Sunday 28 February 2021

Our top Mother’s Day present ideas for the woman who has everything

https://ift.tt/3rgJ5uJ

From candles and cleansers to yoga mats and designer handbags, here's a guide to help you shop for your mum this Mother's Day...

Getty Images

Mother’s Day is fast approaching, falling this year on Sunday 14th March, and as usual, there are ripples of panic sweeping the nation.

Nothing is more stressful than the selection of a Mother’s Day gift – buying something special for someone you’ve known your whole life and who, well, gave birth to you. How can you say thank you for all of that with a scented candle?

Well, you can’t really to be honest, but you can still make a sweet gesture. That’s where we come in.

This year is especially tricky for present buying due to the fact that we are in a national lockdown, making a last-minute present dash near impossible. Not to mention, there’s the pressure that if your mother doesn’t like her gift, you might be locked down with her so you want to get this right.

Don’t panic. We’ve done all of the hard work for you this year, compiling a list of dream Mother’s Day presents, no matter her style, age or your budget.

Your London Florist Fairy Floss mixed dried and fresh bouquet, Selfridges, £85
This Fairy Floss bouquet mixes dried and fresh flowers, including: 2 pink anthuriums, 5 pink asparagus, 1 lilac palm leave, 20 pale pink bunny tails, 3 pink roses, 4 lila/pink carnations, 2 branches hot pink eucalyptus, 2 purple ruscus and 3 lilac solidago. Arrangement size: height 70cm, width 50cm.

View Deal

Ladurée Incontournable macarons box of 12, Selfridges, £29.50
For Paris lovers, Selfridges is selling boxes of 12 macarons by famous French pâtissier Ladurée. Inside this macaron selection box, you will find caramel, chocolate, pistachio, raspberry, rose and vanilla offerings.

View Deal

Flowers and chocolates are a go-to gift for a reason – they are fail-safe, especially given the fact that they can now be delivered to your mum’s door so even if you won’t be able to see her in person, you can still treat her. But read on if you’re interested in spoiling her that little bit more.

Needle & Thread Florence Ruffle Ankle Skirt, Needle & Thread, £295
Needle & Thread’s stunning Florence Ruffle Ankle Skirt is crafted from layers of lilac kiss tulle, featuring a satin waistband and gathered with romantic tulle trims.

View Deal

Saint Laurent Lou Mini Shoulder Bag, Net-a-Porter, £945
This Saint Laurent ‘Lou’ mini shoulder bag comes in five shades and is the perfect compact handbag. It is made in Italy from quilted textured-leather and features a chain strap and gold ‘YSL’ hardware.

View Deal

If she’s a fashion-forward mama, we’ve got her covered with Rixo dresses and Needle & Thread knitwear, Lele Sadoughi headbands and the odd YSL bag.

Missoma Fine Gold Diamond Open Claw Ring, Missoma, £795
This gold diamond open claw ring is part of Missoma’s new fine jewellery collection, crafted from 100% recycled 14ct solid yellow gold and half-set with round cut white diamonds.

View Deal

Rosie Fortescue Jewellery Rose Gold Pastel Rainbow Emerald Cut Ring, Rosie Fortescue Jewellery, £90
This Rose Gold Pastel Rainbow Emerald Cut Ring is part of Rosie Fortescue Jewellery’s new pastel collection, crafted from 2.5 micron plated 18ct Rose Gold on Sterling Silver and embellished with pastel rainbow cubic zirconia stones.

View Deal

For jewellery fanatics, we’ve got Missoma necklaces and Rosie Fortescue Jewellery pastel rings – who needs more? For the woman who loves her scents, we’ve selected our top picks from Dior and Jo Malone, and for the skincare-obsessed, we have offerings from Liz Earle and Decléor.

And of course let’s not forget the mum after our own hearts – for her we’ve got gin and Whispering Angel rosé.

Paul Smith x Sipsmith London dry gin, Selfridges, £49.99
Sipsmith’s London dry gin offers a zesty finish, with notes of juniper, with this signature bottle featuring a limited edition Paul Smith makeover.

