Doors that open easily for some,
stay closed for others.
Since high school I knew I wanted to be part of the retail world, where brands are born and creativity meets commerce. As a woman of color and a daughter of immigrants, I understood early that access isn’t equal — not because of talent, not because of vision, but because of resources, networks, and proximity to opportunity.
I went on to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, then spent years on the buying and merchandising teams at Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s. Brand discovery was my favorite part of the job. But the brands making it onto those floors already had teams, budgets, and widespread recognition.
Meanwhile some of my most talented classmates were building handmade, ethical, beautifully crafted products with real artistry.
They were creating things the world deserved to see, but rarely got the chance to. That gap between talent and opportunity stayed with me.
So in 2022 I made a decision: to stop working within a system that wasn’t designed for us and start building one that was.
