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Meet NJ Goldston, a venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and fashion queen

NJ Goldston is an LA based venture capitalist in emerging fashion and technology brands. She is also the Founder and Editor in Chief of the Webby award-winning fashion blog The Blonde and The Brunette and the Managing Partner of leading activewear line, Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL). She has been named a “Style Icon” by Louis Vuitton, one of LA’s “Leading Ladies of Style” and is a member of the Vogue 125.

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

My first job ever was… As a film editor, a job I got within weeks of graduating from the NYU Tisch School of The Arts.

 

I decided to be an entrepreneur because… I wanted to marry my creative and business sides in a venture, actually numerous ventures, that utilize all my skills.

 

My proudest accomplishment is… How I have stayed relevant by sustaining and morphing my career over the years. And yes, those seven Webby Awards and the many creative honors have been truly rewarding.

 

My boldest move to date was…  Founding my own company and becoming a rainmaker in a time when there was less support available to female entrepreneurs.

 

I surprise people when I tell them… About what a diverse career I have had across so many different industries — but I rarely talk about it.

 

My best advice to people starting a business is… Find a specific niche and be singularly focused. Most importantly, hard work makes all the difference.

 

My best advice from a mentor was… You need to be adaptable and embrace change in the workplace.

 

I would tell my 20-year old self… It’s not a sprint. It’s a marathon.

 

“It’s not a sprint. It’s a marathon.”

 

My biggest setback was… Realizing that there are always issues that you confront on a daily basis.

 

I overcame it by… Learning to be less emotional about how I respond and more analytical in difficult business situations. Emotion doesn’t solve anything.

 

Work/life balance is… An ongoing process that never ends. Sometimes you do a better job than other times. What’s important is to occasionally step back and take a break.

 

If you googled me, you still wouldn’t know… I was on a European fashion reality show for five seasons. It was so much fun.

 

I stay inspired by… Being a voracious reader and I love to write.

 

The future excites me because… I’m enjoying writing my Women@Forbes column and the new opportunities it is presenting, learning about other women in business and what they are accomplishing.

 

My next step is… Continuing to build my writing career alongside my work in the fashion industry, which are both my passions in life.