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The Toy Association is celebrating big time on Friday, February 16 at their annual Toy of the Year Awards! At this year’s celebration of toys, games and licenses, known as the “Oscars” of the Toy Industry, guests are also invited to party on into the night at a celebratory networking afterparty from 9:30 to 11:00 PM at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City. The TOTY gala will begin at 6:00 PM with a cocktail networking reception including hors d’oeuvres, followed by a plated dinner and dessert. TOTY Awards will be presented in 17 categories, and the coveted People’s Choice and Toy of the Year awards will also be announced. The evening will also celebrate 2018 inductees into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame, and include important announcements from The Toy Foundation. The TOTY Awards program helps to kick off the 115th North American International Toy Fair, and supports philanthropic work of the Toy Foundation, which delivers new toys to children in need. Tickets for the TOTY AWARDS may be purchased here. Tickets for the AFTERPARTY ONLY are $95 and may be reserved online. For parties of 20 or more, or for additional information, please contact the TOTY reservationist.

We had record attendance at the Women in Toys Happy Hour event in Hong Kong during January Toy Fair. The event was sponsored in part by ZURU, and over 80+ industry members came for an evening of networking at The Chop House in TST. We were thrilled to have familiar faces and new faces join the event. This year, African drum group Dijor entertained the crowd and even got the audience involved to try their hand at drumming. Marvin’s Magic also donated the services of a magician who dazzled attendees with his sleight of hand. While the temperature was a bit chilly for Hong Kong outdoors, spirits were warmed when Nancy Zwiers, EVP and Global CMO at Spin Master, spoke about the mission of WIT. Thanks to Hong Kong Chapter Chairs Meredith Brooks, Lisa-Christine Gray, Julie Petris, all those involved in making the event a success, and we look forward to seeing everyone next year! Noel Lee once again captured the evening with great photos:

Guest post by Mary Couzin Chicago Toy & Game Group, and hosts a series of events each November celebrating play and innovation. Mary was honored with the inaugural Elise Lachowyn Mentorship Award at the 2017 Wonder Women Awards Gala. I don’t remember there ever being a time where so many companies were looking for new ideas from both kid and adult inventors! For our ChiTAG Inventor Conferences, we have over 80 product acquisition executives from across the globe looking for ideas from both professional inventors and new inventors! And those same executives are looking for ideas from our Young Inventor Challenge entrants at our Chicago Toy & Game Fair the weekend following the conferences. The Young Inventor Challenge (YIC) is one of our passion projects and is now in its 11th year. Several entrants have received licensing agreements over the years, but last year’s winners, Olivia and Brynna, two 10-year old girls, got their game, Ship of Treasures, licensed by Pressman Toy and into Target as an exclusive. It has sold out in many locations and we just found out they are donating a large portion of their royalties to Lurie Children’s Hospital in memory of a classmate who died. It was their third year entering the YIC – they have persistence as well as creativity and a big heart. Promoting inventors fits our mission of play and innovation. We’ve long felt that toy and game inventors are not treated like their creative counterparts in film, music, literary or culinary worlds. As inventor/filmmaker/author Tim Walsh says, “If you sell a million songs, you are on the cover of Rolling Stone. A million books, the New York Best Seller List. But if you sell over 60 million Jengas, no one knows who you are… and Leslie Scott is awesome!” We are excited to see a trend where toy and game companies feature inventors on their packaging and promotional material. At our Toy & Game Inventor of the Year Awards (TAGIEs) this year, we are honoring Lisa Guili of Educational Insights, an early advocate of including inventors on packaging and telling the story of the product. She recognized early on that consumers want to connect with the products they purchase and has said their sales are proof of concept! As a person who has been involved in different roles in a variety of industries, it is the toy and game inventing that people find most interesting. When I wear my “Yes, Toy and Game Inventing is a Job!” t-shirt, I get stopped everywhere I go because people find it fascinating. They want to hear stories about the inventors of their favorite toys and games. Mattel and ABC’s successful TV Show “The Toy Box” also demonstrates how important the connection is to the products people love as well as how fascinated people are by inventors. At our Chicago Toy & Game Fair, consumers of all ages, media and social influencers love meeting, playing with and writing about the inventors. For the inventors and the exhibitors, it is the largest focus group in the wild – no better place to test your product and receive feedback as well as be reminded of why we are in our industry and our important role in the world promoting and creating play. Our 15th Anniversary for the Fair and our 10th Toy & Game Inventor and Innovation Awards event is coming up next week and we are excited to welcome attendees from around the world to make connections, find partners, get licensed, and to celebrate play and innovation!

