Kelly Furano

Activist, Architect, Athlete, Business adviser, Business leader, Business mentor, Care taker, Change agent, Concerned citizen, Connector, Consultant, Entrepreneur, Environmentalist, Explorer, Global soul, Investor, Parent, Real estate professional, Social entrepreneur, Startup, Student, World traveler

Kelly Furano is an entrepreneur and global business development executive with over 15 years of experience growing luxury fashion and lifestyle brands worldwide. Furano has forged meaningful relationships with accredited artists, designers, retailers, chefs, athletes, developers and hoteliers worldwide and supported them in the execution of building their businesses. Furano founded an executive consulting firm providing business development strategy for leading CEO’s and Creative Directors. Some of Furano’s clients include Jill Collage (The Row), Greg Chait (CEO The Elder Statesman), Marco Bizarri (CEO of Bottega Veneta now CEO of Gucci), Philip Green (CEO of Arcadia Group: TOPSHOP), Roxanne Heptner (CEO WILT), Paige Mycoskie (CEO of Aviator Nation), Bonnie Brooks (Vice Chairman of Hudson Bay Company), Betsee Isenberg (Founder of 10Eleven showroom) and Mara Hoffman. Furano served as the EVP of Business Development for Elizabeth & James and expanded the brand’s presence in new markets including Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Italy, Germany, UK, France, Middle East, Russia, Canada, and Mexico. In 2004 Furano launched True Religion Brand Jeans alongside Founder and CEO Jeff Lubell and was pivotal in growing the business to $400 million as the Vice President of Global Sales. Lubell publically recognizes Furano as his “most valuable asset”. Furano supported the brand through its IPO and retail expansion of 150 doors.

Branding, Business Development, Community, Conservation, Fashion, Hospitality, Sustainability, Wellness

My dear friends Blake and Heather Mycoskie invited me to join them at TED this year. I am building a conscious community resort in Malibu called FORREST and raising capital with intentional humans who align with the vision. As ambassadors to the project, Blake and Heather felt TED was an optimal environment to cross pollinate with the right people to support the building of FORREST.

Singing