In Conversation with Franci Girard

Tell us about your background: 

I started my career as a professional volleyball player after playing at Stanford. I then went on to work at Goldman Sachs as a client relationship manager with the firm's Prime Brokerage Division. In 2014 I went back to Harvard to get my MBA and soon after founded a direct-to-consumer e-commerce business called The Sixes which provides high-quality fashion pieces to women 5'7"+.

What do you wish you’d known when you started out?

It's taken me a while to really embrace the value of my perspective. As a Black woman starting out in Corporate America I often felt out of place particularly because there weren't a lot of senior people who looked like me. As I've grown in my career I've learned that being different/having a different perspective is truly where the value lies. I do those around me a disservice by not sharing my perspective.

Best career advice you've ever received?

Reach across just as often as you reach above. My peers have been invaluable resources over the course of my career with regard to new opportunities, advice, exposure, and more.

What leadership qualities are important to you?

Empathy - It's important to take the time to understand the hopes, problems, aspirations, etc. of your people so that you understand how to motivate and create an environment where people believe they can thrive. Empathy also allows you to excel at other things like negotiations, for example, where it's critical that you have the ability to step outside yourself and understand what is important to the other person.

Integrity - Trust/honesty are the cornerstones of building a healthy work environment. People need to believe that you will lead by example, follow through on your word and stick to your values.

Vision & Communication - The ability to set high-level goals and communicate with a team around those goals is key. The best leaders are great at setting the agenda and then inspiring those around them to commit to whatever goals have been outlined.

What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far? 

The biggest challenge in my career thus far has been managing myself and a business during the pandemic and global BLM protests. It's been really difficult to focus on staying motivated and organized when everything seems so chaotic. The biggest lesson I learned during this period has been to give myself grace.

And for fun, what is your favorite wardrobe staple?

A good pair of jeans that make your ass look great!

LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franci-girard-44596920/

Website: www.thesixes.com

Instagram: @franci_andrea