Stephanie Newby is the former CEO of Crimson Hexagon and is responsible for the company’s vision, values, corporate strategy, and operational excellence. Under Stephanie’s leadership, revenues increased 8-fold. Currently, Stephanie was the CEO of Proseeder Technologies, a platform that empowers corporations with adaptive tools for collaboration, diligence, and execution. Stephanie also founded Golden Seeds, an early-stage investment firm for women-led companies. She wanted to grow the pipeline of female entrepreneurs and, ultimately, female executives. Follow Stephanie – Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, or Twitter. 

In 2008, Francine started Same Sky, an initiative that provides training, employment, and a stable income for HIV-positive women survivors of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. These women are taught to crochet beads into jewelry. Same Sky has sold these pieces of jewelry at Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman, while creating a better living for numerous women. Francine’s social justice work has been honored with the UN Women For Peace Award, the Woman Who Cares Award, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. She is the Chair Emerita of the Women’s Leadership Board at the Harvard Kennedy School and also serves as CEO of the Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak Foundation, which supports institutions of higher learning, hospitals, and cultural institutions. Follow Francine – Facebook Instagram, Linkedin, or Twitter. 

Patty Baker worked at Tiffany & Co and is now a Broadway producer. She has received a Tony honors and has most recently produced the musical Beautiful, a Broadway show about singer/composer Carole King. Patty also serves on the boards of the Naples Players in Florida and the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Jay Baker, former President of Kohl’s Department Stores, and Patty Baker believe in the education and future of the retail industry. They have donated $15 million to Hunter College, $10 million to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, $23 million to the Naples Community Hospital, $15 million to the Wharton School of Business, $2 million to the Milwaukee Art Museum, $10 million to FIT,  and continue to support annual scholarships for forty Baker Scholars. By 2016, they had donated a staggering $150 million to charity and since then, have continued their philanthropic efforts. 

Leah is General Partner at FUEL Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. She’s passionate about supporting teams who are taking on world-changing ideas.

Leah relates so well to founders because she is one herself. She created one of the most widely recognized consumer brands of the past decade with TaskRabbit. As TaskRabbit’s CEO for eight years, Leah scaled the company to 44 cities and raised more than $50 million. In 2016, Leahtransitioned into the role of executive chairwoman and in 2017, TaskRabbit was acquired by IKEA.

Leah has spoken at the World Economic Forum and Tina Brown’s Women in the World Summit and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Wired, and Time. She has also been named one of the “100 Most Creative People in Business” by Fast Company. 

In 2020 Norma Kamali marks 53 years in the fashion business. Norma remains today the sole owner of her company. Her dream is to live a creative life. Her purpose is to help women feel good about themselves so they can reach their potential.

‘Norma innovations’ are the sleeping bag coat, sweats and the start of casual sportswear; parachute clothing, high heeled sneakers, sculptural swimwear influential in the global marketplace; and multi-style clothing made for easy care, easy travel. “Clothing should be practical and smart but at the same time be fun to wear and meant to make you feel good “.

In the seventies fifty percent of Norma’s clients were men and these were purchases made from her collection for women. Gender for the first time was blurred in the seventies and what existed was a creative spirit each person wore as their individual style. The return of the gender-neutral spirit exists today in her collections. Norma believes it was AIDS that stopped this creative expression in the seventies and it is her belief with the memory faded it is time for a non-gender specific approach to fashion.

Norma became an early proponent of a healthy lifestyle. The devastation of AIDS and the loss of close friends, prompted Norma to seek out alternative integrative pioneers in the field of a healthy lifestyle like Dr. Andrew Weil in Arizona.

After 9/11 Norma opened the Wellness Cafe and shared her findings about a healthy lifestyle to a small knowledgeable group of New Yorkers with similar interests. Norma presented products to help build a strong immune system to this growing community. There were a series of exercises at the end of each day, film presentations about farming and an interesting product assortment covering sleep diet and exercise.

NORMALIFE is democratic and inclusive, for men and women of all ages and ethnicity. #gobaredontcare presents the no-makeup concept in the first rollout which is the skin line. Men can finally have a skin line equal to that of women’s, confirming simple, timeless ingredients work. Sustainability is always kept in mind for all packaging as well as company policies.

“A healthy life supports how we feel about ourselves so we may all reach our potential.”

Twyla asked me to collaborate with her on a special dance and tribute for Herman Cornejo. With an eye on gender-neutral style what better expression than in costumes for dance.