Posted by Mary Kay Russell, WIT Executive Director Mary Kay Russell has worked in the toy industry in multiple roles as an inventor, manufacturer, communications executive, and marketing consultant, making her someone who can address issues from multiple viewpoints. She has also been an active member of WIT in various roles for over 10 years, including former board member and Chicago Chapter Chair. “You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.” ~Walt  Disney Professional networking organizations like WIT give you opportunities that can literally turn dreams into reality. You have the chance to share ideas, promote career development, step into leadership roles, and learn new tricks of the trade. Joining is the easy part, but what then? Networking is largely dependent on the give and take. And just like any great relationship, it’s all about nurturing and creating value for one another. Here are 8 tips to help you network like a boss, make the most of your member experience, and put you miles ahead of the competition. Show Up If there is a local chapter or meet-up near you, attend an event. Go a step further and offer to help plan future events. Participate as often and consistently as you can. Never stop networking. Break Away From the Pack We often gravitate to who we know and fall into the comfort trap. But this robs you of the chance to see new opportunities that could be one close connection away. Open your mind to opening up to someone you don’t know, and it could just be your next business deal. Listen & Learn Once you make a connection, build the relationship by listening more, talking less, and showing genuine interest. You may be surprised to find that their needs are closely aligned with what you have to offer. Listen first, build trust, show your value. No sales pitch required. Ask and Ye Shall Receive Being a good listener starts by asking good questions. Delve a little deeper to learn more. We’re not talking 10th degree here; keep the questions simple, thoughtful, and not too personal. And be sure to trade business cards. Nurture your New Network Make it a point to follow up with an email the next day to say that you enjoyed the conversation.Then take it up a notch and arrange to meet for coffee or a casual meal. 30 minutes or an hour with just the two of you to learn more about each other’s background and businesses can reveal new opportunities and ways to help each other. Beyond The Events Get involved in your networking organization beyond the live events. Do you have skills that can benefit others? Put yourself out there, volunteer for committee work, be of service to others. You’ll quickly be known for the value you provide, and the rewards you’ll reap will come back tenfold. Get Your Profile Ready for Prime Time Want to find people, or do you want people to find you? The best way to see and be seen is to keep your member profile up to snuff. WIT’s Membership Directory allows you to search by name, title, company name, location, and job description. Make the Most of Member Benefits Scope out the member benefits of your organization, and take full advantage. WIT offers its members access to exclusive webinars, a Concierge Service that connects members on the road, Job Board, a private Facebook Group to collaborate on ideas and get industry resources, and great discounts on local and national events. Not a member of WIT? Click here to learn more. Want to check out our events? Click here. #Networking #WomeninToys

