Alexandra Wilkis Wilson is the founder and current head of strategic alliances of the online discount shopping supercenter, Gilt. Now a global enterprise, Gilt was founded in 2007 and Alexandra and her team at Gilt Groupe including co-founder Alexis Maybank have forever transformed the world of luxury e-commerce. Gilt currently serves over 6 million subscribers and the website offers insider deals of up to 60% off today’s top designers for men and women. Along with Maybank, Alexandra co-authored a book called By Invitation Only: How We Built Gilt and Changed the Way Millions shop. The book details the online shopping website’s evolution from just an idea to the now $1 billion company it is today, and a firsthand account of the steps that Alexandra and Alexis had to take to put it all together.

Business Speaker Alexandra is an example of someone who has seen their dreams of making their startup company becoming an industry leader into a reality. A Harvard grad, Alexandra’s first job was working in investment banking with Merrill Lynch for 3 years. She would then land her first job in the retail industry as a consultant at Financo investment bank working under the late Bloomingdales CEO Marvin Traub. From there Alexandra would dive head-first into the luxury goods industry working in sales with Louis Vuitton managing the internationally renowned brand’s leather goods planning and supply chain. Her most recent job before starting her own business was overseeing retail operations at 15 North American locations for the Italian jewelry and luxury goods company Bulgari.

Aside from the Gilt Groupe, Alexandra is now also a member of the Board of Directors for Perry Ellis International. Her and business partner Alexis have been featured in many prominent print publications including Forbes, Fortune, and InStyle magazines. The duo has also made appearances on some of CBS, NBC, and ABC’s top talk show programs. Alexandra devotes a portion of her precious time to serve non-profit initiatives including serving on the board of directors for Dress for Success Worldwide, and working with other organizations including the Women’s Forum and Fashion Group International.