Angela Ahrendts Quotes

Powerful Angela Ahrendts for Daily Growth

About Angela Ahrendts

Angela Ahrendts is a renowned business executive and former retail chief at Apple Inc., recognized for her transformative impact on the retail industry. Born on August 14, 1962, in Akron, Ohio, Ahrendts grew up in a working-class family with strong values of hard work and determination. She attended Ball State University, where she studied retail management and marketing. After graduation, she began her career at Limited Brands, climbing the corporate ladder from a management trainee to eventually becoming the company's CEO in 2005. Ahrendts is renowned for her unique approach to retailing, emphasizing the importance of creating an emotional connection between customers and brands. This philosophy was evident during her tenure at Burberry, where she served as CEO from 2006 to 2014. During this time, she successfully repositioned the brand, focusing on digital innovation, store design, and customer experience, which resulted in a significant increase in sales and brand recognition. In 2014, Ahrendts joined Apple Inc., becoming the senior vice president of Retail and Online Stores. She oversaw a significant redesign of Apple's retail stores, focusing on creating inviting spaces that encouraged interaction and customer engagement. Ahrendts is known for her inspiring quotes, such as "Retail is really about human connection," which reflect her belief in the power of relationships in business. Her influence extends beyond the retail sector, with businesses worldwide seeking to emulate her innovative strategies and customer-centric approach. Today, Ahrendts continues to be a sought-after speaker and advisor, sharing her insights on leadership, innovation, and the future of retail. Despite stepping down from Apple in 2019, her impact on the company and the industry at large remains significant.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Don't try to fit in where you don't belong. Belong where you fit in."

This quote encourages individuals to seek out environments where they can thrive, rather than forcing themselves into situations that do not align with their values, skills, or personality. It promotes the importance of self-awareness, authenticity, and finding a sense of belonging in places where one's unique qualities are appreciated and valued. This idea is crucial for personal growth and overall well-being, as it allows individuals to contribute meaningfully and make a positive impact on those around them.

"Everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear."

This quote by Angela Ahrendts emphasizes that achieving one's desires often requires confronting fear, as it can act as a barrier between us and our goals. It encourages individuals to face their fears head-on, understanding that taking risks and stepping out of comfort zones may lead to the realization of personal ambitions. In other words, fear should not be an obstacle, but a challenge to push past in order to unlock one's true potential and seize opportunities for growth and fulfillment.

"The more you can create a culture that really cares about people, that listens, that respects, that encourages, and that empowers – the better your business will do."

This quote by Angela Ahrendts emphasizes the importance of fostering a caring and supportive work environment to drive business success. In her view, creating a culture that listens to, respects, encourages, and empowers its people is crucial for any organization's prosperity. A culture that nurtures human connection, empathy, and growth will foster innovation, productivity, and ultimately contribute to the company's bottom line. In essence, Ahrendts suggests that the well-being and potential of employees should be a top priority for businesses seeking long-term growth and sustainability.

"Leadership isn't about being in charge. It's about taking care of those in your charge."

This quote by Angela Ahrendts emphasizes that true leadership is not about wielding power or control, but rather about nurturing and caring for the people under one's guidance. Leaders are expected to provide support, protection, and growth opportunities for their team members, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed. The focus should always be on people development, as a strong and compassionate team is essential for organizational success.

"Don't just be a leader. Be a 'Weaver.' Bring together diverse people to create something beautiful and lasting."

This quote by Angela Ahrendts emphasizes the importance of leadership that goes beyond merely directing or commanding, but rather weaving connections among diverse individuals. The metaphor of a weaver suggests a leader who skillfully integrates different threads (people) to produce something beautiful (collaborative work) and lasting (positive impact). This kind of leadership fosters unity, collaboration, and the creation of enduring outcomes that benefit the organization and its community as a whole.

It's no longer possible to think of the physical and digital as two different worlds.

- Angela Ahrendts

Think, Digital, Longer, Worlds

Everyone in the world should have a trench coat, and there should be a trench coat for everyone in the world. It does not matter your age; it doesn't matter your gender.

- Angela Ahrendts

Gender, World, Coat, Trench

Great design alone isn't going to yield the results investors are expecting.

