In a recent interview with Paige Arnof-Fenn, the Founder & CEO of Mavens & Moguls, she shared her inspiring journey from a successful corporate career to becoming an entrepreneur. With over 22 years of experience in global branding and digital marketing, Paige opened up about the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership style and the core values that have guided her along the way. From overcoming personal challenges to finding balance in her life, Paige’s insights offer valuable advice for aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs looking to make a meaningful impact in their industries. Join us as we delve into the wisdom and experiences of this accomplished CEO.
Interviewee Name: Paige Arnof-Fenn
Company: Mavens & Moguls
Paige ‘s favourite quote: One of my favorite quotes is “people do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.” It has been attributed to many people including Teddy Roosevelt. I like it and find it helpful because it is a simple reminder even (maybe especially) online to listen more than talk, show empathy and try to look at the situation from another perspective. The goal is not to wear people down or impress them with your smarts. The goal is to connect, communicate clearly, solve problems and move on.
The Interview
Before we dive into the future, let’s rewind a bit! Tell us a story: what sparked your passion for your industry and led you to where you are today?
Paige Arnof-Fenn : I started a global branding and digital marketing firm 22 years ago in Cambridge, MA but I did not plan on starting a company. I always wanted to go work for a large multi-national business and be a Fortune 500 CEO. When I was a student I looked at leaders like Meg Whitman & Ursula Burns as my role models. I started my career on Wall Street in the 80s and had a successful career in Corporate America at companies like Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola and worked at 3 different VC-backed tech startups as the head of marketing, all had positive exits. I became an entrepreneur and took the leap right after 9/11 when the company I worked for cut their marketing. I had nothing to lose. I knew I had made it when Harvard wrote 2 case studies on my business a few years after I started it, we were very early to pioneer sharing resources on the marketing front (before my company it was really only done with HR, legal and accounting/finance).
What core values and leadership principles have guided you in your journey as a CEO, and how have they shaped your approach to leading your company?
Paige Arnof-Fenn : My company’s mission is to bring world class marketing talent and expertise to organizations that want to make a difference in the world regardless of size or budget. We believe every organization deserves the right words and pictures to tell their story in compelling ways. The point of life is to find your gifts and then share them with the world. I believe everyone has special talents and skills that can improve the lives of others. Figuring out what brings you joy and being grateful and appreciative for what you can do to make the world a better place gives your life meaning and purpose. There are so many ways to contribute and give back that enrich your life by helping others.
Can you share a pivotal moment or challenge you faced as a CEO, and the strategies you employed to overcome it while maintaining your leadership vision and guiding your team?
Paige Arnof-Fenn : For the first 5 years I was scared to go on vacation for fear all my hard work would unravel. Then my in-laws, father, mom and stepdad all started to get sick and I wanted to be there for them. They all lived thousands of miles away so I started to work less. After years of decline they each died about 8 months apart (7 people in 6 years) and I became executrix which is like having another job at times. So I had to take very good care of myself or I would not have been helpful to anyone else. I started working out every day. I started planning me time on my calendar. I became more comfortable with white space in my day and stopped over scheduling myself. And guess what? My business did not suffer, in fact it became stronger. We moved up the food chain and have better clients. I do not think I could ever go back. Downtime and vacations are not optional, you need to take breaks to be productive, creative and energized. I am so much happier and more productive as an entrepreneur than I ever was working for others. It is all about controlling your calendar. I no longer try to squeeze in more meetings or hit multiple events at night.
As an entrepreneur, I can be selective. Less really is more. I’ve chosen quality over quantity. It sounds trivial but it is true. I created a platform to do work I enjoy and feel energized by. I feel I have found my purpose because I used to work all the time and life was passing me by. I got raises and promotions but I was all work and no play and I did not feel fulfilled. Since starting my business I have joined boards and volunteered at several organizations. I am a mentor to the next generation of leaders and have helped build a very successful anti-bullying program that >200,000 middle school aged kids have gone through. As a marketing consultant I am able to write articles, contribute to books and speak at events to share my experience and lessons learned. I find the more you give the more you get.
What advice would you offer to aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs who are looking to make an impact in their industries and lead their companies to success, based on your own experiences and insights?
Paige Arnof-Fenn : Like most entrepreneurs there are never enough hours in the day to fit everything in so when something has to give it is usually time allocated to exercise or just relax. A mentor once told me and I have come to appreciate and realize is that to stay sane and be successful “me time” is not a luxury or pampering, it is maintenance! The mentor shared that respecting my time on the calendar and taking yourself as seriously as you take your most important clients is the least you can do for self care because if you are not at your peak performance you are not going to be useful to anyone else either. My advice is to give yourself permission to say no. Whether it means sending someone else to the meeting, passing on joining another newsletter or e-group, sleeping in (no to an alarm clock), meditating, taking a walk, or just turning off my phone and computer (no I will respond later on my own schedule), simple acts of letting myself relax and enjoy the moment are the very best gifts I can give myself. You can fill a calendar to stay busy but what matters most is having impact on people’s lives and that has nothing to do with volume of activity, it is about touching people in meaningful ways which may mean being less busy not more. Take breaks with exercise — I do something active every day to stay healthy and break up my day.
We hope you enjoyed this insightful conversation with Paige Arnof-Fenn . At Featured Leaders, we are committed to bringing you closer to the minds shaping our world. Stay tuned for more exclusive interviews and stories that inspire, inform, and ignite your passion for leadership. To keep up with our latest features, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media. Thank you for reading!
