The Visionary Woman Podcast
The Visionary Woman Podcast
BONUS EPISODE: Pivoting Professionally: Jordana's Path from PR to Fashion Tech Pioneer (with Special Guest Jordana Guimaraes )
What lengths would you go to follow your passion? Jordana Guillermes, a force to be reckoned with in the realm of fashion tech, spun the globe of career possibilities and landed on PR with no qualifications. Nevertheless, she ended up interviewing with a company president and paving her own path into this industry. Her journey, laden with audacity and determination, serves as a powerful testament to the limitless potential of an unquenchable passion. This episode is a deep dive into her transition from PR to co-founding Fashion Innovation NYC, her tenacious spirit and her life's mission.
Are you curious about the trials and tribulations of launching a start-up in the fashion tech arena? Jordana shares the nitty-gritty of initiating a summit with tech and fashion, the obstacles they stumbled upon while finding sponsorships, and the importance of grit and resilience in overcoming these hurdles. Her definition of success is as unique as her journey; to her, success means making a difference and lending a helping hand to others. This episode is a treasure trove of inspiration and wisdom, chronicling her leap from PR to fashion tech, the hardships encountered and her unwavering spirit.
Sustainability is more than just a buzzword for Jordana Guillermes. She believes it extends beyond fabric to encompass the treatment of people in the supply chain and our everyday life. She perceives sustainability as a lifestyle choice, a view that she elaborates on in this episode. Additionally, she imparts valuable advice on finding your unique voice in business and pursuing your desires. This episode concludes with an insightful discussion on sustainability and its broader implications, making it an indispensable listen for anyone interested in fashion, technology and innovation! Join the conversation!
Time Stamps/Chapters:
0:02
Jordana Guillermes
9:37
From PR to Fashion Tech
17:05
Defining Success and Staying Resilient
26:57
Sustainability and Personal Connections in Fashion
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Don't put your dreams to bed. You've done that enough. Now it's time to stir them up. This is your friend host, Kirstie Fleur with the Visionary Woman podcast, and I love resourcing the Visionary Woman, the creative, the artist, the business owner, the risk taker, and on this show, we will talk about what it means to get out of your own way and take your dreams to the next level. Join the conversation. Hello, and thank you for joining us on the Visionary Woman podcast.
Kirstie :I'm your host, kirstie Fleuer, and today on the podcast we have a friend of mine, Jordana Guimaraes. Hope I got that right, Jordana. I'm working on it, but we're going to peek into Jordana's life as a fashion tech spokesperson spokeswoman exactly. Jordana has over 15 years of experience as a marketing and public relations director in the lifestyle and fashion industries. She resides in Florida and is the co-founder of Fashion Innovation NYC, alongside her husband and partner, marcello. Fashion Innovation is a global platform bringing founders and CEOs together from the ecosystems of technology and fashion. The point is to adopt more sustainability through the supply chain. Jordana was awarded Woman of Inspiration by Delivering Good in 2022. She's also the author of the book it Can Be you Humanizing Homelessness as an Inspirational and Philanthropic Project Jordana also recently rang the opening bill at NASDAQ and is the proud mother of two little girls, ariana and Isabella Jordana. Thank you for joining the show.
Jordana :Thank you so much for having me. I'm super excited to be here and a huge fan of you when you work, so I'm thrilled yay.
Kirstie :So I'm thinking about when we first. When I might have first met you, and I was thinking about it today I was like when do we first? When do we first in contact with each other? How did this happen? And I believe it was through a cohort that I was a part of called Threefold, and I think you were on there as like a teacher and speaker, and I think I might have connected with you through there. So I was like, okay, this is where that's been a while ago. Was that in 2020?
Jordana :Yeah, that was around 2020. Now that you brought it up, I'm like, oh my gosh, I wonder. Like it almost reminds me sometimes, because it's so much that we do in the industry to reconnect with those types of companies, because they really did amazing things. But I think it was back in 2020, yeah, Wow, so yeah, like fresh into the pandemic.
Kirstie :Yeah yeah, Okay, that's amazing. Well, we've still been connecting and I've been also a fan of your work and watching all the changes and amazing things you've been adding to the roster over there at Fashion Innovation and I'm like we can't wait to be a part of all the things. But we want to jump in and talk about just your start. Your start in the fashion industry, Really just starting PR, because you started in PR, right.
