One on One With Kathleen Cavicchia, President of the Betsey Johnson brand

Kathleen Cavicchia currently serves as the President of the Betsey Johnson brand at Steve Madden. She sat down with Two Ten to discuss her journey in the industry, her role at Betsey Johnson, the power of mentorship, and the lessons that shaped her career along the way.   

Q: What drew you to Betsey Johnson?  

A: Betsey was one of the first female founders to start her own label with her own money and with no outside funding. Her journey is very inspiring and motivating. I also feel very fortunate to be surrounded by amazing female executives at Steve Madden. They are extremely supportive in all aspects, and I am continuing to learn so much from some outstanding industry veterans. 

Q: What advice do you have for women starting out in the industry: 

A: I am part of the mentorship program for Steve Madden so I take mentorship seriously. My advice is to always treat everyone equally. From the janitor, interns up to the CEO, show equal respect to all. Lift as you climb and don’t forget the people who helped you along the way or were great team members. Take them on your journey. A new opportunity for you can mean a great opportunity for them and you want good people in your corner.   

Also, remain humble. You can be the VP one day and laid off the next. Don’t get comfortable. Learn from every department that supports your business.  Knowledge is power and will only make you better at your job.  

Finally, people are going to do you wrong. Don’t dwell on it and move on. The universe always takes care of them. 

Q: What resources have been helpful in honing your leadership skills? 

A: I completed a Women's Executive Leadership course last summer at the Yale School of Management that I 100% recommend. They offer quite a few courses, but the Women's Executive Leadership course was life-changing for me. It was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had. It was very hard and required a lot of work during my free time and weekends, but I would do it again. It was 100% worth it. 

Q: What advice do you wish you received earlier in your career? 

A: Believe in yourself. I feel like as women, we second guess ourselves a lot. I would tell anyone to have confidence and believe in yourself. Trust your gut and never give up. And don't be afraid to fail. I failed many times. Failure has always led me to a better opportunity. There's nothing wrong with failure. Embrace it.