Born and raised in Minneapolis, MN, Stephanie is a multi-faceted bilingual (English | French speaking) African American professional who has travelled in between Minnesota, California and abroad throughout most of her career. She is skilled in product management, design and certified in agile methodologies. Harnessing the product knowledge of her previous exposure working in merchandising at Target Corporation headquarters, she initially founded MeaMode to help emerging eco-fashion designers showcase their products worldwide, but has since pivoted the business to product, user experience, emerging technology strategy consulting.
Stephanie has an extensive global background with ten years of combined international volunteer (Vietnam and The Republic of Georgia – partnership with U.S. Peace Corps), work, study, and research experience in Europe and Seoul, South Korea. While attending graduate school in France, she analyzed emerging eco-fashion and tech startup product trends. That research took her to Paris, Lille, Cannes, London, The Hague, Rotterdam, Stockholm, Florence, Seoul, and Montréal.
When Stephanie ran her e-commerce shop, she also hosted the Eco-Fashion Your Way, a limited series podcast that she described as a “work in progress to encourage global awareness about sustainability, fashion, and art. Her impromptu interviews have ranged from Frances Corner, the Head of the London College of Fashion to Phillipe D’Ornano, the President of Sisley Paris.
After a couple of years, Stephanie decided to close the e-commerce store and pivoted the business towards strategy consulting because she believed she would have an impact. Then she discovered her passion for product and design, which prompted her to attend the University of Florida to expand her tech skills while living in San Francisco (South of Market – SoMa) for two years to gain knowledge and immerse herself in the tech industry.
In addition to her research in the tech industry, Stephanie has trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (Los Angeles), worked at Fredell Pogodin and Associates (public relations boutique agency – Oscar winning foreign language films) MTV Films/Paramount Studios, The Malibu Film Festival, international education – government programs, and international trade in the private and public sectors.
Stephanie is also a member of the Black Product Managers Network, and the French American Chamber of Commerce (Paris, Minneapolis) and she has volunteered at organizations such as Black Girls Code (3 Day Nike Hackathon) and Girls in Tech SF to help get more girls interested in tech. She has also consulted on projects in the digital space with partners based in Seoul, South Korea.
Stephanie recently worked in the TV/Film entertainment industry again at Sony Pictures Entertainment Studio(headquarters) and is a Doctor of Technology student at Purdue University (West Lafayette). She has completed an MA degree from the University of Florida (College of Journalism and Communications) in Web Design and Online Communications. She also holds an MS from the University of Lille 1 Science and Technology in Technology Management: Global E-Commerce from France, a MA in Organizational Leadership degree from St. Catherine University (School of Business), and a BA from Augsburg University in International Relations with a French-language focus.
At this stage in her career, Stephanie is exploring how emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Web3, and The Metaverse will transform the luxury, sustainable fashion and entertainment (TV & Film) industries while working on independent projects. In fall 2022, She has also had the opportunity to present her research at Purdue University. Stephanie most recently consulted again for the American Pavilion (Penske Media), Los Angeles, CA at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in France this past May 2023 as an ongoing collaboration.
Besides her native English, Stephanie speaks French and some Spanish with notions of Korean.
Merci! Gracias! 감사합니다!
Stephanie has appeared in:
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