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LEAVE YOUR MARK: Freshly Brewed Career Advice with Aliza Licht

LEAVE YOUR MARK: Freshly Brewed Career Advice with Aliza Licht

By Aliza Licht

How do you build your personal brand and succeed in your career? In her bestselling book, LEAVE YOUR MARK, Aliza Licht, award-winning marketer, and personal branding expert, answers these questions and more. On the podcast, Aliza brews fresh career advice every Sunday with dynamic friends, delivering essential advice and motivation for succeeding in the working world where the most important thing you can have is a strong sense of self. Her new book, ON BRAND: Shape Your Narrative. Share Your Vision. Shift Their Perception. is a comprehensive roadmap to building your personal brand.
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Social Media Guru & Entrepreneur Peter Shankman on How to Build a Loyal Tribe and Why Having an ADHD Brain is a Superpower, Not a Curse

LEAVE YOUR MARK: Freshly Brewed Career Advice with Aliza LichtOct 27, 2019

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38:32
Taylor Lorenz Sets the Record Straight in Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet

Taylor Lorenz Sets the Record Straight in Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet

Episode 197: Taylor Lorenz Sets the Record Straight in Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet 

How many journalists do you know who can simultaneously report a story and inadvertently become the story? Taylor Lorenz sits in a class by herself. As a technology journalist for The Washington Post, she doesn't just report on the latest trend but writes about topics with more significant meaning and what they say about the state of technology, media, and culture. 


But as a creator and internet personality, Taylor has often become the story herself and a target by many. The backlash comes swiftly, frequently, and usually from right-wing media. Tucker Carlson's favorite pastime is bashing her every move. Fox has held entire segments around Taylor, and #TaylorLorenz is often a trending hashtag on Twitter (now X). Elon Musk has gone after her many times. The minute she publishes a story, she'll start trending, and the trolling begins. None of it is slowing Taylor down.


Taylor Lorenz has been the authority on internet culture for over a decade, documenting its far-reaching effects on all corners of our lives. In her first book, Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet, debuts this week, she presents a groundbreaking social history of the internet—revealing how online influence and the creators who amass it have reshaped our world, online and off.


"It's important to set the record straight on where the "creator economy" emerged from because, in 2021, when Silicon Valley finally woke up and was forced to take internet culture seriously because of the pandemic, there was just so much revisionist history. They were talking about how MrBeast founded the notion of productizing himself — that's just not true. Beauty vloggers were doing that back in 2012. Mommy bloggers pioneered a lot of these revenue streams, so I wanted to also talk about that. No one has written that history. I want to tell the stories that have been written out of history by Silicon Valley," says Taylor. 


In this episode, Taylor and I map her journey from former aspiring fashion publicist to globally renowned journalist. We cover the state of the creator economy, how she follows trends and the future of tech, where she sees social media heading, and most importantly, setting the record straight on its birth and evolution. I am honored to be included in her book for my work as the former DKNY PR GIRL social media personality I created and was the voice of from 2009-2015.


I have loved watching Taylor's career. Fun fact: her first work experience was as a PR intern at DKNY in my department! She has an exceptional finger on the pulse of the internet and the ability to see patterns others don't. I truly admire her strength and resistance to her haters. In her new book, Extremely Online, she shares "the inside, untold story of what we have done to the internet and what it has done to us."





Oct 01, 202335:24
How to Dream Big and Win and Create a Billion-Dollar Business with Liz Elting, One of Forbes's Richest Self-Made Women in America

How to Dream Big and Win and Create a Billion-Dollar Business with Liz Elting, One of Forbes's Richest Self-Made Women in America

You don't need to invent something new to be a wildly successful entrepreneur. According to Liz Elting, one of Forbes's "Richest Self-Made Women in America," you only need to identify something you can do differently and better. Her new book, DREAM BIG AND WIN: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion Dollar Business, captures all her learnings. After living, studying, and working in five countries across the globe, Liz Co-founded TransPerfect out of an NYU Stern dorm room in 1992. At the time, there were already 10,000 language solutions companies in existence. In fact, she was working at the biggest one. However, Liz saw flaws in their service offerings and set out to do it better. She succeeded and built the largest language-solutions company in the world. She served as Co-CEO until 2018.  Following her departure, Liz founded the Elizabeth Elting Foundation to break down systemic barriers, bridge gaps, and foster systemic change for women and other underserved communities so that people of every stripe can succeed, thrive, and reach their potential. In 2020, the Elizabeth Elting Foundation launched the Halo Fund, a comprehensive multimillion-dollar pandemic relief initiative to directly support medical needs, hunger relief, health equity, and on-the-ground efforts in underserved communities.  When Liz was at NYU, she tried to find books on starting a business, but none resonated with her, and she read many. In DREAM BIG AND WIN, Liz reveals a counterintuitive approach to success and divulges practical and inspiring tips you can implement immediately. Her refreshingly frank and humorous recollections of lessons in life and entrepreneurship serve as a guide for anyone who seeks to fulfill their highest potential. DREAM BIG AND WIN is for anyone who has ever dreamed of translating their passion into purpose and creating something bigger than themselves—from one of the most successful women in America. This episode is full of tactical and sometimes surprising advice. Liz shares everything from why your goal should be to replace yourself, the shocking question she asks every candidate she interviews, why you should never be a 50/50 partner, and so much more.  I've had the pleasure of consulting on Liz's book launch strategy, and I'm doubly honored to join her on October 4th from 6pm - 7pm for a joint book signing at Barnes & Noble on the Upper East Side at 1550 3rd Avenue at 87th Street. If you're in New York City, I hope you will join us to get signed copies of DREAM BIG AND WIN and ON BRAND!
Sep 24, 202344:27
Insider Intel on Job Hunting and Networking Hacks From LinkedIn's Catherine Fisher

Insider Intel on Job Hunting and Networking Hacks From LinkedIn's Catherine Fisher

In this special edition of LEAVE YOUR MARK, I sit down with Catherine Fisher, Vice President of Integrated Data and Consumer Communications for LinkedIn. Because who's better than Catherine to share the information we need right now to ensure we navigate our careers strategically?

