The Safari: Recent Episodes
Traub
The Safari is a guided tour around the retail, brand and consumer landscape. We interview the brightest and most innovative industry leaders who share how they are shaping and evolving the industry in the years to come. Guests come from all corners of the industry from retail, beauty, fashion, CPG, academia, agencies, real estate, investing and more. At Traub we have the privilege of working broadly across these numerous fields and collaborating with these talented leaders.
Since founding ICR in 1998, Tom and his senior team have grown the firm into one of the largest, most respected and most impactful agencies in the world. He has studied public companies, their value creation initiatives and communications strategies for over 30 years and has used his experience as a former sell-side analyst/investment banker to advise hundreds of high-profile companies spanning numerous industries. This includes Abbott, Keurig Green Mountain, Chipotle, Wendy’s, Texas Roadhouse, and Legg Mason to name a few.
As a true partner to corporate clients, Tom’s advice is solely geared toward building and preserving C-Suite credibility and reputation, which is a key driver of valuation and capital costs. This, in turn, leads to his clients becoming the employer of choice, the logical exit for companies looking to sell, and other untold opportunities for reinvestment and capital deployment.
Interviewed by Kate Doerge.
Patrice Meagher is the Founder and CEO of MilkMate, a Company on a mission to empower working moms and the employers who support them. MilkMate offers an all-in-one breast pumping solution for workplace wellness rooms and was created out of the inefficient experience Patrice had while breast pumping at work after returning from maternity leave for her four children.
Prior to MilkMate, Patrice spent 15+ years as an EVP at CBRE on the top agency leasing team in New York City, representing institutional and entrepreneurial owners. Patrice completed more than 10 million square feet of leasing during her tenure at CBRE and also founded the CBRE Tri-State Women’s Network. Prior to joining CBRE, Patrice served as Senior Associate at Preferred Real Estate Investments, Inc. in Philadelphia. Patrice began her career with The Philadelphia Orchestra Association, where she was responsible for fundraising and coordinating special events.
Interviewed by Kate Doerge.
Nate Checketts is the Co-Founder & CEO of Rhone, a performance lifestyle brand founded in 2014. Prior to Rhone, Nate worked for and consulted with some of the biggest tech and entertainment properties in the world including Cisco, The NFL, Legends, FanVision and Sport Radar. Nate is an avid entrepreneur who founded 4 companies before the age of 30. In 2020 Nate was selected by the Sports Business Journal to their 2020 list of Forty leaders under Forty.
In addition to Rhone, Nate also serves as Chairman of the Board to Beyond Type 1, a non-profit dedicated to the community of those with Type 1 Diabetes founded by Nick Jonas. Nate also serves as a Director to Clean Simple Eats, a leading brand of functional foods and recipes.
Interviewed by Kate Doerge.
TCP Co-Managing Partner, Geoff Lurie, joins Alex Rawlings on The Private Equity Podcast to discuss how private equity investors and operators can produce better results.
In this episode, Alex Rawlings, speaks with Geoff Lurie, Managing Partner at Traub Capital Partners. Geoff brings decades of experience as an operator-turned-private equity investor. He shares his invaluable insights on how private equity firms and portfolio companies can collaborate more effectively for superior results.
Alex Rawlings is the Founder & Managing partner of Raw Selection, an executive search firm that specializes in working with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies across Europe and North America. On his podcast, Alex interviews the leading experts in the Private Equity industry to unlock their secrets of success.
Known for his sophisticated take on redefining how to dress the modern gentleman, Todd Snyder has grown his namesake label into a luxury brand. His collections draw from Savile Row tailoring, vintage military apparel, and classic American workwear, making timeless pieces relevant for the well-dressed man.
Originally from Iowa, Snyder’s fashion journey began with roles at Ralph Lauren and The Gap, eventually leading the men’s design team at J.Crew during its golden era. In 2011, he launched his own brand, quickly earning acclaim. Snyder’s ability to blend quality, taste and individuality has made him a sought-after collaborator with heritage brands like L.L. Bean, Footjoy, and Timex.
Interviewed by Kate Doerge.
Jen joined AEO in August 2010 to lead the Aerie brand and expanded her scope to also oversee the strategic vision of American Eagle in 2020, rising to the position of President, Executive Creative Director – AE & Aerie. She has been an instrumental force in Aerie’s rapid expansion to a nearly $2 billion brand and has been the catalyst for fueling the next chapter of growth at AE. In her role, Jen leads Design, Merchandising, Marketing, Visual and Business Strategies.
In 2014, Jen revolutionized the intimate apparel industry by bringing body positivity and inclusivity to the forefront with the power of #AerieREAL. This movement has been a game-changer for the Aerie business and for millions of women and girls who have been empowered to love their REAL selves inside and out. Throughout her tenure, Jen has assembled and developed a strong bench of talent at all levels and across functions.
Interviewed by Kate Doerge.
The vision for Dormify was born out of founder Amanda Zuckerman's own experience shopping for her freshman dorm at Washington University in St. Louis. While double majoring in graphic design and marketing, Amanda created Dormify as a dorm lifestyle blog supported by a college ambassador community. After graduation, she launched Dormify as a DTC brand and one-stop shop for small-space living.
With her mom, Karen Zuckerman, as her partner, Amanda has grown Dormify to a multi-million-dollar success with triple-digit annual revenue growth, earning a spot on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in 2018. Following a successful acquisition in 2022, Dormify is now the largest retailer of college dorm and apartment essentials, with nearly 800 college and university partners across the country and a thriving community of student ambassadors.
Karen Zuckerman is a serial entrepreneur, creative director, and marketing executive known for taking bold risks and her brand-building expertise. As a graphic designer by trade, she scaled her first business, HZDG, into an award-winning creative agency with Fortune 500 clients, eventually selling it to WPP in 2018 and retiring in 2021.
Currently, Zuckerman serves as a board director of Dormify. Zuckerman played a crucial role in developing Dormify’s omnichannel marketing strategy and content platform, creating a space for young people to connect and navigate an exciting stage of life.
Interviewed by Kate Doerge.
Elyce Arons is the founder and CEO of Frances Valentine, a New York-based luxury apparel and accessories company. Frances Valentine celebrates the power of personal style through clothes and accessories that boost your mood and tell a story.
A 35-year fashion veteran, Elyce famously chased her passion for fashion all the way from Kansas to New York City alongside her best friend, Kate, and co-founded Kate Spade in 1993. Elyce shepherded the company from inception to international success, growing it into one of the most iconic brands in modern fashion history—and was instrumental in its 2006 sale to Neiman Marcus Group. In 2016, Elyce, Kate, and Andy Spade launched Frances Valentine as an evolution of their joyful style aesthetic; a brand with heart, soul, and a story to tell.
Interviewed by Kate Doerge.
Kendra Kolb Butler transitioned from a high-powered NYC life to founding Alpyn Beauty in Jackson Hole, drawing from her vast experience with luxury beauty brands and her new environment’s natural resources.
Alpyn Beauty uniquely combines locally wild-harvested plants with clinical ingredients, establishing a skincare line that mirrors the efficacy of nature with scientific backing.
Committed to sustainability, the brand supports the Grand Teton National Park Foundation by donating a portion of every sale to its rewilding efforts, underscoring Butler’s dedication to environmental conservation.
Interviewed by Kate Deorge.
Kevin McLaughlin, Co-Founder and Creative Director and Mary Ellen Coyne, CEO, are the dynamic duo behind J.McLaughlin.
