FACC Faces — Mary
What drew you to partnerships and events and what do you enjoy most about bringing people together through your work at the FACC?
My journey into partnerships and events was somewhat unexpected, but I quickly found myself drawn to three things: the opportunity to collaborate with diverse brands, build communities through meaningful engagement, and bring creativity into the way people and businesses connect. What I enjoy most is the community-building aspect. I believe some of the greatest opportunities emerge when we identify gaps, recognize shared needs, and create spaces where ideas, people, and businesses can come together. I also love the storytelling opportunities that come with this work, particularly finding creative ways to connect brands with the right audiences and build engagement beyond a single interaction. Whether it's facilitating new business relationships, giving a growing brand greater visibility, or sparking conversations around emerging trends, there's something incredibly rewarding about creating connections that extend beyond a single event. For me, it's about building something that has lasting value, both professionally and personally, for the people involved.
With such a diverse FACC community, how do you think about creating programming that is both relevant to our members and reflective of the broader French-American business community?
New York is an incredibly diverse and dynamic city, and I think our programming should reflect that same energy. Our business community spans industries, generations, and professional backgrounds, each bringing unique perspectives, challenges, and opportunities. For me, creating relevant programming starts with listening to our members, understanding their evolving needs, and staying attuned to broader market trends. Sometimes that means facilitating conversations around pressing issues, such as the rise of agentic AI, shifting trade policies, or the future of the workplace. Other times, it's about creating platforms for entrepreneurs to share their journeys, showcasing innovative brands, or helping companies expand their visibility and business networks in the U.S. There's also an important dimension to programming, from understanding our different audience segments to positioning each initiative in a way that resonates with the right people and creates opportunities for meaningful engagement. I believe there should be something for everyone, but more importantly, every initiative should serve a purpose. Our role is to connect the right people, elevate important conversations, and create experiences that are both relevant in the moment and valuable long after they end.
What’s a project or event you’ve worked on at the FACC that you’re particularly proud of, and what made it meaningful to you?
Rather than one particular event, I'm especially proud of the relationships we've built and the growth of our brand partnership and sponsorship portfolio over the years. I've particularly enjoyed working with SMEs, emerging brands, and entrepreneurs. There's something incredibly inspiring about the entrepreneurial journey. Every established company started somewhere, often with an idea, a willingness to take risks, and the determination to adapt and grow. What makes this work meaningful to me is the opportunity to understand each brand's story and find creative ways to bring that story to life through partnerships, events, and community engagement. I particularly enjoy exploring how experiential marketing and strategic brand collaborations can help businesses strengthen their positioning, reach new audiences, and translate visibility into meaningful growth opportunities. Whether it's introducing a product to a new audience, connecting a founder with potential collaborators, or giving an emerging business a platform alongside established industry leaders, those moments of visibility can make a real difference. Seeing these businesses grow, even through small milestones, is a reminder that meaningful impact doesn't always have to be measured on a large scale. It's also an important message for the next generation of entrepreneurs: there is always room for new ideas, new perspectives, and businesses that challenge what's already out there.
Looking ahead, what projects or initiatives are you most excited to work on for the rest of 2026 and into 2027?
Given that we are operating in a rapidly evolving economic and business environment, I see tremendous opportunities to create programming that addresses emerging challenges, continues to encourages cross-industry collaboration, and brings fresh perspectives to the forefront. I'm particularly interested in being more intentional about how we curate experiences, strengthen our portfolio of brand partnerships, and develop recurring initiatives that our community can look forward to year after year. I also see an opportunity to further leverage creative campaigns, collaborative brand activations, and targeted audience development to expand our reach and strengthen the FACC's visibility. That includes creating more opportunities for emerging businesses and established industry leaders to connect, share knowledge, and explore potential collaborations. Ultimately, I'd love to see the us continue evolving as a platform where businesses of all sizes and professionals at different stages of their careers can find opportunities to connect, learn, and grow. I believe there is still tremendous opportunity to build on what we've created and explore new ways to bring value to our community.