History reveals the dirty little secret of innovation: Its potential remains dormant unless it is coupled with a business system that unleashes its disruptive energy – either by unsettling an existing industry or by creating a new one – and channels that energy into a value-capturing enterprise. On occasion, a technology innovation can give birth to new streams of value that are evolutionary, if not revolutionary. This is where Alexandra Wilkis Wilson has won her acclaim. Alexandra recently joined Allergan as the Senior Vice President of Consumer Strategy and Innovation.
At Allergan, she will lead this bold global pharmaceutical company into creating new sources of revenue by building businesses which target consumers in a revolutionary way never before seen in the pharma sector. This is one of the largest private entrepreneurial innovation efforts ever seen.
This is the perfect use of Alexandra’s remarkable experience, having built three companies that exploited new ways to deliver value to under-served markets and consumers.
The first was Gilt, a pioneer in the retail market that changed the online retailing landscape with respect to sales. In 2016 Gilt sold to Hudson’s Bay Company.
The next was GLAMSQUAD, taking advantage of the Uber-inspired on-demand economy to bring beauty services directly to the homes and offices of busy consumers across the country. She led the company through rapid growth and raised $24M in venture capital for top-tier firms including NEA, Softbank and Lerer Hippeau Ventures.
The third was Fitz, which allows busy clients to utilize the expertise of talented stylists to organize, edit, catalog and build fashionable and functional wardrobes for all occasions, right from the consumer’s home. After one year in operation, Fitz was sold to the premier online peer-to-peer reseller of women’s fashion.
With each business, she has not only spotted under-served value opportunities but has built a business system and team to turn these opportunities into disruptive innovations in those industries.
Alexandra uses her own experiences, as well as other examples to help you identify opportunities and use these as potential game-changers in the future. With heartfelt passion, she delves into the roadblocks and course corrections that all companies, no matter the size, will hit in defining new value creation and by thinking outside of the box.
Alexandra is the co-author of the New York Times bestselling book By Invitation Only: How We Built Gilt and Changed the Way Millions Shop (Portfolio/Penguin) documenting the company’s meteoric and much-imitated trajectory. Prior to Gilt, Wilson managed retail operations at Bulgari and worked in sales planning for Louis Vuitton North America. She is frequently covered in the media as a pioneer and an entrepreneur on the cutting edge. As a groundbreaking New York City-based entrepreneur and dealmaker in digital commerce, luxury merchandising and business development, Wilson speaks regularly at international conferences and events, sharing stories that make a huge difference in how business their own future opportunities.
Awards
New York Business Journal Women of Influence Award, 2016
Endeavor Miami: High Impact Entrepreneur, 2015
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 2015
Business Insider: The Hottest Startup CEOs in America, 2014
Silicon Alley 100: The Coolest People In New York City Tech, 2014
Spirit of Achievement Honoree, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 2014
United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) 2013
Businesswoman of the Year NBC Latino: Top 20 Innovators, 2013
Cosmopolitan for Latinas: Fun Fearless Latina Award Winner, 2013
“Visionary Award” by Fashion 2.0, 2012
Top 10 Most Powerful Moms: Entrepreneurs by Working Mother, 2011
Ernst & Young Metro New York Entrepreneur of the Year Award for eCommerce, 2010
Endeavor Entrepreneur of the Year, 2010
Crain’s The Next Generation: Emerging Leaders Under 40, 2009
Member of the Vogue 120, since 2009
Ranked #4 of the Silicon Alley 100, 2009
Huffington Post Style Game Changer, 2009
Member of the eHow 100
Ranked #18 in The Daily News’ “Fashion’s 50 Most Fascinating”