- Angela Ahrendts

Alone, Going, Expecting, Yield

At some point in your career, maybe you, too, have made the life-altering decision to start anew. If so, you know first-hand how exciting, challenging, and sometimes disorienting the first 30, 60, 90 days can be.

- Angela Ahrendts

Career, Some, Maybe, Anew

I have learned to listen and to hone my instincts to be perceptive and be receptive to change, to constantly live in ambiguity.

- Angela Ahrendts

Change, Learned, Receptive, Ambiguity

Think of energy almost like emotional electricity. It has a powerful way of uniting ordinary people, their connected spirit, to do extraordinary things.

- Angela Ahrendts

Think, Powerful Way, Almost, Ordinary People

The main objective - our soul is our people. And our job is to enrich their lives, change the world. And so I think that's the bigger pressure you put on yourself.

- Angela Ahrendts

Think, I Think, Lives, Our People

We're building a lifelong relationship with people, and every great relationship has to be built on trust.

- Angela Ahrendts

Trust, Lifelong, Built, Great Relationship

An influencer, to me, is someone who shares their journey - the ups and downs - and their approach to their craft or the spark that ignites a new interest allowing people to do more and go further.

- Angela Ahrendts

Journey, New, Downs, Shares

Everyone talks about building a relationship with your customer. I think you build one with your employees first.

- Angela Ahrendts

Think, Everyone, I Think, Employees

Intuition is the wisdom formed by feeling and instinct - a gift of knowing without reasoning... Belief is ignited by hope and supported by facts and evidence - it builds alignment and creates confidence. Belief is what sets energy in motion and creates the success that breeds more success.

- Angela Ahrendts

Gift, Instinct, Evidence, Energy

I was raised in a small town in Indiana and educated at Ball State University.

- Angela Ahrendts

Small, Ball, I Was Raised, State University

Remember - the universal language is not texted, emailed, or spoken. It is felt.

- Angela Ahrendts

Remember, Felt, Spoken, Emailed

You have to create a consistent brand experience however and wherever a customer touches your brand, online or offline. The lines are forever blurred.

- Angela Ahrendts

Consistent, However, Your, Wherever

In an era of social everything, we want to spark possibility and opportunity in the creative arts, in real life, person to person.

- Angela Ahrendts

Opportunity, Want, Social, Spark

We always said if we were going to target a millennial consumer, then we had to do it in their mother tongue, which is digital.

- Angela Ahrendts

Digital, Always, Which, Consumer

To any CEO who's skeptical at all, you have to create a social enterprise today; you have to be totally connected with everyone who touches your brand.

- Angela Ahrendts

Everyone, Social, Enterprise, Skeptical

Burberry was about building a relationship. But it was always about selling an amazing product that you would have forever. Apple is just a deeper relationship with a much broader constituency. Because it's everybody.

- Angela Ahrendts

Product, Always, Everybody, Broader

My father smoked cigars his whole life, and my husband once in a while does. And when he does, it reminds me of my father. It's a heartwarming thing.

- Angela Ahrendts

Father, Smoked, Whole, Heartwarming

Great brands and great businesses have to be great storytellers, too. We have to tell stories - emotive, compelling stories - and even more so because we're nonfiction.

- Angela Ahrendts

Stories, Brands, Emotive, Businesses

The basis for all human relationships and where we derive our greatest strength and power, trust is single-handedly the most powerful source of positive energy and, once in place, unlocks a freedom and peace to explore.

- Angela Ahrendts

Strength, Trust, Source, Derive

It's not unusual for a luxury company to be born from a single product and then diversify. Louis Vuitton began with luggage, and Gucci with leather goods.

- Angela Ahrendts

Product, Born, Began, Louis

From the store windows, the store touch-points, the website, social media, or a magazine, it has to be one pure customer experience, not just to gain market share but to gain mind share.

- Angela Ahrendts

Mind, Website, Social, Social Media

You have to realise that I am the third out of six children, and I am raised with very strong core values and a very strong upbringing. I always put myself in other people's shoes.

- Angela Ahrendts

Strong, Always, Very, Core Values

I have learned to feel my way through life, personally and professionally.

- Angela Ahrendts

Through, Personally, Learned, I Have Learned

People talk about the age and positioning of a brand, but hell, it's not about that. The global language is digital, and we need to speak the language.

