“I can raise a million dollars in ten minutes.” These were the words the ladies of The Synergist and myself heard as we listened, intently, to everything The Most Powerful Woman In The Room had to say. Well, it was a Zoom room; alas, this is our new reality. When I finally got the opportunity to tell Lydia Fenet how powerful I found her statement to be and inquired on how she could possibly raise a million dollars in ten minutes, she smiled and said, “I could raise a million dollars in five minutes if you let me.” Talk about a Rainmaker.
One of the most beautiful aspects about life is that we get to witness ourselves in other people; or, at the very least, identify with people we want to be more like. I dream of being a smart, stylish and undoubtably successful woman, so it’s always such a treat to encounter women who are everything I aim to be. Similar to the previous Catalyst Guest, Kim Heirston, Lydia Fenet is a woman whose success cannot be denied. Serving as the Global Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships and the Lead Benefit Auctioneer at Christie’s Auction House, Lydia is an accomplished woman whose authenticity has risen her to the top.
We at The Catalyst are no statisticians, but a generally trend we’ve noticed is that people who catalyze impactful moments within their careers, communities, and countries are often people who lead with their most authentic self.
Case in point, Lydia has raised over half a billion dollars for nonprofits globally by bringing her most authentic self to each auction stage she stepped on. She’s auctioned off everything from vacation homes to dance lessons with Madonna to picturesque picnics in New York City’s Central Park with the gardener who planned its landscape. Lydia’s authenticity coupled with an audacity that comes from letting go of the fear of hearing the word “no” has resulted in Lydia’s extraordinary success. From auctioneering in Saudi Arabia to rousing the interest of Jason Weinberg (Uma Thurman’s manager) aka Clark Kent, Lydia Fenet is in a league of her own.
It was truly the utmost pleasure to host such a woman on The Catalyst. If you are interested in discovering more about The Most Powerful Woman In The Room, visit her website and follow her on Instagram.
Above is a snippet of Audrey Dilgarde and Lydia Fenet’s conversation in Episode 008 of The Catalyst. The full-length version of the episode can be found on our page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
If you like Lydia’s episode, be sure to let us know by subscribing to The Catalyst on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify. We would love to hear from you, Changemakers, so share your comments with us below on this post! Be sure to stay in touch with The Catalyst on our Instagram and Twitter. Join the conversation by signing up for our mailing list, located here.
