Presenters, Moderators & Mentors

Annika Moffett is an Account Director at Of Counsel PR, where she leads strategy for a portfolio of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle clients. She specializes in influencer partnerships, affiliate marketing, media relations, and events—helping brands build authentic connections and measurable growth.

Previously, Annika managed commerce and partnerships for Julia Berolzheimer and Parterre, where she oversaw affiliate strategy, brand collaborations, and content development across multiple owned media channels.

Annika earned her undergraduate degree from The George Washington University and lives in downtown Charleston with her husband, daughter, and their lab.

Bianca Gates is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Birdies, a pioneering lifestyle footwear company that redefined the category by merging the elegance of designer shoes with the comfort of slippers. Since launching Birdies, Bianca has guided the company from an entrepreneurial vision into an internationally recognized direct-to-consumer brand, celebrated for its innovation, style, and devoted community of over one million customers and more than two million pairs sold.

Prior to founding Birdies, Bianca spent nearly six years at Facebook (now Meta), where she spearheaded retail partnerships and played an integral role in monetizing Facebook and Instagram. Her professional background also includes sales leadership positions at other media and technology companies, equipping her with a deep expertise in scaling businesses, cultivating brand identity, and driving digital engagement.

Bianca’s inspiration for Birdies was rooted in her desire to create versatile footwear that could transition seamlessly from home to social settings without compromising style or comfort. This vision not only disrupted traditional footwear categories but also carved out an entirely new market segment. Under her leadership, Birdies has raised significant venture funding, grown a loyal customer base and been featured in top publications for its impact on fashion and lifestyle. In March of 2025, Bianca led the successful exit of Birdies to a multi-brand, footwear conglomerate.

Beyond her role as Founder & CEO, Bianca is a passionate advocate for women in entrepreneurship and leadership. She started the first Lean In Circle with Sheryl Sandberg in 2013 (now over 100,000 reported Circles in over 180 countries), frequently speaks on topics such as innovation, building consumer brands, and empowering women to pursue bold career paths. She has been recognized for her leadership and entrepreneurial achievements by a range of industry and media outlets.

Bianca earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and continues to mentor and support the next generation of founders. She served six years on the Board of Trustees of the Hamlin School, an all girls Independent school in San Francisco and is Vice Chair of her YPO Chapter. Bianca resides in San Francisco with her husband and two kids.

Caroline Turnipseed is the Founder of CWT Consulting Group, a boutique agency specializing in developing marketing initiatives for female founded consumer brands that truly drive sales. Launched in 2020, the firm helps companies acquire new high-quality consumers and retain current shoppers through brand partnerships, influencers, email marketing, product launches and strategic events. The team’s multi-channel, results driven approach to marketing has led to major results for past + present brand clients like Hunter Bell NYC, MacKenzie-Childs, Tuckernuck, Addison Bay, Sue Sartor, Oliphant and Look Linen Co.

Caroline’s experience prior to forming CWT Consulting Group is unique, as she led teams in-house for over ten years in all areas of marketing at Lilly Pulitzer, Victoria’s Secret and Julia Berolzheimer’s Gal Meets Glam. No matter the company, she is extremely passionate about thinking out of the box and creating scalable initiatives that bring large numbers of new consumers to brands.

Elyce Arons was the co-founder of Kate Spade and is the co-founder and CEO of Frances Valentine, a New York-based luxury apparel and accessories company. Frances Valentine celebrates the power of personal style through clothes and accessories that boost your mood and tell a story.

A 35-year fashion veteran, Elyce knows a thing or two about business and style. She famously chased her passion for fashion all the way from Kansas to New York City alongside her best friend, Kate, and co-founded Kate Spade in 1993. Elyce shepherded the company from inception to international success, growing it into one of the most iconic brands in modern fashion history, and was instrumental in its 2006 sale to Neiman Marcus Group. In 2016, Elyce, Kate, and Andy Spade launched Frances Valentine as an evolution of their joyful style aesthetic; a brand with heart, soul, and a story to tell.

In June 2025, Elyce published her debut memoir, We Might Just Make It After All, which debuted on the New York Times Best Seller list. The book chronicles her decades long friendship with Kate Spade and the lessons she has learned building two iconic fashion brands.

Elyce has been featured on Good Morning America and The Today Show, and in publications including WWD, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. She lives in NYC with her husband and three daughters. When she is not running a global brand, you will find her gardening, playing tennis, or perusing the colorful stalls of a vintage market.

A passionate brand leader with 15 years of experience across fashion, home décor, and lifestyle. She strategically blends storytelling, strategy, and consumer insight to create culture-forward campaigns that connect and convert. She’s built highly scalable influencer and affiliate programs focused on new customer acquisition and results-driven growth. Equally at home in agency and in-house roles, she leads with collaboration, data, and heart, co-creating brand experiences that resonate and building influencer programs that turn into case studies.

Jasmine is a brand-building strategic and creative consultant. As a corporate attorney and then operations executive, she spent more than a decade working with some of the world’s largest businesses and brands. A natural creative and design enthusiast, she has also spent her life appreciating the power of our surroundings. Now, fueled by the belief that considered details can transform fleeting moments into lasting memories, she aims to support businesses — and people — that embody the same notion.

