Stephanie is responsible for the end to end customer experience overseeing functions from marketing, brand, consumer tech product and the Store of the Future proposition. She is a director of Farfetch and sits on the company’s Executive Board.
Stephanie was previously founder and President of TheOutnet.com and was part of the Executive team of The Net-a-Porter Group from 2009 to 2015. She has more than 20 years of luxury and e-commerce experience, having worked for Issey Miyake, American Vogue and at Portero in NY. She has also consulted with a number of start-ups in the digital space and advised PE firms on investments. She is an advisor for venture capital firm Felix Capital and sits on the board of Moncler SpA. In May 2018, she was appointed Chairman of the British Fashion Council for a three year tenure. She has a degree in Philosophy, Politics & Economics from Oxford and lives in London with her husband and three young children.
1. Best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Focus is great, but don’t be so focused that you miss out on amazing opportunities coming out of left-field. I would have never ended up in digital had I not been open to leaving Vogue magazine for a start up.
2. Worst piece of advice you’ve been given?
Follow your passion! That advice works for those who have a long standing passion or vocation. But that is not everyone and don’t feel inadequate for not having one! For a lot of us, passion develops from doing something well and enjoying the journey. So be open minded and you will find what you love doing.
3. What would you tell your younger self?
Patience – hard work does pay off. But there is a journey to go through called experience. You cannot short-circuit that.
4. What excites you most about the future of your industry?
The ability for technology to transform the luxury industry for good. For a better customer experience and for a more sustainable future.
5. Who or what is your biggest inspiration?
I have been lucky to work for some of the most inspiration women – Dame Natalie Massenet, Dame Anna Wintour and other less well known ones who took the time to show me the ropes such as Erica Ventley at Portero. But there were men too, Mark Sebba at Net-a-Porter and of course Jose Neves who is a true visionary. And my mother who has a strength of character that I would love to borrow from.
← Read about more Inspiration Women in Business
