What motivates you on a day-to-day basis? 

Right now, I am lucky to be working for a company that is driven by ulterior motives – good ulterior motives. Everything we strive to do is rooted in a genuine intention to make a meaningful impact on the planet—on the animals, and on people. It’s incredibly rewarding to look back at the end of the year and reflect on all the good I’ve been a part of, as one piece of a larger organization, through the small things we do every single day.

When you started your career, were you always part of a cause-based business?

I was having a great time at ASICS, working within a much larger organization, with a more defined role and clear structure. But when Save The Duck reached out, I was genuinely drawn to the brand’s philosophy.

Any early mentors you had or advice that you received that shaped you in your career?

I’ve been lucky to have tons of mentors, thank God. Some of them are still my best friends. One is my former boss at Puma, he was the CMO. 

A piece of career advice that has always stuck with me is: don’t be afraid to explore, because every experience adds to your unique perspective. If we’re looking at the fashion industry, it’s an industry filled with opportunity – you can work in merchandising, you can work in marketing, you can work in retail, production, sustainability. I’ve worn a lot of hats throughout my career, and trying out different roles really helped me build a well-rounded skill set and figure out what I truly wanted to do—what I’m really passionate about. And that’s not an uncommon path. A lot of industry leaders started in one role and eventually transitioned into something completely different, finding success where they least expected it.

At one point, I was living in Switzerland. I thought I was moving to Germany—I was even interviewing there. Then the offer came: “Do you want to move to Boston?” And I thought, why not?

Take the opportunity. Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t be afraid to try new things or challenge yourself with the unknown.

What is the one question you ask in an interview that gives you insight into who the candidate is?

If I were to speak to one of your friends or colleagues, what would they say about you? This question helps me to understand how self aware the candidate is, and it gives me some insight on their personal and professional dynamics and behaviors. Friends often highlight personality traits like creativity, humor, loyalty, while the colleagues are more focused on ethics, leadership, teamwork, etc. This question can also reveal consistency, how the candidate presents themself both from a professional and a personal setting. And usually a great candidate will show a strong alignment between the two. And also you can understand their authenticity as a person and how their interpersonal skills are, which today are so important. You can teach people how to do the job, but you can’t teach interpersonal skills 

What is one thing now that you wish you knew when you were younger?

One thing I wish I knew early in my career, is the difference between technical and adaptive problems, and how to approach each of them. Technical problems have a clear solution; things that you learn by improving your negotiation skills, optimizing supply chain, learning a software. They usually get easily solved with training, experience and advice. Adaptive problems, I think, are what really makes a leader. They’re a lot trickier to solve, they usually involve a change of mindset. There is not always only one right solution, but you need to experiment, you need to work with your team to figure out the approach and the solution. 

Early in my career, I believed that mastering technical skills was the key to success. But over time, I’ve come to realize that adaptability is just as—if not more—important. The ability to navigate change, solve complex problems, and rethink strategy is crucial.

For example, what worked six months ago might not be the right approach today. The world moves fast—new technologies emerge, priorities shift—and you have to develop the kind of adaptive thinking that allows you to respond to that evolution.

What’s a daily habit that helps you stay focused?

I try to wake up early in the morning and I spend a lot of time reading the news. I try to read the news from three to five different sources. Reading gives me the chance to stay informed through a variety of perspectives, while also keeping my mind sharp. Often, as I’m reading, I’ll come across something that connects to a conversation we had recently, or I’ll recognize a development that could impact us in the next few months—or even spot a potential opportunity for the future.

It’s also my personal time. Reading helps me focus and ground myself before the demands of the workday begin. I don’t check my email until I’ve finished reading the news.

What do you do for fun?

I try to spend as much time as possible with my family. My work demands a lot of energy and I spend most of my weeks away from my family. Making space for them is essential, whether it’s having dinner together, taking a weekend trip, or simply speaking or connecting on FaceTime. Those are the moments that help me recharge and reconnect to reality, so it’s important for me to find those boundaries between work and personal life. Work is never 9 to 5, so it’s important for me to find those boundaries and to spend time with people I love.

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