Nekisha Wright
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, BRAND MANAGEMENT & RETAIL MARKETING
Dynamic and adaptable marketing strategist driving growth and innovation through data-driven campaigns, strategic leadership, and stakeholder influence. Thought leader with proven ability to align vision with execution to deliver breakthrough results.
Skills
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International & Domestic Travel
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P&L Management
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Budget & Project Management
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Agency Relationship Management
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Brand Partnerships & Licensing
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Consumer Insights & Market Analysis
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Product Development & Innovation
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Line Plan & Lifecycle Management
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Fabric & Materials Development
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Pricing, Sourcing & Cost Negotiation
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Social Media & Influencer Marketing
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Event & Trade Show Management
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Regulatory Compliance (FAR/DFARs)
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On-Air Talent & Public Speaking
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Organizational Leadership
Education
Santa Reparata Int’l School of Art
Florence, Italy
Study Abroad Program
Coursework in Fashion Design, Illustration & Garment Construction
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Amherst, MA
B.A. Communication
Concentration: TV & Media Studies
Curry College
Milton, MA
Coursework in Communication
Concentration: TV & Media Studies
Patents & Publications
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US Patent #29503420; Hair Claw Patent, Goody Products, Inc.; Date of Patent: 8/25/2015
Volunteering
EAGLES NEST CHURCH
Speaker / Host / Facilitator
2019 – Present
GOLF WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS
Member / Workshop Facilitator
2023 – Present
GIRLS SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Troop Leader & Treasurer
2015 – 2019
Troop Volunteer
2015 – Present
MOCHA MOMS, INC.
President, North Fulton County Chapter
2017 – 2019
Member, North Fulton County Chapter
2015 – Present
Technical Skills
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Microsoft Suite
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PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook
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Mac OS
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Adobe Illustrator, Web Design (UX/UI)
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IRI, Oracle, FourthShift, SpendLogic, HICX, FlexPLM, Workfront, Blue X, Dash, Scene 7
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Canva, Squarespace, Six
Experience
BAE Systems, Ordnance Systems, Inc. - (Remote), GA
PRINCIPAL SUBCONTRACTS ADMINISTRATOR
May 2023 - Present
Lead the full subcontract administration lifecycle to support Department of Defense (DoD) modernization efforts. Manage complex construction subcontracts, proposals, negotiations, compliance, and risk mitigation, ensuring alignment with federal acquisition regulations (FAR/DFARS) across six active programs with US/Foreign Suppliers.
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Lead supplier evaluations, RFP/RFQ processes, source selection, cost/price analyses, subcontractor performance management and contract closeouts.
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Develop, negotiate, and issue IDIQs, NDAs, and Terms & Conditions.
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Collaborate cross-functionally with program managers, engineers, legal, finance and quality to provide guidance and align on program objectives.
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Achieved $3.1M in cost savings through effective negotiations of change orders, while maintaining quality and performance standards across suppliers.
· Review and monitor invoices, payments, commitments, and funding status.
May 2021 - Present
Simply Luxx & Co. - Alpharetta, GA
OWNER/DESIGNER
A small business boutique specializing in handcrafted and purposefully designed products that empower and inspire. View Shop: www.simplyluxxco.com
Jul 2019 - May 2021
Serta Simmons Bedding – Doraville, GA
MANAGER, BRAND MARKETING I BEAUTYREST
Responsible for leading product & innovation development, establishing strategic direction for brand expansion, advertising campaigns, brand partnerships, pricing strategies, go-to-market strategies, and monitoring & reporting against business metrics, KPI’s and sales performance.
Key Highlights & Accomplishments:
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Managed, mentored, and developed a team of two junior marketing professionals.
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Repositioned Beautyrest including brand architecture, consumer target, positioning, value proposition, pricing, brand identity & visual language, new Sleep First Class ad campaign, new social media strategy and influencer marketing campaigns.
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Owned and launched Beautyrest’s sustainable mattress product lines, Harmony Lux ($280MM portfolio) and Harmony ($160MM portfolio); Delivered overall business results including P&L targets, market share growth and brand health measures.
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Developed marketing plans Beautyrest Black relaunch & portfolio expansion.
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Analyzed data to uncover insights and made recommendations related to promotions, products, pricing and other key initiatives to drive business results.
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Partnered with Insights team to design, conduct and act on consumer analysis including briefs, focus groups, surveys, and market tests to gain and apply consumer insight of new product ideas prior to national line launches.
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Managed product design, qualitative & quantitative analysis, product naming, trademarks, legal reviews, photography & budget and tradeshow execution.
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Owned integrated marketing plan development; Partnered with internal and external creative teams to develop launch materials to drive consumer choice.
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Defined & led partnership strategy for Christian Siriano & Nate Berkus collabs.
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Managed $500K program budget, contracts, design process, talent selects & lifestyle photoshoot, advertising, social media, agency partners & retail launch.
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Debuted partnership at New York Fashion Week generating 1.3B media impressions; Generated $5MM in incremental sales with co-branded launch.
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On-Air talent and brand presenter for SSB’s first virtual tradeshow; Introduced and presented Beautyrest Harmony product launch to over 600+ industry leaders.
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Led key projects including formal presentation updates for key executive leadership meetings including business cases, financial reviews, and customer meetings.
