MY STORY

At 19 years old, I was diagnosed with an incurable retinal disease and told I had only one year left to see. I was advised to learn Braille and invest in a seeing-eye dog. Driven to overcome this incredible obstacle, I graduated university using reel-to-reel tapes – as I could no longer read a book – and launched my first company soon after in the fashion industry. I grew the business from zero to over $150 million in volume, and forty years later sold it to a $16 billion multinational company.

After selling the business, I wanted to make a positive impact on the lives of young people, so I became a professor of fashion branding and licensing at Marist College and began my involvement with the Foundation Fighting Blindness, where I currently serve on the Board of Directors. Nothing brings me greater joy than to coach the next generation of business leaders, share the things I’ve learned across my 30-year career, and watch others thrive with my guidance.

I would love to connect with you and talk about the future of your business, large or small, if you want to take things to the next level.