Twenty Something

What you're missing while you're talking.  The most intelligent women in the room are often the ones saying the least. They've learned something most people never figure out: the people who win socially, professionally and romantically aren't the ones who reveal the most. They're the ones who notice the most.  In this episode, I talk about why ambitious women are especiall...

You achieve the goal.  And then almost immediately, your brain creates another one.  A bigger apartment.  A better job.  More money.  A new city.  The next milestone.  For years, I thought this was ambition.  Lately, I'm starting to wonder if it's something else.  After spending the last several years in the United States and recently moving to Italy, I've become fascinated by the d...

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt caught between loving their independence.. and missing deeper connection. In this episode:   the strange loneliness of starting over in a new city   building a life in your twenties from scratch   why capable women often struggle to ask for support   emotional hyper-independence   the difference between solitude and isolation   rebuilding connection as...

Why does life sometimes feel heavier than it actually is? In this episode, I talk through the difference between women who feel “heavy” and women who feel light, and the subtle habits that create that feeling.  This isn’t about having an easy life. It’s about moving through your life in a way that feels calmer, cleaner, and more self-assured.  If you’ve been overthinking, holding on too long, or f...

What actually happens in the first 72 hours after you move to a new country alone?  I’ve been in Milan for about a week now, and I keep thinking about the first 72 hours.  Everything technically works. You got there, your bags are unpacked, you know where a few things are. But nothing feels automatic yet. You’re slightly off in every interaction, even the simple ones, and you realize how much of y...

This episode is about starting over in your twenties… again. The decision itself, but also everything around it. Leaving a life that works. Choosing something less certain. Trusting that instinct that says “go,” even when you can’t fully explain it.  I talk about why I said yes to this move, how I’m thinking about money and lifestyle this time, and what it means to build a life for yourself in a n...

We live in a world that constantly tells us to do more. More chasing. More proving. More explaining. But for women, more does not always equal better.  In this episode, I'm unpacking the idea that for women, doing less can often create better outcomes than doing more. I share my thoughts on choosing fewer priorities at once, speaking less in conversations, and understanding the difference bet...

In this episode, I share my philosophy on non-invasive beauty secrets that actually work, the chaos of going straight from vacation into a work trip, and lessons I've learned lately about discipline, discernment and becoming the woman you train yourself to be.  Support the show by shopping The Upper Echelon here .  Pinterest boards: The Upper Echelon   Connect with me:  Instagram: @dimitrovel...

Most money advice for women in their 20s focuses on spending less, playing it safe and waiting until you feel “educated.” This episode makes the case for the opposite.  In this episode, you’ll learn why conservative advice keeps ambitious women stuck, why waiting to feel ready to invest is a losing strategy, how to think about money as something you learn by doing and where to get information from...

How to speak with quiet authority, stop being interrupted, and make people lean in, without raising your voice or losing your femininity.  Support the show by shopping The Upper Echelon here .  Connect with me:  Instagram: @dimitrovelena   Twitter: @dimitrovelenaa   YouTube: @twenty.something   For women in their twenties becoming the most elegant, intentional, and magnetic version of themselves—w...

"A well-tailored suit is to women, what lingerie is to men."  Support the show by shopping The Upper Echelon here .  Connect with me:  Instagram: @dimitrovelena   Twitter: @dimitrovelenaa   YouTube: @twenty.something   For women in their twenties becoming the most elegant, intentional, and magnetic version of themselves—without losing their values. Twenty Something is a weekly audio jour...

This episode is a curated list of the most interesting ideas I heard this week. Topics covered:  Branding & digital marketing  Why early growth comes from intentional seeding, not algorithms  How platforms throttle links and how to work around it  Why attention must come before action on Instagram  Why TikTok is poor for driving podcast or website conversion  How I apply these principles in my...

Growing up in your twenties isn’t about doing more. It’s about choosing better.  Listen to part one: Here   In this episode, I share the biggest personal, professional and interpersonal lessons of my twenties. An honest look at what actually matters in your twenties, and what doesn’t. If I had to start over, these are the things I'd want to know.  Support the show by shopping The Upper Echelo...