Catherine is an established marketing and communications leader and has worked for some of the most notable consumer brands, including Netflix and eBay, with more than 20 years of experience. Currently, she leads the consumer communications strategy for LinkedIn and serves as the company spokeswoman educating and inspiring people on how to think about and grow their careers. 

In this episode, we cover the following: 

  1. The best way (and hacks!) to search for a job on LinkedIn.
  2. What career cushioning means, and why you need to do it.
  3. Why despite increasing economic uncertainty, LinkedIn's new survey has found that most professionals feel confident in their career prospects.
  4. Should employees be bold right now and ask for raises?
  5. The most important soft skills employers are looking for now.
  6. The most in-demand skills employers are seeking out. 
  7. Why it's about playing the long game of building a career, not solely focusing on your current job.
  8. Advice for people on how to network on Linkedin and get mentorship
  9. How to create company culture today
  10. The best way to fortify your network
  11. The top three most coveted roles right now.
  12. The best way to leave your mark on LinkedIn

And more!


Sep 17, 202328:08
Kate Doerge on Choosing Joy and Positivity Even in the Face of Tragedy

Kate Doerge on Choosing Joy and Positivity Even in the Face of Tragedy

After decades in marketing and communications and a new role as an operating partner at Traub, Kate Doerge never anticipated that she would also become a CEO. This new job, however, is the one her whole career has prepared her for and the one she was meant to do. 

When Kate's daughter Penny rolled off the bed at four months old, what seemed like a typical tibia fracture uncovered a diagnosis called Neurofibromatosis, also known as NF. One out of 300,000 kids is diagnosed with NF. This genetic disorder causes tumors to grow on nerve pathways anywhere in the body. At the time, doctors encouraged them to focus on healing the leg and not google NF. 

As parents, they were determined to make sure Penny lived a big, beautiful life. Even though she had her first surgery at 15 months old and was in a body cast for four months, she would commando crawl across the room in her bright pink cast bedazzled with gemstones. Nothing stopped Penny.

Throughout her life, Penny was never defined by her ailments. She also didn't hide from them. She knew she was different from most people but never referred to it. Over her short years, Penny endured seven orthopedic surgeries and 11 brain surgeries. She never felt sorry for herself. Penny lived as a typical social and funny teenage girl with a beautiful smile and someone who was always the life of the party. Sadly, NF took Penny at 16. 

Within days of Penny's passing, Penny's Flight was launched in celebration of the extraordinary life of Penny Doerge and the qualities she personified — joy, artistic expression, and humor — while bravely living with Neurofibromatosis (NF) since infancy. The Foundation's mission is to make much-needed advances in medical research on Neurofibromatosis and related disorders — with a lasting impact on altering the course of this disease. There is no cure for NF, and research around the disease remains underfunded despite being one of the most common genetic disorders in the United States. 

Through Penny's story and bright light, the Foundation aims to expand knowledge around NF while inspiring others to find beauty in imperfection, positivity in the face of challenge, and faith over fear. In less than a year, they have raised over $3 million for Penny's Flight, and this is just the beginning. 

There is no greater tragedy than losing a child. Still, Kate Doerge and her husband, Chad Doerge, made a choice: to choose joy and positivity and focus on spreading their daughter Penny's light because living life with joy and optimism came naturally for Penny.

In this episode, Kate shares how she and Chad handle adversity and how their mentality of choosing joy and positivity has led them. Kate shares the steps they took to build this Foundation in a few days and how anyone can model this mindset to push through even the most tragic times. As Kate says, it's not about your lifespan but your wingspan. Penny always spread her wings and shined her light. This episode is about strength, resilience, and the power of positivity, everything Penny embodied. Penny lived her life's purpose and will continue to inspire others. 




Sep 10, 202338:25
Leaving Toxic Relationships and Being Brave-ish with Lisa Niver

Leaving Toxic Relationships and Being Brave-ish with Lisa Niver

Although Lisa Niver has traveled in far-off locales from Vanuatu to Nepal, received numerous accolades as an award-winning travel expert who has explored 102 countries and six continents, and is the founder of the website WeSaidGoTravel, what people don’t realize is that this began from
the wreckage of a rotten romance.

As a newlywed, Lisa was on the adventure of a lifetime. She had quit her job, rented her condo, and traveled around Asia. To the outside world, Lisa was a woman living out her dreams of exploring ancient ruins in Cambodia and seeing orangutans in Borneo. She kept a dark secret in private: an abusive relationship. But, when she found herself lying on a sidewalk in Thailand, looking up at the sky in severe pain, she knew things had to change. At age forty- seven, Niver found the courage to set course on a new life.

Feeling like a failure, pushing fifty, and moving home to her parents' house to start again from scratch, Lisa began taking one tiny "brave-ish" step at a time to take her life far away from the old one and into the adventurous world of travel writing. These small hurdles led to the challenge of trying fifty new things before turning fifty. From diving into shipwrecks, swimming with sharks, bobsledding at 3Gs, indulging in wild escapades, Lisa found herself traversing the world
on a journey of reinvention, personal growth, and discovering what it actually means to be "brave."

Her new book Brave-ish chronicles Lisa’s inspiring expeditions to distant corners of the world, including Myanmar, Cuba, Morocco, Kenya, and Mongolia, but this is more than a travelogue. Brave-ish inspires readers to dream big, take risks, and embrace the unknown to create a life filled with wonder and excitement, even when courage seems elusive.