Jordana :Yeah, exactly no. So it's kind of crazy. You know like I have a very unorthodox background in terms of how I got into everything that I've done. So you know, I've always I was brought up in Brazil. My parents, both like serial entrepreneurs like really like worked their entire lives and I was always around to see them host dinner parties and like be at the stores with them, watching them sell and like just always around. You know this ecosystem of entrepreneurship and I remember just like loving relationships, like loving them, like get someone off the street that they've never met and then an hour later they're buying from them and they're like best friends and they're coming over our house for dinner. So because of that, it was always something that like I just took in and took in and took in. And also I had this like innate love for people, regardless of who it was. I wanted to just talk to everyone and make everyone smile and make everyone happy.
Jordana :From when I was like two, three years old and so, like fast forward to graduating high school, I decided not to go to college because I'm like I don't need to go to college to learn how to deal with people. I know that. So I was like I'm just going to go into it. And I remember, like working at a lot of different companies, Like I was a manager at Cole Han Retail. I was a man. I was a an assistant manager for Jacqa D. I worked real estate, I sold houses and commercial. I was a bank teller at, back in the day, bank of New York. Like I had every job. But every job that I had I would get bored after a certain point because the managers would always come up to me or like my seniors, and say, while you're doing an amazing job, people love you. So in my mind I'd be like, okay, I'm done here next. And I got tired of that jump around.
Jordana :By the time I was 24, I had so many things that I had done already. So I decided to buy a book of careers and I came across public relations and when I read what PR was, I was like this is exactly who I am. Like I love to read. I was right, you know, I love people, I like to communicate. So I decided to apply for one of like the hardest jobs to get. That wanted college degree, experience, everything I didn't have. But I was like I'm going to get this job and I looked up the president of the company at the time, which was a company that held licenses for brands which included Nina Reach, caporsh Azai and Lawn Vile, et cetera, and when I applied, they emailed me and they said, wow, you have a lot of balls to apply for a position like this, having like nothing that we're asking for. But they were like I want to meet you just to see who you are, because I'm like shocked by this type of email.
Jordana :So I went to meet with the president and I'll never forget he looked at me and he said, after I told him my story and why I thought I could do it, and blah, blah, blah. So he goes look, he's like you can learn. You know, in school you could read a book, you could memorize, but passion comes from within and when you talk about wanting to do this, I see the passion in you. He's like so I'm going to give you the job, but I'm not going to pay you. You're going to work for free for three months and if you show me that you can do the job, then I'll start to pay you. So I literally like I was like it's funny because I wasn't scared.
Jordana :I was like I got this, even though I didn't know terms or anything, and I bought PR for Demi's. I read the whole book and I was like wow, and so I would go. And he would be like write a press release. And I was like press release. So I would Google press release and like, and then he would like be like call, you know Vogue for Nina Ricci, whatever. So I will call. The first time I called I remember I was like hi, can I talk to the person that writes for your magazine? And they're like editorial department and like yes, so in the second call I already knew to say editorial department.
Jordana :So, anyway, three months went by, I got them in Vogue, women's health, l, teen Vogue, like all these different publications, and they took me to Vegas for a trade show and they were like clapping for me and they said, well, give you the pay now. You've shown us that you could do it. And that minute, when they offered to start paying me, something clicked in my head where I was like wait, if I could do this for them and I'm going to get paid this much, why don't I just start my own PR business? So I said no, thank you, and I started my own PR business and I was a solo yeah, crazy story. And I was a solopreneur after that for 10 plus years, did PR for Interscope Records, h Stern like, traveled around the world and wherever I would find something that I wanted to do for PR, I would live there for a few months, do the job, and so that was my PR career. Yeah, kind of crazy.
Kirstie :Wow, no, you're talking about Balzy. That is Balzy.
Jordana :It wasn't easy it wasn't easy.
Jordana :I'll tell you, like, even when I quit, I know thank you to the pay and I started my own business, like no one knew me, so they weren't going to hire me. So I literally and at the time I was with someone who was very understanding to be able to be, you know, put up with all of that. But like I literally had to sell my jewelry to buy Velveeta cheese and bread and I lived off of Velveeta cheese sandwiches for I don't know how long until things started to pick up and there were many ups and downs, because I mean, I only did three months of it and I thought I was in top of the world. And here I am starting a business.
