Julie L Swan Of REKA: Five Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Became A CEO
No company can be successful without creativity and innovation, and the only way to find true creativity is through diversity.
As a part of our series called ‘Five Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Became A CEO’ we had the pleasure of interviewing Julie L. Swan.
Based in New York City, Julie has a proven track record of sales growth, brand building and team development in the fashion industry. She previously held senior management positions with Donna Karan, Kangol and Ralph Lauren where she was instrumental in key distribution and marketing initiatives.
In 2015, Julie founded idPearl fashion showroom with the mission to introduce and support international independent fashion designers with their US expansion through marketing, retail and wholesale initiatives in the most cost-effective way possible.
From an early age Julie has loved fashion and although growing up in a small town in Ohio did not provide the local shopping experience she craved, she would often convince her parents to drive 2+ hours to find better options. This need for discovery continued as an adult into a passion for global travel and finding new designers who were not available in the US.
With her new role at REKA, she will continue the journey of supporting independent designers, by establishing better ways to discover and shop new designers in the future through technology. Creating a more sustainable and no waste lifestyle for fashion lovers everywhere.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
I have loved fashion since a young age and have worked in the fashion industry my entire career. Growing up in Ohio there was not a lot of options for shopping or much designer fashion. I was always researching and exploring, looking for something different. Once I moved to NY and started traveling in my job, I really enjoyed discovering new designers in far off places that could not be found in NY. Even with the internet, the process can be time consuming, and a lot of great designers don’t have the resources to make themselves known online. The mission of REKA is all about providing the platform for independent designers so they can be found by consumers like me who love fashion and want to support brands who offer sustainable and unique collections.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?
All the incredible people I have met is really what I find most interesting. Everyone has an amazing story and background and getting to know the designers is the best part of the job, as well as working alongside a great team every day.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
We are delving into the world of NFTs with REKA and merging metaverse fashion with physical fashion. I have no idea why, but I kept writing NFT’s instead of NFTs. My son happened to see something I was writing and was incredulous that I had written it correctly. It was pretty funny because I am working on these very complex ideas and innovations and yet the most basic thing I had gotten wrong. I’ve learned over the years there is no point getting hung up over a mistake, you just have to learn from it and keep moving forward.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
One of the women I most admire is Mindy Grossman. I was lucky to work for her early in my career and learned so much, both from a skill set perspective as well as how you successfully lead a team through a new brand launch. She was incredibly inspirational and the first female CEO that I had encountered. She taught me how to merchandise a clothing line and we would sit for hours pulling a seasonal line together. Regardless of how busy she was, she would still take the time to explain things as we went along so that I would learn and keep those skills forever. I was originally passed over for the job because I had never done it before, and 6 months later got offered the job because the person hired instead had not worked out. At the time it was my dream job and I was so grateful for the opportunity to prove myself.
As you know, the United States is currently facing a very important self-reckoning about race, diversity, equality and inclusion. This may be obvious to you, but it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you articulate to our readers a few reasons why it is so important for a business or organization to have a diverse executive team?
No company can be successful without creativity and innovation, and the only way to find true creativity is through diversity. Without different backgrounds and experiences, the company will ultimately fail because they will be too narrow minded in their decision-making process. A company board and team should reflect the diverse world in which we live, in order to provide the best services and products possible to their customers. Otherwise you run the risk of missing the mark with new launches and may waste a lot of time and money fixing mistakes. It’s also just a lot more fun when you collaborate with people who have lots of different perspectives and ideas to share.
As a business leader, can you please share a few steps we must take to truly create an inclusive, representative, and equitable society? Kindly share a story or example for each.
We are all human and treating each other with respect is a necessary first step. Regardless of race or background, religion or political viewpoints, each person can contribute to society in some way. I have a transgender child, and have watched the difficulties they endured, dealing with bullying, harassment, and exclusion. It was incredibly painful and as a mother you just want your kids to be happy. If we could all treat each other as we would want our kids to be treated, we may find better ways to understand and appreciate one another more. In business, the hiring process is key. I’ve had a different approach over the years which has worked well for me. I think of the team as a puzzle, and each piece is unique. When I hire someone new, I look for someone who will complement the rest of the team, which is more important than the skill sets and perfect resume to me. Personality is really important, can they hold their own in meetings, do they have ideas and are willing to share them. You can’t teach these traits, and they matter. Several years ago, I had interviewed at least 10 people for a role, and none of them were a perfect match. I asked the manager to go ahead with one person who we felt could do the job. The manager requested one more day, because there was one last person scheduled. On a Friday afternoon at 5 pm we found who we knew was the perfect fit for our team. Don’t compromise and don’t just check off the boxes. When you are open minded in what you are looking for, you will organically create a more diverse team.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Most of our readers — in fact, most people — think they have a pretty good idea of what a CEO or executive does. But in just a few words can you explain what an executive does that is different from the responsibilities of the other leaders?