- Angela Ahrendts

Digital, Need, About, Positioning

I don't think malls are going to go away. People still need somewhere to go, but they do have to evolve.

- Angela Ahrendts

Think, Away, Still, Malls

I think if I'm guilty of anything, I'm guilty of always being incredibly focused on the task at hand. So wherever I've worked, I've just always tried to do my best, achieve my best, build a great team around me.

- Angela Ahrendts

Best, Achieve, I Think, Wherever

Trust your instincts and emotions.

- Angela Ahrendts

Trust, Emotions, Your, Instincts

All I have are my instincts. They've never failed me.

- Angela Ahrendts

Me, Never, Failed, Instincts

At Apple, we believe that people with passion can change the world.

- Angela Ahrendts

Change, World, Apple, Change The World

You're going to see relationships with technology across anything that's brand. I don't care if that's in home or what you wear. I just think it's a new fact of life.

- Angela Ahrendts

Think, New, Fact, Brand

What we have wanted to do is build an amazing brand experience and an amazing way that people can engage with the brand.

- Angela Ahrendts

Amazing, Build, Wanted, Brand

I don't believe that if you are going to build a long-term, sustainable brand that you can chop up every component part and expect everyone to have a perfect P&L.

- Angela Ahrendts

Perfect, Going, Sustainable, Brand

Just because you're a luxury brand doesn't mean you have to have an attitude.

- Angela Ahrendts

Luxury, Just Because, Mean, Brand

You have to do what's best for the brand.

- Angela Ahrendts

Best, You, Brand

The luxury customer is increasingly global and increasingly mobile. Their brand journey is not linear. They might browse online and purchase in store, or vice versa.

- Angela Ahrendts

Vice, Increasingly, Linear, Brand

The purer our message, the more compelling it is to consumers.

- Angela Ahrendts

More, Consumers, Compelling, Purer

Unless I can come in in the morning and smile, walk in the lobby and say, 'Good morning!' - if I am stressed - I am not going to do a good job. Everybody is watching us. They are feeding off of our energy.

- Angela Ahrendts

Good, Watching, Everybody, Energy

I know it might sound weird, but empathy is one of the greatest creators of energy. It's counterintuitive because it's selfless.

- Angela Ahrendts

Empathy, Creators, Might, Energy

I think when you're empathetic, you're putting yourself in somebody else's shoes, right? It's not about you.

- Angela Ahrendts

Think, I Think, Putting, Empathetic

If I look to any company as a model, it's Apple. They're a brilliant design company working to create a lifestyle.

- Angela Ahrendts

Look, Brilliant, Any, Lifestyle

I'm from a small farm town in Indiana!

- Angela Ahrendts

Small, Town, Indiana, Farm

Part of me is very entrepreneurial.

- Angela Ahrendts

Me, Part, Very, Entrepreneurial

Computers and smart devices are among the greatest intellectual gifts ever created for man but, if not balanced with human contact, may offer little to develop one's heart.

- Angela Ahrendts

May, Devices, Created, Gifts

The more technologically advanced our society becomes, the more we need to go back to the basic fundamentals of human communication.

- Angela Ahrendts

Fundamentals, Need, Advanced, Basic

I'm not shy, but I have a job to do. I don't need the notoriety.

- Angela Ahrendts

Job, Shy, Need, Notoriety

At their core, an influencer creates an empowering human connection.

- Angela Ahrendts

Empowering, Core, Creates, Connection

I've never gone to the Oscars because I can't afford another week away. It is not more important than my husband. It is not more important than my kids.

- Angela Ahrendts

Week, More, Away, Oscars

The thing is, I don't want to be sold to when I walk into a store. I want to be welcomed.

- Angela Ahrendts

Want, Store, Sold, Welcomed

I'm nearly always at home at the weekends; that's important for every working woman today, not just me. I don't encourage people to come in at the weekend and work; I encourage people to go home and create great families.

- Angela Ahrendts

Woman, Weekends, Nearly, Families

Forget luxury; as a great company you have to keep evolving.

- Angela Ahrendts

Luxury, Forget, Keep, Evolving

It is one of the most important parts of my job, showing that you can't do it all.

- Angela Ahrendts

Important, Most, Parts

I don't believe that you are ever done. Is life ever going to stop and stand still? We have to move as fast as the world is moving.

