LEAVE YOUR MARK: Freshly Brewed Career Advice with Aliza Licht

Latest Episodes:

Amy Odell Tells All in ANNA: The Biography, Uncovering the Complicated, Contradictory, and Surprising, Anna Wintour Jun 12, 2022

Show notes

Amy Odell always knew she wanted to work in journalism. As a fashion and culture reporter, she has left her mark on countless publications, most notably New York Magazine's The Cut. But she got called to interview for a role at Vogue magazine during her time there. After an unsuccessful interview with the formidable Anna Wintour, she did not get the job. The truth was she probably wasn't right for it as fashion was still an industry she was trying to understand. But if someone would have told her then that she would end up writing ANNA: The Biography, the most comprehensive account of the life and reign of Anna Wintour years later, she would not have believed them.

Because of my fashion background and experience with Anna, this episode turned into a very candid discussion covering the complexities of what it is like to work with Anna, who benefits from her loyalty, and who gets left in the dust when she decides that you're radioactive. Amy and I go deep into Anna's complicated and often controversial decisions, including the defense of the antisemitic John Galliano and Georgina Chapman during the height of the Harvey Weinstein #MeToo movement. Whatever you think you know about Anna Wintour, this book and episode will shed a different light on someone who has seized and held power for over 34 years and shows no signs of being dethroned any time soon.

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Nicole Jeter West on Her Superpower of Infinite Tenacity, Giving Up Your Dream When Opportunity Knocks, and Why You Should Become Indispensable Jun 05, 2022

Show notes

When will I ever get this opportunity again? A question Nicole Jeter West asked herself when a new job opportunity arose out of the blue. Would she give up her dream of working in advertising to join the New York Knicks? The answer would set her on the journey of her career. Nicole has always followed her gut and curiosity, which has led her down a path she never anticipated. She is now the CEO of the Underdog Venture Team, an organization on a mission to change the game of sports business with a new "pay it forward" model that invests in unique, social-impact-driven business opportunities led by passionate passions and diverse leaders.

As CEO, Nicole is responsible for the organization's leadership, strategic vision, and growth initiatives with a focus on empowering the next generation of women and BIPOC leaders to up-level the entire industry. With more than 20 years of experience in the sports and entertainment industry, Nicole joined the underdog venture team from the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, where she was the head of brand marketing and engagement. Before joining LA28, Nicole was the chief marketing officer for Legends, and Nicole spent five years as the managing director of ticket and digital for the United States Tennis Association (USTA). She started her career in marketing at Madison Square Garden and the New York Knicks. She has earned Sports Business Journal's "40 Under 40" and "Power Players" honors while also being named one of Sports Illustrated's "100 Influential Black Women in Sports".

In this episode, Nicole shares the secrets to her success which stem from what her husband calls her secret sauce: infinite tenacity and being indispensable. Nicole's journey is a lesson in taking chances and seeing the opportunity in everything, even if at the time it doesn't fit the exact mold of what you expected. We talk about the importance of shifting your perspective on what is best for the team instead of personal gain and why she believes in harmony over balance. Nicole got comfortable feeling uncomfortable years ago, and she shares why you should too.

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Liz Lange’s Second Act, Why Having It All Is a Myth, and What It Was Like Growing up in the Famous Steinberg Family May 22, 2022

Show notes

Can you imagine what it would be like to be crazy rich? Liz Lange can. In her new podcast, The Just Enough Family, she shares her story of growing up in the Steinberg family, a name as famous as Bezos back in the day. After graduating from Brown, Liz didn’t need to work but started a career at Conde Nast in the features department. She dreamed of becoming a writer, but that’s not what happened. Instead, Liz became an accidental entrepreneur as the “first maternity wear designer”, catering to pregnant A-list celebrities. In the early 2000s, Liz gained recognition as a retail pioneer and a global trendsetter by forging multiple major licensing deals with Nike, Target, and HSN that catapulted her into a household name. But Liz wasn’t enjoying work-life balance and recognized that while we love to say women can have it all, the truth is, something always gives. In this case, one of her life areas that needed attention was her kids. She decided to sell her business to focus on her family.

Entrepreneurship always runs under the surface, though. In December 2020, Liz acquired Figure, a New York-based luxury resort-wear brand, most notable for their kaftans, dresses, and soft separates, that she is a fan and customer of. Today, she is the CEO and Creative Director, intending to continue the brand’s legacy of dressing fashionable women around the world while also expanding its categories and reach.

