VIRTUAL: A Conversation with Allison Samek, AB ’97, CEO, Fred Segal

Please join the Alumni Association and the WashU Fashion Network for a conversation with Allison Samek, AB ’97, CEO of cutting-edge retailer Fred Segal. Megan Maguire Steele, BFA ’02, founder/owner of Maguire Steele and co-chair of the WashU Fashion Network, will moderate this discussion. During this conversation, Allison will share details of her career path, from working with eBay’s fashion category and longtime LA retailer Ron Herman to her current role at Fred Segal, focusing on strategy and streamlining operations while maintaining the integrity of their brands. Allison will also discuss work-life balance and managing a career with motherhood. Fred Segal has made adjustments during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Allison will share how she has led the retailer through these challenges and what to expect as they move forward. 

About Allison Samek:
Allison Samek has over 20 years of retail management experience and has worked at a variety of retailers, from Fortune 100 companies to owner-owned apparel stores. During the early 2000’s she was the category/brand marketing manager at eBay for clothing, shoes, and accessories, where she was responsible for marketing these categories nation-wide. She also built eBay’s first handbag authentication process for the company. In 2005, she moved to Los Angeles to create and build an online presence for local retailer Ron Herman. 

Over the next 11 years, Allie worked with Ron Herman, the primary retailer at Fred Segal Melrose, comprising 80% of the revenue. Allie served as managing director of operations-buying, marketing, and finance, eventually overseeing all operations of the company in 2013. She oversaw Ron Herman’s locations, opened stores outside of the LA market, built e-com platform from scratch, and helped to launch a $100M retail business in Japan.

In 2016, she transitioned into the role of CEO of Fred Segal. In this capacity, she is responsible for growing the heritage brand both internationally and domestically and operating a new flagship location on Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood. In 2018, Fred Segal was named “Retailer of the Year” by the AAFA.

Allie has a BA in economics from Washington University in St. Louis and a MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She is married to fellow classmate Eric and has two sons, Gabe and Isaac. In her free time, she likes to exercise, play mah-jongg with friends, and of course, shop retail stores.