Alexandra Wilkis Wilson

Co-Founder of Gilt Groupe 

Alexandra Wilkis Wilson is co-founder of Gilt Groupe, an innovative e-commerce company offering highly-coveted luxury lifestyle products and experiences. For the company's first four and one half years, she was Chief Merchandising Officer. Recently she took on a new responsibility as Head of National Sales for Gilt City, a fast-growing business within Gilt Groupe. Alexandra is a member of the Executive Team of Gilt Groupe and has been an integral part of shaping the merchandising, branding, marketing and social media for the company since its launch. Alexandra has established herself as a leader and innovator in digital commerce and marketing.

Alexandra has over fourteen years of international experience in luxury goods, retail ecommerce and corporate finance. Prior to founding Gilt Groupe, Alexandra oversaw retail operations at Bulgari, managing fifteen North American stores. Before Bulgari, she managed Leather Goods Sales Planning for Louis Vuitton. She began her career working for three years in investment banking at Merrill Lynch predominately in London. She subsequently worked as a consultant at Financo for retail guru Marvin Traub.

Alexandra, together with her Gilt cofounder Alexis Maybank, is the author of the recently published New York Times bestselling book By Invitation Only: How We Built Gilt and Changed the Way Millions Shop (Portfolio).

Alexandra holds a B.A. from Harvard College where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Alexandra speaks five languages. She has lived and worked internationally in Latin America, Europe and Japan.

Alexandra is a member of YPO (Young Presidents' Organization). She serves as a member of the Board of Directors for three not-for profit organizations: Dress for Success Worldwide, Fashion Group International and the Harvard Business School Club of New York. She is dedicated to philanthropy and is involved numerous other charities including: Pro Mujer, Endeavor Global and the Robin Hood Foundation. She is an active fundraiser for her alma maters The Brearley School, Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard University.

Alexandra is a mentor for Tech Stars and has been an active participant on several technology Advisory Boards in fashion: Alvin Valley, Style for Hire, Clothia, Go Try It On, Quincy, Rent the Runway, Send the Trend (sold to QVC), Shop My Label, Style Musee and Zady; in beauty: Birchbox and Savvy Beauties; in real estate: eSupply Systems, LooseCubes and Nestio; in jewelry: Adornia; and in mobile technology: Kapture.

Alexandra lives in New York City, her hometown, with her family.

Alexandra has been featured in many print publications including:

The Financial Times, The WSJ, The New York Times, Forbes, Fortune, Crain's, Women's Wear Daily, The Associated Press, The LA Times, The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, The Chicago Tribune, The Houston Chronicle, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Miami Herald, Vogue, Elle, Town and Country, O Magazine, Marie Claire, InStyle, Quest, Avenue, Niche Media and Modern Luxury magazines.

Alexandra makes TV appearances on:

ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, CNN en Espanol, Bloomberg, FOX, MTV, PBS, Telemundo, E!.

Alexandra has won a number of awards and recognitions including:

• Ernst & Young Metro New York Entrepreneur of the Year Award for eCommerce, 2010
• Crain's The Next Generation: Emerging Leaders Under 40, 2009
• Endeavor Entrepreneur of the Year, 2010
• Member of the Vogue 100, since 2009
• Ranked #4 of the Silicon Alley 100, 2009
• Huffington Post Style Game Changer, 2009
• Voted in top 10 Most Powerful Moms: Entrepreneurs by Working Mother, 2011
• Member of the eHow 100
• Ranked #18 in The Daily News' "Fashion's 50 Most Fascinating"
• "Visionary Award" by Fashion 2.0