In this episode of The Real Modern Woman Podcast, Mod continues her unfiltered journey through the fashion industry—this time stepping into the high-stakes world of luxury wholesale. She shares what it was really like to manage vendor relationships, drive merchandising strategies, and curate product assortments for major department stores. Mod unpacks the ripple effects of corporate acquisitions, brands pivoting from luxury to commercial fashion, the pressure-cooker dynamics of retail leadership, and how she navigated workplace politics with strategy and grit. She eventually made a bold pivot into e-commerce, where she doubled her salary and helped lead a multi-billion-dollar business. This episode is a raw, insightful look at resilience, reinvention, and rising through the chaos.

00:00 Welcome Back to the Real Modern Woman Podcast

00:46 Navigating the Luxury Fashion Industry

01:48 Strategizing for Success in Retail

02:47 Assortment Planning & Market Feedback

05:08 The Reality of Retail Politics

10:02 Adapting to Acquisitions and Corporate Changes

16:40 Dealing with Difficult Leadership: A Fashion Bully

23:39 Career Progression and Challenges

27:53 Transition to Tech

29:35 Navigating the Job Market

31:05 Breaking into E-commerce & 2x Salary

38:08 Building a New Program

46:20 Lessons Learned and Moving Forward

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In this first part episode of the Real Modern Woman Podcast, Mod shares an in-depth account of her journey into the fashion industry, influenced by her challenging upbringing and passion for fashion ignited at a young age. She recounts her experiences from idolizing fashion icons like Lauren Conrad, to her determination to escape a tumultuous home life for a career in fashion. Mod takes listeners through her high school and college years, detailing her challenges, hard work, and eventual break into the fashion world. She discusses her internships, including an unpaid stint at a luxury conglomerate, and the lessons learned about the industry's cutthroat nature, office politics, and the importance of self-worth. Mod also details her career progression, management experiences, and the impact of significant company changes such as layoffs and acquisitions. This honest portrayal highlights the realities of pursuing a dream in fashion, the personal sacrifices involved, and the invaluable lessons learned along the way.

00:00 Welcome to the Real Modern Woman Podcast: Fashion Era Pt.1

01:21 Early Life and Inspiration

04:22 Fashion Dreams: Escaping home

07:22 College and Internships

09:57 First Steps in the Fashion Industry

16:31 Lessons from Retail and Leadership

18:57 Internship Challenges and Realizations

31:01 Navigating Office Politics and Wild Goose Chases

37:07 Surviving the Cutthroat Fashion Industry

39:39 Landing the First Full-Time Job in Fashion

55:55 Adapting to Major Company Changes

58:07 Experiencing Layoffs and Company Acquisition

01:01:07 Conclusion and Teaser for Part Two

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.