Kevin McLaughlin is the creative force behind the impeccably designed clothing and accessories at J.McLaughlin. Since the late seventies when Kevin and his brother opened their first shop on 74th Street and Third Avenue in Manhattan, Kevin’s taste and design sense have guided the J.McLaughlin collections.
Mary Ellen Coyne is the CEO of J.McLaughlin. Coyne joined J.McLaughlin in 2016 as the brand’s first female CEO and oversees all aspects of strategy and operations including merchandising, product development, marketing, retail expansion, and e-commerce. Under her leadership, J.McLaughlin has launched new product verticals including swim and footwear, enjoyed robust retail expansion, and launched a brand refresh.
Interviewed by Kate Doerge.
Ed began his career in his native Sydney launching menswear brand, Beat Poet, out of college. Beat Poet quickly became a cult Australian imprint, winning GQ designer of the year in 2009. After divesting the brand and moving to New York for grad school, Ed has since worked for Robert Burke Associates, Patrick Johnson Tailors, and for the last 5 years as COO and then CEO of Vivid Brands, owners of Roller Rabbit, 18 East and Loudmouth.
Roller Rabbit is a travel-inspired lifestyle brand, offering exotic, sophisticated yet affordable leisurewear, accessories and home goods with a magical and playful touch.
Interviewed by Kate Doerge.
Trained as a painter, sculptor, and art historian, Michael has neatly applied his diverse background to the decorative arts. Lyrical and often witty, his work encompasses a wide range of media and reveals a rich and variant source of inspiration – nature, mythology, narrative storytelling, and purified form. Michael’s work is also a celebration of craft and age-old hand working traditions. It is the enduring fusion of these ideals – originality, narrative, and craftsmanship – that has become the hallmark of this gifted artist.
Fascinated with the richness of the living crafts tradition which he discovered on his first trip to Delhi, Michael set up a studio in India where he has created his work for over 30 years. Today, over 200 artisans work alongside him in his workshop where the same creative interaction between artist and artisan remains the source of every object that Michael makes.
Interviewed by Kate Doerge.
Daniel Patrick Giles is a visionary executive with over 25 years of success in building prestige beauty brands, including Benefit Cosmetics, Perricone MD, Too Faced Cosmetics, and as a founding partner of Peace Out Skincare. In 2022, he launched his luxury fragrance brand, Perfumehead, with a mission to explore the Osmocosm through beautiful scents and fascinating stories.
Giles possesses extensive experience in developing transformative marketing strategies and is recognized as a bold leader known for his innovative thinking, creativity, and thought leadership. His unique experience includes working directly with brand founders, strategic partners, private equity partners, and board members.
Interviewed by Kate Doerge.
Dave Lazar has been advancing the state of the art in digital media throughout his career. An interactive content pioneer and software entrepreneur, Lazar is the founder and CEO of Stage TEN, the world’s leading platform for interactive content and commerce.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Veronica Beard was founded by sisters-in-law Veronica Miele Beard and Veronica Swanson Beard in 2010. What began as a rack of dickey jackets has expanded into a full lifestyle collection for the women who make it happen.
Their motto: Look good, feel good, do good.
Veronica Miele Beard is from North Caldwell, New Jersey, and hails from the world of finance. She worked in sales and trading at multiple investment banks on Wall Street—and did a stint in ad sales at Vogue—before becoming a partner and COO at technology hedge fund, Coatue, where she learned to take risks and build a business. A mother of five, Veronica loves to travel and take her kids off the grid.
Veronica Swanson Beard grew up on both coasts, in San Francisco, California and Naples, Florida. Her career in fashion started at Narciso Rodriguez and Alberta Ferretti, in wholesale, and as a buyer for Marissa Collections in Florida. If not a fashion designer, this mother of three would be flipping real estate and designing interiors.
Interviewed by Kate Doerge.
Jay Benson is CEO of Simon Pearce in Windsor, VT. He joined Simon Pearce in 2017. Prior to his current position, Jay has been a CFO, a strategic consultant, and a member of the management team of TeleAtlas/TomTom. Jay has a BA from Dartmouth College and an MBA from The Tuck School at Dartmouth. Jay serves on several boards, including Ledyard National Bank and Love Your Brain Foundation.
Interviewed by Kate Doerge.
Morty Singer joins Alex Rawlings on The Private Equity Podcast to discuss the importance of culture in private equity, investing in the consumer industry, and more.
Alex Rawlings is the Founder & Managing partner of Raw Selection, an executive search firm that specializes in working with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies across Europe and North America. On his podcast, Alex interviews the leading experts in the Private Equity industry to unlock their secrets of success.
Since founding her eponymous design firm, Sara Story has forged a reputation for imparting to all of her projects an ineffable style she can truly call her own. Drawing inspiration from extensive travels, an active interest in contemporary art and fashion, and a rigorous lifestyle, Sara wields a keen eye to exact her aesthetic vision. The firm continues to work on residential and commercial projects worldwide and maintains several successful product collaborations, including wallpaper and hardware. Sara earned a B.F.A. from the University of San Diego and holds a degree in Interior Architecture from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She is also an active member of the Artemis Council of the New Museum, America's Society, and the Design Leadership Network. This fall, Story released her debut monograph with Rizzoli, "The Art of Home."
Interviewed by Kate Doerge.
Sarah Lee and Christine Chang are the dynamic entrepreneurial pair who founded the groundbreaking skincare brand Glow Recipe.
A seasoned expert on the global beauty consumer, Sarah Lee boasts a deep and unique cross-functional resume that spans product development, business strategy, and global marketing. Sarah began her career at L’Oréal, leading product development and retail partnerships with a global lens. Sarah blends her deep understanding of product formulation science with years of successfully bringing brands to market to drive strategy and execution of Glow Recipe’s vision. Sarah resides in Miami with her husband.
Combining her passion for skincare with an extensive background in marketing, brand & business development, sales and product development, Christine Chang maintains a wealth of knowledge when it comes to international beauty. Christine’s foray into beauty started at L’Oreal where she spearheaded global business development, retail, marketing and digital strategy. Christine's expertise in skincare formulations paired with her strategic experience in launching and growing brands is invaluable to Glow Recipe's mission. Christine resides in New York City with her husband and daughter.
Interviewed by Kate Doerge.
Peter Arnold is the Executive Director of the Fashion Scholarship Fund, the foremost fashion-oriented education and workforce development nonprofit in the U.S. Together with Virgil Abloh, Peter established the Virgil Abloh “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund (which is administered by the Fashion Scholarship Fund). Peter Arnold is an accomplished fashion industry veteran with leadership experience as the Executive Director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, the CEO for notable fashion designers Cushnie et Ochs and Cynthia Rowley, and the President of John Varvatos Enterprises. Leveraging his passion for the world of fashion, business acumen and creative sensibility, he has successfully partnered with and advised boards of directors to provide the strategic vision, leadership and guidance to take their organizations to the next level. Peter is a National Advisory Board Member of the St. Louis Fashion Fund, and a Board Advisor at Roller Rabbit, New York.
Peter is an Adjunct Professor, Fashion Law Institute at Fordham University School of Law. He received his J.D. from New York University School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Wesleyan University.
Interviewed by Kate Doerge.
