The Licensing International Hall of Fame is home to esteemed executives who have shaped the global brand licensing business. This year’s inductees will be celebrated at the Hall of Fame Induction & Global Rising Star Awards in New York City on December 2, 2026. The luncheon is a fundraiser for our Scholarship Program and will support the LI Foundation in its mission to inspire the next generation of licensing professionals globally.

What does being inducted into the Licensing International Hall of Fame mean to you, both personally and professionally?
I’m incredibly humbled by this recognition. From my first job in the toy industry over 30 years ago at Mattel, I was exposed to the business of leveraging the power of brands and entertainment through the connection and emotions they evoke for consumers. And, through that underlying concept, I have also learned that the very best licensing relationships are when you can integrate the promises of brands together to elevate both of them. That only happens through relationships and trust, while being driven to find innovative and creative solutions that benefit all parties—including the consumer. So, while there are negotiations and money at stake, it’s still all about people, which is what has driven my life and career. In some ways the personal and the professional recognition strike me in the same way, that I’m really proud to have played a part (through bringing a plethora of some of the biggest brands in the world together) to create value for the companies, joy for the consumer, and bring lots of trusted friends together along the way.

What first drew you to the brand licensing industry, and what has continued to inspire your passion throughout your career?
I was actually thrown into it back in the late 1990s when Mattel asked me to be a Director on their Disney business unit working out of Disney’s European offices. The position had not existed before, so it was one of the greatest learning experiences of my entire career. Not only was it an immersive crash course in the business of licensing from arguably one of the most successful licensing organizations in the world, but it was also filled with life lessons regarding leadership without formal power, communication across cultures, creating common goals, and driving results. I also loved exposure to early brand plans and being on the inside track for entertainment projects, which prepared me for that becoming an increasingly important part of my oversight as my career progressed. Eventually, that included master toy relationships with Marvel and Lucas as Hasbro’s head of US Toys and working with the Build-A-Bear team to successfully drive a meaningful and profitable licensing portfolio for the Workshop.

How has the industry changed from when you first started your career, and how has it stayed the same?
While the concept of more integrated co-branding concepts was starting to emerge, the vast majority of licensing when I first started was focused on what has now become known as “label slapping.” Of course, done well, this is an important and predictable part of a meaningful licensing strategy. However, the more evolved side of licensing, and the part that I love, is coming up with really creating translations of how brands can come together in an integrated way to surprise and delight consumers while simultaneously creating value for the companies involved. A small, but fond, example of that approach started out as a bit of a joke in a brainstorm at Hasbro that led to the actual development of Mr. Potatohead’s Darth Tator. A much more recent and integrated co-branded elevation would be the Build-A-Bear Hello Kitty and Friends Workshops, where the two organizations successfully collaborated across the board from product to store design to open the first-on-its-kind exclusive retail locations in New York and Los Angeles destination malls.

Looking back on your career, what moment or accomplishment stands out as particularly defining, and why?
The early Mattel/Disney European experience was without a doubt defining for me both professionally and personally. However, overall, I would point to the learning and exposure (while still at a relatively early stage in my career) from incredibly accomplished and talented top-tier executives in both the toy and entertainment industries when I was preparing for and often being a lead presenter of comprehensive licensed business pitches. That was often followed by intense negotiations processes regarding millions of dollars for major motion pictures, sports, and music talent, and legendary children’s and animated properties.

What is the most valuable piece of career advice you’ve received, and how has it influenced your leadership or decision-making?
Admittedly it’s age-old advice, but if you truly want to be successful in a career while living a life you love, you really must find something to do that you truly enjoy. Other than that, stay intellectually curious and focus on creating value.

Licensing International is committed to developing the next generation of industry leaders through its Scholarship Program. Why do you believe investing in emerging talent is essential to the future of our industry? How can today’s leaders help mentor and inspire the next generation?
I believe it is increasingly critical that we invest in future leadership and build a meaningful pipeline, especially in careers where value lies in creativity, relationship building, and trust, like best-in-class licensing (which also happens to be a business unlikely to be overtaken by AI).

Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of brand licensing?
As alluded to above, I certainly hope and believe there will always be a need for creative, innovative, solution-based, driven individuals that also have business acumen and negotiation skills. I also believe that consumers will continue, likely at a growing rate given the increasing consumption of media, to be impacted and influenced by brands, sports, and entertainment, with a willingness to share their enthusiasm from simply expressing affinity to embracing a tribal obsession through the purchasing, collecting, and wearing of their favorite branded items—likely assuring that the licensing industry will be continue to flourish.

For table and sponsorship opportunities at this year’s Hall of Fame Gala, please contact Maria Ungaro at [email protected]