Interviewing for a job is statistically proven to be one of the most anxiety-inducing events in a professional’s life. In fact, according to a study by Harris Interactive and Everest College, 92% of U.S. adults said at least one thing stresses them in a job interview. These stressors range from “being too nervous,” to “being stumped by an interviewer’s question.” But not to fear! WIT members Fatina Johnston and Jennifer Ure, from De Forest Search, have been kind enough to compile their interviewing tips based on 20 years of accumulated feedback from their clients. So, whether you have an interview on the horizon or just feel the need to sharpen your skills … we agree with Fatina and Jennifer when they say you can never be too prepared. Appropriate Dress: This includes tidy hair, clean shoes and clothing. Do not wear anything that is too revealing (too short, too low cut, too tight) wrinkled or unclean. If wearing nail polish, make sure it is simple and not chipped. Do not wear any cologne or perfume. This is one of the biggest turn-offs with our HR clients. When in doubt, dress more conservatively than you think you need to, because every company has a different standard of attire. Prepare: You can never be too prepared; do your homework! Make sure you’ve done your research on the company and the people you will be interviewing with, as well as the industry in general. Bring a few copies of your resume – at least one for each interviewer and a couple extra just in case. Research: Don’t be afraid to check the interviewer(s) out on LinkedIn so that you can find common ground, as well as come up with some great questions for each interviewer. Punctuality: Do not be late. If you are running late, CALL BEFORE YOUR SCHEDULED INTERVIEW TIME. Even if you are only 5 minutes behind, call and let them know. If it is going to longer than that, ask if they would prefer to reschedule. Also, do not show up over 15 minutes before the interview is scheduled. It is ideal to check in for the interview 5 minutes before it is scheduled to begin. Interaction: Be engaged/engaging: Make eye contact and smile. Do your best to mirror your interviewer with regards to pace and attitude, and be very wary of body language (non-verbal cues). Take notes during interview, so that you can reiterate back to them, during a recap, what your understanding is of the requirements for the job. Confidence: Express strong interest in moving forward. Don’t be afraid to ask for the job. Make sure that you answer all questions succinctly to make sure that you demonstrate responsiveness without overstating. You can always elaborate by asking the interviewer directly if their question was answered.  Sometimes it’s a good strategy to ask if all questions were met to their satisfaction and if anything needs further clarification. This gives the interviewer an opportunity to determine if something was overlooked or just needs more clarity. Sometimes even a soft close is a nice touch, for example: Is there anything holding me back or preventing me from moving forward in this role? DONT’S: Don’t chew gum during the interview. Don’t exaggerate your interest or qualifications. Don’t interrupt the interviewer. Don’t ask about compensation right off the bat. Although compensation plays an important role in your decision to accept a job, it is best to allow the interviewer to bring it up first. And always respond with “I’m flexible depending on the entire package and opportunity.” Don’t be negative, and don’t disparage former employers, colleagues, and companies. Stay away from self-deprecating comments which do not support a positive image or demonstrate competence. Don’t get too relaxed in your seat. Sit closer to the front of your seat, and keep your energy, drive and motivation clear at all times. Don’t leave your cell phone on during an interview. Either turn it off or silence it. If it goes go off in the interview, do not answer. Hit the ignore button and apologize for the interruption. FOLLOW UP: Request business cards, so you can follow up with a thank you email within 24 hours of your interview. Make sure that thank you notes are very customized to the company and the opportunity. Do not write a generic thank you note that could be distributed to 100 different companies. Follow up with your recruiter after the interview to debrief. If you’re working with a recruiter, you might also send her/him a draft of your thank you letter, note, or email so they can help to customize it perfectly for you. Have questions or need advice about interviewing? Contact Fatina or Jennifer! [vc_row][vc_column width=’1/2′] Fatina Johnston 310-374-4477 x13 fatina@deforestsearch.com [/vc_column] [vc_column width=’1/2′] Jennifer Ure 310-374-4477 x14 jennifer@deforestsearch.com [/vc_column] [/vc_row] #JobInterviewTips

WIT Empowerment Day 2017 was nothing short of uplifting and motivating! Knowledgeable mentors, productive product pitch sessions, and an inspirational keynote from Creata founder, Norma Rosenhain, all added up to a day of incredible opportunity for nearly 100 WIT members – and our best Empowerment Day yet! Held on October 2 during Fall Toy Preview in Dallas, the event was intimate and casual, allowing for easy conversation and meaningful mingling. Participants had exclusive access to Walmart buyers and top toy companies, and were mentored by over 40 industry expert in 20 different areas of specialty including product design and packaging, licensing, PR and marketing, manufacturing, sales and distribution, IP, safety and compliance and so much more. Eager mentees took it all in as they participated “speed-dating” style mentoring sessions. And the event was just as rewarding for our knowledgeable mentors, as they gave priceless advice and shared their years of experience. Product Pitch pods were buzzing with excitement and activity, as women presented their creations and ideas in private sessions to Walmart buyers and toy companies that included Hasbro, Spin Master, PlayMonster and Jazwares. Learn More: MENTORS GIVING BACK: The WIT Empowerment Day Experience As always, this event was provided free to all WIT members, thanks to the generosity of our amazing sponsors. An extra special shout-out to Walmart and Hasbro for their ongoing support and generosity toward making this event a huge success! And of course, none of this would be possible without the passion and commitment of our awesome Empowerment Day Host Committee! Thank you for organizing another rewarding and successful event. Empowerment Day Host Committee Deb de Sherbinin – Co-Chair Nancy Zwiers – Co-Chair Brandi Pinsker Lisa Pelletier Elizabeth Kong Genna Rosenberg Karen Kilpatrick We look forward to raising the bar even further in 2018 as WIT continues its investment in our members’ growth and development!

