INSTRUCTORS
Shira Wheeler
Throughout her career, Shira Wheeler has explored the theme of art and commerce, distilling ideas into results-driven creative strategy, helping numerous brands craft and communicate distinctive stories on and offline. Now she is using her experience and expertise to help shift the understanding and perception of women’s health and sexuality with the launch of Oddo, a collection of 100% cotton underwear.
Prior to founding Oddo, Shira began her career at the world-renowned advertising agency Radical Media, and then went on to build and direct RoAndCo, an award-winning design studio. In the summer of 2013, she founded FIGURE, a brand strategy consultancy that specializes in launch and e-commerce strategy. Over the years she has worked for clients such as Refinery29, Paintbox, Altuzarra, Grey Goose, Bird, Simon Miller, Nike and Zappos.
Miles Begin
Miles Begin is a design maker and thinker. He leads product design at Canary. Previously he's been VP of UX and Design at American Express. He has a talent for collaborative problem solving and works to build a strong culture of design wherever he hangs his hat. With a background in Industrial Design, Miles’ hand can be seen in products and services of all sorts – from electronics, to medical devices, to consumer packaged goods, to consumer financial tools. He is also a co-founder of The Design Gym and co-editor of And Then One Day.
Rachel Ginsberg
Rachel's career has included a wide range of experience in retail, operations, buying, store management, design thinking and (bringing it all together) strategy. In 2011 she worked to launch and then manage Brand + Commercial, an online fashion business publication where she focused much of her writing on consumer-facing fashion enterprise, addressing related technologies and evolutions in consumer behavior. Through a few years of freelance interdisciplinary strategy practice and now as a Sr. Strategist at Adoptive, her career has moved progressively towards a focus on brand strategy and the essential relationship between branding and experience. Rachel has worked with clients such as L'Oreal, Target, Caleres and Clean.
Kyle Studstill
Kyle is the designer behind Composure, a line of unique scarves in a rare balance of silk and wool. His background is in digital strategy and innovative brand thinking for changing business landscapes. He's been a part the team behind Makeway—a guide to artisanal innovation profiled by Fast Company and Monocle magazine—and a trends consultant at the innovation firm PSFK.
Shane Rasnak
Shane Rasnak consults for leaders of impact-driven companies, helping them to acquire more customers and drive growth using digital marketing. Previously, Shane was a founding member and the Director of Marketing at ReWork. He is also a StartingBloc fellow, contributing writer for Unreasonable.is, and part-time instructor at General Assembly's NYC campus as an Expert in Residence for the digital marketing program.
Stacey Ferreira
Stacey Ferreira is the co-author of 2 Billion Under 20: How Millennials Are Breaking Down Age Barriers & Changing the World and CEO of Forrge, a platform to help independent workers find temporary job opportunities in their area, manage their work schedule and manage their finances, taxes and insurance. Previously, Stacey was the co-founder of MySocialCloud, an online password manager whose investors include Sir Richard Branson, Jerry Murdock, and Alex Welch. In 2013, she and her brother (and co-founder) sold MySocialCloud to Reputation.com, making Stacey the youngest female tech entrepreneur to ever make an exit of this nature.
Eric Ho
Eric Ho is the founder of miLES, a civic startup that open storefronts to possibilities by activating urban neighborhoods for pop-up entrepreneurship. miLES has been creatively using and sharing storefront spaces for a wide range of uses and time-frame to lower the entry barrier for entrepreneurs, creatives and community to use commercial real estate. Started as an online collaboration, Eric has been leading the development of miLES into an innovative practice operating between real estate, design and social entrepreneurship. Eric also teaches at Parsons the New School for Design in the Design and Strategic Management Program.
Courtney Cervantes
Courtney is a public relations and communications strategist. Formerly a writer and editor, she now puts her energy towards helping brands develop and tell their stories in an authentic and meaningful way that effectively connects with media and consumers. Currently working at Access Emanate, a communications agency, she has a knack for tapping into industry insights and leveraging her strong media relationships to build and execute integrated creative campaigns that result in significant exposure for her clients. With an affinity for consumer lifestyle brands, she has represented companies including Jameson Irish Whiskey, Beefeater Gin, Blue Diamond Growers, LUNA Bar, and Toshiba.