Luxury Market Branding is a New York-based strategic marketing and branding consultancy that serves the food, wine, travel, hospitality, and consumer products industries.

Founder: Lauren Maillian Bias

Company: Luxury Market Branding

Location: New York, NY

1. I came up with the concept of Luxury Market Branding:

After having spent 8 years building an award-winning and internationally recognized wine brand, I felt that I had outgrown the business, but knew that I wanted to incorporate parts of that experience into my next venture.

I realized that I had built a successful company and that there was value in my entrepreneurial skill-set, diverse networks, global experiences, and my philanthropic values. Thus I decided to create a business that allowed me to intersect these complementing areas. I wanted to have fun working and do something that I loved to do.

Ultimately, a dear colleague pushed me to assist their company with marketing, branding and strategy, and the rest is history.

2. Ambition:

To show my children that the world holds enormous opportunity and to help them navigate the pursuit of their passion.

3. One day I hope to:

Create an endowed scholarship fund for minorities to study abroad. The intrinsic value of cultural immersion is priceless; it fosters unique perspectives and  diverse communication skills — assets of many successful leaders.

4. Current obsession:

I’m on a quest to discover efficient ways to decompress and I’m currently obsessed with vinyasa and ashtunga yoga, Ahava products, and Diptyque’s Tubereuse candles.

5. Favorite business tool:

Action Method to manage projects and Skype to connect with clients (virtually) in-person and share documents in real time.

6. Favorite book(s):

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell, Public Parts by Jeff Jarvis and The Prophet by Khalil Gibran.

7. Best place to unwind:

A gorgeous beach in a fairly remote location …

8. Would love to have dinner with:

The co-founder of the news website The Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington. Her story is amazing and I have an immense amount of respect for her ability to dream big and execute.

9. You can never have too many:

Apple accessory chargers. I seem to misplace them all too often!

10. Essential business tip:

Never let your colleagues or competitors see you sweat. There is tremendous value in staying silent while you strategize and leaving them all intrigued.

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