We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura ODell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
My work/life balance definitely shifted once I started having kids and then it re-calibrated once again in 2020 when the world shut down and we learned how to work remotely. I think that when you’re a business owner you’ll always have life shifts and pivots throughout your career that need to be re-examined and prioritized. For me, my family comes first above anything else. The days are long but the years are short and I don’t want to miss any special moments with my 3 littles ones. You need an excellent team for that though and luckily we have it. You also need to let go of some control and let your team do their thing. I’m not a big fan of micromanaging.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started my company way back in 2004 when times were so different. My label was only sold via wholesale and I had to produce a sample line and exhibit the collections at trade shows. Of course the internet already existed but very few were selling online. It’s a different ballgame now with DTC and social media. In a lot of respects it was easier back then than it is now. You really just needed passion and a good product. There’s so many more variables now.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Hmmm, that’s a great question. I’m a homebody so I’d probably start by making a spectacular meal at home because I love to cook. I’d cue up some jazz on our record player and have my husband make cocktails. If I wanted to take them out on the town I’d definitely do some dinners out at some of my favorite LA spots like Hippo, Speranza, Bestia and Muso and Franks. And of course we’d need to do Disneyland. I’m a big fan of Disneyand.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I give my shoutouts to all the bad-ass bosses I had in my early 20’s before I started my own business. One of my first fashion industry jobs was working in a showroom owned by Suzanne Lerner (Michael Stars). I learned so much at that job and it really helped propel my path. She’s still a big inspiration to me.

Website: www.theodellsshop.com

Instagram: @theodellsshop

Facebook: The ODells

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