Scaling direct to consumer creative for Malin+Goetz with Ashima Jain

Show Notes: In this podcast episode, Anne interviews Ashima Jain, VP of Global Creative at Malin+Goetz. They discuss Ash's career trajectory, starting with a lucky break at Victoria's Secret Beauty and leading to various roles in beauty, fashion, and publishing. Ash emphasizes the importance of work culture, relationships, and networking in their professional growth. They also delve into the challenges of remote work, the transition to executive roles, and the importance of brand development and scalability in the beauty industry. The conversation covers the significance of authenticity and quality in Malin+Goetz's brand identity, as well as strategies for creating memorable customer experiences through pop-up events and collaborations. About Ashima Jain: Ashima Jain has spent the past 20 years lending her talents and passion to some of the most beloved American lifestyle brands, including (MALIN+GOETZ), Victoria's Secret, Condé Nast, Hearst, Avon, Ann Taylor, The New York Times, Billboard Magazine and Estée Lauder. Her background in graphic design and visual communication gives her a unique lens through which to ideate and develop compelling brand narratives, translating into measured business results. With specialized expertise in print and packaging, from concept to execution, she has directed photography, built in-house design teams and managed department workflow, while defining brand standards and driving cross-channel campaigns. Timestamps: Ash's Nightstand (00:00:46) Ash discusses a broken clock from the 1970s on her nightstand, reflecting on its beauty and functionality. Ash's Career Journey (00:02:45) Ash talks about her career journey, starting with her time at Victoria's Secret Beauty and her experiences in beauty, fashion, and publishing. Job Sharing Experience (00:05:57) Ash shares her experience of job sharing, working two days a week at Billboard magazine and three days at another company, highlighting the differences in culture and work environment. Importance of Relationships (00:11:20) The discussion focuses on the significance of relationships and networking in the creative industry, and how good people can make a job amazing. Curiosity and Understanding (00:16:28) The conversation highlights Ash's curiosity and understanding of people, from the grip to the producer, and how it influences her approach in both office and on-set environments. Getting to know people (00:16:39) The importance of building relationships and getting to know colleagues for better collaboration. Adapting to remote work (00:19:47) Challenges and solutions for maintaining relationships and collaboration in a remote work environment. Effective in-person collaboration (00:20:10) The value of in-person interaction for certain work activities and the importance of optimizing time spent together. Skills for executives (00:21:49) The skills and forward planning required for executives and the benefits of experience in long-term planning. Brand vs. product (00:28:24) The delicate balance between brand identity and product quality, and the importance of both in business success. Discovery and presence (00:31:09) How people discover and connect with the brand, including the influence of packaging and physical presence in stores. Trends in Product Customization (00:36:57) Exploration of the trend towards extreme product customization and personalization, with insights into consumer preferences. Typography and Design (00:41:32) In-depth discussion on the iconic typography and design of Malin+Goetz, including the agency behind the design and the brand's maintenance of design standards. Industry Insights and Future Plans (00:43:37) Reflections on industry knowledge, future collaboration, and the potential for future podcast episodes. This podcast is produced by the team at Dillie: a marketing agency with a niche focus on beauty and personal care brands https://dilliecreative.com/