ALIZA LICHT is an award-winning marketer, bestselling author, podcaster, personal branding expert, and the founder of LEAVE YOUR MARK, a multimedia brand and consultancy. She advises businesses and mentors individuals on brand building and career development. Licht leverages over two decades of expertise in marketing, communications, and digital strategy in the fashion industry. She was named one of "America's Next Top Mentors" by The New York Times and Business Insider's "Top 20 Most Innovative Career Coaches."
As a social media pioneer and one of the first fashion influencers, Licht created and was the voice of the anonymous social media phenomenon DKNY PR GIRL. Licht is a sought-after keynote speaker and sits on several industry boards. Her first book, Leave Your Mark, was published in 2015. Her new book, On Brand: Shape Your Narrative. Share Your Vision. Shift Their Perception is a comprehensive roadmap to building your personal brand. She lives in New York City with her husband, two children, and two dogs. Find her online at alizalicht.com and @alizalichtxo.
Interviewed by Kate Doerge.
Adrien Nussenbaum is co-founder and co-CEO at Mirakl and author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller The Online Marketplace Advantage. An entrepreneur in all things technology and digital transformation, Adrien began his career during the height of the dot com boom, with successful stints as a company founder and an advisor to retailers in the throes of company turnarounds and transformations. He has remained involved in this transformation mission to this day.
In 2005, Adrien joined forces with Philippe Corrot to launch SplitGames, a videogame trading platform, on the idea that marketplaces were the winning business model for eCommerce. In 2008, Fnac Group purchased SplitGames and launched the Fnac.com Marketplace based on Spligames’ technology and marketplace expertise.
Four years later, after achieving 100% annual growth, both Adrien and Philippe left FNAC to found Mirakl. Since then, Mirakl has become one of most dynamic players in eCommerce globally, with a suite of solutions in marketplace, dropship, supplier sourcing ecosystem, supplier catalog management and pay-out, personalization, and retail media. More than 400 of the world’s most trusted brands across retail and B2B industries choose Mirakl’s award-winning technology to accelerate profitable, sustainable eCommerce growth in over 40 countries around the world.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Deborah Weinswig is the founder and CEO of Coresight Research. Between 2014 to early 2018, Deborah served as Managing Director of Fung Global Retail and Technology (FGRT), the think tank of Fung Group. Previously, she was Managing Director and Head of the Global Staples & Consumer Discretionary team at Citi Research.
Deborah was ranked the #1 analyst by Institutional Investor for 10 years in a row. She was named one of the Top 50 Retail Influencers by Vend in both 2016 and 2017, and received the Asia Retail Congress’s Retail Leadership Award in 2016. She was also recognized by LinkedIn as a top Voice in Retail in 2017 and 2018.
She serves on the board of directors for Goodwill Industries New York/New Jersey, GUESS?, Inc., Kiabi, Street Soccer USA and Xcel Brands, Inc. Deborah is on the advisory board of the World Retail Congress as well as several accelerators. Deborah is a Certified Public Accountant and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Peter Englehart is a proven builder and leader of successful sports media, enthusiast events and entertainment businesses. His entrepreneurial, managerial and strategic visions have placed him at the forefront of some of America’s most distinguished consumer brands, sporting organizations and television networks.
From his first professional role as a publicist for the Professional Bowlers Association to his most recent positions as Chairman of the Board of TEN: The Enthusiast Network and Executive Producer/Board Member of VStar Entertainment, he has had first-hand experience in managing teams and building world-class properties.
Before his last two positions, he had a long and rewarding career with three of sports television’s dominant players – ABC Sports, ESPN and the NBC Sports Channel. He joined Traub Capital Partners in March of 2022 and he has actively been involved in further building HITS Horse Shows as the country’s largest owner/operator of equestrian events. He lives on a ranch outside of Austin, Texas with his wife and two sons.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Federico Balestra is the CEO of Sabatino Truffles, a leading global Truffle company based in Connecticut and Umbria, Italy. With over 20 years of experience in the truffle industry, Federico has been instrumental in driving the company's growth and success. He joined Sabatino in 1996 as the Sales Manager and was appointed CEO in 2005.
Under Federico's leadership, Sabatino has expanded its product portfolio to include a wide range of new products like Truffle Salt, Truffle Zest, Truffle crisps, just to name few, catering to the growing demand for truffle globally. His passion for promoting Truffles has driven Sabatino to become a world leader in the space.
Federico holds a degree in Business Administration from a great school in Rome, Italy and actively participates in industry conferences and events. He is committed to making a positive impact on the food industry by providing nutritious and environmentally friendly food choices to consumers.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Dr. Samuel West’s work and research is driven by curiosity and a playful experimental approach. As a licensed clinical psychologist, Samuel specialized in cognitive behavioral therapy and treated depression, anxieties, relationship problems, etc. He later became obsessed with the psychology of happiness, in particular happiness related to work and the complex relationship between happiness and affluence. During a mid-career break from consulting, he spent 5 years at Lund University, doing research and teaching positive psychology, creativity, organizational science, and various clinical courses. His PhD in organizational psychology focused on how workplace playfulness boosts innovation. He is American-Icelandic, and after many years in Sweden, is now based in Spain.
Since founding the Museum of Failure, Samuel has become the leading expert on helping teams and organizations understand the role of failure for innovation and progress, improve the acceptance of failure, and appreciate the benefits of psychological safety. He educates and inspires with the fascinating stories of the artifacts at the Museum of Failure.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
In 1996, Neely Woodson Powell met a cobbler who made fashionable yet comfortable shoes in the small Mexican village of San Miguel de Allende. Impressed with the style and versatility, Neely started selling the hand-sewn shoes alongside her mother’s furniture markets and met her first of many loyal customers. After enrolling in a design program at SCAD and with the production support of the founding family of cobblers, Neely launched Charleston Shoe Co., known for machine washable, hand-crafted, and comfortable shoes. Beginning with her first store in 2010, she effortlessly pivoted from selling shoes from the trunk of her car to having 18 locations and over 300 wholesale accounts around the US today.
In addition to being the owner and founder of Charleston Shoe Co., Neely is a mother, an avid traveler, and very active in the Charleston community. It is her charisma and charm that people are drawn to, and why Charleston Shoes have been embraced by women all over the country.
Interviewed by Kate Doerge.
As EY Global Retail Leader, Thomas Harms is responsible for defining and implementing the EY strategy for the retail industry. He helps ensure that EY retail clients are well served across geographies, leading over 20,000 EY professionals worldwide.
After more than 20 years advising national and international companies, Thomas is just as curious about new developments as he was at the beginning of his career.
Early on, he specialized in consumer goods and retail culminating in Thomas creating and leading the Consumer industry practice across Germany, Switzerland and Austria for 18 years. He knows the industry like no other and has supported retailers as they face complex and strategic challenges driven by empowered consumers.
Thomas’ long-term industry relationships and strong, cross-industry network are the cornerstone of successful collaborations and creative solutions.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
As CEO of OUAI, the Los Angeles based hair care and lifestyle brand, Colin Walsh has demonstrated his inspiring leadership qualities and dedication to the growing beauty industry over the past 16 years. His mission to remain curious about life and continue to work and play every day with people who inspire him to be his best, has given him an unparalleled perspective across Sales, Marketing, Product Development and Distribution, allowing him an understanding of the business from all viewpoints and cementing him as a leader in the space.