Leveraging a unique expertise at the intersection of business strategy and design, she advises and accelerates companies and leaders committed to bringing inspiring experiences and products into the world. Additionally, Jasmine collaborates with value-aligned people and brands on creative ideas to authentically inspire discovery and expand their impact on existing and new audiences alike.

Laura Cox Kaplan is a communications and influence expert whose 30-year career spans government, business, media, and nonprofit leadership.

Throughout her career, one common thread has defined her work: mastering the art and science of how individuals influence outcomes. Her approach blends practical strategies, compelling storytelling, and research-backed principles from positive psychology to help leaders build and sustain influence in ways that strengthen resilience, trust, and connection—while creating meaningful impact.

Laura is the creator and host of She Said/She Said, a top-rated podcast and multimedia platform where she shares her own thought leadership, research, and strategies for building intentional influence, alongside in-depth conversations with women who have leveraged their influence to shape business, public policy, industry, academia, and their own lives. Through solo episodes, masterclasses, and curated guest interviews, she delivers actionable, real-world tools leaders can apply immediately. 

Recognized as one of Washingtonian’s “100 Most Powerful Women,” she is also a frequent keynote speaker, writer, and former adjunct professor at American University.

She began her career as a press secretary on Capitol Hill before serving in senior roles at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. She went on to spend more than a decade on the executive management team at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she led global public policy and regulatory affairs across 150+ countries.

She serves on several boards, including The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, The Sandberg-Goldberg-Bernthal Family Foundation (which oversees LeanIn.org), The Policy Circle, and the Bullis Board of Trustees. She has also been a corporate board director for more than a decade, including service on the board of CoStar Group, Inc. and Hunt Companies.

Laura holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and American University, where she earned a master’s degree in journalism. She lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with her husband and two children. 

Lele Sadoughi is recognized as a foremost accessory designer in the contemporary market, offering an unrivaled range of styles across more than fifteen categories. With training at Central Saint Martins and a foundation in advertising, Lele built an impressive résumé honing her craft under the visionary direction of Tory Burch, Rebecca Taylor, and Ippolita. She notably launched the first-ever J.Crew jewelry collection in 2005, a milestone that set the stage for a career defined by originality and innovation. After more than a decade of design experience, Lele unveiled her namesake label in New York City in 2011, and this year proudly celebrates its 15th anniversary.

She designs collectible pieces that are consistently on the pulse of fashion. From her cult-favorite pearl-embellished headbands to her instantly recognizable jewels, belts, sunglasses, handbags, and beyond, Lele creates a story for each thoughtfully crafted piece. Her brand has captivated both collectors and collaborators alike, with partnerships ranging from The Met Museum, the British Library, and Liberty London to Barbie, Sarah Jessica Parker, the NFL, MLB, Swarovski, and J.Crew. She has become the go-to accessories brand.

Lele Sadoughi dresses everyone from Kate Middleton, Jennifer Lopez, Naomi Campbell, and Zendaya, and is regularly featured in Vogue, The New York Times, WWD, and Harper’s Bazaar. Lele Sadoughi can be found at flagship stores in Dallas, Houston, New York City, and Nashville, as well as leading retailers worldwide.

Mariah is currently the CEO + Co-Founder of Ekyam AI, the first AI native intelligent operating system for the retail ecosystem. Prior to Ekyam, she was the CEO of ELOQUII, where she oversaw the growth of the company from a distressed asset purchase into the leading e-commerce destination for women sizes 14+. During her nine years at ELOQUII, Mariah secured $40 million in venture capital from top-tier investors such as Greycroft Partners and led the company to a profitable acquisition by Walmart in 2018 for three times revenue.  Mariah’s

experience also includes co-founding Send the Trend, a subscription e-commerce business for fashion accessories and prestige beauty items. This company was later profitably acquired by QVC in 2012. Mariah graduated from Harvard with a degree in History and spends her spare time reading about medically related topics and learning bridge.

A native of the Midwest, Sarah Wetenhall is a nomad by nature having lived in more than six cities during the first twenty years of her life. Her vagabond roots inspired a love of travel and developed storytelling skills that proved essential in molding this natural-born hotelier. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, she began her career in New York where she spent a decade-plus spearheading public relations efforts for major fashion houses including Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana and Hugo Boss. Her experience in the fashion industry honed her keen aesthetic acumen and a strong sensibility for the luxury market. She currently serves as a board member of the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Worth Avenue Association, the Children’s Museum of the East End, and the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy, as well as the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City. Sarah has also been recognized by Hotels Magazine as one of the top ten independent lifestyle operators in the world.

Trisha Gregory is the Chief Brand Officer of Amazon Luxury, a new destination on Amazon to shop current season fashion and beauty from the world’s top luxury brands. Prior to her role at Amazon, Trisha co-founded Armarium, a leading luxury fashion rental platform, known for it’s exciting pop up experiences, styling services and avant garde fashion to rent.  Trisha began her career in marketing and communications, most notably overseeing events, press and digital initiatives at Salvatore Ferragamo for almost ten years.  Today, Trisha attributes over two decades of luxury and prestige fashion experience coupled with an innate understanding and knowledge of the modern luxury customer. 