View Deal

Caves D’Esclans Whispering Angel Rosé 2019, Harvey Nichols, £21
Whispering Angel Rosé is the perfect fail-safe Mother’s Day gift, with this 2019 vegan bottle from Caves D’Esclans packed with raspberries, red currants, pink grapefruit zest, strawberries and cream, crisp peach and orange blossom.

View Deal

Whoever she is, we’ve got her covered, so sit back and browse our top Mother’s Day gift ideas and spoil the woman in your life…

The post Our top Mother’s Day present ideas for the woman who has everything appeared first on Marie Claire.



from Marie Claire https://ift.tt/2EIM6Nc
via IFTTT

NOSE by Dior is the feel-good documentary I didn’t know I needed to see in lockdown

https://ift.tt/3bL6sGa

‘Perfume is about relationships. There is always a human connection.'

The House of Dior has given us a rare look inside its world this month, releasing its own documentary, NOSE.

The film, directed by Arthur de Kersauson and Clément Beauvais, follows Dior’s perfumer François Demachy over two years, providing a rarely seen insight into the Maison de Parfum’s creative process.

In a word, this film is eye-opening, and if like me you previously envisaged a perfumer (or ‘nose’ as they are known) making up their scents by throwing a few bottles of essence together, think again.

From the May Roses of Grasse and the Calabrian bergamot, to the Indonesian patchouli and Sri Lankan sandalwood, Dior’s ingredients are mindfully sourced. And its creations are clearly the result of expert techniques, exceptional raw materials, and passionate women and men all over the world who have dedicated themselves to this craftsmanship over many years.

‘Dior perfumes would not exist in their present state if it weren’t for this human network, which is essential to my mind,’ explained François Demachy. ‘One of the most interesting parts of my job lies in the human adventure, in these exchanges, of expertise and skills, but also of the love of nature that unites us. There are some magical moments.

‘For example, when I’m in an Indonesian village, thousands of kilometres away, I can feel disoriented, but then, when I’m standing next to a wood-fired patchouli still, I get my bearings again. I almost feel like I want to swap places with the person carrying out the distillation and do what they are doing. This exchange over raw materials, and these shared gestures, which are a part of perfume making, are emotionally powerful.’

He continued: ‘We have created bonds everywhere, like in Sri Lanka, where we have set up a sort of sandalwood “nursery,” because this precious and fragile wood requires a lot of time (over 15 years!) and attention in order to flourish. We have a relationship of mutual trust with local producers, sealed with a handshake that counts as much as any signed contract.

‘I really appreciated taking Arthur de Kersauson and Clément Beauvais to these places, so that they could film all the people who work to cultivate the flowers and the noble raw materials that are indispensable to our perfumes. Without this shared desire, nothing would be possible. With them, we are supporting a job well done, high quality, slow time and mutual trust.’

From start to finish, NOSE is stunning, beautifully told, set against extraordinary landscapes, and accompanied by an idyllic french soundtrack.

There are a lot of subtitles to get through, but if you’re looking for an hour of escapism, this is it.

NOSE by Dior is now available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Google Play.

The post NOSE by Dior is the feel-good documentary I didn’t know I needed to see in lockdown appeared first on Marie Claire.



from Marie Claire https://ift.tt/37XUbNg
via IFTTT

Saturday 27 February 2021

Viola Davis will play Michelle Obama in a series about First Ladies (and she's already working on her transformation)

https://ift.tt/3b1MCr4

Iconic

Viola Davis to play Michelle Obama

We love it when our favourite actresses get to step into the shoes of our all-time favourite women. Whether it’s Helena Bonham-Carter playing Princess Margaret in The Crownor Renée Zellweger playing Judy Garland in Judy, there’s something sort of magical about seeing your all-time faves come together onscreen.

So when news broke that Viola Davis is set to play former FLOTUS Michelle Obama, suffice to say we were a *little bit* excited.

