Kendra Bracken-Ferguson has been guided by her mantra, “carpe diem”, throughout her life. A brand building expert and digital media pioneer, Kendra served as Vice President of Digital at Fleishman Hillard and the first Director of Digital Media at Ralph Lauren. In 2010, she co-founded Digital Brand Architects which forever changed the landscape of digital marketing. Now, she is the founder and CEO of BrainTrust, a conglomerate including an award-winning, global marketing agency, BrainTrust Founders Studio, the largest platform dedicated to Black founders of beauty and wellness companies and the adjacent BrainTrust Fund I. In this episode of Claim Your Confidence, we talk about how Kendra got her start in the world of PR and brand marketing, what inspired her to found BrainTrust, and the importance of seizing the day. 

Don’t miss this interview where we discuss:

• Kendra’s first job at Fleishman Hillard, the PR and marketing projects she worked on, and what those experiences taught her early on in her career
• What it means to be an entrepreneur or an “intrapreneur” 
• How she recognized the potential of marketing through bloggers in the early days of social media and how she co-founded the first American blogger management company Digital Brand Architects 
• The story behind BrainTrust and how Kendra is supporting black founders through BrainTrust Founders Studio and BrainTrust Fund I
• Kendra’s life mantra “carpe diem”, the times in her life where she stepped out on faith and followed her instincts, and how seizing the day can allow you to take advantage of life’s greatest opportunities

Find Kendra Bracken-Ferguson:

www.kendrabracken-ferguson.com
IG: @kendrabrackenferguson
LinkedIn: Kendra Bracken-Ferguson

Follow Lydia:

www.lydiafenet.com
IG: @lydiafenet
LinkedIn: Lydia Fenet

Questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you...send us a text!

Record a question here so we can answer it on the next episode of Claim Your Confidence.

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Recorded at The Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center.

Thank you for listening.

In this day and age, social media is an invaluable tool for brands, companies, and individuals to find and connect with an audience. And that is exactly what New York based internet creator, podcast host, and author Eli Rallo has done. After her first TikTok video went viral in 2020, Eli has grown her audience to almost a million followers between TikTok and Instagram by making content that promotes authenticity and self-confidence. Now a Forbes contributor and host of the podcast Miss Congeniality, Eli’s debut book I Didn’t Know I Needed This: The New Rules for Flirting, Feeling, and Finding Yourself is filled with life lessons, tips, and advice to help you elevate your lived experience and personal relationships. In this interview, we talk about Eli’s passion for theatre and writing, how social media started as a side hobby and became her full-time job, and all of the details surrounding her first book and upcoming book tour. 

Don’t miss this episode where we discuss:

• How Eli found her voice at a young age through her love of theatre
• Her first experiences on social media, and how she overcame the pressures to curate a “highlight reel” of her life and instead chose to be her authentic self
• The backstory to her first viral video on TikTok, and how she’s found and grown her audience since then
• The importance of finding your people, and how curating an audience can help you reach and inspire others
• Eli’s day-in-the-life as a content creator, and the importance of keeping yourself grounded through gratitude 

Find Eli Rallo:

www.theelirallo.com
IG: @eli.rallo
TikTok: @elirallo
Twitter: @EliRallo

Follow Lydia:

www.lydiafenet.com
IG: @lydiafenet
LinkedIn: Lydia Fenet

Questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you...send us a text!

Record a question here so we can answer it on the next episode of Claim Your Confidence.

To stay up to date with Claim Your Confidence and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram and on YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Recorded at The Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center.

Thank you for listening.

Gretchen Witt is the founder of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for pediatric cancer treatment research and development. When Gretchen’s son Liam was diagnosed with cancer in 2007 she felt compelled to make a difference, and in 2008 Cookies for Kids’ Cancer was launched. Utilizing over twenty-five years of PR and communications experience, Gretchen has flipped the script on how nonprofits operate, and Cookies for Kids’ Cancer’s grassroots fundraising events have contributed over 20 million dollars towards pediatric cancer research and have helped save countless lives. In this episode, we discuss Gretchen’s motivation for founding Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, the impact the organization has had so far, and how sometimes the best start for any new endeavor is to just go for it. 

