Womxn's Empowerment Conference

Cara Araneta, Fabric Styling ’05, Alumni Advisory Council Member, Cultural Strategist, and Community Builder

Cara Araneta is a strategist and brand builder who works at the intersection of culture, community, and growth. A Swiss Army knife, not because she does everything, but because her work consistently bridges strategy, human experience, and the power of connection.
Her career has taken her from fashion design to Silicon Valley, and across borders, Brazil, Japan, Switzerland, Guatemala, Belize, always chasing the through-line between culture and commerce.

Most recently, she led North American expansion for The Ned, a Soho House Company, where she focused on membership strategy, growth, and building emotionally resonant communities. Her expertise lies in sourcing and curating culture, building ecosystems of creators and collaborators, and translating emerging cultural signals into experiences that drive engagement and loyalty. A passionate advocate for women’s empowerment, Cara believes community is not a tactic, but imperative.

Outside of her work, Cara is a devoted traveler and host at heart. She finds inspiration in art and architecture, long meals with friends, wellness rituals, and discovering beauty in unexpected places. She is endlessly curious about human connection, creativity, and the subtle details that make life feel more alive.

Remi Bader is a content creator, model, entrepreneur, and advocate known for sparking a shift toward inclusivity in fashion. She rose to prominence with “realistic clothing hauls,” bringing humor, honesty, and relatability to fashion, championing size inclusivity. Since then, her impact has earned recognition: she was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in 2022, included in Forbes Top Creators: Fashion 50 in 2023, nominated for Best Community Engagement at the 2025 Webby Awards, and awarded Cross-Platform Entertainer of the Year at Adweek’s Creator Network Awards.

Fatou B. Barry is a communications strategist, writer, and founder of PR Girl Manifesto, a global community and resource platform serving PR and communications professionals around the world. With a background spanning corporate brand communications, nonprofit leadership, and cultural strategy, her work sits at the intersection of storytelling, visibility, and community impact.

Fatou specializes in helping mission-driven brands build clarity and cultural relevance through integrated communications strategies that align marketing, PR, and brand narrative. She has led campaigns across retail, social impact, and sports philanthropy, while also building PR Girl Manifesto into a trusted ecosystem offering events, editorial programming, professional development resources, and career advocacy for emerging communications leaders.

Her work centers on redefining what leadership and influence look like in modern communications, prioritizing intention, inclusion, and long-term community trust over performative visibility. As a speaker and moderator, she brings a grounded, strategic perspective to conversations about personal branding, cultural storytelling, and building careers with both ambition and integrity.

Yaya DaCosta is an award-winning actress, birth worker, entrepreneur, public speaker, model, and wayshower. Yaya is best known for her roles as Andrea Freeman on Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer, Whitney Houston in Lifetime’s biopic Whitney, April Sexton on Chicago Med, and Angela Vaughn on Fox’s Our Kind of People. She is also the founder of the innovative line of head wraps, “Wraps N’ Raps”, and the creator of an online school, currently launching its inaugural course on forgiveness.

Madeline Gardner,  Fashion Design ‘79, FIT Foundation Board Member,  Designer / Creative Director / Business Owner

From a young age, Madeline Gardner demonstrated an affinity for fashion. She began sewing at just 12 years old. This early passion blossomed into a custom design business while she was still in high school, paving the way for her studies in Fashion Design at FIT and a lifelong career in the industry.

As designer and creative director at Morilee, Gardner has played an instrumental role in growing the brand into a global leader in bridal, prom, quinceañera, and special-occasion fashion, helping make Morilee—and Gardner herself—an essential part of life’s most celebrated moments. Gardner ended her 40-year tenure at Morilee in the second quarter of 2024.

She was an early advocate of designing for women of all body types. Gardner’s superior designs, crafted from unique fabrics, make women all over the world feel unique and beautiful. Using a hands-on, disciplined approach, Gardner specializes in working with lace, embroidery, and intricate beading, combining modern trends with timeless detail to create pieces that are both luxurious and accessible to a diverse range of consumers.

Gardner has been featured in every bridal publication and website: both her designs and wardrobe tips and hints. She has appeared on numerous television shows, including Access Hollywood, where she famously sketched Meghan Markle’s two wedding gowns while watching the ceremony on TV and had them on Morilee’s website within 10 days of the royal wedding.

In addition to her design work, Gardner currently serves as an FIT Foundation board member. In this role she supports future talent through mentorship and a scholarship program for aspiring bridal designers. Gardner also serves as a judge and fabric-sourcing instructor for the High School of Fashion Industries in New York City. With an unwavering dedication to the craft, Gardner continues to contribute to the design community, sharing her understanding of and respect for quality and workmanship.

Sora Lee is a Visionary Founder, Creative Director, and Storyteller whose work embodies courage, connection, and uncompromising authenticity. Immigrating to the U.S. at nine without speaking English, she has since forged a global career spanning Paris, London, and New York, consistently defying expectations and charting her own path. Often the only one in the room, she learned early to navigate difference and discrimination, cultivating the grit and resilience that have defined her life and career.

