Women’s History Month: Women Who Inspire Us
As Women’s History Month comes to a close, we’re proud to honor the incredible women who make Authentic an extraordinary place to work.
Throughout March, employees nominated women who have made a meaningful impact—whether through mentorship, collaboration or by embodying our core values.
Today, we’re excited to spotlight those who have left a lasting impression on their colleagues and our company. Their stories showcase the power of leadership, innovation and teamwork, reminding us of the talent and dedication that drive our success.
Join us in celebrating these remarkable women as we share their stories of inspiration.
ERIN BAKES
Manager, Sales & Licensing, Business Development
NATALIE CARPENTER
Director, Talent Relations
LUZELAINE DE CASTRO
Executive Assistant
“Erin amazes me, as she knows how to be humble. Humble is a word people use loosely; however, Erin knows that she is good at what she does. She goes above and beyond what is asked. Erin is a born leader with a grace and professionalism that should be an example to others around.”
— SCOTT MILLER, VP, Business Development
“Natalie has spearheaded the marketing partnership between Reebok and Champion and Madison Square Garden, which has significant needs to its various components, with a “do whatever it takes” attitude. Because of her work, this partnership has been highly visible and has led to nearly 100 million impressions across broadcast and social.”
— MITCH BOORSTEIN, Senior Analyst, Global Marketing and Ops
“I needed to have something Docusigned... and just couldn’t get [it] to work. I truly felt like a giant spud not being able to do it—something I knew was easy, but it overwhelmed me. I called Lu, explained, we laughed, we cracked jokes, and she guided me with such ease, not once ever making me feel like the giant spud I felt towards myself. She was so sweet, so awesome.”
— ALICIA ZADRAVEC, Executive Assistant
CONSUELO DOTEL & SOFIA ESTEVEZ
Maintenance and Custodial
JEAN FEI
SVP, Brand
JANICE GILMAN
VP, Production & Marketing Operations
“Consuelo and Sofia have always been such a tremendous help when it comes to organizing our ERG events. Though much of their help takes place behind the scenes, our events would truly not turn out as great as they do without their support. It warms my heart to know that they are just as invested in celebrating and supporting our company culture. There is never a morning where we don’t get treated with a huge smile and such vibrant energy.”
— NAYELY HERNANDEZ, Associate Manager, Corporate Communications
“Jean is a great team leader who encourages all members of the team. She is excellent at giving guidance when needed but also giving team members authority and autonomy to grow within their roles. Jean is detail-focused, positive and extremely hardworking. Due diligence should be her middle name as she always goes above and beyond to make sure every factor is covered.”
— TIM PUTTOCK, Senior Director, R&D, Prince
“Janice has the superpower of finding opportunities in the smallest fraction of time. Coming off the holiday break in January, Janice flew to LA to help me with setting up for our photoshoot. She did this knowing she had other plans, but she wanted to ensure that my first Champion photo campaign went smooth. That’s a real partner and an inspiration for me on how to show up for others on my team.”
— JAY ESCOBARA, VP, Strategy & Merchandising
SHEEMA GOLBABA
VP, Strategy
JOVANA GRANZAN
EVP, Operations
MILOU GWYN
SVP, Business Development
“Sheema consistently goes above and beyond to support her colleagues and their families in ways that truly stand out. I experienced this firsthand when I reached out to ask if she could offer some guidance to my niece, a freshman in college, as she navigates the early stages of her career. Sheema not only agreed without hesitation, but she also took the time to speak with my niece, offering invaluable advice and insight. What impressed me was that Sheema didn’t just leave it at that—she followed up to ensure everything was going well, showing a level of care and commitment that goes far beyond what’s expected.”
— RORY TRIFON, Director, Business Development
“Jovana has inspired me by coming to Shanghai many times over the past year to personally manage many aspects of the office project. While very far from her home, where she has young children, Jovana is hands on with our local teams, suppliers, landlords and more. She shows the way for how a multinational company needs to handle business in order to get things done properly—a combination of leading, listening, problem solving and collaboration.”
