Jennifer Cooper/E!Ivanka Trump is a woman who really has her s--t together.
She's a mom and a wife and somehow has the time to run a successful fashion empire. So, when we visited the Ivanka Trump headquarters in NYC, it came as no surprise her entire team was basically a squad of #girlbosses.
Enter: Abigail Klem, the chief brand officer at Ivanka Trump. The now industry expert took a chance on fashion 15 years ago and has since built a uber-successful career right alongside Ivanka. To learn about how the exec juggles motherhood and running a company all while going the extra mile to keep her team inspired, read up!
What was your first job?
I worked in a local boutique for a summer and spent my entire paycheck on clothes. I went back to school broke every fall, but with a pretty, new wardrobe!
How did you get started in your career?
I started my career as a lawyer. 15 years ago I decided to completely change careers and make a move into fashion. I reached out to people within and outside of my network, and, with no experience, eventually landed a job at a contemporary showroom in Los Angeles called 10Eleven, as an account executive representing DVF.
What is a typical day like for you?
I wake up around 6 a.m. so I can get ready before waking up my daughter for school (a life-saving routine tip that I learned from Ivanka). There is no such thing as a typical day: I oversee 11 product categories as well as the creative and design teams, so I find myself moving all day from product reviews to creative meetings, as well as meetings with retailers and potential partners to present our brand and the story behind it.
Tell us about your office décor.
We have an open office layout which is perfect for our very collaborative team. The office décor is influenced by our blush brand color, and immediately brings you into the femininity of the space. I have a gallery wall with photos of my daughter and her artwork as well as inspirational images I love.
What's the best part about your job?
We have built a terrific team. I love working with them every day. They are so creative and optimistic. I learn so much from them. I feel very proud of the work that our team has done.
What's the most daring career risk you've ever taken?
Changing careers completely with no real experience in the fashion industry was the riskiest career move I've ever made. It taught me that your career success and fulfillment is truly in your hands. If you are not happy with your path, it is up to you to change it.
Who are some of your career heroes?
One of the biggest challenges as a leader is to inspire others—not only to believe in the company's vision and goals, but to inspire each individual to rise to his/her greatest potential. In this regard, I find Howard Schultz (Starbucks CEO) to be incredibly inspiring. His interview with Oprah (Building a Business with Soul) is a must-see.
What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Never stop learning. My mother always told me that it is just as important to be curious as it is to be smart. She is 84 years old and she still travels the world because she never wants to stop learning.
When was the last time you felt inspired and how did you channel that into your designs?
The mission of our company is to inspire and empower women to create the lives they want to live, so of course we try to live that mission every day at work. We learned transcendental meditation together, ran a half-marathon together and have a monthly speaker series (next month is Adam Grant from Wharton, who will speak to us about effective public speaking) to keep us inspired.
If you could dress anyone, who would it be?
I would love for us to dress Emma Watson. She is not only beautiful with an incredible sense of style, but her work as an activist on gender equality issues is very inspiring.
Today for lunch I had…Souper Greens soup from Juice Press. I am obsessed with it.
The first website I log onto every day is…ivankatrump.com, of course!
My usual Starbucks order is…a tall soy latte.
If I wasn't doing this job, I would…work full time for KIPP, a national network of public charter schools helping students from educationally underserved areas. I sit on the board of KIPP NYC but my dream is to one day work for the foundation.
My favorite place to visit is…Nantucket. My daughter and I try to go there for a few weeks in the summer. It is a magical place.
List five things that are on your desk right now…Poppin white lacquer desk accessories, a beautiful hand painted invitation from my friend Lulu DK, several pairs of reading glasses—I'm always losing them, a note from my daughter, which reads "I lev u momo" and a brand presentation for an upcoming meeting.
The book I'm reading right now is…Black Chalk by Christopher Yates. It's pretty hard to put down. It's a thriller and reminds me a bit of The Secret History.