Adair Vilella is the founder of La Pausa Consulting and a trusted Fractional COO to e-commerce and retail brands ready to scale with clarity and confidence.
Adair specializes in helping women founders evolve from one-woman shows into fully built, high-performing dream teams while supporting brands as they scale to $2 million and beyond. Her approach blends operational strategy, data clarity, and people leadership to create businesses that are both profitable and sustainable.
Before launching La Pausa Consulting, Adair spent 12 years in California, where she helped expand Equinox and worked closely with investors and founders in the Los Angeles startup community. This experience gave her a dual perspective on what operators need inside the business and what investors expect from leadership, systems, and reporting.
Adair supports founders in building operational foundations that scale. Her work includes developing and leading dream teams, defining departments and responsibilities, aligning sales and marketing, and creating accountability structures that remove founders as the bottleneck. She is known for simplifying complex ecosystems, including Shopify app stacks, tech platforms, and third-party tools that often slow growth instead of supporting it.
Her expertise also spans data dashboards, analytics, understanding COGS and gross margins, and building budgets that clearly define what should stay in house versus what should be outsourced. Adair regularly prepares brands for investment by tightening operations, clarifying reporting, and ensuring teams stay strategically aligned as outside capital enters the business.
For founders who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of their next operational move, Adair acts as a strategic right hand who brings structure, momentum, and confidence. Whether clients need full operational leadership or want to engage the LPC team solely for data clarity and analytics, La Pausa Consulting meets businesses exactly where they are.
A few Southern C–connected brands Adair is currently supporting, and who are always happy to give a glowing review, include Petite Paloma, ZEBRA, Sara Hillery Interior Design, Lila & Hayes, Larkin Lane, Christina Greene Jewelry, and Catherine Cartie.

Brett Hutchinson is the co-founder of Buru and a partner in both business and life. After a career in the corporate world rooted in finance and accounting, Brett traded spreadsheets for sketches (and somehow still kept the spreadsheets) to help turn the dream of Buru into a reality and bring the brand to life.

As the steady hand behind the scenes, Brett makes the numbers work so the creativity can shine. He oversees financial planning and long-term growth, supporting a shared vision of creating stylish, sustainable clothing designed to serve women through every phase of life. His leadership provides the structure that allows bold ideas to flourish, ensuring the business grows with intention and integrity.

Beyond the balance sheets, Brett is a full partner in every sense, supporting Buru’s creative vision, helping plan and build the business, and raising their three children alongside Morgan. From the earliest days, they worked to build the brand from the ground up, including the creation of its vertically integrated factory, bringing everything from fabric to fulfillment under one roof.

Together, Brett and Morgan have built a beloved lifestyle brand defined by timeless style, meaningful collaborations, and a community that feels more like family.

A humbly self-described accidental designer, Morgan launched Buru just two weeks after becoming a mother, turning a personal search for stylish, washable clothing into a purpose-driven fashion brand she now leads as Co-Founder and CEO. What began as a practical solution for early motherhood quickly grew into something much bigger, a company designed to dress women through every season and stage of life.

A Kentucky native and University of Alabama graduate, Morgan began her career in New York as the co-founder of Passport Panties, a shapewear line carried in more than 500 stores, including Neiman Marcus and Henri Bendel. After selling her shares, she joined her husband Brett in Beijing for his career, where an unexpected love for commercial styling took root.

When the couple returned to the U.S. and welcomed their first child, Olive, Morgan found herself searching for clothes that could keep up with the days of motherhood without sacrificing style. That search became a spark. First imagined as a curated online marketplace, the brand soon evolved into a full fashion label designed entirely by Morgan.

Drawing inspiration from the silhouettes worn by her mother and grandmother, Morgan creates pieces that feel familiar yet fresh, wearable, washable, cut from vibrant deadstock fabrics, always with practical pockets and finished with her signature twist of whimsy. Today, the brand includes boutiques in Charleston, New York, and Palm Beach, and operates from a vertically integrated downtown Los Angeles factory and attic atelier, built, as Morgan likes to say, “one sewing machine at a time,” with every step of production living under one roof.

Together with Brett, her partner in both life and business, and while raising their three children, Morgan continues to shape a brand rooted in tradition with a twist, creating accessible, sustainable fashion designed for real life and a little bit of delight.

Abbey Glass is an attainable luxury womenswear brand that helps women explore the art of dressing up. Abbey started designing dresses when she was 10 years old, sewing with her grandmother on a vintage Singer sewing machine. She went on to become a classically trained fashion designer, graduating from Rhode Island School of Design, and launching her business creating playful couture gowns for women across the country. Abbey is inspired by mid-century design, creating attainable luxury pieces through luxurious fabric selections and timeless silhouettes. Her mission is to lend a playful elegance to women’s wardrobes, giving them effortless confidence for every occasion. The namesake brand operates out of the flagship store in Abbey’s hometown of Atlanta, GA.

