(FAIL) UP

Zan Goodman Came to Trust Herself

Zan Goodman [https://www.instagram.com/zan.inc.studio/?hl=en] has built a celebrated career as a design director in New York City, from Teen Vogue, Nylon, and CR Fashion Book to creative agencies like Chandelier, Mythology, and Yard, to her current role as the founder and design director of her own studio, Zan Inc. Her work has shaped the visual language of many of today’s most influential fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands and has earned recognition from Vogue, NPR, and The New York Times. Along the way she has had to find her own equilibrium, learning where to compromise and where to hold the line. In this conversation, Zan reflects on the realities of creative leadership, what it means to be a creative translator, the cost of chasing bigger work, and how burnout forced her to rebuild on her own terms. She shares how trusting herself and her taste became the foundation for a more balanced, collaborative, and fulfilling creative life. In this episode: * Growing up in downtown New York in a family of creatives and how that shaped her creative career and commercial sensibility * Why she sees her role as a creative translator rather than a visionary dreamer and why the industry needs both * What she learned from working under Anna Wintour at Teen Vogue and Carine Roitfeld at CR Fashion Book and how those experiences taught her the importance of conviction and taste * The power of trusting her instincts and why standing by her opinion sometimes means pushing back or walking away * The burnout that pushed her to start her own studio and the realization that chasing bigger clients does not always lead to better work * How becoming her own boss taught her to protect her time, energy, and boundaries and the confidence that comes with saying no * Why she now defines success through collaboration and pleasure and how she learned to let go of perfectionism and take pride in the process itself * The role of failure in creative work and why real creativity depends on experimentation, constraint, and the courage to let things go An honest conversation about honing your craft, navigating burnout, and the quiet confidence it takes to hold your own in an industry built on reinvention. --------------- Stay Connected with Alanna (Host) & Zan (Guest) * MELIOR FUTURI Instagram: @meliorfuturi [https://www.instagram.com/meliorfuturi/?hl=en] * Alanna Lynch Linkedin: alannalynch [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alannalynch/] * (FAIL)UP Instagram : @failupbymeliorfuturi [https://www.instagram.com/failupbymeliorfuturi/?hl=en] * Zan Goodman Instagram: @zangoodman [https://www.instagram.com/zangoodman/?hl=en] * Zan Inc Instagram: @zan.inc.studio [https://www.instagram.com/zan.inc.studio/?hl=en] * Zan Goodman Linkedin: Zan Goodman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zan-goodman-b249ab10/] If this conversation left you wanting to think bigger, feel braver, and influence change in your own organization, head to melior-futuri.com [https://melior-futuri.com/] to explore our executive and leadership coaching programs, available internationally. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Patch McCormick on the Psychology of Failure

As a former advertising executive turned psychotherapist for men, couples, and organizations, Patch McCormick [https://www.instagram.com/talktopatch/?hl=en] knows all too well the paradox of wanting to feel like enough, while always striving for more. In this conversation, Patch unpacks the psychology of ambition and burnout, how early ideas about love and success shape the way we experience failure, and why so many of us only stop when our bodies force us to. Through deep reflection, and plenty of shared experience, Patch talks about what it means to rebuild a healthier relationship with achievement - one that allows room for healthy play, meaningful connection, and that elusive feeling of enoughness, without losing the drive that got you there in the first place. IN THIS EPISODE: * Why achievement can become its own addiction — and how the constant chase to feel “enough” can take a toll on our mental and physical health. * The slow erosion of burnout, what it feels like to “disappear from yourself,” and why the body often knows before the mind admits something’s wrong. * How childhood messages about love, approval, and success shape the way we experience failure — and why so many high achievers can’t tell the difference between falling short and being unworthy. * The paradox of ambition: wanting to feel like enough while always striving for more — and how that tension shows up in our work, relationships, and sense of self. * Why burnout can make us want to burn it all down — and how to find steadier ground by adding “life rafts” instead of jumping ship. * The role friendship and community play in recovery — and how the company we keep can help us navigate failure with more grace and honesty. * How Patch helps people make peace with their ambition — learning to let it expand their life, not consume it. A grounded and thought-provoking conversation about ambition, self-worth, and learning to build life rafts before you need to be rescued. -------- Stay Connected with Alanna (Host) & Patch (Guest) * Alanna Lynch Instagram: @meliorfuturi [https://www.instagram.com/meliorfuturi/?hl=en] * Alanna Lynch Linkedin: alannalynch [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alannalynch/] * (FAIL)UP Instagram : @failupbymeliorfuturi [https://www.instagram.com/failupbymeliorfuturi/?hl=en] * Patch McCormick Instagram: @talktopatch [https://www.instagram.com/talktopatch/?hl=en] * Patch McCormick Linkedin: Patch McCormick [https://www.linkedin.com/in/patch-mccormick-07b74320/overlay/about-this-profile/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base%3BqSH3jxkmSlSmbtmDkmyfdg%3D%3D] If this conversation left you wanting to think bigger, feel braver, and influence change in your own organization, head to melior-futuri.com [https://melior-futuri.com/] to explore our executive and leadership coaching programs, available internationally. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Hilary Fischer-Groban Balances on the Glass Cliff