Aptly titled The First Lady, the upcoming Showtime series is expected to ‘peel back the curtain on the personal and political lives’ of past First Ladies. In a rare break from West Wing TV dramas, the series will instead focus on the East Wing of the White House, ‘where many of history’s most impactful and world changing decisions have been hidden from view, made by America’s charismatic, complex and dynamic First Ladies’ say Variety.

And it’s not just Obama who’s getting a starry onscreen portrayal – Gillian Anderson is set to play Eleanor Roosevelt, while Michelle Pfeiffer will star as Betty Ford in the series; with production rumoured to be beginning in May.

This isn’t the former FLOTUS’ first time being portrayed on-screen – Obama was previously played by Tika Sumpter in 2016’s Southside with You. Not to mention she’s got a few production projects in the pipeline herself, after she and husband Barack signed a major deal with Netflix to produce TV series, documentaries and films à la Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

And though production is still a few months away, VD’s preparation for the role is already well under way.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Davis revealed that her research for the role involved reading Obama’s book Becoming and watching its accompanying documentary, as well as speaking to the woman herself. No pressure, then.

“Now I am in the place of a little bit of fear. Well, I’m not going to lie, a lot of fear,” she said of the role.

The Academy Award-winner is already doing makeup tests for her transformation into Michelle, telling ET, “They are doing an extraordinary job with the transformation of it all.”

We really can’t wait to watch this one.

The post Viola Davis will play Michelle Obama in a series about First Ladies (and she's already working on her transformation) appeared first on Marie Claire.



from Marie Claire https://ift.tt/3b00ZvZ
via IFTTT

Oprah is facing backlash over this uncomfortable resurfaced interview with the Olsen twins

https://ift.tt/3b01wOh

'What size are you, by the way?'

oprah awkward olsen twins interview

It was recently announced that she would be sitting down for an exclusive, tell-all interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – in what will be the couple’s most significant piece of press since stepping down from their roles as senior working royals. But in the past few days, Oprah has been facing some controversy of her own.

The veteran TV interviewer has recently come under fire for a 2004 interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show in which she asked a teenage Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen what clothing size they were.

At the time of the interview, which has recently resurfaced on TikTok, rumours had been circulating that then 17-year-old Mary-Kate was suffering from an eating disorder. Later that year, the child actress-turned-fashion designer spent time in a rehab facility to receive treatment for a health-related issue.

“I know a new rumour [that’s] recently surfaced has really upset you, right?” Oprah said to the sisters. “You know, the one about eating.”

To which Ashley replied: “Yeah, you know people are gonna write what they’re gonna write. We try not to read the good or the bad because it just comes with the territory. Either you’re too fat, too skinny and people are just gonna write what they–”

But she was interrupted by Oprah, who asked: “What size are you, by the way?”

Which left both Mary-Kate and Ashley looking uncomfortable.

“Size?” Ashley responded, with the twins insisting that they were both “petite”.

“Oh, that’s so interesting,” Oprah jokingly responded to laughter from the studio audience. “That is so interesting, I’m obsessed with size and you’re like, ‘I really don’t know.’”

“If we were obsessed with our size it’d be, I don’t know, a different story,” Mary-Kate replied.

TikTok users were quick to point out how uncomfortable the interview was.

‘I know we’re living in different times, but how did they think that was okay!?! [Because] they’re young?’ read one comment.

‘Ashley answering for MK because she knew she was uncomfortable,’ another user pointed out.

However, others came to Oprah’s defence, highlighting that 2004 was a long time ago.

‘To bash her for something that happened 17 years ago is so stupid,’ commented one person on Twitter.

*For information, support and advice on eating disorders, visit Beat

The post Oprah is facing backlash over this uncomfortable resurfaced interview with the Olsen twins appeared first on Marie Claire.



from Marie Claire https://ift.tt/3uC80KZ
via IFTTT

Lady Gaga's French bulldogs have been returned safely following the terrifying shooting of her dog walker

https://ift.tt/3ssi3Ao

lady gaga's dogs recovered safely

Some happy news to report: Lady Gaga’s missing dogs have been found and returned to the singer’s representatives safely.