Adair Vilella is the founder of La Pausa Consulting and a trusted Fractional COO to e-commerce and retail brands ready to scale with clarity and confidence.
Adair specializes in helping women founders evolve from one-woman shows into fully built, high-performing dream teams while supporting brands as they scale to $2 million and beyond. Her approach blends operational strategy, data clarity, and people leadership to create businesses that are both profitable and sustainable.
Before launching La Pausa Consulting, Adair spent 12 years in California, where she helped expand Equinox and worked closely with investors and founders in the Los Angeles startup community. This experience gave her a dual perspective on what operators need inside the business and what investors expect from leadership, systems, and reporting.
Adair supports founders in building operational foundations that scale. Her work includes developing and leading dream teams, defining departments and responsibilities, aligning sales and marketing, and creating accountability structures that remove founders as the bottleneck. She is known for simplifying complex ecosystems, including Shopify app stacks, tech platforms, and third-party tools that often slow growth instead of supporting it.
Her expertise also spans data dashboards, analytics, understanding COGS and gross margins, and building budgets that clearly define what should stay in house versus what should be outsourced. Adair regularly prepares brands for investment by tightening operations, clarifying reporting, and ensuring teams stay strategically aligned as outside capital enters the business.
For founders who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of their next operational move, Adair acts as a strategic right hand who brings structure, momentum, and confidence. Whether clients need full operational leadership or want to engage the LPC team solely for data clarity and analytics, La Pausa Consulting meets businesses exactly where they are.
A few Southern C–connected brands Adair is currently supporting, and who are always happy to give a glowing review, include Petite Paloma, ZEBRA, Sara Hillery Interior Design, Lila & Hayes, Larkin Lane, Christina Greene Jewelry, and Catherine Cartie.

Alexandra Dillard is the Vice President and General Merchandise Manager at Dillard’s, Inc., where she leads with vision, passion, and deep-rooted industry knowledge. Born in Fort Worth, Texas and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, Alexandra grew up immersed in the world of retail. Her father, Alex Dillard, President of Dillard’s and son of founder William T. Dillard, played a pivotal role in shaping both the company’s success and Alexandra’s professional path.

From attending store openings with her grandparents to shadowing her father on store visits and buying trips, Alexandra’s early exposure to the business left a lasting impact. Alongside her sisters, Annemarie and Michelle—both of whom also hold leadership roles within the company—Alexandra is a key figure in driving innovation, relevance, and continued growth for the 87-year-old department store chain.

Alexandra graduated with a business degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She went on to gain global industry experience by working in an apparel factory in China and at Connor Sourcing, a world-renowned product sourcing agency based in Hong Kong. She later honed her merchandising expertise with fashion house BCBGMaxAzria in Los Angeles before officially joining Dillard’s.

Over the past 19 years, Alexandra has risen through the ranks from brand manager of ladies’ private label brands to Divisional Merchandise Manager, and now serves as General Merchandise Manager and Vice President. She oversees majority womenswear, juniors and childrenswear. She leads Dillard’s buying, product development, and design teams located in both Saint Petersburg, Florida and the company’s headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas, while also managing strategic partnerships with top design collaborators.

Known for her forward-thinking leadership and ability to spot and shape trends, Alexandra has launched numerous brands and spearheaded transformative initiatives—from influencer-driven campaigns to a growing college campus ambassador program. Her strategic mindset, creative approach, and dedication to excellence continue to position Dillard’s as a modern force in retail.

Alexandra balances her professional commitments with her role as a wife and mother of two. Her story is a testament to the idea that with passion, purpose, and a bit of hustle, it is indeed possible to have it all.

Annika Moffett is an Account Director at Of Counsel PR, where she leads strategy for a portfolio of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle clients. She specializes in influencer partnerships, affiliate marketing, media relations, and events—helping brands build authentic connections and measurable growth.

Previously, Annika managed commerce and partnerships for Julia Berolzheimer and Parterre, where she oversaw affiliate strategy, brand collaborations, and content development across multiple owned media channels.

Annika earned her undergraduate degree from The George Washington University and lives in downtown Charleston with her husband, daughter, and their lab.

Bianca Gates is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Birdies, a pioneering lifestyle footwear company that redefined the category by merging the elegance of designer shoes with the comfort of slippers. Since launching Birdies, Bianca has guided the company from an entrepreneurial vision into an internationally recognized direct-to-consumer brand, celebrated for its innovation, style, and devoted community of over one million customers and more than two million pairs sold.

Prior to founding Birdies, Bianca spent nearly six years at Facebook (now Meta), where she spearheaded retail partnerships and played an integral role in monetizing Facebook and Instagram. Her professional background also includes sales leadership positions at other media and technology companies, equipping her with a deep expertise in scaling businesses, cultivating brand identity, and driving digital engagement.

Bianca’s inspiration for Birdies was rooted in her desire to create versatile footwear that could transition seamlessly from home to social settings without compromising style or comfort. This vision not only disrupted traditional footwear categories but also carved out an entirely new market segment. Under her leadership, Birdies has raised significant venture funding, grown a loyal customer base and been featured in top publications for its impact on fashion and lifestyle. In March of 2025, Bianca led the successful exit of Birdies to a multi-brand, footwear conglomerate.

Beyond her role as Founder & CEO, Bianca is a passionate advocate for women in entrepreneurship and leadership. She started the first Lean In Circle with Sheryl Sandberg in 2013 (now over 100,000 reported Circles in over 180 countries), frequently speaks on topics such as innovation, building consumer brands, and empowering women to pursue bold career paths. She has been recognized for her leadership and entrepreneurial achievements by a range of industry and media outlets.

Bianca earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and continues to mentor and support the next generation of founders. She served six years on the Board of Trustees of the Hamlin School, an all girls Independent school in San Francisco and is Vice Chair of her YPO Chapter. Bianca resides in San Francisco with her husband and two kids.

Caroline Lunne is the founder of Migrate Marketing, a Charleston-based agency that helps lifestyle brands grow with clarity and creativity across the entire customer journey. With expertise in branding, PR, and digital strategy, she partners with fashion, food, and hospitality companies to refine their identities, launch with impact, and build lasting connections with their audiences.