In this episode, Lisa shares how she saved herself, took risks, embraced the unknown, and pressed the reset button when she fell off track. She also shares how she taught herself to rest, not quit. Lisa's story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of perseverance.

Sep 03, 202331:40
Amanda Baldwin Shares the Secret to Gaining Management’s Trust, the Difference Between No and Not Now, and Why Passion for a Role Can Set You Apart

Amanda Baldwin Shares the Secret to Gaining Management’s Trust, the Difference Between No and Not Now, and Why Passion for a Role Can Set You Apart

Amanda Baldwin never considered herself an entrepreneur because she's technically not a founder. But her mindset shifted when she won Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2022. Amanda earned this distinction as a first-time CEO of Supergoop! the first protective skincare brand that puts SPF at the forefront because she has been breaking boundaries and innovating in her role from day one. Supergoop!'s mission is to change how the world thinks about sunscreen through its clean, feel-good, highly innovative formulas that are fun and easy to use daily. She has taken the brand to places no other sunscreen category has gone before. Amanda was also recently named one of the top 25 Women in Consumer HealthTech and a Woman of Influence by the New York Business Journal.

Amanda is a veteran of the beauty and finance industries, but this role as CEO is her first. Under her leadership for the past seven years, the company has grown well over 20x, become highly profitable, and secured a majority investment from Blackstone Growth, Blackstone's platform backing the next generation of category-creating brands. Beginner's luck? No way. Her educational and experience pedigree has shaped who she is today. She oversees the entirety of the organization, setting its strategy for growth, building a world-class team, and leading the company's marketing, sales, product development, operations, and finance divisions.

Before joining Supergoop! Amanda was a member of the operating team at L Catterton with a particular focus on the beauty sector. Prior to L Catterton, she led the omnichannel marketing strategy of Dior Beauty at LVMH, Inc. and held several positions at Clinique, a part of The Estee Lauder Companies. Her career began in finance as a private equity investor at Apax Partners and an investment banking analyst at Goldman Sachs.

In this episode, Amanda spills the secrets to her success, and spoiler alert: it involves putting in the hard work. We discuss what it means to innovate in a category, her views on marketing and partnerships, and why one of the biggest challenges of entrepreneurship is that you can see the big, big, big, big picture, but that doesn't mean you can do all of it right away. We dive deep into what she attributes to her success in gaining management's trust to test, learn, and iterate. She shares how she thinks about leadership, the matchmaking process of hiring, and why it's not just about knowing how to do the job but LOVING to do the job and how candidates can stand out from the pack.

About Amanda Baldwin

About Aliza Licht

Book Aliza to Speak

Books:

LEAVE YOUR MARK: Land Your Dream Job. Kill It In Your Career. Rock Social Media

ON BRAND: Shape Your Narrative. Share Your Vision. Shift Their Perception.


Follow: 

On Instagram and TikTok @alizalichtxo @leaveyourmarkpodcast

On X @alizalicht


#alizalicht #leaveyourmark #leaveyourmarkpodcast #careeradvice #femalefounders #supergoop #podcast #amandabaldwin

Aug 27, 202335:59
Stacy Igel on Leading with Impact, Fashion Disruption, and Embracing the Future of Web3 and the Metaverse

Stacy Igel on Leading with Impact, Fashion Disruption, and Embracing the Future of Web3 and the Metaverse

Stacy Igel took the plunge from corporate to launching her fashion brand in 2001. As the founder and creative director of BOY MEETS GIRL®, she set out to launch her first trunk show the week of September 11th. What she could have never anticipated is what happened instead. The catastrophic attack solidified her mission to create a brand that leads with impact. She has given back to causes important to her and the world ever since.

BOY MEETS GIRL® is known for its iconic double-silhouette logo and purposeful, edgy, contemporary athleisure wear. Stacy and BOY MEETS GIRL® seeks to promote the message that confidence and courage are trends that never go out of style. 

She has partnered with everyone from Bergdorf Goodman and Target to the NBA's Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks, to name just a few. She collaborates with musical artists, athletes, and activists, making an impact, as well as organizations including the Young Survival Coalition, BullyBust, Human Rights Watch, GLAM4GOOD, Youth Over Guns, and many others. 

Her new book Embracing The Calm In the Chaos: How to Find Success in Business and Life Through Perseverance, Connection, and Collaboration is one of Barnes & Noble's Top 20 Best in Business Books where she shares her entrepreneurial journey and provides practical tips and takeaways for others to use in life and business. 

In this episode, Stacy takes us on her journey of fashion disruption, embracing the calm in the chaos, how she thinks about partnerships, licensing, gaming, the Metaverse, and most of all, how she spends her time. As a working mom and someone who has her hands in everything, Stacy has been able to build a global brand while still managing to have fun.


⁠About Aliza Licht⁠

⁠Book Aliza to Speak⁠

Books:

LEAVE YOUR MARK: Land Your Dream Job. Kill It In Your Career. Rock Social Media

ON BRAND: Shape Your Narrative. Share Your Vision. Shift Their Perception.


Follow: 

On Instagram and TikTok ⁠@alizalichtxo⁠ ⁠@leaveyourmarkpodcast⁠

On X ⁠@alizalicht⁠


#alizalicht #leaveyourmark #leaveyourmarkpodcast #careeradvice #femalefounders #podcast

Aug 20, 202329:24
Sophia Chabbott from Journalist to Beauty Founder by Answering the Question, "Why Not Me?"

Sophia Chabbott from Journalist to Beauty Founder by Answering the Question, "Why Not Me?"

When we talk about career changes, we don't normally talk about someone going from a media role to becoming the founder of a beauty brand, but that's exactly what Sophia Chabbott did as the founder of Testament Beauty, a skincare line known for being the Mediterranean diet for your face. Testament Beauty is centered around the simple and stunningly beautiful garden-grown ingredients core to her family heritage and traditions. How did she come up with her tagline of being the Mediterranean diet for your face? She was tired of opening her medicine cabinet and being bombarded with messaging like prevent, correct, and repair. 

