NET-A-PORTER Content Director & Host of ‘Incredible Women’ podcast

For International Women’s Day, we're thrilled to talk with Alice Casely-Hayford, Content Director at NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER and host of the Incredible Women podcast. With a career spanning British Vogue, Tatler, and POP magazine, Alice has long been at the forefront of shaping digital storytelling and championing women’s voices across industries.

In this conversation, Alice reflects on the lessons learned from interviewing trailblazing women, the evolving conversation around women’s achievements, and the importance of resilience in creative careers. She also shares the personal inspirations that have shaped her own journey, along with the one woman in history she’d most love to interview.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you started in media?
I’ve been working in the industry for about 15 years, starting out as an assistant for titles such as Tatler and POP magazine, after I graduated from UCL where I studied English Literature. Although I cut my teeth in print publications, I’ve always been fascinated by digital - the immediacy, the community and the reactivity.
There is a snobbery around digital media, but it can still include long-form, thoughtful, well-informed content that is beautifully executed and thoroughly researched. I love how digital can really capture the zeitgeist and respond swiftly to something trending. Print media is a beautiful, tangible thing but I’m also incredibly data-driven and love the analytics you mine online.
Speaking of data, my job at NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER is the perfect intersection of two of my passions: fashion and analytics. I’ve been Content Director for 5 years and prior to that I headed up digital at British Vogue.

Through your work on the ‘Incredible Women’ podcast you’ve had the chance to speak with some of the most inspiring voices across different industries. Has there been a conversation that particularly changed your perspective?
I had the privilege of speaking with Gloria Steinem for season 8 of our podcast. She was turning 90 at the time we spoke but was the sharpest, funniest, and most interesting person I’ve ever talked to. To live through so much conflict, protest, and resistance and yet still remain optimistic was truly uplifting.

What’s a piece of advice you’ve received from an interviewee that has stayed with you?
In our new season, Passion & Purpose, that just launched I speak with entrepreneur and CEO Emma Grede. She’s the final episode of this latest series and the conversation is worth the wait. She speaks so eloquently on motherhood, self-belief and drive. There’s a lot to take away from it.

What advice would you give to women aspiring to enter the creative industries? Perseverance is key. There were so many times when I was starting my career when I was knocked back, not getting the countless jobs I applied for. But I kept going, sometimes taking side steps to get to where I am. Your path doesn’t need to be linear; what sometimes feels like a misstep is actually the right step to where you need to be. Always remain curious and hungry to learn. The learnings you pick up from supposed failures are the most enriching and rewarding.

What does IWD mean to you, how do you hope to see the conversation around women’s achievements evolve?
Every day is women’s day as far as I’m concerned but it’s joyful and sadly necessary to have a global annual celebration recognising women’s superpowers whilst acknowledging all the work that needs to be done to create a more equitable future.

Motherhood is a great privilege for those who choose or are fortunate enough to go on that journey but there is so much purpose and passion for women outside of motherhood that needs to be championed. We need to find better language to talk about womanhood and parenting and find better ways to support mothers and those who aren’t mothers.

Who is an ‘incredible woman’ in your life who has shaped you the most?
It’s a cliche but my mother is my greatest source of inspiration. She is the most creative, optimistic and intelligent person, who built and grew a remarkable business with my father but somehow made the space to raise my brother and I in a loving, warm and engaged environment. We had an unorthodox upbringing growing up in my parents’ fashion studio but it was the most exciting, rich and colourful place and I wouldn’t change it. 

If you could interview any woman in history, who would it be and why?
I would love to interview Lauryn Hill. The Miseducation is a seminal album and was the soundtrack to my early adolescence so I would love to be able to speak to her about crafting it and her prolific career.

FOLLOW ALICE

 @alcaselyhayford   | Content Director @netaporter @mrporter

Listen to Incredible Women on Apple Podcast. 'Passion and Purpose' out now.

ON COLLECTING ART:

My sister-in-law, Sophie Ashby is an incredible interior designer. She always says to “start with the art” when creating a room so the focal points in several rooms in our house are paintings by Sola Olulode, Cas Namoda and Anico Mostert. We’re looking for new pieces for our kitchen and our youngest son’s room so I love perusing Partnership Editions.