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’re profiling one of these professionals in this ongoing series.

How did you get into licensing (or how did licensing find YOU)?

Building relationships has always been key to almost any position I have held and licensing is relationship-driven, whether it is the relationship between brands, efforts, or activations. Probably this is the most rewarding thing I have done. When Mensa, the high IQ society, entrusted me with their brand, it gave me a chance to explore ways that non-Mensans (like myself) could make the smartest brand in the world work for them.

What’s a “typical” day in your current position?

I’m not sure if any of us in this field have typical days. That’s one of the best and most challenging parts of our industry. One moment you are working with one partner and their unique objectives and the next you are thrown into a different partner’s corporate culture or mindset. It’s energizing but it’s definitely mental cardio. As a director, you are always looking at potential opportunities while making sure your current partners are getting the very best of your brand and the relationship.

What’s your biggest personal and professional accomplishment?

Honestly, it is building an incredibly strong network of friends and colleagues that have been the key to my sanity and success both professionally and personally. “I” is an empty place but “we” is a non-stop celebration.

What keeps you up at night? What’s your biggest challenge these days?

I’m fortunate that what keeps me up are the “What ifs’” instead of the “What is.” That said, there are many outlying factors that challenge us—from expectations within our own organizations to limited resources to juggling too much. I just do my best not to focus on the things that don’t move us forward.  

In your opinion, what is the top skill every licensing executive should have in order to succeed?

Learning to “connect the dots.” It comes natural to some and may be a process for others but being able to see how a potential partner’s brands can connect with yours to make them successful is a gift. That skill comes from really engaging with what others need and understanding their objectives. If you can help someone else and their brand succeed, that will elevate you both. It also creates forever relationships that you can follow to other opportunities.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received or what is your favorite quote?

“Always treat the person you are talking to as the most important person in your life…at that moment, they are.” This came from one of my best friends, mentors, and business associates. By far, no other piece of advice has served me better.

What is your favorite licensing deal of all time? (It doesn’t have to be one that was signed by you.)

We recently worked with Educational Insights on the launch of their kid’s coding robot, Artie 3000. It garnered so much media attention as the first robot that Mensa officially made an Honorary Member. The other was a partnership with Match.com. We worked with them to create MensaMatch, which encouraged our members as well as fans of exploring intelligent subjects and activities to connect. Not only did we garner massive media attention, both Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel featured it in their opening monologues the day we announced the marriage of the brands. A proud moment for everyone involved.

If you weren’t in licensing, what would you be doing now?

I’m not sure, but it would definitely involve creating things with others. I want to do that until the day I hear Amazing Grace and they shut the lid (well, that’s a bit dark).