Jordana :But I have to say, man, I grew so much in that time.
Kirstie :So wait, how old were you during this timeframe? I was 24 to 34. Okay, and so were you married then. Did you have kids then?
Jordana :No, so I met my husband now when I was 35. So I stayed to 34 because when I was 34, I went to Brazil on a vacation slash family trip and I met my husband and I decided like this could be the man of my life. It was the first time I felt that way after being kissed by someone and coming back from vacation and not being able to get the kiss out of my head and I was like, yeah, I was a kiss, but now I'm a Gemini woman. You know, I've never been like tied down to, like Like I would have you know different people. I would, I would never.
Jordana :I was never that type of girl. You know. That was like, oh, I need this one, but there was something different about him. So then I decided to move to Brazil and get to know him, because if he was gonna be my husband, I needed to give it that time. So I just like stopped doing my business and I moved to Brazil and I literally like three months after meeting him, I was already living with him. So yeah, wow.
Kirstie :He kind of ballsy. Yeah, absolutely, You're like okay, I found a career, I found the man I wanna be with. That's what I'm talking about. That is amazing. I mean, I think that even you know you sharing like the pitfalls there, like some of the pitfalls are in you, like even Velvita cheese and you know like sprumming it for a little bit, trying to make it work. You know people need to hear that, especially women. We can look at a woman like you on the surface and be like, wow, she is like doing all the things. She's talking with Versace, she's doing it, she's in all these spaces and she's on top of the world and sustainability and all these, whatever all the things. And so we can forget that there is a journey, there's a process, and hours may not look like yours, but everybody has to take the journey, has to step out and take the risk. The biggest thing is what I hear is you took a lot of risks to get where you are right now. Oh, wow.
Jordana :And it was no cakewalk, no, and it was very. There were very hard moments, and once we get into fashion, innovation and starting that, there is another downfall that I'll share. That like nothing is easy and no, nothing just falls in your lap. But it's like constant work with anything. Whether you're talking about work, relationships, you know your relationship with yourself. Like nothing is easy. It's a process, but I think I'm very spiritual, so I've always had this like innate feeling that, even in my toughest of times that I've had, I know it's supposed to be a part of my journey because it's gonna make me that much stronger when I get to the right place. I think we all have the right place that we were supposed to get to. I do believe we all are here for like a certain reason. Some of us find it sooner than others, some of us never find it, but it's okay because it's still the journey and you know. So I don't know. I'm a believer in all of that stuff.
Kirstie :Yeah, yeah, same, okay. So yeah, let's get into. Like, how did you transition from PR to fashion tech spokeswoman that you are today?
Jordana :Yeah, that's another crazy thing. So not having experience in tech at all, or really, I mean, pr is PR, but it's not fashion industry, right? So, yeah, so when I met my husband it's funny because when I met him I'll never forget we were talking about the PR that I would do with fashion and he would come to some like little events that I would put together here and there and he would always say I could never work in fashion, Like I would never work in fashion Today. He's the co-founder of fashion innovation, so I never say never.
Kirstie :Exactly.
Jordana :But he worked in tech and he worked with internationalizing companies that had an innovative component from South America to the US market. That was always his background and he was going to a lot of it. Like after meeting him at 34, moved in with him, 35, got pregnant like very quickly with our first daughter, moved back to the US with him to have her kids here because just better quality of life here and more opportunities. So in all of that, he came with me to the US, never lived in the US, only spoke Portuguese, no English. Like was about to meet the baby. Like how do I provide for my family? Was the big question mark in his head. He was like really struggling and he was going to a lot of events with this South American community and he was finding a lot of events on tech, different types of tech. But he never stopped fashion and tech. So he came home one day it was July of 2018. And he was like wouldn't it make sense if we do a summit where it's tech, with fashion and CEOs and founders? And I was like I think so. He's like should we try and do one? I'm like, okay, this is again One, two, three. So he literally took Fast Company top 100, like when they have the 100 most innovative companies. He went through one by one. He did his magic that he knows how to do in finding people's contacts and literally started cold emailing.