Prior to joining OUAI, Canadian-born Walsh, was the CEO of DevaCurl and VP/GM of MATRIX USA within the Professional Products Division of L’Oréal. He also co-authored, “ON: A Brilliant Way to Live and Work” with motivational psychologist Dr. Lew Loscony; a book designed to provide practical tips and powerful insights on creating greater passion and purpose in work and everyday life.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Lyndon Cormack along with his brother Jamie founded Herschel Supply in 2009 after identifying a gap in the market for stylish, functional and design-driven bags. Lyndon’s commitment to consistency and unwavering ability to establish long-term brand direction has led to Herschel Supply’s international success and recognition as a leader in the global accessories market.
His love for design spills into his everyday life, with interior design, architecture and fashion design being some of his most passionate hobbies—that is, when he’s not surfing or backcountry snowboarding.
Before founding Herschel Supply, Lyndon spent ten years with Vans, working on developing the company’s Canadian business. He is the proud father of two daughters and resides between his homes in Deep Cove, North Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Rachel is the founder of Gladiator Lacrosse, a high-quality sports training equipment line with an affordable price point. Since its inception, the company has maintained profitability without ever compromising the brand’s fundamental intent or consumer promise. Rachel has been featured in many publications, including The New York Times, USA Today, Entrepreneur Magazine, Fortune, Forbes, Inc., and TIME Magazine, being named one of the 30 most influential teens of 2016.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Lori Coulter is the Co-Founder and CEO of Summersalt, a generation-defining lifestyle brand known for its data-backed fit and designer quality products without the designer price tag.
Lori and her Co-founder, Reshma Chattaram Chamberlin, launched Summersalt to change the conversation around swimwear and address a true market gap by creating designer swimwear without the designer price tag. Summersalt’s product is data-backed with 1.5 million measurements taken from 10,000 women’s body scans.
Since launch, Summersalt has expanded to include adventure-friendly essentials that help make every aspect of a woman's wardrobe more joyful and comfortable—from sleepwear to intimates to activewear. Named one of the Top 100 Upstarts in the world by CNBC and The Lead’s Breakout Company of the Year, the brand has seen exceptional growth and consumer adoption, garnering praise from leading outlets including Vogue, Elle, CNN and Forbes.
Lori is passionate about empowering women entrepreneurs and students, and champions inclusive economic development and entrepreneurship!
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Kara Goldin is the Founder of Hint, Inc., best known for its award-winning Hint® water, the leading unsweetened flavored water. She has received numerous accolades, including being named EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 Northern California, one of InStyle’s 2019 Badass 50, Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, WWD Beauty Inc.’s Feel Good Force and Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs.
Kara’s first book, Undaunted: Overcoming Doubts and Doubters,was released October 2020 and is now a WSJ and Amazon Best Seller.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer
Nicole Eckels began her career as a makeup artist and eventually moved into corporate sales. After a stint in San Francisco, Eckels decided she needed a more challenging outlet. In 2006, she flew to Australia where she found her “true calling.” Shopping for bath and body products in a Sydney department store, Eckels was frustrated that she couldn’t find what she was looking for and quickly realized there was a huge gap in the market. A spirited entrepreneur at heart, Glasshouse Fragrances was launched with a spark of imagination and the firm belief in the power of fragrance to transform the everyday.
Today, Glasshouse Fragrances is a leading brand in the Australian fragrance market and has expanded its product offerings to include eau de parfum, body lotion, shower gel, bar soap, fragrance diffusers and more. Eager to bring her premium brand of electrifying scents to the U.S., Nicole is back in the States and launched Glasshouse Fragrances North America in the summer of 2021. In less than a year, the brand is being showcased in major retailers such as Neiman Marcus, Saks, and Bloomingdale’s - as well as influential online platforms and independent doors across the country.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Romain Gaillard was raised in Paris, France by parents who were early adopters of the green living movement. After embarking on a career in tech, a friend’s health battle opened his eyes to the need in the beauty industry for healthier self-care and wellness options. Romain took the leap of faith to switch career paths and pioneer the green beauty movement. Thus the Detox Market was born. The Detox Market curates the purest, most unique and sought-after products, based on three criteria: zero toxicity, highest efficiency and style.
They are the beauty choice of the new generation: Beauty without toxins, Beauty with expertise, and Beauty with integrity. The Detox Market started in 2010 as a 2-month pop-up curating the best of green beauty and was awarded Best Concept store by WWD. It is now recognized both by press and by customers as one of the foremost North American destinations for green beauty and living.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer
Catherine Bond Muir may not seem the obvious candidate to have founded the world’s first all-female single-seater motor racing championship. A former intellectual property solicitor, in 2000 she moved into corporate finance and spent more than a decade working on sports and gaming deals. W Series, born at Catherine’s dining table, is a free-to-enter championship that provides equal opportunities for women and eliminates the financial barriers that have historically prevented them from progressing to the upper echelons of motorsport.
By placing all participants in identical cars, the series ensures that talent takes precedence. Since its inaugural season in 2019, W Series has created the greatest number of professional women racing drivers of all time. In 2021, W Series entered a new landmark partnership with Formula 1 and supported the world’s premier motor racing series at seven Grand Prix weekends. This year, W Series will stage 10 races at eight Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends across three continents, including a first-ever race in Asia at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
In this week’s Safari episode, we feature Eliza Blank, Founder of The Sill, a direct-to-consumer brand that delivers perfectly potted plants to your door and empowers new “plant parents” by blending commerce, content and community. Eliza is an entrepreneur and business owner who has made it her mission to enrich life through connection and community, and believes in the power of plants to bring this mission to life. The Sill has nine brick & mortar locations in the United States. The first NYC flagship opened in 2014 and has now expanded to the West Coast with two new locations in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Kyle is the founder and CEO of Win Brands Group, an omnichannel retail platform that buys and builds category-defining brands. Win’s stable of brands includes Homesick (scented candles and home fragrance), QALO (silicone wedding rings and accessories), Gravity (the original weighted blanket), and Love Your Melon (mission-driven outerwear).
Kyle has spent over a decade honing the art of consumer-focused venture capital and brand building. His background includes working side-by-side with branding guru J. Christopher Burch, as well as founding multiple best-in-class investment and marketing operations in the US and abroad.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Thomas G. Struzzieri is the President and Chief Executive Officer of HITS, LLC, the largest hunter/jumper horse show production company in the United States. Based in the Village of Saugerties, New York, HITS is a national company producing horse shows in Ocala, Florida; Culpeper, Virginia; Wayne, Illinois; East Dorset, Vermont, and Saugerties, New York. Struzzieri is recognized as a skillful horse show facility architect, designing and building state-of-the-art facilities from the ground up.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer
In this episode, we profile Nicolas Bargi, Founder and CEO of Save the Duck, a brand whose mission is to create product that respects animals, the environment and people. An industry favorite, the Italian outerwear company has been at the forefront of sustainable and vegan fashion and is continuing to advocate sustainable and animal-free ethics with its collections and campaigns. Save the Duck was acquired recently by two private investors who raised their stakes in the brand through their personal investment vehicles. Nicolas will remain CEO.
In 2019 Save The Duck was the first fashion company in Italy to obtain the B Corp certification and has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. Save the Duck also donates 1% of its turnover every year to support charitable initiatives to protect animals, people and the environment.
In this episode we speak with Justin Abrams, CEO and Co-Founder of Flagship, a retail service platform that helps brands scale their physical retail presence on flexible terms. We explore how technology meets retail, how one can completely supercharge brands and add huge top spin to retail environments “in real life (IRL)."
