Climbing the Corporate Ladder—Her Way with Joelle Meaghan

Joelle Meaghan defined her own corporate ladder, where ambition, resilience, and vision coexist. In this edition of COMPACT Conversations, we sit down with Joelle to explore the realities of forging a career on her own terms while balancing executive leadership with the evolution of her namesake brand, Joelle Meaghan.

Through an honest conversation about career progression, leadership, pivotal turning points, and the courage to embrace uncertainty, Joelle reflects on the transformative leap of faith that reshaped her professional journey. Together, we examine the decisions that defined her path, the challenges that strengthened her perspective, and the lessons that continue to guide her. More than a conversation about success, this feature defines what it means to lead with purpose, build with intention while leaning on your faith.

 But enough from our editor's desk, we'll let the source take it from here.

So, take me through the beginnings of Joelle- what did those coming-of-age years look like for you? 

Joelle: Well, I always knew I was an artist. I knew that I wanted to create art in any shape or fashion, and I grew up taking art classes and going to art museums. Funny enough, I learned how to sew in high school. In the beginning I was terrible at it, but that’s what piqued my interest in fashion specifically. Of course, I ended up getting better because I’m so tactile, and I love seeing the pieces come together and my sketches come to life. 

I decided to study Fashion & Textile Management in college at NC State’s College of Textiles. I learned a lot about fabrics, fibers, and the chemistry of it all, plus the production process. While I was there, I participated in a lot of fashion shows on campus which really kicked things off for me. Starting my sophomore year, I got a job to fund my collections for the fashion shows. I just really enjoyed seeing my designs come down the runway and being able to come up with a concept and seeing it through, start to finish. I worked so hard at it, and I just knew this was what I wanted to do! I won almost every competition I participated in, and my favorite part was seeing my family in the audience.

Did your parents support you wanting to go to school for Fashion? 

Joelle: They actually did! My mom is also a really creative, artsy person, she works in Public Relations as well. I grew up watching her doodle and get hands-on with different creative projects. My mom and Nana played large roles by encouraging me that I could do anything I put my mind to. They pushed me to always be creating and often provided fabric and ideas. My dad was also really supportive but in a more disciplined way. Freshman year of college I was cutting up…I was going to classes, but I was more or less there for the vibes. I ended up failing a class because I was being completely nonchalant about it. Of course, that didn’t fly with my dad, and he was like “what are you doing?” He had me stay the summer with him in Michigan, and while I was there, he put me in art and sewing classes to keep me occupied, and even bought me my first sewing machine to keep me developing my skills and making sure that I was getting back on track towards my goals. My dad played a very instrumental part in supporting my dreams. He didn’t necessarily understand Fashion, but he was like if you’re going to do it, you need to do it to the best of your ability. So shoutout to Dad- he was not playing with me.  

How was life for post-grad?  

Joelle: So, I graduated and two years post-graduation I could not find a full-time salary job in design to save my life. And for me that was a big blow because I did so well in undergrad. And what I discovered was that because I didn’t have a design degree, it was that much more competitive to obtain a design role. Because the recruiters are really only looking at candidates from the top design schools.  Like they’re looking at Parsons, FIT, FIDM, and SCAD. So those two years I spent applying, interviewing, and looking for jobs while working in retail. I hated it…I was staying with my mom working at Nordstrom and J.Crew. So, after those two years I ended up applying to SCAD Atlanta where I was admitted to their Master’s program for Fashion Design!

I moved to Atlanta, got married while I was down there. I did a Merchandising internship at Spanx first, then went to Sid and Ann Mashburn as a Technical Design intern. While in Atlanta I got a mentor and I’m really thankful for her, she was this brilliant Black woman out in Portland who happened to be the VP of design at NIKE, Jordan brand specifically. She was like, ‘if you’re applying for these jobs, how are you standing out from the thousands of applicants you're up against?’ And she told me I needed to do a project for whatever brand I was applying for. 

