Women Who Win “Samantha Gold”

In honor of International Women’s Day, we are excited to kick off our new campaign “Women Who Win.” All year long we will be highlighting women in business whom we deeply admire. As a female-founded and operated company, we take pride in fostering sisterhood. Together, we aim to share inspiring stories of women fiercely pursuing their dreams.

Today we invite you to sit down with our very own CEO, Samantha Gold. Sam is the definition of #careergoals. Having started her career in Sydney, Australia where she lived for 6 years, Sam worked her way up at the world’s most innovative tech companies and was consistently recognized as a top performer.

Fast forward to today, Sam runs Elizabeth James where she combines her love for fashion, leadership and empowering other women. She moved to Charleston two years ago with her husband, Alex, precocious daughter Blair (2) and adorable son Wes (7 months). To say that she has her hands full running a business full time and taking care of two little ones is an understatement. We are in awe of how she so gracefully manages her roles as CEO and Mom. We sat down with Sam at her home to chat about how she balances her fashion world career with her life at home, the future of Elizabeth James, and what it took to make a bold career change.

Q & A with Sam

What work/life balance tips do you have for moms who are also pursuing a professional career?

It is so important to prioritize self-care, female friendships and 1:1 time with my husband. I go to yoga three times a week, have regularly scheduled coffee with girlfriends, and date nights with my husband.

None of this would be possible without having a true partner in my husband in caring for our children and the privilege of having wonderful childcare.

What is next for Elizabeth James the Label?

The brand is elevating! We have hired a dream team from different backgrounds and verticals to take the label to the next level. It’s so exciting to be at the helm of such buzzing energy everyday in the design studio and office. We just rolled out a rebrand including a refreshed website. Moving forward, expect to see higher quality textiles with new, fresh silhouettes.

What other goals do you have for yourself this year?

I am challenging myself to create new relationships with other local, female CEOs and to get involved within the startup community. It’s not always easy to put myself out there, but when I do, I’m always glad I did.

Any advice you have for women considering a move to a new industry?

It’s tricky to leave a career that, at least outwardly, people see as quite successful. Inwardly, my previous position no longer excited me. I felt stagnant, however, it paid well and gave me the flexibility to be a mom. I took a leap of faith and put my hat in the ring to be considered as CEO of Elizabeth James because I knew the wisdom, skills and experience I had built up would see me forward in this new role despite not having a professional background in fashion. Our founder, Elizabeth, saw that the results driven, time management and coaching skills I had nurtured over a decade-long career in sales and leadership were all transferable. Coming from an outside industry, I’ve brought a fresh perspective. What I realized was that I could have it all - passion, a great comp plan and flexibility - I just had to have the willingness to put myself out there.

For anyone considering a career change - recognize your experience as cumulative; and that includes confidence and success. Take a risk and be true to yourself and your interests. It’s not about accomplishing exactly what you set out to do; it’s about taking action and being open to different outcomes.