KENDRA BRACKEN-FERGUSON
Co-Founder of LumiNicole Beauty

Kendra Bracken-Ferguson is an internationally acclaimed thought leader, award-winning executive, and best-selling author at the forefront of influencer-driven brand building. A digital media pioneer and three-time founder with two exits and over $30M raised, she has helped monetize and scale more than 200 beauty, fashion, and lifestyle brands—many powered by influencer partnerships—with a collective impact exceeding $100M in revenue. She is the co-founder of LumiNicole Beauty, a next-generation retail marketplace, and previously launched the first blogger management agency, Digital Brand Architects (DBA). She also helped establish Ralph Lauren’s social media footprint as the brand’s first Director of Digital Media.Through her brand development and investment firm, BrainTrust, Kendra has led strategy, licensing, and social media for talent and global companies including Halle Berry, Kelly Ripa Home, Under Armour, Cantu Beauty, and Dear Drew by Drew Barrymore.

ANDY COHAN
Co-Founder and CEO of ACI Licensing and Partner at Established Lifestyle/Established Inc.

ACI Licensing; a Los Angeles based Licensing Agency, with offices in New York. Cumulatively, including brands owned & represented; ACI has 160+ License Agreements in place. ACI Licensing, LLC; formerly known as Magna Global Licensing, a division of Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG), founded and launched in 2002. Additional licensing experience; SVP, Global Entertainment & Licensing at Sony Pictures & Music Entertainment/Sony Corporation of America; as well as member of Sony Worldwide Marketing Council. Clients included: Celine Dion, The Beatles, The John Lennon Estate, Bob Dylan, Madonna. Prior to involvement in the Licensing Industry; a comprehensive experience in Retailing; including Senior Executive Management roles at Ames Departments Stores & BevMo.

CAROLYN D’ANGELO
Senior Managing Director of Brand Operations at Gordon Brothers

Carolyn D’Angelo has been a leader in both public and private companies for over 30 years, specializing in strategic marketing, licensing, and brand building among the best brands and celebrity talents in the home industry. Carolyn has worked with retailers across multiple distribution channels. She has industry connections across a variety of businesses, including retail, brand management, marketing agencies, education, and licensing. In her current role at Gordon Brothers, Carolyn is Senior Managing Director, Head of Brand Operations. Carolyn leads global operations under an asset-light model for the firm’s portfolio of brands. She focuses on new business development, securing and managing licensee and retail partners, marketing and product design. As former President of Laura Ashley (a Gordon Brothers portfolio company), she led the team that developed and expanded categories and geographies within the iconic British brand’s consumer home and fashion sectors. In addition, she spearheaded tentpole marketing campaigns. After creating tremendous value, Gordon Brothers sold Laura Ashley in December 2024, showing a closed loop transaction for the brand division. She currently oversees the eponymous fashion and lifestyle brand Nicole Miller, which became part of the portfolio in February 2022. She also manages the Broyhill brand which will be reintroduced to the market in Spring 2026. Prior to joining Gordon Brothers, Carolyn was President of Home at Marquee Brands, responsible for the Martha Stewart, Emeril Lagasse and Sur La Table brands. She created value for Marquee’s investors by growing the equity of these brands and developing new products, new market, and new content to keep the brands relevant to the market.

ELIZABETH FOSTER, VP, Content & Communications at Licensing International 

Elizabeth Foster leads editorial planning and development for Licensing International, along with media relations and social media strategy. Based in Toronto, she has more than a decade of experience in journalism, starting her career in newspapers before making the move to magazines. Previously working at Thomson Reuters, she most recently served as Copy Chief & Special Reports Editor at Kidscreen, the leading international trade publication serving children’s entertainment professionals, with a focus on content examining licensing and brand expansion.

ANDREA FISHER-SCHERER
Managing Director of Merchandise Licensing at Artists Rights Society

Andrea Fisher Scherer is a merchandise licensing expert specializing in fine art copyright, with a BA in Art History from Pratt Institute and an MA in Art Market Studies from the Fashion Institute of Technology. At the Artists Rights Society, she has spent over ten years managing high-profile licensing collaborations, most recently including Alexander Calder x PUMA, Lee Krasner x Ulla Johnson, and the Louise Bourgeois x Sandro collections. With a dedication to protecting visual artists’ rights, Andrea brings strategic vision and a keen eye for partnerships that honor artistic legacy while expanding brand reach.

LESLIE ANN HALL
CEO and Founder of Iced Media

Leslie Ann Hall is the CEO and Founder of Iced Media, the agency she made famous for helping to build, grow and exit some of the most beloved beauty brands in the world. She has guided Iced Media to become peerless in its acumen using social content, creators and ads. Leslie is the foremost expert on social media advertising and social shopping in the United States. For two decades, brands ranging from L’Oréal, Walmart, Paula’s Choice, Moroccanoil, SkinCeuticals, Neutrogena, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Glow Recipe and so many more have relied on Leslie and Iced Media to compete and win in the increasingly saturated beauty, wellness and lifestyle categories. Iced Media is a Meta Business Partner, Snapchat Business Partner, TikTok Marketing Partner and with the launch of TikTok Shop in 2023, Iced Media became one of the first badged TikTok Shop Partners in the U.S.. Iced Media’s pioneering approach has propelled Leslie Ann Hall to become one of the most sought after thought leaders across beauty and retail to educate and inform on the future of social shopping. Leslie is a trained public speaker contributing to top industry outlets including The Business of Fashion, Women’s Wear Daily, ShopTalk, CEW and more. Through Iced Media, Leslie supports organizations that align with her values; she is a CEW Small Business advisor and Andreessen Horowitz TxO mentor. Leslie is a mom of two boys and a devoted beauty junkie, audiobook reader, jogger and yogi.

