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)?
Licensing found me! I was set on working in sports sponsorship and was interning at Fanatics while getting my MBA, but I wasn’t working on the licensing business. When I got the opportunity at the NFLPA, I hinted that I had much more licensing experience than I really did—but I’ve learned a lot along the way!

What’s a “typical” day in your current position?
Emails, product approvals, marketing brainstorm, partner meetings—repeat! I’m a morning workout loyalist and that energizes me for the day ahead. While on the road or in the office, I’m making sure players are well represented and happy, and that our licensees have everything they need to keep product development schedules and get products on shelves.

What’s your biggest personal or professional accomplishment?
Personally? Hiking Machu Picchu! Professionally? The launch of Guess Who? NFL Edition! The production timeline lined up perfectly (NOT) with NFL Free Agency, so I had to make very targeted recommendations on which players should be utilized for the longest possible shelf life. We can never predict player trades, but in the first year of the product on shelf, we saw significant sell through and only a few players changed teams.

What are the most significant trends or changes that you’ve seen in the business in recent years?
Blind packs! It seems like the hunt for the trading card growth is leading this, but the mystery item/blind pack phenomenon is growing like crazy. There’s significant value in a low price point, big chase potential and we see it growing everywhere, especially helping brick and mortar.

What keeps you up at night? What’s your biggest challenge these days?
Is it embarrassing to say TikTok? I want to stay on top of trends as best as I can and I truly think this is one of the best ways. It’s home to our players and our consumers, so I want to make sure we can find ways to connect them both through authentic touchpoints and trends. Or maybe I’m just finding a justification for my scrolling addiction?

In your opinion, what is the top skill every licensing executive should have in order to succeed?
Figuritoutability! The attitude that everything is figure-out-able, but you might need to get creative.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, or what’s your favorite quote?
“Everything is made up.” My colleague Lambert Bales and I talk about this all the time and it keeps us inspired to get creative and not take things too seriously.

What is your favorite licensing deal of all time? (It doesn’t have to be one that was signed by you.)
The California Pizza Kitchen Frozen Pizza’s—these never disappoint. I don’t know the last time I ate at a CPK but walking through the frozen pizza section of the store, the BBQ Chicken Crispy Pizza always stands out. It’s given the brand a separate life outside the restaurant and I think that is the success of licensing!

If you weren’t in licensing, what would you be doing now?
If I wasn’t in licensing, I would be in sports somewhere. Maybe working for a team in partnerships, marketing, or sales. I love the fandom in sports and don’t think I could escape it.

The last licensed product I bought was…
A hoodie from the Milano-Cortina Olympics!