Tell us about your background:

As a little girl growing up in Italy, I was completely obsessed with shoes. My mother tells the story of how at age four, I was dragging her to all the shoe boutiques in Torino. She urged me to follow my passion for shoes, helping me find a design school to learn the skills for my career. Later as a teen I moved to the UK where I went to De Montford University to learn footwear fashion design.

After graduation, I decided to move back to Italy where I started working for Benetton and one of their footwear brands. I came to NYC to work for a large shoe company and soon many opportunities followed. After designing footwear for 20 plus years for many fashion houses such as Banana Republic, Juicy Couture, Donna Karan and Alice & Olivia, it was time to make the shoes I always wanted to wear and couldn’t find. With this passion in mind, I launched my own collection that combines comfort, timeless designs, the highest quality leathers, and exquisite Italian craftsmanship for the effortlessly chic multitasking woman. I am a mother, wife, and entrepreneur and today, my home is New York.

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

I knew starting a business would be challenging but I love learning new skills. I wish I had taken an MBA at some point to learn some basic business skills.

Best career advice you've ever received?

'Stay true to yourself' and 'don't be afraid to ask – the worst thing that could happen is they say no.

What leadership qualities are important to you?

I think diplomacy and good people skills are essential in any business. Obviously there are some basic skills needed for my specific area but I attribute most of my successes to the way I learned to interact with my peers and people I have met and worked with over the last 2 decades. I've been lucky to work with incredible people all over the world. Listening and being open to other ideas and ways of getting things done is essential.

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

My passion and skill set is in design. Marketing and sales are the most challenging part of starting my own business.

And for fun, what is your favorite wardrobe staple?

I like to mix things up, my favourite staple is actually red lipstick, it makes any outfit extra special! I work a lot from home but occasionally I purchase an item for special occasions that don't materialize. Now I wear those 'special occasion' outfits to a regular evening out and it feels GOOD!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-sclarandis-1b89aa17/

Website: https://www.sclarandis.com/

Instagram: @sclarandis