Speakers and Sessions

Joy McBrien

Joy McBrien – Founder, Fair Anita and Chair of the Fair Trade Federation Board of Directors

Regenerate + Rekindle

Zellipah Githui

Zellipah Githui  – President, Gitzell Fair Trade

My Immigration Journey to Fair Trade Business

Zellipah shares her immigration journey: Accompanied with two suitcases, Zellipah Githui left her home country of Kenya to study at a Kansas university. Nothing looked or seemed familiar in the cold winter season of 1998. She knew no one. She turned to her one suitcase that had gifts and souvenirs and started showcasing to the students and staff at Pittsburg University.

Roopa Mehta

Roopa Mehta – President, WFTO

Fair Trade: Changing the Rules

Fair trade (FT) evolution, impact and relevance. FT place in the new economy. Growing community of conscious consumers. Promoting fair trade enterprises through strong collaborative efforts. Adopting best business practices for agility and long term sustainability. Envisioning the future of the fair trade.

Olufunmilayo (Funmi) Arewa

Olufunmilayo (Funmi) Arewa – Murray H. Shusterman Professor of Transactional and Business Law, Temple University Beasley School of Law

Trade, Fairness, and Decolonization

This session will be an introduction to the continuing impact of colonialism in trading and other contexts.

Colvin English

Kelly Weinberger

Michelle Karol

Katie Leighton

Manish Gupta

Sarah Wilson

Colvin English – Co-Founder, ByHand Consulting; Katie Leighton – Head of Brand Success, Faire; Kelly Weinberger – Founder, WorldFinds; Manish Gupta – Founder, Matr Boomie; Michelle Karol – Director of Tradeshow Sales,  International Market Centers; Sarah Wilson – Group Show Director, Emerald X

Market Access Workshop: Gift Shows, Wholesale Buyer Platforms, and Online Marketplaces

Join FTF Wholesale Members alongside industry professionals in a timely and important panel discussion about market access opportunities (current and future) for fair trade handmade products. The discussion will include (but not be limited to) in-person trade shows (NY NOW, AmericasMart, Vegas Market), online wholesale platforms (Faire, Powered by People), as well as the impact of Amazon and Etsy.

Manpreet Kalra

Manpreet Kalra – Social Impact + Equity Advisor, Art of Citizenry and Chief of Impact + Communication, MINNA

Ethical Storytelling: Crafting Your Brand Story

Having a clearly defined brand is core to any successful business and marketing strategy. Discover how to responsibly talk about your do-good retail brand while staying true to your mission. This session is designed to help you workshop branding your fair trade business through a justice-driven lens using best practices, so you can effectively convey your brand story, nurture more authentic relationships, and build community.

Ana Cris Medina

Shelley Tennyson

Hala Scandar

Zellipah Githui

Ana Cris Medina – Production Manager, MZ Made; Hala Scandar – Founder and CEO, Dandarah; Shelley Tennyson – Founder and CEO, MZ Made; and Zellipah Githui – President, Gitzell Fair Trade

Success! Collaboration with Producers in a Fair Trade World

Shelley Tennyson moderates a panel of 3 FTF members who have worked directly with producers/artisans from Mexico, Egypt, Kenya, and other countries in Africa for years. Ana Cris Medina, Hala Scandar, and Zellipah Githui will tell their stories about how they learned to work with producers more effectively over time, including decision making inclusiveness, order accuracy and efficiency, and reduction of uncertainty. They will also discuss collaboration in the product design process. There will be time at the end for questions and discussion with workshop participants.

Elizabeth Price

Mary Lind Muhmad

Leisa Johnson

Michelle Bourdon

Elizabeth Price – Executive Director, Museum Store Association (MSA); Leisa Johnson – Merchandise Specialist, Catalina Museum For Art & History; Mary Lind Mahmud – Director of Sales, Fair Anita; Michelle Bourdon – Store & Visitor Services Manager at USC Museums

Practical Tips on How to Work with Museum and other Non-Profit Cultural Institution Stores

Learn directly from the institution buyer! This panel will share practical as well as un-specifiable tips on identifying and fostering relationships with museum stores. The Executive Director of the Museum Store Association (MSA), Elizabeth Price, will ask panelists Michelle Bourdon, Store & Visitor Services Manager at USC Museums, Leisa Johnson the Merchandise Specialist at Catalina Museum and one of our own Fair Trade Federation Members, Mary Lind Mahmud, questions aimed directly at best practices when selling your fair trade products to museums. Members from the MSA support fair trade, eco-friendly and DEAI practices, which makes this relationship one worth exploring.

Janine Mulone

Janine Mulone – Founder, Feel Good Retail and host of the Retail For The Rest Of Us podcast

Don’t Fear The Data: Using Key Metrics To Grow Your Shop

In this session, we will dive into the 3 “magic” numbers that can help you pinpoint opportunity, hone your marketing approach and become super strategic when growing your retail sales.

Colvin English

Colvin English – Co-Founder, ByHand Consulting

Importing 101

In this session we will discuss both the reasons to import and the basic logistics of importing products into the US market.

Manpreet Kalra

Manpreet Kalra – Social Impact + Equity Advisor, Art of Citizenry and Chief of Impact + Communication, MINNA

Ethical Storytelling: Crafting Your Brand Story

Having a clearly defined brand is core to any successful business and marketing strategy. Discover how to responsibly talk about your do-good retail brand while staying true to your mission. This session is designed to help you workshop branding your fair trade business through a justice-driven lens using best practices, so you can effectively convey your brand story, nurture more authentic relationships, and build community.

Janine Mulone

Janine Mulone – Founder, Feel Good Retail and host of the Retail For The Rest Of Us podcast

Don’t Fear The Data: Using Key Metrics To Grow Your Shop

In this session, we will dive into the 3 “magic” numbers that can help you pinpoint opportunity, hone your marketing approach and become super strategic when growing your retail sales.

Olufunmilayo (Funmi) Arewa

Olufunmilayo (Funmi) Arewa – Murray H. Shusterman Professor of Transactional and Business Law, Temple University Beasley School of Law

Trade, Fairness, and Decolonization

This breakout session will take a deeper dive into the continuing impact of colonialism in trading and other contexts. It will also consider what patterns of exclusion and marginalization in colonial contexts in Africa tell us about the importance of inclusion in structuring relationships and institutions today. Q&A will take place at the end of the session, followed by a book signing immediately afterwards. Disrupting Africa.

Kamarah Short

Kamarah Short – Marketing Coordinator, Fair Anita

Growing the Fair Trade Market: The Importance of Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion

In this session, we will go over the importance of diversity and inclusion in marketing and some ways to display that within your business.

Elisha Chan

Teresa Baxter

Elisha Chan – Executive Director, Fair Trade LA; Teresa Baxter – Co-Founder and Operations Coordinator, Fair Trade Long Beach

Fair Trade Town Campaigns

Join the movement!