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The co-lab career stories: Daily Summaries Delivered
by the co-lab
Welcome to the co-lab career stories podcast, a collective of professionals dedicated to sharing their experiences working in the fashion, beauty, wellness, retail and consumer luxury industries. Hear from CEOs, early career professionals and everything in between as the co-lab members interview each other, sharing their career stories, big pivots, worst jobs, best career advice, and remind us no two career paths are the same.
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- 5 days ago11 min
Alana Oates - Founder, Llani and Llani Design Studio
Alana is the founder of Llani and Llani Design Studio, with a creative background spanning fashion, product design, and interiors. A graduate of Moore College of Art & Design, she has collaborated with brands including Anthropologie and Free People. Today, she creates warm, layered homes that blend character, craftsmanship, and the practical needs of everyday family life.In this episode, Lindsey Love interviews Alana, about her path from studying fashion at Moore College of Art to designing shoes and handbags at Anthropologie. Alana opens up about her bold pivot into interior design and the decade-long artisan partnerships in India that continue to shape her work. She also reveals what she’s most proud of as she bridges fashion and interiors in her next chapter.
- 1 weeks ago14 min
Lindsey Love - Retail Consultant
Lindsey Love is a retail consultant. After 20+ years as a merchant and stylist at Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie, and leading merchandising and brand at founder-led startups, she now provides creative direction and assortment strategy to founder-led brands and independent retailers.In this episode, Alana Oates sits down with Lindsey to trace her career back to Drexel’s design and merchandising program and the moments that shaped her path in retail. Lindsey opens up about her entrepreneurial leap into baking with Cocoa Love, a surprising detour that taught her what it really takes to build a brand from scratch. She also shares what pushed her to finally go independent and what being part of Co-Lab means for this next chapter.
- Jul 7, 202619 min
Rachel Swanson - Founder, Method + Mode
Rachel Swanson is the founder of Method + Mode, a consultancy delivering primary research for product innovation, audience development, and brand building across beauty, fashion, wellness, tech, CPG, and media. With over 20 years of experience, she has worked with early-stage startups and global brands, previously holding senior strategy and insights roles at Condé Nast (Glamour, W, Corporate) and agency-side at Digitas and POSSIBLE (WPP).In this episode, Lexie Bettina sits down with Rachel to explore her path from sociology research to founding Method & Mode. Rachel opens up about her early roles at Digitas and Condé Nast, the leap into independent consulting, and how she's using AI to scale research and help partners build AI-native insights functions.
- Jun 30, 202612 min
Lexie Bettina - Creative Project Manager
Lexie Bettina is a creative project manager and producer with twelve years of experience, over 500 shoots, and content reaching more than 16 billion people worldwide. She has managed tens of millions in production budgets and led 360 campaigns for brands like Chanel, Nike, and Vogue. She is also co-founder of STILETTO, a post-production company in NYC.In this episode, Rachel Swanson sits down with Lexie to trace her career from fashion marketing at SCAD to leading campaigns for Versace and Chanel. Lexie opens up about the power of side projects, building a business around trusted collaborators, and why she sees AI as an operational asset rather than a creative threat.
- May 12, 202619 min
Lindsay Denninger - Brand Voice Expert
Lindsay Denninger is an award-winning writer, editorial director, celebrity interviewer, two-time Jeopardy! contestant, and storyteller who magically turned a love for nostalgic pop culture into a job. She's worked with brands like Kate Spade New York, Ann Taylor, UNIQLO, and Amazon, and she's currently the Copy Director at SPANX. She lives on Long Island with her family.In this episode, Suzy West chats with Lindsay about navigating a winding career between freelance and full-time roles. Lindsay shares how she builds brand voice, the story behind her Gossip Girl book, and advice on taking creative risks while trusting your own taste.
- May 5, 202624 min
Suzi West - The Retail Sherpa
Suzi West has built her career at the intersection of commerce and creativity — translating brand identity into physical space, and experiences that drive sales. From the halls of L Brands and Knitwell Group to founding her own boutique, Collier West, she has lived every side of the industry. A former director with a rare combination of corporate leadership, entrepreneurial experience, and boutique instincts, she consults under the name The Retail Sherpa. She’s the reason your credit card jumps out of your pocket.In this episode, Lindsay Denninger chats with Suzi, a marketing and retail veteran who went from "retail grad school" at L Brands to launching her own luxury boutique, and learned hard lessons about identity, reinvention, and knowing when to walk away.
- Mar 3, 202619 min
Jelena Beliard - Founder, BELLE CHASSE
Jelena Beliard is the founder of BELLE CHASSE, a brand transformation consultancy based in New York and Paris. She has one core obsession: clarity. After 25 years working with fashion and retail's most iconic brands — Victoria's Secret PINK, Vanessa Bruno, Maurices — she has learned that most brand problems are not creative problems, they are clarity problems. She finds what's off, what's misaligned, and what nobody is saying out loud. Then she fixes it. Jelena lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.In this episode, Tanya Windman talks with Jelena about trading corporate fashion for independence, what drove the decision, how she helps brands spot where their customer experience falls apart, and what it actually takes for leaders to hear hard feedback. Plus, why having the right community around you makes all the difference when you're out on your own.
- Feb 24, 202615 min
Tanya Windman - Founder, joi
Tanya believes women should be able to enjoy the journey of building and that the right environment makes all the difference. She is the founder of joi, a membership community for women in NYC actively bringing their vision to life, and a 1:1 advisor supporting women through pivotal moments. Through her consultancy Windy&Co., she brings that same human-centered lens to membership clubs, hospitality brands, and lifestyle companies seeking engagement and retention strategies that actually work. With a background in sociology, marketing and mindfulness facilitation, she's spent the past decade where community building meets commercial results.In this episode, Jelena Beliard sits down with Tanya to trace her journey from sociology and ad agencies to wellness and eventually building a consultancy for women founders. Tanya shares how authenticity and trusting the process have guided her biggest life and career transitions.
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About The co-lab career stories
Welcome to the co-lab career stories podcast, a collective of professionals dedicated to sharing their experiences working in the fashion, beauty, wellness, retail and consumer luxury industries. Hear from CEOs, early career professionals and everything in between as the co-lab members interview each other, sharing their career stories, big pivots, worst jobs, best career advice, and remind us no two career paths are the same.
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