Meet the Judges
Elizabeth Lim
Elizabeth is an astute strategic brand marketer, creative innovator and general manager known to identify opportunities and drive consumer engagement that leads to revenue growth. She is a skilled relationship builder, problem solver and trusted advisor to founders and C-suite executives that look to her from strategic guidance to day-to-day operations. Her eternal optimism and positive energy allows her to always find the silver lining in any challenging situation. She especially loves helping brands dedicated to changing the status quo for the good and the better.
Elizabeth has extensive experience working with startups, indie and DTC brands such as Winky Lux and 8Greens as well as majors including Estee Lauder, Chanel, Shiseido and L’Oreal. She was also the SVP of global marketing at Essie, when it was privately-held and eventually was acquired by L’Oreal during her tenure. She then returned to L'Oreal to expand Essie globally. Most recently, Elizabeth has focused on incubator and digital-first brands as well as more mature brands with their digital transformation while maximizing their business models.
Elizabeth is an astute strategic brand marketer, creative innovator and general manager known to identify opportunities and drive consumer engagement that leads to revenue growth. She is a skilled relationship builder, problem solver and trusted advisor to founders and C-suite executives that look to her from strategic guidance to day-to-day operations. Her eternal optimism and positive energy allows her to always find the silver lining in any challenging situation. She especially loves helping brands dedicated to changing the status quo for the good and the better.
Elizabeth has extensive experience working with startups, indie and DTC brands such as Winky Lux and 8Greens as well as majors including Estee Lauder, Chanel, Shiseido and L’Oreal. She was also the SVP of global marketing at Essie, when it was privately-held and eventually was acquired by L’Oreal during her tenure. She then returned to L'Oreal to expand Essie globally. Most recently, Elizabeth has focused on incubator and digital-first brands as well as more mature brands with their digital transformation while maximizing their business models.
Ryan Markman
Ryan Markman is an early-stage company operator with strong personal ties to the jewelry industry. Ryan's grandfather founded a retail jewelry store in Knoxville, TN called Markman's, which his father and brother now run. Dinnertime conversation at the Markman house revolved around jewelry and entrepreneurship.
As COO of Metric Digital, a performance marketing agency focused on high-growth eCommerce brands like Bonobos, Vuori, and Mack Weldon, Ryan grew the business from 5 to 35 employees and led the sale to larger agency Wpromote. Prior to Metric Digital, Ryan was GM of Facebook Adtech platform Boostable. Ryan began his career at Bain & Company advising private equity and fortune 500 companies on strategy.
Ryan is currently building software for service businesses as CEO of Melior Technology. He loves sour beer, hiking, and live music.
Ryan Markman is an early-stage company operator with strong personal ties to the jewelry industry. Ryan's grandfather founded a retail jewelry store in Knoxville, TN called Markman's, which his father and brother now run. Dinnertime conversation at the Markman house revolved around jewelry and entrepreneurship.
As COO of Metric Digital, a performance marketing agency focused on high-growth eCommerce brands like Bonobos, Vuori, and Mack Weldon, Ryan grew the business from 5 to 35 employees and led the sale to larger agency Wpromote. Prior to Metric Digital, Ryan was GM of Facebook Adtech platform Boostable. Ryan began his career at Bain & Company advising private equity and fortune 500 companies on strategy.
Ryan is currently building software for service businesses as CEO of Melior Technology. He loves sour beer, hiking, and live music.
Ray Simpson
Ray has over 20 years of experience in the diamond industry. Until 2014 Ray was an Executive Vice-President of Harry Winston Diamond Corporation. Having joined junior mining company Aber Diamond in 2003 to head their strategic business expansion. This initiative resulted in the purchase of the iconic jeweller Harry Winston in 2004 with Ray assuming the role of Chief Operating Officer. In 2007, Aber dual-listed on the New York Stock Exchange re-naming the whole mining and retail company Harry Winston Diamond Corporation.
Ray started his career with diamond giant De Beers where, over a 14 year period, he held a variety of roles ranging from mine resource evaluation to supply/demand forecasting and consumer marketing. As Head of Business Development for the De Beers in London, Ray was instrumental in establishing a retail joint venture between De Beers and leading luxury group LVMH Moet Hennessey in 2000. Ray joined LVMH as Director of Operations for the new venture overseeing the development of the company’s production, logistics and information systems.
Ray is a shareholder and Director of Diamond Asset Advisors, a company that offers a broad spectrum of services along the diamond industry’s value chain to institutional and qualified clients. Core offerings are the support of investors in building physical diamond portfolios and the design, funding and and management of diamond related financial investment vehicles.
Education: Ray has a Sloan Fellowship Masters degree from London Business School and a B.Sc. in Mathematics from Bristol University.
Ray has over 20 years of experience in the diamond industry. Until 2014 Ray was an Executive Vice-President of Harry Winston Diamond Corporation. Having joined junior mining company Aber Diamond in 2003 to head their strategic business expansion. This initiative resulted in the purchase of the iconic jeweller Harry Winston in 2004 with Ray assuming the role of Chief Operating Officer. In 2007, Aber dual-listed on the New York Stock Exchange re-naming the whole mining and retail company Harry Winston Diamond Corporation.
Ray started his career with diamond giant De Beers where, over a 14 year period, he held a variety of roles ranging from mine resource evaluation to supply/demand forecasting and consumer marketing. As Head of Business Development for the De Beers in London, Ray was instrumental in establishing a retail joint venture between De Beers and leading luxury group LVMH Moet Hennessey in 2000. Ray joined LVMH as Director of Operations for the new venture overseeing the development of the company’s production, logistics and information systems.
Ray is a shareholder and Director of Diamond Asset Advisors, a company that offers a broad spectrum of services along the diamond industry’s value chain to institutional and qualified clients. Core offerings are the support of investors in building physical diamond portfolios and the design, funding and and management of diamond related financial investment vehicles.
Education: Ray has a Sloan Fellowship Masters degree from London Business School and a B.Sc. in Mathematics from Bristol University.
Rashna Harda
Rashna Harda is an industry veteran, having been in the fine jewelry business for over 25 years. Throughout the 90’s and 00’s, Rashna managed the entire jewelry production for Vijay Gold Designs, at one point one of the largest diamond jewelry vendors in the world. Currently, Rashna is an advisor to one of the fastest growing e-commerce jewelry vendors in the USA where she advises on operations, manufacturing, and business development. Her deep immersion in this industry, along with her keen eye for detail, communication skills, and her unmatched work ethic make her an invaluable asset in the gem and jewelry world.
Rashna Harda is an industry veteran, having been in the fine jewelry business for over 25 years. Throughout the 90’s and 00’s, Rashna managed the entire jewelry production for Vijay Gold Designs, at one point one of the largest diamond jewelry vendors in the world. Currently, Rashna is an advisor to one of the fastest growing e-commerce jewelry vendors in the USA where she advises on operations, manufacturing, and business development. Her deep immersion in this industry, along with her keen eye for detail, communication skills, and her unmatched work ethic make her an invaluable asset in the gem and jewelry world.