Fidelity hosted a wonderful night of female empowerment for entrepreneurial women on Wednesday night.
The brand rented out the gorgeous 583 Park Avenue venue, ballroom, staircases and all for a night of celebration and empowerment. The event was held in the grand ballroom area of the event space with a set up on the stage for their high profile guests to speak that night. Speakers included Dyllan McGee, Creator of MAKERS, Alexandra Wilson, Co-founder of Gilt and CEO of GLAMSQUAD, as well as Bethenny Frankel, TV personality and New York Times Bestselling Author. The event was moderated by Mary Kate McGrath, Editor In Chief of PureWow. These ladies advised the crowd with stories and tips responsible for their success and wished best for all who attended and their businesses. The ladies also advised the crowd on personal finances and stories of their mistakes for the audience to learn from. The panel hopes to have everyone tweet out #heyyoungerme so Fidelity Investments will donate $10 to Girls Inc. for the first 1,000 posts. The funds donated will go towards inspiring young girls with experiences and solutions for the unique issues they face as well as providing girls with mentorship opportunities. GLAMSQUAD set up a booth to touch up guests’ hair and makeup before getting complimentary LinkedIn headshots taken at the photo booth.
About what they looked like, what they studied and if they thought they would be where they are today:
Bethenny: “I had a big Jew fro, bright red lipstick and I was tan as could be. Did I think I would be sitting next to someone who speaks 5 languages? [Alexandra] All I do is drink alcohol!” “I studied psychology – you see how far that got me.”
Dyllan: “I thought I would be the next Katie Couric.”
About reaching your goals:
Dyllan: “I asked Gloria Steinem if I could do a film on her life. She said no because the women’s movement couldn’t be told in one story. An incredible thing happened there, which is how MAKERS was created.”
“My full circle goal was to meet Katie Couric so I stalked her and continuously approached her from every angle until finally I heard back from her. She replied with ‘Hello relentless McGee, I accept’.”
“I am stalking Tina Fey. Every member of her team knows who I am.”
Bethenny: “I started with my cookie business. I gave cookies to anyone and everyone, when I left someone’s house, when I was meeting up with people to get my name out there. No one knew if I was successful or not, but they knew…she’s not lazy, this bitch is going.”
About the best boss/worst boss:
Dyllan: “I’ve had only one resume, one job, one boss. I started as an intern at a film/documentary [thinking I would be Katie Couric] was rewarded along the way and stuck with it.”
About the favorite part of their job:
Bethenny: “No two days… no two hours are the same.”
About Sheryl Sandberg/women in the workplace:
Bethenny: “There’s so much conversation around the book, and the ceiling. So many women are caught up in worrying about what men have. Be in your own lane, be the best.”
“Housewives have helped in getting me where I am today. You see so much about other people and what other people are making, but just do your own thing.”
Alexandra: “I was raised to not think I was a girl, or gender specific just someone to shoot for the stars.”
About mistakes:
Bethenny: “Never assume anyone is smarter than you. You are only as smart as your client, patient etc. The idea is not the most important thing; the execution of the idea is the most important thing.”
About relationships with money:
Bethenny: “Relationships with money could be a lot like your relationship with food, family…a lot of noise around it.” “I still can’t believe I can buy some things sometimes. I call my financial advisor all the time to ask if I can buy certain things and I’m like ‘I can buy a purse?!’”
About balance:
Bethenny: “All we want is a good night sleep and then we can all feel like we have balance for one day.”
QUICK FIRE:
Have you cried at work?
Dyllan: Relentlessly
Bethenny: “I made my entire living on bravo crying for 8 years.”
You’re running down the street to a meeting, what song is playing in your head?
Bethenny: Girl On Fire, Alicia Keys
How much money do you currently have in your wallet?
Alexandra: $1
Dyllan: $20
Bethenny: $48? $60 bucks?
You win an Academy Award, who do you thank?
Bethenny: Cookie, my business partner, Andy Cohen at Bravo
What are you reading right now?
Dyllan: “Nothing, who has time?”
Bethenny: “I always have to finish what I start. I’m reading some cheesy, weird kinda slutty romance novel I bought in a small town airport.”
What are you amazing at? What are you eh at?
Bethenny: “I’m very good at organizing, delegating and list remembering. I can remember something we talked about 4 weeks ago.” “I’m eh at technology. I have no apps.”
-Vivian Chen
