An obsession with human behavior ushered Reilly Newman into the world of design and brand and drives him to explore why people make buying decisions and how brands sell and market themselves. This led Newman to establish Motif Brands as well as other businesses. As a founder and brand strategist, he has shared his expertise through college lectures on the psychology of marketing and design, and he regularly writes about business and brand. He recently co-authored Brandy: 101 Sips of Wisdom For Attaining A Successful Brand (2023) which is available worldwide on Amazon.

Natascha Radclyffe-Thomas is a professor in marketing and sustainable business at the British School of Fashion, GCU London, where she runs the innovative postgraduate module in sustainable luxury on the MBA luxury brand management programme. She is also the co-author of Fashion Management: A Strategic Approach. Natascha’s cross-disciplinary research spans creative industries practice, sustainable fashion, social enterprise and responsible business, cultural heritage, consumer behaviour, and international fashion marketing. Natascha is a keynote speaker at conferences in China, the US, and Europe, and a contributor to industry and media pieces on fashion business and consumer behaviour.

Sofia Phillips is the feature media manager and a senior writer at Thred, a digital publication centered on youth culture and social change. Besides producing written content on various topics (from fashion and beauty to human rights and sustainability), Phillips works closely with Gen Zers from around the world on exclusive articles and live interviews to promote the inspiring work they’re doing to make the world a better place.

Tariro Makoni’s expertise lies at the intersection of strategy and culture. With a background in economics, sociology, and political theory from Johns Hopkins University, Makoni leverages sophisticated frameworks to unpack and analyze the underlying patterns between fashion, beauty, culture, and interior design against the backdrop of the most pressing global issues today. She has been interviewed and featured by publications such as Vogue, Vogue Business (see her Vogue Business podcast episode on the future of algorithms and shopping), Harper’s Bazaar, The Cut, The Wall Street Journal, Canvas8, TechCrunch, Who What Wear, and Elle.

Avani Thakkar is a fashion and culture writer with words in Vogue, Elle, Dazed, i-D, gal-dem, Nylon, W Magazine, Observer, the Zoe Report, and other publications. With a background in marketing, she enjoys spotlighting Indian craft and upcoming designers, keeping up with Gen Zers and getting into the nitty-gritty of how clothing shapes culture.