French bulldogs Gustav and Koji were stolen earlier this week when Lady Gaga‘s dog walker and friend Ryan Fischer was shot in the chest in Los Angeles.

The LAPD has now confirmed via the Associated Press that Gustav and Koji have been found safe, and were handed into an LA police station by a woman who appears to be ‘uninvolved and unassociated’ with the armed robbery.

Fischer is said to be in a stable condition, with a full recovery expected.

Prior to the dogs being found, a ‘devastated’ Lady Gaga had offered a $500,000 reward for the safe return of her pets on Twitter, writing: ‘My heart is sick and I am praying my family will be whole again with an act of kindness. I will pay $500,000 for their safe return.

‘If you bought or found them unknowingly, the reward is the same. I continue to love you Ryan Fischer, you risked your life to fight for our family. You’re forever a hero.’

Fischer was walking three of Lady Gaga’s dogs – Gustav, Koji and Miss Asia – when a car pulled up alongside him, and the men inside it demanded he hand over the animals.

All three dogs were initially stolen, but Miss Asia ran away and was later found safely by LAPD and returned to Lady Gaga’s representatives.

According to police, Mr Fischer was shot when he attempted to fight off the armed robbers. A bystander called an ambulance, and the dog walker was later taken to hospital.

Lady Gaga is currently in Rome working on Sir Ridley Scott’s film about the Gucci dynasty.

In a statement released by Ryan Fischer’s family, they praised the “extraordinary care” that the 30-year-old was receiving from nurses and doctors.

They added: “Of course, we also want to thank Lady Gaga who has shown nothing but non-stop love and concern for Ryan and our family right from the outset. Ryan loves Gustav and Koji as much as Lady Gaga does.”

We wish Fischer a speedy recovery, and hope that Lady Gaga, Gustav, Koji, and Miss Asia can be reunited again soon.

The post Lady Gaga's French bulldogs have been returned safely following the terrifying shooting of her dog walker appeared first on Marie Claire.



from Marie Claire https://ift.tt/3r1tvmt
via IFTTT

Internet sleuths have found the exact dress Meghan Markle wore in her surprise Late Late show cameo

https://ift.tt/2Oaruph

Ok, where can we buy it?

meghan markle late late show dress

It’s been a hectic few weeks for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Between exciting pregnancy news, an upcoming tell-all Oprah interview, and the official removal of their royal patronages, the couple are busier than ever in their new life across the pond.

Now Harry has given a candid (and hilarious) interview with James Corden, discussing everything from the treatment of Meghan by the British press, to his surprising opinion on The Crown. (Yep, he’s actually watched it.)

But it was a surprise Facetime cameo from Meghan during the segment that really got everybody talking – not least because she adorably referred to Harry as “Haz”.

As per usual, Meghan nailed off-duty chic in a casual blue smock dress and matching necklace. And though we could only see a smidgen of the dress, the internet didn’t waste any time in identifying exactly where it was from, and how we could get our hands on it.

(Honestly, someone give Meghan Markle fans a Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism.)

Thought to be from LA-based brand Velvet Torch, perhaps the most surprising thing about the breezy blue ‘Puffed Sleeve Smock Dress’ is that it retails for just $29. As in, just over £21.

With a shirred bodice, tiered skirt and slightly puffed sleeves, the pretty nap dress definitely deserves a place in her roster of best maternity looks – if for nothing but the fact that she was just casually wearing it around the house.

Despite the call being completely unexpected, Meghan still looked typically put together, with her signature tousled waves and go-to nude lip in place as she laughed along with Corden’s jokes, and broke our hearts by announcing that the couple had done enough moving over the past year, so no, they would not be moving into The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air mansion.

You win some, you lose some.

