When I attended an event at the CHIEF Clubhouse in NYC this week, I had the privilege of hearing Elyce Arons, co-founder of Kate Spade and now CEO of Frances Valentine, speak. Annie Kiefer, VP Marketing for Frances Valentine, accompanied Elyce.
Elyce recently published her book, “We Might Just Make It After All: My Best Friendship with Kate Spade”, a beautiful reflection on the bond she shared with her late friend and business partner, Kate Spade, who tragically passed away in 2018.
What stayed with me most wasn’t just how she and Kate built an iconic fashion brand; it was how their friendship fueled that journey. Elyce spoke with love, humor, and admiration. She shared stories that were sincere and funny, moments that revealed not only the brilliance of their brand but also the devotion of two women who trusted, challenged, and lifted each other through uncertainty and success.
As I listened, I couldn’t help but think about the friendships that have shaped my own life, especially the women who showed up at just the right moments. The ones who held me accountable when I doubted myself. The ones who cheered when I took risks. The ones who reminded me of who I was when I started to forget. In a world that often glorifies independence, it’s easy to forget how much strength we draw from one another. Female friendship isn’t just emotional support. It’s creative energy, strategic insight, and emotional grounding. It’s where big ideas are born over coffee, where dreams take shape through laughter, and where resilience quietly rebuilds itself after heartbreak or setback. As Elyce spoke about building a company out of connection and care, it reminded me that our greatest collaborations often start not with strategy decks or investor calls, but with trust, love, and shared vision.
If you’re reading this and thinking about the friendships that have been part of your own story, reach out. Tell them how much they’ve meant to you. Reconnect, reminisce, and remind each other that friendship isn’t just personal. It’s foundational to how we grow, lead, and thrive. We might just make it after all, but we rarely do it alone.
