Zibby Owens is the one person in New York City who every author wants to meet. Founder and CEO of Zibby Media, author, publisher, podcaster, and more, Zibby has been dubbed “NYC’s Most Powerful Book-fluencer” by Vulture, and has built her brand around a love for books, writing, and connecting with others. In this episode of Claim Your Confidence, we talk about how Zibby found her voice as an author, literature’s power to bring people together, and Zibby’s growing media empire. 

Don’t miss this interview where we discuss:

• Zibby’s award-winning podcast Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books, how she first got started, and how it has grown
• The process of writing (and rewriting) a book, and how Zibby’s memoir Bookends was twenty years in the making
• How processing loss and grief can give you a new perspective on life
• Zibby’s passion for writing, and how she’s built a brand around uplifting authors and strengthening connections among readers
• The balance Zibby has found between running an ever-growing company and raising her four children

Find Zibby Owens:

www.zibbyowens.com
IG: @zibbyowens
Facebook: Zibby Owens

Follow Lydia:

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

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Recorded at The Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center.

Thank you for listening.

If you’re not entirely sure what a career in national security would entail, look no further than Lauren Buitta to elaborate. Founder and CEO of Girl Security, Lauren has utilized her past career experience to help make the national security field more accessible and equitable for women. She has been named one of fifty women making the world a better place by InStyle, and one of the most influential people in security by Security Magazine. In this interview, we discuss where Lauren’s interest in the national security field stemmed from, what inspired her to found Girl Security, and how Girl Security is helping equip young women to enter the national security workforce. 

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

• Lauren’s interest in understanding the human experience and the full scope of how policy can affect communities in the U.S. and around the globe
• How majoring in political science in college led to Lauren working at a national security think-tank post-grad, and her experiences being one of few women in the field
• The importance of diversity in the national security workforce, and how it leads to better policy outcomes
• How Lauren had the idea for Girl Security long before she founded the company, and what prompted her to finally take the leap and invest in her idea
• The common misconceptions around what working in national security is like, and how Girl Security is working to help inform younger generations about the importance and breadth of national security and the opportunities that can be found in the field

Find Lauren Buitta:

www.girlsecurity.org
IG: @laurenbuitta
LinkedIn: Lauren Bean Buitta

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.

A proud fashion outsider, Brandice Daniel has the perfect balance of unmatched experience in fashion buying and production and immense entrepreneurial skill. Founder and CEO of the premier agency Harlem’s Fashion Row and nonprofit program ICON360, Brandice has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between multicultural designers and the fashion industry, and has been featured in Vogue, the New York Times, Good Morning America, and more. In this episode, we talk about how she first began pursuing her love of fashion, the origin story of Harlem’s Fashion Row, and the mission behind Brandice’s work. 

Don’t miss this interview where we discuss:

• Brandice’s childhood as the middle daughter, and how her parents inspired her to prioritize giving back
• Moving from Memphis to New York City at the beginning of her career and how Harlem’s vibrant community helped Brandice find her footing in an unfamiliar place
• How she organized her first fashion event, and how that moment led to the establishment of Harlem’s Fashion Row
• Making lightning strike twice and maintaining momentum after a success
• How more often than not, your visions and goals will take years of planning and effort before they become a reality

Find Brandice Daniel:

www.brandicedaniel.com
IG & Twitter: @brandicedaniel
LinkedIn: Brandice Daniel

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.

Aya Kanai is an American fashion editor who has been at the helm of nearly every fashion magazine you can imagine – Marie Claire, Health, Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and more. A master of executing creative visions, Aya has taken on roles from stylist to editor to director, and now serves as the Head of Editorial and Creative for Google Shopping. In this interview, we discuss the trajectory of Aya’s career from fashion assistant to Editor in Chief, her latest role at Google, and what it’s like to take a leap of faith and adapt to a new industry. 