In this episode, I share the biggest personal, professional and interpersonal lessons of my twenties. An honest look at what actually matters in your twenties, and what doesn’t. If I had to start over, these are the things I'd want to know. On confidence, discipline, self-respect, dating, friendships, career choices, solitude, simplifying your life, and chocolate soufflé.  Support the show by...

In this episode, I talk through the etiquette habits that elegant women tend to follow instinctively, from social situations to daily interactions, and why people notice even when they can’t explain why.  Support the show by shopping The Upper Echelon here .  Connect with me:  Instagram: @dimitrovelena   Twitter: @dimitrovelenaa   YouTube: @twenty.something   For women in their twenties becoming t...

The most powerful alarm clock is the ritual you refuse to compromise on. In this episode, I share the way I fixed my habit of sleeping in and found a reason to wake up in the morning.  Support the show by shopping The Upper Echelon here .  Connect with me:  Instagram: @dimitrovelena   Twitter: @dimitrovelenaa   YouTube: @twenty.something   For women in their twenties becoming the most elegant, int...

We live in a world where most people chase beauty and status. Almost no one is building charm or character, which is why most people feel replaceable. This episode breaks down why charm matters more than beauty for women, and  character outweighs status for men. Building these strengths will change the way that you are seen and remembered.  Support the show by shopping The Upper Echelon here .  Co...

A collection of subtle ways to speak and behave that make a woman feel softer, more grounded, and feminine in the way she moves through the world.  Support the show by shopping The Upper Echelon here .  Connect with me:  Instagram: @dimitrovelena   Twitter: @dimitrovelenaa   YouTube: @twenty.something   For women in their twenties becoming the most elegant, intentional, and magnetic version of the...

I moved across countries with no plan and built a life I love. Here’s how you can too.  Support the show by shopping The Upper Echelon here .  Connect with me:  Instagram: @dimitrovelena   Twitter: @dimitrovelenaa   YouTube: @twenty.something   For women in their twenties becoming the most elegant, intentional, and magnetic version of themselves—without losing their values. Twenty Something is a w...

Effortlessness is just effort, done behind closed doors. In this episode, the secrets behind every effortlessly beautiful woman, the habits that made Princess Diana the ultimate graceful figure, and the meticulous curation behind brands like Ralph Lauren.  Support the show by shopping The Upper Echelon here .  Connect with me:  Instagram: @dimitrovelena   Twitter: @dimitrovelenaa   YouTube: @twent...

Enough with being “too young” or “too old.” In this episode, I talk about why age is only a proxy for maturity, the value of age-gap friendships and relationships, and how to break away from stereotypes around your age.  Support the show by shopping The Upper Echelon here .  Connect with me:  Instagram: @dimitrovelena   Twitter: @dimitrovelenaa   YouTube: @twenty.something   For women in their twe...

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is stop rushing. In this episode, I share why I’ve been intentionally “unproductive” in the South of France, the desserts worth ordering every time, and the behaviour behind the most attractive person in the room.  Support the show by shopping The Upper Echelon here .  Connect with me: Instagram: @dimitrovelena Twitter: @dimitrovelenaa YouTube: @twent...

The story of how I started The Upper Echelon, a brand built for women who want their casual to still feel elevated. Not sporty. Not loud. Just...hers..  From the initial vision to the tactical first steps of finding a supplier, understanding your target customer and setting up a Shopify/e-commerce store. This is Journal Entry 1, hope you enjoy.  Support the show by shopping The Upper Echelon here...

You are what you consume.  Support the show by shopping The Upper Echelon here . Designed to be noticed, without trying.  Connect with me:   Instagram: @dimitrovelena   Twitter: @dimitrovelenaa   YouTube: @twenty.something   For women in their twenties becoming the most elegant, intentional, and magnetic version of themselves—without losing their values. Twenty Something is a weekly audio journal...

I would rather be respected by a few than to be liked by everyone.  Support the show by shopping The Upper Echelon here .  Connect with me:  Instagram: @dimitrovelena   Twitter: @dimitrovelenaa   YouTube: @twenty.something   For women in their twenties becoming the most elegant, intentional, and magnetic version of themselves—without losing their values. Twenty Something is a weekly audio journal...