Fireside Chat with Jessica Schinazi
Written By: Safa Razvi
On Friday, February 21st, The Vault hosted an intimate fireside chat with Jessica Schinazi, offering members an inside look at her journey through the world of luxury goods. The Vault’s founder and president, Melina Zarboulas, led the discussion as we heard about Schinazi’s impressive career trajectory.
Currently serving as the President of Away—a travel brand most prominent for its sleek, thoughtfully crafted luggage—Schinazi discussed the experiences that shaped her path. She reflected back to her time at Columbia University, where she studied economics, the closest major to business available at the time. Besides her degree, she credited internships for helping her get to where she is today. She told The Vault about an early role she held at Hermès, where she meticulously removed imperfections from cashmere sweaters using a pair of tweezers. This experience taught her to deeply appreciate the craftsmanship and artisans behind the product.
Schinazi has spent a lot of time developing her digital transformation career and brand strategy, as she has grown some of the world’s most prestigious luxury and consumer brands. Prior to her work at Away, she played a huge role as the president of Dyson for the Americas and Vice President of Distribution in North America for LVMH.
Since she traveled extensively growing up, her interest in luxury goods stemmed from there.
“They (luxury brands) were ones that I always saw in all of my travels,” Schinazi said. “It was like these iconic brands that you see all around the world.I always had my eyes on those through my schooling and then deciding what kind of career I wanted to embark on.”
Schinazi’s exposure to luxury brands growing up fueled her ambition to work at high-end companies and choose degrees in economics and Hispanic studies. Her passion for luxury goods solidified in her roles at Richmont, the Swiss luxury company behind Cartier, Montblanc, Chloé and other prestigious brands. Schinazi explained the focus on digital transformation, working through the early days of e-commerce, where many brands went from standstill websites to powerful online retail platforms. She led digital marketing strategies and social media initiatives to redefine the luxury shopping experience for consumers. However, she soon realized that luxury brands were lagging in the broader consumer goods market.
Determined to help her own personal growth as a professional, Shinazi joined Amazon, leading the luxury beauty division. During this time, Amazon onboarded over 400 luxury brands in as little as eight months. Following this period of growth, she joined LVMH, overseeing the North American distribution strategy for diverse brands. She managed flagship stores, wholesale partnerships and e-commerce, a holistic approach to retailing luxury items.
As the President of Away, Shinazi jokingly mentioned that she enjoys counting how many Away suitcases she spots while traveling. She said that a testament to the brand's strength was its ability to withstand the COVID-19 outbreak, during which the entire world was on lockdown and travel came to a halt. To her, their successful comeback, despite having been at their peak before the pandemic, demonstrates their resilience and strong foundation. Shinazi’s favorite collaborations include their recent collaboration with the Max show, The White Lotus, which she admires for its ingenuity.
Schinazi’s journey—from meticulously inspecting Hermès cashmere to revolutionizing digital luxury retail—illustrates the power of adaptability and innovation in a fast-paced industry. As she continues to lead Away, her insights offer invaluable lessons on navigating the traditional and transformational world of luxury goods.