WIT is heading to New York Comic Con! Last year, WIT presented its first panel at New York Comic Con, and we’re thrilled to be back again in 2017! This year’s dynamic panelists will explore The Power of Narrative: Iconic Characters and How They Reflect a Dynamic Culture. Storytelling may have changed, but the power of narrative and its role in human cultures has remained constant throughout history. Our panelists look at the ways storytelling and narrative in the contemporary world reflects and reinforces cultural changes from gender to interaction and identification. What property owners, licensees and, most importantly, storytellers, should know to make the most of the current environment. Join us! Thursday, October 5 5:30 – 6:30 PM Javits Center, 1A05 Meet the Panelists Zuri Rice – Vice President, Production and Development, Nickelodeon Bill Doyle – Kids Author, Random House Casey Collins – Executive Vice President, Consumer Products, WWE Tori Cook – Senior Vice President of Domestic Consumer Products and Retail Development, Saban Brands Tonya Lindo – Director, North American Licensing, Nelvana Enterprises #NewYorkComicCon

Game On! Join your local WIT Chapter for a night of fun & laughter. There is no better way to really get to know each other than by playing a game together! We hear it time and again – You can learn more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. Come experience the magic of play as we celebrate National Business Women’s Week at WIT Game Night events during the week of October 23-27. Just bring yourself, your business cards, and your game face. And bring a friend for free! What are we playing? Awesome fun party games, courtesy of our generous sponsors, Mattel, Spin Master, and PlayMonster. And if you have a game you’d like to play with the group, feel free to bring it along. Click your Chapter link below for details and to RSVP. Ticket price includes one free drink and raffle. Click your Chapter below to RSVP More chapters may be added soon! Austin, Texas Chicago Chapter Dallas Chapter Denver Chapter Minneapolis Chapter New York Chapter Northern California Chapter Philadelphia Chapter Puerto Rico Chapter Southern California Chapter Seattle Chapter South Florida Chapter Toronto Chapter Wisconsin Chapter Here’s what we’re playing! #Events #GameNight #Networking

This article is part of the WIT Empowerment Day Mentorship Series, which provides insight and advice from top toy industry experts. By Stephanie Azzarone, President of Child’s Play Communications Hosting a special event – for consumers and/or media – can be an engaging and effective way to generate attention to and excitement about a brand. Child’s Play Communications has been responsible for developing a variety of attention-getting events – from intimate blogger parties to our own annual Kids’ & Family Tech Expo to the 20th Anniversary celebration for the Teletubbies. In the process, we’ve learned some lessons worth sharing: Plan ahead. Way ahead. Three months is good, six months is even better. Why? Because something will always go wrong if you wait to do anything last minute. And make sure up front that the date you choose doesn’t conflict with a holiday or someone else’s big announcement. Research your invitation list carefully. When it comes to a media list, e.g., the people you’ve known so well for so long may no longer be there (especially these days). Check for bounce backs and update your invitation list constantly as you go along. Start inviting early. For some events, we’ll send out a Save the Date six weeks ahead of time then remind people each week until the event. We’ll also follow up by phone to make sure they’ve seen the invitation. Choreograph your event. What happens when, in what order, at exactly what time? Make sure everyone involved knows precisely what their role is and identify an overall event manager to supervise. Think through every single detail. You’ve found the most spectacular location and your guest list is 100% perfection. But should the napkins for lunch be cloth or paper? And what kind of holder do you need for the registration sign? Do you want flowers or balloons or both, and what kind and color? Brand like crazy. Think about how you can use color schemes, logos, cut out characters, banners, even custom drinks and dishes to support the brand. Select your space carefully. Do you want a setting that is inherently attractive – located on the water or with a great view of the skyline, and furnished with everything you could possibly need – or a blank space that you can make your own? Thank you for coming! Decide if you will give guests a gift as they leave, what selection would be the most relevant and appealing – and what they will carry it in. Outline your plan for following up with them afterward. Be prepared for no-shows. A good 20-25% of those who RSVP will wind up not attending. Calculate that when planning your catering – or make sure you have contact information for a local food pantry. Keep detailed notes on everything you do. That will make the next event much easier! Stephanie Azzarone is president of Child’s Play Communications, specialists in promoting kids’ products through public relations, special events, and social media. #brandmarketing

