15 years ago, Andrea Green emerged from studying the first Executive Graduate Program North America offered on sustainable development within the business landscape, not only armed to the teeth with the knowledge of what it would take to get the sustainable transformation of ‘business’ underway, but the unerring belief that global licensing industry had every potential to succeed in doing so.

Couple this with the very real matter that Andrea is licensing royalty – having worked with the likes of The Walt Disney Company, Saban Brands, Activision, Zag, and plenty more in the mix – what insight Andrea doesn’t have into the international licensing space really probably isn’t worth having.

Working across Products of Change’s advisory and consultancy division, as well as repping the brand, the conversation, and the member community as POC’s very own Ambassador for North America, we thought it’d be remiss of us not to highlight the spectacular work of POC’s very own inspiring women in sustainability and licensing.

Andrea, we are so fortunate to have you a part of the Products of Change line-up. You’re a constant source of encouragement and energy not to mention a font of industry expertise and a wealth of insight into sustainability across the North American market… but there’s one more distinct aspect you bring to the table, isn’t there…?

Rob, are you talking about the impression you do of me? The one where I sound like Marge Simpson? I don’t know where that came from! Perhaps I need to just embrace this… cartoon chic, you’ve given me?

Haha, Andrea – my ears hear what they want to hear. Not to mention, you’d look spectacular with a blue perm. But we ought to get serious. You are licensing industry royalty! Your resumé has everyone who’s anyone on there. Can you give us the whistle-stop tour?

It all began with pure luck! I started being a jill-of-all trades for a collegiate licensee which led to 15 years on the licensee side of the business. Some of that was in Japan as a Disney Japan Licensee – that was the springboard to my global focus. I left Jerry Leigh Apparel, a role that brought me to Los Angeles, and transitioned to the Licensor side. All my roles since then – The World Poker Tour, Saban, Activision, Zag, and consulting have all been globally focused. I’ve always seen how interconnected we all are.

Wow, that really is a list! So, having played such an influential role with so many major brands, when did your focus and energy start to turn towards sustainability and the sustainable development of the brand and licensing industry?

15 years ago. I started hearing about this business term- or strategy – called Sustainability. I was fascinated, given my personal life was heavily focused on the natural world, but I was now a “business” person. The concept just blew me away.  

I enrolled in the first Executive Graduate Program offered in the country (at Presidio Graduate School) and graduated 14 years ago with an amazing cohort. From Day One I knew what I learned could be applied to our industry in a forward-thinking, risk mitigating way.

So, from that moment 14 years ago onwards, what have been some of your biggest milestone moments in driving sustainable change across the global industry? 

I started consulting with licensees right out of school. Walmart wanted their vendors to be checking off early sustainability metrics via their Scorecard. Many of those licensees are still benefiting from the energy saving thought processes we started then.  

I loved being part of a tiny band of industry change-makers, even if we were too early to resonate! Transitioning from tilting at my own windmills to being a part of Products of Change was such a gift. It took a while to “find my people” but what amazing change-agents our community is! I’d follow Helena anywhere!

We know it’s a massive topic to tackle and driving that across the North American consumer products market… that’s a mission that must feel at best overwhelming at times. Where do you draw inspiration from to keep on eating that elephant?  

That I know profound change is doable and how beneficial it is to us corporately. I do wish big markets like the US would think more globally about how what we do here, affects more than just us. Energy comes from all of those that are also dedicated to the mission of sustainable change. It’s such a dynamic field filled with brilliant people.

And so, Andrea, the official theme for International Women’s Day this year is Inspiring Inclusion. First, what does International Women’s Day mean to you?  

I adore the women in our industry. We’re collaborative, caring, and supportive. It’s a great Day to just reflect on any women who paved the way and then, who we can help along the way.

And second, how do you think the international licensing industry sits with that responsibility to inspire inclusion?  

We have a huge responsibility. Most of the industry is global, and so many are facing climate change head on with dire effects and consequences. We owe it to ourselves to uplift all those we work with and serve in the industry and do all we can to prosper so we can keep doing what we love.

Andrea, with such a career in the licensing space we know that you come at this with such a broad and international perspective. You must have also seen the industry at a flux on more than one occasion, across different markets and through different lenses. Taking all this into consideration, what does the brand and licensing industry of tomorrow look like and how do we get there?  

By taking both small AND big bites of “the elephant”! Contractual Changes, social and environmental equity, conscious consumerism, new business models – they’ll all have to take place to ensure our industry’s profitable future.

But I truly have faith in our industry, and I’ll keep trying to push for sustainable change via Products of Change!  So, if you haven’t, come join us!

Thank you so much Andrea, and we cannot wait for a proper catch up when we land in Las Vegas for Licensing Expo! Will you be there with a blue perm? 

Rob, it’s Vegas… anything is possible in Vegas.