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Retail Women in Tech: Female Founders Spotlight

Friday, July 12, 2024

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PST

Retail Women in Tech: Female Founders Spotlight

Many in the RWIT community are entrepreneurs and many are considering going out on their own to start something new. Choosing this path takes a considerable amount of courage, especially when there are still so few women doing so.

So get ready to be impressed and inspired by two incredible women who have had the confidence and dedication to do just that! Join us to hear about their experiences and what advice they have for all of you out there contemplating making a similar choice.

Deborah Metts is a global educator, brand storyteller, photo producer, and leading technologist with 10+ years of experience on the marketing and the E-commerce side of luxury retail branding. Her specialties include creative production, project management, management at startup companies, innovation, Software as a Service (SaaS), SaaS Operations, high availability, and scalability. She’s worked with some of the world’s most recognized fashion and retail brands such as Bloomingdales, Calvin Klein, IMG, Max Mara, Laquan Smith, Macy’s, and Nicole Miller. In addition to her work with luxury retail,

Deborah is also an adjunct professor of graduate studies in Fashion Merchandising and Technology at LIM College. Deborah regularly speaks at fashion and tech events throughout the world and has recently discussed her views with media outlets such as Nasdaq, Gals Talk Tech, Forward-Thinking Founders, MAGIC, WWD Voices, and The Accessories Council. She has a BBA from Georgia Southern University and an MFA in Fashion Merchandising from the Academy of Art University.

Deborah is the Co-founder and COO at the fashion A.I. tech startup Beyond the Runway. https://www.beyondtherunway.com/

Jessica Couch is a distinguished figure in Retail and Retail Tech, celebrated for her innovative strategies in size and fit tech development and consumer centric practices. She has made significant contributions across various sectors including fashion, beauty, and tech, with high-profile clients like Nordstrom and Amazon.

A recognized authority in retail tech, Jessica has become a leader in fashion AI. She recently launched a peer-to-peer fashion shopping platform Looks.AI. https://www.byndlooks.co/. Her work has been featured in Forbes, The Business of Fashion, WWD, Sourcing Journal, Yahoo News, Essence, and Afro Tech. Academically, she has been instrumental in developing fashion tech curriculums in partnership with Cornell, Parsons, and other institutions.

Jessica holds a master's degree from Cornell University, a B.S. from NC State College of Textiles and a Certificate in Digital Product Management from the University of Virginia. Jessica is a guest writer for WWD and a Board Member of the Carnell Couch Foundation, she has served as a past advisor for MIT's Kinetic Program, is a former NC State College of Textiles Dean’s Young Alumni Council Member.

Thanks to Retail Women in Tech for the listing and graphics for this virtual startup event.

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