Whitney Bromberg Hawkings | From Fashion Exec to Floral Industry Disruptor
On this week’s donothing podcast, you’ll learn:
Why a life outside of Texas appealed to Whitney
What inspired Whitney to move from NYC to Paris after graduating college
How Whitney got a job as Tom’s Ford assistant
Which major life and business lessons Tom Ford has taught Whitney
What Whitney’s life was like inside the fashion industry
How working high-fashion events first sparked the idea for FLOWERBX
Why Whitney left the fashion world to start her own business
What makes FLOWERBX different from traditional floral delivery services
Why Whitney sees value in a direct-to-consumer flower company
How FLOWERBX delivers better products at a lower price
Which major fashion and celebrity names are FLOWERBX regulars
How much waste most flower shops experience daily—and how does FLOWERBX nearly eliminate their own floral waste
Which challenges FLOWERBX experiences as they quickly expand
Why female entrepreneurial role models are so important for women leaders
What kinds of business lessons Whitney learns every day
Why empathy and compassion are integral leadership traits
How Brexit could become a challenge for FLOWERBX
Why Whitney believes in having a 10-year-plan
How Whitney balances business ownership with her marriage and raising three young children
Why Whitney only hires people she’d sit down and have dinner with
For nearly 20 years, Whitney Bromberg Hawkings worked alongside iconic fashion designer and filmmaker, Tom Ford, as one of his most trusted team members. Then, she left her beloved industry behind with a mission to disrupt the outdated floral industry with FLOWERBX.
Whitney started working for Tom Ford while he was the Creative Director at Gucci in Paris. Eventually, she rose to the position of Senior Vice President of Communications at his own fashion brand, TOM FORD. In 2016, Whitney resigned from her executive position to found FLOWERBX, the online flower delivery service that’s slated to become the first global flower brand.
In just over three years, she’s expanded FLOWERBX from the U.K. and France to over 20 countries across Europe. While the company continues to focus on strengthening and growing their European markets, it also just launched in its first U.S. location—New York City.
Learn how this native Texan found her place within the European fashion world and discover why she ultimately chose the path to entrepreneurship in this week’s donothing podcast.
Connect with FLOWERBX
Whitney’s Recommended Books
Tools of Titans, by Tim Ferris
Shoe Dog, by Phil Knight
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This year’s retreat will be held at the pristine Shambhala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado from April 20-23, 2020 as we dive into the biggest leadership challenge our lives—doing nothing. Learn more about the donothing Leadership Retreat at https://www.donothingbook.com/retreat.