@meetmigrate // meetmigrate.com
@carolinelunne // carolinelunne.com

Caroline Turnipseed is the Founder of CWT Consulting Group, a boutique agency specializing in developing marketing initiatives for female founded consumer brands that truly drive sales. Launched in 2020, the firm helps companies acquire new high-quality consumers and retain current shoppers through brand partnerships, influencers, email marketing, product launches and strategic events. The team’s multi-channel, results driven approach to marketing has led to major results for past + present brand clients like Hunter Bell NYC, MacKenzie-Childs, Tuckernuck, Addison Bay, Sue Sartor, Oliphant and Look Linen Co.

Caroline’s experience prior to forming CWT Consulting Group is unique, as she led teams in-house for over ten years in all areas of marketing at Lilly Pulitzer, Victoria’s Secret and Julia Berolzheimer’s Gal Meets Glam. No matter the company, she is extremely passionate about thinking out of the box and creating scalable initiatives that bring large numbers of new consumers to brands.

Catalina Gonzalez is the founder and designer of Dondolo, a luxury lifestyle brand that creates heirloom-quality clothing for women and children. From the beginning, her vision for the brand has centered on “Giving Back”—supporting both her native country of Colombia and the local Dallas community where she lives with her family. Each Dondolo piece is thoughtfully designed with hand-crafted details and produced in Colombia by local women and mothers, providing meaningful work while supporting social causes that benefit mothers and children in need. Dondolo is Love in Details, Love in Giving Back.

Catalina’s achievements have been widely recognized. She has been honored as a Southern Living Tastemaker and named to People Newspaper’s 20 Under 40 list. Her work with Dondolo has been featured in prominent outlets including Forbes, Byrdie, Southern Living, The Zoe Report, Modern Luxury, and The Scout Guide.

Beyond her entrepreneurial success, Catalina is a devoted mother of four boys, a dedicated philanthropist, and a passionate advocate for the arts and education. She serves on the boards of the Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Contemporary, Broadway Dallas, and the Texas Ballet Theater; is a member of the Contemporary Art Initiative of the Dallas Museum of Art; acts as Event Chair for The Perot Museum Night at the Museum; contributes to the Art Advisory Committee for UT Southwestern; and champions the Community Partners of Dallas. Additionally, she is a member of Klyde Warren Park’s President’s Circle, the United to Learn Founders Society, and the UNICEF Advisory Board.

Through her own foundation, Dondolo Gives, and her active involvement with the Nasher Museum, Catalina continues to demonstrate her unwavering commitment to empowering women, supporting children, and creating meaningful change in her community and beyond.

Charli Evans is a Georgia-based fashion maven, lifestyle blogger, and mom of two littles. Known for her effortless styling of staples and statements: Charli brings a fresh take on classic fashion, elevating the everyday with vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and feminine detailing. From wardrobe heroes to standout finds, everything she shares is designed to bring a bit of beauty and magic to your daily life.

CJ Frogozo is a senior marketing and communications executive with deep expertise in full-funnel brand building — from cultural relevance and awareness to conversion and long-term growth. She currently serves as a fractional executive for SUSU Co., a lifestyle brand curating Italian-made jewelry and home goods, and as the fractional Chief Growth Officer and a movement instructor at The22, a Florence-based boutique wellness space.

CJ has held leadership roles at some of the most innovative consumer brands, including OLAPLEX (fractional communications), Daily Harvest (VP, Corporate Affairs), Thinx (VP, PR & Community), and Tinder (Global Head of Social Impact). Across beauty, wellness, and lifestyle, she has built integrated campaigns that pair strong storytelling with measurable results, spanning PR, brand strategy, partnerships, performance marketing, and experiential activations.

Known for aligning brand voice with business goals, CJ helps companies translate cultural relevance into marketing ecosystems that drive awareness, conversion, and loyalty. She lives between Brooklyn and Florence with her dog, Drake.

For over 30 years, Cindy Hyde has proudly served as publisher for various luxury lifestyle magazines. In 2003, she created Southern Distinction, an upscale, regional magazine circulated across Georgia and the surrounding states that embodies the finer aspects of Southern lifestyle. Here, she oversees the production of features ranging from fine dining, leisure, travel and bridal pieces, where she conceptualizes immersive style shoots and pairs visual storytelling with elegant editorial structure – all coming together to set a distinctive standard.

Over the years, Cindy has acted as a strong connection point between unique vendors, luxury brands and design experts. She has now extended her expertise to resort and community publications such as Sea Island’s Sea Island Life, Chateau Elan Winery and Resort’s The Enthusiast, Traditions of Braselton and Del Webb’s The Associate.

Cindy is an Athens native and a University of Georgia graduate, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising with minors in Public Relations and Interior Design. She uses a meticulous selection process for writers and photographers with global perspectives. A commitment to exceptional production quality and meaningful, diverse narratives defines her work. Whether crafting a mood board or styling a layout that feels both current and enduring, her passion and discerning eye are always evident.

Her philosophy is simple: readers are drawn to content built on a strong editorial vision and craftsmanship. It’s a commitment that ensures her magazines remain a permanent fixture in homes and businesses. Her influence extends far beyond the page, inspiring the creatives she mentors, the brands she collaborates with, and the audiences who look forward to every new issue she brings to life.

