Superwomen With Rebecca Minkoff

Back in January, Michelle Cordeiro Grant, CEO and founder of Lively (those cute bras you see on Instagram!), was consumed by ways to expand the brand’s brick and mortar presence. What seemed like a paramount concern quickly changed as the news of coronavirus set in. With shoppers now spending more time online looking for purchases, Michelle decided to embrace the challenge, rather than shy away from it. Taking inspiration from such well-known companies as Apple, Exxon and Disney, all of which started during “periods of correction,” Michelle shares her belief that this is actually a fertile time for business if it can work to meet the needs of consumers. As she says, “This is the time to try a lot [of different things] and break shit,” knowing that each experiment takes you one step closer to success. Thanks for listening! We love our listeners! Drop us a line or give us guest suggestions here, or visit https://anchor.fm/superwomen/messages on your desktop or phone to leave us a voice memo! Follow Superwome

What does it take for a company to do well? Not financially, but in terms of its impact on employees, the community, and the environment? Susan McPherson of McPherson Strategies makes it her mission to help companies create social impact and increase corporate responsibility, with the adage that “business is a force for good, and sustainability is good for business.” After working in corporate America for most of her life, at the age of 48 Susan took the opportunity to start her own business. While it may have been scary at first, she soon realized the business she wanted to create utilized the very skills she had cultivated in working for others, but this time she could call it her own. Now in the process of getting her first book published, Susan is excited to share what she knows about forging meaningful connections by being of service to others. Thanks for listening! We love our listeners! Drop us a line or give us guest suggestions here, or visit https://anchor.fm/superwomen/messages on your desktop o

Writer Minda Harts does not want you to give up or shy away. The writer, speaker and career revolutionary has made it her mission to support women of color in their professional goals. Now, as the call for change rings stronger than ever, Minda asks that we use our intentionality to take this opportunity from a moment to a movement, holding ourselves and others accountable in such a way that contributes to long term change for the better. Thanks for listening! We love our listeners! Drop us a line or give us guest suggestions here, or visit https://anchor.fm/superwomen/messages on your desktop or phone to leave us a voice memo! Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Big Ideas The inspiration and need for books like The Memo. [03:02] Ways for white people to generate awareness and understanding of the many nuances of racism, and therefore how to work against it. [06:28] Inclusion as a way of humanizing one another. [09:04] Guest Website Minda Harts Instagram Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Vi

In this episode of our COVID-specific series we are thrilled to have guest Emilie Aries, author, speaker and CEO/founder of Bossed Up. After experiencing extreme stress from a young age working on political campaigns in D.C., Emilie decided it was time to be her own boss, creating a new career that would fuel her fire rather than burn her out. Emilie now uses research, tactical and practical training to guide other women through their own career transitions. At the moment there may be a lot of people facing this very challenge, not as a choice but as a matter of necessity. Emilie uses her expertise to share tips on job search, the concept of a “bridge job,” and ways to finesse a résumé for better results. She also dives into the importance of psychological safety as modeled in leadership, and why now it’s more important than ever to embrace our shared vulnerability with open arms. Thanks for listening! We love our listeners! Drop us a line or give us guest suggestions here, or visit https://anchor.fm/super

Maybe you’re a small business owner. Maybe you’d barely gotten your feet wet when COVID hit. Under these conditions, everyone is trying to regroup and reorganize, but small business owners are in a unique situation: they’re trying to figure out how to keep revenue flowing and adapt to the digital-first world we are living in, without the funding that a large corporation has. To tackle these topics we have Mary Ann Reilly, Head of North America Marketing at Visa. Mary Ann holds extensive experience in finance, marketing and global branding. Some of her favorite projects, however, are programs that support small businesses and champion women’s advancement. Last year, Visa partnered with the Female Founder Collective to launch She’s Next, Empowered by Visa, a global initiative that helps women in their efforts to run, fund and grow their small businesses. And, more recently, Visa announced a significant commitment to digitally enable  50 million small and micro businesses around  the globe in the wake of the ec

