Meet Lydia Fenet | Founder & CEO of The Lydia Fenet Agency

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

Hi Lydia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I spent over two decades at Christie’s auction house, during which time I built my reputation as the world’s most highly sought after auctioneer in a space that has traditionally been dominated by men. On-stage paddle raises – in which audience members raise their numbered paddles to bid on lots for sale – also stuck to a standard formula. I quickly realized that audiences wanted excitement, and I could bring it. With confidence, wit, and humor, I led audiences to become more thoroughly engaged, in turn racking up higher donation totals at the end of each night. Having single handedly raised over $1 billion dollars for more than 800 organizations across my career, I came to realize that my signature approach not only made auction nights more engaging and fun for audiences, but had a substantial impact on fundraising success. Hiring a trained auctioneer can boost fundraising revenue by 30%; but many charitable organizations find it cost-prohibitive to book top-tier talent. To democratize access to expert auctioneers while promoting diversity within the industry, I launched a first-of-its-kind auctioneer training program, The Lydia Fenet Agency, in 2023. As we approach the Agency’s one year anniversary, I’m extremely proud that my network of trained auctioneers has raised over $100M for charities across the globe.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started my career at Christie’s as an intern and worked my way up to the Global Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships. Auctioneering is a very male-dominated field, and I wanted to change that.

I’ve faced so many challenges along the way, including working twice as hard as my male counterparts to be taken seriously; but in the process, I found my voice, strengthened my confidence and learned that charisma, humor and commanding an audience are just a few of my superpowers.

I took those learnings and crafted them into two books that both became best-sellers: The Most Powerful Woman in the Room is You and Claim Your Confidence. I also speak at hundreds of events and inspire men and women alike to find their confidence, land their dream job and ask for exactly what they want. I also provide quick tips while backstage on my Instagram series – follow along @lydiafenet!

In addition to all of that, I host the Claim Your Confidence podcast in Rockefeller Center where I interview inspirational authors, business leaders and celebrities who talk about their journeys and offer listeners the tools they need to live the life they want. Some of my guests include Glenn Close, Allyson Felix, Nate Berkus and Marc Murphy.

And my most recent endeavor is my annual Claim Your Confidence Retreat, an intimate and inspiring gathering to help attendees build their confidence from the inside out. After the success of our very first event at Shou Sugi Ban House in the Hamptons last January, I’m even more excited to see what this next year brings. I’ll be announcing programming and guest speakers for my 2025 retreat very soon, so stay tuned!

My favorite job is being a mom to three wonderful children.

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?
I love staying at Shutters in Santa Monica. Waking up and going for an early morning run on the beach, doing work outside and taking an afternoon bike ride is a great way to spend the day. We recently stayed in Malibu and really enjoyed grabbing coffee and walking around Malibu Farms. MOCA LA is one of my favorite museums, and I can never get enough Hollywood touristing in downtown LA with a brunch at The Beverly Hills Hotel. There are so many different sides to LA, there really is nothing like it!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My best friend Mary Giuliani has been a sounding board, cheerleader and support system throughout my career. We both share the title “delusional optimist” and encourage that quality in each other. There were so many times in my early career that I was plagued with self-doubt; Mary would encourage me to try, try and try again. Also, a huge shout out to my husband who is a partner in business, but also a partner at home.

Website: https://lydiafenet.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lydiafenet/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydia-fenet-839a413/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CYCwithLydiaFenet

Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/claim-your-confidence-with-lydia-fenet/id1647588906

https://open.spotify.com/show/3IsdgcN2tHnykuumRB3L7y

Image Credits
Credits: Madeline Javier for Shou Sugi Ban House, Michael Blanchard, Lydia Fenet