Aslaug Magnusdottir

Aslaug Magnusdottir

Aslaug Magnusdottir

Aslaug Magnusdottir 2012
Born Aslaug Magnusdottir
Reykjavík, Iceland
Residence New York City
Alma mater University of Iceland (Candidate of Law)
Duke University School of Law (LL.M.)
Harvard Business School (MBA)
Occupation Co-Founder of Moda Operandi, Co-Founder of TSM Capital

Aslaug Magnusdottir is an Icelandic[1] business woman and entrepreneur.[2] She is the Co-Founder[3] and former[4] Chief Executive Officer of Moda Operandi[5] and a Co-Founder of TSM Capital.[6] Dubbed "fashion's fairy godmother" by Vogue[7] and one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company,[8] Magnusdottir came up with the concept for Moda Operandi while working with fashion designers in New York.[3]

A Fulbright Scholar,[9] Magnusdottir holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School,[10] an LL.M from Duke University School of Law[11] and a Candidate of Law degree from the University of Iceland.[9]

Family and education

Aslaug Magnusdottir was born in Reykjavík, Iceland to parents Magnus Sigurdsson and Rakel Valdimarsdottir. She has one brother, Sigurdur R. Magnusson. Magnusdottir grew up in Los Angeles and Reykjavík,[8] and attended college at the University of Iceland where she studied law.[9] Magnusdottir received a Fulbright scholarship[9] and returned to the U.S. to attend the LL.M program at Duke University.[11] She then got her MBA from Harvard Business School,[10] the first Icelandic woman to do so.[8]

Magnusdottir lives in New York with her husband Gabriel Levy.[12] She was previously married to Gunnar Thoroddsen, a lawyer and former CEO of Landsbanki bank in Luxembourg.[13] Gunnar is the grandson of Iceland's former Prime Minister, Gunnar Thoroddsen, and the great grandson of Iceland's second President, Asgeir Asgeirsson. Together they have a son, Gunnar A. Thoroddsen.[8]

Career

Early work

Magnusdottir began her career in Iceland where she was a corporate and tax attorney at Deloitte.[9] After completing her graduate studies, she moved to London where she was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company.[9]

Fashion career

Magnusdottir first became involved in the fashion industry while helping to run a modeling agency during college.[8] She started her professional career in fashion at Baugur Group, an investment company focused on the fashion and retail sectors.[14] During her time at Baugur, Aslaug spearheaded a number of investments in early stage fashion brands.[14]

In 2006, Magnusdottir relocated from London to New York, and joined Marvin Traub Associates as a Vice President.[14] In 2007, she partnered with the former Bloomingdales CEO and retail legend, Marvin Traub, to form an investment company, TSM Capital, which invested in designer brands such as Rachel Roy[15] and Matthew Williamson.[6] Aslaug later worked with actor and jewelry designer Waris Ahluwalia as President of his label, House of Waris Fine Jewelry.[5] In 2009, Aslaug joined Gilt Groupe to head merchandising for Gilt Noir.[16]

In 2009, Magnusdottir came up with the idea for Moda Operandi,[16] a business that lets consumers pre-order items directly from the runway.[17] She shared the concept with Lauren Santo Domingo, and, together, they co-founded the company.[18]

On May 18, 2013, it was reported that Magnusdottir left Moda Operandi after raising $36 million investment from venture capital firms.[4]

In 2013, Magnusdottir came up with the idea for Tinker Tailor,[19] a business that lets consumers customize designer clothing or design their own.[19] She Co-Founded the business with Matthew Pavelle, Gabriel Levy and Cleo Davis-Urman.[20] Tinker Tailor ceased operations in 2015.[21]

Awards and recognitions

• One of the BOF 500 in 2014 - The Business of Fashion [22]

• One To World 2014 Fulbright Award for Outstanding Achievement [23]

• One of the 100 Most Creative People in Business in 2012 – Fast Company.[8]

• Among the 10 Game Changers of 2012 – Harper's Bazaar[24]