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
For the second time we are talking about the power of loyalty in navigating today’s consumer and retail landscape. Gavin Dein is the Founder and CEO of Reward, a global SaaS customer engagement platform for the world’s largest banks and retailers.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer
In this episode we profile two companies on either side of the Atlantic that are on top of their games in interior design. The first is Elizabeth Pyne Singer, designer at McMillen, Inc., the oldest interior design firm in the United States as well as Max Konig, Managing Director at Nina Campbell. We talk about the role of designers in the consumer landscape today, the return of bespoke and artisanal products as well as the role of art in designing a home.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Davis is the founder and CEO of Cotopaxi, an outdoor gear brand with a humanitarian mission, recently backed by Bain Capital Double Impact. He is a member of the United Nations Foundation's Global Leadership Council and a Presidential Leadership Scholar. Davis previously started Brazil’s "Startup of the Year,” was Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s “CEO of the Year," and is an EY Entrepreneur of the Year. Davis holds an MBA from the Wharton School, an MA from the University of Pennsylvania, and a BA from Brigham Young University. Davis is an adventurer who has floated down the Amazon on a self-made raft, kayaked from Cuba to Florida, and explored North Korea.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Frédéric Malle founded Editions de Parfums in 2000, the only perfume brand in the industry to uphold the skill of its perfumers, and the quality of the raw materials they use, as their primary concern and source of pride. The confluence of these two factors produces an extraordinary result: a brand of uncompromised quality and unbiased creativity. Under Frédéric’s guidance as a perfume publisher, who pushes them to their creative limit and leads them into new olfactory territory, perfumers produce unique works of art sold under their own names. Together, the perfumers and publisher realize a vision of perfume as the masterful result of time, precision and true talent. We talk about: his introduction and evolution in the industry, his creation process, innovations in development, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Kate Klemmer Terry is the Chief Revenue Officer of Quiet Logistics, a logistics company specializing in providing a revolutionary approach to delivering exceptional brand experiences and winning over discerning customers. Kate has over 30 years of experience in the fashion industry working in merchandising, marketing and E-commerce for brands such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Banana Republic, Kate Spade, Coach, and Tommy Hilfiger. Most recently, Kate was running Dash Group NY, a consulting firm helping fashion companies with digital strategy - with clients such as Michael Kors, Tumi, Oscar de la Renta and J. Crew. At Quiet, she is responsible for driving the curation and brand strategy - as well as the client strategy function. We talk about: Quiet Logistics’ incubator program, shifts in the online experience, the importance of the discovery process in stores, her advice for young brands navigating global e-commerce, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Mike Ribero has over 35 years of experience in general management, strategy, marketing and business development, having worked as a CEO, COO and CMO across a broad spectrum of consumer and enterprise-based businesses. Mike has unique expertise and experience in several key areas that include the customer relationship, persuasion and engagement, travel, technology, and media and entertainment, and is credited with being one of the pioneers of the modern-day loyalty program. Mike is currently the CEO of Reach, a new marketplace and mobile App that facilitates a true partnership between consumers and their favorite brands. Driven by a reciprocal value exchange, Reach offers consumers control over their personal information and activities in support of their favorite brands, for which they are compensated and receive other benefits. In exchange for that compensation, which is based on the value created, brands gain access to timely and actionable zero-party data, obtained on a fully transparent and compliant basis. We talk about: the current state of consumer loyalty, how consumers and brands can work cooperatively, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Erwan Rambourg has been a top-ranked analyst covering the luxury and sporting goods sectors for fifteen years. After eight years as a Marketing Manager in the luxury industry, notably for LVMH and Richemont, he is now a Managing Director and Global Head of Consumer & Retail equity research. He regularly contributes to the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, CNBC, and Bloomberg, and has guest lectured at top universities in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. He is the author of The Bling Dynasty: Why the Reign of Chinese Luxury Shoppers Has Only Just Begun (2014) and of Future Luxe: What's Ahead for the Business of Luxury (2020). We talk about: the growth of the luxury industry post-pandemic, the influence of Asia on luxury brands, the power of storytelling amongst consumers, the function of the future store, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Neil Gill is CEO and President of Dogtopia Enterprises, the dog daycare company providing the utmost in quality care through its focus on socialization, exercise, and education. Neil has spent more than 35 years in franchising with international brands such as KFC, Pizza Hut, Brinker International and more than 11 years at Gloria Jean’s Coffees International as CEO, opening more than 1,000 stores across 39 countries. He has experience in taking franchise brands through IPOs and worked in a variety of sectors from on-line education, weight loss, and bakery. We talk about the concept of the “dogification of the human”, his vast experience in franchising, the shifts in the dog and human relationship, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Adam Ross is the CEO and Founder of Heyday, a brand on a mission to cut through the noise in the skincare industry and educate clients on their unique skin, so they can put their best face forward. From 2006 to 2010 Adam was a founding member and senior Principal at Centerview Partners, a privately held advisory and private equity firm based in New York. Prior to this Adam worked in the investment banking department of UBS in London, Sydney and New York. For the past two years Adam has been working on Heyday, modernizing the facial experiences with deepened relationships. We talk about: his process of building Heyday, taking the facial out of the spa, the future developments of skincare, shifts in consumer behavior, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer
Ken Nisch is the Chairman of JGA and has focused his efforts developing branded environments and consumer strategies for clients around the world including Sundance, Hershey’s, Sleep Number, Signet, H&M, Shinola, Whole Foods Market and El Palacio de Hierro. His consumer knowledge and entrepreneurial insights have been an integral part of the conceptual development and strategic image positioning for many retail operators, manufacturers and brand marketers in entertainment, hospitality and traditional retail for more than 40 years. Ken is an inductee of the Retail Design Institute Legion of Honor, the Shop! Hall of Fame and serves on the board for Shop Association as well as private and public retail companies. We talk about: the importance of content and storytelling in all his projects, the conceptual development of retail brands, sustainability in design, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer
Jennifer Vaughan Maanavi is the CEO and Co-Founder of Physique 57, an innovative and modern take on fitness that offers a fresh new boost to barre workouts. She is an accomplished entrepreneur and thought leader with more than 20 years of success across the health and wellness, fitness, and financial services industries. We talk about: the inspiration behind Physique 57, the expansion process of her studios, the move to hybrid fitness, the idea of a health quotient, the convergence of media and wellness and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Luca Solca is the Senior Research Analyst at Bernstein covering European Luxury Goods. With over 25 years of experience, his research has been consistently recognized by industry organizations as trusted research that cuts through complexity with independent clarity, generating exclusive insights that reframe perspectives and strategies. Earlier in his career, Luca served as the Executive Vice Chairman of a publicly traded, medium-sized fashion and luxury Italian conglomerate. Luca was also a partner at the Boston Consulting Group focusing on the retail and consumer goods sectors. We talk about: his approach to uncovering insights, what’s next for retail and luxury fashion, shifts in the travelling luxury consumer, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer
Bill Brace is the EVP Chief Marketing Officer and Executive General Manager of Jared of Signet Jewelers, the world’s largest retailer of diamond jewelry. Bill previously served nearly 30 years at Procter & Gamble, Co., most recently as VP of Global Antiperspirants and North American Skin and Personal Care, where he drove billion-dollar brands through consumer-centric strategies and successful execution. He brings to Signet a history of turning around complex, underperforming businesses through high-impact marketing, unified brand strategies and breakthrough innovation. We talk about: expanding the digital experience in the jewelry industry, the visualization of jewelry, how the consumer has evolved throughout the pandemic, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Evan Berkley is the CEO of Mr. Christmas, the industry leader in creating, designing and marketing innovative seasonal decorations. For over 85 years, this multi-generational family owned business has been a constant during the holiday season by delighting families with memorable and treasured gifts. We talk about: the nostalgic component of the holiday season, the product iteration process, brand partnerships, psychology of the consumer today, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Amanda Baldwin is the President of Supergoop!, the sunscreen and beauty brand driven by the purpose to change the way the world thinks about sunscreen through its clean, protective, and highly innovative products. This philosophy has propelled Amanda and her team to constantly imagine ways to help people wear SPF every day. We talk about: Supergoop!’s brand DNA, her experience in the beauty industry, product innovation and brand expansion, the future of the brand, and more.
