You already know the story of my handbag and me. For those who don’t know what I’m talking about: head over to my blog post “Self-worth and what it has to do with my designer handbag.” My handbag not only made me reflect on my self-confidence, who I am, and how I want to be perceived, but it also led me to meet one of my favorite Instagrammers: Netti Weber. #rolemodel #powerhouse (Yes, I’m using that term intentionally and in the most positive way.) The picture shows my outfit, and of course, I had my handbag with me. 🙂
To me, Netti Weber is the epitome of style. No one captivates me like she does. Not just with her clothes—how she mixes and matches, how she can turn a simple pair of jeans into a statement piece, how effortlessly she can wear fur slides one day and Valentino high heels the next. But I also admire her because she’s real, showing herself unfiltered, makeup-free, in a tracksuit while jogging through the English Garden. Or on her way to catch an early flight. She’s almost always in a good mood, quick with a funny quip, and she doesn’t take herself—or the whole fashion scene—too seriously. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t take her job seriously—she’s a total pro, no question! And I imagine she sets the bar high, not just for herself but for everyone who works with her.
When I started my own business, I had big dreams and visions. I wanted to do so many things—and all at once, if possible. (Spoiler: I still do.) These include things like writing a book, starting a network, having an office (check!), meeting cool people. And that’s why I wanted to talk to Netti Weber. I wanted to discuss what fashion does to us and our self-worth, hear her thoughts on my handbag, and ask her about so many other topics. At first, I hesitated and brought it up with my coaching supervision group. My colleague asked: “Sandra, what’s the worst that could happen?” My answer: “Netti might say no!” Ah, right. If that’s the worst-case scenario... 🙂 So I mustered up my courage and sent her a message on Instagram, and she said yes! And a yes from Netti Weber means yes. We met pretty quickly, and my plan to interview her… didn’t happen. Quite the opposite! The roles were reversed, and she interviewed me instead—about coaching, my work with executives, my tips for handling tough times, and so on. One thing I learned from that experience: better be prepared!!! The very next day, she posted the interview on her Glam-o-meter website. Boom. A woman of action. A true #rolemodel, even in this sense—no messing around, just do it.
My new dream with Netti? To ask her the questions I didn’t get to ask back then. About her courage to reinvent herself (after her time as editor-in-chief at InStyle). About her tips for staying so open and where she gets her incredible energy. What she does when she has a bad day. The biggest lesson she’s learned from a mistake, and what she would do if she wasn’t in fashion... and so much more.
Dear Netti Weber, if you’re reading this (#bucketlist: Netti Weber reads my blog post)… if you ever have the time and inclination to answer these questions (and more), I believe that not only I but many women of all ages would find you to be a true role model. Just let me know when and where, and I’ll be there!
„Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself“
(Coco Chanel)
Okay… this has turned into a bit of a love letter. 🙂 What I really want to say with this story is: be brave, reach out to the people you admire! More often than not, it leads to great ideas, collaborations, or simply wonderful moments. You can read about my wonderful moment in Netti Weber’s blog post: "The path inward. One coaching session, please. Don’t think you need it? Keep reading..."
