Lydia Fenet
Lydia Fenet is the founder and CEO of the Lydia Fenet Agency, a boutique agency representing best in class charity auctioneers. Over her two-decade long career, Lydia served as the Global Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships for Christie’s and reshaped the fundraising landscape as the world’s leading charity auctioneer. She has single handedly raised over one billion dollars for more than 800 organizations and broken-down countless barriers for women in the auction industry. Lydia is the author of two best-selling books, The Most Powerful Woman in the Room is You & Claim Your Confidence as well as the podcast host of Claim Your Confidence in collaboration with Rockefeller Center.
Lydia is represented by CAA and travels internationally to speak to companies about unlocking their sales potential, empowering people in the workplace and the art of public speaking. You can follow her auctions, antics, and anecdotes on Instagram @LydiaFenet.
Photo courtesy of Lydia Fenet
At what stage of your life did you begin to pursue your auctioneering career?
I read an article in Vanity Fair magazine when I was in college about the sale of Princess Diana's dress at Christie's auction house in New York City. The article completely captured my imagination and I did everything, including calling the internship coordinator for two straight weeks, to get into the internship program. I was hired out of my internship and tried out to be an auctioneer three years later. I've never looked back!
I imagine auctioneering is a male-dominated competitive field. How did you break through that barrier and stand out?
I learned a long time ago that there is no reason to try to act like a man to achieve success in a male dominated industry. If you show up as yourself, confident in your abilities at some point they can't ignore you. My femininity is my superpower in auctioneering. I don’t look like the person that people expect to see onstage. I love changing perceptions. Different isn’t bad - it’s just different.
Photo courtesy of Lydia Fenet
Along the way, did you ever doubt yourself and wonder if you’d picked the wrong path?
Definitely. When I first started auctioneering, I was pretty mediocre. There were many nights when I would get offstage and doubt that I should ever go back on stage again. But I kept going back again and again. Over time I learned how to engage the crowd and make it fun for the audience - and lucrative for the nonprofit.
What is the throughline in your different businesses and how do you navigate inevitable obstacles that arise and stay encouraged to continue along your journey?
I’ve learned to focus my energy on things that fill me up instead of depleting my energy. Everything I do as an author, podcast host and auctioneer touches on motivating people through storytelling. There are challenges in every facet of my career, but as long as I stick to things I’m passionate about, I have the motivation to keep going.
Success looks different for everyone. How do you define yours?
I define success as the times in my life when my family and friends are healthy and happy, and I feel excited and motivated by my career.
Aspiring to anything outside of the status quo is fraught with risks. What was the scariest risk you took in building your career as an auctioneer, author, or podcast host and would you change your initial steps of launching one of these areas, knowing what you know now?
Recently I left Christie’s after 24 years to start my own auctioneering agency. It was a leap of faith to go out on my own, but it was the right decision. It’s been such an exciting time; I wouldn’t change a thing.
When you look back to where you started to where you are, what are you most proud of?
That I’ve always stayed true to who I am no matter what was happening in my life or career. I have always tried to treat people with respect and kindness in life - and I hope to always be that way.
Photo courtesy of Lydia Fenet
