Marijo Mena - Global Sourcing & Merchandising Expert

Marisa brings 15+ years of UX design experience to Amazon, where she helps shoppers leverage Prime benefits across thousands of sites. She co-chairs the Luxury Education Foundation's Alumni Executive Council, supporting 1,500 Columbia Business School and Parsons alumni. She holds an MFA from Parsons, won the 2013 Nokia Design Challenge, completed a fellowship at Nokia's London Design Studio, and created interactive Hermès experiences featured in Forbes and Women's Wear Daily.Advika Aggarwal chats with Marisa about her design journey from winning a global Nokia competition to pioneering UX at Tory Burch and Amazon. She reveals how curiosity, user research, and embracing AI have shaped her path across startups and Big Tech.

Advika is a marketing and e-commerce leader who drives growth and builds brands across the full product lifecycle from concept to global scale spanning travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s shaped experiences at iconic American houses including Coach and Gap, and most recently served as Senior Director of Marketing and E-Commerce at Paravel, where she helped define the brand’s modern luxury identity, position it as a leader in sustainability, and expand its international presence. From product launches to partnerships and creative campaigns, she blends creative vision with strategic insight to craft innovative brands that resonate culturally and commercially. A Parsons School of Design alum, Advika brings a designer’s eye and a strategist’s mindset to everything she builds.In this episode, Marisa Glick interviews Advika, who discusses her career path and highlights the importance of combining creativity with strategic thinking, staying adaptable, and continuously learning for professional growth.

From luxury goods to longevity, Kabir has spent 15 years shaping culture at the intersection of fashion, film, wellness, and health innovation. After early stints at VOGUE and ELLE, he spent nearly a decade in fashion PR with brands like Maiyet, Nili Lotan, Monique Péan, and Milk Studios. He later brought that storytelling expertise to healthcare—helping position concierge medicine as a post-pandemic status symbol at Sollis Health and leading communications for GLP-1 launches at Hims & Hers. Today, he runs his own firm, KBB News, continuing to tell stories where culture meets innovation—when he’s not on the mat, that is.In this episode, Anne Whiting talks with Kabir, a PR professional whose journey from Bombay to New York City spans fashion, tech, and healthcare. He shares how curiosity and adaptability shaped his path, reflecting on the value of a liberal arts education, the evolving PR world, and AI’s growing influence.

Anne Whiting works across communications and brand marketing, copywriting, journalism, sustainable fashion design, ethical fashion activism, supply chain and product development expertise, anti-greenwashing consulting, and textile waste management. She also serves on the board of an arts education nonprofit, working with students of all ages in their pursuit of a career in the visual sector and mentoring the next generation of conscious shoppers and upcycled fashion designers. Based in New York City with roots in Minneapolis, her projects span the globe, from Paris and London, to Los Angeles, Milan, India, Greece, and Ghana.Kabir Awatramani sits down with Anne Whiting to discuss her journey through fashion journalism, her work with brands like Skims, and how a passion for art, writing, and sustainability has shaped her global career and advocacy for ethical fashion.

Marijo Mena has 20 years of experience in sourcing, product development, and merchandising, from Blue Man Group and entertainment products for LOST and Grey's Anatomy to 15 years in corporate retail with Williams-Sonoma, Big Lots, Anthropologie Home, and QVC. With global experience spanning Guatemala to Vietnam, she recently earned a Master's in Sustainability and Social Impact and now focuses on the home industry.Natalie Marten sits down with Marijo to discuss global sourcing challenges, building authentic professional relationships, and how continuous learning reshaped her career from entertainment to retail leadership.

Natalie Marten brings 25 years of fashion industry experience across luxury brands and mass retailers. She served as Brand President for Tumi Apparel and Kashwere Apparel at David Peyser Sportswear, leading brands within a $1+ billion portfolio. Recognized as one of the Top Women in Retail, she now runs her own consultancy helping emerging brands refine positioning and expand market presence.Marijo Mena sits down with Natalie, a seasoned fashion leader, to unpack career-defining moments and lessons on mentorship, networking, and self-investment; practical insights for anyone ready to level up their career.

Sarah is the founder of SCLARANDIS, a sustainable, high-quality footwear brand. Her passion began in childhood in Torino, Italy, and led her to study shoe design in the UK and train with master shoemakers in Varese. She later moved to the U.S., designing for top fashion brands, leading creative teams as VP, and building global partnerships across Italy, Spain, Brazil, and China.In this interview, Abby Garay (Liebman) chats with Sarah, whose love for footwear began in childhood in Italy. Sarah shares her journey from studying in the UK to launching her own brand after years in corporate roles. She talks about the inspiration behind her designs, the balance of comfort and style, the challenges of manufacturing and marketing, and her excitement for future projects like the “sneaker ballerina.”

Abbey Rachel Garay (Liebman) is a New York-based shoe designer and developer with a background in both concept and craft. A Cornell Textiles graduate, she’s held design and development roles across startups and major brands, and completed Arsutoria’s intensive pattern-making program in 2018. Through her consultancy, Abbey and Aster Ltd., she brings footwear ideas from sketch to production.In this episode, Sarah Sclarandis chats with Abbey about her path into footwear. From studying textiles to training in Milan and working with global factories, Abbey shares how she found her footing in the shoe industry. They dive into the creative process, the technical side of design, and how AI is shaping the future. Abbey also offers a peek into her consulting work and what’s next for the industry.

I’m a New-York–based digital product strategist who loves turning loosely defined ideas into engaging, high-impact experiences. Over the years I’ve worked across healthtech, digital media, and wellness, guiding products from first sketch to market launch while keeping users—and measurable value—at the center.In this episode, Temi Agbede talks with Julia about her winding path from aspiring vet to science journalist to digital media pro, with stops at Conde Nast and NY Public Radio. Now a consultant, Julia helps health-focused orgs adopt AI workflows and shares insights on rapid testing and building a solo business.

Temi is a seasoned marketing and eCommerce leader with 15+ years of experience driving growth for DTC brands from $10M to $100M+. Now a Fractional Marketing Executive & Advisor, she helps brands scale through holistic strategies, brand building, and customer journey optimization.In this episode, Julia Schulhof chats with Temi about her path from Maryland to New York City, her career at Lord & Taylor and Estée Lauder, and her transition into fractional marketing. Temi reflects on the challenges of marketing herself, the value of networking, and shares insights on AI, mentorship, and staying curious in a fast-changing industry.