DM Me with Doug Melville

Doug Melville hosts Sarah Davis and Ben Hemminger, founder and co-founder of Fashionphile, now CEO and COO of the largest ultra-luxury handbag and accessory retailer in the U.S. They trace their roots from selling on eBay in 1999 and bootstrapping the business, including a strategic early base in Beverly Hills to build trust and credibility through authentication guides and strong feedback. They discuss partnering after an earlier startup, leaving stable career paths, and finding product-market fit in luxury resale. Fashionphile has grown to hundreds of millions in revenue, 400+ employees, 14 locations and major flagships in San Diego, LA, and New York, plus London and Tokyo offices. They cover supply-vs-demand dynamics, the “pay her fast and fair” seller strategy, brand relationships, pricing trends, and evolving authentication tools and anti-fraud efforts, and close with advice to start quickly and obsess over customers.

Fashionphile.com

Fashionphile on Instagram

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@DougMelville

www.DougMelville.com

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Doug Melville sits down with Rob Schwartz, former TBWA\Chiat\Day CEO and now a certified performance and leadership coach to talk about what he’s hearing most from clients right now: anxiety and uncertainty about what to do next, from seasoned executives to early-career talent, especially with AI and layoffs reshaping work. Rob shares how he starts coaching sessions with simple humanity and deep listening, then helps clients clarify goals using the GROW framework (goal, reality, opportunity, will). Rob and Doug discuss why AI can be helpful but can’t replace a coach’s ability to read body language and create real breakthroughs, plus Rob’s own pivot into coaching during COVID. 

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@DougMelville

www.DougMelville.com

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Doug Melville welcomes in Lanny Smith to discuss his pivot from basketball to entrepreneurship as the founder of athleisure brand Actively Black. Lanny recounts playing college basketball, and signing as an undrafted free agent with the Sacramento Kings shortly before a knee injury ended his NBA career after 33 days, triggering an identity crisis. He explains how faith helped him launch his first brand, Active Faith, which Steph Curry later partnered in, and how experiences with racism and the 2020 social climate led him to launch Actively Black. Lanny discusses the brand’s “This is Not a Fashion Show” New York Fashion Week event featuring figures such as Ruby Bridges, and the daughters of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. As always, Doug closes with asking his guest for the best advice they've received, and Lanny tells us about rejecting fear.

For more of Lanny Smith:

Lanny's Instagram

www.ActivelyBlack.com

DM Doug:

@DougMelville

www.DougMelville.com

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Interviewed in this inaugural episode by Maisha Dyson, Doug Melville recounts some of the highlights of his astonishing career working with titans like Quincy Jones, Tommy Hilfiger, and Magic Johnson. Having been to over 40 countries, Doug shares how his experiences and lessons he learned, along with the uniquely positioned guests he'll bring on, can help you make your next career move your best career move.

For more of Maisha Dyson:

MaishaStudios.com

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@DougMelville on Instagram

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DM Me with Doug Melville is a direct, practical self-help podcast in which Doug Melville answers real questions with clear guidance to help listeners grow and take action on their careers, reputation, culture and life.

Doug Melville is a seasoned executive, bestselling author, and Forbes contributor with 25 years of leadership experience. His career spans the music industry in Los Angeles, top advertising agencies

on Madison Avenue, and senior roles in the global luxury sector in Geneva. He has traveled to 77

countries and all 50 U.S. states, gaining rare insight into culture, business, and human behavior.

Recognized as a trusted voice, Doug advises professionals at every stage of their careers—from

Stanford University to Davos —helping them navigate change and chart meaningful new paths. Equal parts historian and guide, he brings depth, clarity, and perspective to audiences seeking personal and professional growth.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.