When Samantha DiGennaro felt things begin to falter in her corporate job, she made a bold move. Rather than meekly waiting to see how things would transpire, she headed directly into HR and crafted an elegant exit strategy. Samantha is a “take the bull by the horns” kind of gal. Rather than go to work for someone else, she took her newfound freedom as an opportunity to start her own PR and marketing firm, DiGennaro Communications. Founded on tenets of teamwork and equality, Samantha has made it her mission to embolden and uplift women in the workplace, encouraging us to find our voice and use it loudly! Special thanks to our sponsor Book of The Month.   Book of the Month is a curated book subscription that offers five new and early-release books to choose from each month. It’s a great way to branch out into new genres or styles. They also support up-and-coming authors, especially debut writers, and highlight new and diverse backgrounds. Use code BOTMXRM to get your first book for just $9.99 We love our l

As we see people flock to the streets in support of ending violence against black communities, it’s beneficial to the cause to reflect upon other forms of racial inequity that exist in the U.S. in less overt ways. One such example is the disparity in maternal mortality rates between white mothers and women of color. Nationwide, black mothers are 4-5 times more likely to die in childbirth, with those statistics rising to 8-12 times in places like New York City. COVID-19 has only made the situation worse. Latham Thomas, doula, author and founder of Mama Glow, has made it her mission to approach the entire reproductive continuum, including abortion, loss, birth, breastfeeding and even menopause, with information and support. Through Mama Glow, she works to create education and access to resources in order to support women at every stage in an ongoing commitment to advocacy through birth equity. Thanks for listening! We love our listeners! Drop us a line or give us guest suggestions here, or visit https://anch

What is it about sales? Why do so many people, especially women, cringe at the thought of trying to sell their services, even when we know we offer something of great value? This question is especially relevant under current circumstances. Laura Wright draws upon her 23 years of expertise to share how it’s possible to create a sales mindset that celebrates trust, leadership and connection. Learn how aligning with your inner strengths and values fosters longstanding relationships with clients, paving the way for a successful business built upon a foundation of integrity. Thanks for listening! We love our listeners! Drop us a line or give us guest suggestions here, or visit https://anchor.fm/superwomen/messages on your desktop or phone to leave us a voice memo! Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Big Ideas How to angle sales during COVID-19 in a way that is supportive. [03:18] Considering how to make your business of service in order to support critical needs. [07:25] Restructuring your method of sales

You may not think of painting your walls as a “therapeutic process,” but Natalie Ebel sure does. In fact, it’s her go to in times of stress. The only child of a painter by profession, Natalie grew up helping her dad paint, transposing those skills to an art degree in college. It was only natural, then, that the technical and artistic skills she learned growing up would one day blossom into her own paint company, Backdrop. Bootstrapping it with her husband and a mutual friend, the three launched the company the same year Natalie had her first child. Learning to navigate motherhood and entrepreneurship in tandem has made Natalie nothing if not scrappy, and that sort of drive and creativity has made Backdrop a definitive hit among design enthusiasts. Known for its functionality as well as its curated color palette, Backdrop was designed to make painting a pleasure. Thanks for listening! We love our listeners! Drop us a line or give us guest suggestions here, or visit https://anchor.fm/superwomen/messages on y

Folks getting ready to graduate, enter the workforce, or those early on in their careers, this episode is for you! Chances are no matter where you start in a company, you have your sights set on moving up. Here’s why it’s important to see the potential in your position and do the hard work that makes your value shine through. Rebecca gets down to business with Elisabeth Leonard, who started as a receptionist at Rebecca Minkoff and then worked her way through various positions in the company, eventually landing a job at the Female Founder Collective where she now performs her job remotely from Chile. Elisabeth emphasizes the importance of working all angles of an entry level position in order to prime yourself for moving up in the company, including cultivating a mindset of determination, commitment and a knack for clever pitching. She also shares the best ways to organize and motivate yourself when working from home, no matter what your job entails. WAYS TO MAXIMIZE PRODUCTIVITY WORKING FROM HOME PLAN YOUR

