ELLE’s Office Hours has long been a platform for powerful individuals to share their career journeys, from first jobs to major risks taken. The recent live event hosted in partnership with The Standard, East Village brought together a panel of successful women to delve into their unique stories and insights.
The evening kicked off with a panel discussion moderated by ELLE’s deputy digital editor, Madison Feller. The panelists included Amber Asher, CEO of Standard International; Ah-Niyah Gold, founder of A Gold Consulting; Marjon Carlos, cultural critic and creative consultant; and Priya Krishna, food reporter and cookbook author.
Following the panel, guests were invited to participate in guided career vision boarding led by Margot Lee, founder of No Particular Order. Using ELLE magazines as inspiration, attendees had the opportunity to visualize their career goals and aspirations in a creative and interactive way.
Throughout the night, panelists shared unique insights and personal anecdotes from their diverse career paths. From Asher’s experience working at a cider mill as a teenager to Gold performing on Broadway at a young age, the panelists highlighted the varied nature of their first jobs.
Gold shared her journey of launching her own business at 23, while Krishna discussed the process of involving kid taste-testers in her cookbook creation. According to Krishna, children’s honesty and direct feedback played a crucial role in shaping her book.
Asher’s transition from a lawyer to a CEO was a pivotal moment in her career, driven by a desire to inspire and empower other women in leadership roles. Carlos, an Office Hours alum, emphasized the importance of carving out one’s own path in the industry, whether through writing, podcasting, or consulting.
The overarching theme of the event was empowerment and self-determination in one’s career. Panelists encouraged attendees to strive for more than just incremental success, but to aim for their full potential. Asher’s motivation to lead by example for her daughters and sisters resonated with the audience, highlighting the importance of representation in leadership roles.
Carlos’s call for seizing opportunities and pursuing the “whole thing” rather than settling for less, captured the essence of Office Hours’ mission – to inspire and empower individuals to reach their professional goals and aspirations.
The ELLE x The Standard event provided a platform for meaningful discussions, personal stories, and actionable insights for career growth. By bringing together a diverse panel of successful women, the event underscored the importance of mentorship, empowerment, and self-belief in navigating today’s competitive professional landscape. As attendees left the event inspired and motivated, the spirit of Office Hours continued to ignite a passion for pursuing one’s dreams and aspirations in the world of work.