Don’t miss this interview where we talk about:

• Gretchen’s career working in PR, and what it taught her about the importance of communications and what successful communications management looks like
• Her son Liam’s cancer diagnosis when he was two and a half years old, and how it changed Gretchen’s life forever 
• Where the idea for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer came from, and the story behind its first bake-a-thon where Gretchen and a team of volunteers baked 96,000 cookies and raised over 420,000 dollars to help fund cancer treatments
• The organization’s intentional design, and how Gretchen has found success in raising awareness for difficult topics like pediatric cancer by inviting people into the conversation in a cheerful and positive way 
• Finding the confidence to start something new, and that if there’s a dream you want to pursue or an idea you want to bring to life, why not give it a try?

Find Gretchen Witt:

www.cookiesforkidscancer.org
IG: @cookies4kids
Twitter: @GoodCookiesMom
LinkedIn: Gretchen Holt Witt

Follow Lydia:

www.lydiafenet.com
IG: @lydiafenet
LinkedIn: Lydia Fenet

Questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you...send us a text!

Record a question here so we can answer it on the next episode of Claim Your Confidence.

To stay up to date with Claim Your Confidence and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram and on YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Recorded at The Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center.

Thank you for listening.

Farnoosh Torabi is one of America’s leading personal finance authorities and has all the tips and tricks regarding how to surpass your financial goals and live your happiest life. A former CNBC host, creator of the Webby-nominated podcast So Money, and the multi-bestselling financial author of When She Makes More: The Truth About Love and Life for a New Generation of Women, Farnoosh’s latest book A Healthy State of Panic: Follow Your Fears to Build Wealth, Crush Your Career and Win at Life encourages others to not only recognize their fears, but to harness them to achieve success. In this interview, we talk about Farnoosh’s financial philosophies, the message of her newest book, and how once you work through your fears you’ll be able to find confidence on the other side. 

Don’t miss this episode of Claim Your Confidence where we discuss:

• The importance of financial literacy, and how understanding your finances is key to your independence and success
• How overcoming her own financial struggles and increasing her understanding of personal finance inspired Farnoosh to publish her first book
• Busting the myth that your self worth is defined by your net worth
• The importance of establishing a financial partnership in marriage, and how couples can prevent money from becoming a point of contention in their relationship
• How addressing your fears instead of avoiding them can help guide you during life’s important decisions, and can help increase your confidence

Find Farnoosh Torabi:

www.farnoosh.tv
IG: @farnooshtorabi
Twitter: @Farnoosh
Facebook & LinkedIn: Farnoosh Torabi

Follow Lydia:

www.lydiafenet.com
IG: @lydiafenet
LinkedIn: Lydia Fenet

Questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you...send us a text!

Record a question here so we can answer it on the next episode of Claim Your Confidence.

To stay up to date with Claim Your Confidence and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram and on YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Recorded at The Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center.

Thank you for listening.

Anastasia Soare is known as the Queen of Brows, and for good reason. Founder and CEO of Anastasia Beverly Hills – one of the most acclaimed brands in the beauty industry – Anastasia immigrated to the United States from Romania in 1989 and began working as an esthetician in Beverly Hills. One year later, she developed and introduced her groundbreaking Golden Ratio® eyebrow shaping method and rapidly amassed a dedicated clientele, which led to the opening of her first salon in 1997 and the birth of the Anastasia Beverly Hills brand. With Anastasia at the helm, Anastasia Beverly Hills is now a globally recognized beauty brand valued at three billion dollars. In this episode we talk about the story behind her first salon, how she developed the Golden Ratio® technique, and how the most important thing you can do is believe in yourself. 

Don’t miss this interview where we discuss:

• Anastasia’s childhood in Romania, her mother’s entrepreneurial spirit, and what her mother taught her about business
• Her experience immigrating to America, the difficulties she faced not knowing English, and the story behind how she got her start as an esthetician 
• Anastasia's “Oscar moment” when she was first featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and how she harnessed the skyrocketing success of the Anastasia Beverly Hills brand
• How Anastasia grew ABH before social media, why she adopted social media as a marketing tool in its early days, and what she’s learned about building brand presence online
• Where she plans to take the company next, and how she hopes to inspire others by sharing her story

Find Anastasia Soare:

www.anastasiabeverlyhills.com
IG: @anastasiasoare
Facebook: Anastasia Soare
LinkedIn: Anastasia Soare

Follow Lydia:

www.lydiafenet.com
IG: @lydiafenet
LinkedIn: Lydia Fenet

Questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you...send us a text!