Elyce Arons was the co-founder of Kate Spade and is the co-founder and CEO of Frances Valentine, a New York-based luxury apparel and accessories company. Frances Valentine celebrates the power of personal style through clothes and accessories that boost your mood and tell a story.

A 35-year fashion veteran, Elyce knows a thing or two about business and style. She famously chased her passion for fashion all the way from Kansas to New York City alongside her best friend, Kate, and co-founded Kate Spade in 1993. Elyce shepherded the company from inception to international success, growing it into one of the most iconic brands in modern fashion history, and was instrumental in its 2006 sale to Neiman Marcus Group. In 2016, Elyce, Kate, and Andy Spade launched Frances Valentine as an evolution of their joyful style aesthetic; a brand with heart, soul, and a story to tell.

In June 2025, Elyce published her debut memoir, We Might Just Make It After All, which debuted on the New York Times Best Seller list. The book chronicles her decades long friendship with Kate Spade and the lessons she has learned building two iconic fashion brands.

Elyce has been featured on Good Morning America and The Today Show, and in publications including WWD, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. She lives in NYC with her husband and three daughters. When she is not running a global brand, you will find her gardening, playing tennis, or perusing the colorful stalls of a vintage market.

A passionate brand leader with 15 years of experience across fashion, home décor, and lifestyle. She strategically blends storytelling, strategy, and consumer insight to create culture-forward campaigns that connect and convert. She’s built highly scalable influencer and affiliate programs focused on new customer acquisition and results-driven growth. Equally at home in agency and in-house roles, she leads with collaboration, data, and heart, co-creating brand experiences that resonate and building influencer programs that turn into case studies.

Emily McCarthy is a fashion designer and entrepreneur known for her bold use of color, modern silhouettes, and timeless style. With a background in fine arts and design, she founded her namesake brand in 2019, growing it into an 8-figure business with a flagship store in Savannah, Georgia, a booming e-commerce platform, and 400+ wholesale retailers. Emily’s collections empower women through confident, expressive style rooted in craftsmanship and joy. A working mother and visionary leader, she blends creativity and strategy while inspiring others through her dedication to intentional living, family, and the art of fashion.

Hannah Groseclose is the founder of Hinge Creative Co., a branding house in Athens, Ga that specializes in brand identity for women-led businesses. As a designer and entrepreneur, she’s passionate about the impact of branding on the bottom line for women in business. She’s a mom to two little girls Tate and Reese, and as a UGA alumna, she and her husband call the Dawgs every Saturday in the fall.

Holly Hollingsworth Phillips is a residential interior designer owner of The English Room, based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Holly’s style is elegant, eclectic and colorful. She has completed homes all over the east coast that have ranged from the super modern to very traditional while keeping it true to her style and that of the client. She loves overseeing the design process from beginning to end. “The best part is when your clients really trust you and set you free to do what you do best.” Her love of color, pattern and layering of old and new can be seen in all her work. According to Holly, “Color makes people happy!” She loves the mixing the tradition of the past with the modern style of the future.

Holly has worked in the design world from and early age. Her mother took her to antique shows all over the east coast and she went on her first buying trip to Europe at age 11. The home Holly grew up in was designed by Mario Buatta. Her mother, Nancy Hollingsworth, is retired well known interior designer, and specialized in the English Country style. Childhood play dates could turn into magical discussions with mothers while they moved around furniture. Her lifelong passion for the arts has never waned. Holly has a strong educational love for antiques and the history of the decorative arts led her to this business.

Holly’s early design experience includes working with Alexandra Stoddard and Sotheby’s – both in New York City. Holly completed a Mint Museum Senior Study and worked at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center. After College, Holly lived in London while completing Sotheby’s 17th and 18th century decorative arts program. She has also completed The Winter institute at Winterthur, which provided a deep exposure one of the most complete collections of American Antiques in existence. Her first “professional” job was with Travis & Company in Atlanta where she ran the Antiques side of the showroom. In 1999, Holly joined her mother full time at the English Room in Charlotte. Her educational background includes a degree in Art History from Rollins College and a degree in Interior Design from the American College.

She has been featured in Southern Living, Charlotte Magazine, QC Exclusive, Charlotte Design & Decor, Southpark Magazine and Better Homes and Gardens as well as online features in House Beautiful, Domino & Elle Decor.

Jackie Thomson is the founder of of Counsel PR, a consultancy she launched in 2022 after more than a decade co-owning Charleston-based lifestyle PR firm Leapfrog. She specializes in helping female founders in the design and style space grow their brands through influencer marketing, brand collaborations, and strategic partnerships, alongside traditional media relations and events. With a background spanning luxury fashion at Gucci and Reem Acra to lifestyle PR leadership and brand development, Jackie brings a sharp eye for positioning and a hands-on approach to building authentic and lasting brand visibility.

Jasmine is a brand-building strategic and creative consultant. As a corporate attorney and then operations executive, she spent more than a decade working with some of the world’s largest businesses and brands. A natural creative and design enthusiast, she has also spent her life appreciating the power of our surroundings. Now, fueled by the belief that considered details can transform fleeting moments into lasting memories, she aims to support businesses — and people — that embody the same notion.

