The global licensing community is powered by an incredible group of professionals whose diverse backgrounds and creative energy drive innovation and excellence. Each week we’re profiling one of these professionals in this ongoing series developed in partnership with MyMediaBox.

How did you get into licensing (or how did licensing find YOU)?
I was lucky enough to land a job at Disney Consumer Products after I graduated from UW-Madison. I worked as a PR coordinator in the corporate communications department writing press releases about Disney’s toy launches. I was immediately fascinated in how Disney products were made and wanted to understand how licensing worked. This role ultimately helped me land my first official job in licensing at Mattel as a licensing associate in 2013 which was the best introduction to the licensing industry.

What’s your biggest personal and professional accomplishment? 
Professional: Landing an amazing role at Moonbug during the height of the pandemic. I was Moonbug’s first hire in the US on the L&M team and feel honored to be part of the company’s growth and success.
Personal: Meeting my fiance, Jason at Toy Fair in 2018 and now planning our wedding for next May.

What are the most significant trends or changes that you’ve seen in the business in recent years?
That the retail landscape has finally shifted to prioritize new digital IP rather than the traditional properties with theatrical releases from the main studios. I have been working on digital IP for many years from my time at Brand Central, Digital Brand Products at DBA and now at Moonbug, and it has been amazing to see the success of CoComelon and Blippi properties at retail, and it is just the beginning. Everything in licensing is all about timing and Moonbug is coming in at the perfect time to become the leading digital preschool licensor.

What keeps you up at night? What’s your biggest challenge these days?
Our planet’s landfills. Thinking about how this industry has an incredible amount of waste, plastic and excessive consumerism. It is my goal to launch more sustainable product lines and make products that help protect our beautiful Earth.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? OR What is your favorite quote?
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Best part of the licensing industry is all the incredible people I get to work with. I love meeting people from around the world and continuing to work with people for years on different properties, companies and roles as people grow through the industry. You hear it all the time, but it’s remained true for me, this industry is all about your relationships.

What is your favorite licensing deal of all time? (doesn’t have to be one that was signed by you)
Wow so many to pick from, but a few stand out to me. Chip and Joanna Gaines’ “Hearth and Hand with Magnolia” Collection exclusive at Target is a dream partnership. Also, the Harry Potter retail shop in NYC gets me really excited about the future of experiential retail.

The last licensed product I bought was…
Sweatshirt from the Mickey Mouse x Zara collection. Classic Mickey will always be my favorite and is the GOAT in licensing!

THE 2021 PEOPLE PROFILE SERIES IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY MYMEDIABOX

MyMediaBox is the leader in providing online solutions that streamline every stage in the brand licensing lifecycle, from contract management and rights tracking, through style guide delivery, product approvals, security tag management and royalty reporting. With over 54,000 global professionals logging in from 125+ countries, Mediabox is by far the world’s most thoroughly tested and widely trusted licensing software.