Emily Childress

DVF (Diane von Furstenberg)

Diane von Furstenberg is a fashion designer and Founder and Chairman of the company that bears her name. In 1974, she created the iconic wrap dress, which became a symbol of power and independence for women all over the world. DVF is now a global luxury fashion brand celebrated for its effortless glamour, its distinctive vocabulary of print and color, and its powerful connection to generations of women. Von Furstenberg's commitment to empowering women is expressed not only through fashion, but also philanthropy and mentorship. In 2005, von Furstenberg received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the CFDA for her impact on fashion. One year later, she became CFDA's President and, in 2015, was named Chairwoman. She is committed to mentorship at both an individual and institutional level and has long been a champion of women. For more than a decade, she has served on the board of Vital Voices, an organization that supports female leaders and entrepreneurs around the world. In 2010, with the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, she created the DVF Awards to honor and provide grants to extraordinary women who have displayed courage, strength and leadership in their commitment to their causes. In 2014, she published a memoir, The Woman I Wanted To Be, which has been translated into six languages. In 2015, she was named one of the TIME 100 Most Influential People. In 2018, she received the CFDA Swarovski Award for Positive Change. With her corporate headquarters in New York's Meatpacking District, von Furstenberg has long been a vocal member of the community and was actively involved in the campaign to save the historic High Line railway and to develop The High Line into what it is today. She serves on the board of the Statue of Liberty–Ellis Island Foundation and is leading the effort to raise funds for the Foundation, which, in partnership with the National Park Service, will build the new Statue of Liberty Museum and continue the beautification of Liberty Island. She also serves on the board of the Shed, the new center for artistic and cultural innovation in New York City, and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. Von Furstenberg is married to Barry Diller. She has two children, Alexander and Tatiana, and four grandchildren. With all of her successes, she happily maintains, "Children are my greatest creation."