Leveraging a unique expertise at the intersection of business strategy and design, she advises and accelerates companies and leaders committed to bringing inspiring experiences and products into the world. Additionally, Jasmine collaborates with value-aligned people and brands on creative ideas to authentically inspire discovery and expand their impact on existing and new audiences alike.

Laura Cox Kaplan is a communications and influence expert whose 30-year career spans government, business, media, and nonprofit leadership.

Throughout her career, one common thread has defined her work: mastering the art and science of how individuals influence outcomes. Her approach blends practical strategies, compelling storytelling, and research-backed principles from positive psychology to help leaders build and sustain influence in ways that strengthen resilience, trust, and connection—while creating meaningful impact.

Laura is the creator and host of She Said/She Said, a top-rated podcast and multimedia platform where she shares her own thought leadership, research, and strategies for building intentional influence, alongside in-depth conversations with women who have leveraged their influence to shape business, public policy, industry, academia, and their own lives. Through solo episodes, masterclasses, and curated guest interviews, she delivers actionable, real-world tools leaders can apply immediately. 

Recognized as one of Washingtonian’s “100 Most Powerful Women,” she is also a frequent keynote speaker, writer, and former adjunct professor at American University.

She began her career as a press secretary on Capitol Hill before serving in senior roles at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. She went on to spend more than a decade on the executive management team at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she led global public policy and regulatory affairs across 150+ countries.

She serves on several boards, including The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, The Sandberg-Goldberg-Bernthal Family Foundation (which oversees LeanIn.org), The Policy Circle, and the Bullis Board of Trustees. She has also been a corporate board director for more than a decade, including service on the board of CoStar Group, Inc. and Hunt Companies.

Laura holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and American University, where she earned a master’s degree in journalism. She lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with her husband and two children. 

Lele Sadoughi is recognized as a foremost accessory designer in the contemporary market, offering an unrivaled range of styles across more than fifteen categories. With training at Central Saint Martins and a foundation in advertising, Lele built an impressive résumé honing her craft under the visionary direction of Tory Burch, Rebecca Taylor, and Ippolita. She notably launched the first-ever J.Crew jewelry collection in 2005, a milestone that set the stage for a career defined by originality and innovation. After more than a decade of design experience, Lele unveiled her namesake label in New York City in 2011, and this year proudly celebrates its 15th anniversary.

She designs collectible pieces that are consistently on the pulse of fashion. From her cult-favorite pearl-embellished headbands to her instantly recognizable jewels, belts, sunglasses, handbags, and beyond, Lele creates a story for each thoughtfully crafted piece. Her brand has captivated both collectors and collaborators alike, with partnerships ranging from The Met Museum, the British Library, and Liberty London to Barbie, Sarah Jessica Parker, the NFL, MLB, Swarovski, and J.Crew. She has become the go-to accessories brand.

Lele Sadoughi dresses everyone from Kate Middleton, Jennifer Lopez, Naomi Campbell, and Zendaya, and is regularly featured in Vogue, The New York Times, WWD, and Harper’s Bazaar. Lele Sadoughi can be found at flagship stores in Dallas, Houston, New York City, and Nashville, as well as leading retailers worldwide.

Over her tenure at Leapfrog PR, Libba guided many of her clients, both large and small, to become prominent brands among the shelves of national retailers. A storyteller at heart, she looks for common threads – pride in the process and an authentic history – in all of the companies she works alongside. Now as a founder of the creative consultancy Add Lib, she focuses on only a handful of carefully selected clients who have a truly great story – business owners in the south who have products and services that are inspired by heritage (a recipe, an orchard, a kettle built to last, kinship) and built on people’s need to gather, connect and foster relationships. She advises some of the South’s best-loved brands including Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit, Caroline’s Cakes, Sea Island Forge, Schermer Pecans, and The Southern Coterie #tscsummit. She thrives on mentoring entrepreneurs and small business owners. To celebrate these relationships, she offers a pro bono Small Business Mentorship program with three to five women participating each year.

An Atlanta native, Libba found her passion for all things edible as a post-grad student at New York’s French Culinary Institute (International Culinary Center). She segued into restaurant public relations at Baltz & Co. and the Dunn Robbins Group, promoting brands in the food, wine, and spirits industries. Following a move to her husband’s hometown of Charleston, Libba joined Leapfrog to continue her craft, as an owner from 2009 to 2021. She recently founded Add Lib in 2022.

Libba is a graduate of the University of the South, Sewanee. Libba and her husband, Chris, are raising their two sons a stone’s throw from the Ashley River.

Mariah is currently the CEO + Co-Founder of Ekyam AI, the first AI native intelligent operating system for the retail ecosystem. Prior to Ekyam, she was the CEO of ELOQUII, where she oversaw the growth of the company from a distressed asset purchase into the leading e-commerce destination for women sizes 14+. During her nine years at ELOQUII, Mariah secured $40 million in venture capital from top-tier investors such as Greycroft Partners and led the company to a profitable acquisition by Walmart in 2018 for three times revenue.  Mariah’s

experience also includes co-founding Send the Trend, a subscription e-commerce business for fashion accessories and prestige beauty items. This company was later profitably acquired by QVC in 2012. Mariah graduated from Harvard with a degree in History and spends her spare time reading about medically related topics and learning bridge.

Melissa Lester, editorial director of lifestyle at Hoffman Media, serves as editor ofSouthern Lady and Victoria magazines. She is passionate about developing writers while guiding the voice of publications devoted to gracious living.

