President of Brand, CHILDRENS PLACE INC
Claudia Lima-Guinehut on Effective Leadership | Empower Hour with Roni Hirshberg
In our latest interview, chief merchant officer Claudia Lima-Guinehut joins us to share her experience in leading a major ...
About Claudia Lima-guinehut
Claudia Lima-Guinehut, President of Brand at Children's Place, appeared on the podcast "Empower Hour with Roni Hirshberg" on October 17, 2024. During the interview, she discussed her leadership philosophy and career in fashion retail, which she said spans nearly 25 years. Lima-Guinehut stated that she leads design, sourcing, merchandising, merchandise planning, visual merchandising, and technology organizational transformation. She described empathy as a strength in leadership, saying that "empathetic leaders tend to create more buyin within organizations" and that "kindness and empathy can be seen as weaknesses but they're actually very powerful strengths." She also spoke about the role of fashion in conveying confidence, noting that "perception is something that you can absolutely control with your fashion choices."
Transcript (62 segments)
R
Ron0:02
Hi everyone, I'm so excited to be sitting down with Claudia Lima to talk about her amazing career in fashion and in leadership roles. Claudia, hi, so nice to be here.
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Claudia Lima-guinehut0:14
Ron, excited to be talking to you today. Thank you.
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Ron0:16
Tell us a little bit about what you do currently.
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Claudia Lima-guinehut0:19
I'm a Chief Merchant Officer at a major accessories and jewelry company. I've been in retail my whole career and in fashion nearly 25 years now. It's incredible that I'm actually saying that number out loud. I love what I do. I basically lead design, sourcing, merchandising, and merchandise planning functions, along with visual merchandising and technology organizational transformation, and everything that happens within a large organization that's consumer facing. So it's super exciting, it's very dynamic. Agility is super important. Being a woman brings its challenges but also its benefits in someone in my role.
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Ron1:12
What kind of benefit?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut1:14
I think that women are underestimated for the power of empathy, and empathetic leaders tend to create more buy-in within organizations. I like to say that before you can have accountability and empowerment, you need trust, and that trust is much more easily earned from a leader who has clarity, has a vision, but is also empathetic.
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Ron1:39
I love that. I totally agree, actually. How do you feel your fashion choices and what you wear to work plays a role in your day?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut1:47
It has a lot to do with how I'm feeling and what I'm doing that day, and who I'm seeing, and how I want to show up not only for myself but to the world. If I'm having a very casual meeting in an intimate setting, I will probably be more casual. If it's a very high-stakes meeting with other senior leaders across the industry, I will put my power clothes on.
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Ron2:15
What is power clothes to you?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut2:17
Power clothes to me is anything that really makes me feel confident. Whatever that might mean, one day it may be a dress, another day it may be a pantsuit, the next day it might be leather pants. It depends on the day, the timing, what's going on in fashion, the season, the location, the country, the city, the culture. All of those things come into play. For someone like me who travels a lot for work and has many international partners, culture also plays a big part. So being mindful of the culture you're in and the social norms. But fashion is the first outfit that allows me to hourly express my confidence. It's like judging a book by its cover, but in a positive way. Being in fashion and in these roles for such a long time, there's something to be said about doing the role, acting the role, looking the part before the part is even yours.
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Ron3:25
Absolutely. And that's very important because at the end of the day, we do live in a society where perception matters, and perception is something you can absolutely control with your fashion choices and how you want to be your most authentic self, whatever that is. Being comfortable with what you're wearing and conveying a message.
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Claudia Lima-guinehut3:53
Exactly.
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Ron3:55
What are your fashion go-to pieces?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut3:57
Always dresses. I am a dress person. It is easy to pack, I only have to think about one item, one-stop shop. Dresses just work in so many different environments. To me, it's the ease of it, especially for someone like me who travels a lot and packing can be nerve-wracking because I don't check it 90% of the time.
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Ron4:28
I kind of want to know how many suitcases do you take with you?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut4:30
I don't check in and I use one suitcase. Anything under seven days.
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Ron4:36
Meaning you don't give it to be checked under the plane?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut4:38
Yes.
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Ron4:39
Stop. I don't believe you. You take a carry-on?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut4:43
Yes, I take a carry-on.
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Ron4:44
I don't believe you. You need to write a book. I need to see it.
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Claudia Lima-guinehut4:47
It is true. Which is why my fashion team says many times, especially when I'm traveling for work, send her around my packing.