Jun 2017 - Oct 2018
Newell Brands - Atlanta, GA
MANAGER, BRAND MARKETING I OUTDOOR & RECREATION
Redefined brand strategy for the company’s Outdoor Apparel business, including brands: Coleman and Marmot. Objective was to present a point of view with business recommendations to Sr. Leadership on:
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New brand positioning, portfolio architecture, innovation focus areas and communication strategies for the core apparel business.
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Opportunity to extend brands into adjacent spaces: defined by consumers’ perception of the brands and their right to play in different categories,
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Conducted competitive landscape assessments, social media analysis, value proposition, price positioning and distribution strategies.
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Collaborated with Sr. Director on line plan curation and development of new to the market Coleman men’s & women’s apparel collection (jackets, shirts, pants, baselayers).
Feb 2014 - Jun 2017
Newell Brands - Atlanta, GA
MANAGER, BRAND MARKETING I GOODY
Headed product development for Goody Hair Accessories business ($500MM). Primary responsibilities included P&L management, innovation, new product development, promotions, assortment & merchandising strategy, consumer research, pricing, advertising campaigns, packaging design, eCommerce site launch, go-to-market strategies & line review presentations.
Key Highlights & Accomplishments:
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Managed, mentored, and developed a team of three junior marketing professionals.
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Bi-Annual Asia travel to meet with suppliers, discuss business objectives, conduct factory visits; Sourced, designed and negotiated product pricing for Fall & Spring collections for total hair accessories business (Adult & Girls) totaling 1500+ SKUs.
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Executed the creation of the Goody ecommerce website including navigation, user experience, branding, web copy, photography and content creation.
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Successfully launched & patented two leading innovations still in market at Walmart & Target: Goody Ouchless Forever Elastics and SlideProof Hard Hair accessories.
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Reinvented Goody Girls portfolio and delivered a refined 2-year roadmap, new portfolio architecture and merchandising strategy; Designed and launched Goody Girls Trolls licensed hair accessories in partnership with DreamWorks Animation.
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Led Goody’s “Dad Hair Day” Beauty School Ad campaign to drive brand awareness.
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Managed talent selection and lifestyle photoshoot for Goody hairstyle Ad campaign to support Family Dollar Fabulous VIP Blogger event.
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Primary point of contact for cross-functional partners (R&D, Trade, Sourcing, etc.)
Apr 2011 - Jan 2014
Maclaren, Inc. - Norwalk, CT
GLOBAL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Oversaw product development for the Soft Goods and Accessories business. Primary responsibilities included partnering with the Design Director on global product planning, new product development & innovation, lifecycle management, merchandising, trend research, aesthetic design, fabric development & quality control.
Key Highlights & Accomplishments:
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Led strategic direction and product development for all product lines (strollers, seat liners, footmuffs, blankets, diaper bags and accessories).
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Implemented a visual overview chart assessing global product portfolio offerings, aided in SKU reduction and new forecast for all regions and channels of distribution.
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Drove the product development process for all product lines including production bill of materials (BOMs), approval of new fabrics, trims, colors, prints and patterns.
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Spearheaded brand partnerships of design collaborations with luxury brands including BMW, Orla Kiely and a suite of Airline and NYC Boutique Hotels.
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Collaborated with the eCommerce team to create digital and promotional content to boost audience engagement and identified product bundling opportunities to drive consumer purchase.
Dec 2007 - Apr 2011
Global Brands Group - New York, NY
ASSOCIATE DESIGNER
Spearheaded product development for B.Makowsky, Tignanello and private label handbag brands in partnership with VP of Design. Primary responsibilities included trend research, hand sketching, line planning & sample management, supplier relationship management, showroom setup and market week presentations with retail buyers.
Key Highlights & Accomplishments:
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Drove the manufacturing and product development process including seasonal T&A calendar; Facilitated daily communication with international & domestic suppliers.
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Managed handbag product lifecycle from concept to final product; produced and finalized spec packs including flat sketches, construction details, measurements, swatches, color palettes, lines sheets and any predefined performance standards.
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Collaborated with designers to build integrated line plan framework that delivered fresh new assortment mixes meeting all margin target guidelines.
Additional Experience
Stella & Dot - Stamford, CT
INDEPENDENT STYLIST
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Styled clients based on lifestyle, budget, seasonal trends and personal preferences.
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Scheduled and hosted in home Trunk Shows while providing clients with customer service, styling recommendations and fulfilling orders.
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Created sales and marketing prospecting collateral to support online/in-person trunk show bookings.
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Mentored new stylists with the launch and success of their own S&D business.
CBS Studios - New York, NY
CBS GUEST RELATIONS - PAGE PROGRAM (Internship)
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Gained hands on experience of the news room, studio operations and entertainment industry while working on CBS News with Katie Couric and 106 & Park with Terrence J.
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Received and transcribed live news stories in the record room, logged video footage and assisted producers with research; provided support to various departments.
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Assisted and supported celebrity guests while in studio; Engaged and supervised studio audience members pre/post production for live or pre-recorded shows.
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Attended informational speaker events and assisted with special events when necessary.
Town & Country Living - New York, NY
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE (Contract)
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Developed product assortments and maintained daily communication with vendors and overseas suppliers regarding pricing, materials and product development.
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Established relationships with Buyers to influence seasonal strategies and product assortment selections during line reviews.
Coach - Stamford, CT
RETAIL SALES ASSOCIATE (Seasonal)
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Achieved and exceeded goals through sales strategies, sourcing new customers and maintaining productive long-term relationships with existing customers.
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Built credibility and trust with new and existing clients by offering product recommendations, fashion trends and providing excellent customer service.