Jordana :Founder of Shopify. Partner at IBM. Found out, went through like a list of top fashion companies, reached out to Diane Funn first to Berg Morrow Hoffman, cold emails everybody, and we started getting really quick replies from people like those individuals. I mentioned another saying love the idea. I'm in. When is the event I'm flying in to speak? Now? We had no website. No one could find this on the internet, like there was nothing about fashion innovation. Literally, we just wrote it in a piece of paper and from July 2018, our first event was September 2018. So July, I wish that they have two months. We had our first event in New York during Fashion Week over 40 speakers from some of the largest companies in the world, over 500 attendees crazy like crazy. So that was like our proof of concept was right there. We're like, okay, doing something that people have been wanting, because they came on so quickly, not knowing who we were, and so we started doing those events.
Jordana :But, of course, when you start an event, no matter how big your speakers are. If no one knows about you, sponsorship is very hard to come by. So the first few events we did practically like losing a lot of money that we didn't really have to lose and so fast forward. Like the first two, three events, we all of a sudden looked at our bank account and we're like Crap, like we're three months behind in rent. We have two babies, money is not coming in. We're pretty much screwed. So what do we do? We left Everything behind. In New York we took three small suitcases left, all of our furniture, kids, clothes, all my jewelry, everything, everything literally just took clothes that we needed.
Jordana :When, back to brazil, lived with his mom in a one bedroom apartment, our whole family and his mom didn't even have money to like help his mom buy breakfast in the morning. It was like really, really tough, but we believed, in fashion of patients, so much that we were like, no, we're gonna make this turn around. It's gonna turn around. It was eight months of, probably the biggest struggle in my life and if I was alone with no kids, maybe it wouldn't have been as much of a by having kids and having them lose everything. And I even remember, like you know they, eight months later, like we've turned it around. We paid off our debt, being living with his mom, this is where it can be. You came about, by the way, the book, because it could have been if we didn't have family to take us in Um, and turned everything around and came back and made the decision, instead of going back to new york, to come to florida, because it, you know, cost or lower and made sense, um, and yeah, I mean thank god, like luckily, but also a lot of work, glee, I would say, if that's a word.
Jordana :We came to florida and we just like made it happen, and now we're at a completely different space and we were in that moment, and our kids. It's funny because even when we got back to florida, we would say let's go on vacation, and then they wouldn't want to go. And I was like why don't you want to go?
Jordana :and they're like because I don't want to lose my room and my choice, and so it like they were only one but like it's they, you know, maybe, but yeah, but that you know it was worth it, because we are where we are today with fashion innovation, and our dreams came true of what we thought was gonna happen, but it wasn't easy at all.
Kirstie :Wow, wow, wow, wow. What would you say, or what do you consider success for you right now is this is success. Would you define where you're at right now? Success for fashion innovation.
Jordana :So it's funny because, for me, what a success. So we all need money because money drives things forward. It gives more people opportunities like you can. Through entrepreneurship, you can help. I think it's like the biggest vehicle that you can help others. So, yes, but I define success honestly as how many lives like are we impacting? Like how are we helping businesses grow, like you know? And so when I look at that, I can honestly say, and this is not being like you know, oh, look at what we've done, but like I can say that we've.
Jordana :We have so many case studies of like startups that we've connected to enterprise brands and helped them have that launch to be able to keep going. When it comes to the tech companies, we've worked with so many, you know, underdeveloped cities like the favelas of brazil and giving opportunities to talent there. And when we rang the bell at naztac, the first thing we did we didn't even think about naztac. Oh, let's be. We thought of oh my god, naztac, we're gonna have the models of the favelas and the tower in times square. Let's share the news with them and be able to really uplift their souls, because a lot of them are like. One of them sent us. So what's happening, found out, saying I went from thinking of killing myself to now being in a tower and so to like be able to give those opportunities. I can say that I can consider myself, I can consider being in the success mode, but at the same time I think there's still so much that we need to do. Um, so I feel like it's a work in progress, but I can tap myself on the shoulders.
Jordana :I used to think, like you know, because you look at, this industry is very Superficial, is not the word, because those that can help and want to help, they do. But there's still that side of the industry where it's like you know well, I want to work with you, but you know you're not a bof, or I want to work with you but you're not like as big as a w w d. There's still that comparison of friend, even if we've done sometimes more or we can show more than they're showing. But because we don't have that friend, we are not taken as seriously as no matter how much, even after nandak and everything is still as a push, it's still a battle, you know. So I feel like I just want more people to know we exist because our events are free.
