“You have to believe you are capable. That is resilience,” says Melissa Rivers, best-selling author, producer, and entertainment journalist.
Rivers took the stage at the 2025 Women in Retail On the Road: Los Angeles event last fall with Kristen Stevens, vice president, omnichannel programming and pricing, QVC/HSN. In this clip from the session, the pair discuss resilience and reinvention, the necessity of believing in one’s own capabilities, adapting to new challenges, and leveraging past experiences. Rivers believes every life experience, regardless of success or failure, teaches valuable lessons for future endeavors. Reinvention isn’t about discarding past efforts, but refining them, Rivers told the audience.
“Reinvention is, ‘OK, that didn’t work, but this little shred of it did,'” said Rivers, noting the importance of leaning into those small wins. “Never [be] afraid to try something new and take all your experience … the highs and the lows and apply it to the next idea.”
Stevens and Rivers also touched on the unique challenges women face in achieving work-life balance, sharing practical tips for protecting personal time and maintaining strong boundaries. For example, Stevens noted the importance for women to confidently block time on their calendar to protect work/life balance.
Women in Retail Leadership Circle members can view the full conversation with Melissa Rivers here and session recordings from all previous On the Road events here.