Ep 115: The Most Powerful Woman in the Room | Lydia Fenet (former Christie's Managing Director & Global Head of Strategic Partnerships and Most Powerful Woman in the Room

Lydia Fenet is the most powerful woman in the room.


She has sold over $1 billion dollars for nonprofits globally
alongside Elton John, Jason Bourne (aka Matt Bourne), Bruce
Springsteen & every other big-name superstar you can think
of.


In 2018, she became Christie's Global Managing Director of
Strategic Partnerships and has also:


Been named one of New York’s most influential women by Gotham
magazine;

Appeared in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair and Town
& Country;

Published 2 books (her first book was optioned by Netflix in
Feb 2022!); and

Runs the Claim Your Confidence podcast featuring Glenn Close,
Candace Nelson, Stephanie Horton, and Courtney Dauwalter.






All while leading multiple benefit auctions for the biggest names
in the industry. Including Elton John's 2023 AIDS Foundation
Oscar Party!


Lydia is now living the life she has always wanted.


But it wasn't.


When young, she wanted to be a lawyer just like her father.
Unlike she came across a Vanity Fair article & discovered the
exclusive world of Christie's.


She convinced the Matriarch of Christie's to let her join
Christie's internship program.


But for the first 10 years, was told (and believed!) to not talk
about money. And that "she was lucky to work there".


If you want to learn how Lydia later managed to triple her salary
+ gain a global title + lead a new department at Christie's,
you'll have to listen to the episode!


Highlights:


2:47 Why Lydia is a "life in motion"

3:32 Network or die

5:30 Learning about Christie's

7:13 Not Sotheby's?

8:01 Convincing the Matriarch of Christie's, Mary Libby, to
let her join the internship program

12:51 How Lauren Short influenced her

14:33 How Lydia became Christie's benefit auctioneer

16:27 Why Lydia did 500 mediocre auctions but never wanted to
quit

18:20 The breakthrough

22:31 Leading the auction at Elton John's 2023 AIDS
Foundation Oscar Party

25:58 Where Lydia gets her energy from

30:01 When Lehman Brothers collapsed but Lydia managed to
save her colleague

34:49 Ask for what you're worth, because you're just a number
on a P&L

41:44 How being a published author has opened doors






Show notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/115 


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