Panelist Bios

Danielle Bernstein

Danielle Bernstein’s site began as a daily dose of outfit inspiration before growing into an aspirational - while still relatable - home for all things coveted. Being a true entrepreneur and with the foundation of a growing and engaged audience, Danielle launched her own brand, Second Skin Overalls in 2016. In late 2018, Danielle launched her third swimwear collaboration with Onia Swim, which then led to her highly coveted brand We Wore What Swim (which now includes swim and jumpsuits). Her latest swim collection with Onia was truly remarkable, as she sold nearly $2 Million in product in 12 hours.

Danielle’s entrepreneurial accomplishments have also spanned outside of the fashion realm. Through her successful collaborations with Highline Wellness, Danielle has now become an advisor for the CBD brand as well. In October of 2019, Danielle launched a tech company called Moe Assist, which is an organizational tool for social media influencers. Inspired by her love of fitness, Danielle launched We Danced What, a series of weekly dance videos and host dance classes for fans weekly in NYC. The fitness vertical has expanded her brand into the lifestyle and activewear space and is further supported by her long-term ambassadorship with Fiji Water. Danielle also released her second collection with Joe’s Jeans in Fall 2019. She has a highly anticipated book set to be released in Spring 2020.

Latrice Burnette

A recent arrival to the Universal Music Group label from Epic Records, where she spent eight years as a senior marketing executive, Burnette has conceived and led campaigns for such artists as Future, DJ Khaled, P. Diddy, Yo Gotti, Blac Youngsta, Ciara and Travis Scott. With twenty years experience in the business (she started at Roc-a-Fella in 1999) and now as GM/EVP of Island Records, she joins the ranks of female department heads, overseeing a roster that includes Shawn Mendes, The Killers, Fall Out Boy and Jessie Reyez.

Daniela Ciocan

Daniela Ciocan is the Founder/CEO of Access Beauty Insiders, a specialized firm whose proven 360-marketing approach achieves guaranteed deliverables for emerging direct-to-consumer brands looking to scale quickly. Quoted in national media outlets such as VICE, Forbes, and New Beauty, the former Marketing Director for Cosmoprof North America (CPNA) is known for a next-generation multimedia approach that fuels strong industry innovation, as well as revolutionary creative collaborations among retailers, distributors, and influencers.

A two-time winner of Trade Show Executive’s “Marketing Genius Award”, Ciocan is credited with growing CPNA’s annual tradeshow from infancy to become one of the most awarded exhibitions in the country, continuously listed as one of America’s “50 Fastest Growing” and “Top 100 Gold Shows” by Trade Show Executive and TSNN with over 1,400 exhibitors and 40,000+ attendees from across the globe. Representatives from retail giants like Amazon, Ulta, Neiman Marcus, QVC, and Barneys New York look to “Business Woman of the Year” and “Female Executive of the Year” (Women World Awards) winner Ciocan to find “the next big thing” in beauty. Now, the same mind that earned the distinction of “Best Exhibitor ROI” across all largest US exhibitions launches Access Beauty Insiders and the Unfiltered Experience - a first-of-its-kind popup event engineered to create powerful monetization opportunities and drive value conversion for direct-to-consumer brands.

NJ Falk

NJ Falk is a Webby award-winning creative and serial entrepreneur focusing on luxury and emerging fashion brands. She is internationally recognized as a fashion trendsetter, style icon, and often referred to as “one of chicest women in the world.” She has been named a “Style Icon” by Louis Vuitton, recognized as one of LA’s “Leading Ladies of Style” by Angeleno Magazine, is a member of the Vogue Vanguard, and a Brand Ambassador for Net-A-Porter.

She balances an active career as an in-demand fashion and business journalist which encompasses a strong following as an ongoing Forbes contributor with her Women@Forbes column as well as articles for publications ranging from Fortune, Money to Fast Company and her new talk show, The Forward Female™, on the Evertalk network.

She is well-known in the business and creative community as the Managing Partner of Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL) since it was founded in 2009, and a Co-Founder and Chief Mentorprenuer™ of The Forward Female, Founder of her advertising, branding, and interactive agency The UXB, and an award-winning member of the by-invitation-only International Academy of Visual Arts (IAVA), the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (IADAS), a seven-time Webby Judge and seven-time winner including for her award-winning blog, The Blonde and The Brunette. Falk is also a multiple Communications and Davey Awards winner and judge, and a member of The Metropolitan Museum’s Friends of The Costume Institute. She is a graduate of the NYU Tisch School in Film and Television, NYU College of Arts & Science in Journalism and has her MBA in Marketing and Economics from the NYU Stern School of Business. As an in-demand creative, NJ has worked in the entertainment industry for MGM and Universal Studios as well as shaped print, video, and digital campaigns for major clients world-wide including the fashion industry. NJ is also an angel investor and strategic advisor focused on direct-to-consumer, fashion, luxury and female-focused businesses. Current initiatives include 11 Honoré, Armarium, Starface World, Hello Bumo, and Max-Bone.

