Getting There

Jewelry Designer Jennifer Fisher’s Advice for Carving Your Own Path

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This jewelry designer turned lifestyle mogul explains the story behind her success.

In her memoir Going There, Katie gives behind-the-scenes insights into her iconic career — but she also ruminates on the ups and downs of her personal life. She delves into detail, explaining how she moved up the media ladder, and how family, friendship, and romance contributed to her success.

If you were grateful for Katie’s reflections on achieving serious professional advancement (and, since we’re all human, occasional failure) while also dealing with love and loss, we’ve got more where that came from. For those of you who love to read about how the best and brightest in their fields have gotten where they are today, Katie started her video series Getting There. In each video, Katie spends the day with a successful woman to learn how she got to where she is and the advice she has for others. Each interview is a blend of solid career advice and a candid look into the silly, funny, sometimes upsetting parts of life that they navigate as they achieve their dreams.

KCM originally whipped up these because we love learning about how successful women grapple with challenges to become their best selves. And since we all need a little extra inspiration these days, we wanted to remind you all that overcoming adversity can be its own reward.

Our latest installment features jewelry designer Jennifer Fisher, who crafts minimalistic, no-frills, fine and fashion jewelry. Alongside those classic wares, she has also expanded into specialized salts and fragrances. Katie was curious about this drive to create an entire brand experience, so she caught up with Fisher at one of Fisher’s favorite afternoon hangouts — the Union Square farmer’s market in New York City. After perusing produce, the pair dashed to Fisher’s studio to talk about entrepreneurship and the importance of putting yourself out there.

Why do you love the farmer’s market so much?

Jennifer Fisher: If I need a break from work, I’ll come out here sometimes, walk around, and breathe a little bit. I always find something that I need or have to have, or something I’m inspired to cook with. I’m completely inspired by everything in the city.

You and your husband work together, but you have a rule: You never commute together. Why is that?

We work together all day long. So we need to have some time in the morning.

What’s your typical morning like?

My husband brings me coffee in bed every morning. One morning, he came in and I put him on my Instagram stories bringing me coffee. I got hundreds of people saying, “Oh my God, please have him do this every day.”

Some pretty well-known people wear your pieces.

Issa Rae, J.Lo, Michelle Obama, Selena Gomez, Hailey [Bieber], and Rihanna. We’ve been very lucky.

And you’ve always been an entrepreneur.

Always. I was four when I started my first company. I was the kid who would pick the flowers out of the neighbor’s yard and say, “Hey, do you want to buy some flowers?” There’s been a splatter paint clothing business and a button earring business. You can’t be afraid of putting yourself out there and seeing if someone wants to buy what you have.

What advice do you have for starting your own business?

Do it with your own money. Don’t do it with partners. Don’t be afraid of rejection. Do your own thing. Listen to your gut, that’s normally what’s right.

What was your biggest setback and how were you able to bounce back?

Business is really hard. I’ve had so many things that have happened that made me think, “This is gonna be the end of it. This is bad.” And it always comes back. The most important thing is to know that you can learn from that. You can do it differently next time — there will be a different outcome next time.