This March 8 will mark International Women's Day 2020. And while we’d say that any day is a good day to celebrate the achievements of women and raise awareness for equality, this global event means the spotlight is truly on – and, for women everywhere, the stage is ours.
The theme this year is #EachforEqual. To honor it, we’d like to highlight women in the worlds of fashion, luxury and beauty (FLB) who are doing great things and reminding us why women more than deserve to be treated as equals at work. Of those selected, our CMO Alison Bringé is among them for the inspiring example she sets at Launchmetrics daily.
Without forgetting that this is just a small sample of the incredible women in the FLB industries, here are 5 women to watch in celebration of International Women’s Day 2020.
Alison Bringé - Chief Marketing Officer at Launchmetrics
“Today, the industry is changing so quickly, and I love being part of the team who is really helping brands navigate this unfamiliar space.”
When it comes to bridging the gap between technology and the world of Fashion, Luxury, and Beauty (FLB), the name Alison Bringé is bound to arise. As our CMO here at Launchmetrics, Alison is continually pushing boundaries and hunting out new ways to innovate and disrupt.
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She was honored by Luxury Daily as a 2019 woman to watch, and in 2020 she continues her mission to further the intersection between data and luxury. “I think women in tech and data are still underserved and I hope to continue my pursuit to encourage young talent to take the challenge of joining this thriving industry and make a difference,” she told Luxury Daily last year.
In her past role as Director of Marketing & Communications at IMG Fashion, she was responsible for bringing New York Fashion Week into the digital age. The revolutionary technology she introduced has now become the standard for fashion weeks worldwide. It’s that relentless drive to innovate that makes Alison a perfect fit as one of the women to watch this year.
Listen to Alison on our podcast #TheStrategySide in the episode 'The Importance of Measuring Marketing Investments', in which she talks us through why deciphering investments effectively is key to informing better decision making.
Anisa Kamadoli Costa - Chief Sustainability Officer at Tiffany & Co.
“We aren’t going to solve any issues if we work on them alone. It’s going to take the partnership between business, government, civil society, and individuals so we can accelerate the positive impact we can have on a global scale.”
The fact that the position of CSO exists in our day is a testament to how far the luxury industry has come. But to exist isn’t enough: those in the position also need to be a driving force for change. That’s what Anisa Kamadoli works tirelessly to be in her position at Tiffany & Co.
Collaboration is critical to reach our #netzero commitment. Alongside @thebteamhq and the Net Zero working group, @TiffanyAndCo and our partners are working together to influence change https://t.co/t5Msil44Ms
— Anisa Kamadoli Costa (@AnisaNYC) January 15, 2020
“Sustainable luxury is quality and craftsmanship, but also the environmental and social standards that we choose to uphold,” she told Vanity Fair. “We have the power and privilege of using the Tiffany brand to make an impact. I don’t think now is the time to stay silent.”
Anisa builds initiatives that minimize the company’s environmental impact – for example, through responsible mining and coral conservation. Never one to rest, she’s certainly a woman to watch in 2020.
Samantha Bort - Director, Omni Marketing at Lancôme
“When looking at a new technology, I always start with the 'why': why does this technology exist and how will it enhance the consumer experience?”
In 2018 Samantha was named Young Professional of the Year by the Advertising Club of New York. This year she landed on Forbes’ 30 under 30 in the category of Marketing & Advertising.
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So what makes her one to watch this Women’s Day 2020? In a nutshell, her finger on the pulse of the latest tech trends and developments.
It was Bort’s idea to launch L'Oréal USA’s first chatbot experience with Kiehl’s on Facebook Messenger. From there, she's continued to work her way up the ranks at L’Oreal, most recently taking the helm of Omni Marketing at Lancôme.
As one who’s always innovating and always on the move, Bort isn’t afraid of a challenge. “The speed of evolution and rate of new ideas is what I enjoy most about both my job and the industry we work in,” she told The Drum.
Elizabeth von der Goltz - Global Buying Director at Net-A-Porter
“Customers are more discerning than ever, and it is really forcing the luxury sector to reevaluate the way business is done.”
Highlighted as a 2020 woman to watch by Luxury Daily, we couldn’t agree more that Elizabeth von der Goltz deserves recognition. As the global buying director for online fashion behemoth Net-A-Porter, she’s constantly kept on her toes.
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Among her proudest achievements to date, she counts the launch of Net Sustain – a platform celebrating sustainable brands sold on the site – as well as the launch of EIP Privé, an invitation-only digital destination for high-end jewelry and watches.
“My main goal for 2020, as always, is to continue beating company targets and to keep my team, as well as customers, engaged and inspired,” she said.
Shilpa Yarlagadda - Cofounder of Shiffon
“Fine jewelry is a powerful storyteller for women, and my team and I are on a mission to communicate something that we know is really important to young women right now: gender equality.”
What better example is there of luxury and equality colliding than in the story of Shilpa Yarlagadda? Her fine jewelry label, Shiffon, was born in her dorm room at Harvard in 2017. Since then, her signature piece - the Duet Pinky ring - has become a symbol of solidarity for women, appearing on the high-profile fingers of Michelle Obama, Oprah, Cynthia Erivo, Emma Watson, Nicole Kidman and others.
Of the 2.2% of venture capital funding that went to female founders in 2018, only .32% of funding went to Latina women although Latina women make up more than 17.6% of the U.S population. We hope to fund more female… https://t.co/1AoShcTnja
— Shilpa Yarlagadda (@shilpacy) February 14, 2020
It’s not this success alone that’s put her in the spotlight for International Women’s Day 2020 and landed her on lists like Forbes’ 30 under 30. It’s also her philanthropic spirit and will to make a difference. She’s using half of her profits to fund female-led companies and empower women entrepreneurs.
As Yarlagadda told Coveteur: “[Gender equality] is something I’ve always been passionate about, and I wanted to do something to uplift women. In my mind, a social-enterprise fine jewelry line was the perfect way to make an impact and bridge the funding gap female entrepreneurs face.”
As stated above, these five inspiring women are just a glimpse of those to take note of within the fashion, luxury and beauty industries this coming year. Together, let’s celebrate them, and all the incredible women of the world, this International Women’s Day 2020.
By Launchmetrics Content Team
The Launchmetrics content team is always on the lookout for new trends in the fashion and technology sector. We are geeks with style and lovers of good stories!