As Founder, CEO, and Creative Director of THE SORA LEE, a luxury floral and event design studio, Sora transforms ideas into immersive experiences. She partners with couples, brands, and celebrities to craft environments that celebrate stories, spark connection, and leave lasting impressions. Her work is as much about people and moments as it is about design, centering collaboration, creativity and meaningful impact.  

A relentless advocate for self-determined success, Sora believes true empowerment emerges from perseverance, hard work, and the courage to follow your own path. At every stage of her life and career, she has stayed true to herself, turning obstacles into opportunities, and redefining success on her own terms- creating her story, her way.

Naturi Naughton-Lewis is a three-time NAACP Image Award–winning actress, director, and producer whose career spans music, Broadway, television, and film. She is best known for her decade-long portrayal of Tasha St. Patrick in the global hit Power and Power Book II: Ghost, a role that earned her back-to-back NAACP Image Awards, she has built an impressive body of work across television and film, including Notorious, Fame, and ABC's Queens.

Most recently, she expanded her reach as an Executive Producer on the Starz series The Nowhere Man, which has risen to the #1 spot on the platform. Behind the camera, she executive produced the award-winning feature film Color Book, which premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, and Naturi also made her directorial debut with the short film 333 at the 2025 American Black Film Festival (ABFF), a bold exploration of reproductive rights in a post-Roe America.

A former member of multi-platinum R&B girl group 3LW and Broadway veteran who appeared in Hairspray, Naturi continues to evolve as a creative force dedicated to diverse, globally resonant storytelling.

Nayantara Sam, International Trade & Marketing for the Fashion Industries '17, Digital Marketing and Media Manager | Fendi

Currently working at Fendi as the Digital Marketing and Media Manager. Luxury marketing specialist with experience across Fashion, Leather Goods, Watches, Fine Jewelry. Previously at Cartier & Ralph Lauren.

Molly Taylor, Fashion Buying & Merchandising ‘88, FIT Foundation Board Member, SVP Merchandising, Fashion & Editorial | Rue-Gilt Groupe

Molly Taylor is a strategic merchandising executive known for connecting top-line vision to bottom-line performance while building inclusive, high-performing teams. She is known for emotional intelligence and a down-to-earth and transparent leadership style. Molly is deeply motivated by people—her leadership philosophy centers on creating environments where individuals feel trusted, empowered, and equipped to do their best work.

She currently serves as Senior Vice President of Merchandising at Rue Gilt Groupe. Previously, Molly was Chief Merchant and a member of the executive team at Saks OFF 5TH and Century 21 Stores. She spent more than a decade at Nordstrom, Inc. in roles of increasing responsibility across both full-price and off-price businesses. She began her career at Macy’s, building a strong foundation across store and merchant organizations.

Molly holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising from the University of Idaho and an Associate’s degree in Fashion Buying and Merchandising from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Fashion Institute of Technology Foundation and is Co-Chair of the Fashion Institute of Technology Alumni Advisory Council. In 2022, she was honored as one of the Top Women in Retail by the Women in Retail Leadership Circle.

Christina Treviño, Fashion Design ‘92, Partner and VP - Latin Biz Today, Award-Winning Children’s Author & Fashion Executive

Christina (Tina) Treviño is a multifaceted fashion executive, entrepreneur, and award-winning author with over 30 years of industry leadership. A 1992 graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology with a concentration in Sportswear, Tina has navigated a distinguished career path defined by steady professional growth. She successfully rose from her early roots as a design assistant to Creative Director, where she led teams of over 20 designers and served as the strategic liaison between design, sales, and production.

A veteran of the global retail landscape, Tina has operated at the highest levels of private label development, spearheading strategic programs for major US retailers. Her executive experience includes hands-on management of global sourcing, vendor negotiations, and product costing and engineering. This comprehensive business acumen was instrumental during a pivotal period where she successfully collaborated with and launched apparel portfolios for global icons including Brooke Shields, Adam Levine, and Wendy Williams. 

Deeply committed to education and mentorship, Tina has shared her expertise as an Adjunct Professor at Manhattanville University, where she taught "Art, Fashion and Design." For the past 12 years, she has also been a cornerstone of the digital platform, Latin Biz Today, currently serving as Partner and VP of Community Relations. In this role, she oversees community engagement and hosts the "Cafecito with Latin Biz Today" podcast, driving the conversation around Latino entrepreneurship. In 2018, she further expanded her influence by founding Tocaya Design, a business dedicated to strategic consulting within the apparel sector.

Tina’s creative journey reached a new milestone with the launch of Christina Treviño Storybooks, exploring her Mexican American heritage. Her literary work has earned prestigious recognition, including the 2026 International Impact Book Award for El Camino del Destino; A Migrant Family’s Adventure. Today, she bridges her corporate and creative worlds through her "Creative Construction" workshops, designed to inspire and mentor students from elementary through junior high by connecting the power of storytelling with the world of design. 

Candace Witherspoon, Candace Witherspoon Salon

Candace's love for hair began in grade school in her native country Liberia. She has spent the last 16 years working behind the chair educating women and men of all textures on how to better take care of their hair. She currently owns the prestigious Candace Witherspoon Salon, a safe space where all curl textures are treated with love and care.