CARA PLACENTRA

EDUCATION

Columbia Business School, New York, NY                 2021-2023

  • MBA Candidate, May 2023

Boston College, Wallace E. Carroll School of Management, Chestnut Hill, MA                 May 2012

  • Bachelor of Science in Marketing with focus on E-Commerce/Retail and Digital Marketing

  • First Honors Deans List

  • Executive Board Member of Boston College Marketing Academy

  • Summer Study Abroad in 2010 at Venice International University studying Studio Art and the History of Venetian Art

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Enso Sciences LLC/Place Ventures LLC July 2019 - Present

Entrepreneur/Consultant

 

Saks Fifth Avenue – HBC, New York, NY April 2014 — July 2019

Senior Manager, Digital Content (February 2019-July 2019)

  • Strategically redesigned the new Saks.com Homepage prior to platform migration, which allowed for more CO-OP opportunities, and streamlined content production for creative team

  • Selected to lead a newly developed team of four within Saks business unit focused on improving and innovating all Saks digital content, including site content, email, social media, and other external marketing including display, SEM (search engine marketing), affiliates (i.e. Rakuten, Goop or influencers), and paid social (mainly Instagram & Facebook)

  • Strategically and methodically planned all site (desktop, mobile & app) and email content based on past performance and merchant (buyer) priorities

  • Led Saks.com content personalization strategy 

  • Developed new content briefing process and timelines helping cross-functional teams to increase efficiency and reduce weekly meeting counts from eight to four

  • Worked closely with front and back end dev teams to develop new content strategies and improve site and app UX

  • Maintained and improved key partnerships with cross-functional teams including integrated marketing, email, acquisition marketing, buying, merchandising, social media, project management, creative, development, UX, and analytics

Manager, Digital Marketing - Site Content, Mobile & CO-OP Partnerships (May 2017-present)

  • Managed digital CO-OP portfolio of $12MM+ with over 460 vendors and 650 programs per year, the largest volume on a team of five, with budgets ranging from $5k to $500k+

  • Generated 111% digital CO-OP revenue growth in 2018 across women’s ready-to-wear, men’s, jewelry, kids & home categories YoY

  • Sold, planned, and executed CO-OP programs across Saks owned channels in addition to display, SEM, Affiliates, and Paid Social

  • Manage mobile & app content in addition to developing new app launch marketing strategy

  • Implemented new and innovative CO-OP programs focused on influencers driving an additional $200K+ in CO-OP revenue

  • Selected as team lead for analytics including Neustar MTA (Multi-Touch Attribution) & Omniture

  • Strategically planned Saks.com desktop, mobile, app, and SMS roadmap to optimize site performance

  • Developed and implemented content personalization marketing strategy

  • Appointed as team lead for special projects including Holiday Gift Guide, Fashion Week and other key omni-initiatives

  • Managed team of two across digital CO-OP, site content, mobile/SMS 

Specialist, Digital Marketing (May 2016-April 2017)

Senior Coordinator, Digital Marketing (May 2015-April 2016)

Coordinator, Digital Marketing (April 2014-April 2015)

Marchesa, New York, NY                                                                            September 2012 — April 2014

Junior Account Executive (January 2014- April 2014)

  • Team Lead for production of cutting tickets and sales projections

  • Collaborated with CEO & Director of Sales on daily basis

  • Booked and conducted market appointments for both specialty and department stores for Marchesa, Marchesa Notte, and Marchesa Handbags

  • Maintained client relationships

  • Monitored selling reports, sell-thrus and created seasonal reports

  • Hired and managed all interns

Sales Assistant (January 2013-January 2014)

Sales/Operations Intern (September 2012-December 2012)

 

Interview Magazine, New York, NY                                                                        June — August 2011

PR Intern, Fashion Department

 

SKILLS AND INTERESTS

Proficient in Adobe Marketing Suite, Microsoft Office, Neustar Multi-Touch Attribution, SPSS and Photoshop. Conversant in French. Enjoys fashion (and fashion history), 20th Century Art, playing soccer, snowboarding, reading science fiction, drawing and traveling.