Paying It Forward: How Betsey Johnson President Kathleen Cavicchia Came Full Circle with Two Ten

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 and the recent full-circle moment she experienced with the foundation. 

This past June, Kathleen Cavicchia proudly attended Two Ten’s annual gala, not just as an industry leader but as someone with direct experience of having been on the receiving end of the organization’s support in the past. 

When the pandemic hit, Cavicchia’s job growing the U.S. wholesale division of Schutz, a Brazilian shoe brand, was eliminated amid a broader strategy pivot. Suddenly unemployed, Cavicchia had to navigate the financial toll of losing her job along with the broader uncertainty of a global pandemic.  

"It was scary,” Cavicchia said. “It was a pandemic. I didn’t have any real benefits or severance.” Then she heard about Two Ten and applied for — and received — a relief grant to help her stay afloat during a period of unemployment.  

As Cavicchia got back on her feet, she started her own business consulting with various shoe brands on their wholesale strategies. And in 2024, she joined Steve Madden full-time as the president of the Betsey Johnson brand.   

Throughout her post-layoff success, Cavicchia never forgot about the help she received from Two Ten in her time of need. This past June, Cavicchia proudly came full circle — returning to support Two Ten and the footwear community at the 2025 gala. 

“My experience with Two Ten really stayed with me,” she said. “I do a lot of volunteer work on the side and believe it's important for me to give back and be in service of others, as a human being and as a leader.” 

Her commitment to giving back aligns with other core values that have shaped her leadership style: kindness, empathy, and compassion. 

“Sometimes, women get associated with being caring, compassionate and understanding emotion — and that's seen as a weakness,” Cavicchia said. “But leaders with these qualities usually have better results and have stronger teams that work together better.” 

Last summer, Cavicchia completed a women's executive leadership course at the Yale School of Management, a program she highly recommends for those looking to sharpen their leadership skills. As a woman in a leadership role in largely male-dominated industry, Cavicchia also tries to be a mentor to others, especially to those in the earlier stages of their careers. 

“I’m always looking to impart knowledge so that someone on my team can continue to grow,” Cavicchia said. “My biggest reward is people taking a step forward because it means I did my job.” 

Outside of work, Cavicchia balances family time, volunteer commitments, a weightlifting routine and a beekeeping hobby. But she knows that striking a perfect work-life balance isn’t always realistic.  

“It’s very important as high-functioning women who are naturally hard on ourselves to give ourselves grace,” she said. “We are human. We do the best we can and we have to stop beating ourselves up if something slips.” 

Sometimes, work and personal overlap in unexpected ways. Her time as a beekeeper has been a surprising source of leadership education. 

"The most efficient organization on the planet is a honeybee hive,” Cavicchia said. “And it's all women. They all work together, they never fight with each other and they do everything they can for the good of the hive, or the organization.” 

Cavicchia sat down with us to reflect further — on her role at Betsey Johnson, the power of mentorship, and the lessons that shaped her journey along the way. Click here to read more.