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)?
It was working for Disney. I had worked closely with the licensing team in previous roles in Studios and Corporate Brand Management, and then landed in the Disney Consumer Products team where I spent a good few years of my career.

What’s a “typical” day in your current position?
There is no typical day, and that’s one of the things I love about my job. I can spend a whole day digging through performance data or spend hours working on slides and sales materials. My favourite part of my job is meeting with our existing (or potential new) licensees, pitching our franchises, understanding their challenges and how we can help, and, ultimately, witnessing them working out how to best bring our franchises to life in their products and experiences.

What’s your biggest personal or professional accomplishment?
My biggest professional accomplishment is working on the launch of the first two Frozen films and witnessing the birth of such a strong and evergreen franchise. On the personal side, moving to England and calling London home.

What are the most significant trends or changes that you’ve seen in the business in recent years?
The rise of the creator economy. Today, anyone with a mobile phone has the power to create a franchise. No need for a “middleman,” a big studio executive to believe in your content, or any specialized software. Provided you create a story that resonates with a large audience, anyone can create a franchise. Managing it for long-term growth, however, is a different story and that’s why I love what I do. It’s fascinating to see that some of the biggest franchises these days were created by ordinary people that had an idea and put their content out there through platforms like YouTube.

What keeps you up at night? What’s your biggest challenge these days?
Nothing keeps me up at night. Sleep is our superpower, and I always sleep like a bear. My biggest challenge? Trying to stay away from sugar…

In your opinion, what is the top skill every licensing executive should have in order to succeed?
There are two, and they are equally important—curiosity and humility. One must be curious enough to understand the whys, and humble enough to admit when they don’t know something. Nothing turns me off more than those that think that they know it all. The best and most senior executives I’ve ever dealt with were humble enough to know that wisdom and brilliance can come from anyone at any level or stage of their careers.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, or what’s your favorite quote?
The best piece of advice is “know your values and stick to them.” The best quote is “success is not final; failure is not fatal—it is the courage to continue that counts” by Winston Churchill.

What is your favorite licensing deal of all time? (It doesn’t have to be one that was signed by you.)
Without a shadow of a doubt, George Lucas’s original agreement with 20th Century Fox for Star Wars in 1977, where he negotiated to retain the merchandising rights.

If you weren’t in licensing, what would you be doing now?
I’d be a commercial pilot.

The last licensed product I bought was…
A pair of Darth Vader sunglasses by Brazilian eyewear company Chilli Beans.