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Ron4:57
Interesting. Yes, yes. I need to know more. Yes, absolutely. So dresses are your go-to. Dresses. I love it. Who would you say is your fashion icon or inspiration?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut5:05
I would say Coco Chanel, very much so. Because she was daring, she was ahead of her time, she wasn't really conforming to the trends, she was creating her own path, and she led with style. I do think there's a difference between trends and style, and having your own style is super important. When I think about my icon, I love icons that have a very natural sense of style that is timeless, although it may change through time.
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Ron5:42
Chanel's style has changed so much.
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Claudia Lima-guinehut5:44
Absolutely, absolutely.
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Ron5:45
Has there been an obstacle in your career that you feel like you had to overcome, something you would share with other young women, kind of giving them some guidance?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut5:55
Empathy. In some boardrooms for a very long time, that was seen as a weakness, especially at C-level and senior leadership at the table. Across that table, most of the times there were mostly men for a really long time, and that was sometimes difficult. However, kindness and empathy can be seen as weaknesses, but they're actually very powerful strengths. Once you understand that and you own that, not only are you able to live in your truth, but you also become a better leader because you lead from a really authentic place.
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Ron6:38
I need to know, what do you like to wear to the boardroom? I know sometimes dresses, but if you had a meeting today, what would you put on?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut6:45
It would start with high heels, a fantastic skirt, and an amazing blazer.
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Ron6:51
What color?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut6:52
Today I'm in a white mood, so today would be white. But I can't lie, I love your fuchsia and pink shade. That dress you have, every time I wear it I get compliments. It's this gorgeous fuchsia color. Every single time, literally I get stopped in the street, and my husband is like, 'Why are you telling me my wife looks gorgeous?'
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Ron7:18
Do you have a positive daily routine?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut7:20
I try to start my day with mindfulness and really find some time for me before I start the day, because after that so much of it is like giving. You're giving to your team, you're giving to the business, you're giving your mental energy, your creative energy is all outwardly facing. So just trying to start the day with that, and then of course walking my dogs every morning, Bella and Buster.
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Ron7:48
Bella and Buster, your two other babies.
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Claudia Lima-guinehut7:52
Yes, and my son. My 16-year-old teenager, who is in England in Cambridge right now doing a fantastic program. But he's 16, so he doesn't want to walk with me every morning. He's done with that. So now it's us and the doggies.
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Ron8:18
This is like a speed round. What's your favorite brunch look?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut8:20
Jeans, cute sandals, and a cute top.
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Ron8:25
What's your favorite restaurant for brunch?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut8:26
Pastis. I knew you were going to say that. It's the ultimate brunch.
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Ron8:33
It really is. What is your favorite look for a girls' night out?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut8:35
I'm super eclectic on girls' night out. Sometimes it's a really sexy dress, other times it can be a really sexy jumpsuit. So I guess sexy is the common denominator.
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Ron8:50
What is your favorite travel look? I think that's very fitting for you since you travel.
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Claudia Lima-guinehut8:53
My favorite travel look is a balance of chic but comfortable. Typically loafers or flat shoes with some great tailored wide pants and an easy blouse.
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Ron9:09
So you're not like a sweats traveler?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut9:11
I am not.
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Ron9:13
You're like a put-together traveler. Yes, I am. Why did I even think you would be a sweats person? You are not. I like it. And then depending on how long the flight is, I ask for pajamas.
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Claudia Lima-guinehut9:23
You ask them for pajamas and they give them to you?
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Ron9:27
Yes, I didn't even know they have pajamas.
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Claudia Lima-guinehut9:29
Yes, they do. And then you put them on in the bathroom so you don't wrinkle your clothes.
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Ron9:40
I ask for pajamas just so you don't wrinkle your clothes. I would just bring a change of pajamas.
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Claudia Lima-guinehut9:45
Well, that works too.
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Ron9:47
What is your favorite cocktail?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut9:49
I love margaritas, but I don't like them on the rocks. So I am now going through a phase where I ask for my margaritas up, which I have to say are delicious.
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Ron9:58
Very strong though, right? If you start moving...
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Claudia Lima-guinehut10:00
Well, no, they're in a martini glass. It's not that bad. But it elevates the cocktail.
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Ron10:10
What is your favorite season of fashion?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut10:12
It has to be fall. It is my favorite season. I'm a big layering person because I'm always cold. Fall's layering opportunities are my most exciting time of the year. I love the different fabrics, the different knits, chunky knits you can wear. And I'm going through a hat moment, so I love my hat, and fall is a perfect time for that as well.
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Ron10:42
What is your spirit fashion piece?
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Claudia Lima-guinehut10:44
An amazing pair of leather pants.
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Ron10:48
Love it. Thank you so much. Cheers.
C
Claudia Lima-guinehut10:50
Cheers. Yay to fashion and women friends.