
Carolina Sanz
Senior Project Manager | Retail & Brand
Salary / Daily rate
Hilversum, Netherlands
Freelance, open to permanent contract
Skills
Languages
About me
Intro
Senior Project Manager with 15+ years leading retail development and brand activations for Nike and global brands. Delivered 21+ simultaneous store openings across EMEA while managing multimillion budgets and cross-functional teams. Expert in retail concepts, international events, and sustainable project delivery with proven ROI optimization.
Work experience
Nike
May 2023 - Present
3 years 6 months
Hilversum, Netherlands
Nike NSP Partner Manager
Oct 2024 - Present
2 years 1 month
Hilversum, Netherlands
EMEA Fleet Activation Senior Project Manager (Nike Retail Stores)
May 2023 - Oct 2024
1 year 6 months
Hilversum, Netherlands
Teamed up with cross functional internal and external (Key Partners) stakeholders, to manage E2E processes to open Nike doors in the EMEA marketplace. Strengthening the partner collaboration while guard railing the Nike Brand standards. Streamlining processes, making them simpler, smoother, frictionless, practical and more agile. Achievements: - Managed 21 projects simultaneously: Nike Own Stores and key Partners portfolio, while creating a strong bond with Nike main Key Partners .
Senior Brand Experience Manager + Project Manager
Archer
Jul 2021 - May 2023
1 year 11 months
San Jose, CA, USA
Conceptualised and executed unique, memorable and innovative solutions to all the brand elements that will enhance the consumer experience with the end goal of successfully launching Archer as a conscious lifestyle brand with a strong sustainable and emotional connection and a heartfelt purpose to improve the world and the people in it. Achievements: - Worked in close collaboration with the leadership team, to ensured the alignment and execution of our strategic objectives through the Innovation & Design lense. - Led the I&D budget. In partnership with Marketing leadership team, lead the RFP process for the APP MVP and negotiated competitive prices with vendors.
Real Estate Entrepreneur
BOLLUM
Mar 2020 - Dec 2021
1 year 10 months
Hilversum, Netherlands
- Outsourced the location, made a business plan, partner up with key specialised Developers and Real Estate agents to developed two freestanding 176m2 premium residential houses in the heart of Hilversum, NL. - Aligned with the Real Estate agent on the market needs and worked closely with the Developer to fully conceptualised the buildings and maximise ROI. - Created marketing elements to increase the consumer experience (Website, Facebook page and booklets). - High focus on sustainability, the houses have a low energy consumption, all-electric, 21 solar panels and are energy-neutral. Achievements: - Houses were sold in a week, over asking price. Project was delivered on time and under budget, maximising profits.
Senior Program Manager Retail Concepts
NikeFreelance
May 2021 - Jul 2021
3 months
Hilversum, Netherlands
In close partnership with the EMEA and Global Leadership Teams, benchmarked the concept guardrails, timelines, processes and budgets for the Nike Rise Store Concept.
Brand Senior Project Manager
NikeFreelance
Dec 2014 - Mar 2020
5 years 4 months
Hilversum · On-site
- Owned and drove the omnichannel process to deliver holistic and seamless Nike Brand executions at Intersport within tight deadlines and budgets, partnering with cross functional teams within and outside Nike to maximise impact on retail revenues and build the Intersport Brand through a Nike lens. - Partnered closely with Global & EHQ Brand Design, Category Brand, Retail Brand and Sales to create special content for Intersport campaigns. - Successfully managed key processes: partner with internal & external stakeholders; coordinated with agencies & vendors and created key documents and campaign assets. Achievements: - Elevated the Nike consumer journey at Intersport, leading with Social, Digital and In store executions, by strengthening the partnership with one of Nike’s top retail partners. - Aligned with Global Brand Design and EHQ Brand/Retail Brand to finalise the SU16 Magista (strike 2) campaign, AirMax campaigns, and other running campaigns throughout the years. - Strengthened the territory force by aligning B&M, Social and Digital presence. - Helped with the launch of the Intersport Football Instagram channel, growing its base to 500K followers in 8 months.
Senior Project Manager
BOLLUMFreelance
Jun 2012 - Dec 2014
2 years 7 months
OWNER / DESIGN & PROJECT MANAGER AT BOLLUM (AMSTERDAM+BANGKOK) - Retail Concept Senior Project Management, leading the new Pinnacle store concept for Nike (benchmarking design, timelines and budgets for the Nike Brand Globally). - Retail Project Management (freelance based) managed the implementation of the Nike Spaces within the JD stores in The Netherlands. - Event Project Management (freelance based) executing Retailer, Consumer and Sales Nike Events. Achievements: - Successfully executed simultaneous openings of Nike Spaces in the first 10 JD stores in The Netherlands. - Worked together with Global Sports Marketing to deliver a state-of-the-art Hospitality Area for athletes during the 14th IAAF World Championships in Moscow. - Coordinated a flawlessly executed House of Hoops influencers event during Jordan’s 30 anniversary/Q54 in Paris, in close partnership with Footlocker, key Nike Retail Partner.