You may know Jenna Elfman from TV shows like Dharma  & Greg, or more recently Fear  the Walking Dead, but she’s also a family friend of Superwomen host, Rebecca! After wearing one of Rebecca’s early t-shirt designs on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, orders came pouring in, launching Rebecca Minkoff as a household name, making her a sought-after designer overnight and helping her pave the way to the brand she has now. Starting out as a dancer in everything from commercials, to music videos, to backup dancing for Cher, by her early 20’s Jenna had decided that she wanted to make a bigger impact in people’s lives, and the way to do that was through television. With a resume that touts numerous hit TV shows, Jenna sees the key to her success as her ability to combine the freedom to dream with the discipline of research in order to create the clearest of goals with unswerving aim. Not only has this made Jenna a success, it’s even helped some of her friends along the way! Thanks for listening! We love our listene

Financial advisor Tracy Byrnes has seen her share of earth-shaking events in the realm of finance. With a background in accounting and journalism, Tracy has reported on such events as the burst of the tech bubble and the 2008 financial crisis. She currently works as a financial advisor at UBS. Here Tracy draws on her experience to support listeners in the uncertain financial landscape dominated by fear of COVID-19. Tracy expounds upon the importance of surrounding yourself with experts in the field, including accountants, attorneys and financial advisors, and the ways in which they can guide you in the best decisions to support the longevity of your business. Thanks for listening! We love our listeners! Drop us a line or give us guest suggestions here, or visit https://anchor.fm/superwomen/messages on your desktop or phone to leave us a voice memo! Follow Superwomen on Instagram. You can reach out to Tracy directly at tracy.byrnes@ubs.com  Links UBS Business Owner Resilience Center Coronavirus Relie

This week, we're doing something a little different. Rebecca recently sat down with LinkedIn's EIC Daniel Roth for his show, This Is Working. In this last episode recorded from LinkedIn's office (remember those?) and before the pandemic hit all companies hard — including hers — Dan and Rebecca discuss how she came to embrace the business side of the business and what she’s hoping to do for other women. Thanks for listening! We love our listeners! Drop us a line or give us guest suggestions here, or visit https://anchor.fm/superwomen/messages on your desktop or phone to leave us a voice memo! Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Listen to This Is Working on Apple Podcasts Daniel Roth’s LinkedIn profile LinkedIn Editors page Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coronavirus has had an impact on daily living unlike anything most of us have ever experienced before. Navigating uncharted waters during this period can be unsettling, especially in business. Wendy Heilbut, partner at Jayaram Law Group, and Shelly Kapoor Collins, Founder and GP of the Shatter Fund, join Rebecca for this special episode focused on what female entrepreneurs need to know in the midst of COVID-19. Their experience in law, tech and fundraising provide the background for how to navigate everything from lease agreements to venture capital. And if you’re just starting your business, don’t despair. There are still plenty of companies looking to invest. Above all, this is a time when we are given the opportunity to find strength in vulnerability, and fortitude in authenticity, with the comfort of knowing we are all finding our way together. Thanks for listening! We love our listeners! Drop us a line or give us guest suggestions here, or visit https://anchor.fm/superwomen/messages on your desktop o

Most women find themselves, at one time or another, looking for the perfect accessory to compliment that special outfit, or maybe they’re simply strolling through a store with a friend and want to treat themselves to something sparkly. Finding the right look at the right price point is often harder than it needs to be. It was in this sort of conundrum that Daniella Yacobovsky found herself, wanting a little flash but not wanting to break the bank. She and her friend, Amy Jain, were wandering around a store discussing this very subject. They became friends while working in finance, then found themselves attending Harvard Business School in the same class. A casual conversation about jewelry soon became a business plan, and BaubleBar was born. Now in its ninth year and carried in major department stores throughout the country, BaubleBar is proof that inspiration can strike anywhere, anytime! Thanks for listening! We love our listeners! Drop us a line or give us guest suggestions here, or visit https://anchor

