Women of MALIN+GOETZ

 

Alissa Podber

Director of Global Marketing + Communications.

Tell us about your leadership as a woman. As a leader in the beauty industry, I lead with my unwavering passion for creating products that make people feel good. When I walk into the office each morning, I come in with real gusto to tackle the day. When I exude positive energy, my team feels it and believes it. I never underestimate the knowledge I can gain from listening to others. It’s pretty amazing what I learn when I keep my mouth shut! Additionally, as rudimentary and cliché as it may sound, I always try to be nice and give people the benefit of the doubt. You never know what someone is going through outside of the office. We all have those days. Last but not least, I try to have fun. Luckily, we are improving lives, not saving them, so I try to not take it too seriously.

Who has inspired you in your life? As Holocaust survivors, my Bubbie + Zadie (grandma and grandpa) came to the US to pursue the American Dream. At the age of 30, my Zadie arrived in Atlanta without speaking a word of English, knowing how to drive a car or having a dollar in his wallet. With unwavering hard work and dedication, he learned English, how to drive a car and started his own grocery store. From the day he arrived in Atlanta in 1949, he woke up every morning with relentless dedication to build a life for his family and to give his children the childhood he never had the chance to experience during the war. He worked nearly every single day up until the day he passed away at the age of 92. Zadie imbued this same work ethic in my father who passed it down to me, teaching me that success comes from hard work..

 

Sarah Daphnis

Director of Sales, East.

Tell us about your leadership as a woman. Well at the risk of sounding completely cliché, leaders lead. They lead by example. They lead by doing what it takes to make things happen. They lead with energy and spirit. They celebrate their wins and learn from their losses. They are front and center through the good times and the bad, ready and willing. I am thankful that I can be a woman in business, leading sales with strategy, poise and conviction, while simultaneously managing my team with empathy, respect and genuineness. It’s a challenging dichotomy to juggle at times, but I love that I am in a career and company that allows me to do it.

Who has inspired you in your life? I have been inspired by many people but the one that stands out most is my phenomenal Aunt Chris. She is literally the epitome of success - a cardiologist, author, mediation therapist, mother of five (three of which are triplets) and the list goes on. She is always very busy with multiple projects but always finds time for the things that matter to her. She is strong, brilliant, boisterous, fun and warm. She has taught me to push for everything that I want in my career and to do it all with care, love and compassion.

 

Octiavia Ortiz

Director of Human Resources.

Tell us about your leadership as a woman. Being a good leader means having the compassion to listen to the needs and feelings of others. My philosophy when it comes to leadership is courage, passion and vitality. It is essential to have the courage to lead from your position within an organization, regardless of your title. Leaders are not born overnight and leadership is more than a title. It is a combination of action and illustration. When we choose to love the work we do, the passion shines through. Vitality is a significant component of leadership because it ignites the environment and inspires the organization. I believe that all employees of MALIN+GOETZ are leaders! Seamos realistas y hagamos lo imposible.

Who has inspired you in life? I have been very fortunate to be surrounded by phenomenal women throughout my life. My mother taught me what it means to be powerful yet humble. My aunt has always told me to believe in myself and never give up on my dreams. Being an only child, I did not grow up with brothers and sisters, however my cousins and friends showed me what it meant to be part of a team. I am grateful to have my family and friends who inspired me from the beginning, and as I progress on this journey of life, I meet new people who continue to inspire me.

 

Rachel Lavipour

Senior Director of Wholesale.

Tell us about your leadership as a woman. My mentality is to “dig in” so I roll up my sleeves and work alongside my team. Tenacity and passion go a long way and truly excites people. I aim to create an environment where everyone has a voice, feels empowered and therefore act as masters of their own businesses. No matter how busy the day gets, I make time to listen and help problem-solve. And, I always thank people for going the extra mile. Explaining the “why” yields a better result and gives the team a chance to give you their buy-in. It’s important to me to make sure everyone knows how each personal contribution leads to the overall success of what we’re trying to build.

Who has inspired you in your life? My father owns a small business that he started at the age of 40. He is an immigrant who came to this country on his own to begin a new life in 1962. He has ingrained in me that hard work, being humble and surrounding yourself with a strong team is the only way one can find meaningful success. Relying on your own strengths can only take you so far. He’s also taught me to treat people with respect, to think “big picture” and to not sweat the small stuff. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

 

Sarah Gion (& Bilinda)

Senior Director of Global Services.

Tell us about your leadership as a woman. I try to approach everything from a place of empathy. Treating each other with respect is so important - especially in a culture where our political leaders seem to be pushing society backwards more often than forwards - and this way of thinking is deeply influenced by feminism.

Who has inspired you in your life? Strong women who are not afraid to express themselves as well as people of all identities who do not hold back from standing up for what is right.