• Among the Next Establishment in 2012 – Vanity Fair (magazine)[25]

• Fashinvest Award 2012 – Fashinvest[26]

• One of Fashion's 100 Most Influential 2006 – Drapers .[27]

Boards and Non-Profit Activities

Aslaug has served on the Board of Directors of numerous fashion and retail companies, including Matthew Williamson and Rachel Roy.[28]

Aslaug has been involved in various non-profit activities. She was nominated by the Minister of Education, Science and Culture (Iceland) as the Chairwoman of the National Ballet Company of Iceland.[8] Aslaug served as Vice-Chairman of the National Youth Organization of the Independence Party (Iceland) during the leadership of former Minister of Health (Iceland), Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson.[29] She also co-founded a political movement within the Independence Party of Iceland to promote women’s rights.[8]

References

  1. Novellino, Teresa (December 11, 2012). "Moda Operandi Found Power in Being First". The Business Journals. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  2. MacBride, Elizabeth (September 9, 2012). "Women Entrepreneurs Smash an Old Barrier". Crain Communications. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Bourne, Leah (February 29, 2012). "The Startup That Changed How Women Buy $10,000 Gowns". Forbes. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  4. 1 2 Wang, Lisa (May 18, 2013). "Co-Founder and CEO Áslaug Magnúsdóttir Leaves Moda Operandi". Business of Fashion. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Aslaug Magnusdottir". The Coveteur. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  6. 1 2 Karimzadeh, Marc (August 28, 2007). "New Traub-Led Group Invests in Williamson". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  7. Barnett, Leisa (September 4, 2007). "Fashion's Fairy Godmother". Vogue (British magazine). Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "The 100 Most Creative People in Business 2012". Fast Company. June 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Bloomberg Empowered Entrpereneur". Bloomberg L.P. April 14, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  10. 1 2 Kutz, Erin (March 5, 2012). "Are Fashion Tech Startups the Latest HBS Tribe?". Harvard Business School. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  11. 1 2 Buher, Bridget (October 2, 2012). "Life's Broad Sea: Biological Conservation; Prosecuting Insider Trading; Ordering Designer Clothes". Duke University. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  12. "Moda Operandi takes the fashion world by storm". 85 Broads. February 22, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  13. "New CEO at Landsbanki Luxembourg S.A.". Nordic Exchange. June 22, 2004. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  14. 1 2 3 Moin, David (December 28, 2006). "Traub Hire Broadens Fashion Scope". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  15. Karimzadeh, Marc (November 13, 2007). "A New Designer Deal: TSM Capital Acquires Stake in Rachel Roy". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  16. 1 2 Binkley, Christina (December 1, 2010). "A Faster Trip From Runway to Shopping Cart". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  17. Shontell, Alyson (October 25, 2012). "The Silicon Alley 100:The Coolest People in New York Tech This Year". Business Insider. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  18. Drell, Lauren (August 6, 2012). "44 Female Founders Every Entrepreneur Should Know". Mashable. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  19. 1 2 Kamm, Jennifer (July 11, 2014). "Tinker Tailor Lets Users Customize Designer Dresses -- Or Design Their Own". Forbes. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  20. "The Founders". Tinker Tailor. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  21. Strugatz, Rachel. "Tinker Tailor to Close". WWD.
  22. "BOF 500 The People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry in 2014". Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  23. "One To World". Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  24. "10 Game Changers of 2012". Harper's Bazaar. January 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  25. Chafkin, Max (September 7, 2012). "The Next Establishment". Vanity Fair (magazine). Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  26. Alforb, Lolita (December 12, 2012). "Fashinvest Awards Aslaug Magnusdottir of Moda Operandi with "Fashpreneur Award" at Annual Capital Conference". Fashinvest. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  27. "Drapers Top 100". Drapers. December 9, 2006: Insert.
  28. "Aslaug Magnusdottir". The Huffington Post. March 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  29. "Former Boards". National Youth Organization of Independence Party of Iceland. Retrieved November 6, 2013.


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