Anyone knows that music can make or break your workout. What if your playlist could be programmed right into your exercise gear? That’s the idea behind Whitney Lane’s line of workout clothing outfitted with “wearable tech” — their best-selling item is a stylish sweatband connected to a wireless earpiece pre-loaded with music from Empire Entertainment’s catalog.
It’s no coincidence that Whitney Lane chose to partner with Empire for this latest endeavor. The partnership is the result of an alliance between the brilliant minds behind the two companies — who just so happen to be married to each other.
In just a few short years, Andre and Rhonda Lyon have ascended the ranks of their respective organizations to become New York’s hottest professional power couple, all before the age of 30. Their meteoric rise is thanks to ambition, tenacity, and hard work, at least according to the Lyons themselves.
“People think I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth,” says Andre, the oldest son of music mogul Lucious Lyon. “But I lived in West Philly until I was in middle school. I remember what it was like to split a Pop Tart with my brothers and call that dinner.”
Mr. Lyon becomes defensive, and perhaps rightfully so, when the inevitable question of nepotism is raised. Many in the business community have failed to take him seriously because his father is the CEO of the company where he works. But Andre is quick to point out his impressive credentials.
Goldman, served as president of the African American MBA Association, and developed outreach programs in entrepreneurship, all while taking a full course load,” Andre says, speaking at a friendly yet breakneck pace. It must be that relentless energy that wakes him at 4:30am each day for a light breakfast and a sunrise swim before heading off to manage a finance staff of 75. For Andre, a profit and loss statement is just as much a work of art as a song written by his famous father.
His gorgeous wife, on the other hand, has slightly more inscrutable origins. Rhonda won’t say much about her hometown, except that it’s “definitely south of the Mason-Dixon line.” (She carries no trace of a Southern accent, a clear sign that she’s worked hard to reinvent herself.) “I scratched and clawed and worked three jobs in high school so I could make it to the Ivy League,” she says, proudly.
Rhonda met Andre at a mixer for incoming first-year Wharton students, but it wasn’t exactly love at first sight. “I was actually seeing someone at the time,” she says, exchanging a knowing glance with her husband. “A real Connecticut blue-blood type. He was so snobby, and I thought that’s what you had to be to make it. When I first met Andre — “
“I took one look at her and knew the snob thing was an act. Don’t let the demure blonde thing fool you. She can drink you under the table and go skydiving the next day,” says Andre with a laugh. And he’s not joking about skydiving — the couple takes a 10,000-foot jump once a year “just for giggles.”
Rhonda spent her Wharton summers interning in the music business, perhaps inspired by Andre and by her future father-in-law. “I’ve always loved the music business, but I realized after my summer job that it wasn’t for me.” One wonders if that has anything to do with her summer boss being a noted ladies’ man musician. When I ask her about that, she raises an eyebrow and changes the subject.
“Andre wanted to explore all his options before joining his father’s company,” Rhonda says, piping up to defend her husband. “Everyone knows family businesses can be… tricky.” Andre cuts her off. “I’ve been working for Empire in one way or another ever since it started. It’s just now I’m here in an official capacity.” (Andre’s former employer, the brokerage firm Stanton & Wallace, refused to comment, claiming to have signed a non-disclosure agreement concerning the terms of Andre’s departure from the firm.)
With all this talk of business, one might get the impression that Andre and Rhonda have no time for leisure. But they are quick to dispel that notion. “We have a great circle of friends. Sure, we all have hectic schedules, but we make sure to get together for the occasional game of handball.” It’s hard to believe that a woman like Rhonda actually plays handball, but she insists it’s her favorite sport. “Helps you work up a sweat,” she says, playfully twirling her wedding ring around her finger.
On the subject of family, Rhonda and Andre say they haven’t made up their mind about children. “Both of us were raised by young parents,” says Rhonda. “We want to make sure we’re absolutely ready before we bring little ones into the world.” It’s clear that despite their accomplishments, these two have a lot more to achieve — and they’re just getting started.