Along with overseeing regular issues and special-interest publications, her role includes producing hardcover books, including Victoria-branded volumes Living with Roses, Splendor of Christmas, and The Comfort of Books & Tea: A Gentle Guide to Reading and Teatime. She is the author ofGracious Home: Cultivating a Spirit of Welcome, a heartfelt and personal invitation to create a place of belonging that rises up to meet you, embraces all who inhabit the space, and opens its arms wide in welcome.

Balancing the quiet hours of Melissa’s editorial work are opportunities to connect with readers through domestic and international Live Your Bliss Retreats, speaking engagements, and occasional video projects. She defines her life’s purpose as being a gentle encourager and finds inspiration in seeking, celebrating, and creating beauty.

Melissa Sturdivant Smith, creative director of lifestyle brands at Hoffman Media, lives in Birmingham with her husband, Tyler, and daughters, Ellison and Everlee. She joined the company in 2016 as the lead stylist for Victoria magazine. Initially, her job entailed scouting locations, introducing creative designs and artwork to the photo shoot set, and developing relationships with vendor partners. Honing her talents in building out issues from start to finish, she began creating the magazine’s table of contents. Over the past decade, she has been fortunate to call seven other countries her office, even if only for a few weeks at a time. In her expanded role as creative director, Melissa now helps shape the vision, themes, and covers for titles such as Southern Lady, The Cottage Journal, TeaTime, Southern Home, and Victoria.

Complementing an interior design degree, her extensive background in visual merchandising and operations management for a large-volume retailer deepened her insight into anticipating customer needs and exceeding their expectations. Among her collaborations, Melissa has created artwork for wrapping papers and greeting cards with Dogwood Hill, specialty tabletop designs with Arte Italica, and custom patterns for Busatti Linens. Product development evolved as the company introduced exclusive retreats in which subscribers can step into a magazine’s pages to experience places Melissa has explored on behalf of the publication. At any given time, she may be traveling for content, painting for a new collaborative product assortment, attending a home-and-gift market, combing through an antiques store, or leading an international event down a previously traveled path.

Melissa’s favorite aspect of her career is the opportunity to introduce entrepreneurs and their businesses to the audiences that love Hoffman Media publications. She works hard at curating collected tabletops, styling jewelry in seasonal look-book concepts, or refreshing the interiors of a centuries-old château with fine linens and home décor. Like most involved in the Southern Coterie, she is lucky to be able to say she is living her dream and using her abilities to bring inspiration to all.

A humbly self-described accidental designer, Morgan launched Buru just two weeks after becoming a mother, turning a personal search for stylish, washable clothing into a purpose-driven fashion brand she now leads as Co-Founder and CEO. What began as a practical solution for early motherhood quickly grew into something much bigger, a company designed to dress women through every season and stage of life.

A Kentucky native and University of Alabama graduate, Morgan began her career in New York as the co-founder of Passport Panties, a shapewear line carried in more than 500 stores, including Neiman Marcus and Henri Bendel. After selling her shares, she joined her husband Brett in Beijing for his career, where an unexpected love for commercial styling took root.

When the couple returned to the U.S. and welcomed their first child, Olive, Morgan found herself searching for clothes that could keep up with the days of motherhood without sacrificing style. That search became a spark. First imagined as a curated online marketplace, the brand soon evolved into a full fashion label designed entirely by Morgan.

Drawing inspiration from the silhouettes worn by her mother and grandmother, Morgan creates pieces that feel familiar yet fresh, wearable, washable, cut from vibrant deadstock fabrics, always with practical pockets and finished with her signature twist of whimsy. Today, the brand includes boutiques in Charleston, New York, and Palm Beach, and operates from a vertically integrated downtown Los Angeles factory and attic atelier, built, as Morgan likes to say, “one sewing machine at a time,” with every step of production living under one roof.

Together with Brett, her partner in both life and business, and while raising their three children, Morgan continues to shape a brand rooted in tradition with a twist, creating accessible, sustainable fashion designed for real life and a little bit of delight.

A native of the Midwest, Sarah Wetenhall is a nomad by nature having lived in more than six cities during the first twenty years of her life. Her vagabond roots inspired a love of travel and developed storytelling skills that proved essential in molding this natural-born hotelier. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, she began her career in New York where she spent a decade-plus spearheading public relations efforts for major fashion houses including Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana and Hugo Boss. Her experience in the fashion industry honed her keen aesthetic acumen and a strong sensibility for the luxury market. She currently serves as a board member of the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Worth Avenue Association, the Children’s Museum of the East End, and the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy, as well as the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City. Sarah has also been recognized by Hotels Magazine as one of the top ten independent lifestyle operators in the world.

Trisha Gregory is the Chief Brand Officer of Amazon Luxury, a new destination on Amazon to shop current season fashion and beauty from the world’s top luxury brands. Prior to her role at Amazon, Trisha co-founded Armarium, a leading luxury fashion rental platform, known for it’s exciting pop up experiences, styling services and avant garde fashion to rent.  Trisha began her career in marketing and communications, most notably overseeing events, press and digital initiatives at Salvatore Ferragamo for almost ten years.  Today, Trisha attributes over two decades of luxury and prestige fashion experience coupled with an innate understanding and knowledge of the modern luxury customer.