Second Life Podcast: Leigh Batnick Plessner

Welcome to Second Life, a podcast spotlighting profitable ladies who’ve made main profession adjustments—and fearlessly mastered the pivot. Hosted by Hillary Kerr, cofounder and chief content material officer at Who What Put on, every episode provides you a direct line to ladies who’re sport changers of their fields. Subscribe to Second Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts to remain tuned.

In the event you observe the most recent jewellery traits, likelihood is you have got recognized—and cherished—Catbird for a very long time. As an It-girl model for properly over a decade, Catbird paved the way in which for wonderful jewellery by way of its minimalist and extremely timeless designs. On the helm of the model’s artistic is Chief Artistic Officer Leigh Batnick Plessner. But earlier than she was main one of many trade’s most beloved jewellery manufacturers, her profession seemed fairly totally different.

After graduating from Georgetown College with a level in English literature and anthropology, Plessner took on numerous service roles in Washington, D.C., working at native espresso retailers and as a cocktail waitress. Her large break got here when she joined the famend unbiased bookstore Politics and Prose, initially working within the kids’s room. Her expertise for curation quickly earned her a promotion to sidelines purchaser, the place she chosen all non-book merchandise for the shop. This position launched her to the world of stationery and presents, inspiring her to attend quite a few commerce exhibits.

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Plessner then launched her personal stationery model, Jezebel, and relocated to New York Metropolis to pursue the enterprise. In 2005, she met Rony Vardi, founding father of Catbird, on the stationery commerce present, and instantly related. She quickly started working on the model’s New York storefront. As Catbird expanded, Plessner regularly shifted away from Jezebel to dedicate herself totally to the jewellery firm.

Rising alongside the model, she has grown into the position of chief artistic officer. On this place, Plessner oversees Catbird’s full visible id, shaping every thing from product presentation to advertising aesthetics. Her artistic management has pushed high-profile partnerships with acclaimed artists and musicians resembling Clairo and Phoebe Bridgers, serving to cement Catbird’s popularity for considerate, buzzy collaborations that resonate with a contemporary, inventive viewers.

Hearken to the most recent episode of Second Life to listen to how Plessner continues to outline Catbird’s distinctive appeal within the aggressive world of wonderful jewellery. And maintain scrolling to buy our favourite items from the model.