow it. Thank you to my amazing guests and my season eight partner, Ever/Body! Catch up on episodes you’ve missed and stay tuned for season nine which kicks off 4/24!