A Conversation With Margie Fox
Schooling the next generation of marketers
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work over the last 30 years?
I worked for big firms, little agencies and everything in between until I finally decided to start my own with one of my still best friends, Brian Maloney. The name of the company was Maloney & Fox. We had such an amazing client mix including Mercedes, Microsoft, Shutterfly, Amazon, Balvenie, Hendricks Gin, and Tupperware. A lot of people were really happy because we had Balvenie, Hendricks Gin, Reyka Vodka, so we had a well-stocked bar. Our team motto was not, “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere” it was, “It’s noon somewhere.”
What has been the most rewarding part of your career and life journey?
I have had such a fun time working that “working” absolutely never seemed like work to me. I am a wildly immature human being and the older I get the more immature I become. But I will say that by and large I have laughed more, been challenged, and been scared. But the overarching theme on everything is that I’ve had a blast! I don’t know if many people can say this, but work has never felt like work to me.
Where do you get inspiration from?
I started after an epic firing. I was fired from a job and then thought, “dumber people might be able to do this.” So I was going to give it a whirl! The truth is, I wanted to see if I could do it my way and create what I thought would be as much of a utopian workplace as was humanly possible. I also really believe in stepping outside your comfort zone and doing something that scares you all the time. So all of those factors were at play when I decided to start Maloney & Fox. I also don’t have a big enough ego that the notion of failure was something that kept me from doing that.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
I would say really be nice to everyone except for the a**holes. You don’t have to waste your energy on them. I don’t believe in that. If there’s somebody who is an ass you don’t have to be nice to them. My partner and I, Brian, made up this really amazing acronym called PON which is, “The Power of No.” It’s really important to be able to say, “no”. You have to say it with a good reason and politely because I do believe that if somebody asks you to do something, there’s always a way to get it done. But I think it’s important to stand your ground and be able to say “no”. I was a working mom and people at my daughter’s school would ask me, “Would you like to volunteer at the Spring Fair?” and I would say “no”. I think it’s important to say “yes” sometimes too so I understand I might be contradicting myself but I think it’s a really powerful thing to be able to say, “no”.
What is one book that everyone should read?
My temptation is to say “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” because it stands the test of time forever and ever and ever. God knows I love a good Dr. Seuss rhyme right? And a simplified way to say things. But I’m just gonna go out with one of my all-time favorites which is “A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving. It’s a little hard to get into but once you’re in it’s a classically great novel.
What are some of your favorite brands?
If you’re in LA or moving to LA, there’s a brand by the name of AYR. Check them out. It was started by some young groovy girls who now have a store on Abbot Kinney.
There’s another friend of mine who started a company called Heyday. They just opened a facial place in Brentwood. It’s really great — it is really really great.
What’s an upcoming project that you’re excited about?
There will be a new Fitz + Hen collection coming out. So I’m excited about that. That is my side hustle right now. I have made a ton of mistakes but I’m still having a good time doing it and learning new things along the way. God knows I have no idea about getting into the jewelry business.
I also am currently working for a graphic design/branding company called Marine Lane. My official job title is Consigliere. I am working for a woman who came to me straight out of the University of Michigan. She started as a receptionist and she was a really talented designer which I saw right away. She worked for me for four years and was crazy good at that. When I left to go back ( I sold my business) to Ogilvy as a Creative Director and a Managing Director, Megan went out on her own. So fast forward, we now call it “Boomerang Boss” because now she’s my boss which I absolutely adore. I am older than anyone by decades and am so jazzed about all the projects I’ve been working on. We’ve been doing branding for a medical marijuana company. We do work for an organization called “No Labels” which is amazing. We do work for Mercedes. It’s all over the board.
What is your advice to young women who are just beginning their professional journey?
1. Have a wild curiosity: You know it’s funny because I was thinking about this. We live now in this world where there is a beautiful smart aphorism every single day on Instagram. Nothing I say is going to be groundbreaking. But I do think it’s key to push yourself out of your comfort zone. I think it’s important to not stay in your lane. I am a queen bullshitter so having a peripheral interest in anything is so important and having sort of a wild curiosity is key.
Understanding things from wildly different perspectives comes from traveling and knowing that there is a whole big world out there. I was lucky because my now very loving ex-husband was 12 years older than me. I had a 62-year-old husband, then 50-year-old me, then Robert was probably like 30 and my stepdaughter was twenty-six, and then my daughter. So there was always a mix of people around. Understanding how different people are taking in the universe and respecting and honoring that lets you do your job so much easier. It’s more fun too!
2. Add pizzazz: I think that you should do everything that you’re doing with your own personal pizzazz. Never show up with just your assignment and don’t just answer a question. Answer the question and then add a dollop of your own extra pizzazz.
3. Take your work seriously but not yourself.
4. Run a marathon: If you can, this was a big deal for me was when I was turning 30. I was like, “Oh my God. I’m a little behind on things. What am I going to do that is so ridiculous?” I decided to train for a marathon which trusts me is a ridiculous proposition for said human. But I trained for it and I did it! It was one of those things that has had a lasting impression. Just when I think you can’t do anymore I say, “My God I did something so unbelievable?” If you can — run a marathon. If you can’t — cheer loudly.”
5. Bourbon.
To learn more about Margie’s company, fitz + hen, visit their website and check out @fitzandhen on Instagram.
