MEET SYAMA MEAGHER

Syama Meagher is the founder and chief retail strategist of Scaling Retail. A Web3 and consumer specialist, she has also been named one of WWD’s Top 20 Women in Business (2017). Syama Meagher has succeeded in establishing an international retail consulting and brand marketing agency which guides startup, growth stage, and enterprise fashion companies seeking to launch, pivot or scale. Prior to this, she had worked with the United Nations and also garnered experience from working with brands like Macy’s and Barneys as a buyer, planner and merchandiser. Meagher is an expert in retail and fashion, a field she has had so many successes, including helping to double Gucci’s outlet division sales from $50 million to $100 million in two years.

This conversation was recorded in April-May 2021. www.isoken.ca

Adjoa Atuahene is one of the young individuals who are redefining the way we do business. She is an experienced marketing and events professional who is well-versed in fashion, sports and entertainment. The Toronto-based marketer earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Media Studies from the University of Guelph-Humber.

Adjoa has a passion for creating compelling brand stories through public relations. She has worked with some of the best companies across fashion, sport and entertainment. Brands like Nike, Live Nation, OVO have entrusted Adjoa to help bring their vision to life. She also worked with the Jordan Brand and the NBA All-star 2016. In 2020, Adjoa founded the Canadian Black Standard which is Canada's premier networking and advocacy platform created with the aim of creating an answer to systemic racial barriers that exist in the business landscape as well as ensuring inclusion of Black Canadian women in the sector of marketing. Adjoa was named in Bay Street Bull's 30X30, class of 2021 list which showcases Canadian leaders who are redefining the way we do business and championing their communities. She also volunteers as a mentor for Monday Girl Social Club, Canada's leading career platform for professional women.

This conversation was recorded in April-May 2021. www.isoken.ca

MEET SHARIFA MURDOCK Sharifa Murdock is one the leading figures in the fashion industry. The “mother of menswear” as she is often regarded is the founding partner of Liberty Fairs where she focuses on  on cultivating relationships and elevating new brands in the men’s and women’s fashion space through showcase.. She has a strong grasp of industry trends and emerging brands and she has over 20 years of experience in fashion and retail. She went on to work at Atrium, Michael Kors, Donna Karan and Louis Vuitton. Sharifa has since expanded her career and has gone on to create additional companies such as Project Trade Show with her mentor and now business partner Sam Ben-Avraham which was later sold, and Envsn Fest. Sharifa’s work and personal style has been featured in top media outlets such as Glamour, Instyle, Essence and Elle and she was recently announced as the Chief of People & Culture and eventually Chief Impact Officer of legacy menswear brand KITH.

MEET MICHELLE OKEKE

Michelle Okeke is a seasoned marketer with more than 10 years of experience strategizing, developing and executing market campaigns. She garnered work experience from working with organisations like Twitter , Facebook, and Time. Currently, she works as a Creator Marketing Manager at Pinterest where she is committed to ensuring that creators get excited about creating content directly on the platform.

This conversation was recorded in April 2021.

www.isoken.ca

Wonder’s Lola Okuyiga on The Importance of Collaboration & How to Create a Bestselling Product

This week, Lola Okuyiga , Founder of Wonder & Head of Contemporary at Threads Styling, gives us an inside look at her over a decade old fashion career spanning buying, merchandising, editorial, retail, product development and marketing; the inner workings of past high profile collaborations like the much lauded Homecoming x Browns activation in Lagos and tells us all about the core philosophy that inspires her and her soon to launch brand, Wonder.

This conversation was recorded in April 2021.

www.isoken.ca