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 two greatest areas of interest while in school were fashion and law, and I focused my job search on careers that incorporated both. While pursuing my Master’s in Studies of Law, I searched for relevant internships and found a licensing intern position at Ground Up. I was hired on for a full-time role after finishing my degree and have been hooked since! I love the legal and fashion aspects that come with working for a footwear licensee.

What’s a “typical” day in your current position?
Every day in licensing brings its own surprises! A typical day starts by checking samples and going through any new approvals that have come in. I work closely with our design and product development teams to ensure our products match the approved concepts. Throughout the day, I’ll prep for any meetings with our partners. I’m also always working on some type of project, researching for new business or putting together reports.

What’s your biggest personal or professional accomplishment?
I think personally and professionally receiving my Master’s from Fordham Law has been my biggest accomplishment thus far—more to come!

What are the most significant trends or changes that you’ve seen in the business in recent years?
I’ve seen a lot more food brand licensed products in beauty, apparel, accessories, home, and more. Another trend I see is an increasing demand for personalized and customizable products.

What keeps you up at night? What’s your biggest challenge these days?
What keeps me up at night is researching and making sure I’m up to date on our partners’ content. Sometimes this means binge watching Bluey (realllyyy hard work LOL). Jokes aside, understanding these properties inside and out is crucial for a successful partnership. Knowing the characters and storylines helps to make informed decisions from concept to the end product. 

In your opinion, what is the top skill every licensing executive should have in order to succeed?
Based on observing my talented VP, I would say interpersonal skills are the most important thing when working in licensing.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, or what’s your favorite quote?
My favorite quote is “You cannot do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good that you can do.” This has been hung on my family’s fridge for as long as I can remember. I really strive to live by this quote! At work I think this means kindness is key, cultivating a positive work environment by listening to colleagues and celebrating achievements. Outside of work I volunteer at least once a week with NY Cares as one small way to do good.

What is your favorite licensing deal of all time? (It doesn’t have to be one that was signed by you.)
I think the Hasbro Candy Land x KROST collection! I have the black hoodie with Plumpy on it and get so many compliments when I wear it. They partnered with No Kid Hungry, a nonprofit organization working to end childhood hunger in America. I really appreciate a partnership that does good!

If you weren’t in licensing, what would you be doing now?
Traveling the world! Or, if I had to choose a different career path, growing up I always said I wanted to be a fashion buyer.

The last licensed product I bought was…
I bought a Betty Boop T-Shirt from Five Below. I also recently got a pair of Barbie sneakers from work that I LOVE! Check out Ground Up’s Barbie sneakers at Footlocker if you haven’t already (PSA: a size 6.5 youth is a women’s 8).