Tune in to this episode where we talk about:

• Aya’s life growing up in New York City, and what it’s like to now raise her daughter there
• Her passion for art and art history, and how she became a puppeteer after college
• Aya’s career in the fashion magazine industry, her experiences entering and adjusting to the tech industry, and the ups and downs that come with any career shift
• How sometimes bad things happen to good people, and the steps you can take to rebuild confidence that’s been shaken
• What parents can do to help nurture and fortify their children’s confidence as they grow up

Find Aya Kanai:

www.ayakanai.com
IG: @ayakanai
LinkedIn: Aya Kanai

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.

If you’ve ever been to any major grocery store chain like Target, Walmart, or Whole Foods, you’ve most likely seen Hint® water–the award-winning unsweetened flavored water–on the shelves. Kara Goldin, the founder of Hint, Inc., never thought that she would start a company or become an entrepreneur. Yet, by seizing an opportunity to follow her interests, Kara revolutionized the beverage industry for the better and is now revered as one of the most innovative entrepreneurs in her field. In this episode of Claim Your Confidence, we talk about how Kara took the leap of courage to start Hint, Inc., her media, tech, and consumer products background, and where the idea for Hint® water came from. 

Don’t miss this interview where we discuss:

• Kara’s childhood growing up in Phoenix, Arizona, how her parents and older siblings influenced her, and how she first started learning about business at a young age
• How she found a “research ground” for learning about different career paths while she was still in college, and how she later landed her first job in New York City through tenacity and gumption
• The importance of taking a chance regardless of the potential outcome, and that failures oftentimes provide the best learning experiences, paths to new opportunities, or at the very least a great story
• How a personal health decision led Kara to develop Hint® water and found Hint, Inc.
• Navigating an unknown industry, the lessons Kara has learned as an entrepreneur, and how she shares her story

Find Kara Goldin:

https://karagoldin.com/podcasts
IG, Twitter: @karagoldin
Facebook, LinkedIn: Kara Goldin

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.

Sensitive Content Warning: This episode discusses events of human sex trafficking that may be distressing to some listeners. Being the first lady of Louisiana is not a role that comes with an instruction manual, yet First Lady Donna Edwards has served as such with diligence and compassion since 2016. From navigating the political world as her husband ran for state representative and later governor to becoming involved in various nonprofit organizations, in this interview Lydia and Donna talk about the defining moments of Donna’s life until now, and how she uses her voice to make an impact. 

Don’t miss this episode where we discuss:

• How staying true to yourself and living authentically can help you persevere in the face of adversity
• Donna’s passion for teaching, and the importance of the arts and physical education in a well-rounded curriculum 
• Her experiences living on-base during her husband’s military career and what she took away from her family's frequent cross-country moves
• The numerous causes Donna supports through the Louisiana First Foundation including Louisiana Fosters, Teach MAM (Music, Art, Movement), and LFF Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness
• How we can support anti-human trafficking causes and protect our children from potentially dangerous situations both in-person and online

National Human Trafficking Hotline:

24 hours, 7 days a week 
Call: 1-888-373-7888 or Text HELP to 233733
Humantraffickinghotline.org
State of Louisiana Hotline:1-855-4LA-KIDS or 1-855-452-5437

Find Donna Edwards:

https://louisianafirstfoundation.com
IG: @firstladyofla
Twitter: @FirstLadyOfLA
Facebook: First Lady Donna Edwards

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.

Many people undergo career changes throughout the course of their lives, but Emily Hikade’s is one that is especially unique. Many may know of Emily as the Founder and CEO of the beloved luxury sleepwear company Petite Plume, but a lesser known fact is that before she became a full-time entrepreneur, Emily worked for the CIA as an operations officer in the Clandestine Service for nearly two decades. In this episode we discuss Emily’s experience working in the CIA, where her idea for Petite Plume came from, and how she was able to take the leap to pivot in her career. 

