Executive Advisor

Giada Gheno

Strategic & Operational Marketing · Go-to-Market · Customer Centricity · Change Management

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Portrait of Giada Gheno

Hi! About me

After more than twenty years in international management and executive roles across the Fashion, Luxury and Lifestyle sectors, I now work as an Executive Advisor at the intersection of strategy, organization and change. I support CEOs and leadership teams in reviewing operating models, processes and ways of working during brand positioning or repositioning initiatives, the introduction of new technologies, corporate reorganizations and situations of cross-functional misalignment.

I am typically brought in when an organization needs an independent, objective perspective, or temporary access to senior-level expertise to navigate a complex transformation, decision or period of change.

My career began in marketing and branding and progressively expanded into organizational transformation, with a particular focus on digital transformation and client-centric models. My main areas of expertise include Brand Positioning and Brand Platform – also in relation to new AI-enabled processes –, Go-to-Market, CRM and Clienteling, Change Management and cross-functional process optimization.

I help companies realign strategy, technology, processes and people to improve collaboration and drive results.

My experience has been shaped by global organizations including OTB, LVMH and Richemont. I am a certified Prosci® Change Management Practitioner and Guest Lecturer on the emotional dimension of work and change management.

Key Areas of Expertise

Branding

Brand Positioning · Brand Coding · Brand Platform · Positioning Evolution

Market & Customer

Go-to-Market Redesign · Client-Centric Transformation · Retail Change & Clienteling

Change Management

Transformation Processes · Change Readiness · Generative AI Adoption · Stakeholder Alignment

Advisory Packages

I support organizations through both project-based engagements and temporary management assignments. Below are selected examples of my work.

The timelines provided are intended as an order of magnitude and are defined more precisely based on project scope, complexity and organizational context.

01

Brand Positioning & Brand Platform

Define or recodify brand positioning and turn it into a clear, codified system that the organization can use consistently, including within new AI-enabled processes. Evolution or review of brand positioning and development of the Brand Platform: purpose, target, value proposition, brand idea, brand promise, personality, narrative territories and distinctive brand codes.

When
When a brand is evolving its positioning, or when the existing Brand Platform is no longer precise enough to consistently guide people, agencies, content and generative tools.
The process in brief
Brand Assessment → Positioning → Brand Coding → Internal Rollout Plan
Output
A strategic and operational Brand Platform, supported by an AI Brand Readiness Map highlighting which elements are already sufficiently codified and which require further definition for use in new generative processes.
Indicative timeline
4–8 weeks, depending on whether the engagement involves optimizing an existing platform or a broader repositioning.
02

Go-to-Market Redesign

Redesign the end-to-end Go-to-Market model starting from the experience we want to create for the customer. Analysis and optimization of the Go-to-Market strategy and operating model, bringing all relevant functions around the same table. Optimization of the calendar building, customer journey, activities at each stage of the funnel, roles and ownership, cross-functional handovers, decision-making processes, governance, KPIs and information flows.

When
When a Go-to-Market model has not yet been clearly defined, or has become layered over time, causing channels and customer journeys to no longer operate as one system. Customers may receive different experiences depending on the touchpoint, while functions may work to different priorities and ownership or interdependencies may no longer be clear.
The process in brief
Assessment → Cross-functional Workshop on channels/funnel → Client signature experience / journeys → GTM Blueprint
Output
A GTM Blueprint connecting the customer journey, actions, touchpoints, processes, ownership and the key interventions required to move from the current model to the target model. Specific OKR per each stage of the funnel and each function.
Indicative timeline
6–8 weeks, depending on the number of channels, functions involved and markets.
03

Generative AI Adoption in Content Production Processes

Prepare the organization for the introduction of AI into digital content production for e-commerce, advertising campaigns, B2B channels and Clienteling. Support companies and creative teams in the operating model and mindset shift required by the introduction of generative AI, with particular attention to its impact on roles and ways of working across photographers, stylists, props designers, post-production specialists, content managers and legal teams.

When
Before the introduction of generative AI or during the early stages of implementation, when the organization needs to understand the technology’s organizational impact, prepare people, roles and processes for adoption, and manage resistance.
The process in brief
Impact Assessment → Stakeholder Listening → Readiness Mapping → Risk Analysis → Adoption Roadmap → Training / Coaching
Output
An AI Readiness & Adoption Map providing a concise view of impacts, stakeholders, readiness, resistance and key risks, supported by an Adoption Roadmap with priorities and recommended actions.
Indicative timeline
2–3 weeks for the assessment, before any subsequent adoption support phase, whose duration depends on the complexity of the company project.
04

CRM & Client Development

Make CRM, data and Clienteling genuinely actionable to develop stronger customer relationships. Review of the CRM strategy and customer management model, with particular attention to customer insights, client development, clienteling, data usage and coordination across CRM, Retail, E-commerce and Marketing.

When
When CRM is in place but is not yet generating sufficient value for the business: data is available but not fully actionable, clienteling is inconsistent or adoption rates are low.
The process in brief
CRM Assessment → Opportunity Mapping → CRM & Client Development Blueprint
Output
A CRM & Client Development Blueprint defining priorities, activation logics, key CRM and clienteling use cases, cross-functional responsibilities and the interventions required to make the model more effective.
Indicative timeline
8–10 weeks, depending on CRM maturity, data availability and the number of functions involved.
05

Transformation Readiness & Change Management

Support the full implementation journey of new technologies or business processes. Assessment of organizational readiness for digital transformations, the introduction of new systems, processes or ways of working. The objective is to identify in advance and monitor throughout the journey key impacts, critical stakeholders, resistance, capability gaps and governance issues.

When
Before launching a transformation initiative, to increase the likelihood of effective adoption and reduce the risk of delays, resistance and costs associated with failed adoption.
The process in brief
Assessment → Communication Plan → Training → Progress Monitoring → Corrective and Support Actions
Output
Roadmap outlining risks, priorities and recommended actions, together with implementation support. Project communication plan. Adoption monitoring approach.
Indicative timeline
To be defined based on the expected duration of the company project.

Targeted Interventions

Marketing Organization & Team Design

Support the company in redesigning or building its Marketing function, clarifying structure, roles, responsibilities, capabilities and ways of working with other functions.

WhenThe team needs to be created or reorganized in response to a new strategy, a change in scale or new business priorities.

Retail Change & Clienteling

Support the Retail network in adopting new tools, processes and ways of engaging with customers.

WhenNew CRM systems, clienteling tools or customer strategies require concrete changes in behaviors and routines across the Retail network.

Team & Stakeholder Alignment

Realign teams and stakeholders when tensions, misunderstandings or silos are slowing down a project or undermining collaboration.

WhenThe issue is not so much the process itself, but the ability of the people involved to work effectively toward a common objective.

Business & IT Alignment

Realign Business and IT within digital transformation projects by clarifying expectations, responsibilities, priorities and decisions.

WhenMisunderstandings emerge around requirements, ownership is unclear, decision-making becomes difficult, or a gap develops between technical implementation and operational adoption.