PR Profile: Mandy Lancia

INTRO

MANDY LANCIA is the incredible founder of The Glossary, a platform dedicated to empowering and connecting women across the country.

I first had the opportunity to meet Mandy a few months ago and I’m pretty sure we quickly became close friends. From bonding over shared experiences/crisis situations in event planning to pictures of puppies, she’s one of those people you feel you can instantly open up to.

What impressed me most about Mandy is that she’s running the Glossary in cities across the country all by herself and did I mention she has two other jobs as well? The girl is the definition of a boss babe and I’m so inspired by all she’s done and continues to do selflessly to connect and inspire the community.

Read on to learn more about Mandy, The Glossary, and how she hopes it will continue to transform lives moving forward. Oh, and I’m totally crashing that coffee date with Alexandria Ocasio Cortez :)

THE BASICS

Tell me about your story: who you are, what you do, and how has your path unfolded?

Hi, I'm Mandy. I'm the founder of The Glossary, a platform dedicated to creative women through sharing their honest stories, championing their businesses, and creating spaces for community to be built. When I moved to Chicago, I wanted a way to connect both the women I personally knew and the women that I was meeting online. I created The Glossary first as a space for online connection through interviewing women around the world, and then it quickly grew into events as well. I host events here in Chicago, while also traveling to other cities to bring women together. Having grown up in the realm of small businesses, working for small women-owned businesses throughout college, and freelancing with women-owned businesses afterwards, I've always known that this was my path. My mother and grandmother owned a shop my whole childhood, so a retail setting was my home. I saw the lowest of lows and the most beautiful highs, but more importantly, I saw the passion that it took to own your own business. Since then, I've loved using my time, skills, and knowledge to help other women grow, and that's really where I feel most at home.

In your own words, what does your company do?

The Glossary is a space for honest connection. It is focused on bringing women together so they can share their stories, resources, insights, and businesses though online interviews, panels, workshops, discussion groups, meals, and retreats.

Why is your work important?

Providing space for women to share their voices is important. Listening to women is important. Building community is important. Fighting against the patriarchy is important. Supporting women with our time, resources, and dollars is important. Making change is important.

What’s your proudest accomplishment?

2017 was a pretty special year for me. The Glossary grew exponentially and so did I. I hosted more than 25 events in over 10 different cities, which meant that women were brought together around the country because of the work I'm doing. I absolutely love the events I'm able to host, but my favorite part is watching the relationships form afterwards. People have made their best friends, business partners, creative collaborators, etc. (including myself) at Glossary events and that is truly the most wonderful feeling.

Where do you see the company (and your role in it) five years from now?

I'm a firm believer in the community that has been built, and with that, I'm allowing The Glossary to grow and change at its own pace. I would really enjoy having a go-to woman in different cities to host events and be there on the ground building community. I get asked to travel to a lot of different places, but as I'm one person, I can't be everywhere at once. This is something that I'm currently working on. In 5 years, I hope that The Glossary will be a more established platform in various cities, hosting thoughtful events that give back to the local communities.

THE FUN STUFF

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Take your idea and make it happen. Even if you don't like the outcome and don't want to move forward, at least you've gotten it out of your system.

What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

I wouldn't find this surprising, but other people have. I'm the biggest introvert that has been struggling with anxiety and depression since I was a child. Honestly, it's really difficult for me to host events (hello panic attacks), but I feel wholeheartedly drawn to do so because of the good that it brings to others.

If you could have coffee with anyone (alive or dead), who would it be and why?

Ahhh so hard. There are so many amazing women in my life that I'd love to have more coffees with and so many amazing women that I would love to meet. I could probably have 1,000 answers here, but I'll pick one. I'd love to be able to sit down with Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. I've been following along with her for such a long time and I admire the way that she uses her voice, knowledge, and platform to create change and educate others.