— JOSH PERLMAN, EVP, Head of Greater China
“Milou consistently surprises me in a professional setting when negotiating with partners. There are points when both sides are so far apart it feels like the deal is dead; however, enter Milou, and she has an eloquent and genuine style of talking through issues with people we barely know and bringing them back to the table and closing the deal. She can think on her feet and speaks with conviction—and it is inspiring to see a woman do so among mostly men in our department and in the market we are speaking to.”
— ERIN BAKES, Manager, Business Development
OLIVIA HOCHMAN
Specialist, Sales and Licensing
CARRIE KANIA
Chief Creative Officer & Director of Publishing, Iconic Images
STACI KOHLHAGEN
Manager, Accounts Payable
"Olivia has an incredible way of making everyone feel seen and valued, constantly reminding each of us what makes us unique and how our individual strengths contribute to the team’s success. She’s pushed me to recognize my own talents and helped me see how I can use them to close deals with confidence. Her support and encouragement don’t just help us grow—it inspires us to believe in ourselves and reach our full potential.”
— SLOAN CIMMET, Manager, Business Development
“She always helps in every possible way you can think of. She goes as far as coming to work on a Saturday to cover the gallery for an hour and make sure the gallery staff have their lunch break. She is always making sure everyone is happy at work and leads by example.”
— NICOLO AMALBERTI, Gallery Director, Iconic Images
“Staci went above and beyond to help unblock critical process questions, demonstrating both her expertise and her commitment to collaboration. Staci navigates complex processes with ease, applying sound independent judgment to balance policy with practical execution. Her ability to flex where needed, while maintaining integrity in her work, makes her an invaluable asset to our team.”
— CONOR MOLLOY, VP, Total Rewards and People Operations
ANDREA KOMSIC
Coordinator, Global Marketing
SHERINA MAHTANI
Senior Director, M&A Corporate Development
SAMANTHA MCDONALD
VP, Corporate Communications
“One night, in preparation for an IZOD shoot, Andrea and I stayed in the office until almost midnight doing carnets. While this could’ve easily frustrated anyone, she kept an amazing attitude and even volunteered to come in early on a Friday if anything else was needed. This is the kind of person she is, always willing to help and go above and beyond.”
— ADELINA SISTI, Manager, Global Marketing- Lifestyle
“Sherina is consistently trying to take her career to the next level. She is willing to be challenged, take criticism well and strives to learn. I admire her work ethic, integrity and drive to learn.”
— RICHIE GOLDBERG, EVP, M&A Corporate Development
“Sam is an exceptional leader at Authentic; she inspires our team to be tougher (in the best, most productive way) while staying true to our values as individuals. Her work ethic is unmatched; she accomplishes more in a week than those at other companies could do in a month. No matter the time or day, Sam approaches work with excitement and pride, which trickles down to the rest of the team. Sam sincerely encourages us to learn, build connections, ask questions and support one another.”
— RACHEL HASELEY, Manager, Corporate Communications
LIM MI-KYOUNG
SVP, Head of Australia & New Zealand
JULIE O’CONNOR
VP, Marketing
PIERA ONORATI
SVP, Merchandising
“Lim exemplifies Authentic culture and working independently. She leads a two-person team based in Melbourne, far from the support of her teammates. She works long hours to ensure she has the time with cross-functional members of the team in order to drive business for Authentic.”
— WESLEY CHU, Regional President, Sports & Lifestyle - APAC
“Julie exemplifies leadership through compassion, navigating even the most difficult conversations with grace and poise. No matter the challenge, she remains a steady and supportive presence, always willing to help whenever needed. Beyond being a great leader, she is also a dedicated mother, seamlessly balancing her responsibilities while making time for her team. Her ability to lead with both strength and empathy is truly inspiring, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to learn from and work alongside her.”
