Fairygodboss Of The Week Michelle Baden Foss

Fairygodboss Of The Week Michelle Baden Foss Meet Michelle Baden Foss, SVP, Merchandising and Product Development at Williams Sonoma. In addition to killing it at work wzu siche she gets to create, test, and choose products that makes peoples lives easier in the kitchen shes a proud mama to twin boys, and shes devoted to ending child hunger. In fact, next weekend shell be participating in a 300-mile bike ride over 3 days with chefs from all over the country to raise money for school breakfast programs (and shed love for you to ). Shes shared with us her 1 career tip, which reflects her enthusiasm both in and out of the workplace.Fairygodboss of the Week Michelle Baden FossSVP, Merchandising and Product Development - Williams SonomaSan Francisco, CAFGB Tell us a little about your career. How did you get to where you are now?MBF My career evolved pretty organically. I was working at a consulting firm in New York and in 1999 I got caught up in the dot com rush and joined a startup cal led kozmo.com. When kozmo went out of business 2 years later, I was running the San Francisco operation and decided I wanted to learn about how an established retailer worked. I joined Williams Sonoma as a Distribution Planner, then moved over to be a Planner and eventually switched over to the Buying side of the business. I left WS in 2005, tried out a fashion retailer, started a few of my own businesses (including an eco-friendly dry cleaner that we ended up selling on Craiglist), and stayed at home with our children for a few years, but I knew my heart was in merchandising at Williams Sonoma, so in 2009 I returned. I took a few steps back in title in order to get my foot back in the door, but I was able to work my way up the organization again. FGB What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?MBF Besides breastfeeding twins for ten months? Actually, its something Im about to do in a few weeks. For the past several years, Williams Sonoma and I have supported a non-profit called No Kid Hungry. One in six American children dont have the nutrition they need to get through the day this organization works to end childhood hunger. This year, in the face of proposed budget cuts and changing priorities in our country, I decided to double down on my efforts for No Kid Hungry. I recently taught one of their six-week Cooking Matters classes that shows families how to make healthy choices and cook interesting meals on a tight budget. Next weekend will be participating in a 300-mile bike ride over 3 days with chefs from all over the country to raise money for school breakfast programs. This is especially meaningful for me because my children attend public school in San Francisco and I know that every day they have an advantage over some of their classmates who dont have the resources available to them to have a healthy breakfast. FGB What is a challenge youve faced and overcome? MBF The first time I travelled to China for work, I went by myself. It was a real challeng e to get around, cross the border, negotiate with the manufacturers and generally do business in a different language and culture.FGB Who is YOUR Fairygodboss? Why?MBF Ive been lucky enough to have a lot of great female official and unofficial mentors in my career in fact, Williams Sonoma has over 50% women in leadership positions. But without a doubt, my Fairygodboss is my Mom. She raised 3 children while working full time and being very involved in local politics. She was the first female Selectman in our town in Massachusetts. She is fierce and fearless and showed me by example that there are no limits when you want something and work hard to achieve it.FGB What do you do when youre not working?MBF I love to hang out with my husband and twin 9-year-old boys. And I take a lot of SoulCycle classes.Lightning RoundFGB If you could have dinner with one famous person - dead or alive - who would it be?MBF Definitely Anne Frank. She was 13 years old when she wrote her diary. Can you ima gine what that mind could have accomplished?FGB What is your karaoke song?MBF Ice, Ice, Baby.FGB What is your favorite movie?MBF Three-way tie Love Actually, Fast and the Furious, and Bring It On.FGB What book would you bring with you on a desert island?MBF Harry Potter - can I bring the whole series?FGB What is your shopping vice? What would you buy if you won the lottery?MBF I love Christian Louboutin shoes I would donate a lot of money to No Kid Hungry, but then I would buy any of the homes featured in Big Little Lies.FGB What is the 1 career tip youd like to share with other women who want to have successful careers like you? MBF The best piece of advice I can give is to do something youre passionate about. It makes it worth it to wake up every day when you love where you work and youre proud of what you do.FGB Why do you love where you work?MBF I love to shop and I love to entertain, so working for Williams Sonoma is a natural fit. Everyone has to eat, and I get to create and t est and choose products that makes peoples lives easier in the kitchen. Avocado toast is trending? I work with my team, my manufacturers and we bring a suite of avocado tools to life so you can have the best looking toast on Insta. Its dorky, but I get excited about innovation in garlic presses or cookware or cocktail tools. Its really fun to believe in a product, bring it to market and watch it sell.Fairygodboss is all about women helping other women. So each week, we celebrate a woman who makes a difference in other womens careers. Is there a woman who has made a difference in your career? Celebrate and thank her by nominating her here.