Before founding Testament Beauty, Sophia was a journalist, and we worked together during her years at Women's Wear Daily and Glamour. I remember when Sophia told me she would launch a brand over dinner. Six years in the making, most notably because of her imposter syndrome, Sophia finally got out of her way and made her dream possible at the pivotal age of 40. 

"I was telling my brother somebody should do a skincare line that is, you know, sort of like how we grew up, like the Mediterranean diet but for your face, and he was like, why not you?"

In this episode, Sophia shares her story and experience rising in her career to become a top-tier journalist and then saying goodbye to her media life to embrace the hustle life of being a start-up founder. She shares her fears, obstacles, and, ultimately, what made her move past her self-doubt to create something uniquely her own. 


⁠About Aliza Licht⁠

⁠Book Aliza to Speak⁠

Books:

LEAVE YOUR MARK: Land Your Dream Job. Kill It In Your Career. Rock Social Media

ON BRAND: Shape Your Narrative. Share Your Vision. Shift Their Perception.


Follow: 

On Instagram and TikTok ⁠@alizalichtxo⁠ ⁠@leaveyourmarkpodcast⁠

On X ⁠@alizalicht⁠


#alizalicht #leaveyourmark #leaveyourmarkpodcast #careeradvice #femalefounders #supergoop #podcast #amandabaldwin


Aug 13, 202331:49
Stacey Stevenson From High School Dropout to CEO, How to Land a Job You Have No Experience In, and Why You Cancel Yourself When You’re Silent on Issues That Matter

Stacey Stevenson From High School Dropout to CEO, How to Land a Job You Have No Experience In, and Why You Cancel Yourself When You’re Silent on Issues That Matter

Stacey Stevenson dropped out of a rural high school in the South when they were pulled out of the closet. They worked at fast food restaurants to save enough money to move to Dallas to "do something with their life" because they were intent on making it in the corporate world. Stacey achieved just that with a long history of senior defense, technology, and finance roles. But in 2021, they turned their business acumen, lived experience, and passion to work for LGBTQ+ families and those who wish to form them.

As the first Black Chief Executive Officer at Family Equality, Stacey is a trailblazing leader, selected as one of Out Magazine's Out100 list — a compilation of the year's most impactful and influential LGBTQ+ people — in the fall of 2022.

Stacey has already ushered Family Equality through a tremendous chapter of growth. From expanding the organization's work to protect LGBTQ+ youth and families in schools to deepening the focus on lowering barriers to parenthood in our community, they have prioritized not only advancing lived and legal equality for LGBTQ+ families but also advancing racial and social justice for BIPOC communities, those living in rural areas, and those living at or below the poverty line. And they are just getting started. 

A powerful speaker and motivator, Stacey regularly shares their experiences growing up LGBTQ+ in the rural South, being pulled out of the closet, and navigating life as a Black queer parent.

Stacey's advocacy has helped propel Family Equality further into the national spotlight with multiple appearances on The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart, a bipartisan panel discussion hosted at the U.S. Capitol, collaborations with movement partners, countless speaking engagements, and media appearances including an op-ed in USA TODAY. In the op-ed, Stacey shared their family's story of moving from their home state of Texas in search of a more welcoming community. Stacey, wife Cheralyn, and 8-year-old twin boys, Duke and London, enjoy the life they are building in Washington, D.C.

In this episode, Stacey shares their journey, which is, at times, heartbreaking but equally inspiring. We discuss their work and mission at Family Equality, the importance of being an ally, and why people cancel themselves when they don't speak up for their beliefs. We dive into work-life balance, mindful Mondays, ruthless prioritization, how they leveraged transferable skills to crush an interview for a job they had no experience in, and so much more.

Jul 30, 202332:51
Jennifer Fisher on Building a Brand as Yourself, Trusting Your Instincts, and Not Staying in Your Lane

Jennifer Fisher on Building a Brand as Yourself, Trusting Your Instincts, and Not Staying in Your Lane

Dubbed by the New York Times as the Queen of Hoops, Jennifer Fisher's accessories brand is coveted by top celebrities and the fashion set. But Jennifer Fisher's creativity doesn't fit neatly into a box. As a former wardrobe stylist for commercials, this jewelry founder's exceptional eye has graced other categories like home and interior design, and her expert kitchen skills have made her custom salts the new must-have accessory to meals across the country with @jenniferfisherkitchen. How does a jewelry designer branch out into salts? Jennifer is laser-focused on creating what she feels deep in her gut and not caring what others think.

In this episode, Jennifer shares her personal story of motherhood and serious health struggles and how her son's unexpected and miraculous birth quite literally gave birth to her jewelry collection. The baby gifts being sent to her just weren't cutting it. Her famous personalized stamped dog tag was the talk of the photo shoots she was on, and all it took was making one necklace for Uma Thurman (who wore hers on the cover of Glamour), and the rest is history. Founded 18 years ago, her brand is now omnichannel and just getting started.

Jennifer shares her mentality around brand-building as an individual, being super direct, and why you can't attract everyone. Note: That's ok with her. Her energy and style are contagious; you'll leave this one inspired to be yourself.

Jennifer is a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), a nominee for the 2019 Accessory Designer of the Year at the annual CFDA Awards, a recipient of the 2018 Town & Country Jewelry Award for Retail Innovation, the 2016 Influencer of the Year at the annual Accessories Council Excellence (ACE) Awards and was a nominee for the CFDA Swarovski Accessories award in 2014. She speaks frequently about strategic leadership, brand building, and empowering the next generation of fashion entrepreneurs, most recently at Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, Columbia, Savannah College of Art & Design, and Northeastern University.