STEVEN HELLER
President and Founder of The Brand Liaison, LLC

With degrees in both law and accounting, and a 30+ year career in licensing and business development, Steven Heller leads award-winning licensing agency, The Brand Liaison, with over $1 Billion Dollars in branded product sales annually. Throughout his career, Steven has been active in all aspects of business and licensing including licensing top fashion brands, celebrities, professional and collegiate sports and top character and entertainment properties and has worked with virtually every major US retailer. Also known as “The Professor,” Mr. Heller is a renown public speaker and a professor of business and law at both the graduate and undergraduate level. Mr. Heller graduated cum laude in the top 5% at Fordham Law School, 1991 and graduated SUNY Albany in 1987. Mr. Heller is a licensed attorney and member of the New York bar, and currently sits on Global Licensing Group Advisory Board and previously on the Board of Directors of Licensing International.

ALICE KIM
Founder of PerfectDD

Alice Kim is the Founder and CEO of PerfectDD (pronounced “perfected”), a fuller-bust inclusive clothing brand designed with patented technology that prevents gaping and ensures a tailored fit. With over two decades in the fashion industry, she held leadership roles in merchandising and licensing at DVF, Prada, and Shopbop before launching PerfectDD in 2020. Alice now holds three U.S. patents for her fit innovations, a distinction achieved by fewer than 12% of women nationwide. A proud AAPI entrepreneur, she is committed to sustainability, U.S. manufacturing, and empowering women to dress with confidence without compromise.

NICOLE MILLER
Founder of Nicole Miller

Nicole Miller became a household name in 1991 when top supermodels Naomi Campbell,
Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, and Yasmin Le Bon all walked in her very first fashion show. That following year the trailblazer graced the cover of Forbes magazine for her renowned success. By 1996 Miller hit a major milestone with $100 million in sales. Nine years later, distribution exploded with the introduction of nicole by Nicole Miller at JCPenney. Over the past 40+ years, her distinctive style has earned her a loyal following among consumers, celebrities, and industry professionals. In 2019 she became one of the longest showing designers at New York Fashion Week. Everyone from Miley Cyrus and Beyonce to Angelina Jolie has worn Nicole Miller. She is a CFDA member and has been the recipient of numerous industry awards, including the Legend of Fashion Award (2006), Fashion Group International Lifetime Achievement Award (2012), the Visionary Woman Award (2014), and Fashion Designer of the Year at Hamptons Fashion Week (2022).

VIOLA NIGRONI
Head of Licensing at Elle and Elle Decor, Americas

Viola Nigroni is the Vice President and Managing Director of ELLE and ELLE Decor in the Americas where she leads licensing and brand expansion across categories from fashion and beauty to home and hospitality. With 15+ years of global experience at Lagardere, Paramount, Hasbro, and Warner Bros., she specializes in creating cross-sector partnerships that grow iconic brands and reach new consumer demographics.

JACQUELINE RUMOHR
Managing Director of North America at NellyRodi

A leading design-industry professional with more than 30 years of experience in trend forecasting, color strategy, and creative innovation. Managing Director for NellyRodi in North America, partnering with best-in-class brands on color, trend, and macro global consumer insights. Also delivers comprehensive consulting across the fashion, beauty, and home sectors. Recognized for strategic vision and the ability to translate insights into real-world business solutions while anticipating and advancing client needs.

RACHEL SANDLER
SVP, Communications, Consumer Products & Experiences at Paramount

Rachel Sandler is a creative and solutions-driven Corporate Communications executive, recognized for developing integrated strategies that strengthen brands, protect reputations, and advance business goals. As Senior Vice President of Communications for Global Products and Experiences at Paramount, Rachel oversees all internal and external communications for a portfolio of iconic franchises including PAW Patrol, SpongeBob SquarePants, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Star Trek, South Park, Mean Girls, and Emily in Paris. A trusted member of executive leadership teams, she has architected campaigns that build brand equity, drive engagement, and create new business opportunities. Known for her collaborative leadership style, Rachel excels in reputation management, media relations, talent partnerships, and corporate rebranding, while championing initiatives that inspire teams and elevate organizational value.

PAUL SOMERSTEIN
Sr. Partnership Development Manager for the Amazon Stores Agency Program

Paul Somerstein has spent most of the last 15 years in the Amazon ecosystem both at Amazon across Advertising, Strategic Seller Account Management and now on the Amazon Stores Licensing Partnership Team as well as externally on the Agency and Vendor Side. Born and raised in Seattle, Paul lives outside Seattle with his wife and three kids. When not trying to keep small humans alive, you can find him at a Seattle Mariners or Washington Huskies game.

EVAN CLARK
Deputy Managing Editor at WWD

MARK MATHENY
Operating Partner at IVEST Consumer Partners