Fashion & Luxury Entrepreneurial Business Management Program
About GFBA & Business Management Program
The Global Fashion Business Alliance (GFBA) is launching a Virtual/Hybrid Fashion Education program for entrepreneurs, designers, and companies within the international fashion and retail industry. The GFBA Academy will provide introductory programs to designers and nascent entrepreneurs in emerging markets with best practices and guidance in building sustainable businesses as well as offer advanced individual and cohort based training and support focused on scaling, internationalization, and all aspects of brand and company growth.
The program was developed in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN). GEN fosters cross platform collaboration among entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, policymakers and ecosystem builders supporting businesses in over 180 countries. GEN helps celebrate, understand, support and connect entrepreneurs and those who champion them.
The Fashion & Luxury Entrepreneurial Business Management Program will provide the latest information, contacts and resources in collaboration with North America’s top consultants in finance and factoring, supply chain management, digital marketing and retail technologies, legal issues and protecting your brand, accounting, taxes and compliance, experiential branding, marketing and merchandising, and building a sustainable brand.
Our Webinar Series
Our webinar series is hosted by Beth Sobol, founder and CEO of the GFBA and feature top fashion experts from the United States representing respected organizations such as Hilldun Corporation, Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) Hawke Media, Columbus Consulting, PM Business Advisors, Prager Metis CPAs, Pilnick & Associates, Cozen O'Connor P.A., and The Barbarian Agency.
The GFBA will soon launch the Fashion & Luxury Entrepreneurial Business Management Program that will be accessible through Flitepath, a digital platform for entrepreneurship acceleration and incubation programs worldwide. The Fashion & Luxury Entrepreneurial Business Management Program will provide the latest information, contacts and resources in collaboration with North America’s top consultants in finance and factoring, supply chain management, digital marketing and retail technologies, legal issues and protecting your brand, accounting, taxes and compliance, experiential branding, marketing and merchandising, and building a sustainable brand.
The Fashion & Luxury Entrepreneurial Business Management Program is aimed at all professional levels in the industry - from CEOs and directors to managers, showroom sales account executives, entry-level associates and students studying fashion design, marketing and merchandising. Professionals with diverse industry backgrounds (fashion, luxury, design, beauty, cosmetics, media, gastronomy, etc.) and with high levels of creativity are welcome to join.
Featured Video
As the GFBA prepares its next phase of programming, a weekly video recap featuring all experts from the live webinar series will be released each Wednesday.
Fashion's Rebound, the Importance of Having the Right Accounting Relationship
Presented By: Stuart Mayer, Prager Metis
Stuart Mayer, Managing Partner of Prager Metis CPAs in New York City. Stuart is an accounting expert specializing in fashion, retail real estate, technology and entrepreneurial services.
Webinar Videos
Participating Members
Sponsorship Opportunities
GFBA Founder
Beth Sobol
Beth Sobol, founder and CEO of the GFBA is a premier fashion business expert and consultant with a focus on launching the careers of International emerging designers into the American market. Sobol is the founder of the original Miami Fashion Week, one of the top fashion weeks in the world, and developed the platform that gave thousands of international designers their initial launch into the American market. In 2015 she sold the brand to European investors and now focuses on developing educational programming for entrepreneurs in the fashion and luxury brand markets.
Financing an Omni Channel Fashion Business
Presented By: Tim Moore, Hilldun Corp
Tim Moore, Executive VP of Hilldun Corporation discusses the key financial fundamentals and how to finance an omni channel fashion or luxury brand business.
About Tim Moore
Executive VP and Director at Hilldun Corporation is an expert in the Key Financial Fundamentals in the Fashion Industry and how to finance an omni channel fashion business. Hilldun has been financing fashion brands along with manufacturers, wholesalers, importers, and service providers across a wide range of industries since 1958. Hilldun provides credit protection/Accounts Receivable management, accounts receivable and purchase order financing along with a variety of other financial programs. Hilldun represents over 500 of America's top fashion designers including R13, IRO, Jason Wu, Ulla Johnson, Nili Lotan, Naeem Khan, Mansur Gavriel, Cushnie Et Ochs, ALC, Jonathan Simkhai, Isabel Mirant, Mara Hoffman.
Supply Chain of the Future
Presented By: Nancy Marino, Columbus Consulting
Nancy Marino, Principal at Columbus Consulting, and an expert in Go-To-Market Strategies discusses the Supply Chain of the Future.
About Nancy Marino
Nancy Marino is a Principal at Columbus Consulting with a proven track record of successfully leading retailers and brands for implementation of processes from design to delivery and development of their Go-To-Market strategies. She is respected for her leadership skills and project management oversight for executing system initiatives and international acumen having managed global sourcing and buying offices in over 50 countries. Nancy is a decision leader and change management expert. Nancy’s focus is on merchandising, product development, international operations, and supply chain strategies from design to delivery for retailers and brands.
