Heidi Gets Caught in the Middle

Notwithstanding the bizarre disco dress Leslie wore to the Bling It On event, she and LeeAnne did a wonderful job: The Fashionistas made some money, everyone had a great time, and now Caitlin McConnell of Bling Is the New Black is doing custom Fashionistas T-shirts that we are selling like hotcakes on our website.

LeeAnne has been championing Leslie for some time in spite of Pam's protestations, so I was not surprised when she told me she was nominating Leslie to the board. Of course, I knew Pam cannot stand Leslie and would have a fit when she found out about the nomination, but, at this point, Pam's reasons seemed very vague to me.

Simply disliking someone is not sufficient reason to block them from the board. In the past we have had board members who were not fond of one another, and I have served on numerous boards and certainly didn't necessarily like everyone. The point of serving is to be part of the leadership of an organization about which you are passionate, and it is critical to put your own petty feelings aside. As the founder/CEO of the Fashionistas, I am not the least bit interested in he-said-she-said trifles; I am interested in results.

To be accepted onto the board of directors of the Fashionistas, one must receive a unanimous vote. However, the bylaws state that as founder, I have the authority to veto or table the vote, which is a power I have never previously chosen to exercise.

When the time came for Leslie to be voted in, LeeAnne clearly articulated Leslie's past experience in the fashion world and emphasized the success of the Bling event. The vote was taken, and, of course, Pam was the only nay. When I asked her to explain why she objected, she said Leslie is a fraud. Pam felt so strongly about her position that she gave us an ultimatum: Leslie or her. Because I certainly do not want to lose Pam as a board member and the potential seriousness of her accusation, I decided it was best to table the vote until our next meeting so Pam could provide me with documentation of her grievances against Leslie.

At the board meeting I was wearing a Chanel jacket and jewelry. At Connie's store opening I was wearing a Stella McCartney dress and an Armani fur collar.