The Close-Up

The Close-Up

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Agenda

The Close-Up is your front-row seat to the business of beauty and fashion. Throughout the day, you’ll hear directly from executives, founders, creatives, and innovators who are shaping the industry’s future. From breaking into the business and building global brands to driving innovation and creating culture, every session is designed to provide insider access, practical insights, and meaningful connections that help turn ambition into opportunity.

  • 8:00 am-9:00 am

    Registration

  • 9:10 am-9:40 am

    Access Granted: Standing Out & Unlocking Opportunities

    Breaking into the beauty and fashion industry requires more than talent, it requires preparation, relationships, persistence, and the ability to stand out in a competitive marketplace. Join executives, creatives, and industry leaders as they share the experiences, strategies, and pivotal moments that helped shape their careers.

    • Jennifer Dennard-Regional Human Resources Business Partner at Sephora
    • Saba Tesfamariam-Senior Director, People & Talent at Spanx
    • Darla Pires DeGrace-Global Head of Inclusive Talent Sourcing & Strategy, Executive Director-Morgan Stanley

  • 9:40 am-10:10 am

    Tailored for Success: Engineering a Brand for the Culture

    Session Overview

    Dedrick Thomas transformed his engineering background into a blueprint for building HIDEOKI BESPOKE—a luxury brand trusted by executives, athletes, entertainers, and cultural icons. In this conversation, he shares how he made the leap into entrepreneurship, positioned his brand for distinction, cultivated influential relationships, and built a business rooted in craftsmanship, culture, and an exceptional client experience. Attendees will gain an inside look at the strategy, resilience, and intentionality required to turn creative talent into a respected and enduring brand.

    • Dedrick Thomas-CEO and Founder of Hideoki Bespoke

  • 10:15 am-10:45 am

    From Culture to Contract: Turning Creativity into Big Brand Business

    How do creatives and entrepreneurs turn cultural relevance into business that major brands will pay for?

    This conversation explores how creatives can build and position distinctive brands, gain access to decision makers, communicate their value, and turn creative ideas into paid contracts and long-term partnerships. Attendees will gain insight into what major companies and agencies look for when selecting creative partners, as well as how to successfully pitch, deliver, and grow those relationships into sustainable business opportunities.

  • 10:50 am-11:20 am

    Fueling Growth: Capital, Partnerships, & Scaling Brands

    Building a successful brand requires more than a great product; it takes the right capital, strategic partnerships, and a clear growth plan. Join investors, business leaders, and ecosystem partners as they share how founders can access funding, build meaningful partnerships, and leverage public and private resources to scale sustainable businesses.

    • David Manuel– Fulton County Director of Arts & Culture at Fulton County Government
    • Ashlee Reevely– Senior Small Business Program Manager at Invest Atlanta
    • Ensa Huger– Ensa Huger is a finance executive, investor, and serial entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience helping businesses build, scale, and access capital. She serves as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of New Voices Fund
    • Darrell Booker– Technology Strategist, Social Impact Leader, & Cultural Connector

  • 11:30 am-12:10 pm

    Lunch & Networking

  • 12:15 pm-12:45 pm

    Behind the Brand: How Product Get Made, Moved, & Scaled

    What does it take to transform a bold idea into a product that reaches consumers around the world? Join Kinta Gates, one of the beauty industry’s leading supply chain executives, and Alicia Scott, founder of the award-winning Range Beauty, for a behind-the-scenes conversation on the journey from concept to consumer. Drawing from Kinta’s career leading supply chain and operations at brands including Glossier, Thrive Causemetics, and The Body Shop, alongside Alicia’s experience building and scaling a disruptive beauty brand, this fireside chat explores how strategy, innovation, operations, and entrepreneurship come together to build the next generation of consumer brands.

    • Kinta Gates- Senior Vice President of Supply Chain & Operations, Glossier
    • Alicia Scott, CEO/Founder, Range Beauty

  • 12:50 pm-1:20 pm

    Hollywood Glam: The Creative Talent Behind the Camera

    The most unforgettable moments in entertainment don’t happen by chance, they’re brought to life by the creative professionals working behind the scenes. Join industry leaders as they pull back the curtain on the careers shaping film, television, music, celebrity, and live entertainment. From creative direction and costume design to hair, beauty, styling, and visual storytelling, this conversation explores how creative talent helps define culture, build iconic brands, and bring stories to life.

    • Derek J, Television Personality | Beauty Entrepreneur
    • Icy White, Costume Designer
    • DL Warfield, GOLDFINGER c.s., Owner

The Close-Up™ is designed to be more than a conference, it is a growing platform that connects talent, founders, and brands to opportunity and builds a pipeline for the future of the industry.