Q&A

What was the first job you had?  

Snow cone stand! Not sure my mom ever made a full recovery on that investment, given my sister and I “sampled” a good portion of our inventory.

What attracted you to TSG?

I was so impressed with the team of people TSG has brought together and the brands in which TSG has invested. I can’t imagine a better way of spending my day than exploring interesting brands, and better yet, getting the chance to work with the minds behind them. I have a lot of respect for entrepreneurs and management teams who work every day to follow a vision, and getting the chance to partner with these teams through TSG is a unique opportunity.

What attracted you to the business of brand building?

I find brand building fascinating because it revolves around understanding the consumer. Getting to the root of who your customer is and what resonates with them is a challenge in itself, but what is even more challenging is adapting your business to fit the needs of your future customer. Some of the most defining things about the consumer landscape today are shifting demographics, stark differences in the values different generations hold and the strength of a digital channel that simply cannot be ignored. These trends give rise to a huge opportunity for newer brands to fill gaps where incumbents have failed to do so.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Phil Knight said it best – “Let everyone else call your idea crazy…just keep going. Don’t stop. Don’t even think about stopping until you get there, and don’t give much thought to where “there” is. Whatever comes, just don’t stop.”

What are your greatest sources of inspiration?

Books. There is nothing more thought-provoking than looking at the world through someone else’s eyes.