#LeadershipTuesdays: How Do You Define Success...Diane von Furstenberg

"So the first thing that success gives you is financial independence. That’s great. The second thing that success gives you is a voice. You have a voice. All of a sudden, people listen to you, pay attention to what you say. And what I feel is that if you acquire that, it’s your duty, responsibility and also privilege to use that voice for people who have no voice. That’s my description of success."*

--Diane von Furstenberg, Entrepreneur and Fashion Designer

http://www.dvf.com/about-diane-von-furstenberg.html

 
Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. Today, Leadership Tuesdays features an interview and article by Adam Bryant from his New York Times Corner Office column on Diane von Furstenberg entitled, "Diane von Furstenberg: The Key to Success Is Trusting Yourself"*. In the mid 1970s, she created the iconic "wrap dress" that would be known for decades as a must in the wardrobe of the confident and elegant woman. She discusses in the article how she does not consider herself a great leader. But, that has not stopped her from doing what few women have done: creating a multi-million dollar global diversified company. Through some successes and failures, she has expanded her global brand into a company of fashion and luxury items that are sold in 55 countries with annual revenues estimated at $500 million.

True to her quote above, giving back is important to Ms. von Furstenberg. Her family foundation, The Diller – von Furstenberg Family Foundation, provides grants to organizations with missions in the following areas: Community Building, Education, Human Rights, Arts, Health and the Environment. She is also a director of the Washington, DC based Vital Voices, a non-governmental organization that supports female leaders and entrepreneurs around the world. (See a brief Leadership Tuesdays' interview on Vital Voices and their work.)

To read today's article, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays or WOMEN AT LIBERTY, click here. 

Sources:
1) About Diane, DVF Corporate Website
2) 2015 America's Richest Self-Made Women,#31 Diane von Furstenberg, Forbes.com 
2) Diane von Furstenberg. Wikipedia.org