Joelle: So, while I was interning, I would take my lunch time to work on said project for Athleta- the brand I was interviewing for at the time. I also got a referral from a dear friend who was also working at Banana Republic (sister brand to Athleta). I put everything into this project because I really wanted my first big girl, salaried corporate job and Athleta was a great brand. Fast forward, I did a couple of interviews and it worked out, that project really was that extra step that put me at the top of the applicant list. Also, a couple weeks prior to the interview, a friend of a friend reached out to my then husband and said, “hey, the Lord shared with me that your wife is about to get a really amazing creative opportunity and it’s going to fill her with so much joy.” I was just like ‘wait, what?’ And then a couple of weeks later I got the job.  

What was the transition like relocating from Atlanta to San Francisco, and how did the change in environment influence both your personal and professional growth? 

Joelle: Gosh. It was a really big culture shock, and I knew like one person out there. It was a culture shock because we actually moved to the city and not Oakland where most Black people were. We were in the city amongst people who didn’t look like us and it caused a lot of “who am I”, “where am I” and just raised some overall identity questions. I longed to be in community with people that really saw and understood me. And at Athleta at the time, since Gap was in a separate building a couple of blocks away, I was like 1 of 3 Black people in the building. Luckily, they had the ERG (Employee Resource Group) for Black employees that helped me find community at large, but day-to-day it would feel a little isolating.  

I ended up making friends at church and connecting with people from all different backgrounds and it was the best thing I could’ve done for myself.  

“In Fashion it’s imperative to understand different viewpoints and consumers of different backgrounds, because all of that impacts the retail life cycle.”

Corporate success often comes with increasing demands and expectations.  How did you navigate those pressures while remaining focused on your long-term goals? 

Joelle: I feel like I just had to get to a point where I just started and accepted the fact that I’m going to be tired. That’s just what is at the end of the day.  

“Your passions take up time and energy…you’re going to have to sacrifice some sleep and invites outside!” 

When did you first launch Joelle Meaghan? 

Joelle: I launched JM in 2023 and at that Gap, Inc. wasn’t doing well, so I had sadly gotten laid off from Athleta, but was thankfully already living near home working remotely in Raleigh, which was a lot more affordable than the Bay area. At that time, I had already started building what I wanted Joelle Meaghan to look like–you know, the branding, the feel, the target customer. And I remember someone again, reaching out to me, this time through Instagram asking me if I ever thought about owning my own brand or opening my own store. And I was like, “yes, all day, every day!” She told me to go for it and that God had shown her that I’d be really successful. I started crying because this is not the first time this had happened. But I knew God had given me the skills to execute this.  

I ended up being unemployed for about 7 months and I knew I was supposed to use that time to start this business. And during this time, I ended up resting, healing, and I focused on the makings of JM. 

I launched in October of 2023.  

At this time the funds were running low, and I prayed to God about needing steady income. I received a call about a month after I launched JM and it literally was Victoria Secret saying, ‘hey we have a role for you, you don’t really have to interview for it; how soon can you start?’ God is just that good! 

I want to mention that I had previously interviewed for a different position at VS that didn’t work out, so this was them kind of following up. And they fully took care of my transition. They paid to break my lease; they flew me up to NY a couple of times for me to find a place with a realtor that they paid for. They paid for all of my moving expenses; everything was truly taken care of by them.

“To the women building their careers …these companies have the money, you just have to ask! Negotiate that pay, ask for accommodations, and see what they can do for you, especially if they want you!” 

Is there a formula for successfully balancing a 9-5 career while pursuing your creative passion? 

Joelle: You have to take it day-by day. My 9-5 was working me enough so I made sure not to be too hard on myself, but it’s also being patient and not expecting things to pop off overnight. I was just going with the flow of what I had time to do and found ways to integrate that into my work schedule.  

What did the transition from Athleta to Victoria’s Secret look like and how did you balance that transition with Joelle Meaghan? 

Joelle: I had to give myself grace, because that first year I was just so overwhelmed with the lifestyle shift of moving from NC to New York.  The work culture in SF is so chill and laid back, and when I got to New York I was overwhelmed with the commuting and the pace of everything. So, I didn’t drop a collection that whole year of 2024–I just needed to keep up with my new job and keep my head above water. And I was like, that’s ok for me to do. I was content with a little post here and there of what I currently had in stock at JM, and I continued to pack orders and went on about my business. I just could not take on another collection.  

