All Experts

<p>Rafael has 25 years experience in the apparel retail industry as a design and creative leader who has successfully launched and over-hauled numerous brands spanning high-end suiting to casualwear. He has designed for iconic brands like Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, and John Varvatos. Most recently, he launched and designed Amazon’s top performing, customer-loved brands Amazon Essentials and Goodthreads. Rafael grew up in Wisconsin to Puerto Rican parents. After the suicide of his nephew 2 years ago, Rafael saw this as a catalyst in his life to seize the day, choose his own path and to start his own company. </p>

<p>Liyin Kok is the Co-Founder of Proto101 and leader in retail business strategy and product development. Proto101 is a sustainable clothing brand known for high-quality wardrobe essentials and sustainable fabrics that are soft, stylish, and comfortable. After spending almost two decades launching and growing successful businesses and products for multibillion dollar e-commerce brands, Liyin knows what it takes to launch a start-up from the ground-up, develop and source high-quality products with an ethical supply-chain, and fuel long-term growth. </p><p>Liyin previously led Brand and Product Development for Amazon Private Brands Fashion where she had organizational responsibility for Product Strategy, Global Supply-Chain, and Brand Management in a rapid growth, new start-up business. She developed the Brand and Product Strategy that launched multimillion dollar brands and products, drove strategic growth through product expansion and extended sizing, built a global supply-chain, and successfully launched apparel and accessories. </p><p>Before joining Amazon, she served as Vice President of Product and Brand management for Fashion Private Brands at Macy’s where she owned end-to-end product strategy and global sourcing, and delivered sales and margin growth.</p><p></p><p></p>

<p data-block-key="cjzqf">Kyle Bergman is a serial entrepreneur who has been wearing onesies since before he could crawl.  Kyle started his career within the buying offices at Bloomingdale&#x27;s and Birchbox within various merchandise and planning positions. Swoveralls was born when Kyle was getting his MBA at NYU Stern&#x27;s School of Business. Kyle played Division I lacrosse at Drexel University, and played at the international level for Israel, representing the country in 4 world championship tournaments. Kyle lives in Brooklyn with his Wife Elizabeth and a bunch of plants. <br/><br/>In addition, Kyle is the Co-Founder and Coach at Sweat from Home, a virtual, two-way live group fitness studio with HIIT-style workouts you can take from the convenience of wherever you are.  Kyle is an adjunct professor at NYU teaching undergraduate classes in management and supply chain.</p>

<p>Rachel is a strategic leader driving top and bottom line growth through actionable analyses &amp; effectively communicating stories found in data. After over a decade leading data analytics and insight teams, she transitioned to investor relations to share these stories with the public equity markets. Rachel found her way back to her entrepreneurial roots as the Chief Operating Officer of HoneyBug.</p>

<p>Jennifer Kennedy is a seasoned Brand &amp; Marketing expert, and entrepreneurial Senior Executive with a proven track record of leading and developing products for multi Billion-Dollar brands. With over 18 years of experience in product development and innovation at global brands such as Jack in the Box and Starbucks Coffee, she holds multiple awards for her work over the years, but is the most proud of her work mentoring and developing the next generation of female leaders.</p>

<p>Brooke Mullen, founder and designer of Sapahn, is a passionate traveler, entrepreneur, champion of women empowerment, craft beer enthusiast, proud wife, and mom to a 4-year-old boy (with another baby on the way). Brooke recently returned to her hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska, after living in Thailand for a decade. While in Thailand, she worked at the United Nations on Human Trafficking, completed an MA in Human Rights, and started a fashion brand — Sapahn.<br/><br/>Sapahn, meaning bridge in Thai, designs and produces high-quality leather goods and fashion accessories for consumers with similar values. Brooke built a unique sourcing and manufacturing advantage by mobilizing rural Thai communities through fair, ethical and purposeful work.</p>

<p>From the beginning of her career, Gabrielle has worked in various marketing analytics roles across the gaming, hospitality, luxury fashion, and consumer goods industries. Over 10 years, she built experience in strategic brand development and cross-channel marketing, rooted in consumer analytics. She has developed consumer journey roadmaps, acquisition and retention strategies, customer reinvestment matrices, and campaign effectiveness, across both institutional brands (MGM Resorts International and Chanel) and early-stage start-ups (Revel Entertainment and Boll &amp; Branch).</p>

<p>Trina spent the early part of her career in Investment Banking roles, spanning across the Technology and Media &amp; Entertainment industries, at both middle-market and bulge bracket firms (Oppenheimer &amp; Co. and J.P. Morgan). In 2015, she went to business school at the University of Chicago, where she teamed up with a classmate to help build what is now Tovala. In that role, she learned data driven product development strategies, how to build an effective go-to-market plan, and how to fund growth at digitally native businesses.</p>

<p data-block-key="cjcl1">Over her 20 year career as a children’s wear designer, Barrie has brought her imaginative designs to life for brands big and small. Barrie started her career at the Gap and eventually became Lead Designer for Berkeley-based Sweet Potatoes, Inc. Barrie has also designed product for the iconic Finnish print house Marimekko, and worked on numerous licensed brands including Dr. Seuss, Reebok, and Disney. Now she is focused on making sure Mightly’s organic cotton clothes look and feel amazing and managing Mightly’s supply chain.</p>

<p data-block-key="cxahx">Tierra is an apparel industry veteran with a passion for sustainability. In 2006 she launched one of the first organic denim brands, Del Forte Denim, which was carried in over 200 specialty stores across the US and Europe. Later Tierra joined Pact Apparel where she led the product department and helped transform the business from a niche underwear company into an eco-lifestyle brand. In addition to building ethical supply chains for brands, Tierra has worked to create change throughout the industry. She was a leading member of the team that developed and launched the Fair Trade Apparel and Home Goods Standard, which has been adopted by industry influencers like Patagonia, West Elm, Athleta, Madewell, PrAna and Outerknown.</p>

<p>Jenny is the founder of LACE by Jenny Wu, the leading 3D printing fine jewelry brand. She is also a partner at the award winning architectural firm, Oyler Wu Collaborative, and the winner of the 2021 Arts and Letters Award in architecture from the Academy of Arts and Letters and the 2013 Design Vanguard Award from Architectural Record. Jenny was named one of the 4 design visionaries by Porsche and Dwell Magazine in their &quot;Powered by Design&quot; documentaries, showcasing her pioneering work in 3D printing.</p>

<p data-block-key="oaslt">Having spent over 20 years in the luxury industry, focusing the first 15 years in Fine Jewelry and Timepieces, I first started working with custom made dress shirts as a necessity. I always enjoyed a fine suit and dressing well, but proper fitting shirts were a pain to find, and when my custom tailor retired, I decided to launch my own brand.</p>