Robert Jaegly is the CEO of Mana Products, the world’s leading partner for innovative development and manufacturing of branded and private label prestige beauty products. At Mana, he helps create beauty’s next trends by combining industry insight with cutting-edge research and operational expertise to yield truly singular cosmetics and skincare products. We talk about the history and emergence of Mana Products, where the global beauty industry sits today, the company’s focus on innovation and sustainability via Mana Clean, consumer consumption shifts, its beauty accelerator program, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Chieh Huang is the CEO and Founder of Boxed, the online membership-free wholesale experience that offers direct delivery of bulk-sized packages with the goal of making shopping for bulk easy and convenient. Prior to Boxed, Chieh was the CEO of Astro Ape, one of the first mobile social gaming studios. After Zynga’s pre-IPO acquisition of Astro Ape, he became the Director of Zynga Mobile NY, leading the fastest and most efficient game team within Zynga. We talk about the genesis of Boxed, the lessons he has learned about how to cultivate phenomenal work culture, the effects of the pandemic on consumer purchasing behavior, his journey as an entrepreneur, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Bruce E. Teitelbaum is the Founder and CEO of RPG, an award-winning design/build firm globally recognized for its ability to invigorate the brick-and-mortar experience, elevate and reinforce the power of brands, and compel consumers to shop and purchase. Through Bruce’s leadership, RPG has recently formed strategic alliances to deliver the highest of standards in turnkey solutions, including formulations, packaging, filling, trend forecasts, and brand strategy. We talk about: how to think about brands within physical environments, various types of customization, the future of retail, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer
Chris M. Williams is the Founder & CEO of Pocket.watch, the studio that specializes in entertaining and inspiring kids and families through digital-first content and sparking their imaginations with lifestyle products ranging from toys to toothbrushes. He's dedicated to bringing kids and families more of what they love by turning YouTube stars, characters and formats into global lifestyle franchises through the creation of books, television shows, games, movies, consumer products, live events and much more. We talk about: the future of children’s entertainment, how content translates to consumer products, the importance of being audience centric, what is next for Pocket.watch, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Matt Britton is the Founder and CEO of Suzy, a real-time consumer intelligence platform connecting directly to brand audiences. Throughout his career, he has consulted for over half of the Fortune 500 and has had a unique ability to connect the dots between the new consumer culture of today and the business trends of tomorrow. We talk about: how Suzy shapes ideas to resonate with consumers, modernizing the market research industry, strategies to create meaningful insights for consumers, the industry shifts that have occurred, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Emily Heyward is the Co-Founder and Chief Branding Officer of Red Antler, a leading branding and marketing firm focused on early-stage ventures. Throughout her career, she has helped create, launch, and build devoted fan followings for some of the most beloved consumer brands, such as Allbirds and Casper. In her book, Obsessed, Emily takes readers behind the scenes of the creation process and outlines her principles of what it takes to launch highly coveted brands. We talk about: why people should invest in brand, her team’s process to create a level of obsession for new startups, current trends she sees in the industry, her notes of optimism, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
CallisonRTKL is a leading global architecture, planning and design firm focused on cross-pollinating ideas and delivering quality at all levels in all places. CallisonRTKL’s VP and Global Services Lead of Customer Experience, Paul Conder, and Associate Vice President of CX Innovation and Insight, Lily Olsson, join us to discuss our joint project “Visions Into the Future”. We talk about: pre and post pandemic attitudes across industries, how brands can bolster their services to increase the perception of safety, the new meaning of convenience, how consumer are not only makers and sellers but also collaborators, the live – work – play ethos, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Erik Oken is the global head of retail and consumer investment banking at J.P Morgan. Throughout his expansive career at the firm, he has been dedicated to growing companies in the consumer goods, food and beverage, and luxury sectors in ways that not only help them excel, but also adapt to and anticipate the ever changing retail landscape. We talk about: the need to transform the food system, the acceleration of the retail landscape, the enabling nature of technology, the importance to marry creativity with data, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Griffin Thall and his Co-Founder Paul Goodman founded Pura Vida after a trip to Costa Rica and an encounter with two artisan bracelet makers inspired them to create a charitable jewelry and accessories brand that showcases local craftsmen. Over the last few years, they have partnered with more than 175 charities around the world to donate nearly $2.4 million to causes their consumers care about. We talk about: the brand’s all-inclusive marketing strategy centered on creating meaningful connections, partnerships with synergistic brands, the process of creating products that resonate with customers, how the brand continues to evolve and set trends in the digital space, his advice for budding entrepreneurs, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Samer Hamadeh is the Founder and CEO of Zeel, the on-demand massage company that connects people with licensed massage therapists who provide massages at home, in hotels, or at the workplace. Since launching Zeel in 2012, Samer has channeled his impressive entrepreneurial background into building a wellness platform that not only addresses our aches and pains, but also explores the possibilities of how wellness can evolve in the digital age. We talk about: ways to build trust with both consumers and therapists, the pivot into self-care and virtual wellness, the evolution and new opportunities of how start-ups are funded, the changes in the health and wellness space post pandemic, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Sarah Blank is the Co-CEO of Scanlan Theodore in the United States, an Australian women’s fashion and accessories brand offering a range of ready-to-wear, handbags, and footwear focused on modern elegance, timeless, and versatile designs. Sarah and her Co-Founder, Melinda Robertson, began their journey with the brand as consumers who loved the products and saw an opportunity to grow the brand internationally. We talk about: pivoting from a career in finance to fashion, how retail stores could be structured post pandemic, her future hopes for Scanlan Theodore, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Deena Bahri is the Chief Marketing Officer of Stock X, the online marketplace that has turned resales of consumer goods into highly valued business by creating a ‘stock market of things.’ Since its creation, Stock X has skyrocketed from being a young startup to a beloved brand for customers who want to buy, sell and discover products they covet. We talk about: the convergence between the contenders and the incumbents, Stock X’s concept of the initial product offering (IPO), the cultural marketing team’s method of seeking out collaborations around product creations, storytelling in culturally relevant ways, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Laura Doyle is the Vice Chairman and CEO of Doyle Auction House, one of the world’s foremost auctioneers and appraisers of fine art, jewelry, furniture, decorations, rare books, and a variety of specialty categories. Following in her father’s footsteps, Laura has been deeply ingrained in the auction world since her youth and now assumes the lead in a digital age. We talk about: the auction house’s role in the discovery and education for both buyers and dealers, the commitment to personal touch, Hayloft’s fresh take on the auction model, the creation of an ever-expanding network of international buyers, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Michael Clinton is the Senior Media Advisor to the CEO of The Hearst Corporation, a leading global media company with assets which span from television networks and magazines to newspapers and emerging digital entertainment companies. Throughout his 40-year career in this space, Michael has brought ongoing leadership and critical knowledge to the media industry and continues to align the business with the ways consumers consume quality content today. We talk about: how the media industry is adapting to the current climate, the importance of trustworthy quality content producers, the creation of strong brand stories, his adventures traveling the world, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
John Ballay, the CEO of Knot Standard, Melissa Mash, the Founder and CEO of Dagne Dover, and Nate Checketts, the CEO and Co-Founder of Rhone recently started an initiative called Brands x Better, a group of 27 brands that are united in an effort to raise awareness and funds for various charities that are helping the COVID-19 crisis. We talk about: how the digitally native leaders and the fashion industry as a whole are reacting to the crisis, the changes and innovation that will emerge from this uncertain time, how this initiative pledges to pay it forward to those on the front lines, and more. To learn more about Brands x Better, please visit their website.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Allie Egan is the CEO of Cynthia Rowley, a leading global lifestyle brand built on the philosophy that fashion should be an adventure. Since joining Cynthia Rowley, Allie has not only headed the brand’s switch to becoming digital-first through e-commerce, retail, and wholesale, but has also carried over the spontaneous spirit of the brand via innovative approaches to sustainability, marketing, and consumer experiences. We talk about: the power of technology and a digital-first approach within the brand, the open showroom and nomadic retail concept, causes the brand stands behind, the power of brand storytelling through collaborations, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
We all are thinking through how we are going to manage the coming weeks and months. I for one turned to a group of my closest friends and advisors, who happen to also be colleagues and experts in crisis management. The conversation I had was so compelling that I decided to have it a second time but this time recorded. Blly Susman is one of the leading financial minds in the consumer investment banking world; Geoff Lurie is the President of Traub and serial optimization CEO and leader and former CEO of The North Face; similarly Joe Ahearn is Managing Director at Traub who among other things was the CEO of Marvel and ToyBiz.