There are 3 main jobs of the CEO: keep the long-term goals and vision of the company always in sight, so that the company is constantly moving towards achieving those goals. Hire the right team who believe in and will support the mission with the same passion as you. Finally, keep the money in the bank so the bills can be paid. A CEO must always juggle the tasks of today, tomorrow and 3–5 years out all at the same time so strategy alongside execution is crucial.
What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a CEO or executive. Can you explain what you mean?
The old school attitude is that the only way to gain respect in a CEO role is through dictating orders and being rude. I completely disagree with this approach and believe it is possible to treat others well while still earning their respect and being the leader that is required. You don’t have to be loud to be heard. There’s also a myth that the job is very serious and stressful, and while that may be true, it’s also a lot of fun. This is especially true in a startup because you are finding new and different ways to accomplish your mission every day. When you are passionate about the work you are doing and can see the future that you are creating, the stress of it falls away and it doesn’t really matter how many hours you may spend on a project to get it right. REKA is building something that doesn’t currently exist in the fashion industry today, so every step taken is exhilarating.
What is the most striking difference between your actual job and how you thought the job would be?
It’s more interesting and exciting than I had even imagined it would be. There is something new happening every day and I am constantly challenging myself to find solutions and learn quickly. Startups are a different operation than a company that has been around a long time, so you must be patient yet also incredibly persistent.
Do you think everyone is cut out to be an executive? In your opinion, which specific traits increase the likelihood that a person will be a successful executive and what type of person should avoid aspiring to be an executive? Can you explain what you mean?
No I don’t think everyone can or should be an executive. Some people are perfectly happy with 9–5 jobs that don’t push them too hard. Everyone has a different reason for doing what they do and ultimately, it’s about being satisfied with your life. We only get to live once and finding the joy and passion that motivates you is really important. Traits that are vital to be a successful executive include being passionate about your product and mission, being a visionary to realize opportunities that others don’t yet see or understand and believing in yourself that you can do it regardless of obstacles. Having faith is necessary because if you don’t have it you won’t convince anyone else. You also need to be realistic about your abilities and the skills you are missing so that you hire the right people to fill in any gaps. Creating a strong team who will work well together to achieve the goals is critical to success. You also need to be detail oriented to accomplish the short-term tasks, while at the same time always thinking long-term and adjusting along the way.
What advice would you give to other business leaders to help create a fantastic work culture? Can you share a story or an example?
Be willing to laugh at yourself, and don’t take things too seriously. Create a warm and inclusive environment where people feel comfortable sharing their ideas and standing up for what they believe. Take time to get to know people beyond their role at the company. Be open minded and admit when you’ve made a mistake. Be honest with your team and they will trust you and follow your lead to help accomplish your mission. Share both the positive and negative so they feel part of the achievements and the solution to the problems. Don’t ever compromise your integrity and values. Be fair and reasonable yet firm and determined. Keep the door always open so your team feels they can talk to you about anything. Embrace change and fresh perspectives and learn to listen more often than you speak.
How have you used your success to make the world a better place?
During the height of Covid in NYC, I was part of a go fund me campaign where the money raised went to local restaurants that were shut down. It helped keep their staff busy and the food was then donated to local hospital staff. It was great to see everyone come together during such a difficult time and the health care workers were so grateful that it made me realize how important it is to make time for others. With REKA we are creating a community of designers who already have sustainable and ethical production practices built into their brands. Our #WearWhatsFair philosophy is an integral part of the REKA mission. Textile waste is one of the largest pollutants in the world and we aim to reduce waste in the fashion cycle while also educating consumers on why it’s so important to shop responsibly.
Fantastic. Here is the primary question of our interview. What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)
- Treat your time as an asset and manage your schedule accordingly.
- Put people before profit. With the right strategy, passion and people, the profit will follow.
- Figure out the routine that works best for you and don’t alter it for anyone or anything.
- Challenge yourself to learn something new every day because you never know when that information may become vital to your success.
- Show respect and kindness to anyone you encounter because at some point they may be the one who you need to lean on for support.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
My hope for REKA is that we will inspire people to stop buying fast fashion, and instead support independent designers who are often the most innovative in the fashion industry. The effect of supporting these designers will have far reaching impact within communities all over the world, and also impact our planet in a positive way by eliminating waste.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Honesty is the best policy. This is as old as they come but it will always be relevant. If you can’t get it done through truth, then it probably shouldn’t be done. Mistakes happen but they can always be fixed, when you are up-front about the situation. My family and co-workers have learned one thing about me, I will be your best advocate as long as you’ve been honest with me.
We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them
I would feel incredibly lucky for a sit-down with Natalie Massenet. What she accomplished with Net-A-Porter was sheer genius and her story has been truly inspirational to me. She would understand and appreciate more than most, what we intend to achieve with REKA. Her insight and expertise could become pivotal to REKA’s long-term growth trajectory and an overall priceless opportunity.
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