Falk is also an inaugural member of the Forbes Los Angeles Business Council, a Board Member of the NYU Stern School of Business Fashion & Luxury Council and Learning Lab Ventures as well as most recently a Gala Co-Chair for the Women’s Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) Unforgettable Evening. She’s been honored by Big Brothers Big Sisters and Aviva as the Innovator of The Year Honoree for The Blonde & The Brunette.

You can often find her front row at runway shows from Louis Vuitton and Chanel to Prada, sitting at her laptop at 1 AM or working with the stylistically diverse group of B&B contributors. She does it all with a bit of élan and a steady stream of lattes.

Collete English Dixon

Collete English Dixon has more than 30 years in investment management with a focus on commercial real estate investing. Prior to her current role at Roosevelt University, she was Executive Director - Transactions for PGIM Real Estate (formerly known as PREI), a business unit of Prudential Financial, and co-leader of PREI’s national investment dispositions program.

In that role, she oversaw the sale of more than 200 investment properties located throughout the US, with a total value of more than $8.7 Billion, on behalf of PREI’s investment funds. Prior to her role in dispositions, English Dixon was responsible for sourcing more than $2.75B of wholly-owned and joint venture real estate investment opportunities in the Midwestern markets covering all property types, including office, multi-family, hotel, industrial and retail properties. Collete’s experience also includes property development and asset management.

She is a member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Investment Committee for the Housing Partnership Equity Trust, a member of the Board of Directors for Broadstone Real Estate Access Fund and a member of its Audit and Governance committees, a member of the Advisory Board for Waterton Associates, LLC and for Community Investment Corporation, and a board member of the Chicago Forum of the International Women’s Forum. She is a Past President of CREW Network, a Past Chair of the CREW Network Foundation, a Past President of CREW Chicago, and a full member of ULI.

Randy Fifield

With almost three decades of experience in the real estate industry, Randy Fifield blazed a trail many women chose not to pursue. With a design-forward, yet practical approach for creating spaces that felt and worked better for people, Randy set herself apart from competition in the industry.

She partnered with her husband Steve in 1999, and together they completed multiple successful development projects including an $80 million renovation of the Chicago Civic Opera House, and the $800 million K Station development with 2,145 units in five apartment towers in Chicago’s up-and-coming West Loop. Randy now oversees the design, marketing, and execution of development projects across key markets.

She has been honored by the LA Lakers and Comerica Bank as Business Woman of the Year in Los Angeles. In Chicago, Randy was Connect Media’s 2017 Women in Real Estate Honoree, was the recipient of the 2017 Women in Construction Woman of the Year Award and has been honored by Chicago Business Journal and Crain’s as a notable female executive.

Randy attended Northwestern University, and serves as a board member of Northwestern Prentice Hospital and Children’s Memorial Hospital. As part of Fifield’s commitment to the community, Randy and Steve have donated The Fifield Family Labor and Delivery at Northwestern Prentice Hospital and the Randy and Steven Fifield Family Bridge at Lurie Children’s Hospital that connects the two hospitals.

Learn more about Randy on her blog Randy Fifield Modern Living.

Beata D. Kirr

Beata D. Kirr is a National Managing Director in the Chicago office, and was appointed Head of Private Client Core Asset Strategies in 2017. She is a member of Bernstein’s Private Client Investment Policy Group, which oversees strategic asset allocation for our high-net-worth, nonprofit and family office clients. Prior to joining the firm in 2007, she was a director at Harris Alternatives, a global fund of hedge funds, where she advised institutions on the firm’s offerings.

Previously, Beata was with Goldman Sachs, where she advised clients in the Equities, M&A and Equity Capital Markets divisions, from their New York, London and Chicago offices. She holds a BS in economics (magna cum laude) from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Beata has provided market commentary for the Chicago Tribune, WGN News, NPR and the Wall Street Journal. She is passionate about helping women investors succeed, speaks frequently to women’s groups nationally, and is the host of “Bernstein Insights” Women & Wealth podcast series. Beata is on the Board of Women Employed. She is the proud mom of two energetic kids and tries to find time to read great books and travel.

Chaya Krinsky

Chaya Krinsky is the Co-Founder and creative director of TOV furniture. In 2012, Chaya and her husband Bruce created TOV Furniture with a mission to build a furniture brand that is both stylish and affordable, something they felt was missing in the industry. Since then the company has seen a 60% growth year over year selling through brick-and-mortar furniture stores as well as some of the leading online retailers like Amazon, Wayfair and Houzz.

With innovative designs, friendly customer service and affordable, comfortable, quality pieces, Chaya has developed a cult-like following for the brand and has collaborated with some of the design industry’s biggest names. She has a keen understanding for what the millennial shopper wants and is able to develop product which shows tremendous value. Built on the concept that they want something more of a fashion item than a long-term investment, with a trademarked catch phrase, “Don’t be boring”.