Between the three of them, they advised the following steps which are catalogued in this episode:
- Don’t panic: this may cause you to over react and shoot from the hip. Don’t.
- Plan: Sit down calmly and objectively come up with a plan.
- Watch your cash position by generating a normalized 13 week cash flow, then stress test it with the daily realities that come your way.
- Keep mission crytical people at home. Likely all employees will need to stay home.
- Do daily or twice daily company conference calls.
- Make sure those people have remote access.
- If you are in a part of the country / world where your area has not been shut down, cross train key players so that each can do the other’s job in case one falls ill.
- THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX: Requests you might never have been able to make of suppliers, landlords, retailers are now all on the table. We are in this together, so people will have to give and take.
- Don’t communicate false hope to employees. Transparency is key. There is nothing more demoralizing than a second round of layoffs if people have been reassured that they are all secure.
- Don’t hide the truth from partners, banks, factors, lawyers, suppliers and other key stakeholders. “Honesty is always the best policy.” Said the late Marvin Traub.
- If you work to “extend the runway” with an optimization plan, make sure the extension leads to something or somewhere. A debt package, equity infusion, M&A. In other words more stability.
I tried to get this out as quickly as possible to be of help to those in need of someone to turn to. Thanks to Geoff, Joe and Billy who dropped everything to do this today as I know they have been dealing with all manner of issues for their respective clients.
Stay safe.
Morty
Tata Harper is the Founder of her beauty brand Tata Harper Skincare, a line of natural products merging nature’s botanicals and technology from around the globe to create multi-purpose and multifunctional products that never compromise on luxury. Since launching 10 years ago, Tata has become a leader in not only the beauty industry, but also the consumer lifestyle space. We talk about: the development of her products’ formulas, the importance of rituals in her vision for her brand, the technology behind her products, her entrepreneurial advice, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Gabi Lewis is the CEO and Co-Founder of Magic Spoon, the DTC brand upgrading cereals you know and love from your childhood for the modern consumer. Just 10 months into its business, Magic Spoon has reinvented the cereal aisle by masterfully threading the needle between healthy ingredients and colorful, exciting brand marketing. We talk about: the similarities and differences of building EXO vs. Magic Spoon, recipe iterations to create healthier cereal, the evolution of the brand with the consumer, possible strategic alliances with both traditional and non-traditional retailers, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
John Ballay is the CEO and Co-Founder of Knot Standard, the custom menswear brand known for its tailor made suits. Since it’s conception, Knot Standard’s solution-based brand and strong curation of product has helped it create an impressive global following. We talk about: growing the stickiness of the customer, the influence of hospitality throughout the customer journey, his strategy behind brand partnerships, the brands he admires, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Benjamin Witte is the Founder of Recess, a beverage brand and a burgeoning media company on a mission to awaken creativity in all of us. Since 2018, the internet-born retailer has generated an incredible amount of buzz by designing a collection of beverages aimed to help people feel balanced, centered and inspired. We talk about: the idea behind “taking a recess”, his approach to content creation and consumer experiences, the creation of the brand identity and design, the potential of the CBD category, his advice for budding entrepreneurs, Recess’ upcoming product extensions, and more.
Interview by Mortimer Singer.
Julian Steinberg is the Co-Founder of Alliance Consumer Growth. Since 2011, he and his colleagues have built ACG into one of the leading consumer growth investment funds in the United States. They have invested in many household names ranging from Harry’s Shaving, Tata Harper, Shake Shack, Clio, Lola, BarkTHINS, and most recently Hershel. We talk about: his strategy of investing, shifts in consumer behaviors that are influencing today’s brands, how the digital and physical intersect, sectors that excite him at the moment, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Matt Scanlan is the founder and CEO of Naadam, a digital native Cashmere company that works directly with herders to create high quality and sustainable knitwear. His approach to building brands that are rooted in understanding consumer psychology has made the companies he leads both highly sought-after and exciting. We talk about: the creation of Naadam, his partnership with Thakoon and Arielle Charnas of Something Navy, the importance of forming brands that reflect consumer identities, the process of building loyalty, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Zahra Ahmed is the CEO of DL1961, a sustainable denim brand on a mission to create jeans for the next generation. Centered on the idea of merging technology and mindfully-made products, DL1961 offers jeans using premium materials and innovative fibers alongside the most efficient production methods to ensure a product that looks good also does better for the environment. As a result, DL1961 is one of the fastest rising denim brands today. We talk about: the creation of the DL1961 family business, the marketing strategy behind the brand's impressive growth, various ways the conversation about sustainability is weaved into the business, the new perspectives consumers have about retail, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Frédéric Fekkai is the Executive Chairman of Blue Mistral: co-founder of Bastide and founder of his namesake brand Fekkai. His first atelier at Bergdof Goodman served as his launching pad and gave him a platform to showcase his impeccable detail to service, innovative approach to beauty, and eye for luxury. His perspective of seeing beauty through the lens of the customer has continued to help Fekkai push the envelope on the luxury and beauty landscape while staying relevant to the lifestyles of people. We talk about: how he built his namesake brand Fekkai, his approach to sustainability with his clean beauty lines, how the perspective of beauty has changed throughout his career, the millennial generation's approach to beauty, his interest in wellness, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
In the spirit of continuing a TRAUB tradition, this year we revisited our previous US New Davids report for our fourth and final annual study. In this year's study we curated a selection of 350+ digital native brands across five key categories: fashion, accessories, beauty, wellness and home. We talk about: ways in which New Davids are expanding into multiple distribution channels including retail and wholesale, how brands are built today, changes in what consumers look for, favorite digital native brands, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Anthony Buono is the Global President of Retail at CBRE, leading the implementation of global retail strategy in the Americas, Asia Pacific, and EMEA. His perspective of seeing retail through the lens of data and design has continued to help CBRE push the envelope on the retail and real estate landscape. We talk about: how retailers turn to more agile use of spaces, adaptive reuse of big-boxes, the relationship between CBRE and Streetsense, the influence of retail science in confirming instincts, digitally stimulated experiences, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Christine Hunsicker is the Founder and CEO of CaaStle, a B2B technology platform empowering retailers and fashion brands to participate in the rental economy. She has channeled her 18 years of experience in B2B, data and technology startups in order to strengthen the rental industry and help fashion brands evolve their business models. We talk about: the concept of "clothing as a service", rental's role in increasing customer retention, the relationship between rental and sustainable fashion, the importance of data in understanding