In this episode, Liz delightfully shares her truth- the good, the bad, and the scandalous. She transparently explains her rise from building her incredible brand with no design or business background to recognizing where she was falling short. We dive into her leadership style and expectations and how her childhood has shaped her perspective. She takes us on her new journey with Figure and why she believes her second act will be just as exciting as the first.

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Hollywood's Nail Guru, Deborah Lippmann, on How to Blend Your Passions to Navigate Two Careers at Once and Become a Reluctant Entrepreneur May 15, 2022

Show notes

"Either do it or shut up about it" is the phrase that would ultimately lead Deborah Lippmann on the journey of a lifetime to create an eponymous empire in the beauty industry. So if you are someone like Deborah who can't stop talking about a passion, unconsciously, you are ready to go and do it. You just have to find the courage to bet on yourself.

Hands down (no pun intended), Deborah Lippmann is the leading authority in the wildly competitive nail category. Established in 1999, Deborah Lippmann was founded on an ethos of quality meets care. Informed by her years on the red carpet, fashion runways, and editorial, the award-winning brand reflects her ultra-high standards in terms of product performance. It is crafted to nourish and support nails and skin. Time and again, she's broken new ground and pioneered innovative practices in both the editorial and brand arenas. Her business is a family affair, working with her husband and brother since its inception.

Deborah is the go-to manicurist for an awe-inspiring list of celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, Lupita Nyong'o, Laura Dern, and Lady Gaga, to name just a few. She also enjoys stellar fashion cred through her backstage magic for such houses as Chanel, Balenciaga, Dior, and Versace. But it's in Deborah Lippmann's eponymous brand, that her creativity and business acumen truly shines. She has been crowned a "mega-manicurist" by Vogue and "one of the best manicurists in the country" by Allure.

But Deborah never gave up her first dream to be a jazz singer. She has a degree in music from Arizona State University, has recorded three albums, and has her own iTunes and Spotify channels. Deborah has performed in numerous New York City clubs, including The Carlyle, Feinstein's, and The Rainbow Room. She has sung the national anthem multiple times at Madison Square Garden and recently for the Minneapolis Twins.

In this episode, Deborah shares how she navigated her true passion as a professional jazz singer– a lifelong love and also began a journey that would lead to building a luxury nail brand. We discuss the intimacy of her business, how to build authentic relationships and the secret to her longevity and success. Plus, the behind-the-scenes of what it's like working with Hollywood's biggest stars during award season!

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The Rise of Corporate Natalie, Tapping Into the Creator Economy, and How She Balances Her Real Job May 01, 2022

Show notes

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

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Gabby Bernstein on How to Achieve Happy Days by Learning The Guided Path from Trauma to Profound Freedom Apr 24, 2022

Show notes

If you were free from fear, who would you have the freedom to be? In her new book, Happy Days, Gabby Bernstein charts a path to heal trauma, unlearn fear, and remember love. "In order to figure out what is the path you are meant to be on, you first must unlearn all the fears that were picked up along the way," says Gabby Bernstein, who is a #1 New York Times Bestselling author, motivational speaker, spiritual leader, and podcast host. Her newest book Happy Days: The Guided Path from Trauma to Profound Freedom and Inner Peace, teaches nine transformational, yet untapped, techniques for serenity and genuine happiness—from "reparenting" yourself to bodywork practices for freeing the stuck energy of past trauma. Gabby started on her own journey from hosting intimate conversations with 20 people and evolved to speaking to tens of thousands in sold-out venues throughout the world.

In 2009, Gabby was featured in The New York Times as a "guru" for the next generation. The Oprah Winfrey Network chose Gabby to be part of the "SuperSoul 100," a dynamic group of trailblazers whose vision and life's work bring a higher consciousness level to the world. Gabby connects with her community through her Miracle Membership and her podcast Dear Gabby.

In this episode, Gabby shares her personal path from trauma to freedom. She explains the importance of showing up for yourself and how if you do, you will be able to show up in other areas of your life. Gabby teaches the differences between trauma with a capital T and a small t, how to broach trauma with your boss, undo the patterns that make you stuck in the past, and so much more.

