About this episode

Amy Astley discusses her career journey and insights on leadership and creativity in the fashion industry.

This week on the show, editor-in-chief of Architectural Digest Amy Astley reflects on her path from aspiring ballerina to journalist to leading some of the most influential publications in fashion and design, including Architectural Digest and Teen Vogue. She opens up working alongside Anna Wintour, navigating high-pressure creative environments, learning to trust her instincts, and her thoughts on what it truly means to be a “taste maker.” Together, Maria and Amy talk about perfectionism, ambition, mentorship, self-doubt, and the pressure women often feel to prove themselves in leadership roles. They also discuss taste, storytelling, social media, creative risk-taking, and why curiosity may be the most important skill of all. All that and more on this episode of Pretty Tough. Pretty Tough is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA. ⁠⁠Listen to every episode on your favorite podcast platform⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Follow Maria on Instagram ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Follow Maria on X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Follow Pretty Tough on Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Subscribe to Pretty Tough on Substack 00:00:00 Intro: Redefining Taste in a Borderless World 00:02:18 The "Dutiful Daughter" Archetype in Business 00:04:00 Ballet Beginnings: Learning Discipline…

People in this episode

Host: Maria Sharapova

Guest: Amy Astley

Topics covered

• fashion
• design
• leadership
• mentorship
• creativity
• women in business

Keywords

• taste maker
• perfectionism
• ambition
• self-doubt
• creative risk-taking
• storytelling
• social media

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Architectural Digest, Teen Vogue

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