Do you know what makes a good strategic partner? In this video, Kelly Nishimoto shares five ways that have helped her create strategic partnerships in business that are successful.
About Kelly
Kelly Nishimoto was born in the back woods of Macon, Georgia to a Scottish Irish craftsman/chemist/musician father and a Japanese American jewelry designer mother. She was exposed at a very early age to design and construction using a variety of materials. Her first wedding gown at age 13 was made of trash bags and a glue gun. At 19, after trading in GA’s laid back country living for the frenetic night life of Miami’s South Beach, Kelly created her first collection which included corsets, ball-room gowns, double breasted jackets, and handbags, all made using colored Reynolds Wrap. The line was a huge hit garnering her such accolades as “Top Ten Designers to Watch” by the Miami Herald.
After 5 years in Miami’s fashion circuit, Kelly ventured west in search of new inspiration. She found it immediately upon arriving in Los Angeles. Noticing everything she saw in the clothing market was shabby-chic and grunge, Kelly saw the perfect opportunity to bring back elegance, sophistication, and femininity by revisiting one of her favorite pieces…the corset! With lush fabrics and a more comfortable structure, Kelly breathed fresh air into an age-old garment. They quickly made a stir on red carpets across the country, Kelly Nishimoto corsets have already graced the bodies of Marley Shelton, Rumor Moore, Gwen Stefani, Anastasia, Natasha Hendstridge, Jenna Jameson, and yes…even Dave Navarro.
This self-taught designer didn’t stop there. Kelly Nishimoto debuted her Spring/Summer 2006 collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in March 2006. Feeling that fashion had no soul…she set out to make a full collection of things that were missing from her own closet. Simple elegance is how she described the flowing collection that graced the runway. Her Fall/Winter/Holiday 2006 collection was a perfect balance of her heritage…Scottish plaids and Japanese printed silks. Fresh off the runway is her Spring/Summer 2007 collection she describes as women in the bedroom.
[…] In our business relationships, there are many positions and responsibilities that are traditionally considered “supporting” roles to the core parts of the business. They may provide financial services, IT services, technical training, talent acquisition and more. They may perform analyses and gather data insights as a foundation for key business decisions. They may be part of the internal team, or they may be an external professional services firm. When revenues are down and budgets are tight, these groups may also feel the pinch of cutbacks faster than other groups whose functions are considered more critical. In some respect, supporting functions continually strive to justify the added value they bring. But often, having a supporter relationship is not enough. Businesses need a partnership. […]