Jul 23, 202333:33
Jaclyn Levin Shares the Secrets to Succeeding in Broadcast Journalism and Navigating Media Today

Jaclyn Levin Shares the Secrets to Succeeding in Broadcast Journalism and Navigating Media Today

What does it take to get on television and succeed in media today? Jaclyn Levin knows. As an accomplished media executive, executive producer, showrunner, advisor, and consultant, she has led network news broadcasts, content development, show creation, and the building and developing of modern, multimedia, and digital-first businesses. Jaclyn earned four Emmy Awards, four Gracie Awards, an Edward R. Murrow award, two Daytime Emmy Nominations, and was named to Variety's 2020 Power of Women Impact Report.

Throughout her career in network news, Jaclyn has produced and overseen award-winning, quality content with the highest level of journalistic and production value. With a front-row seat to history in the making, she has led top-tier teams of journalists delivering millions of people their news daily. Her versatility is key to pivoting from breaking news coverage to features, entertainment, lifestyle, and short-form storytelling.

As one of the first female Executive Producers at TODAY, Jaclyn ran the business behind the multi-million dollar hour of television she oversaw, managing relationships with not only high-profile news anchors and entertainment talent but also partnering with all internal teams. Jaclyn spent 15 years at TODAY, and 26 total at NBC News, leaving in the fall of 2020.

Today she is the president of Shriver Media, working alongside her former colleague Maria Shriver, running The Sunday Paper and all aspects of Shriver's media organization in addition to consulting with other media clients. In this episode, Jaclyn takes us behind the scenes of broadcast journalism, what it takes to break through, what it means to be a discerning executive, and how she thinks about media today.

Jul 16, 202332:03
What is Success and How Do You Even Get There? Authors Aliza Licht, Laura Gassner Otting, and Christina Wallace Discuss

What is Success and How Do You Even Get There? Authors Aliza Licht, Laura Gassner Otting, and Christina Wallace Discuss

Success is a tricky thing. For starters, what does success even mean? Everyone has their own definition of success, yet we are often held to society's standards. In this unique live event, three notable authors, Aliza Licht, Laura Gassner Otting, and Christina Wallace, discussed this topic from their experienced perspectives and respective new books, ON BRAND, Wonderhell, and The Portfolio Life. 

Each author brings decades of experience and fascinating stories to the table:

Aliza Licht is an award-winning marketer, 2x author, host of the Leave Your Mark podcast, and personal branding expert with over twenty-five years of experience in the image-making fashion industry. Her new book, ON BRAND: Shape Your Narrative. Share Your Vision. Shift Their Perception. is part career book, part personal growth guide, and a comprehensive roadmap to building your personal brand so your name is dropped in rooms you're not in and that you're recommended for opportunities other people haven't even heard of yet.

In the WSJ bestseller, Wonderhell: Why Success Doesn't Feel Like It Should . . . and What to Do About It, Laura Gassner Otting leverages her 30-year-plus resume, defined by her entrepreneurial edge, to introduce the idea that success is often both a wonder and a hell. She answers the question: Why doesn't success feel like it should? What do we do with this confusing feeling, and how do we learn to live with this newfound potential that's both exciting and exhausting?

In The Portfolio Life: How to Future-Proof Your Career, Avoid Burnout, and Build a Life Bigger than Your Business Card, What Color Is Your Parachute? meets Out of Office in this inspiring, practical playbook. Christina Wallace, serial entrepreneur, podcaster, and Senior Lecturer of Entrepreneurial Management at Harvard Business School, shares her solution for anti-hustle culture and how having a "portfolio life" (rather than pouring yourself into one single full-time job) will help you future-proof your career and achieve a sustainable work-life balance while optimizing your happiness, personal growth, and bank accounts. 




Jul 09, 202356:54
Natasha Miller is Relentless: From Homeless Teen to Achieving the Entrepreneur Dream

Natasha Miller is Relentless: From Homeless Teen to Achieving the Entrepreneur Dream

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger could not be more true for Natasha Miller. As the multi-hyphenate CEO of Entire Productions, Inc. and Poignant Press, Natasha is also a celebrated jazz artist with seven records released on her label, Poignant Records. Her success is in spite of an upbringing so unreal and tragic that it's in the process of becoming a feature film.

As the WSJ best-selling author of Relentless, Natasha has gone from living as an Iowa homeless teen to achieving the entrepreneur dream. But unlike a typical homeless teen story, Natasha was not living in squalor. She was a classically trained violinist studying with a professor at Drake University. Her whole young life, however, was defined by living with a mother with mental illness and a father who did not do his part to protect her. At age 16, Natasha's father and, sadly, her younger brother dropped her off at a homeless shelter after her mother attempted to kill her. That was the culmination of years and years of verbal abuse. After that, she was unofficially emancipated.

In this extremely moving and inspiring LEAVE YOUR MARK episode, Natasha shares her story with unbelievable understanding and perseverance. She shows how her positive outlook and always seeing the best in people directed her path. While Natasha will always have to carry the heartache of her childhood with her, she has not let it stop her from achieving her dreams.

Today, Entire Productions is a go-to event and entertainment production company headquartered in San Francisco. With the support of her staff, Entire Productions' trusted expertise is relied upon to execute a slate of corporate special events for an enviable roster of clients, including Salesforce, Apple, Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, and the like. They have been on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in America for three years in a row. Her publishing company Poignant Press works with leaders to create impactful books that build on their authority while inspiring and motivating others.

Natasha's passion and commitment to giving back drive her invariable contributions and participation with numerous charitable organizations. Her current focus is raising awareness and funds for the Covenant House.

While Natasha maintains an active full plate, she always makes time for professional and personal enrichment. She is a proud Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (Babson College) graduate who studied entrepreneurship at the Harvard Business School and MIT. Her other prestigious industry memberships include The Recording Academy (Grammys), ASCAP, and various event industry organizations. She resides in Oakland, CA, and is a member and the communications "expert" for The Entrepreneurs' Organization.