The post Internet sleuths have found the exact dress Meghan Markle wore in her surprise Late Late show cameo appeared first on Marie Claire.



from Marie Claire https://ift.tt/3b3Xrcd
via IFTTT

Prince Harry has a rather surprising opinion of Netflix's The Crown

https://ift.tt/37Qlo4I

Well, that's unexpected

Prince Harry reveals surprising opinion of The Crown

It’s been a busy month for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Between the exciting announcement that the couple are expecting their second child together in the Spring, to the news that they’re shortly due to give a tell-all interview with none other than Oprah Winfrey, it’s all go in the Sussex household.

So when Harry announced that he and Meghan are regular Netflix fans during his hilarious interview with James Corden on the Late Late Show, frankly, we’re surprised they can find the time.

During the interview, which covered everything from Harry’s rapping skills (could use some improvement), to the couple’s treatment by the British press following the announcement that they were stepping down from their senior royal roles, James wasted no time in asking Harry the one question we’ve all been dying to know: “How do you feel about The Crown?”

Harry’s response? Unexpected, to say the least.

“They don’t pretend to be news, it’s fictional but it’s loosely based on the truth. Of course it’s not strictly accurate,” Harry replied.

“It gives you a rough idea about what that lifestyle and what the pressures of putting duty and service above family and everything else and what can come from that.”

Much to our disappointment, The Crown’s creators have revealed that the show will not continue to the present day, so viewers will not be getting an onscreen portrayal of the Sussex Royal couple.

However, Harry and Meghan recently signed a Netflix deal themselves – thought to be valued at around $112 million – to develop everything from documentaries, to TV series.

Harry candidly added, “I’m way more comfortable with The Crown than I am seeing the stories written about my family and my wife or myself.

“Because there’s the difference between what is obviously fiction, take it how you will, but this is being reported on as fact because you’re supposedly news. I have a real issue with that,” he said.

Well, that’s that cleared up.

The post Prince Harry has a rather surprising opinion of Netflix's The Crown appeared first on Marie Claire.



from Marie Claire https://ift.tt/3uwOobn
via IFTTT

Oprah has given an exciting update on her tell-all interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

https://ift.tt/37RcbsT

The 90-minute interview is set to air next week

Oprah gives an update on Harry and Meghan's wedding

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might have stepped down from their roles as senior royals and relocated to California, but that hasn’t stopped them still making headlines across the pond.

From Harry revealing Archie’s hilarious first word, to the exciting news that the couple are expecting their second child together in the Spring, it’s been a busy month in the Sussex household.

And it’s only set to get busier following the announcement that the couple will be sitting down for a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, due to air next week.

The 90-minute special – the most in-depth interview the couple have ever given – will see Oprah speak to Meghan about a wide range of topics, ‘From stepping into life as a royal, marriage, motherhood, philanthropic work, to how she is handling life under intense public pressure,’ according to a statement released by CBS.

Oprah is a friend of the couple, and was among celebrity guests at their 2018 wedding at Windsor Castle.

After speaking to Meghan, Oprah will then be joined by Prince Harry, and together the couple will speak about their relocation to Montecito, California, and their hopes and dreams for expanding their family.

And apparently the candid interview is one of the best Oprah has ever done. (This coming from the woman who’s also interviewed Michael Jackson, Barack Obama and Beyonce.)

Yep, really.

On Friday, the legendary host’s close friend Gayle King revealed to her fellow presenters on CBS’ This Morning: ‘Harry and Meghan are talking to Oprah. It’s their first major broadcast since giving up their senior royal duties… And I’ve heard from reliable sources – this is Oprah talking – that it’s the best interview she’s ever done. So I’m curious. I think that’s saying something.’

Well, there you have it. We cannot wait to watch this next week.

The post Oprah has given an exciting update on her tell-all interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appeared first on Marie Claire.



from Marie Claire https://ift.tt/3bGvjuM
via IFTTT

Friday 26 February 2021

P.volve CEO Rachel Katzman talks pivoting, trusting your gut and destroying the taboos around women's health

https://ift.tt/2NBI01Y

You would have to be living under a rock not to have heard of P.volve, with its trusted fitness method known across the world.