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Sneak Peek to Season 9! Apr 10, 2022

Show notes

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

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That Famous "Blue Cardigan Guy," Adam Rose, Unpacks the Impact of Social Media on Traditional Industry Success, the Secret to His Creativity, and How to Build a Positive Community Online Apr 03, 2022

Show notes

Adam Rose has lived the acting life in Hollywood since he was 9-years old, making his debut opposite Robin Williams and Julie Kavner in Woody Allen's Deconstructing Harry. With over 55 tinsel-town projects to date he's played roles on the sets of luminary directors and actors with credits that include The Sopranos, Veronica Mars, Netflix's Santa Clarita Diet, Supernatural, Merry Happy Whatever, and so many more. He's worked with Matthew Broderick, Matt Damon, Mark Ruffalo, and Anna Paquin, to name a few. As a writer, Adam sold his first pilot, PISSED, to Warner Bros. His short film, QUEEN, which he wrote and directed, screened at over 50 film festivals and won several awards. But back in 2009, he intuitively knew that social media would change how the world consumes content forever. At a time when most of his celebrity peers turned their noses up to anything "online," Adam began cultivating fans outside of his Hollywood projects.

Today, Adam has amassed an enormous social media following, with over 3.7 million followers on TikTok and nearly half a million on Instagram, not to mention his growing YouTube. He's one of the most beloved creators with A-list brand deals, known for his viral comedy sketches, dances, and "lovely" wife, a character he plays opposite himself. In this episode, Adam and I unpack the question, "What drives the other: Does the traditional career drive a social following, or does a social following drive your traditional career?" It's an interesting debate. We dive into the story of digital identity and the famous blue cardigan that his fans are obsessed with, and how his community reacts to his content. Adam shares his content strategy, secrets to creativity, production schedule, and a typical day in his life. The whole episode is like a hug in your ear, full of warmth, comedy, and advice.

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Mandy Teefey From 13 Reasons Why to Wondermind, Why Mental Fitness Is the Future, and How to Advocate for Accommodations at Work Mar 27, 2022

Show notes

"Did I want to be there for a moment, or did I want to be there forever"? That's the question Mandy Teefey asked herself when she contemplated whether she should prioritize her mental health or be there for her daughter, Selena Gomez's, first day of Kindergarten. Fast forward to today, and Mandy Teefey is a co-founder and co-CEO of Wondermind and the founder and CEO of Kicked to the Curb Productions, where she has developed award-winning and nominated content. Mandy is best known for her work on Netflix's 13 Reasons Why. Mandy's personal journey struggling with mental health has fueled her passion and drive. Wondermind will satisfy the hunger for inclusive content and the need to change the narrative on how mental health is portrayed. It also gives people the tools to practice "mental health fitness," both online and offline.

Mandy was misdiagnosed as bipolar and later diagnosed with ADHD with Trauma, which has fueled her passion for offering accessible mental health resources for anyone and everyone. Co-founded with Selena Gomez and Daniella Pierson, Wondermind is a multimedia company that destigmatizes and democratizes mental health in a way that has never been done before.

In this episode, Mandy shares her incredible and heartfelt journey. From her mental health struggles to being a teenage mom, she authentically shares how her career came to be despite her misdiagnosis as being bipolar. With a dream of storytelling in entertainment, Mandy has made some of the biggest contributions to normalizing the mental health discussion in Hollywood.

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Chrissy Rutherford on Why Fashion’s Diversity Education is Not Over, Mental Health Transparency in the Workplace and How Opportunities That Are Meant to Be Yours Will Be Mar 13, 2022

Show notes

What does it feel like when your video goes viral? Chrissy Rutherford knows. She was shocked when her video captioned, “It’s not enough to just say “I’m not racist, ” following the murder of George Floyd went viral, garnering over 5 million views in less than a day. Chrissy realized that there was much to teach her industry on being anti-racist. After working in fashion for 12+ years as the former Special Projects Director and the Senior Digital Fashion editor of harpersbazaar.com, she decided to join forces with fellow fashion editor Danielle Prescod, creating 2BG (Two Black Girls). 2BG is a consultancy that advises fashion and beauty brands along with influencers on how to implement anti-racist communication strategies. She is also a digital creator who has partnered with brands like Tiffany & Co., Jimmy Choo, Saks Fifth Avenue, and more.

In this episode, Chrissy shares her journey breaking into fashion with tactical advice on how to make sure your bosses never forget you, how to be politely persistent, what it means to know your value, and how to know when to leave your job. She also transparently shares her struggle with mental health and her mission to make diversity and inclusion in fashion a mainstay of the present and future.

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