Alison Wyatt, co-founder of the Female Founder Collective, is no stranger to investing in businesses big and small. In this bonus episode Rebecca and Alison talk about how entrepreneurs can manage their expectations while fundraising during this uncertain time, along with the types of businesses that she thinks are most likely to thrive and what business owners should be prioritizing right now. "It's ensuring that you have all these scenarios that you've planned for, so that if the worst case happens you know what  that looks like, if the best case happens you can take advantage of it." Like these bonus mini episodes? Don't forget to share with your friends, leave us a voice memo, or email us your questions at  superwomen@rebeccaminkoff.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Ariane Daguin left the region of Gascony, France, in the early 1980’s to study journalism at Columbia, it was with the intention of leaving the culinary world behind. While her father is a well-known chef, Ariane had her sights set on journalism school. When a summer job in a New York charcuterie shop didn’t give her the money she needed to pay for the following year’s tuition, she stayed on, even going so far as to position the charcuterie as the exclusive purveyor of the first quality foie gras being produced at the time. The owners of the charcuterie were ultimately uninterested in the contract, but Ariane saw this as an opportunity not to be missed. Wrangling a friend and combining their savings, the two rented a warehouse in Jersey City with the intention of distributing humanely raised meat products to the restaurants of New York. D’Artagnan Foodswas born. While the first years were not easy, interest in quality meat production only grew from there. One of the first proponents of humane, eco-consc

With unemployment rates skyrocketing during the COVID-19 pandemic,  many of us are worried about our money and our investments. In this mini  episode Sallie Krawcheck, CEO and co-founder of Ellevest, answers  Rebecca's questions about money and gives us actionable tips to ease our  anxiety. HINT: It starts by taking a deep breath! So whether you're  unemployed, or wondering if now is a good time to invest in the stock  market, Sallie gives us reassurance that in the long run things will work  out. Visit http://ellevest.com/ to have your questions answered by Sally and her team. Like these bonus mini episodes? Don't forget to share with your friends, leave us a voice memo or email us your questions at superwomen@rebeccaminkoff.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She sings in the shower and in the car, and loves to watch, “The Bachelor.” She also wrote Miley Cyrus’ hit song, “The Climb.” This isn’t your best friend’s Tindr profile. We’re talking about Jessi Alexander, the prolific singer and songwriter who just released her latest album, Decatur County Red. After spending much of her career writing songs for the likes of Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and Sheryl Crow, Jessi wrote a flurry of songs that she simply couldn’t part with. They felt like they were meant to be performed by her, and her alone. After wrestling with the notion of leaving her relative anonymity behind, Jessi decided to step into the spotlight, sharing her songs and raising her voice. Thanks for listening! We love our listeners! Drop us a line or give us guest suggestions here, or visit https://anchor.fm/superwomen/messages on your desktop or phone to leave us a voice memo! Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Big Ideas The unique energy that you bring to a project when it feels like a reflectio

According to Aliza Licht, she wasn’t born with the ability to command a room. Growing up, the author, founder and president of Leave Your Mark, LLC, struggled to speak anytime she was thrust into the spotlight. It wasn’t until she was in college that she felt comfortable speaking before a group of people. Working in PR for Donna Karan, it was Aliza’s Gossip Girl-inspired tactics that made the anonymous Twitter account, @dknyprgirl, one of the first popular fashion accounts on the platform. Now the president of a successful branding and digital strategy firm, Aliza is regularly booked for public speaking engagements, coaching entrepreneurs in leadership and encouraging their success. Thanks for listening! We love our listeners! Drop us a line or give us guest suggestions here, or visit https://anchor.fm/superwomen/messages on your desktop or phone to leave us a voice memo! Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Big Ideas The creative process and how that can be fueled by openness to new ideas. [06:49] Keepin