Jul 02, 202330:23
Jenny Hutt on How to Navigate Anxiety with Optimism and Find Humor Even in Life's Toughest Situations

Jenny Hutt on How to Navigate Anxiety with Optimism and Find Humor Even in Life's Toughest Situations

Jenny Hutt says what she's thinking, what you're thinking, and what you'll never say. As a self-proclaimed anxious optimist, she truly believes that everything will work out, but while she's going through it, she is going to stress every step of the way. That's just Jenny, and from her many years on radio and television, and now in her podcast, Just Jenny, she knows that sharing all of this will help you too.

As a lawyer, podcaster, radio and television host, author, entrepreneur, personal branding consultant, and influencer, Jenny has had a diverse background and career in entertainment, business, and law. She has also cultivated a deep passion for connecting with people. You probably know Jenny's voice from her first co-hosted show From 2005-2011, "Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer," on SiriusXM satellite radio. Jenny also co-authored the 2011 book, "WHATEVERLAND: Learning to Live Here: An Exuberant and Hilariously Irreverent Guide to Life." After that, she hosted "Just Jenny," a daily call-in show on SiriusXM radio, which later gave birth to the Just Jenny Podcast (which I had fun being on.) On her show, she tackles many subjects inviting listeners to engage in honest, humorous dialogue on everything from grieving the loss of a parent to transforming her body and spirit through healthy eating and exercise. 

In this episode, Jenny shares her honest and endearing outlook on life, parenting, and managing day-to-day anxiety. She shows us how to find humor in the worst situations, even death. We learn what it was like to grow up as the daughter of Bunny and Charles Koppelman. Charles was of the most formidable industry executives of the past 50 years. Her father worked with everyone from Barbra Streisand to Prince. Her brother, Brian Koppelman (screenwriter, director, and producer), is the co-creator and showrunner of the Showtime series "Billions. And last but not least, her sister Stacey Fritz is her co-founder and co-inventor of Bunny Eyez®, a revolutionary eyewear company they founded in 2017. 

Jenny's view of the world is honest and heart-warming. Her voice will brighten your day even if you think that's not possible. In her own words, "I have always wanted to make other people feel okay, and that's really it. I just want someone to see me getting through this life, warts and all messy, and let them know that they can do it too and that they're okay as they are. So many people strive for this unattainable thing they think is greatness. But it's all smoke and mirrors. Everybody has something incredibly powerful and special about themselves. But they also have deficits and areas in their lives that aren't so great. There isn't a person on the planet who has everything the way we think they do."


Jun 25, 202333:44
How to Lead Under Pressure and Battle Negative Self-Talk with Tina Greenbaum

How to Lead Under Pressure and Battle Negative Self-Talk with Tina Greenbaum

Tina Greenbaum knows that the ability to think clearly under pressure and manage in high-pressure situations separates great leaders from everyone else. Tina Greenbaum, M.Ed., LCSW, is the Founder and CEO of Mastery Under Pressure, a management coaching program for high-performing executives who must refine and master their interpersonal and inter-departmental skills. She incorporates sports psychology and neuroscience into her work, emphasizing mental skills and mindset.

Mastery Under Pressure gives CEOs and senior-level managers the additional professional and personal tools to excel and empower their teams and associates.

As a licensed psychotherapist and sports psychology consultant with over 40 years of experience, she has long understood that being good at your profession doesn't make you good at your job. Her ability to give high-performing executives the skills they need to work within any corporate culture has made Tina California's #1 Optimal Performance Specialist.

In this episode, Tina takes us through her process of creating a high-performance mindset, unlocking your inner athlete, and thriving in a highly competitive world. She shares her techniques for understanding clients' reasons for seeking help, exploring body sensations and patterns, and uncovering how past experiences shape present responses. She explains how mental toughness and resilience can be developed and taught and how limiting beliefs can be changed through examination and questioning, keeping a journal, recognizing and addressing unconscious biases, and aligning with personal values and truths.

Jun 11, 202336:02
Dee Poku Spalding on the Benefits and Challenges of Quiet Leadership, Why No Just Means a Better Yes is Coming, and Navigating the Noise to Fine-Tune Your Strategy

Dee Poku Spalding on the Benefits and Challenges of Quiet Leadership, Why No Just Means a Better Yes is Coming, and Navigating the Noise to Fine-Tune Your Strategy

Dee Poku Spalding creates spaces where women can be transactional and ask and receive without the pretense of five coffee chats. As the founder and CEO of The WIE Suite (Women, Inspiration, and Enterprise), a private membership club and peer learning platform for women in leadership, which I am a proud member of, Dee's mission is to redefine the way women and leaders achieve success for themselves and their companies by providing the community and tools for them to succeed at the highest levels.  She is also the founder of the initiative Black Women Raise, which works to accelerate the ability of leading black female founders to raise growth capital, scale up and create pathways for the women behind them.  Growing up between the UK and Ghana has influenced her humble and reserved leadership style, of which she has many lessons to share. Before founding The WIE Suite (and previously WIE Network), Dee worked in entertainment marketing at companies like Paramount and Focus Features.  In this episode, we learn about Dee's meticulous planning skills, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and considering one's emotional responses to external stimuli like social media when adjusting plans. Dee created The WIE Suite because she was missing a community to lean on, to challenge the scarcity mindset, and to help empower women to rise. We also discuss the wisdom gained from rejection and the learnings from being a quiet leader.  Dee is one of Marie Claire's 50 Women Changing the World, a Crain’s Notable Black Leader, won a Gold Anthem Award from the Webbys, is a CUP Catalyst Changemaker, a Harlem Fashion Week Cultural Icon and one of TRUE Africa’s 100 Top Innovators. Dee serves on the Board of Directors of The Gotham Institute of Film and the Brooklyn Bridge Conservancy as well as the British Academy of Film & Television (BAFTA)’s DEI steering committee.
Jun 04, 202334:14
Andrea Wasserman on Being an Intrapreneur and How to be a Rules Changer, Not a Rules Breaker in a Corporate Role