Jordana :You know we want to democratize information. We do as much as we can. Of course we need to make a living, so we do have to charge him for profit business, but what we can give in terms of inspiration and education, we want to just continue. The more we make, the more we're able to do that. You know we keep giving back in LA. Yeah, it's about it.
Kirstie :Yeah it is. Yes, I love what you're saying, because what I'm hearing is that success is continual. You know, if you look at it that way, and it's not an arrival point like, oh, we've arrived, I feel like when you get there, you're stuck, you know, you've made it to that place, where can you go from that place? You can't go anywhere, you know. And so the fact that you're like, you know, it's all about people as well. Of course we have to be able to survive, so it's got to be, you know, socially well for us also.
Jordana :But I loved it, right for everybody. And what you just said, mark jcubs, was this. Mark jcubs, yes, was a speaker at the vogue event. I went last week the forces of fashion event that they host and I was blown away when someone in the audience asked mark jcubs, when did you know that you had made it? And his answer was I feel he's like I feel kind of silly To answer that question because I don't think I've made it yet, like I don't think you can bear it, mark jcubs. I was like Okay, me mark jcubs like said I don't think I'm there yet, so I can't say how did it feel, because I don't think I've hit that mark yet, and that for me was like such a humbling, like moments. So where I was like okay, like you know, we're in good company, there you go, yeah.
Kirstie :It made me admire mark jcubs. He was like he hasn't arrived yet. We're in good company, exactly. I love it. So what would you credit, like these seasons that you walk through building the company, you and your husband. What would you credit that to? There's a level of grit that you have and this resilience because you keep going. It seems like after hard stuff happens, you keep going. But what would you say is the mindset or what is it that keeps you on the track that you're on, because entrepreneurship in itself is. It's hard stuff, yeah, but yeah, just in the industry.
Jordana :Yeah, there's ups and downs. I have to say. I have moments of burnout where I've found myself going to events and I'm standing there and all these great people are there and in my mind I'm like, what am I doing all this for? Like, what is the purpose, like what's happening out of all this? And sometimes, you, it's very normal, I think, and I think even people that this is my imposter syndrome coming in because I feel like I could be at that point, but even people that say that I consider to be doing more or bigger in terms of, like you know, awareness, let's say Like, sometimes I feel like it's normal for us to look at what we're doing and go is it making a difference? Or people noticing, like why am I doing all this, you know? But then there are moments like the Nasdaq bell ringing or even a small. This was really cool and I'll share it and it's so like silly, but for me it's not. It made like a huge difference and it really like pushed my button to keep going when maybe I was having a time of what am I doing this for?
Jordana :But when I emailed Vogue that I wanted to attend her event, I asked Tom Goodman who's the fashion director. She's been there for 30 plus years and I was like you know, I'd love to go to this event. It was $2,000 a ticket and as a startup like it just doesn't make sense when you're trying to build the business. And I was like I'd really love to go and she was like let me see what I can do. So she sends an email and this is where I tell you, sometimes the smallest things can be like that trigger where you're like okay, I'm meant to be doing this. She sends an email to her team and at the end she's like you know, this is your daughter, she'd love to attend the event. This is what fashion innovation is. And then at the end of the email she writes PS, she is the real deal.
Jordana :When I've read that, I was like I'm doing real deal and it's so silly, but it's like the fashion director Vogue saying that about me. I was like those are the things, sometimes like a sentence or a word or just like seeing that somebody is like noticing and seeing the effort that you're putting in is what allows you to keep going, because it's very hard, the industry is very hard and it beats you up. There are times that really you're like, you know, and yeah, but then you just learned that it's not going to be for everybody and that everybody's going to be on board with what you're doing and that everybody's going to like you, and that's okay, that's right.
Jordana :You're not meant to be everybody's cup of tea and just focus on the ones that are. You are their cup of tea and just put a lot of love into those, because those will like trigger to like other circles, you know, and like it's just. Yeah, it's just like you're meant to have your tribe and then if you just focus on them and give them all your love and support and do whatever you can to just keep uplifting them, they're also going to continue to uplift you and you guys get uplifted together and that's where the magic is.