Senior Project Manager Store Development
Gstar Raw
Oct 2008 - Jul 2012
3 years 10 months
Amsterdam, Netherlands
- In charge of developing new stores and re-fitting existing ones in close cooperation with the franchise partners, and in accordance with the G-STAR RAW Interior Design guidelines and Brand guardrails. - Guided the design process in order to enhance the customer in-store experience, maximise turnovers and optimise costs. - Partnered with internal and external stakeholders to ensure on time project delivery. - Managed and negotiated budgets to meet requirements within the constraints. Achievements: - Developed stores across 4 continents and contributed to G-STAR RAW’s Global Expansion. - Opened the first stores in South America, as well as the Rodeo Drive Flagship store in Beverly Hills. - Planned and Implemented the refurbishment and maintenance processes for all exsisting stores.
Store Manager GStar Store Paris
G-Star RAW
Nov 2007 - Jul 2008
9 months
Paris, France
- In charge of G Star Raw Flagship store in the heart of Paris, managing a team of 12 people. - Responsible for hitting store KPIs (sales, average basket, conversion rates, track, sell through, etc), acted upon trends, and identified and partnered up with brand ambassadors to achieve commercial goals. - Led & motivated a customer service focused team and guided them on how to achieve store targets. - Continuously trained the sta. in Retail basics: Visual Merchandising, Customer Centric Selling and Inventory Management. Achievements: - Increased sales by 40% in the first 6 months and turned around the business into a profitable one. - Built a complete new & motivated team that would work together to exceed monthly targets.
Nike
Aug 2003 - Dec 2007
4 years 5 months
7620 Paris, Denmark
Visual Merchandiser at Nike Women Store
Aug 2007 - Dec 2007
5 months
7620 Paris, Denmark
- Implementing window and in store displays, ensuring consistency with the corporate brand image and campaigns. - Targeted to increase store traffic and sales volume. - Assisting with sales in the Nike Women flagship store. ACHIEVEMENTS: - Helped putting the Nike Women’s Store on the map through best in class Visual Merchandizing
Event production specialist
Jan 2005 - Oct 2007
2 years 10 months
Hilversum, Netherlands
- Managed, led & coordinated the overall, visual and technical production of events, from initial brief to final execution and post evaluation. - Explored venues, technologies and trends to address specific event needs while adhering to the events’ strict budget constraints. - In charge of detailed planning and flawless on-site execution of the events, managing expectations, roles and responsibilities with internal and external stakeholders. - Events included trade shows like Bread&Butter (Barcelona, Berlin), ISPO (Munich) and Outdoor (Friedrichshafen); retailer events during major sport events (Football World Cup, Champions League), as well as seasonal internal Sales Meetings. Achievements: - Realised the first Nike presence at Bread&Butter with an impressive booth, which was featured in several magazines reporting on the trade fair. - Successfully organised events in 2 continents and in a multitude of countries.
Junior Graphic Designer
Aug 2003 - Dec 2004
1 year 5 months
Hilversum, Netherlands
- Supported Senior Product and Graphic Designers from a creative & technical perspective to create commercially attractive garments. - Balanced aesthetics and commercially interesting designs, steering consumer preference into Nike’s advantage.
Graphic Designer
D7 studio
Oct 2002 - May 2003
8 months
• Corporate identity design. • Ads and promotional items design. • Book, newspaper and magazine design. • Prepress preparation and Printer management.
Captain’s PA, Group Expedition Leader
Costa Crociere
Jan 1996 - Dec 1998
3 years
• Maintain the Captain’s agenda. • Manage key information between the Cruise Ship and the headquarters in main land. • Coordinate vessel arrival and departure to Port. • Manage VIP events. • Initiate and Manage excursions with multilingual and cultural groups.
Banquet Service Manager
Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Jan 1993 - Dec 1995
3 years
• Event Coordination. • Client management. • Personnel Handling.
Education
Puglia
Specialization course on Communication
2002 - 2003
1 year 1 month
Virginia Commonwealth University
Graphic Design Major focused on Video and Sound
2000 - 2000
1 month
Universidad de Palermo
Graphic Designer
1998 - 2000
2 years 1 month
I.B.A.H.R.S
Hospitality Management
1993 - 1995
2 years 1 month
Nuestra Señora de la Unidad
International Baccalaureate
1981 - 1992
11 years 1 month