JEWELRY AND WATCHES NEW YORK COHORT
At Mentoro, we believe in the power of connection. Many of us are drawn to the jewelry and watches industry as a promising path, but navigating its opportunities often requires a bit of guidance. Sometimes, all it takes is a meaningful conversation, a simple cup of coffee, with someone who’s been there before. That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA), whose mission is to support and advance women working across all areas of the jewelry and watch industry. Through networking, mentorship, and education, the organization empowers members to lead with confidence, advance their careers, and build meaningful connections.
It was a natural fit for Mentoro and WJA to come together to launch this Jewelry and Watches New York cohort designed to empower and support young women as they grow and develop their careers in the industry. In this cohort, we’ve brought together mentors from across the industry, including experts in design, merchandising and buying, distribution, management, e-commerce, sales, marketing, finance, production, supply chain, and more.
THE APPLICATION PERIOD FOR THIS COHORT IS NOW CLOSED.
MEET OUR MENTORS
Abby Wallach
CEO & Co-Founder, CEO & Executive Producer
THE HOUSE OF SCENTINVENT, ABBY WALLACH PRODUCTIONS LLC
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… By day: An almond milk caffè latte with a beautiful foam heart on top by day. By night: An extra-dirty, iced martini, three olives.
MANTRA: “Ain’t no mountain high enough” – Diana Ross
ADAM MIRZOEFF
President
EAST CONTINENTAL GEMS INC.
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a Topo Chico, freezing cold.
MANTRA: “I’m IN!”
BIANCA BENOLIEL-SCHOENFELD
VP Marketing and OmniChannel (Former VP Bulgari)
LUXURY RETAIL EXPERT
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a brewed coffee.
MANTRA: “Kindness is underrated at work.”
CATHERINE NEKAVAND
Partner
ALIXPARTNERS
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER…a Kir Royal—because every great conversation should sparkle with a touch of elegance and a hint of indulgence!
MANTRA: “Creativity turns obstacles into opportunities, and vision turns pivots into triumphs—luxury is the art of both.”
CHRIS CLIPPER
Chief Financial Officer
DAVID YURMAN
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a mint tea by day…and bourbon by night.
MANTRA: “Follow the three R’s: Respect for Self, Respect for Others and Responsibility for all your Actions.” – Dalai Lama
David McMillan
Fractional Executive Creative Director (Former VP Creative, Jared a banner of Signet Jewelers)
CONSULTING
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a double espresso by day, a double anything by night.
MANTRA: “Good leaders pass the accolades and accept the blame.”
Donna Roy
Area President
GALLAGHER
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a green tea or a dirty Martini with blue cheese olives any time after business hours.
MANTRA: “People will forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
Doug Jensen
Head of Business Development
EKIMETRICS
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a gin martini or a glass of wine!
MANTRA: “Be yourself – others will be drawn to you just the way you are. And those who aren’t – who cares?”
Esther Fortunoff-Greene
Owner and President
FORTUNOFF JEWELRY, EFG DESIGNS
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… black coffee or water during the day, gin and tonic at night.
MANTRA: “Learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward!”
Gabrielle Grazi
CEO
HARRY RITCHIE’S JEWELERS, PRESIDENT WJA
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a macchiato with a hint of Ceylon Cinnamon.
MANTRA: “Be resilient.”
Gaëlle Devins
Chief Customer Officer & Member of the Executive Board
BREITLING SA
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… I’m always up for a good discussion – ideally over a vanilla latte with soy milk and sugar-free syrup. Yes, I know… it’s basically a mythical creature in Switzerland. So, when I find one, I treat it like a rare cosmic event.
MANTRA: “Together we care, together we connect – and together we create the flow where purpose meets performance.”
Jackie Mecca
Senior Vice-President, Luxury Markets
SYNCHRONY
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER…an ice coffee (all year round!)
MANTRA: “Great Careers begin with great questions – stay curious!”
Jade Trau
Founder
JADE TRAU
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… coffee anytime before 2pm…evenings are for vespers. or champagne.
MANTRA: “Repetition is the key to learning.”
Jill Katz
Founder
ASSEMBLE HR CONSULTING
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a sugar-free vanilla latte with lots of foam.
MANTRA: “It’s all about relationships.”
Jolene Daniello
Area Senior Vice-President
GALLAGHER
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a glass of Sancerre.
