Paradigm Shifters is a series of interviews with a select group of women and men from eclectic walks of life. It will highlight unspoken, real life insights on how they have been able to turn weakness into strength. A naked soul point of view of how their breakdowns were really a preparation for breakthroughs. They are your quintessential Paradigm Shifters; internal shifts converted into genuine change.
Everything I have ever done has been focused on this underlying theme of shifting the paradigm because, "what we think determines what we feel and what we feel determines what we do." Hence why Empowered by You takes lingerie, which has traditionally been seen merely as a tool of seduction and redirected that energy as a tool of empowerment.
I hope from these stories you will look at your own situations, struggles and accomplishments through a different lens. At the very least you will be more equipped with real life tools to change your own paradigm. At the end of the day we are our own Alchemist turning the silver we were born with into the gold we are destined to become.
Georgia Christensen - Vice President Creative Neiman Marcus Brand
Your life is heavily influenced by art and fashion- the two themes of The Art of Fashion and The Book, a biyearly piece that you spearhead for Neiman Marcus. At the same time, you work for Neiman Marcus, one of the most fashionable and popular department stores in America. How does your past interact with your present?
My entire family was involved in art and fashion - it's really all I ever knew. My grandfather, who, in the 20's, was a traveling salesman for a men's clothing company and my grandmother, who taught me to sew, made most of my clothes. Of their children, my father was an architect and wood worker and my uncle had a men's wear store in Denton and was also an extremely talented jewelry maker. My aunt was an art teacher and painter. So growing up, everything was about design and creativity - what you wore, how you lived and how you looked at the world.
That foundation informed the life I began and have today - in high school, I worked at a hip little shoe store across from the campus - I did the window displays. After college, I married a photographer and now, our daughter is a fashion designer in NY and is engaged to a fine artist, and our son is a cinematographer in LA.
At a conference Summit you left the audience with 5 points to keep in mind. One was to "Relax, Enjoy, Have Fun." How do you keep "have fun, and enjoy" embedded in what you do?
For me, the best work is born from enjoyment - being somewhere that is enjoyable. We spend most of our waking hours at work - why shouldn't it be an experience that brings us joy and fulfillment? I can't imagine showing up for work everyday and not loving what I do! I also have a very low tolerance for undue drama. I find it often stems from poor planning and insecurity, which drives anxiety, which drives poor communication and poor execution. And after all the drama, the results aren't any better - in fact, they are often worse. I honestly don't believe people can create when their stomachs are in knots and are working out of fear or in a vacuum. We're all puzzle pieces - each piece is dependent on the other to create something bigger and greater. So, to me, it's critical that the connection is positive.
What has been your biggest breakdown to breakthrough moment?
In 2000, I made the difficult decision to leave Neiman Marcus. Although I truly had the best job in the world, I was yearning to learn and expand my experiences. So, I moved my family to Connecticut and embarked on a career in New York. I really underestimated how different it would be - I assumed that since I was continuing in the same industry, the change would be minimal. HA - was I wrong!!! In addition to working for companies that were at complete opposite ends of the spectrum to Neiman Marcus, the cultures were dramatically different. It was much more competitive and at the same time much less creative. Neiman Marcus has a spirit of entrepreneurship that runs through its soul that drives creative and innovative thinking. I grew up in that environment, so when I left, I felt my hands were tied.
That said, I learned a tremendous amount during my 10 years in New York. It was often quite painful, but I grew more personally and professionally in those 10 years than I did in 20.
I returned to Neiman Marcus in 2010 with a much more robust understanding of marketing and branding and I believe more flexible and agile with a true belief there are usually multiple solutions to any given problem.
What advice do you wish you could've given to yourself when you were just starting out?
Think big and reach for the stars while also giving yourself time. Time to learn your craft and develop life skills - those things only come with time. Each informs the other. The world is more competitive today than it ever has been and I see many individuals expecting to be the Vice President by the time they are 27. You need time to learn your craft as well as the skills to effectively interact with colleagues and successfully reach a goal. That, and a good dose of humility, is what make great leaders.
What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?
I used to have this list called GC's 20 Rules to Live By that traveled with me to every job and every office. It included things like, "Do what you say you're going to do. Make mistakes and learn from them. Don't be afraid to break things, it's the fastest way to innovation. Think big and think different. Be nice. Smile. Have fun."
I think when I leave here I want to be known for being person with heart and soul; someone who loved beauty in art, design, creativity and pushed beyond the expected.
At the intersection of wisdom and elegance you find Georgia. Behind Neiman Marcus's velvet curtain, it was refreshing to find the genuine spirit of a beautiful soul who ultimately is the real deal. I learned that perfection is accomplished through the trail and errors we must allow time for.