Adriana Carrig, founder and CEO of Little Words Project, a jewelry company founded on kindness, believes in kind candor at work.
“Oftentimes, kindness is misinterpreted as niceness. There’s a difference,” says Carrig. As a female leader, she stresses that you don’t have to give up your natural instincts when in a position of power.
“You can be kind and not be walked all over,” Carrig notes. “You can be kind and honest without feeling like you’re going to hurt someone’s feelings. That kindness, that truth-telling is actually going to help take your message so much further.”
Carrig also shares that the team at Little Words Project practices internally what they preach externally. The company brings its brand values of kind candor, community and self-love to life for its employees through nontraditional tactics, including employing a licensed therapist on staff. The company also chooses business partners based on its “kindness credo” and won’t work with an organization that doesn’t align with its values.
Carrig spoke during an inspiring series of concise TED Talks-style presentations on authentic leadership at the 2024 Women in Retail On the Road: New York City event, held Oct. 28. In just 15 minutes, she delved into the core principles and practices that define her authentic leadership approach. Carrig offered attendees valuable insights, practical tips, and real-world examples that would empower them to lead with integrity, empathy and purpose. Women in Retail Leadership Circle members can view her full presentation here.