The vice president of IMG Models, Carpenter has spent 25 years at the agency, looking after its biggest names, including Sasha Pivovarova, Precious Lee, Sienna Miller, Liv Tyler, Taylor Hill, Daria Werbowy and Yasmin Warsame. She credits the industry legends Ivan Bart and Maja Chiesi with instilling in her a distinctive, talent-first approach.
What’s your approach to management?
Talent first always and understanding that no two paths are the same. I see every talent relationship as a journey. I treasure communication as our finest tool and love the process of strategic thought, goal-setting and creative thinking.
What do you look for in the people you represent?
Much of it is founded upon organic compatibility. Rather than ‘looking for’ certain qualities in talent, it is more about getting to truly know who you represent and capitalising upon and amplifying their talents, and best qualities. Integrity, drive, trust and patience are also vital.
How would you define success in 2024 – and who’s got it?
Success, today, boils down to uplifting the next generation of talent, designers, stylists, photographers, agents and casting directors – all are contributors to upholding the integrity that we have all striven for over the years.
What are the big differences between talent management today and 10 years ago?
Our industry has massively changed over the past 20 years, but I do not feel that my approach to management has changed much at all. The same roots apply, (it’s) just a different terrain. Communication, grassroots, relationships – these are the fundamentals of representing human beings.
What are the personality traits you need to make it today as talent and as management?
Integrity, a moral compass, strategic thinking, pursuit of happiness, balance, patience, perseverance, creativity and passion.
What’s the smartest thing an up-and-comer can do to get on – after they’ve signed with you, of course?
Sign with IMG Models and be vocal. Ask questions, have ideas, be excited, trust yourself, trust your team, be kind, be patient and work hard.
What’s the biggest mistake people make on the way up?
Overthinking. Take a leap of faith, trust in the process. Say yes. Be open.
What’s more important, money or clout?
That is talent-specific. This is a business and people need to make money and support their families. But clout, which translates to ‘influence or power in voice’, is more important to some than money. Bringing a voice to a generation, a group of people, a community – that could far outweigh money for many. It’s their choice and we support the path.
How do you say no to people?
I am not great at saying no. I am the eternal optimist. Anyone that knows me also knows that this is a flaw of mine. I am a yes person. But the goodness that comes from saying yes far outweighs those times when it doesn’t land perfectly.
What has been your career highlight?
All of the moments spent with our team at IMG, supporting each other, so that we can support our talent on the highest level. Specifically? Picture this – the Victoria’s Secret 2017 show in Shanghai. We had 17 girls in it! So Maja (Chiesi), Mina (White), Luiz (Mattos) and I were Team Shanghai and hit the road together. On the day of the show, all talent had to arrive at the venue at 8am and needed to bring a big bag for the day with their outfit change for the afterparty. Post-show, it was a madhouse of girls getting all gussied up for the red-carpet party, changing into their looks and getting whisked off in cars. Meanwhile the four of us were all hands on deck, to portage all their belongings back to the hotel. But while most agencies had three to five girls’ bags, we had 17. Some were makeshift shopping bags ripping at the seams coupled with backpacks and huge totes – it was a comedy of errors. We laughed our pants off juggling mountains of baggage and wanting to take special care of our talents’ valuables. We distributed all the bags to the hotel rooms of our girls, like Mission Impossible with gumption. It was one of a zillion bonding moments of our family morale, where no job is too small, which pretty much sums up our entire philosophy in management.
If you weren’t a super talent manager what would you be doing?
I would open my own pizza and wine bar named Yellow Bird and cook all day, every day.
