So much of our society is told through the male lens that, as a woman, when you hear a success story that resonates with your experience and values, it feels as comforting and reassuring as slipping under a weighted blanket.
That’s exactly how I felt speaking with my first guest in the brand-new season of On Becoming, which is devoted to women who are redefining power, influence, and leadership in ways we rarely hear about.
Anna at one of her Paris-based clients, Bältis, an artisanal Lebanese ice cream brand. photo: Le Fooding
Anna Polonsky is a French, NYC-based entrepreneur and a creative force in hospitality branding. She and I first crossed paths in Paris back in 2010 when I was searching for someone to help build the Yelp community here. I knew she’d be a perfect fit, but when I asked her to join me, she politely turned me down to move to New York to launch Le Fooding in the USA.
A Le Fooding event in Brooklyn, NY, circa 2012. photo: Le Fooding
There, she collaborated with top chefs, brands, artists, and venues, making food a vibrant, cultural, and collaborative experience. Immersed in the scene and with her finger on the pulse, she sensed a market opportunity: more and more restaurants were evolving into full-fledged brands, but there was no dedicated creative agency there to serve them. So, in 2014, Anna left Le Fooding to co-found MP Shift, where she pioneered the concept of 360-degree hospitality branding. Her groundbreaking work earned her a coveted James Beard Award for restaurant design and a spot on Forbes’ prestigious 30 Under 30 list.
Anna and her former co-founder winning a James Beard award for their work at MP Shift
But as the company grew, Anna felt a need to delve deeper—beyond branding and into the essence of storytelling. This led her to found her current venture in 2018, Polonsky & Friends, a design and strategy studio based in Brooklyn. There she leads a growing team on mission-driven projects, collaborating with some of the world’s most innovative chefs, activists, and food brands.
Anna in her Brooklyn home with her husband, the designer and chef, Fernando Aciar
Listening to Anna’s journey reminded me of my own transition from New York to Paris and how powerful it can be to bring a fresh lens to an unfamiliar environment. She didn’t conform to the standards she found in New York; instead, she used her distinct approach to create something entirely new and impactful.
What stood out to me is how Anna took her unique French sensibilities—her understanding of food, restaurants, and culture—and used them to fill a gap in the market. It was that very difference in her perspective that became her strength.
But this episode isn’t just about how she successfully filled a niche. It’s about decoding her DNA as a entrepreneur—how she makes decisions, follows her intuition, seeks ways to expand her knowledge, leaves comfort and success behind to step into new spaces, privileges relationships and connection in everything she does, and embraces softness as a strength.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
What inspired Anna to follow her heart to NYC and break away from the typical post-grandes écoles path.
How living abroad turbocharged her entrepreneurial ambitions and shifted her perspective on business.
The cultural contrasts between America and France around doing business, taking risks and failing forward.
The rise of restaurant branding and how Anna pioneered this movement.
How intuition, collaboration, and relationships have shaped her leadership style.
Why softness and creativity have become her superpowers in work and life.
Anna and the rest of the team of The Deligram, a curated newsletter that highlights the best artisanal food-making. photo: Teddy Wolff
This conversation ties beautifully into our show’s theme of exploring the blueprints of successful women leaders to see how they do power differently—how they lead with softness, intuition, curiosity, and a focus on collective success.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a Fooding super fan, a multicultural hybrid talent, or someone striving for deeper purpose, this episode is filled with inspiration and powerful insights to keep you motivated and thinking in new ways. Enjoy!
xxx
Zeva
PS. Listen to the podcast above or on Apple, Acast, Spotify or any of your favorite podcast platforms.
PPS. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did! Let me know your thoughts or takeaways—I love hearing from you! Also, a lot of love and time went into creating this show, so please comment and share the post to get this episode into the ears of as many people as possible. Thanks you, Z….
Anna Polonsky: The Power of Relationships and Collaboration in Creating Iconic Brands