Future//Forward Conversations

Jason Schupbach is the president of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).  

Preceding his position at FIT, Schupbach was the dean of the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University. He is a nationally recognized expert on support systems for creatives and on the nexus of creativity and comprehensive community development. 

At Drexel, Schupbach led the college to success in fundraising, rankings, scholarly output, enrollment, and faculty, staff, and student support. He launched a groundbreaking new apprenticeship model of education with URBN and was the co-editor of The Routledge Handbook of Urban Cultural Planning, published in 2025. Before joining Drexel, Schupbach was the director of The Design School at Arizona State University (ASU), where he led the ambitious ReDesign.School initiative to reinvent design education for the 21st century and was a key advisor to ASU on diverse projects, such as the Studio for Creativity, Place and Equitable Communities; James Turrell’s large-scale land artwork, Roden Crater; and ASU’s downtown Los Angeles campus.

Prior to ASU, he was director of Design and Creative Placemaking programs for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), where he oversaw all design- and creative-placemaking grantmaking and partnerships, including Our Town and Design Art Works grants, the Mayors’ Institute on City Design, the Citizens' Institute on Rural Design, and the NEA’s federal agency collaborations. In addition, he oversaw "Creativity Connects," the first report in a decade on the major trends and conditions affecting U.S. artists and designers, and a new grant program to support partnership projects between creatives and other fields of practice.

Co-Founder, Spin Master, and Co-Creator, PAW Patrol

Ronnen Harary is the co-founder and chair of Spin Master, the global children’s entertainment company behind iconic brands such as PAW Patrol, Bakugan, Melissa & Doug, Rubik’s Cube, Hatchimals, and Toca Boca. What began as a startup founded in his early 20s has grown into a company with thousands of employees, offices around the world, and products and entertainment experiences reaching children and families in more than 160 countries. Over the past three decades, Harary has helped shape the global toy and children’s entertainment industries while building one of Canada’s most successful entrepreneurial stories. 

Throughout his career, Harary has remained passionate about entrepreneurship, innovation, and helping others realize their potential. Having started Spin Master with no industry experience, little money, and plenty of uncertainty, he has spent years mentoring young founders and speaking about the mindset required to build something meaningful from scratch.

Beyond business, Harary is deeply committed to using his success to create meaningful impact. He is the founder of the Toy Movement, a global initiative that delivers toys to children in underserved communities around the world, and he leads philanthropic work through the Ronnen Harary Foundation, with a focus on youth empowerment, revitalization of green spaces, education—particularly for those with learning disabilities—and expanding access to opportunity.

Harary is also the author of No Experience Necessary, a bold and timely call to action for the next generation. Drawing from his journey building Spin Master from the ground up, he challenges the idea that experience is required to begin. Instead, he argues that youth itself is a competitive advantage—before fear, expectations, and convention take hold. Through personal stories and practical insights, Harary encourages young people to think independently, take risks, and pursue work that matters.

Today, Harary continues to champion a simple but powerful belief: The best time to start is before you feel ready; and with the right mindset, community, and courage, anyone can turn an idea into something extraordinary.

The Entrepreneurial Spark: How to Get It and Nurture It, and Why Your 20s May Be the Best Time to Light It

Co-founder of Spin Master and co-creator of PAW Patrol, Ronnen Harary, reflects on the courage and curiosity necessary to go from an idea to a global business and discusses his related new book, No Experience Necessary.

The event will also be livestreamed.

President, Kering Americas

Ewa Abrams is president of Kering Americas, representing the interests of the Kering Group and its portfolio of luxury brands (Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, DoDo, Qeelin, and Ginori 1735, as well as Kering Eyewear and Kering Beauté) in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. With a commitment to public service and passion for continued learning, she serves as president of the Kering Foundation in the Americas, launched Kering Americas’ first pro bono legal program, and supports women’s empowerment and professional development through Kering’s Women in Luxury Network program. Previously, she served as general counsel of Kering Americas, advising the business on corporate, commercial, and legal matters, in addition to holding senior legal and compliance roles at Tiffany & Co.

Kering luxury brands include Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, and Balenciaga. Abrams discusses the importance of education for future luxury talent and where sustainability and inclusivity fit in the shifting luxury fashion landscape.

Head of Fine Fragrance, Givaudan

Matthieu Befve is head of fine fragrance for North America at Givaudan. He brings more than 16 years of global experience spanning fragrance and beauty, strategy, commercial leadership, marketing, and digital transformation across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Drawing on his international perspective and passion for the emotional power of scent, he leads Givaudan’s North American Fine Fragrance business, driving growth, innovation, and strategic partnerships across luxury, specialty retail, and emerging brands.

Ever wonder how a single scent can evoke powerful emotions, shape global culture, and drive a multi-billion dollar industry? Listen in as Befve reveals what it takes to innovate and lead in the fast-evolving world of fragrance and beauty.

Executive Director and Co-Founder, RAISEfashion, and author, The Designer's Path

Felita Harris is a fashion executive with over 25 years of experience. Author of The Designer’s Path: A Masterclass in Building Independent Fashion Brands, she is one of the industry’s most committed advocates for emerging talent. As co-founder and executive director of Raisefashion, she has supported over 500 brands and interns, facilitated more than $1.5 million in grants, and built a global network of 400+ industry advisors dedicated to making fashion more equitable. Her career spans senior roles and partnerships with numerous brands, including Donna Karan, Alexander Wang, LVMH, Neiman Marcus, ShopMy, Victoria’s Secret, Abercrombie & Fitch, M&T Bank, and The Business of Fashion, along with her own consultancy. A Vogue Business Innovator List honoree and Savoy Laureate, with features in WWD, Elle, Essence, BoF, and the CFDA, Harris is building the infrastructure for who gets to shape fashion’s future.

The Designer’s Path: Capital, Community, and Independent Fashion

Fashion executive, author of The Designer’s Path, and RAISEfashion co-founder Felita Harris discussed access to the capital, mentorship, and networks that can help emerging designers build long-lasting businesses—plus, the critical nature of teamwork.