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 profile one of these professionals in this ongoing series.

How did you get into licensing (or how did licensing find you)?
My path into licensing was genuinely organic. I spent much of my career in streetwear, fashion, and sneakers—worlds where collaborations and licensing deals are cultural catalysts. The best partnerships I worked around didn’t simply put a logo on a product; they gave people a way to signal identity, find their community, and feel like they belonged. That’s what pulled me in. I became more and more motivated by the “why” behind the collaboration and how it can connect fans, creators, and communities in a meaningful way. That drive ultimately led me to Hot Topic Inc. I was drawn to BoxLunch because the brand is rooted in fandom and community, and we use licensing as a force for real-world impact, especially through our partnership with Feeding America. For me, it felt like the perfect intersection of culture and purpose.

What’s a “typical” day in your current position?
I don’t know if there’s a truly “typical” day in my role, and that’s part of what I love about it. I start my mornings with a few minutes of breathwork and meditation to ground myself and keep my mind clear. From there, it’s a fast-paced mix of strategy and creativity. Most of my time is spent in conversations, aligning teams, shaping campaign narratives, and pressure-testing concepts. We’re building campaigns, moments, and experiences around some truly incredible properties, and the work is equal parts collaborative and detail-driven. By the end of the day, I’ve usually moved between high-level vision and very specific execution decisions multiple times, and that variety is what keeps it exciting.

What’s your biggest personal or professional accomplishment?
As proud as I am of what I’ve accomplished professionally, my biggest accomplishment is my family. I’m incredibly grateful to be the mom of two daughters who are strong, smart, independent, kind, and genuinely interesting people. Watching them grow into who they are and seeing the way they move through the world with curiosity and character, grounds me more than any title or milestone ever could. At the end of the day, family is the “why” behind everything.

What are the most significant trends or changes that you’ve seen in the business in recent years?
The biggest shift I’ve seen is the rise of the “kidult” consumer, nostalgia-driven fandom that’s become a real form of self-expression and community. What’s especially interesting is how it’s pulled brick-and-mortar back into focus, because nostalgia is tactile—people want to discover, touch, and experience products in person. That’s also fueled the “thrill of the chase” with limited drops and collectible behavior that now shows up across categories. The strongest programs today blend familiar licenses with modern design and elevated quality, so they feel current and not just nostalgic.

What keeps you up at night? What’s your biggest challenge these days?
What keeps me up at night is making sure we’re moving at the speed of culture without losing who we are. Trends and consumer expectations shift incredibly fast, and our challenge is staying relevant while still being credible. We want to be a platform for discovery for our community, but we also have a responsibility to protect the trust we’ve earned with our core fans. I’m constantly thinking about that balance—how do we show up in what’s next, invite people into something new, and still honor the fandoms and customers who built the brand in the first place.

In your opinion, what is the top skill every licensing executive should have in order to succeed?
The top skill every licensing executive should have is storytelling. Licensing is ultimately about building a narrative that creates a world around a product—something that feels meaningful, not just marketable. When you can translate a property into a clear point of view and emotional connection, you strengthen partnerships and you give consumers a reason to care.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, or what’s your favorite quote?
My favorite quote, and a piece of advice I come back to often, is from Michelle Obama: “When they go low, we go high.” What’s stayed with me even more is the way she recently clarified it: going high isn’t passive acceptance, it’s a deliberate, strategic choice to respond with purpose instead of impulse. This quote reminds me to stay anchored in the outcome—keep the long game in view, stay aligned to clear goals, and move forward with a plan.

What is your favorite licensing deal of all time? (It doesn’t have to be one that was signed by you.)
My favorite right now is UNIQLO x MoMA. I love it because it democratizes art in a really tangible way. It takes something that can feel exclusive and brings it into everyday life through accessible products, while also creating a bridge to the real thing—the museum, the artists, and the experience. To me, that’s licensing at its best: thoughtful, culturally relevant, and genuinely expanding access.

If you weren’t in licensing, what would you be doing now?
If I weren’t in licensing, I’d still be building brands through marketing. I would be in a role where the work is centered on impact and community. I’m drawn to brands that don’t just sell products, but create belonging by bringing people and culture together in a way that feels real. No matter the industry, I’d want to be telling stories, building experiences, and creating platforms that connect communities and leave something positive behind.

The last licensed product I bought was…
I am a huge Gilmore Girls fan and bought my daughter (also a big fan) and I matching Chilton Academy sweatshirts (exclusive to BoxLunch).