The co-lab career stories

Nancy Herrmann is the Founder and Creative Director of Jane & Co Design, a boutique studio crafting strategic, sensory brands for female founders in beauty, fashion, and hospitality. Her career spans fashion, architecture, editorial, and brand strategy—bringing a multidisciplinary lens to every project. In recent years, she’s led creative work for beauty brands from L’Oréal and Bobbi Brown to bareMinerals and Alterna Haircare. Today, Nancy helps women entrepreneurs build brands that reflect their next chapter—with intention and impact.In this episode, Mackenzie Perna interviews Nancy about her journey from working at Michael Kors and global beauty brands to founding her own design studio. Nancy shares how she built creative autonomy and what drives her work with female founders today.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sandra Finkelstein is a fashion innovation leader who builds next-gen brands, platforms, and ideas that drive growth. She leverages GenAI and machine learning to streamline trend detection, product creation, and design workflows. Sandra thrives in fast-moving, purpose driven teams where innovation leads to real impact.In this episode, Cathy Quain interviews Sandra Finkelstein on how she’s using generative AI to reshape fashion through sustainable design and innovation. With experience at Calvin Klein, J.Crew, and Amazon, she shares insights on the future of fashion tech.

Alexis Carey is a social media and influencer marketing specialist with over 4 years of experience in the beauty, food and beverage, and lifestyle industries. As a Campaign Manager at Foodie Tribe, she drives brand growth through influencer partnerships and strategic campaigns. Outside of work, she creates fashion, fitness, and travel content on her blog, @fashiontoflow.Since this interview, Alexis has stepped into a new role as a Campaign Manager for an agency. In this episode, Emily Mi Landri talks with Alexis about breaking into the social media world, building experience across the fitness, wellness, and beauty industries, and balancing creativity with business strategy. Alexis also shares actionable tips on content creation, influencer marketing, and tapping into trends to drive success.