Meet Elizabeth Sutton | CEO, Elizabeth Sutton Collection

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elizabeth Sutton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elizabeth, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?

I’d say there are three things that contribute to my success. First and foremost, I was given a creative talent by God that I’m eternally grateful for. I am self taught and never studied art or design. My ability to be a multidisciplinary designer sets me apart from others. Second, my tenacity / resilience / work ethic. I am willing to work 18-20 hour days if an opportunity demands. For 3 years of my life I’d work 4am – 1am. I do not get discouraged by hearing the word no, rather I recognize the rejection only leaves opportunity for the right doors to open. If I want something badly enough, I keep chasing it. Third, I’m not afraid to ask for help. Anyone who is afraid to ask others for help won’t go very far.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

My art began as a happy accident. I am a completely self taught artist and designer and had no experience in business prior. I tell people I went to the School of Hard Knocks. Life dealt me a very challenging hand between ages 25-28 – challenges that most people would’ve never bounced back from. But the trauma from my childhood built a resilience in me that has always made me a survivor, which I have now parlayed into being a thriver. No matter how hard life tried to knock me down, I kept showing up every day, putting one foot in front of the other, no matter how much I wanted to just die. There was a 2 year period of my life where I was very emotionally unwell, when my best friend died in my car leaving my birthday party shortly following a divorce with a 3 week old. I invested in a lot of grief counseling and therapy to get myself healthy, and doing that was the best investment I’ve ever made in myself. It turned my pain into power, and it has made me unstoppable.

Lessons: Get shit done. Less talking, more doing. Nothing replaces hard work. Your biggest challenges are your greatest blessings. Stop caring what other people think. Life is precious and short. You only live once. You die with your deeds, not your belongings. Always strive to better yourself. Happiness is a choice. Facing your fears will get you there. Change is good. Stop judging. If you don’t love yourself, you can’t love others. Heal. Do the work. Get healthy. Be kind in the heart and strong in the mind. Have faith. Trust very few. You are the people you surround yourself with. Make sure they lift you up. Don’t let other people’s limitations limit your own mind. Believe in yourself – you are you own greatest love. And don’t forget to dance and take a deep breath.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Favorite Museums: Natural History and the Met Stroll through Central Park, walk around Soho / Noho
Walk from the city over the Brooklyn Bridge during sunset and have dinner / ice cream / stroll by the water.
Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
Favorite Restaurants: 12 Chairs (Mediterranean), Sushi of Gari (sushi), Ishikawa (Omakase sushi), Jack’s Wife Frieda (brunch), Bond St (sushi + vibes), Bar Pitti (Italian), The Mark (food and ambiance), Levain Bakery (cookies), The Nine (New), Veronika (Park and 23rd), Bemelman’s Bar (Old school NYC vibe)
Bars: Parlor Room (piano bar), SubMercer, The Malbury in Soho ( New and Cocktail Bar), Chapel Bar ( Member’s Club/ Late night bar), Gospel on Lafeyette (Party Bar), Jeans (New), Hearsay (Israeli Bar)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, huge shoutouts to the following companies for giving me opportunities and having faith in my talents early on in my career – Bari Lynn Accessories, Joe & The Juice, Tilebar, Eden Rock St. Barths. These 4 brand collaborations put my name on the map early on and opened doors for the future. It is no surprise that I very much admire the leadership of each company, and some of them have become friends and mentors as well. I am forever grateful for my Instafam ‘Good Vibe Tribe’ who support my career, as well as all my fine art collectors who allow me to do what I love and to my ESC core team that have been hustling with me for years, dedicated to my dreams of making Elizabeth Sutton Collection a global design empire. We work HARD.
And for all my continued and current partnerships that allow me to keep going – Pacaso Homes, Champagne Problems, Tilebar, Bloomingdales, Serendipity 3, Rugs America.

And of course I have a number of entrepreneur mentors that prefer their privacy but they are imperative to helping me calm down when I have an entrepreneur freak out. Special shoutout to my financial advisor, Diana Johnston, from UBS for teaching me how to make money on my money, and for giving me the resources through UBS to help make better and smarter entrepreneurial decisions.

Website: www.elizabethsuttoncollection.com

Instagram: @elizabethsuttoncollection

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethsuttoncollection/

Twitter: @elizabethsuttoncollection

Facebook: facebook.com/elizabethsuttoncollection

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ec8HJji1yLIfdDCQyKXpg

Image Credits
Giovanny Gutierrez Peter Koloff Julian Osorio