Record a question here so we can answer it on the next episode of Claim Your Confidence.

To stay up to date with Claim Your Confidence and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram and on YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Recorded at The Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center.

Thank you for listening.

Lele Sadoughi, known as the accessories queen, is an industry leader in designing collectible headbands, maximal costume jewelry, jeweled sunglasses, specialty handbags and more. With more than twenty years of experience designing for major fashion companies such as Rebecca Taylor, Banana Republic, J.Crew, Neiman Marcus, and Tory Burch, Lele launched her own brand, Lele Sadoughi, in 2012. Beginning with one jewelry line, the brand has now expanded into over fifteen categories – including her iconic headbands – all designed with Lele’s signature touch of sparkle and color. In this interview we discuss how she found her passion for designing accessories, the course of her career from her first job to the launch of her own company, and what it means to find your brand’s identity. 

Don’t miss this episode where we talk about:

• Lele’s love for art, and how her creativity has guided her throughout her life
• How Lele first gained fashion experience by working at a small design company, and the benefits of working at such a small company in her early career
• Her experience launching J.Crew’s first ever jewelry collection, and how she utilized her own tastes in curating the collection’s design 
• The importance of giving yourself grace, and that some days it’s okay if you don’t get everything done
• The story behind Lele’s brand, it’s early years after launch, and how she’s translated the brand’s design identity into each new category as they expand

Find Lele Sadoughi:

www.lelesadoughi.com
IG: @lele_sadoughi; @lisa_sadoughi
Facebook: Lele Sadoughi
LinkedIn: Lele Sadoughi

Follow Lydia:

www.lydiafenet.com
IG: @lydiafenet
LinkedIn: Lydia Fenet

Questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you...send us a text!

Record a question here so we can answer it on the next episode of Claim Your Confidence.

To stay up to date with Claim Your Confidence and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram and on YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Recorded at The Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center.

Thank you for listening.

If you have any connection to the automotive world, Soon Hagerty is the name to know. Senior vice president of brand at Hagerty, the world's largest provider of specialty insurance for classic vehicles, Soon has played a lead role in transforming Hagerty from a local insurance company operating in a basement to a global publicly traded lifestyle brand with a valuation of more than three billion dollars. But not only that, Soon is also the founder and co-owner of The Good Bowl, a mission-based Vietnamese restaurant that donates $1 per bowl to charity, and the co-founder and president of the Boundless Futures Foundation which is dedicated to supporting aspiring female entrepreneurs. In this episode of Claim Your Confidence, we talk about the heart and soul within the car world, the importance of identifying a problem to solve when beginning any entrepreneurial endeavor, and all of the ways in which Soon gives back through her work. 

Don’t miss this interview where we discuss:

• Her family’s story immigrating to America from Vietnam when Soon was a young child, and how witnessing her parents’ resilience throughout their journey shaped her as she grew up
• How Soon’s love of people and storytelling was the foundation for her interest in PR, and the path that led her to working in the automotive industry
• The story behind The Good Bowl, and how simplicity is often the key when encouraging people to support charities
• Her experience as a woman in a male-dominated field, and how she hopes to empower, embrace, and elevate fellow female entrepreneurs through the Boundless Futures Foundation
• How it’s not about where you start in life but where you finish

Find Soon Hagerty:

https://corporate.hagerty.com/leadership/soon-hagerty
IG: @soonhagerty
Twitter: @SoonHagerty
LinkedIn: Soon Hagerty 

Follow Lydia:

www.lydiafenet.com
IG: @lydiafenet
LinkedIn: Lydia Fenet

Questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you...send us a text!

Record a question here so we can answer it on the next episode of Claim Your Confidence.

To stay up to date with Claim Your Confidence and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram and on YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Recorded at The Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center.

Thank you for listening.

If you, like countless others across the country, tuned in to every episode of What Not To Wear during its ten-year run, then this episode is for you. Stacy London is an American stylist, fashion consultant, author, magazine editor, and the former CEO of State Of Menopause. Starting in the fashion world as an editor at Vogue, Stacy has worked as a style consultant on countless talk shows including Today, Access Hollywood, and The View, was a co-host of TLC’s What Not to Wear, and the host of yet another wildly popular TLC show Love, Lust or Run. In this interview, we discuss Stacy’s career from editorial magazines to television and beyond, how believing in your own worth is the root of confidence, and the power of fashion as a tool to shape how you want to be perceived. 