Nancy most recently was EVP/Chief Supply Chain Officer of Gloria Jeans located in Russia and prior to this assignment was President of Design, Sourcing & Production for Russell Newman, an intimate apparel company selling to U.S. and International better specialty, department and mid-tier stores. Prior to joining R.N. Designs, Nancy was Senior Vice President of Hanes Branded Apparel, responsible for international operations for Hanes’ buying offices worldwide, including oversight for sourcing and production for all branded apparel brands.
Nancy also lead Brand Development and Worldwide Sourcing, as Senior Vice President for Sears, with offices located throughout the Far East, South East Asia, and Europe. Nancy was responsible for the design and development of all Sears’ Private Brand programs for Apparel and Home Fashions, along with direct responsibility for Sears’ International Buying Offices worldwide, providing merchandising, quality control, technical design and support for production follow up and compliance.
Prior to joining Sears, Ms. Marino was President and CEO of Linmark, an international sourcing agent operating a B2B Global Marketplace, which provided a trading environment for worldwide sourcing and production for hard lines and apparel. Before joining Linmark, Ms. Marino was President and CEO of Frederick Atkins, a leading international marketing and product development buying office wholly-owned by U.S. and international department stores with a combined retail sales volume of $14.0B.
Nancy also spent over 8 years at Associated Merchandising Corporation as Executive Vice-President, International Operations, Sourcing and Production. AMC was one of the largest overseas buying agents with offices in 54 countries.
Nancy started her career at Federated Department Stores and held various buying and management positions before joining Bradlees as Senior VP/GMM of Softlines, followed by an assignment at Lerner's, a division of The Limited, as VP/GMM.
The Future of Digital Marketing
Presented By: Madison Fiore, Hawke Media
Madison Fiore, Director of Growth at Hawke Media and an expert on Performance Marketing and Business Strategies.
About Madison Fiore
Madison Fiore is a Performance Marketing and Business Strategist at his core. Over the last 10 years, he has worked with and professionally consulted over 200 brands.
As the Director of Growth at Hawke Media, an award-winning Outsourced CMO and marketing agency, Madison has helped scale the agency from less than 50 employees to over 150 by growing, grooming, and managing Hawke's 20+ consulting team. In three years with Hawke Media, Madison has contributed to remarkable revenue growth from $5M in 2017 to $20M+ in 2019.
Prior to Hawke, Madison co-founded and launched three brands while consulting on dozens of other projects with clients in a variety of industries. This experience led to his passion for supporting brand's growth. As an entrepreneur and brand marketing expert, Madison has become a trusted advisor and partner to companies of all shapes and sizes including Hawke Ventures.
Protecting Your Brand and the New Rules for Influencer Marketing
Presented By: Danielle Garno, Cozen O’Connor
Danielle Garno, co-chair of the Retail Industry Group at the law firm of Cozen O'Connor and an expert in fashion start-ups and multinational global brands.
About Danielle Garno
Danielle focuses her practice on issues faced by the fashion community, including startup phase and commercial advice, intellectual property such as trademark and copyright infringement, social media marketing, advertising, and anti-counterfeiting, as well as employment and general business litigation. She has significant experience litigating both individual and class actions. Danielle also has a substantial white-collar practice, defending businesses in white collar disputes, alleged fraud actions, and federal and state indictments. When necessary, she also manages internal investigations and represents clients before state and federal regulatory bodies.
Danielle represents fashion clients of all sizes from startups to multinational, global brands, helping them navigate through legal issues as well as counseling them on growing and sustaining a successful brand. She is co-chair of the firm's Retail Industry Group.
Danielle has written extensively and lectured all over the country on topics relating to fashion law and currently teaches fashion law at the University of Miami School of Law. She sits on the board of trustees of the YoungArts Foundation and is also counsel to the nonprofit organization Style Saves. Her work has been recognized by Florida Trend, Florida Super Lawyers, and Law360.
Danielle earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Miami and her law degree, cum laude, from Pepperdine University School of Law.
Fashion's Rebound, the Importance of Having the Right Accounting Relationship
Presented By: Stuart Mayer, Prager Metis
Stuart Mayer, Managing Partner of Prager Metis CPAs in New York City. Stuart is an accounting expert specializing in fashion, retail real estate, technology and entrepreneurial services.
About Stuart Mayer
Stuart H. Mayer is a Partner of Prager Metis CPAs. Stuart has over twenty years within the accounting profession, with experience in the Fashion, Real Estate and New Business Development industries. He also serves as the Managing Partner -New York, NY Office.
Stuart focuses his practice on new business and client development. He has been instrumental in the strong growth of clients in the fashion and apparel industries. His expertise working with online media and interactive services companies has helped guide them successfully through mergers and acquisition deals. Stuart’s proficiency in those industries was demonstrated when one of his clients was featured in the Wall Street Journal for impressive financial growth.
Stuart has significant experience in certified audits and reviews of financial statements. He works extensively with the real estate industry, including CIRAs, developers, management companies and rental companies.
Stuart has been featured as “Executive of the Month” by New York Real Estate Journal and was selected as a “Top 40 Under 40” by Long Island Business Journal.
Stuart joined Prager Metis upon the combination with Mayer CPAs LLP and Prager Metis in 2016.
