Adrianne Kirszner is the CEO of Tanya Taylor, a New York-based womenswear brand whose mission is to create clothing that inspires confidence, celebration and community. She’s also a Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) member! In this member spotlight, we asked Adrianne a series of questions about both her professional role and personal life, including the woman that inspires her, her leadership style, her advice for the next generation of female leaders, and much more.

Women in Retail Leadership Circle: What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
Adrianne Kirszner: “A Guardian and a Thief” by Megha Majumdar. I read it over a month ago and am still thinking about it.

WIRLC: What’s a tip you have for productively leading a team?
AK: Take the time to get to know the members of your team personally. Having a personal connection and understanding each individual for who they are will help you optimize the team as whole.

WIRLC: What’s a mistake you made early in your career?
AK: When I was a very new planner at VSB, I was on a call with the CFO and I confused retail for cost. She kindly asked me if I was sure and did I want to check again? I instantly saw the error and I gave her the right number. It was mortifying at the time! But I will always remember how patient she was with me and how she let me find the mistake so I could learn. I never made that mistake again and I have tried to follow that teaching example as a leader throughout my career.

WIRLC: What’s the toughest part of being in charge?
AK: Having to make and share a decision that’s best for the business but that won’t be popular with the team.

WIRLC: What’s the best way you motivate team members?
AK: Overcommunicating on everything that’s happening. Celebrating wins no matter how small. Handwritten cards to acknowledge great work or a personal/work event.

WIRLC: What woman inspires you and why?
AK: Dolly Parton. She was always an inspiring performer and humanitarian. I’ve learned so much more about her since she died. How she did good without needing to take credit and how many lives she touched. She believed in kindness and education. Coming from poverty herself, she understood how hard life is for so many and she sought to do her part to change it.

WIRLC: What are you looking forward to the most for the industry over the next year?
AK: How our industry that is anchored in product, creativity and human connection finds the balance with artificial intelligence.

WIRLC: What’s one thing you look for when interviewing a job candidate?
AK: I look for candidates that have done their homework about the brand and the business. I pay vey close attention to the quality of the questions they ask me.

WIRLC: What’s the favorite role that you’ve held during your career? Why?
AK: I’m loving the role I have right now! It’s amazing to take the experience I’ve had at bigger companies and bring it to a fast-growing brand and business where I can make quick decisions and creativity is celebrated. The team I work with is smart and innovative, which inspires me to the best leader I can be.

WIRLC: What’s your favorite podcast?
AK: I’m not really a podcast person.

WIRLC: What values are most important to you as a leader?
AK: Integrity, authenticity, intellectual curiosity, empathy

WIRLC: What’s the most important thing people should know about you?
AK: I started my career in publishing and realized after three years that I didn’t feel inspired. I always loved beauty and fashion as a customer but didn’t think to pursue a career in the industry after college. Three years after graduating and having had a job, I started over in fashion as an executive assistant and worked my way up. I had to prove myself over and over again but I never gave up.

WIRLC: What practices or boundaries have you implemented in your personal life to create more work/life balance?
AK: I put my phone down during quality time with my family and friends. I try not to check my phone right before I go to sleep. I’m working on not overbooking myself so I can feel present at all times.

WIRLC: How would you describe yourself in a single sentence?
AK: Being a people leader who truly cares about the teams I work with has enabled me to be an operator who knows how to deliver top line growth and bottom line profitability.

WIRLC: What’s your favorite app?
AK: NYT Games

WIRLC: What do you do to recharge?
AK: Read, work out, organize my closet, have at least one week night at home.

WIRLC: What is your biggest accomplishment?
AK: Raising two amazing daughters is first and foremost. Second would be getting my MBA part-time at NYU while working and being pregnant … then a new mom!

WIRLC: What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
AK: Nothing beats hard work and there’s no task that’s too small for any of us. Having a positive attitude, a collaborative spirit and empathy will always stand out and make you the leader people want to work with and for!

WIRLC: What gets you up in the morning?
AK: I’m an early riser by nature. I love my solo time to drink coffee, catch up on news, and work out. I also love seeing how yesterday’s DTC business finally actualized!

WIRLC: What do you like most about being a member of Women in Retail Leadership Circle?
AK: It’s inspiring to be part of a  community of like-minded leaders who are at the top of their game. I always learn something new from every conversation I have.