Promising to transform you from the inside out, P.volve is ‘an accessible fitness method that connects mind to muscle to help everyone look and feel their best’, with their resistance-based, high-intensity, low-impact movements proven to strengthen, sculpt and energise the entire body.

With hundreds of workouts on the P.volve app, Instagrammable apparel and patented specialised equipment that works magic (hello P.ball), it’s hardly surprising that P.volve has been having a real moment.

But what about the woman behind the female-led brand? Features Editor Jenny Proudfoot caught up with Rachel Katzman, P.volve’s CEO and co-founder, for a dose of inspiration – and she did not disappoint.

Here’s what Rachel had to say about pivoting over COVID-19, ensuring that everyone has a voice at the table and ending the taboos around women’s health issues…

Take me back to the start of P.volve…

I started focusing on my fitness after I moved away from home for college and experienced weight gain that caused my body to change in ways I wasn’t expecting. Soon after that, I was jumping in and out of every trendy class in New York City to gain my confidence back. I was running myself down, not seeing any physical transformation, was in terrible pain, and eventually learned I had scoliosis. When I met my now co-founder, Stephen Pasterino, and started studying functional fitness, my whole mindset and the way I looked at fitness shifted. Now I understand that breaking my body down through high-impact workouts will not give me the results I am looking for, and that low impact and high intensity don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Functional fitness taught me that you need to work with your body, not against it, and that personal and physical gain shouldn’t be associated with pain.

That’s when I knew that I had to bring this method and mindset to the world. I saw so many women like me injuring themselves, working until exhaustion and breaking their body down – so we opened a small studio in Chinatown in 2016. Within weeks, our classes were garnering waitlists; we knew we had something special and began discussions of taking it online. I started filming workouts on my iPhone, editing them on my Mac at night and uploading them to our platform. We officially launched P.volve in November of 2017 with a handful of workouts. The name comes from evolving mindsets on fitness – hence the “volve” – while the P represents some of the core philosophies that are grounded in functional fitness: precision, purposeful movement, proper alignment and injury prevention.

Those early, gritty days were absolutely exhausting but still some of the most rewarding times. I wouldn’t change any of it – it’s what got us to the global On-Demand company we are today!

What is the bravest thing you’ve ever done?

By far, it’s been launching my two businesses. I launched Cuvee Beauty (my hair care line that I sold in 2019) and P.volve within a year of each other. It was terrifying but something deeply rewarding that I knew I wanted to do. I was young and green, but my passion drove me to get out of my comfort zone and take that next step. I am open about the fact that I tried the college route, and it wasn’t for me. I knew from an early age that I was going to run a company; I had to look in the mirror one day and talk myself into taking that first step. Even now, I remember exactly where I was when we set both websites live and received our first orders. The adrenaline plus the lack of sleep made it all the more stressful, but I am so proud of my 25-year-old self!

What has been your biggest challenge?

As a CEO of a startup, I can be incredibly picky about with whom I choose to surround myself. I started this company with three amazing and inspiring fellow businesswomen. We have supported each other every step of the way and hired a team that is focused on collaboration and teamwork; collectively, we have been on a rocket ship ever since.

When COVID hit, like everyone else, we all retreated to our homes and stayed there. That loss of in-person interaction and being in the same room brainstorming, problem solving and driving the business forward was devastating to me, at first. I knew that collaboration and teamwork were why we were so successful, and I was afraid we would lose that grit. I think we all felt very alone for the first time since we started this business.

