Catherine Smith Licari

Catherine Smith Licari is a creative executive with a focus on finance and operations in the fashion industry, dedicated to helping small business owners with financial literacy.

During her tenure as COO of Suzie Kondi, Catherine successfully led the brand to significant growth, achieving high seven-figure omni-channel distribution, establishing retail stores, forming wholesale partnerships with top retailers, and expanding global e-commerce substantially in just three years.

Amidst the challenges of the pandemic starting in January 2020, she reorganized the supply chain at Suzie Kondi, effectively managed sales, and maintained profitable operations across all business segments.

Catherine also founded Plan de Ville, an e-commerce platform promoting emerging luxury fashion designers, where she received the 2016 Rising Star Award in Retail from The Fashion Group International.

Her academic achievements include a Master's in Fashion Studies from Parsons School of Design and an MBA from Columbia Business School, with a focus on the intricacies of fashion and the human psyche.

Aside from her education, Catherine holds a background in Political Science and Writing from Loyola University Maryland, having also studied International Comparative Politics at The American University of Paris.

She has been affiliated with various organizations, including Cash Flow for Creatives, PDV Advisory, and notably served as the Founder and CEO of Plan de Ville. Catherine has also contributed to Condé Nast as a Fashion Contributor at Brides.com and held editorial positions at Brides and W Magazine.