The global licensing community is powered by an incredible group of professionals whose diverse backgrounds and creative energy drive innovation and excellence. Each week Licensing International profiles one of these professionals in this ongoing series.

How did you get into licensing (or how did licensing find you)?
Licensing found me through Facebook. I reconnected with a neighbor I had not seen in 20 years who was the CEO of Mensa at the time, Pam Donahoo, and we both knew we wanted to work together. I currently serve as the Director of Brand Partnerships for American Mensa, the high IQ society, and direct all of their brand relationships. Finding synergies and connecting people is what truly ignites my passion. The licensing industry is a perfect place for that skillset because it’s all about seeing around the corner and creating partnerships that are stronger than what either brand could achieve alone.

What’s a “typical” day in your current position?
On a typical day, you may find me at the Mensa office in meetings or on Zoom from a coffee shop, talking to brands that might be a fit for our new Smart Choice Seal—a designation that denotes the product a partnership with Mensa that encourages curiosity, learning, or social connectedness. That said, I know that the best relationships are formed and cultivated face-to-face, so I may be on the road. Business travel can be exhausting but also energizing and shows your commitment to a partner. But, if you know me well, you know that my favorite days are when I can slip away to Maui with my husband Mark, my idea pad in hand and a slightly dirty martini waiting for me at Happy Hour.

What’s your biggest personal or professional accomplishment?
I had the opportunity to create and help produce a television crime show using Mensa members.  Right after I started working with Mensa, more than a decade ago, I received a call from a sheriff in Alabama asking if we could bring in some of our “geniuses” to look at cold cases to see if they could shed new light on them. Ultimately, it didn’t come together, but I kept thinking what a great idea that would be for a show and I wrote a one-page show concept. Ten years later I had the opportunity to work with Vin Da Bona, the creator of America’s Funniest Home Videos. I mentioned to Vin that I had a show idea, and I dusted it off and sent it to him. Vin loved it and we partnered with him and sold it to Amazon Studios. In fact, Vin got one of Amazon’s biggest stars from the hit detective show Bosch, Titus Welliver, to host the show. The pilot for The InQuisitors just debuted on one of the network’s crime channels.

What are the most significant trends or changes that you’ve seen in the business in recent years?
One of the most significant changes we’ve seen is the rise of values-based and purpose-driven licensing. Consumers today—especially Gen Z and Millennials—are gravitating toward partnerships that align with their personal identities, interests, and values. This shift has opened the door for more thoughtful collaborations that champion education, inclusion, creativity, and cultural intelligence. Another key trend is the explosion of fandoms and niche communities. Whether it’s in gaming, streaming, or even book culture, brands are leveraging highly engaged audiences through strategic licensed partnerships. The emphasis is no longer just on mass appeal—it’s about targeted relevance.

What keeps you up at night? What’s your biggest challenge these days?
It’s the challenge—and the opportunity—of keeping a legacy brand like American Mensa relevant in a rapidly changing cultural and digital landscape. We’re known for intelligence and excellence, but how do we translate that into partnerships that feel exciting, unexpected, and engaging for a new generation? I’m constantly thinking about how we can partner with brands in fresh ways that spark curiosity, invite inclusion, and show that smart is not just powerful—it’s cool.

In your opinion, what is the top skill every licensing executive should have in order to succeed?
Learning to connect. Licensing deals don’t just happen over email. They happen over lunches, at trade shows, in brainstorms, and through trust built over time. Collaboration is key—you’re working with creatives, legal teams, retailers, marketing partners, and brand stakeholders. Also, lead with curiosity. Find out about a potential partner’s objective and what they see as success. Learn what their passions and challenges are and discover how your brand, or just you, can be a real asset to helping them to achieve. I try to remember that licensing alone can be transaction-driven, but partnerships are relationship-driven. One has an end date, the other hopefully lasts forever.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, or what’s your favorite quote?
It came from Leeza Gibbons, who has been a great Mensa partner. Early in my career she told me: “Treat everyone you talk to as the most important person in your life, because at that very moment, they actually are.” This truth has never failed me and I make sure I always remember to keep it top of mind and part of my DNA.

What is your favorite licensing deal of all time? (It doesn’t have to be one that was signed by you.)
I’m loving watching it play out right now, and that is the licensing program for The White Lotus. From partnerships with Banana Republic to Coffee Mate to Kiehl’s to The Four Seasons, The White Lotus a bit of an unexpected phenomenon and it’s fun to watch it happen. Mike White is a genius.

If you weren’t in licensing, what would you be doing now?
Well, since I can’t really sing, my dream of being a backup singer for a rock band was never in the cards, but I do know I would be doing something where I got to create. I prefer to be behind the scenes but want to be the one pulling the strings.

The last licensed product I bought was…
The White Lotus cocktail glasses at CB2, of course.