Aslaug Magnusdottir

Aslaug Magnusdottir
Aslaug Magnusdottir 2012
Born	Aslaug Magnusdottir Reykjavík, Iceland
Residence	New York City
Alma mater	University of Iceland (Candidate of Law) Duke University School of Law (LL.M.) Harvard Business School (MBA)
Occupation	Co-Founder and CEO of Tinker Tailor, Co-Founder of Moda Operandi, Co-Founder of TSM Capital

Aslaug Magnusdottir is an Icelandic^[1] business woman and entrepreneur.^[2] She is the Co-Founder^[3] and Chief Executive Officer^[4] of Tinker Tailor. Magnusdottir is the Co-Founder^[5] and former^[6] Chief Executive Officer of Moda Operandi^[7] and a Co-Founder of TSM Capital.^[8] Dubbed "fashion's fairy godmother" by Vogue^[9] and one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company,^[10] Magnusdottir came up with the concepts for Tinker Tailor^[11] and Moda Operandi while working with fashion designers in New York.^[5]

A Fulbright Scholar,^[12] Magnusdottir holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School,^[13] an LL.M from Duke University School of Law^[14] and a Candidate of Law degree from the University of Iceland.^[12]

Family and education

Aslaug Magnusdottir was born in Reykjavík, Iceland to parents Magnus Sigurdsson and Rakel Valdimarsdottir. She has one brother, Sigurdur R. Magnusson. Magnusdottir grew up in Los Angeles and Reykjavík,^[10] and attended college at the University of Iceland where she studied law.^[12] Magnusdottir received a Fulbright scholarship^[12] and returned to the U.S. to attend the LL.M program at Duke University.^[14] She then got her MBA from Harvard Business School,^[13] the first Icelandic woman to do so.^[10]

Magnusdottir lives in New York with her husband Gabriel Levy.^[15] She was previously married to Gunnar Thoroddsen, a lawyer and former CEO of Landsbanki bank in Luxembourg.^[16] Gunnar is the grandson of Iceland's former Prime Minister, Gunnar Thoroddsen, and the great grandson of Iceland's second President, Asgeir Asgeirsson. Together they have a son, Gunnar A. Thoroddsen.^[10]

Career

Early work

Magnusdottir began her career in Iceland where she was a corporate and tax attorney at Deloitte.^[12] After completing her graduate studies, she moved to London where she was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company.^[12]

Fashion career

Magnusdottir first became involved in the fashion industry while helping to run a modeling agency during college.^[10] She started her professional career in fashion at Baugur Group, an investment company focused on the fashion and retail sectors.^[17] During her time at Baugur, Aslaug spearheaded a number of investments in early stage fashion brands.^[17]

In 2006, Magnusdottir relocated from London to New York, and joined Marvin Traub Associates as a Vice President.^[17] In 2007, she partnered with the former Bloomingdales CEO and retail legend, Marvin Traub, to form an investment company, TSM Capital, which invested in designer brands such as Rachel Roy^[18] and Matthew Williamson.^[8] Aslaug later worked with actor and jewelry designer Waris Ahluwalia as President of his label, House of Waris Fine Jewelry.^[7] In 2009, Aslaug joined Gilt Groupe to head merchandising for Gilt Noir.^[19]

In 2009, Magnusdottir came up with the idea for Moda Operandi,^[19] a business that lets consumers pre-order items directly from the runway.^[20] She shared the concept with Lauren Santo Domingo, and, together, they co-founded the company.^[21]

On May 18, 2013, it was reported that Magnusdottir left Moda Operandi after raising $36 million investment from venture capital firms.^[6]

In 2013, Magnusdottir came up with the idea for Tinker Tailor,^[11] a business that lets consumers customize designer clothing or design their own.^[11] She Co-Founded the business with Matthew Pavelle, Gabriel Levy and Cleo Davis-Urman.^[22]

Magnusdottir is a regular contributor to the Business of Fashion^[23] and also contributes to The Huffington Post^[24]

Awards and recognitions

• One of the BOF 500 in 2014 - Business of Fashion ^[25]

• One To World 2014 Fulbright Award for Outstanding Achievement ^[26]

• One of the Fashionista 50 – Fashionista^[27]

• Cosmo Power List 2013 – Cosmopolitan (magazine)^[28]

• One of the Silicon Alley 100 – Business Insider^[20]

• One of the 44 Female Founders Every Entrepreneur Should Know – Mashable.^[21]

• One of the 100 Most Creative People in Business in 2012 – Fast Company.^[10]

• Among the 10 Game Changers of 2012 – Harper's Bazaar^[29]

• Among the Next Establishment in 2012 – Vanity Fair (magazine)^[30]

• Fashinvest Award 2012 – Fashinvest^[31]

• One of the Top 25 IT Kids of 2011 – Stylecaster^[32]

• One of Fashion's 100 Most Influential 2006 – Drapers .^[33]

Boards and Non-Profit Activities

Aslaug has served on the Board of Directors of numerous fashion and retail companies, including Matthew Williamson and Rachel Roy.^[24]

Aslaug has been involved in various non-profit activities. She was nominated by the Minister of Education, Science and Culture (Iceland) as the Chairwoman of the National Ballet Company of Iceland.^[10] Aslaug served as Vice-Chairman of the National Youth Organization of the Independence Party (Iceland) during the leadership of former Minister of Health (Iceland), Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson.^[34] She also co-founded a political movement within the Independence Party of Iceland to promote women’s rights.^[10]

References