This article is part of the WIT Empowerment Day Mentorship Series, which provides insight and advice from top toy industry experts. Steven Heller, Esq., President of The Brand Liaison So you’ve come up with a great concept. A new character or storyline, maybe a toyetic property or even a new invention. It’s got all the elements of a sure-fire hit. NOW WHAT? Do you embark on production and sales of your product yourself, or find an alternate pathway? Self-production may seem the most obvious choice, and can often lead to great success. But this route also entails significant costs and risks. I’ve seen it happen time and again. An overly ambitious leap with the greatest intention: you develop samples, spend a small fortune on travel and elaborate trade show booths, and try to knock open doors with buyers at everywhere from Walmart or Toys’R’Us to local stores or small consumer trade shows. And all too often, that leap also includes production of initial inventory. After all, the determined creator thinks, “How can I sell anything if I don’t have the inventory?” And the costs can add up very quickly: development time, artists and graphic design, molds and samples, attorneys for copyrights and trademarks, maybe even patents. I’ve seen creators spend tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, with nothing to show for it but a garage or warehouse full of inventory – product for which the new entrepreneur probably paid more than he/she should have and which very often is not even salable for a myriad of reasons unknown to novice, but readily apparent to industry veterans. So my point today is to tell you to “wait!” Slow down just a minute. Carefully evaluate the landscape and consider your choices. There are two roads diverged in this golden wood, and one is a much safer alternative. A game plan that not only reduces the costs and risks, but at the same significantly increases the likelihood of success. An opportunity to align yourself with experienced industry professionals who already have the production sources, the compliance and quality control, the logistics and fulfillment, and perhaps most importantly, the relationships with the buyers at all the major retailers that you need. And let me let you in on a secret – It is precisely these buyers that can make or break your company, not the consumers. So what is this pathway? This secret road to success? This game plan that will reduce your upfront expenses and increase our opportunity for success? It’s called licensing! A very clear and established business model that allows you and other creators to align yourselves with established companies in your industry, under a structure that provides for participation in the success of the property, but without the downside risk, and without having to forfeit ownership of your creation. Very simply, licensing is a business method where you, as an owner of certain “intellectual property” (your creation or invention), grants certain rights to another company to develop and manufacture products based on that property, in return for which you receive a royalty – a payment stream to the creator for the life of your agreement with them. Now, there are lots of finer details, and lots of questions on the terms, the percentages, how long the agreements last, how broad of a grant (is it for all products or only certain products?) and of course, approvals and maybe even performance standards. But these details are always subject to negotiation. They key here is that as a creator, you need to know there is a very viable alternative pathway that can lead you to success. Licensing will allow you to partner with established enterprises to manage and finance the business affairs, and allow you to concentrate on what you do best, create! Of course, licensing is not a guarantee. It has its own inherent risks and downsides as well. First off, you need to be sure you are aligning with the right partner, a company that shares your vision for the brand, the products and channels of distribution. You also want to be sure that they are committed to the project, including personal and financial commitments. And in this regard, since you are now effectively adding a partner, you will naturally give up some control and some of the upside revenue. But these two concessions seem to be more than adequately offset by the knowledge, experience, connections and financial backing that your new business partners bring to the relationship. Their direction and insight can help you avoid costly mistakes. Their relationships can save you valuable time and energy. And as for the financial concessions? Giving up some or even a large portion of the upside revenue? Well that is simply the trade-off for reducing the risk and downside financial exposure. And thus, this becomes the decision point for you and virtually every creator or inventor. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood. As you stand at that fork in the road, and look at the divergent pathways, consider your choices very carefully: one that presents a winding road of uncertain terrain that may be costly and difficult to navigate, and the other, a more direct route with potentially much smoother pavement with a chaperone to guide you on your path. And that choice can make all difference. Top 10 Benefits of Brand Licensing For an inventor or a creator of new property, Licensing can provide the following benefits: Create new and consistent sources of revenue without significant financial expenses or drain on personal time and resources. Efficiently develop new products and enter new markets without typical barriers to entry. Utilize the efforts of seasoned industry executives and relationships with buyers and retailers. Tap in to licensee’s existing stream of commerce. Eliminate need to create new infrastructure and administrative tasks. Allow the creator to focus on the creations and concepts. Rapidly expand product offerings utilizing multiple licensees’ expertise, resources and efforts. Protect and strengthen trademark ownership and new trademark categories. Create diversity of product offerings and broaden retail presence / cross-promotional opportunities. Increase brand awareness and create long-term competitive advantages and long-term value. #entrepreneur #inventor #licensing