Andrea Wasserman on Being an Intrapreneur and How to be a Rules Changer, Not a Rules Breaker in a Corporate Role

Respectfully challenging the status quo and advocating for change in a large corporate organization can seem impossible. In this LEAVE YOUR MARK "snack segment," Andrea Wasserman, a visionary, outcome-driven executive with over 20 years of experience across consumer and B2B2C sectors, shares her secrets to intrapreneurship. Intrapreneurship is when you have an entrepreneurial mindset within a company that is self-motivated and proactive.

In this episode, we discuss how to be a change agent in a corporate role, how to bring people on board, work cross-functionally, and motivate people who don't report to you to help execute a strategy. Andrea shares tips on being a project leader with vision, making each team feel essential to the outcome, and customizing the communication approach based on each audience's specific needs and preferences. We also discuss how mid-level employees can manage up by understanding their manager's goals better and ways they can be supportive.

May 28, 202319:25
Dr. Marcus Collins on How to Define and Use Culture Effectively in Marketing and Why Brands Should Stop Putting People in Boxes

Dr. Marcus Collins on How to Define and Use Culture Effectively in Marketing and Why Brands Should Stop Putting People in Boxes

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.

May 21, 202338:55
Sam Safer Valentine on How to Build Your Database and Market to Anyone

Sam Safer Valentine on How to Build Your Database and Market to Anyone

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.

May 18, 202317:25
Theresa Ebagua from Corporate America to Celebrity Footwear Designer & How to Succeed as an Outsider

Theresa Ebagua from Corporate America to Celebrity Footwear Designer & How to Succeed as an Outsider

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.
May 14, 202333:21
Christina Wallace on How Focusing on One Career Path Doesn't Work Anymore and Why You Need a Portfolio Life

Christina Wallace on How Focusing on One Career Path Doesn't Work Anymore and Why You Need a Portfolio Life

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:

  1. You are more than any one role or opportunity.
  2. Diversification will help you navigate change and mitigate uncertainty.
  3. 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. 

May 07, 202342:03
Jane Green on the Importance of Not Taking Criticism From Anybody You Wouldn't Take Advice From and Why Writers Should Write What They Want to Write, Not What They Think Will Sell

Jane Green on the Importance of Not Taking Criticism From Anybody You Wouldn't Take Advice From and Why Writers Should Write What They Want to Write, Not What They Think Will Sell

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."
Apr 30, 202339:39
Maricella Herrera Avila on Knowing What You're Good at, Finding Your Allies, and Recognizing That Hard Work Isn't Enough to Be Successful

Maricella Herrera Avila on Knowing What You're Good at, Finding Your Allies, and Recognizing That Hard Work Isn't Enough to Be Successful

"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.

Apr 23, 202329:31
Aliza Licht on Why a Strong Personal Brand is Career Insurance

Aliza Licht on Why a Strong Personal Brand is Career Insurance

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."  

Apr 16, 202344:33
Laura Gassner Otting on Why Success Doesn't Feel Like It Should and What to Do About It

Laura Gassner Otting on Why Success Doesn't Feel Like It Should and What to Do About It

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.


Apr 02, 202340:26
Lydia Fenet on How to Claim Your Confidence and Stop Asking For Permission to Live the Life You Want

Lydia Fenet on How to Claim Your Confidence and Stop Asking For Permission to Live the Life You Want

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.

Mar 26, 202334:48
Melissa Nightingale Wants to Know How F*cked Up Your Management Is So She Can Make You a Better Boss

Melissa Nightingale Wants to Know How F*cked Up Your Management Is So She Can Make You a Better Boss

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.


Mar 19, 202344:27
Noora Raj Brown on Learning How to Trust Your Gut, Being an Entrepreneurial CMO, and Why You Can't Operate From a Place of Fear

Noora Raj Brown on Learning How to Trust Your Gut, Being an Entrepreneurial CMO, and Why You Can't Operate From a Place of Fear

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.

Mar 12, 202334:26
Reshma Saujani on Penetrating Spaces by Creating Your Own, The Importance of Asking Yourself What You Want as a Working Parent, and Why We Need to Start Depersonalizing Failure

Reshma Saujani on Penetrating Spaces by Creating Your Own, The Importance of Asking Yourself What You Want as a Working Parent, and Why We Need to Start Depersonalizing Failure

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.

Mar 05, 202331:48
Harper Spero on the Impact and Advocacy of Invisible Illness in the Workplace and Why You Need to Meet People Where They Are

Harper Spero on the Impact and Advocacy of Invisible Illness in the Workplace and Why You Need to Meet People Where They Are

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.

Feb 26, 202336:00
Felita Harris on Turning a No Into a Win/Win, Why It’s OK to Make a Different Choice, and How Not to Get Paralyzed in the Now

Felita Harris on Turning a No Into a Win/Win, Why It’s OK to Make a Different Choice, and How Not to Get Paralyzed in the Now

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.

Feb 19, 202335:40
Bee Shapiro on Embracing Career Risk, Leveraging Your Outsider Perspective, and Why Reinvention Is Always Possible

Bee Shapiro on Embracing Career Risk, Leveraging Your Outsider Perspective, and Why Reinvention Is Always Possible

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.

