Claire Steichen - Founder, Clear Strategy Coaching

Alexis Carey is a social media and influencer marketing specialist with over 4 years of experience in the beauty, food and beverage, and lifestyle industries. As a Campaign Manager at Foodie Tribe, she drives brand growth through influencer partnerships and strategic campaigns. Outside of work, she creates fashion, fitness, and travel content on her blog, @fashiontoflow.Since this interview, Alexis has stepped into a new role as a Campaign Manager for an agency. In this episode, Emily Mi Landri talks with Alexis about breaking into the social media world, building experience across the fitness, wellness, and beauty industries, and balancing creativity with business strategy. Alexis also shares actionable tips on content creation, influencer marketing, and tapping into trends to drive success.

Claire Steichen founded Clear Strategy Coaching in 2008 to help ambitious mid-career professionals reach their goals, authentically and without burn-out. Claire is the author of “Confidence at Work: The High Achiever’s Guide to Navigating Uncertainty”. Using her I to the 4th Power methodology, Claire has trained hundreds of mid-level and senior professionals to build career on their terms. Before becoming a coach, Claire spent two decades in Beauty at L’Oreal, Parfums Christian Dior, and Givaudan.  Since founding Clear Strategy Coaching, her corporate clients have included L’Oreal, Visa, American Express, ESPN, Firmenich, International Flavors & Fragrances, and Omnicom. Claire received her certification through Coach Training Institute and is a Certified Professional Coach with the International Coach Federation.On this episode of the CoLab podcast, Madelyn Ulrich sits down with Claire Steichen, founder of Clear Strategy Coaching, to talk about bouncing back from career setbacks, trusting your intuition, and celebrating small wins. From L’Oréal to launching her own practice, Claire shares the real story behind building confidence and resilience in leadership.

Madelyn is the founder of Madelyn Ulrich Health & Wellness Coaching, a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), and a MindBodyGreen Certified Health Coach who helps high-achieving women in leadership manage stress and prevent burnout. With over 17 years as a Design Director in the women’s apparel industry, she knows what it’s like to juggle creativity, pressure, and constant deadlines. Now, alongside her design career, she blends her lived experience with a holistic approach to wellness—supporting ambitious women in reclaiming their energy, setting boundaries, and thriving in both work and life. Her mission is to help others succeed without sacrificing themselves in the process.In this episode, Claire Steichen chats with Madelyn, a fashion design director turned health coach, about the cost of burnout, setting boundaries, and finding balance as a high-achieving woman. From Arkansas to NYC, Madelyn shares her journey and the wellness strategies every ambitious leader needs to hear.

Fariba Jalili is a COO/Global Operations Executive with over 20 years of experience in leadership and operations. Fariba has held positions with industry leaders such as Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Diane von Furstenberg, and Barneys New York. Her leadership philosophy focuses on empowering teams to excel, cultivating a positive work environment, and maintaining open lines of communication to inspire peak performance. In this episode, Andreas Skorski interviews Fariba, a veteran retail executive, about her journey from FIT and NYU Stern to leadership roles. She shares key career moments and leadership insights.

Andreas Skorski is the founder and CEO of  <Genesys> AI™, an AI company building artificial intelligence to connect the world of commerce.  connects every aspect of the retail value chain through AI, from catalogue production to marketing, pricing, shipping, and more.In this episode, Fariba Jalili chats with Andreas about his entrepreneurial journey, from growing up in Germany to launching his first business at a young age. He shares how AI streamlines retail processes and reflects on his nonlinear career, overcoming challenges, and lifelong curiosity.

Kate Carroll is a stylist and retail expert with a background in fashion and apparel design. She thrives on building meaningful relationships, managing projects, and creating seamless experiences. With a keen eye for detail and a data-driven approach, she brings efficiency and impact to every role. Outside of work, she enjoys shopping, reading, Pilates, and indulging in martinis and oysters—always with a great outfit for the occasion.In this episode, Kate speaks with Fatima Ahmed about her career journey in retail. Kate shares her upbringing in Seattle, her education in apparel design, and various roles she held in fashion, including pattern making, buying, and styling. She shares insights into her experiences at Universal Standard, her personal growth, and the importance of advocating for oneself.

With over 15 years of experience, Fatima Ahmed has developed a career with a strong passion for inclusivity in fashion. Most recently, with Universal Standard, she was part of the team that brought the brand to its current 00-40 size offering. Fatima is currently a consultant with The øther, a brand exploring the dynamic relationship of cultural identity and personal style through clothing and storytelling.In this episode, Fatima chats with Kate Carroll about her history of sewing clothing in childhood to studying art and transitioning into fashion. She shares her experiences at various companies, including her own brand, and her work in menswear, technical design, and plus-size fashion. Notable achievements include her impact at Universal Standard and ongoing projects with brands like The Other, showcasing her passion and evolution in the industry.

Carole Jean Whittington is the Chief Well-Being Officer at Whittington Well-Being and a leading expert in autistic burnout for women. With 40+ years of lived experience as an autistic woman navigating chronic stress and burnout, she guides autistic women and their supporters to design joyful, burnout-free lives.In this episode, Karmin Huban chats with Carol Jean about her journey from real estate appraising to discovering her and her son’s autism. After multiple burnouts, she founded Whittington Well Being to help autistic women avoid burnout with her ‘Unveiling Method.’

Kamrin Huban transitioned from 22 years in global fashion operations with adidas, Coach, and Brahmin to launch her leadership coaching business five years ago. Kamrin specializes in guiding seasoned corporate women through transformative change, enhancing leadership impact, and gaining clarity on future goals and life direction.In this episode, Carole Jean Whittington chats with Kamrin about her journey from major retail brands to becoming a leadership coach for seasoned corporate women. Kamrin shares her experience with ADHD, toxic workplaces, and other challenges by leveraging her curiosity and leadership expertise, ultimately discovering her calling to help women gain clarity and navigate transformative career changes.

Jennifer Cook has spent well over a decade in the fashion industry, working across wholesale, retail, and merchandising functions at companies such as Zac Posen, Suno, and Westerlind. While most of her career has been spent launching international brands in the North American market, she has recently pivoted into buying with a role at ONS Clothing. On the side she writes Mom Friend, a lifestyle publication focused on the intersection of motherhood, fashion, style, and life in Brooklyn. In this episode, Sarah Shapiro chats with Jennifer Cook about her journey from working at Abercrombie as a teen to becoming a SoHo boutique buyer. Jennifer shares insights on her transition from PR to wholesale, her experiences in the fashion industry, and the creation of her Substack newsletter, Mom Friend, as a creative outlet and community space.