— ADELINA SISTI, Manager, Global Marketing-Lifestyle
“Piera has offered me guidance over the years and has always made herself available whenever I’ve needed support. During periods of transition when I didn’t have a direct manager, she stepped in as a reliable sounding board, providing valuable advice both personally and professionally.”
— SIERRA MCPHILLIPS, VP, Brand
WHITNEY OSOFS
Manager, Marketing
ANN RAO
Senior Manager, Accounting
KATIE RATTO
Senior Manager, Production
“Despite an overwhelming workload, Whitney has selflessly taken the time to onboard and guide nearly everyone on our team. Her willingness to share her expertise not only speaks to her deep knowledge and years of experience, but also reflects her dedication to the success of those around her. Beyond her technical skills, she leads with confidence and assertiveness, ensuring her voice is heard and her insights are valued. She stands firmly by her work and principles, setting an inspiring example of strength and leadership.”
— ADELINA SISTI, Manager, Global Marketing - Lifestyle
“Ann and her team are constantly pulled in many directions, whether because of an acquisition, a non-routine or complex transaction, a new system enhancement or implementation, an audit, or any combination of the above—and she always delivers at the highest of levels. She is so very highly dependable, and I am so excited for the opportunity to continue working with her for many years to come.”
— BRIAN SATENSTEIN, EVP, Controller & CAO
“Being in a producer role, it is always easy to overlook the people around you and who you work with, and I can say that Katie has never been anything but the best to me personally. She is bright and caring, helping me arrange travel or on set, managing gear or problems I have—and does it with a warm and upbeat attitude that is important in a business where things can begin to break down very quickly. I always appreciate her talent and attention to detail.”
— NICK SIMMONS, Senior Manager, Creative Design
JESSEL ROBEL
SVP, Controller, Financial Operations
JESSICA SIU
VP, Treasury
HALEY STEINBERG
SVP, Global PR & Corporate Communications
“Jessel inspires me as a senior member of the Finance team by being a woman and also from a different background. For an industry that has prominent male figures, it is refreshing to see a strong woman leading a team with confidence, knowledge and foresight.”
— SIMMI JOHAL, Senior Accountant
“Jessica stepped into her role here at Authentic, and from Day 1, she has been proactively learning about how things work, who does what and most importantly why. She brings a leadership quality where she genuinely wants to help make improvements and efficiencies. To do that, she has to question the status quo, which isn’t always an easy task. She leads with integrity, and I’m excited to see the great things she is going to do for Authentic!”
— VIRGINIA TOSSO, Director, Business Systems
“Haley has been here for 10 years, and it is clear that everyone who works on her team enjoys her presence. She is kind, cares about people and works hard to ensure our brands have a positive image. Just working with her or chatting everyday is always a pleasure.”
— CHRIS PURCELL, Manager, FP&A & Marketing
ABI VARELA
Senior Manager, People Operations
SARAH WANG
VP, Business Development
KAREN WILLIAMS
Senior Manager, Business Development
“Abi played a pivotal role in sharpening my skills by running various scenarios and mock client support sessions that tested my critical thinking, engagement and empathy. These exercises significantly boosted my ability to perform day-to-day tasks with greater efficiency and confidence. The selflessness in offering valuable knowledge without expecting anything in return is truly inspiring.”
— RAYAN HOSSAIN, IT Support Specialist
“Sarah’s in depth knowledge of our business and effective communication with other teams are a huge inspiration. She helped me navigate complex situations, teaching me how to build strong relationships with colleagues from different departments. This has not only improved my work performance, but also broadened my perspective on how our company functions as a whole.”
— CRADO ZHOU, Brand Manager, Entertainment - APAC
“Karen is both fun and inspiring to work with. We’ve been pursuing several pieces of business together, and I particularly marvel at her creative ability to innovative ideas to pitch buyers on the fly.”
— CHRIS FENTON, Senior Advisor, Entertainment