SHOCEO^® Reading for Success: 7 (Seven) Minutes.  YouTube Interview Below: 55 (Fifty-Five) Minutes.

For this edition of the She’s Her Own CEO® Interview Series, we are excited to introduce you to Author and Lifestyle Expert, Jené Luciani!

Jené Luciani is an internationally-renowned bestselling author of three books, and a regular lifestyle expert on NBC’s Today, Dr. Oz, Wendy Williams and many others.  She is the author of The Bra Book: An Intimate Guide to Finding the Right Bra, Shapewear, Swimwear, and more (BenBella Books, 2009 & 2017), which is now in its 2nd edition, and the co-author of Get It! A Beauty, Style and Wellness Guide to Getting Your “It” Together (BenBella Books, 2016).

Jené has hundreds of bylines to her name in publications such as SHAPE, and the Huffington Post, and the busy mom-of-four is the go-to-gal on everything from wardrobe to waxing for publications such as FIRST, Woman’s World and Cosmo. 

 

Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO^®: Hi Jené, thank you for being here today! What were some of your early career experiences that have contributed to your entrepreneurial success?

Jené Luciani, Author: I studied mass communications at the State University of New York College at Cortland. My dream was to be an MTV VJ! My advisor successfully got me an interview at MTV for an internship, but it would have required me moving to New York City. I instead decided to stay close to home, so I accepted an internship at the NBC affiliate in Albany, New York. I was hired immediately following the internship as a full-time Producer and was basically thrown into the fire! My passion for writing and television really developed there, and I also felt like I was helping people by delivering them the important news of the day. Covering and field producing 911 at Ground Zero (and the subsequent events) made me realize that I was meant for something a little happier.

That’s where I made my entrance into fashion journalism. I moved to NYC, stayed in news for another year, then started working for a fashion broadcast public relations company and writing for magazines. Within two years, I was writing my own fashion column for a magazine in Westchester County, New York as their fashion editor and booked myself on air as a fashion stylist. I got the idea for the bra book from an article to which I was assigned and knew it was something that I had to do. When the book was published, I landed a deal with a bra company who placed the book in stores like Dillards and Lord and Taylor. I traveled a lot doing signings and appearances. I started going on Today, The Dr. Oz Show and many others. The rest, as they say, is history.

 

 

Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO^®: That is a fantastic career story, Jené, and I love how you maximized every opportunity that was in front of you! On ShesHerOwnCEO.com, we often talk about how one can best Lead, Provide, and Create™.  Each of us, in our respective world, has opportunities to Lead Ourselves, to Provide for Others, and Create for the Larger World.

Jené, please share with me your favorite example of how you Lead, Provide, and Create™ in your professional and/or personal world!

Jené Luciani, Author: I’m always CREATING! I get an idea in my head, and I just can’t shake it! That fact helps me to lead. For example, I started as a well-known style expert on TV and a fashion journalist when I got the idea to write a book all about how to find the right-fitting bra. I wanted to help women who so desperately needed this information. I didn’t let go of the idea until I saw this idea come to life! This led me to creating my own personal brand as, “The Bra Expert!” I became the brand ambassador for SOMA and launched their business on QVC. I hope to one day have my own bra collection!

I PROVIDE a service for women (and I get emails and questions on the daily, which I love!!) and it helps me to provide for my very large family as well (we are a blended family with 4 kids under age 10)!

I LEAD by taking risks. I’ve embarked on topics and ideas that no one else had ventured into, which can be scary! It’s also truly amazing when it works out. You have to have faith!

 

Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO^®: Faith is necessary for success – so true! Being the CEO of your world can take many forms (for example, volunteering in your community, holding a formal corporate position, engaging in creative pursuits, or being a reliable mom/sister/daughter. 

In your opinion, what is the best way to achieve success and to become the boss of your world?

Jené Luciani, Author: Thank you for that question! For me, it is a 3-part equation:

Being successful, driven, and motivated in business is one thing. That’s always come naturally for me. I think that has been the case because in my childhood, we didn’t have a whole lot.

Being successful in business is just one facet. I put my family first, and that takes dedication and juggling.

The third part of the equation is community and service. I always try to think of ways I can be of service. I use my “voice” (literally) as an MC for 2 or 3 charity events a year, and I also try to get creative with ways to help. I have a friend who was the director of a local Salvation Army. She and I came up with an idea to give bra fittings to women in need. The guiding thought was, “if some of these women can’t put food on the table, they certainly aren’t going to be investing in something like a bra fitting for themselves.” From there, I influenced a bra company to donate bras to the program. We helped 60 women in need at two different locations.

 

Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO^®:  Any additional advice you can share with motivated, aspirational professionals?

Jené Luciani, Author: Go with your gut and heart. If it’s your ego, mind or wallet telling you to do it, it’s not going to work. If it’s your gut and your heart, you can’t lose. And stay with it! No matter what ANYONE says. And figure out ways to separate yourself from the pack!

 

Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO^®: Jené, your energy and generosity are so admirable, and thank you for sharing your story of personal and professional success!

Learn more about Jené’s work here:

Instagram: @jeneontv and @thebraexpert

Facebook: Jene Luciani (personal), Jene Luciani (fan page), and The Bra Expert

Twitter: @JeneLuciani

Website: www.JeneLuciani.com

 

Looking for even more #CEO inspiration?  Check out my other #CEO interviews and be sure you’re subscribed below!

xx Kathryn