Before launching fully into entrepreneurship, what signals told you that you were ready to build something of your own and take the next step in your career? 

Joelle: You know I really didn’t have any signals or signs and think that I ended up taking that leap prematurely. I prayed and I fasted on it, and I felt strongly like God wanted me to leave that role, and I knew that if I didn’t hear Him correctly, that He would catch me. But in all transparency, I took the leap and things weren’t lining up as quickly as I thought they would, plus I had some family things come up that needed my attention and time. I’m grateful for somewhat of a sabbatical, but I’m working on finding a new role now and will be patient in waiting for when it’s really time to go into entrepreneurship full-time. During this sabbatical, I’ve been spending a lot of time resting and doing things that fill my cup, like hanging with friends, reading, and getting active. 

I was at Victoria’s Secret for 2 ½ years, while balancing the business and didn’t realize how burnout I was. We would pull multiple 12-hour days and had very demanding deliverables constantly. I also had 2 direct reports plus a couple of temporary contractors, and I definitely learned a lot about managing. All of a sudden, you’re not just focused on your own performance–your team also reflects your leadership. And at least for me it was very important that they were getting the experience and being developed in the way that they needed. So, I was just trying to pour into them by coaching and teaching them on different technical things, getting them to present, making sure they have space to voice their point of view and have some visibility to leadership. It was really important to me to advocate for them, and it was a valuable experience for me. 

Did you ever measure your progress against other fashion entrepreneurs? 

Joelle: Oh yeah! I’m just like how did you get the funding!? And you know what I learned is that some people appear as if all they're doing is managing their business and make it appear as if they don’t have a 9-5 but in reality, they do, like most people do. And some people have large investments from friends and family, and that’s just their story.

“But at the end of the day I know my course is my course, and God's plan is God's plan and I know that I’m going to be successful.” 

I just have to keep going with what I know I can do and what I have the capacity to do. And also, within the past couple of months I’ve received friends offering to help at discounted fee or pro bono which is amazing! That will definitely accelerate things when I drop my next collection, because doing it all on your own is exhausting. I enjoy the photoshoots and all the marketing that goes into a brand, but that’s not my focus. I’m very much into the craftsmanship and the design of the clothes. So, to have someone take care of all the other things, the numbers, social media, the marketing, I’m just so excited to have those extra hands. 

As you continue to grow Joelle Meaghan, what excites you most about the future? 

Joelle: I’m excited that I’ll have people to help with different aspects of the business-like marketing, PR, finances, production, etc. So that is exciting to be able to service my customers in a more efficient way and draw more awareness to the brand. I also have some influencers in my back pocket that I’m excited to work with. I’m really excited about my next collection because I know the girls already want it because I previewed it on my last video, and they keep asking for it!  

Faith was a recurring thread throughout our conversation. How did you continue to trust God's direction and guidance throughout this journey?

Joelle: I literally just had to keep reminding myself that He placed this dream inside of me and I’m just figuring out how to navigate the journey.  

“God has quite literally given me this dream and vision of serving women and He’s given me so much confirmation along the way that this is where He wants me. And I have to continue to lean on that knowing.” 

What advice would you give to women who aspire to climb the corporate ladder while building something of their own? - 

Joelle: 

• Network, network, network and be kind, warm and genuine to everyone!  You never know who you can help or who can help you. 

• Learn how to adjust to the corporate space. It takes time but learning those soft skills and how to navigate corporate politics is extremely valuable.  

• Give yourself grace and don’t expect things to pop off overnight. Enjoy the journey of it and don’t be hyper focused on how long it takes. Because it will take time for you doing both to get where you want to go.  

• Take time for wellness and slow down. 

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. 

Editor’s note: Although this is only a slice of Joelle Meghan’s career journey, it is a study in evolution—how faith, resilience, and intention can reshape not only a career, but the way success is understood and pursued.

Stay in touch and follow Kiara’s journey on Instagram  @joellemeaganofficial