The co-lab career stories

Cathy Quain is a seasoned brand leader with 25+ years driving growth for top lifestyle, luxury, and outdoor brands. She’s led DTC, retail, and eCommerce strategies as CEO, President, and VP at companies like Krewe, Manduka, and Burton Snowboards. Now CEO of Compass + Nail, she helps brands build loyalty, scale smartly, and create standout customer experiences. In this episode, Sandra Finkelstein i...

Sandra Finkelstein is a fashion innovation leader who builds next-gen brands, platforms, and ideas that drive growth. She leverages GenAI and machine learning to streamline trend detection, product creation, and design workflows. Sandra thrives in fast-moving, purpose driven teams where innovation leads to real impact. In this episode, Cathy Quain interviews Sandra Finkelstein on how she’s using g...

Erica Guider is a Sales Executive at 42 Technologies with deep roots in retail, having spent her childhood weekends in her family’s boutique tagging merchandise and managing displays. After graduating from Parsons, she brought her creative and commercial expertise to brands like Tory Burch, 7 For All Mankind, Sandro, and Maje. When the pandemic disrupted the industry, Erica pivoted into tech, join...

Julia Maimone-Medwick is a mission-driven marketing leader with deep experience in brand strategy, events, and social media. As Senior Director of Marketing & Events at Modern Luxury, she leads campaigns for top luxury brands in New York and the Hamptons. With a background in both agency and in-house roles, Julia blends strategy and execution to create memorable, high-impact experiences. In th...

Alexis Carey is a social media and influencer marketing specialist with over 4 years of experience in the beauty, food and beverage, and lifestyle industries. As a Campaign Manager at Foodie Tribe, she drives brand growth through influencer partnerships and strategic campaigns. Outside of work, she creates fashion, fitness, and travel content on her blog, @fashiontoflow. Since this interview, Alex...

Claire Steichen founded Clear Strategy Coaching in 2008 to help ambitious mid-career professionals reach their goals, authentically and without burn-out. Claire is the author of “Confidence at Work: The High Achiever’s Guide to Navigating Uncertainty”. Using her I to the 4th Power methodology, Claire has trained hundreds of mid-level and senior professionals to build career on their terms. Before...

Madelyn is the founder of Madelyn Ulrich Health & Wellness Coaching, a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), and a MindBodyGreen Certified Health Coach who helps high-achieving women in leadership manage stress and prevent burnout. With over 17 years as a Design Director in the women’s apparel industry, she knows what it’s like to juggle creativity, pressure, and consta...

Fariba Jalili is a COO/Global Operations Executive with over 20 years of experience in leadership and operations. Fariba has held positions with industry leaders such as Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Diane von Furstenberg, and Barneys New York. Her leadership philosophy focuses on empowering teams to excel, cultivating a positive work environment, and maintaining open lines of communication to inspir...

Andreas Skorski is the founder and CEO of  <Genesys> AI™, an AI company building artificial intelligence to connect the world of commerce.  connects every aspect of the retail value chain through AI, from catalogue production to marketing, pricing, shipping, and more. In this episode, Fariba Jalili chats with Andreas about his entrepreneurial journey, from growing up in Germany to launching...

Kate Carroll is a stylist and retail expert with a background in fashion and apparel design. She thrives on building meaningful relationships, managing projects, and creating seamless experiences. With a keen eye for detail and a data-driven approach, she brings efficiency and impact to every role. Outside of work, she enjoys shopping, reading, Pilates, and indulging in martinis and oysters—always...

With over 15 years of experience, Fatima Ahmed has developed a career with a strong passion for inclusivity in fashion. Most recently, with Universal Standard, she was part of the team that brought the brand to its current 00-40 size offering. Fatima is currently a consultant with The øther, a brand exploring the dynamic relationship of cultural identity and personal style through clothing and sto...

Carole Jean Whittington is the Chief Well-Being Officer at Whittington Well-Being and a leading expert in autistic burnout for women. With 40+ years of lived experience as an autistic woman navigating chronic stress and burnout, she guides autistic women and their supporters to design joyful, burnout-free lives. In this episode, Karmin Huban chats with Carol Jean about her journey from real estate...

