Making an impact in the workplace has always been top of mind for Lauren Wilner over the course of her 20-year career in fashion.
“I don’t want to take five minutes away from my family and kids if I can’t have an impact on a company. And I don’t want to work for a company where I can’t grow and learn,” she said.
Currently, Wilner is the executive vice president of brand development at Steve Madden, a role she accepted after 15 years of knowing Madden. Prior to her position, Wilner had roles at Scoop NYC, HSN, Macy’s and Laurie Felt — all of which fostered personal relationships that helped her grow within her career.
She said her biggest lesson learned through the years was to always remain open to new opportunities. “Don’t get stuck on only one role or one title,” Wilner said. “Be open to great companies and the right opportunity will happen.”
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She added that embracing curiosity, constantly asking questions and learning from others will not only set you apart in business but empower you to embrace new roles and opportunities as you’re looking to advance.
Failure has also been key in Wilner’s success. “It’s part of the learning process, and I’ve experienced it almost every day,” she said. With each failure, she uses it as a step toward improvement. “Even if we fail, we are hopefully learning and succeeding in another aspect that we maybe didn’t intend. Remember, no one is perfect with a perfect track record. Keep going, take in the lessons and build your tool kit,” she added.
A version of this article appeared in the June 3 print issue of FN, as part of the “Women Who Rock” special section. On June 5, FN and Two Ten Footwear Foundation honored these women at a live event in New York City.