Molly Melman

Molly Melman is partner and divisional training manager for HUB 51, SUB 51, RPM Italian, Bub City, Three Dots and a Dash, Ramen-San, RPM Steak, Bub City & Joe’s Live, il Porcellino, Sushi-San, Dance Studio, RPM Seafood, RPM On The Water and Pizzeria Portofino.

In 2007, Molly graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Psychology and soon moved to the East Coast to teach kindergarten in the South Bronx through the nonprofit organization Teach for America. After moving back to Chicago, she joined her brothers, R.J. and Jerrod, as they were opening HUB 51 in River North in June 2008. Eager to help out at their new venture, Molly began hosting at the restaurant to learn the ins and outs of the operational aspect of the industry she grew up in. Soon after, she moved into a management role.

From there, Molly was able to combine her teaching skills with her restaurant background and moved into the role of divisional training manager in 2011 and helped to rewrite Lettuce’s training program. In this position, she is responsible for interviewing and hiring, as well as facilitating staff training classes and ongoing employee development. As Molly says, “The most rewarding part of my day is when I can connect with our employees and am able to show off the culture that we’ve created.”

Molly has helped to open several restaurants in and around Chicago, including RPM Italian and RPM Steak with celebrity partners Giuliana and Bill Rancic, Studio Paris, Bub City, Three Dots and a Dash, Ramen-san, and il Porcellino in downtown Chicago, as well as Bub City and Joe’s Live in Rosemont, Illinois. In June 2016, Molly played a large role in the expansion to Washington, D.C., opening the second location of RPM Italian. Bringing the Lettuce culture to a new city brought on a whole new set of challenges that Molly was able to take on with her team.

In 2017, Molly helped create the Rowe Club, a Lettuce Entertain You organization created to empower women in the restaurant industry.

Molly and her partners most recently opened multi-concept restaurants and a private and event space on the Chicago River including Pizzeria Portofino which opened in July 2019, RPM On The Water which opened in September 2019 and RPM Seafood which opened January 2020.

Alissa Pollack

Since joining iHeart 24 years ago, Pollack has guided artist relations for more than 5,000 Premiere Networks affiliates as well as the iHeartRadio Digital and Podcast teams.

Among Pollack’s credits are successful campaigns for Katy Perry, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, twenty-one pilots, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Post Malone, NF, Bazzi, Marshmello, Dua Lipa and Bebe Rexha.

Pollack also serves on the Board of MusiCares, Musicians on Call and the Executive Board of the Music and Entertainment Committee for City of Hope. In May, Pollack was honored by Musicians On Call with the Leadership in Music award at the organization’s “A Night To Celebrate The Healing Power of Music” event. Pollack also launched the Jason Pollack Bedside Performance Program, which, since its creation in 2014, has organized more than 8,500 performances at City of Hope in Los Angeles.

Lynette Harrison Brubaker

Lynette Harrison Brubaker activates her strategic thinking, boundless curiosity, pure hustle and deep well of personal relationships to drive business value to brands, people and products.

In June 2018, after nearly two decades in the media, fashion, and marketing services industries, Lynette launched her consulting firm, LHB Group, The company has attracted a diverse portfolio of brands and executives who have enlisted Brubaker and her team to successfully launch, re-launch or pivot in a rapidly changing business environment. Clients include Beauty Evolution by Bobbi Brown where she oversees strategy and partnerships. Other clients include Belvedere, Puma, Rosenthal & Rosenthal and Haven’s Kitchen.

Prior to launching LHB Group, Lynette was a partner and CMO of branding and strategy company, L&Co. During her six years there, she oversaw brand development, and communications for a range of fashion and lifestyle brands including ebay, Saks Fifth Avenue, Samsonite and QVC. She also oversaw the launch of Ellen DeGeneres’ lifestyle brand, E.D. and Serena Williams’ collaboration with Berlei.

Before joining L&Co., Lynette spent the first 15 years of her career leading the successful growth of brands such as In Style, W Magazine, Women’s Wear Daily and Stella & Dot. As Stella & Dot’s Chief Brand Officer, Lynette helped transformed the company from a $35 million direct sales business to a $200 million best-in-class social selling brand.

As publisher of In Style, Lynette led the brand to eight consecutive years of double-digit revenue growth by extending beyond its magazine portfolio into television shows, five best-selling books, 16 international editions and the most highly trafficked website of any women’s fashion magazine. Prior to In Style, Lynette spent six years at Fairchild Publications as publisher of industry powerhouses, WWD and W Magazine. Under her leadership, WWD launched four new glossy magazines, and produced the single largest publication in its history for its 100th Anniversary, while W Magazine doubled its circulation.

Lynette resides in Montclair, NJ with her husband Paul and their three children.