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.

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.

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.

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.