Senior Director of Marketing, Insights & Comms Hilary Fischer-Groban [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilaryfg/], has built her career leading through change — from helping legacy brands reinvent themselves to steering culture-defining start-ups through their next chapter. Known for her clarity, humor, and composure under pressure, she believes leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about connecting the dots, explaining the why, and creating the kind of trust that helps people move forward even when things feel uncertain. In this episode, Hilary breaks down what it really means to lead on the “glass cliff” — those high-stakes moments when women are asked to fix what’s broken. She shares the signs to look for before you say yes, how to set yourself up for success once you’re in the role, and how to navigate the pressure without losing your clarity or sense of self. In today's episode: * Why Hilary believes leadership starts with explaining the why, not just the what, and how clarity builds confidence in teams * How she brings levity into leadership, by taking herself lightly and creating space for others to exhale during high-pressure moments * The “glass cliff” — why women are often chosen to lead through crisis, and how she’s learned to navigate those roles without internalizing systemic failure * How she defines failure not as the moment itself, but by how long it lingers in your mind and how much it impacts your relationships * The emotional toll of leadership and the importance of separating self-worth from business outcomes — what it takes to regain calm and confidence when things go wrong * Why maintaining balance — physical, emotional — is critical to build long term resilience * Why she no longer believes in “do what you love,” and how she’s redefining success in a way that actually feels sustainable. A sharp, funny, and refreshingly honest take on what it really feels like to lead on the glass cliff — and how to make it out the other side. -------- Stay Connected with Alanna (Host) & Hilary (Guest) * Alanna Lynch Instagram: @meliorfuturi [https://www.instagram.com/meliorfuturi/?hl=en] * Alanna Lynch Linkedin: alannalynch [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alannalynch/] * (FAIL)UP Instagram : @failupbymeliorfuturi [https://www.instagram.com/failupbymeliorfuturi/?hl=en] * Hilary Fischer-Groban Instagram: @hilaryfg [https://www.instagram.com/hilaryfg/?hl=en] * Hilary Fischer-Groban Linkedin: Hilary Fischer-Groban [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilaryfg/] If this conversation left you wanting to think bigger, feel braver, and influence change in your own organization, head to melior-futuri.com [https://melior-futuri.com/] to explore our executive and leadership coaching programs, available internationally. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Gordon Hull Refuses to Give Up on What Matters

The artist and executive creative director, Gordon Hull [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordonharrisonhull/], on longevity, relevance, and what it really takes to live a creatively fulfilled life. Gordon Hull first made a name for himself as the founder of Surface to Air — the cult-favorite creative agency and fashion label that helped define a generation of downtown cool in New York City. Since then, he’s brought his distinctive mix of art, humor, and humanity to collaborations with brands like Ralph Lauren, Adidas, and Tory Burch, as well as creative studios including Chandelier and Mother. Known for his punk attitude and relentless curiosity, Gordon has built a career that balances creative integrity with reinvention. In this conversation, he reflects on the desire to create and the quiet fight to stay true to his creative mission and personal values as priorities shift and the definition of success evolves. In this episode: * Why failure has always been part of Gordon’s creative process — and how every misstep, idea, and wrong turn becomes raw material for the next thing * What it takes to build a creative career that endures — one driven by curiosity and craft, not just recognition * The tension between staying relevant and staying true to your creative mission — and the pressure of navigating an industry that is constantly reinventing * How to tell the difference between self-doubt and intuition, and knowing when to push a project forward versus when to let it go * Why he believes the best collaborations are built on honesty, friction, and trust — not just shared taste * The ongoing challenge of balancing artistic integrity with commercial reality, and redefining what success means when the metrics start to change * Why he’s surprisingly optimistic about AI — and how he sees it expanding, rather than replacing, human creativity A candid reflection on creative ambition, relevance, and the resilience it takes to keep showing up — even when what drives you starts to change. -------- Stay Connected with Alanna (Host) & Gordon (Guest) * Alanna Lynch Instagram: @meliorfuturi [https://www.instagram.com/meliorfuturi/?hl=en] * Alanna Lynch Linkedin: alannalynch [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alannalynch/] * (FAIL)UP Instagram : @failupbymeliorfuturi [https://www.instagram.com/failupbymeliorfuturi/?hl=en] * Gordon Instagram: @gordon_harrison_hull [https://www.instagram.com/gordon_harrison_hull/?hl=en] * Gordon Linkedin: gordonhull [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordonharrisonhull/] If this conversation left you wanting to think bigger, feel braver, and influence change in your own organization, head to melior-futuri.com [https://melior-futuri.com/] to explore our executive and leadership coaching programs, available internationally. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Colleen Cash Is A Proud Spin Doctor

The President of Sotheby’s Motorsport on leading through uncertainty, owning failure as a leader, and learning to balance vulnerability with authority. A lifelong theater kid turned luxury auction executive, Colleen Cash [https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-cash/] shares how her background in performance shaped her leadership and how she’s found success as a self-proclaimed spin doctor—reframing and repackaging setbacks not to disguise them, but to maintain momentum, protect morale, and move her team forward. In this episode: * How Colleen’s theater roots taught her presence, adaptability, and the power of reading a room * What it takes to lead people older and more experienced, and earn their trust * The self-proclaimed spin doctor mindset: reframing failure as forward motion and keeping teams energized through uncertainty * The risk of the silver lining: when quick reframing becomes avoidance, and why reflection still matters * Building learning cultures that turn failure into feedback rather than fear * The realities of leading in prestige industries built on perception, and how to stay grounded * The moment vulnerability reset trust in her team, and how she balances transparency with authority An engaging conversation about reframing failure, leading with conviction when you’re the youngest in the room, and finding the power in vulnerability. -------- Stay Connected with Alanna (Host) & Colleen (Guest) * Alanna Lynch Instagram: @meliorfuturi [https://www.instagram.com/meliorfuturi/?hl=en] * Alanna Lynch Linkedin: alannalynch [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alannalynch/] * (FAIL)UP Instagram : @failupbymeliorfuturi [https://www.instagram.com/failupbymeliorfuturi/?hl=en] * Colleen Linkedin: @colleencash [https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-cash/] If this conversation left you wanting to think bigger, feel braver, and influence change in your own organization, head to melior-futuri.com [https://melior-futuri.com/] to explore our executive and leadership coaching programs, available internationally. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.