consumers, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Ken Himmel is the President and CEO of Related Urban, the nation’s leader of large-scale mixed-use developments. With over 30 years of experience, he has spearheaded multiple successful projects, all of which unite urban planning, residences and offices with exciting shopping, restaurants, and art venues. His ability to draw inspiration from local culture and lifestyle while also introducing innovative new concepts makes his projects vibrant and memorable destinations. We talk about: the convergence between retail, hospitality, real estate developments, the changes currently occurring in the industry, the unique programming strategies behind the composition of experiences, his upcoming project in Santa Clara, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Tony Spring is the Chairman and CEO of Bloomingdale’s. With experience in marketing, direct-to-consumer, and restaurants, he is one of the most well-rounded CEOs in retail. We talk about: the power of cross-functional thinking, the strategy of quantifying the media value of department stores, his vision to evolve the shopping experience into something distinctive, the reimagination of Bloomingdales' stores, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Mazdack Rassi is the Co-Founder of Milk Studios, Milk Makeup, and Camp David. Over the last decade, Milk has gone from being a production and events space to a full-service creative beehive doing work in print, physical, and digital domains. Above all, however, the power of Milk has been its ability to cultivate a proactive and engaged community. We talk about: the codes and inclusive DNA of Milk, the duality between content and commerce, the evolution of fashion shows, the importance for brands to have point-of-views, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
David Rabinowitz is the Co-Chair of Goulston & Storr's retail, restaurant, and consumer group. With his 30 years of experience, there are few people who know as much as he does in counseling non-U.S retailers with their expansions into North America and advising developers in connection with acquisitions. Geoff Lurie is the President and COO of Traub. We talk about: how companies should launch themselves into their direct-to-consumer initiatives, the strategies of optimizing a business, how to protect intellectual property globally, the concern with brand dilution, and more.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Streetsense is a leading design collective focused on activating, transforming, and creating brands and places. Streetsense’s CEO, Brian Taff, and Senior Design Director of Interior Architecture, Brian Miller, join us today to discuss: the role placemaking plays in driving value for real estate; the importance of community building in design; the valuable partnership between CBRE and Streetsense; the blurred lines between hospitality and real estate, and more!
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Scott Malkin is the Founder and Chairman of Value Retail, the company behind the must-visit international destination, The Bicester Village Shopping Collection, that specializes exclusively in the development and operation of luxury shopping Villages across Europe and Asia. Each Village offers brands exceptional growth, the development of new markets and an introduction to new, young, affluent, traveling customers. We talk about: service as a software; the creation of environments that produce memory and meaning; the confluence of experience and digital; and how it takes discipline, humility, and passion to build one of the most important luxury goods platforms on earth, and more!
1:00: Introduction to Value Retail business
3:25: Flagship services (part I)
Four Pillars and the traveling luxury consumer
- Real estate
- Retail
- Hospitality
- Curation of experiences – Theatre
6:46: The future of physical retail is flagship retail
7:25: The software vs the hardware
9:12: Retail hospitality
12:30: How BSVC compares to other shopping centers and department stores
16:06: Service as a software – customer acquisition and conversion
29:47: Flagship services (part II)
30:35 – 38:00: Principle of the services
50:46: New affluent, global, young consumer is the lifeblood of the industry
51:40: What are the things you are thinking about in interested in for the next decade?
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Rob Keve is the CEO and co-founder of Flow, the turnkey platform for brands to go global by converting brands' international demand into sales. Flow seamlessly addresses the challenges of entering new markets by acting upon the complexities of selling products online. We talk about: the new strategies for brands to go global, the pain points of selling internationally, how to drive traffic to sites, software as services platforms, tools for localization, and more!
Jared Konstanty is the CEO of the 140 year old Signature Brands, a business centered on celebrations large and small. Its most current innovation focuses on making the act of decorating simple and compelling for families via some of their notable brands such as Betty Crocker decorating, PAAS and Pumpkin Masters. We talk about: the importance of consumer behavior, the strategies of crafting family memories, how to build a purpose driven company, building consistent brand messages, risk mitigation vs. innovation, and more.
Heath Wells is the CEO and co-founder of NuORDER, a digital showroom that is evolving an antiquated wholesale process. With over 500,000 retailers on the platform, NuORDER is only scratching the surface of how it can impact the wholesale space. We talk about: the shift in consumers’ buying incentives, the partnership between retailers and brands, the transition into new points of sales, DTC brands’ retail and wholesale strategies, trade shows, and more!
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Jennie Baik is the co-founder and CEO of Orchard Mile. Few people have as direct a view into how businesses in luxury are doing on line. We talk about: what works on line and what doesn’t, What brands should do to amplify their DTC business, personalization, loyalty, the young luxury consumer, network effects and the future of retail in a “digalogue” world.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Billy Susman helps bridge the left and the right brain in the industry of design, beauty and retail. Billy has been in banking for over 30 years. Billy runs one of the best known consumer focused boutique investment banks, Threadstone Advisors. He advises brands of all shapes and sizes on how to handle the often hard to navigate consumer corporate finance world. We discuss valuations, strategic vs financial partners and the future of investing in brands.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Michael Stone is one of the oracles of branding and is the Chairman and founder of the Beanstalk Group, one of the world’s most storied licensing agencies who has helped build, through licensing, some of the world’s most storied brands ranging from Coca Cola to the Olsen twins. We discuss “customer entanglement” via licensing as well as segments from his new book: The Power of Licensing: Harnessing Brand Equity.
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
Joel Towers is one of the most progressive thinkers in modern academia having instituted strict sustainability guidelines into the curriculum at Parsons over a decade ago. Joel is University Professor at The New School and the beloved former Executive Dean of Parsons. We speak about sustainability, the Anthropocene, polarizing times and design in the “board room”
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
No two people know where the puck is going better than this talented duo. Faith Kates is the founder of Next Model Management. She is joined by her colleague Jennifer Gavin who heads up their influencer division. We discuss modeling, influencers, branding in the age of the internet, photography and “Gen Z”
Interviewed by Mortimer Singer.
The Safari is a guided tour around the retail, brand and consumer landscape. We interview the brightest and innovative industry leaders who share how they are shaping and evolving the industry in the years to come. Guests come from all corners of the industry from retail, beauty, fashion, CPG, academia, agencies, real estate, investing and more.
Tune in to hear from some of the guests we'll be talking to in the months to come.
Interviews conducted by Mortimer Singer.