Laura Kung

Senior Director, Strategy

Portland, Oregon, United States

Professional Overview
Laura Kung is a seasoned Strategy executive with over 20 years of experience driving business transformation and growth across the apparel and technology industries. As the Senior Director of Strategy at Ariat International, she is responsible for leading the company's long-term strategic planning, business model innovation, and market expansion initiatives.

Experience Summary

Current Role
In her current role at Ariat International, Laura is spearheading the company's strategic vision and overseeing the implementation of key initiatives to drive market leadership and profitability. She works collaboratively with cross-functional teams to identify new growth opportunities, optimize operational efficiency, and enhance the customer experience. Under her leadership, Ariat has expanded its product portfolio, entered new geographic markets, and strengthened its brand positioning in the global equestrian and outdoor apparel segments.

Career Progression
Prior to joining Ariat, Laura held several high-impact roles at Nike, where she served as the Head of Nike Global Apparel Strategy and the Nike Global Strategy & Planning Director. In these positions, she was instrumental in shaping the company's product roadmap, go-to-market strategies, and innovation pipeline. Earlier in her career, Laura co-founded a successful healthy snack company, snackLets, and held business development and account management roles at BlackRock and AdBrite.

Academic Background
Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, where she graduated with honors. She also completed executive education programs at Harvard Business School and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, further honing her strategic leadership and innovation skills.

Areas of Expertise

• Strategic planning and execution

• Business model innovation

• Market expansion and growth strategy

• Operational optimization and efficiency

• Cross-functional collaboration and team leadership

Professional Impact
Throughout her career, Laura has demonstrated a track record of driving meaningful business impact. At Nike, she led the development and launch of several highly successful product lines that contributed significantly to the company's global market share and revenue growth. As a Board Trustee for the International School of Portland, she provided strategic guidance and oversight that helped the organization expand its reach and enhance its educational programming.

Conclusion
With her exceptional strategic acumen, deep industry expertise, and proven leadership capabilities, Laura Kung is poised to continue driving transformative change and generating outstanding results for Ariat International. Her commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and customer-centric solutions make her a valuable asset to the organization and a respected voice in the apparel and retail sectors.