Sarah Willersdorf is Boston Consulting Group’s Global Head of Luxury. She also works extensively in fashion and beauty. She advises CEOs and leadership teams on issues including international growth strategies, brand transformations, marketing strategy and effectiveness, advanced analytics, personalization, and digital strategies. She has worked for public, private, and private equity backed companies. 

In addition, Sarah has deep expertise in sales and marketing, as well as significant buy-side and sell-side diligence experience, having conducted over 50 due diligences for private equity and strategic investors. 

Before joining the firm, Sarah was the CMO of Diane von Furstenberg (DVF). She serves on the Board of Governors for CEW (Cosmetics Executive Women), the beauty industry trade association with over 6,000 members, and is an angel investor and advisor to a number of startups.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

EDUCATION

  • MBA, INSEAD
  • Bachelor in Commerce/BFA, University of Melbourne

Publications and Videos

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How Luxury Companies Can Advance as Responsible Pioneers

The industry is uniquely positioned to generate positive societal impact. Here's what it will take.
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The Consumers Behind Fashion’s Growing Secondhand Market

Brands should take stock of the preowned boom and what matters most to the people behind it.
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The Secondhand Opportunity in Hard Luxury

Taking the right approach can complement the sales of new goods, reinforce a brand’s value, and provide critical access to future consumers.

Remaking Fashion & Luxury for Sustainability

Demands for more responsible practices can’t be ignored. Yes, Sarah Willersdorf acknowledges, making changes will be costly. Not making changes? Ultimately, even more so.

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A New Era and a New Look for Luxury

Our changing times and changing consumer attitudes are redefining “luxury,” pushing brands to rethink every aspect of their business.
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Fashion’s Big Reset

Recovery from the COVID-19 crisis requires a radical business redesign. Brands must cut operating costs, boost e-commerce, and invest for the future.
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The Power of Private Promotions in Fashion

While COVID has created significant challenges for fashion retailers and brands, those that begin to test and scale private promotions in the rebound will have a distinct advantage over brands that don’t.
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The Outbreak Touches All Industries, Including Luxury

A survey of C-suite executives suggests a rapid dip in profits for luxury brands.
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A New (Augmented) Reality for Brands and Retailers

The beauty industry is already using AR to give customers an immersive and wholly personalized experience. Other consumer categories need to get on board.
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Beauty and the (Amazon) Beast

Name-brand luxury beauty products are being bought on Amazon just as much as they are in stores.
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Fashion and Luxury: A New Era of Opportunity

Fashion and luxury was the top-performing sector in BCG’s analysis, partly because companies used digital to improve e-commerce and to connect more directly with consumers.
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Beauty Books: Meeting More Demanding Print Advertisers’ Needs

There’s a profitable—but demanding future for fashion and beauty magazines. To outperform with top advertisers, a magazine must excel in four areas.
Deep Expertise, Broad Experience