Kirstie :I love that. I love that I talk to so many women who are in business or either aspiring to start businesses, and one of the things is you know well, what if they don't like this? Or what if I do this and they don't? And I'm like, okay, yeah, there is like, okay, what's proof of concept? Do they actually want this out here? There's that piece. But it's also like are you going to continue over and over and keep changing the thing? What are you passionate about? Why are you doing what you're doing and land on that? That's the, that's the stoop you have to land on. Why am I doing this? I'm passionate about this, so that's why I'm doing this.
Kirstie :But to constantly change over and over, you know you'll be forever changing yourself because, like you said, you're not going to be everybody's cup of tea. It's not going to happen. But you can find that community or that group or those people who are like, okay, this is for me, finally. And then you start realizing that you're creating something for people. You're like, okay, this is, I feel, about. These are my people. So it's almost like a little tribe or community that you're building by saying yes to your own voice, your own vision, your own dreams. So I love that. I love it. One of the things I wanted to chat with you about is your you adopting a more sustainable supply chain. What made you think or what made you lean into sustainability the way that you have?
Jordana :So I always say my sustainability purpose is people, right, so it goes back to people. I feel like there's sustainability in terms of, like the textiles, there's sustainability in terms of how the workers are treated, or sustainability in terms of diversity, equality, inclusion, and I think for me, it lies in that DEI space. It lies in, like the people space, and so I just, especially with everything that happened during COVID and BLM and all these things that took place in the world, it just almost reinforced my reason for bringing everybody together under the same light, giving everybody the same platform. So, like during COVID, we had fabric makers in Nigeria. We had artisans in India speaking in Hindi with translators on our events.
Jordana :We had Rebecca Minkoff, steve Madden, we had startup designer, we had students, and I think that, for me, is where I look at sustainability and it's something that I've always been. Like there's no other way for me. Like there's no like other. Like I don't understand when people like even everything that's going on today, like I don't get how people can separate each other through, like religion, race, ethnicity, background, color, like I don't get it, I don't get it.
Jordana :It doesn't sink into like who I am. So, with that being said, I think you know, for me it's always been about people throughout the supply chain, not necessarily about like what's being made and how it's being made. In terms of textile, it says important, it's very important, of course, but I do also believe that it's going to take a very long time for like everyone in the world to understand sustainability as much as we talk about it as an industry. I even know through my own like family, extended family. If I say sustainability, they're like what is that? And then if I tell them, they're like oh, I'm like the people really care, like people really answer in those ways, though there's a lot of people that don't get it, and so for me, it's just about like how do you treat everything in your life like? How do you treat like if?
Jordana :Okay, I bought the sweater at the Vogue event and I honestly I don't know if it's like sustainable, I don't know, but I do know that it's a great material. I know that it's a color that is never going to get old. There's not too much going on with it. I'm able to wear it for a very long time. So for me, it's like you know, once, let's say, in 10 years, because I really do keep my clothes for a very long time for people and then, when I do give it away or when I don't want it anymore, either give it to a church so then somebody else can use it, or I give it to like my family members were always like closet swapping.
Jordana :So I just think it's like you know, it's just like how do you treat anything like? How do you treat people first and foremost, and then how do you treat the things in your everyday life, your clothes, your house? Do you wake up and make your bed Like it's just sustainability, is just like a sustainable way of life. It's how I look at it, rather than like bits and pieces that make up of the fabric. You know what I mean. So it's just a different way of looking at it.
Kirstie :I love that, and now that I know you're into closet swapping, I'm going to have to figure out if you're the same size. I'm going to do it Because I'm always at it.
Jordana :I love it. I've made it a friend thing. So when my friends come over, I'm like bring things you don't wear anymore. We open a bottle of wine and we just like swap, and then I have a whole new wardrobe. I don't even I actually I never.
Kirstie :I love that. Okay, you can have to invite me. That sounds amazing.
Jordana :There has to be mine. But you can, absolutely Okay, you like, you don't have to.
Kirstie :I'm like no, no, bring the wine. I love it. Well, let's. What are some? Maybe some guiding words for those who are seeking to figure out their own voice in their own Place in business, Maybe some of your tried and true tips or something like that that you may share as we're. We're ending on the podcast.