But we did what we had to do and shut down our NYC offices, our new studio in SoHo and our production facility where we produce all our OnDemand content. As a wellness and lifestyle brand, I knew we couldn’t simply stop creating content. If anything, we knew our community, now stuck at home, needed us more than ever. We immediately pivoted, sending all of our trainers recording equipment to their homes, and focused on bringing real, authentic workouts to our members – from our homes to theirs. Not only did we produce content for our On-Demand platform, but we also released free content on our Instagram channel daily, so that anyone could access a workout from home, regardless of their membership status. We also launched our Live Virtual Classes, online health coaching and virtual Private Trainings. It was a huge challenge to operationalize all of this within weeks, but we did it. We knew it was the right thing to do for the millions of people who were struggling to prioritize their heath amidst a global pandemic.

Have you ever felt discriminated against as a female founder?

I have been exceptionally lucky because I have grown this business alongside a team of women who I respect, trust and with whom I collaborate exceptionally well. We have been through thick and thin together, so I feel I have been guarded a bit from some of the horror stories I hear happen in the startup space. We are still a relatively young company and have been extremely cautious when it comes to partnerships and the types of meetings we take. That is by design. We know we are on a rocket ship and that we have created a global brand that will undeniably reshape how fitness and wellness services are offered in the coming years. So, with that knowledge, we are careful, and we vet our opportunities thoroughly. I have grown up in a family of entrepreneurs, and I understand the biases out there. Because of that, it has been my mission to create a company that is women-led and where everyone has a voice at the table.

What is your typical working day?

I’m sure most entrepreneurs won’t be surprised, but I start my day exceptionally early. I am usually up and online by 5:30am, checking in and getting back to people. Six days a week, I work out either with our on-demand platform or through our virtual studio; you can typically find me in a class around the 7am hour. Now more than ever, it’s important that I am able to find that physical and mental release. After that, I am cooking and meal prepping; I made a vow to put as much time and thinking into what I put into my body this year as I do into my workouts. Then, I usually jump into my calls starting around 9am. It’s very important for me to be in the right meetings but also spend lots of time thinking about and watching our customers. We are a data-driven company, so I spend most of my day diving into that data – what workouts are getting the most views, what blogs are hitting home, and what equipment kits are rating the highest for the day. Understanding the data and actively taking our classes (I make sure I take classes with different trainers each day) is what keeps me grounded as a CEO. I close out the day a bit early because of my start time but always find time to play with my two cats – Nobu and Matsu – who have been known to make appearances on my Zoom calls. Lastly, I never go to bed without a relaxing face mask and some “me” time.

How can you achieve the right work/ personal life balance?

This can be an unpopular answer, but I don’t have that balance because I absolutely love what I do. My personal and professional lives intersect by design. I work with people who I consider family, and I talk to my friends about my work constantly. I think when you try to dissect is when it can get complicated. I try to start my day understanding what my priorities should be; some days there are personal issues that absolutely need more of my attention, and other days it’s all business. But I don’t feel guilty about either because I know I can be successful in life if I continue to be obsessed with what I do and prioritize what matters day by day.

What is the best advice you’ve received?

I was told once that if you love what you do, you never really work a day in your life. And it’s true. I wake up every day energized to be the best I can be and thankful to stand beside my amazing team. Also, I had a mentor who told me that data is everything but don’t forget about your gut. That was one of the most powerful pieces of advice I’ve ever received – because there are moments in business when you must trust your gut and lead with instinct. It’s never done me wrong, and I don’t ever plan on losing that. And lastly, I know I can’t be afraid to fail – the key is to fail fast and get back up.

What has been your proudest moment?

I have had so many amazing moments with my team at P.volve – from the launch of our first studio in NYC to perfecting the first prototype of the p.ball. Having an idea and watching it develop, and ultimately seeing our members enjoy it and get results, makes me so proud. But I will say one of the most fulfilling moments I ever experienced was shortly after we launched; I had a customer DM me on Instagram and tell me that she wasn’t able to work out for years because of injuries she had sustained earlier in life, and that P.volve changed that. She sent me pictures doing the workout and thanked me for changing her life. That was an emotional moment for me. We hear that now constantly through our community and honestly, I still get goosebumps each time. That’s why I started this company; to see it changing people’s lives is what gets me up every day.

How can we all ask for more?

