The global licensing community is guided by an incredible group of senior executives whose diverse backgrounds and creative energy drive innovation and excellence. Each month, we’re profiling one of these professionals in this ongoing series.

How do you start your day?
I start with an early wake up, have breakfast, and take a walk with our dog for fresh air and new ideas!

What’s one item you always need on your desk?
Even if I have never smoked, my pipe is part of the key items on my desk, together with my music.

What unique skill or characteristic do you bring to your team?
Experience and intuition. Nowadays these are the two elements that keep me competitive in front of the team and the rest of the world.

What is something you learned at a previous job that prepared you for your current role?
Sales, sales, sales! I learned to be a salesperson before being a marketing person and I learned to be a marketing person prior to being a licensing person. Those three elements together allow me to understand the whole licensing world.

What is your favorite aspect of your current role?
Meeting new people and discovering new ways to do licensing. When I started in licensing, 80% of our business was personal discussion with both licensor and licensee, while 20% was creativity on product development. Now it is 50/50 and, unfortunately, we spend less time meeting people.

What is one thing you would change about the licensing industry?
Today, 20% of the licensing companies generate 80% of the business, if not more, and this is not good for the licensing world. Retailers are conservative and close-minded. When licensees accept the challenge of working with other properties, they realize that there are plenty of good opportunities.

If you had an extra hour in your workday, how would you use it?
Brainstorming. We need to invest more in creating new ideas, new products, and new properties.

What is one thing you need to do every day to feel accomplished?
Answering all the emails that require a response in the day. Do you realize how many emails do not get an answer?

Are you a carry-on or checked bag traveler?
I used to be checked bag in the past, but costs of tickets and delays in the airport have taught me that carry-on is faster, more effective, and cheaper.

What do you always have in your suitcase on a work trip?
My notebook. Even if I always use my iPad, a notebook is always with me.

What advice would you give to yourself 10 years ago?
Beware, the licensing world is evolving and not necessarily in a good direction.

If you weren’t in licensing, what would you be doing?
I would have continued within marketing and international operations.