State & Local Taxes: How Fashion Businesses Can Maintain an Edge and Mitigate Risk
Presented By: Chris Vignone, PM Business Advisors
Chris Vignone, CEO & Managing Director in Business Advisory at PM Business Advisors in New York City. Chris' specialty is in Credits & Incentives and Tax Controversy, and is an acclaimed thought leader in the area of Sales & Use Tax. Chris discusses State & Local Taxes: How Fashion Businesses Can Maintain an Edge and Mitigate Risk.
About Chris Vignone
Chris has over 20 years of experience providing business advisory services to corporate America. His clients include many Fortune 1000 companies, and he is an acclaimed thought leader in the area of sales & use tax. Chris has maintained the role of advisory practice leader for several firms before taking the helm as CEO for PMBA in 2015.
Experiential Branding and How to Reach Your Customer Post COVID-19
Presented By: David Pilnick
About David Pilnick
David Pilnick is a proven branding executive with over 30 years of experience and expertise in Global Branding and International Retail Development.
As President of Pilnick Associates LLC, David provides advisory services to the private equity, retail, fashion and beauty industries.
Prior to founding Pilnick Associates, David was SVP of International Business Development at Hudson’s Bay Company/Saks Fifth Avenue where he was responsible for leading Saks Fifth Avenue’s international development strategy including the opening of 8 full line Saks stores in the Middle East, Central Asia and Mexico.
Prior to his leadership role at Hudson’s Bay Company/Saks Fifth Avenue, David held executive positions at Liverpool Mexico and Bloomingdale’s where he worked under the leadership of Marvin Traub.
David has been interviewed and quoted in International publications including Forbes, The International New York Times, The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal and Women’s Wear Daily and is a frequent speaker on International Business Development and Global Branding.
David holds an MBA from New York Institute of Technology and a BSc from New York University.
Fashion Brand Building & Strategic Sales
Presented By: Steve Trayner, Barbarian Marketing
Steve Trayner, Managing Director at The Barbarian Agency, a fashion business development, and creative consulting firm in New York City. Steve started his career in advertising for Nike, BMW, and Mini, and has worked as a consultant, or in executive leadership roles in New York and Los Angles for Stutterheim, Kappa, Daniel Wellington, Weatherproof, and other influential international and domestic brands. Steve brings years of holistic product development, sales strategy, and business trajectory understanding to growing brands. Join us to discuss Brand Building & Strategic Sales.
About Steve Trayner
Steve Trayner is the Managing Director at The Barbarian Agency, a fashion business development, and creative consulting firm in New York City. Steve started his career in 2007 in advertising for Nike, BMW, and Mini in Australia. He has worked as a consultant, or in executive leadership roles in New York and Los Angles for Stutterheim, Kappa, Daniel Wellington, Weatherproof, and other influential international and domestic brands. Steve brings years of holistic product development, sales strategy, and business trajectory understanding to growing brands.
The Future of Sustainability
Presented By: Kristen Kern, AAFA
About Kristen Kern
As Manager of Supply Chain and Sustainability Initiatives, Kristen leads the AAFA Sustainability portfolio, working with government and industry professionals to further environmental sustainability in the apparel and footwear industry. She also leads the AAFA Product Safety portfolio, collaborating with stakeholders to create best practices and regulations for safe, quality products for consumers. Kristen holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Fashion Merchandising and Design, and French, with a minor in Chemistry from Virginia Tech.
How to Build a Successful International Brand
Presented By: Mariam Bin Mahfouz, Julian Chang and Viviana Gabeiras
Fashion is at the intersection of creativity, innovation, art and commerce. A global industry that has accelerated its reach and impact significantly in the last decades.
As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) join us and hear from a panel of distinguished designer entrepreneurs from Saudi Arabia, Peru and Venezuela as they share their insights to create a global brand. Registration is complimentary.
Welcoming comments and introductions are provided by Beth Sobol, Founder & CEO of GFBA, and the webinar is moderated by Dr. Susan Amat, VP Education for GEN.
About Mariam Bin Mahfouz
Harnessing the lifestyle and cultural sentiments of the Arab woman, Mariam Bin Mahfouz, originally from Saudi Arabia, marries tradition and culture with contemporary design. In establishing Sotra, her visionary aesthetic is brought to life by combining comfort and style with luxury materials and cutting edge design whilst maintaining the modest sensibilities apparent in Middle Eastern culture.
About Julian Chang
Award winning designer Julian Chang, originally from Peru, is known for his bold prints and signature silhouettes. With a focus on glamorous evening wear and creating one-of-a-kind items, Julian has become one of fashion's most celebrated designers to emerge from Miami. His clients include such superstars as Madonna, Gloria Estefan, Paris Hilton, and Janet Jackson.
About Viviana Gabeiras
Viviana Gabeiras, originally from Venezuela, is renowned for her handiwork with luxury knits, and has been celebrated as an exclusive leader in the mesh contemporary market. Her brand not only represents her lifestyle, but reflects the power of women, and her designs are like an empowering layer of skin. Viviana has been featured in the national and international press including the cover of Women's Wear Daily, and is a regular guest and fashion expert on multiple television shows broadcast on NBC, Univision and CNN.