Susan (or Sue, as she’s known around the office) is a busy mother of two, an Ironman competitor, an avid traveller and, of course, Miik’s leader as company president. Meet the ambitious woman behind the Miik brand as she answers a few questions.
How did you become involved with Miik?
Donna and Michael live in my neighbourhood so I’ve known them for years. We used to spend many nights discussing Miik, fashion and business in general. I’ve always had a passion for fashion and with my background in marketing and statistics this budding business of theirs was very intriguing to me. After having my second child I wanted to get back into the workforce but something was holding me back from resuming my corporate job. Donna, Michael and I used to joke about how one day I’d run the company and suddenly that idea and the timing of it felt very right.
What is the best part of your job?
I love being able to have a voice and make a difference. Often at large companies your voice can get lost, even in a leadership role. Having a small, nimble team allows us to get things done quickly and we can efficiently see our visions come to life. I also have a tremendous amount of pride for the work we’re doing which really turns my ‘job’ into a passion. And since we are small, some days we all do a bit of everything…I love helping Donna with the designs.
What does a regular day look like for you?
My days start bright and early at 5am so I can be in the pool or on a run before my kids wake up. I then return home to get the kids and myself ready before I walk them to school and daycare. My workday then begins either at my home office, Michael and Donna’s home office or our downtown office… and some days it’s a combination of all three!
What do you love about Miik’s hometown, Toronto?
I love the diversity of the city and all that it has to offer. Whether it’s sports, restaurants, theatre, music or shopping, Toronto really has it all and is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination because of it. I live in a great neighbourhood with my family where we know all of our neighbours; it’s safe for the kids and easily accessible from the downtown core. As an athlete, I love that I can run along the water (Lake Ontario) and as a traveller I love that my family and I can fly almost anywhere in the world from Toronto’s Pearson airport.
What do you hope for the future of Miik?
I would love to see Miik grow into a well-known Canadian fashion brand. I’m so proud of the work we do and the values of our brand and would love to develop a culture that empowers people to feel good about what they’re wearing. My ultimate dream is to see Miik go global and be in a position where we can inspire other brands to change their processes to be ethical and sustainable.
What is your favourite piece from the upcoming Spring/Summer 2016 collection?
So hard to pick just one…my favourite skirt is the Monica in our new stripe, my favourite dress is the reversible Kristen zipper dress and our new Emma in Orchid is my favourite blazer. Sorry, I just couldn’t pick one!