Jordana :I would say one is like no idea is a bad idea, it's just an untried idea, and if it doesn't work, it can just mesh into your next big idea. So, like, whatever you have is an idea, just like you don't need, honestly, for most things, unless it's product driven. If it's like you know anything that you want to create and even product like, because nowadays, with AI, honestly, you can create an entire collection. Do a photo shoot in Egypt on a camel with a supermodel wearing clothes that don't yet exist. The whole thing is based on AI. Just put it out, someone wants to buy it, made to order and boom, like you know. So you Be, innovative.
Jordana :Yeah, any idea you have, just like try to implement it, just go for it, because then you'll learn along the way. Don't wait for everything to be perfect to start something. That's definitely one of our one, and I know because I've done it and even if I've had my struggles throughout it, it got me to where I am today. So that's one. And then the second thing is reach out to anybody that you want to talk to. The know you already have, we all already have the know. So, yeah, what's the words that could happen. You get to know, but you already had that, even if you didn't reach out to that person. So, just like you know, and you'd be surprised, people, the most successful people and the real successful people they want to help others, like it's part of their DNA.
Jordana :I don't think you get to a certain level and stay at that certain level, more importantly than get there, because maybe some people have gotten there that don't have that big heart all the time, but like, get there and stay there. Those individuals, they want to give back their time, because it gets to a point where they don't really they're at a point where they're like okay, like now, I just want to help others, like a lot of people have that mentality. And then also those that haven't gotten there yet. If you reach out to them, they want to collaborate, they need new ideas. So just go after you don't know we already have, and no ideas about idea. Just start somewhere and then let it guide you. And then, as you make mistakes, you'll be like oh, I need to implement this, oh, I forgot about this, but start, because if you don't start, starting is the hardest part. Like many people is. Just starting is like I don't know if it's gonna work out enough. I should just start and then let it lead.
Kirstie :I love it. It's like Nike just do it home, just get out there. I love it. Well, jordanna, tell us how we can connect with you. If they're listening to the podcast right now, where do they go to find your projects or your contributions?
Jordana :Thank you so much. So LinkedIn for me is really great. It's just Jordanna, give my name is my name and yeah, that I am always on there. Instagram also it's I am Jordanna. Give my name is my full name. That's my personal. I always give my personal because I really again I feel like I'm like beating it that or saying that's all the time, but I love people. It's a genuine thing. If you reach out to me about anything, like I have students that reach out. I'm writing a thesis. Can I have a 30 minute zoom with you? Some of them get surprised when I say yes, which I think it's kind of mind blowing to me. It's 30 minutes. Like why would I say no? Why would I not reply?
Jordana :you know, so, like anything you know. So, yeah, those two, I think, are like the best to get in touch with me personally and then to find out more about fashion. Innovation is just Fashinnovationnyc and on there, honestly, there's so much content so we've had now 830 speakers in the last five years and all the videos are up on the website. If you go to events, watch, you'll see every single video curated and edited, and you could watch conversations and just get inspired by so many incredible people.
Kirstie :That's right, oh, you can also watch the pitch competition. I was a part of 22 was it?
Jordana :It's on there, it's all on there.
Kirstie :Yes, that is fun. Well, jordanna, thank you so much for being with us on the show today, sharing your time, your knowledge, with us, and, yeah, we'll see you next time.
Jordana :I love that. I feel like I mean, I honestly feel like I've known you for longer, so like it's talking to a friend and I'm happy to have them this with you. So thank you so much for having me.
Kirstie :Yay, thank you so much. Alright, guys, you can find us on kirstiefleur. com. You can also find us on IG and on YouTube. Those links for everything you just heard today will be in the show notes so you can go and watch the episode live and watch us talk here, but you can also go and listen in your podcast app or Spotify if that's your thing. So we'll see you next time on the visionary woman podcast. Bye, bye. Thanks for listening and joining the conversation today here on the visionary woman podcast. I hope you enjoyed this episode and would like to join our growing community at FF social club. Please comment, like and subscribe so that you can be updated on our upcoming episodes and more happening over at freedomfluorcom. To catch the latest from me and to access amazing resources for visionaries just like yourself, please visit me on the web at wwwkirstiefleur. com. Thanks again for hanging out with me and I'll see you next time. Until then, don't forget to be visionary.