MANTRA: “Opportunity is Made.”
Karen Giberson
President & CEO, Editor-In-Chief
ACCESSORIES COUNCIL, AC MAGAZINE
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… everything is better with champagne.
MANTRA: “Evolve or Die,” inspired by Darwin
Katie Reed
Founder (Former VP of Marketing and E-commerce for Watches of Switzerland)
WELLSWEEP VENTURES
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a crisp Sancerre.
MANTRA: “It’s going to be great!”
Kirsten Bertrand
Vice President of Regional Operations
KAY JEWELERS DIVISION
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a coffee before noon, tea before six and wine before midnight.
MANTRA: “Slow down to go fast.”
Karen Vander
Chief Operating Officer
CATBIRD NYC
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a vanilla latte before 5. Definitely Tequila after 5.
MANTRA: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
Leya Kaufman
Executive Director, Luxury & Lifestyle at Business Insider (Former Publisher, Branded Content Editor at Coveteur)
BUSINESS INSIDER
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… either an iced almond milk matcha latte or a spicy skinny margarita–one is good for the mind, the other is good for the soul. Can you guess which is which?
MANTRA: “I’d say I’m stressed but pressure yields diamonds. So, bring it on.”
Liana Thompson
Vice President of eCommerce
SHUTTERFLY
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a latte.
MANTRA: “Empower clarity, advance with purpose, and lead with heart.”
Lindsey Scoggins
CEO and Founder
LINDSEY SCOGGINS STUDIO, LINKSTUDIO
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… decaf coffee or tequila (or both).
MANTRA: “Focus on what matters, at the right pace, with the right people.”
Luis Freitas
Senior Director, ECommerce
MOET HENNESSY USA
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER…coffee in the day, whiskey in the night!
MANTRA: “Common Sense is so rare that is should be considered a super power.”
Mariana S. Russo
President and Founder
CUT + CLARITY
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… black coffee before noon, champagne in the evening.
MANTRA: “Nothing worth having comes easy.”
Mark Klein
Managing Director, Vice-President
JULIUS KLEIN DIAMONDS
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a cappuccino with extra cinnamon.
MANTRA: “To be the best good enough, is never enough.”
Matthew Fasciano
President and CEO
DELIVERING GOOD, INC.
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… definitely coffee.
MANTRA: Do Good.
Michelle Carter
EVP Services Business Development, North America
MASTERCARD
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER…a Decaf Coffee.
MANTRA: “You are your own best advocate” #SelfAdvocacy
Missy Pool
Founder (Former Retail Leader, Apple)
SILVER LININGS 777
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a delicious latte or hot chocolate in winter!
MANTRA: Always look for the Silver Linings
Olivier Nourani
COO
LONDON JEWELERS
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… cocktails.
MANTRA: “Elegance in Excellence.”
Pamela Bernstein-Gulla
Chief Engagement Officer
HILL & CO.
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER…a cup of ginger tea and of course, some bubbly anytime.
MANTRA: “Experience is meant to be shared, not kept.”
Robin Garin Rotstein
Vice President of Design and Product Development
S. VINODKUMAR INC, INDIGO JEWELRY
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a cup of tea.
MANTRA: “Success is going from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” Winston Churchill
Robyn Fields
Vice President of Sales
GOLDSTAR JEWELLERY LLC
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a non-fat cappuccino or a dirty Martini.
MANTRA: “Relationships are everything.”
Ruth Fortunoff-Cooper
Owner
RFC FINE JEWELRY
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a nespresso or cappuccino (preferably in Italy).
MANTRA: “You snooze you lose.”
Sophie Pervez
Founder & Chief Revenue Officer
FORMA NOVA / RARE SENSE
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a cappuccino.
MANTRA: “Progress over perfection.”
Tisha Clark
Luxury Training & Engagement (Former Gucci)
EXPERIENCE & CULTURE LEADER
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a spicy mocha or something with caramel by day or something bubbly by night.
MANTRA: “People will forget what you said. People forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel” – Maya Angelou
Vince Dell'Osa
Former President Ralph Lauren Retail / Board Member & Consultant
VINCE DELL’OSA
I LIKE TO DISCUSS OVER… a Cappuccino.
MANTRA: “Adapt, innovate, and drive change. The ability to pivot and evolve is the foundation of long-term success.”
CONCRETE
