One-on-One Coaching opportunities
get Tailored, expert Insights
Are you:
Unsure if your branding is reaching the right market?
Facing challenges with your costing & pricing?
Finding that you need help reviewing your product collections?
Looking for someone to guide you in the right direction?
Let Our Coaches Guide you!
Our coaches have over 60 years of combined experience in the artisan sector. They have worked in over 50 countries to grow artisan businesses through branding, product development, marketing and more. They understand the challenges of running and growing a business in the artisan sector because they have been there themselves.
how does it work?
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Take a look at our coaching team below to learn more about their expertise and experience. Coaching sessions can include discussions on one of the following topics:
Product Development & Design Review
Costing & Pricing
Branding & Marketing
Social Media Strategy
Buyer Relations
Trade Show Preparation
Export & Logistics
Business & Financial Management
Production & Quality Control
Monitoring, Evaluation & Social Impact
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Secure your spot by completing your payment for a one-on-one coaching session.
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After payment, you’ll be directed to a quick form where you can share your goals, focus areas, and more about your business.
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A HANDMADE to MARKET team member will connect with you for a 30-minute call to learn more about your goals and make sure we pair you with the right mentor.
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Based on your form responses and the information we gathered during our consultation session, we’ll thoughtfully pair you with a coach who’s best suited to support your needs.
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You’ll schedule your deep dive coaching session directly with your coach to get personalized guidance, clarity, and actionable next steps.
Meet A few of our mentors
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Based in New York City - Design / Buyer Relations / Social Entrepreneur / Social Impact
Language: English
Creative Marketing Consultant with 10+ yrs of experience specializing in mission artisan and brand development, handmade design, market sourcing, brand launch and merchandising.
Dondrill is a former Senior Producer and Marketing Consultant for NYNOW and American Handcrafted. She also has experience with global trend sourcing, senior content producer, podcast host, social impact and inclusion mission partner, buyer relations and sustainable design review committee.
Dondrill is also the Founder of Ahmesa,where the art of gathering by hand at home is artisan food, table décor, textiles and cooking beautifully inspires journeys.
Website: https://www.ahmesa.com/
Contact: dondrill.glover@gmail.com
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Based in Austria – Costing & Pricing / Philanthropy / Community Development / Social Impact
Language: English
Alina Serban has 8 years of experience at ERSTE Foundation, focusing on community development and social entrepreneurship across Central and Eastern Europe. In 2018, she founded co/rizom Verein, which she continues to lead. Her work centers on co-design, the commons, and participatory development to drive social and environmental change.
co/rizom Verein partners with artisan communities in Europe and beyond, offering incubation and capacity-building programs that preserve traditional crafts. They facilitate collaboration between artisans, designers, and experts—providing access to creative and market knowledge, production technologies, business tools, and international exposure.
Website: Homepage - Co/rizom
Contact: alina@corizom.org
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Based in France – Artisan Sourcing / Buyer Relations / Ethical Trade
Languages: English
Annie O. Waterman is the founder of AOW Handmade has spent the past 16 years traveling the globe, working to build relationships between artisan suppliers and retailers.
Annie lives a life in motion, continuously traveling to far-flung destinations to connect with new makers on the ground to discover unique handmade sources. Annie aims to bring buyers fresh, soulful, and competitive goods that are often difficult to track down.
Website: https://www.aowhandmade.com/
Contact: annie@aowhandmade.com
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Based in New York City – Artisan Sourcing / Buyer Relations / Export Training
Languages: English & French
Nathalie Tancrede is a social entrepreneur and artisan advocate who enjoys working side by side with creatives to help them reach their highest potential.
Over the last decade, Nathalie used her expertise in capacity building, training, sales and marketing combined with her human resources management and operations skills to connect global brands such as Macy’s, West Elm, Anthropologie, and international designers to artisan communities around the world.
Nathalie collaborates with organizations like NYNOW, Creative Learning, Caribbean Export and more to lead tailored export marketing training to artisan enterprises seeking to reach global markets.
Contact: haitiepathways@gmail.com
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Based in New York City – Artisan Product Development & Design
Languages: English & Hebrew
Aviva Maya Shulem is a multidisciplinary designer and educator with over two decades of experience in luxury design and product development. A Parsons School of Design graduate, she built her career at companies including Donghia, Inc. and Swarovski LTD, designing furniture, lighting, and home accessories in collaboration with influential figures in art and design.
In 2014, she founded Aviva Maya Design, a consulting studio that partners with nonprofits and design studios on product development, brand strategy, and design management. She balances her studio work with teaching at Parsons and volunteering with IDSA’s disability department to promote inclusive, universal design. Her design philosophy celebrates artisanal craftsmanship while embracing digital fabrication and materials innovation, with research interests in human-centered design, biomaterials, and social responsibility.
Website: Aviva Maya Shulem Design
Contact: amshulem@gmail.com
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Based in USA
Languages: English
Nicole Bedard’s mission is to empower creative business owners to show up authentically online by providing inspiration and practical visual storytelling strategies that attract aligned clients who respect and invest in their craft.
For over a decade she has been supporting makers, artists and designers with strategic photography and video sessions to turn their creative process into meaningful marketing.
Contact: www.nbphotog.com
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Based in USA – Costing & Pricing / Business Management
Languages: English, French & Spanish
Maud Obe has over 18 years of experience designing and managing economic empowerment and development projects for the artisan sector across the globe. She has supported over 5,000 artisan businesses, connecting them to local, regional, and international markets, and has successfully managed programs funded by USAID, MCC, The World Bank, and other organizations. As Director, Maud leads the strategic vision of HHANDMADE to MARKET. Fluent in French, English, and Spanish, she holds a Master’s in International Development and Social Change from Clark University.
Contact: maudo@creativelearning.org
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Based in USA – International Development / Needs Assessments / Program Strategy / Costing & Pricing / