From Austria to the boardrooms of global luxury, this week we welcome Nadja Swarovski, the transformative leader who shattered glass ceilings as the first female board member in Swarovski's 120 year history. As the current COO and CMO of Really Wild Clothing and founder of the Swarovski Foundation, Nadja shares her extraordinary journey spanning continents and industries. Born into the fifth generation of the iconic crystal empire, she carved her own path through the art worlds of Sotheby's and Gagosian Gallery before revolutionizing her family's business from an anonymous B2B supplier into a globally recognized luxury brand.
Through groundbreaking collaborations with Alexander McQueen, Zaha Hadid, and Karl Lagerfeld, Nadja transformed crystal from industrial component to haute couture essential, launching initiatives like Atelier Swarovski and Crystal Palace that redefined the intersection of art, fashion, and innovation. Her pioneering work establishing Swarovski's sustainability department and implementing UN Sustainable Development Goals set new standards for corporate responsibility in luxury goods.
In this deeply personal conversation, Nadja reveals the immigrant's superpower of adaptability, sharing insights from her multicultural upbringing across Austria, America, Hong Kong, and Scotland. She discusses the critical importance of language in understanding culture, the delicate balance of honoring heritage while driving innovation, and her philosophy that leadership means empowering others rather than seeking personal glory.
From sleeping through board meetings while pregnant to learning Mandarin to bridge cultural divides, Nadja offers candid advice on navigating motherhood alongside a demanding career, emphasizing that women can indeed have both, but must be gentle with themselves in the process.
Now investing in sustainable fashion through Really Wild Clothing, Nadja champions the preservation of traditional craftsmanship and ethical manufacturing, drawing parallels between Austrian worker protections and the global need for dignified labor conditions. Her story exemplifies how authentic intention, quality, and storytelling create products that resonate both commercially and culturally, proving that business success and positive impact are not mutually exclusive but powerfully interconnected.