Elizabeth von der Goltz, the chief fashion and merchandising officer and CEO of Browns, on becoming the boss she would want for herself
My first job was at the New York fashion store Barney’s. I worked for the in-house label, which was the perfect start because I was exposed to so many aspects of production. I learnt everything, from what goes into making a garment to how it is marked up.
It gave me a solid foundation in building a collection.
I love a challenge. This motivated me to move around throughout my career, from Henri Bendel and Bergdorf Goodman to, eventually, e-commerce.
If I’m ever in a place where I am not learning anything new, I need to get uncomfortable again, and so I push myself in that direction.
I’m always curious about the future. When I realised the digital space was the next frontier in the mid-Noughties, I very intentionally revitalised Bergdorf ’s website to teach myself a whole new
way of speaking to the customer. It’s what led me to my current role.
To understand online retail, you must understand bricks and mortar. The task is how to bring the authenticity and personality of a physical store to a website. I treat social media like shop windows, and make sure our customer service feels just as personal.
My leadership style is collaborative. I’m a very empathetic leader. I like to understand how people are feeling and take everyone along with me, so it’s a common mission, not a top-down directive. I’ve had bosses who were terrible at communication and teamwork, and the results were disastrous. It taught me what kind of leader I did not want to be.
I’m strict on boundaries to achieve a healthy work-life balance. I try to say no to social engagements outside of work during the week, and I make meetings super-efficient – no longer than 30 minutes, so no one wastes time. What you wear to work should be whatever makes you feel confident. I think that ’s totally different for everyone. There’s no formula. Our week has both remote and office-based working, so I’m always in a mix of smart and relaxed looks.
My career advice is to always be open to feedback. At the same time, you must trust yourself and go with your gut. My instinct to jump into new worlds is what, I think, has served me so well. brownsfashion.com
WORKING LUNCH
Every square inch of Bar Jackie, the informal café at the heart of the new Broadwick Soho hotel, is crammed with art, pattern and colour, t