- Angela Ahrendts

Going, Move, Still, Moving

I always say that my job is not to think about today. My job is to look around the corner and feel and see what's coming, and then warn everybody else.

- Angela Ahrendts

Think, Always, Everybody, Everybody Else

Store windows are like landing pages on the website.

- Angela Ahrendts

Website, Pages, Landing, Windows

Ask questions; don't make assumptions.

- Angela Ahrendts

Questions, Ask, Make, Assumptions

When I became the CEO of Burberry in July 2006, luxury was one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world.

- Angela Ahrendts

World, Became, Sectors, Luxury

In luxury, ubiquity will kill you - it means you're not really luxury anymore.

- Angela Ahrendts

Will, Anymore, Means, Luxury

I am not in favour of quotas. Just put the best person into the job. It is not about gender; it is about experience, leadership and vision.

- Angela Ahrendts

Best, Gender, About, Favour

I grew up in a physical world, and I speak English. The next generation is growing up in a digital world, and they speak social.

- Angela Ahrendts

Generation, Digital, Next, Growing Up

I have always admired the innovation and impact Apple products and services have on people's lives and hope in some small way I can help contribute to the company's continued success and leadership in changing the world.

- Angela Ahrendts

Innovation, Always, Admired, Services

In China, you've got six people buying for one child. But the thing is, you've got the largest rising upper-middle class in the world.

- Angela Ahrendts

Rising, Six, Largest, Buying

Online, offline, it's gotta be the same.

- Angela Ahrendts

Same, Gotta, Online

Ninety-five percent of the time, I put myself in somebody else's position - that's how I live.

- Angela Ahrendts

Myself, How, Else, Position

We value feeling over knowing, because you can't prove something that hasn't been done before.

- Angela Ahrendts

Prove, Over, Been, Knowing

The sign of a great leader is knowing what you know and knowing what you don't know.

- Angela Ahrendts

Leader, Sign, Great Leader, Knowing

I don't care how advanced technology gets. I don't think that there's anything that can replace looking someone in the eyes, touching their hand, you know?

- Angela Ahrendts

Think, Replace, Advanced, Touching

There's seven billion people on the planet. It's not about you.

- Angela Ahrendts

Seven, Planet, About, Billion

I hadn't grown up always aspiring to be a CEO.

- Angela Ahrendts

Always, Grown, Aspiring, CEO

I think that the larger and more complex the business gets, I have to listen twice as much as I speak.

- Angela Ahrendts

Think, Twice, Larger, Complex

I don't want to be a great executive without being a great mum and a great wife. I don't want to look back and say I wish I had done things differently. 'Balance' is a really big word for me.

- Angela Ahrendts

Big, I Wish, Mum, Executive

I don't want to be a great chief executive without being a great mum and a great wife.

- Angela Ahrendts

Wife, Chief, Mum, Executive

I work through teams. It's the only way I know how to work.

- Angela Ahrendts

Work, Through, How, Teams

You know, I think that anything you do at Apple... you feel a tremendous onus. You want to carry on the legacy of what it meant.

- Angela Ahrendts

Think, I Think, Meant, Tremendous

Technology has given us access to the world and its sea of content, allowing us to never speak to another person if we don't want to.

- Angela Ahrendts

Access, Another, Given, Content

We all control our careers. Those choices that you make are so critical.

- Angela Ahrendts

Choices, Control, Critical, Careers

Don't stop. Don't slow down. Keep focused.

- Angela Ahrendts

Stop, Keep, Focused, Slow

We cherish right and we cherish left, but more important, we cherish when you are able to use the whole mind that you were born with.

- Angela Ahrendts

Mind, More, Use, Cherish

Work has never really been work for me. It's been a natural extension of my life.

- Angela Ahrendts

My Life, Never, Been, Extension

Whether it's countries or companies, it's about putting the best person in the job who can unite people and create value.

- Angela Ahrendts

Best, About, Putting, Unite

It is not about gender, it is about experience, leadership, and vision.

- Angela Ahrendts

Leadership, Vision, About, Gender

People don't want to just make stuff. They want to make stuff with purpose.

- Angela Ahrendts

People, Want, Just, Purpose

Great design... you won't have a business today without great design.

- Angela Ahrendts

Business, Great, Today, Design

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