As the footwear industry undergoes one of the most disruptive eras in history, Eliza French, senior vice president of design and development at Marc Fisher Footwear, is going old-school.
“My approach has been to invest more in personal relationships, in-person meetings and meaningful connections,” said French. “There’s something powerful about learning from people with experience, and I think we’ve started to lose sight of that.”
One such avenue she’s pursuing is Two Ten Footwear Foundation’s Women in the Footwear Industry (WIFI) community. In February, French was named to the WIFI Leadership Council, a diverse group of footwear professionals who help implement programs, foster engagement and drive initiatives to support women’s advancement in the industry.
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Personal connections can be a vital resource while building a career, French explained. “My advice to young women would be to talk to people and put yourself out there. Seek out local networking opportunities and build relationships,” she said.
French also emphasized that mentorship “is more important now than ever” to sift through the abundance of information and options that are available. “Having experienced mentors who can provide thoughtful guidance and perspective is incredibly valuable,” she explained.
In her own career, French said she’s had to navigate through challenging periods, in particular the transition to being a working mom and learning to find balance between her home and office life. “In design, there are always new ideas to research, trends to explore and concepts to develop — it can feel like you’re never able to fully turn off,” she said. “What I realized is that you can’t be everything to everyone every day. Instead, I shifted my focus to what I can do: bring my drive, passion and experience each day, while also prioritizing meaningful relationships and thoughtful collaboration.”
She’s also evolved her definition of what it means to be successful. “Over time, I learned that respect is earned through your actions, not your title or salary,” she said. “Today, I define success as happiness — having a career in something you truly love. Being able to do work that brings you fulfillment and joy is success.”
A version of this article appeared in the June 1 print issue of FN, as part of the “Women Who Rock” special section. On June 3, FN and Two Ten Footwear Foundation will honor these women at the annual live event in New York City.
