Marianna Stark is a driven operations and communications leader with over 20 years of experience leading teams at Gap Inc. and other major retailers. She has a track record of designing and implementing processes to improve efficiency, increase revenue, and enhance customer and employee experiences. Stark is currently the Director of Brand Relationship Management at GapTech, where she leads cross-functional teams and serves as an advisor to senior executives. She also holds leadership positions with nonprofit arts organizations in Oakland, California.

1. MARIANNA STARK
Driven operations and communications leader advancing high functioning teams
GAP INC. EXPERIENCE
DIRECTOR OF BRAND RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT GapTech ’15-now
• Lead cross functional teams of GapTech and brand business partners to break
down problems, identify solution options, and drive resolution with speed and
quality. Serve as trusted advisor to senior executives. Drive workforce
enablement for 10,000+ US HQ employees. Ensure the timely and successful
delivery of quick hit solutions meeting customer needs and objectives. Serve as
escalation point person for brands seeking assistance from GapTech. Define
KPIs and provide reporting to GapTech CIO and domain leaders.
• Working with senior strategic account managers from Google Apps, Salesforce,
Adobe, and Smartsheet to develop and implement customized solutions with
change management.
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS Old Navy ’12-‘15
• Led cross functional design, creation, evolution, maintenance, communication,
and training of the 200+ step apparel development process for $6B brand;
1,000+ person US HQ and 1,000+ Asia matrixed teams. Operationalized
strategic initiatives and goals.
• Resolved the problem of late advertising photography samples (80k units per
season), which jeopardized on time delivery of marketing assets by developing
zero cost database and tracking system used by eight international teams.
• Developed process map infographics adopted by all Gap Inc. businesses.
• Served as chief of staff to EVP Product Development and her 200+ team.
SR MANAGER OF INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS Old Navy ’09-‘12
• Managed communications strategy for over 700 HQ employees and 50,000
store associates. Authored executive speeches, produced training and
employee engagement videos, developed educational content for employee
meetings and conferences (up to 1,400 attendees). Served as community
manager for internal employee social networking site.
• Increased store participation in the job skills training program for underserved
youth, “Camp Old Navy,” from 400 stores to 750 stores by formalizing a
previously ad hoc process. The program was recognized by White House
Council for Community Solutions in 2012.
SR MANAGER OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS Outlets ’06-‘09
• Led complete overhaul of product development planning process and
transitioned the company from scheduling workflow for only one season (three
months) at a time to a rolling 18-month schedule. Replaced one generic planning
approach for three brands with customized processes carefully calibrated to the
needs of each brand. Result was more flexibility and more responsiveness to
the business and customers.
MANAGER OF MERCH. PLANNING & ANALYSIS. Corp. Finance ’04-‘06
• Provided reports and analysis to the Board of Directors, CEO, CFO, and top 70
leaders across $16B+ corporation. Prepared and advised investor relations team
on inventory per square foot reporting to shareholders. Managed monthly pre-
season and in-season forecasts for all seven operating divisions of Gap Inc. ($6
billion in annual receipts/1 billion units).
• Built the business case to end the practice of transferring underperforming
inventory to Outlets, saving an estimated $19M per year.
EARLY CAREER
’93 – ‘04 I. Magnin & Co., Sharper Image, Gap Inc., Prada, Brooks Brothers
• Increasing levels of responsibility in merchandising and inventory management
roles owning apparel and consumer goods businesses up to $250M. Vendor
negotiations. Consistently met or exceeded financial targets.
Oakland, CA 94608
415.407.8743
starkm510@gmail.com
CAPABILITIES
Drive profitable revenue growth
Commercial strategy, contingency
planning, rapid response to
emerging trends, team alignment,
hindsight success and failure.
Process design & implementation
Bureaucracy busting, cross-
functional alignment, scale best
practices, establish common goals,
precise documentation, no jargon,
iterate.
Leadership
Conflict management, influence
without authority, manage up,
camaraderie, mentorship, develop
leaders, show enthusiasm, lead by
example, celebrate success.
Communications
Strategy, public relations, marketing,
speechwriting, video production,
campaigns, integrated messaging.
Customer-centered design
Service culture, employee
engagement, workforce
enablement, membership value.
Organizational design
Question the status quo, talent &
needs assessment, measure
workload, promote accountability,
provide training, promote retention.
VALUES
Continuous improvement =
agility + sustainability
Balance =
loyalty + flexibility
Nemawashi =
collaboration + consensus
Innovation =
growth mindset + social connectivity
Diversity = honesty + courage
PASSION PROJECTS
Berkeley Art Center President
Bottom line responsibility for 50-
year-old nonprofit art exhibition
space since ‘13
Oakland Art Murmur Board
Serve as managing director for
collective of 50 galleries that has
fueled Oakland’s revitalization
since ‘13
Stark Guide
Writing/PR/marketing projects and
speaking engagements bridging the
gap between artists and collectors in
the Bay Area since ‘07
EDUCATION
Agile Management foundation
U.C. Extension 2014
Bachelor of Arts, Art History
U.C. Berkeley ‘93