In Conversation with Laurence Goldberg

Tell us about your background:

Not many people know this, but I set out to be a filmmaker. I was drawn to the medium because it encompasses the arts that I love the most, writing, photography, and music. I just adored storytelling. But then in New York, straight after graduating from film school, the chance of a meeting plus my circumstances led me down a very different path. I got into fashion becoming the assistant of a renowned fashion publicist at the inception of his agency. This was at the very end of the nineties, and I worked with Alexander McQueen, Helmut Lang, Hermes when Martin Margiela was designing there, Narciso Rodriguez shortly after he started his brand, and Balenciaga when Nicolas Ghesquière was named creative director. Working with these designers really opened my eyes to how fashion can also be about storytelling, something that seems so obvious to me now.

I eventually moved to Los Angeles and freelanced for a few years as a fashion stylist working with celebrities. I also started my own line of handbags but fell back into PR when Balenciaga called and asked for help finding a store location in Los Angeles. They had been looking for a boutique off the beaten path but no one in real estate in this city understood what they meant. I knew the brand very well and accepted the challenge. That consulting job lasted one and a half years, reunited me with the brand and the people there and after we found a store, I was offered a full-time position as the head of special events and celebrity relations. This was at a time when celebrities were replacing models on the covers of magazines, and a big part of my job was learning the ins and outs of that world and introducing Balenciaga to the Hollywood community. That job was the launching pad for me to run a PR agency, something I did for 7 years until the very start of covid.

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

Very early on in my career I felt like I was in a hurry to achieve a lot. I put so much pressure on myself and I wish I had taken more time to explore other avenues.

Best career advice you've ever received?

It’s hard for me to think of one particular career advice I received that's better than all others. I feel like I learned a lot along the way and picked up some key points, such as: don’t be late, send thank you notes, keep in touch with people, always answer emails even if it’s just to say you received that email and will get back to them at a later date… small things like that have gone a long way for me.

What leadership qualities are important to you?

Integrity, honesty, courage, vision, flexibility, an open mind, and a sense of humor.

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

The biggest challenge in my career has been to find total satisfaction in what I do. I understand that that is a fantasy and that there will always be certain aspect of the job that are not as enjoyable as one may wish, to say it mildly yet it's still been hard to accept. I’m someone who deeply identifies with what I do as if my job is an extension of my being, and so I've struggled at times not recognizing myself in my job. I hope that make sense!

And for fun, what is your favorite wardrobe staple?

For fun, I love sequins and prints and color, but you will mostly find me in a black minimalist wardrobe. I used to wear skirts almost every day, now since the pandemic, it's been jeans and button-downs and sweaters in the winter.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurence-goldberg-8470692b/

Instagram: @laurencegoldberg