Feb 12, 202335:17
Candace Nelson on Why It's Not Your Idea That Matters But How You Bring It to Life, the Importance of Constant Innovation, and the Reason Personal Branding Matters More Than Ever

Candace Nelson on Why It's Not Your Idea That Matters But How You Bring It to Life, the Importance of Constant Innovation, and the Reason Personal Branding Matters More Than Ever

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.
Jan 31, 202334:58
Catherine Fisher Shares Linkedin’s Insider Intel on Job Hunting, Networking Hacks, and Why You Need to Cushion Your Career to Be Ready for Anything

Catherine Fisher Shares Linkedin’s Insider Intel on Job Hunting, Networking Hacks, and Why You Need to Cushion Your Career to Be Ready for Anything

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!

Jan 25, 202329:04
Peter Shankman on the Secret to Getting Media Attention, How to Become a Keynote Speaker, and Why You Should Be Brilliant at the Basics

Peter Shankman on the Secret to Getting Media Attention, How to Become a Keynote Speaker, and Why You Should Be Brilliant at the Basics

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.

Jan 22, 202333:52
Emily Palmer on Her Endless Pursuit of the Story: From Being Anna Delvey's Favorite Journalist to High-Profile Murderers and Drug Lords

Emily Palmer on Her Endless Pursuit of the Story: From Being Anna Delvey's Favorite Journalist to High-Profile Murderers and Drug Lords

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.

Jan 15, 202336:14
Aliza Licht Reads an Excerpt of Her New Book, ON BRAND

Aliza Licht Reads an Excerpt of Her New Book, ON BRAND

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!

Jan 08, 202317:49
Kimberly Lee Minor on Being Bold Enough to Challenge and Smart Enough to Know that the Minute You Make it Emotional is the Minute You Have Lost

Kimberly Lee Minor on Being Bold Enough to Challenge and Smart Enough to Know that the Minute You Make it Emotional is the Minute You Have Lost

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.
Dec 18, 202245:33
Rachel Johnson on Mastering Two Careers at Once, the Biggest Mistakes Founders Make, and How to Combat Sitting at Your Computer With Health

Rachel Johnson on Mastering Two Careers at Once, the Biggest Mistakes Founders Make, and How to Combat Sitting at Your Computer With Health

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.
Dec 11, 202235:54
Everything You Need to Know About Proactively Navigating Layoffs, Contracts, and Workplace Discrimination and Harassment With Employment Lawyer, Peter Rahbar

Everything You Need to Know About Proactively Navigating Layoffs, Contracts, and Workplace Discrimination and Harassment With Employment Lawyer, Peter Rahbar

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.

Dec 04, 202246:59
Erica Domesek on Why It’s Okay to Mourn the Life You Lost, Close the Chapter on the Old You, and Move Forward in a New Direction

Erica Domesek on Why It’s Okay to Mourn the Life You Lost, Close the Chapter on the Old You, and Move Forward in a New Direction

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.

Nov 27, 202237:41
Lauren Maillian on How to Be a Respectful Disruptor, Redefine Your Path to Success, and Own Any Room

Lauren Maillian on How to Be a Respectful Disruptor, Redefine Your Path to Success, and Own Any Room

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.
Nov 20, 202247:43
Aya Kanai on Leveraging the Power of Outsider Thinking to Change Industries, Letting Your Past Experiences Guide You as a Beginner, and Why Peer-To-Peer Mentorship Should Not Be Undervalued

Aya Kanai on Leveraging the Power of Outsider Thinking to Change Industries, Letting Your Past Experiences Guide You as a Beginner, and Why Peer-To-Peer Mentorship Should Not Be Undervalued

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.

Nov 13, 202242:52
Carly Pildis on Counseling Not Canceling, Why Stopping Antisemitism Should Be Important to Everyone and How to Protect Your Joy

Carly Pildis on Counseling Not Canceling, Why Stopping Antisemitism Should Be Important to Everyone and How to Protect Your Joy

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

Nov 06, 202229:39
Jenny Galluzzo on Why Having One Job Is a Thing of the Past and How the Workplace Is Shifting to a "Try Before You Buy" Model

Jenny Galluzzo on Why Having One Job Is a Thing of the Past and How the Workplace Is Shifting to a "Try Before You Buy" Model

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.

Oct 30, 202237:12
Hitha Palepu on Why Restraint in Communication Is an Underrated Superpower, the Battle of Age Versus Experience, and Recognizing That Feedback Isn't Personal

Hitha Palepu on Why Restraint in Communication Is an Underrated Superpower, the Battle of Age Versus Experience, and Recognizing That Feedback Isn't Personal

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.

Oct 23, 202242:11
Jenny Blake on Quietly Unsubscribing From Burnout, Harnessing Free Time, and Why We Should Stop Sailing the Sea of Shiny Shoulds

Jenny Blake on Quietly Unsubscribing From Burnout, Harnessing Free Time, and Why We Should Stop Sailing the Sea of Shiny Shoulds

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!

Oct 09, 202243:40
Lauren “Lo” Harris on Why You Shouldn’t Wait for Other People to Permit You to Move Forward and How She’s Proactively Building Her Brand With Intention

Lauren “Lo” Harris on Why You Shouldn’t Wait for Other People to Permit You to Move Forward and How She’s Proactively Building Her Brand With Intention

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!

Oct 02, 202243:21
Melissa Ben-Ishay on Why Anything Incredible is Hard, How She Finally Embraced the Role of CEO, and the Ingredients of a Strong Brand

Melissa Ben-Ishay on Why Anything Incredible is Hard, How She Finally Embraced the Role of CEO, and the Ingredients of a Strong Brand

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!

Sep 25, 202239:42
From $10,000 to $2 million, Tiffany James is Teaching Women of Color the Joys of Sisterhood and Stocks at Modern BLK Girl

From $10,000 to $2 million, Tiffany James is Teaching Women of Color the Joys of Sisterhood and Stocks at Modern BLK Girl

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.

Sep 18, 202242:11