Don’t miss this episode where we talk about:

• Stacy’s experience being diagnosed with psoriasis as a child, how she learned to manage her symptoms, and how fashion helped her overcome her insecurities
• Connecting the dots in hindsight, and how moments of career uncertainty led Stacy to exactly where she needed to be
• What working on What Not to Wear and Love, Lust or Run taught her about self-worth, confidence, and compassion
• How her own menopause journey and efforts to better understand its symptoms gave her a new focus going forward
• The legacy that Stacy hopes Generation X will have regarding raising awareness of the effects of menopause and supporting women that are currently experiencing this often forgotten life transition 

Find Stacy London:

www.stacyandclinton.com 
IG: @stacylondonreal
Facebook: @stacylondonofficial
LinkedIn: Stacy London 

Follow Lydia:

www.lydiafenet.com
IG: @lydiafenet
LinkedIn: Lydia Fenet

Questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you...send us a text!

Record a question here so we can answer it on the next episode of Claim Your Confidence.

To stay up to date with Claim Your Confidence and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram and on YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Recorded at The Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center.

Thank you for listening.

Monique Rodriguez is the founder and CEO of Mielle Organics, a hair care and beauty brand dedicated to providing healthier ingredients for healthier hair and skin. Inspired by her passion for hair care and educating others on how to promote hair health, Monique launched Mielle Organics in 2014 and has since grown the company at record-breaking speeds, including expanding its reach through Mielle’s historic 2023 acquisition by Procter & Gamble. Recognized as a leader and role model in the business community, Monique recently launched the Mielle Cares non-profit with a ten-million dollar donation that was matched by P&G. In this episode of Claim Your Confidence, we talk about Mielle Organics’ meteoric rise in the entrepreneurial world, how owning your confidence can inspire others, and what it means for Monique to feed her faith.

Don’t miss this interview where we discuss:

• Monique’s background in science and medicine, and her career as a nurse before launching her company
• How she first became interested in hair care and began posting on Instagram as a creative outlet after a personal loss
• Building a passionate and dedicated community through social media, and how Monique’s relationship with her community positively impacted the launch of Mielle Organics
• Monique’s experience as a CEO, the ups and downs of navigating leadership, and Mielle Organics’ journey from launch to its current success
• The impact that she hopes Mielle Cares will have on her community, and what it means to leave behind a legacy for others

Find Monique Rodriguez:

www.mielleorganics.com
IG: @exquisitemo
LinkedIn: Monique Rodriguez

Follow Lydia:

www.lydiafenet.com
IG: @lydiafenet
LinkedIn: Lydia Fenet

Questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you...send us a text!

Record a question here so we can answer it on the next episode of Claim Your Confidence.

To stay up to date with Claim Your Confidence and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram and on YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Recorded at The Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center.

Thank you for listening.

Jean Chatzky has the gift of being able to take the complicated world of money and explain it in a way that everyone can understand, which is exactly what she’s been doing for over twenty-five years. Jean currently serves as the financial editor of TODAY, is the founder and CEO of the multi-media company HerMoney, is the host of two podcasts, and has published a remarkable thirteen books, all with the goal of demystifying the world of money for others so that they can take charge of their finances and their lives. In this interview, we discuss how Jean got her start in business journalism, what inspired her to launch HerMoney, and what it means to improve your financial wellness.

 Don’t miss this episode where we talk about:

• Jean’s career from Wall Street to TODAY, her goal behind creating HerMoney, and how she’s expanded the company since its launch
• The three most important things that every 20-year-old should know about their finances
• How oftentimes instances of difficulty or challenge in our lives end up being opportunities for growth when looking back
• Jean’s most recent book Women with Money, and how she hopes it can give women confidence in navigating their financial journeys
• The importance of understanding your finances, and how earning well can empower you to attain the life you want

Find Jean Chatzky:

www.hermoney.comwww.jeanchatzky.com
IG: @jeanchatzky
Linked In: Jean Chatzky

Follow Lydia:

www.lydiafenet.com
IG: @lydiafenet
LinkedIn: Lydia Fenet

Questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you...send us a text!

Record a question here so we can answer it on the next episode of Claim Your Confidence.

To stay up to date with Claim Your Confidence and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram and on YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Recorded at The Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center.

Thank you for listening.