In Conversation with Allison Sepe
Tell us about your background:
I started my glamorous career in fashion operations as a warehouse employee at a 3PL, which I always say was my most challenging and foundational job. Since then I've held a variety of roles, most recently senior leadership positions as Chief Operating Officer at Nili Lotan, Bode, and WARDROBE.NYC. I've always partnered closely with founders and creative leaders to build efficient, scalable organizations while preserving brand integrity. Building on this experience, I've recently begun developing a practice as a fractional COO, advising fashion and consumer brands on operational strategy, financial discipline, team structure, and sustainable growth.
Best career advice you've ever received?
When I was leaving Loro Piana to take on a Director role at a startup brand (Mansur Gavriel), I told the CEO at the time, Pier Guerci, that it would probably be the last time in my career that I took that big of a risk. He looked at me and said "Absolutely not. Next time you will take an even bigger risk, and an even bigger risk after that." That was 10 years ago and I think about it any time I'm considering a career move and wondering if I should
What leadership qualities are important to you?
Empathy, clarity, and accountability. You need to really care about your team and their needs, you need to be clear in the company's vision and goals, and you need to create a culture of accountability so that everyone is held to the same standards.
How do you define success in your career, and how has that definition evolved over time?
Being able to have an impact on my team and their development is the bar that I hold myself to. During the course of my career I have achieved many different "on paper" milestones for the companies that I've worked for, hitting revenue targets, scaling systems, opening new points of distribution, etc., but nothing is as fulfilling as seeing someone on your team succeed in something they set out to do and knowing that you helped them get there.
How has networking contributed to your professional growth and success?
Meeting new people, hearing their stories and what they're excited about working on helps expand your own worldview and what's possible.
What are your top networking tips for building strong connections in your industry?
Networking should not feel transactional, you should be approaching the relationship with a desire to really learn from the other person. When someone asks "how can I help?" be prepared with a clear answer on what that looks like for you.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsepe/
Website: https://blackdialconsulting.com
Instagram: @ataylorsepe