Kamrin Huban transitioned from 22 years in global fashion operations with adidas, Coach, and Brahmin to launch her leadership coaching business five years ago. Kamrin specializes in guiding seasoned corporate women through transformative change, enhancing leadership impact, and gaining clarity on future goals and life direction. In this episode, Carole Jean Whittington chats with Kamrin about her...

Jennifer Cook has spent well over a decade in the fashion industry, working across wholesale, retail, and merchandising functions at companies such as Zac Posen, Suno, and Westerlind. While most of her career has been spent launching international brands in the North American market, she has recently pivoted into buying with a role at ONS Clothing. On the side she writes Mom Friend, a lifestyle pu...

Sarah Shapiro is a retail executive with 20 years of experience in merchandising and digital commerce at companies like Bloomingdale’s and Williams-Sonoma. She founded Retail Diary, a newsletter with 10,000+ subscribers, featured in The New York Times and Vogue Business. After Puck acquired Retail Diary in 2024, Sarah became the Retail Correspondent for Puck’s Line Sheet, covering shopping and con...

With over 15 years of experience in high-growth startups within the hospitality industry, including hotels, spas, and food & tech, Cynthia brings a wealth of expertise to her latest venture—an UPF apparel brand, Ondine. In this episode, Tina Yao interviews Cynthia, a hospitality industry expert. Cynthia shares her diverse career path, which includes working at renowned establishments such as t...

Tina Yau is a retail eCommerce executive with over 25 years of experience in fashion and beauty. Having held leadership roles at global brands such as A|X Armani Exchange, Saks Fifth Avenue, Estée Lauder, and Uniqlo, Tina has built a career on driving innovation, scaling businesses, and delivering exceptional customer experiences. In this episode, Cynthia Kalfa interviews Tina Yau, a retail fashio...

Rivya is most recently an x-JPMorgan Chase Governance, Risk, and Compliance Expert searching for her next opportunity. She is a legal and compliance expert with over a decade of experience in regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and operational resilience.  Currently pursuing an LLM in Fashion Law at Fordham Law School, she brings a unique perspective by blending her expertise in legal ope...

Shraddha Desai is an attorney from India with an LL.M. in Fashion Law from Fordham University School of Law. She has over three years of legal experience. She specializes in IP protection and startup law at OMI Legal, supporting startups, creative people, entrepreneurs, and fashion businesses. From securing intellectual property rights to drafting contracts and managing regulatory challenges, Shra...

Marcos Diaz is a seasoned professional with over twenty-four years of combined experience as a firefighter turned freelance hairstylist. His journey has equipped him with a unique and refined skill set perfectly suited for today’s ever-evolving fashion, hair, and editorial industries. In this interview, Abby Beaudin talks to Marcos Diaz, a New York-based celebrity hairstylist who previously worked...

Abby helps agencies, brands and leaders elevate their impact through two distinct pillars: as an experiential producer, she transforms ideas into immersive campaigns through a streamlined and strategic process; as an executive media training coach, she equips leaders to master thought leadership and shape their story. With over a decade of experience, she bridges the gap between creative and execu...

Emily Li Mandri is the founder & designer of MLE, a consciously created women's accessories brand based in upstate NY. After spending over 15 years in fashion and digital marketing with a focus on innovative design and emerging brand growth, Emily decided it was time to launch her eponymous label, MLE. She now incorporates the first-hand experience she gained in both industries to MLE, with a...

The future of business isn't about choosing between profit and purpose—it's about building systems where they drive each other forward. As the founder of OPENHOUSE, Nagela's mission is to open doors other strategists don't see, partnering with founders who are ready to ditch the old rulebooks. Through research and inclusive innovation practices, she turns wild 'what ifs' into 'what's next' for fou...

Since earning her BFA from Parsons in Women’s RTW and Textile Design, Kristin Bruce has forged a unique career at the intersection of luxury fashion, human rights advocacy, and ethical storytelling. From designing for artisan-empowering brands to leading communications for a global nonprofit, she brings a deep commitment to artistry and impact. Now, as the founder and Ethical Brand Story Architect...

Over the past 20 years, Tara Cohen has driven innovation and strategy as a senior executive at The Estée Lauder Companies, directly influencing MAC Cosmetics, Becca, Tom Ford, and Victoria Beckham, as well as Revlon, L'Oréal, and Victoria Secret Beauty resulting in exponential, multi-channel growth for some of the world’s most influential beauty brands. Now, as a C-Suite Executive, Founder, and St...