At the end of the day, it’s all about communication. I think discussions around pay and promotions should not be a sacred conversation that only happens once a year in a formal review. You have to foster strong two-way communication between your manager and have ongoing discussions about what you want and where you see yourself going within the company. If you wait for those milestone or annual moments, you won’t get to where you want to go. Your manager should be someone who is walking alongside you as you grow; being honest and transparent is key to that relationship making both of you more successful.

What is your superpower?

This is a difficult question! But I would like to see myself as somewhat of a visionary and someone who can see a large picture unfolding before many others can. During my first workouts with my co-founder, Stephen, I saw this company launching with an On-Demand platform and proprietary equipment. I grew up in a household where we didn’t talk about what we wanted to do – we talked about the types of companies we wanted to start. So, I think early on, I was able to see trends and market gaps that have led me down a successful road as an entrepreneur.


How do you celebrate success?

Personally, it’s hard to truly celebrate a successful moment for long because I am an entrepreneur, and you have to live in the moment and know that if you don’t give everything you have that day, it could be your last. But I do consciously try to celebrate my teams’ wins daily. Whether that is through emails, calls or messages thanking them for putting all they have into our company. I do my best to let them know that I see what they do, and I appreciate it.

What will you never compromise on in business?

I will never compromise on our speed. What we have accomplished in just three years is something most companies would do in six. We pivot, we move quickly, we work very hard and that mentality has allowed us to be where we are and will allow us to get to where we want to be. That type of speed and intensity isn’t for everyone – but it’s the only way I know how to work, and I don’t see that ever changing.

What is the biggest mistake you’ve made?

When we launched our company in 2017, we jumped in with force from a marketing perspective. We knew we had a philosophy and a method that could turn the fitness industry on its head, and we wanted to scream it from the rooftops. We invested early in marketing and did that steadily for our first two years. Looking back, we should have been just as bullish in developing our technology. So that was a huge focus for us in 2020 and continues to be this year – bringing in the right engineering and technical support to ensure that anyone in the world has access to our method.

What is your mantra?

From day one, my go-to phrase has always been “Better is Better.” In the startup world, so much is about speed-to-market, testing and iterating. And if you spend most of your time trying to perfect a concept, your business will die a slow death. So, you will hear me in meetings when there is concern about moving on an idea or trying something for the first time yell out, “Better is better. Let’s move!” I hope that gives my team the sense that they can fail and try things that don’t work. That’s what innovation is all about. Focus on the small and quick wins, and you will get to that finish line so much faster.

What would you want to change for women?

I want all the “back room” conversations to vanish. It’s incredibly frustrating that topics about our bodies like our menstrual cycle, hormones, post-pregnancy issues, etc. are still taboo. And as a CEO of a women-led company focused primarily on women’s health, I know I have an opportunity to change that. We launched a campaign last October encouraging women to talk about the issues they are having post-pregnancy, in the bedroom and with their bodies and to be empowered to find the answers, programs and medical advice they need to live their best lives. We are constantly partnering with the medical community as we expand our offerings to go deeper on physical and mental issues that plague women. It’s important that every woman knows her health must be paramount, and conversations about her own body are nothing to be ashamed of.

What could we all achieve if we supported each other?

More innovation around women’s health issues. Women’s health should not be an issue that only women are working on or speaking about. If we can come together and create programs and support initiatives that foster transparent conversations around healthcare, benefits and support for women, our society will be better for it. The statistics coming out about the toll this last year took on women – such as struggles returning to the workforce, trying to homeschool children while holding down full-time jobs, and the inability to focus on their own mental and physical health – are serious issues that will cause a ripple effect for years to come. Many more CEOs and leaders need to not only be a part of these discussions but also part of the solutions.

Check out the P.volve website for more information.

The post P.volve CEO Rachel Katzman talks pivoting, trusting your gut and destroying the taboos around women's health appeared first on Marie Claire.



from Marie Claire https://ift.tt/3bIqq4b
via IFTTT