Don’t miss this interview where we talk about:

• Emily’s curiosity as a child and her love of learning different languages
• Her journey from working as a White House aid to joining the CIA, the various countries she traveled to during her multiple tours, and what her life was like undercover
• The ‘aha moment’ that first motivated her to making Petite Plume a reality
• How Emily overcame the various hurdles she faced when developing Petite Plume, and her determination to not compromise her vision for the brand
• The ‘ones and tens’ of life, and how you can only appreciate the highs by experiencing the lows

Find Emily Hikade:

https://www.petite-plume.com
IG: @emilyhikade
LinkedIn: Emily Hikade

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.

One of the biggest names in the New York City art world today, Isolde Brielmaier has left her mark on some of the most prestigious museums in the country, including the Guggenheim Museum, the Bronx Museum of Art, and the SCAD Museum of Art, and has contributed to countless contemporary art and culture programs for companies such as The Peninsula Hotels, Valentino, Gucci, and New York Magazine. Isolde now serves as the Deputy Director of the New Museum and Guest Curator at the International Center of Photography in New York City, and in this interview we discuss everything she loves about working in the art world, the daily nine-to-five as a curator, and how she’s leading the next generation of artists and art curators forward. 

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

• What Isolde’s background as a ballet dancer taught her about confidence, self-validation, and discipline
• How she first got involved in the contemporary art space, the art and culture programs she has helped develop, and how the art world has changed throughout her career
• ‘Paying it forward’ – how Isolde is adding to the progress enacted by her predecessors through her focus on collaboration and representation
• Her ever-evolving confidence journey, and how she seeks to instill confidence in her daughter
• The importance of practicing gratitude, and the transformative and powerful energy of joy

Find Isolde Brielmaier:

https://www.isoldeb.com
IG: @isolde_brielmaier
LinkedIn: Isolde Brielmaier

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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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.

Anne Aslett is the CEO of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the 5th largest nonprofit AIDS fundraiser in the world which has helped save over 5 million lives from its founding in 1992. Throughout her time with the organization, Anne has expanded its reach globally, and continued to help raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and end the stigma surrounding those affected – reaching over 100 million people in the process. In this episode of Claim Your Confidence we discuss the multitude of projects she took on in her early career – from journalism to consulting, how she first got involved with fundraising for HIV/AIDS, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s next steps. 

Don’t miss this interview where we talk about:

• Her early childhood in Sydney, Australia, her family’s subsequent move to London, and how she adjusted to her new environment
• Anne’s travels to the Middle East for journalism work during her early career, and how she found confidence through the culture shock
• How careers are built off of multiple stepping stones, and how trial and error is often the key to finding the path that is truly fulfilling for you
• How Anne was personally affected by the AIDS/HIV epidemic, and what drove her to commit to making a difference through fundraising
• Anne’s impact on the Elton John AIDS Foundation, her experience working with Elton John, and what she’s doing to help the foundation reach its goal of ending the AIDS epidemic for good

Find Anne Aslett:

https://www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org
IG: @anneaslett
Twitter: @AnneAslett1

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.

Everyone in the fashion world already knows Tanya Taylor and her eponymous New York-based fashion brand. As CEO and Creative Director, Tanya has built her brand around the power, freedom, and joy that comes from creative expression by masterfully combining color, texture, and her own hand-painted prints into her designs. In this interview we talk about Tanya’s love of color and her creative backstory, the values behind her brand, and how she first got started in the fashion industry. 

Don’t miss this episode where we discuss:

• The importance of fostering your own creativity
• How Tanya found the inspiration, confidence, and drive to start her own fashion brand
• The power of a positive mindset, and how she is able to overcome failures and mitigate self-doubt
• How Tanya uses her platform to have a positive impact, from promoting size inclusivity in her clothing to hosting Color Therapy classes across the country to help empower others through creativity
• The future of the Tanya Taylor brand and their first brick-and-mortar store that is opening later this year

Find Tanya Taylor:

https://www.tanyataylor.com
IG: @tanyataylor
LinkedIn: Tanya Taylor

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.