CEO 101: Simone Kendle from Wove on Building Brands, Leading with Impact and Crafting Diamond Rings
Nov 1, 2024
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Simone Kendle, the CEO of Wove, shares her inspiring journey from corporate life to leading a jewelry brand. She emphasizes the power of confidence and polished presentation, offering beauty tips for busy professionals. Simone discusses the significance of networking and data-driven decisions in business, and shares insights on authentic leadership while balancing motherhood. The conversation dives into the art of custom jewelry, personal branding, and the importance of strategic partnerships, proving that success can be uniquely defined on your own terms.
Simone Kendle emphasizes the transformative power of confidence and personal presentation for women in professional settings to establish strong connections.
The importance of networking and education is highlighted through Simone's experience at Wharton, showcasing how relationships can propel career advancement.
Data-driven decision-making is crucial in entrepreneurship, enabling informed strategies that validate business ideas and enhance effectiveness in the market.
Deep dives
The Importance of Understanding Your Worth
The podcast emphasizes the significance of knowing your worth, particularly in the business world. This theme resonates throughout the conversation, with a strong focus on how women often struggle to present themselves assertively in professional settings. The host, Coco, shares insights into her personal experiences while promoting her jewelry line, which embodies this message. She recalls the support from Vogue and highlights the importance of self-representation and confidence for women entrepreneurs.
Networking and Education for Success
A discussion on the role of education and networking in advancing one’s career unfolds as Simone reflects on her own journey. She believes that while business school is not a necessity for everyone, it is an invaluable tool for building connections and acquiring industry insights. Simone shares her experience at Wharton, where she leveraged networking opportunities to boost her career. Her story highlights the significance of establishing relationships in the business community to facilitate growth and support.
Data-Driven Decision Making in Business
The conversation touches upon the importance of being data-driven in business decisions, a key lesson Simone learned during her corporate experience. She stresses that understanding both qualitative and quantitative data influences success, as it helps entrepreneurs make informed decisions rather than guessing based on assumptions. This emphasis on data collection and interpretation can significantly enhance a business’s effectiveness. The approach encourages lesser-known entrepreneurs to adopt data-informed strategies to validate their products and ideas.
Presenting Yourself with Confidence
Simone shares her journey of overcoming shyness and learning to present herself with confidence in public spaces, particularly in business settings. She highlights the need for entrepreneurs to come forward and be the face of their brands to foster trust and relatability with consumers. Through practice and exposure, she transformed her discomfort into a strength, emphasizing that confidence can be developed over time. This insight empowers listeners to embrace their identities and become advocates for their brands.
The Role of Effective Leadership
The podcast wraps up with a deep dive into leadership principles, where Simone shares her philosophy on managing teams effectively. She emphasizes creating a nurturing environment that supports open communication and feedback, which fosters trust among team members. Simone differentiates between leading and commanding, suggesting that effective leadership involves collaboration and encouragement rather than authoritarian demands. This insight serves as a guide for aspiring leaders to prioritize psychological safety and relate closely with their teams for better outcomes.
EP 102: In this episode, Koko welcomes Simone Kendle, the dynamic CEO of Wove, to share her inspiring journey from a corporate queen to a leading figure in the jewelry industry. Simone dives deep into the importance of confidence, emphasizing the power of showing up polished and prepared to dominate every room. She shares practical beauty tips for busy professionals, from her go-to makeup routines to her views on the power of consistent hair styling. Simone believes that how you present yourself can set the tone for successful connections and lasting impressions, and she’s here to help you look and feel your best. They discuss the critical importance of business school, networking, and scaling a business through data-driven decisions and meaningful partnerships. Simone also reveals her approach to authentic leadership, her daily rituals as a CEO, and balancing motherhood with her professional life. This episode is packed with advice on personal style, finding confidence in public speaking, and defining success on your own terms.