This article is part of the WIT Empowerment Day Mentorship Series, which provides insight and advice from top toy industry experts. By Wendy Smolen, Wendysmolen.com When I was first starting out in the toy and media industry, there were few women mentors. “Take Your Daughter To Work Day” was a ground-breaking event started in 1993 by Gloria Steinem, to show girls the different roles that they could play in making things happen, despite their gender. Yes, we’ve come a long way in 18 years. It’s now called “Take Your Daughters and Sons To Work Day.” But the fact remains that it’s still critically important for adults to share what they do with others. We are part of an industry where five generations are working at the same time—sometimes even in the same company. There are Boomers  (52-71 year olds),  Xers (41-51), Millennials (22-40), plus revered Traditionalists (72+) and ambitious Gen Z’s (younger than 21). I’ve written before how much the older and wiser generation can benefit from the younger. But the inverse is also true. In the same way that a parent’s role is to teach one’s children, we have a responsibility to teach incoming generations. Mentoring a less experienced worker can impart invaluable lessons, pass on coveted traditions, encourage innovation, keep the toy industry vital, and make both the mentor and mentee feel good. A few months ago I caught up with Danielle Gillis, my very first assistant at Nick Jr. in the 90’s, who told me, “You brought me with you to Toy Fair and taught me how to evaluate products. You gave me the freedom to produce shoots, book celebrities, and work on articles in a high level way. Your support gave me a sense of fearlessness that I’ve carried with me all the way through to today.” Danielle recently started her own animation company. Her first client was the Boston Red Sox. I couldn’t be prouder! Dennis C. Miller, an author, speaker, and leadership coach who overcame childhood adversity to rise to the top of corporate ranks, concurs. “No one succeeds in business completely by themselves. My mentors were extremely important. Mentoring others is now my opportunity to give back. It’s the right thing to do. And, it makes me appreciate myself!” One of the simplest tips I give mentees,“ says Miller, “is to ask for advice, not a job. People (including me) love to be flattered. It gives the mentor a chance to shine. And hopefully, the mentee will listen.” Last year I mentored a college intern who was so passionate about the toy industry, I couldn’t wait to take her to Toy Fair, where she sponged up the people, the products, and the vibe. She’s now working for a toy PR agency. In February she sent me an email thanking me for guiding her through her first Toy Fair, saying, ”It’s because of that experience that I am so looking forward to the show this weekend.” When I ran into her on the Javits floor, it was my turn to thank her for making me feel so good. Great mentoring is a two way street. It’s also prudent to seek mentors at every point in one’s career.  Experience, contacts, and context—the key assets a mentor can provide—are valuable at all times. Events such as WIT Empowerment Day provide opportunities for mentees as well as mentors. “Mentors can be important in helping with early learning and growth throughout your career, “ advices George Bradt, Chairman of PrimeGenesis and author of The New Leader’s 100-Day Action Plan and First-Time Leader. “Don’t ever ‘settle’ in a position.  Seek mentors that keep you moving forward.” But even at the top, Bradt recommends finding a mentor, albeit it could be someone you think of as a kid. (Or even a real kid!) “Leaders’ mentors should be people with complementary perspective and experience. If your mentor is just like you, you’ll hear things you already know. If your mentor is different, you’ll hear different things. This is where “reverse mentoring” comes in. Some of the people with valuable complementary perspectives and experience may be younger than the people they are mentoring. That’s beyond fine to wonderful.” Both Bradt and Miller agree that attitude is a key factor in successful mentoring. The mentor has to truly find happiness in helping others succeed; the mentee has to have an open mind and desire to learn. If you’re like me and wish that 20 years ago you knew what you know today, share it! And if you’re on the opposite side of the equation, and want to prepare yourself for what’s to come, seek it! We can all help each other. #Mentorship #WITEmpowermentDay

Our South Florida chapter was treated to its first Lunch & Learn event last week with a panel focused on licensing, hosted by Jazwares at their headquarters in Sunrise, Florida. Attendees came from near and far and included a mix of veterans and those new to the industry, from brand owners to agents and toy company executives. How to Pitch an Emerging Licensing Program was moderated by Karen Kilpatrick, VP of JazWings, and included panelists Laura Zebersky, CCO of Jazwares, Ashley Mady, president of WIT and founder of Brandberry, and Steven Heller, Esq., founder of The Brand Liaison, who shared great insights, behind-the-scenes decision-making considerations, real-life stories and best practices. A common theme that emerged from the panel is the importance of knowing who you’re pitching to, being prepared with the right materials, and “wowing” your potential partners with your uniqueness, ability to fill a whitespace, momentum, and metrics. The panelists emphasized the importance of timing, persistence, finding the right partners, and knowing that as every brand is different, every brand’s path is different. Lunch and great networking rounded out the afternoon. Thanks to Jazwares for hosting a fantastic event! For a list of upcoming events, visit the WIT events calendar.