Award show season has begun. I’ve always been a fan of the red carpet. I’ve watched it for as long as I can remember. I love seeing the fashions and the dresses. And I’ve always enjoyed listening to the interviews. I saw it as a rare occasion to see my favorite actors unscripted, talking even if just for a few minutes about the role they were nominated for.

In more recent years, the questions for women have changed from a superficial “who are you wearing” to a more thoughtful “what does this nomination mean to you”. In my opinion, the best interviews will give you both, a little of the fashion combined with a little introspection. After all, I do love fashion.

This year’s Emmy’s red carpet had some more interesting interviews. I only caught the red carpet in pieces (not having the opportunity to watch the entire time) but two interviews caught my attention specifically. The first was Jessica Biel. She was nominated for The Sinner. And she was asked what the nomination meant to her. Her answer was so genuine, it floored me. She said she was a part of the project from the beginning. And as a result she felt she was listened to. She had an opinion and people actually cared about it. She found it to be a transformative experience.

Let’s take this in for a moment. Here is an actress who has been working since her youth. Now, at 36 years old, she feels she feels like she is being listened to for the first time in her career. And this experience is empowering. And I know she’s not alone. Not just in her industry. I think this is very telling about a lot of women in their careers. They don’t feel as though they are being heard. They don’t feel that they have a seat at the table. There is a need to empower women and remind them that confidence can bring opportunities. I was taken aback by Jessica’s statement because I’ve always seen her as so poised. But like many of us, she carries her own insecurities.

The second interview that caught my attention was with Taraji P. Henson. This question was fashion based. The interviewer asked her how she picks her gowns for the red carpet. Her response : “how do I feel, does it fit and am I comfortable”. What a great way to pick your whole wardrobe! She went on to say “comfortable you can sell it – if you feel good in it you will sell it – the clothes can’t wear you.” This resonated with me and my message to my clients. It’s so much about how your clothes make you feel when you wear them. If you feel good, you will walk taller, and with more confidence. Style is so personal and in the end what’s important is how you feel in your wardrobe.

These ladies gave great answers to their interview questions… one about her career and one about her fashion. And I loved both questions and answers. I think there’s a place for balance in our lives. We have to be more willing to demand opportunities. We have to ready to stand up for ourselves. And we can’t be held back by a lack of confidence in ourselves. We have to remember that we are strong and powerful and thoughtful. And I hope these qualities will help us to get balance that we all need.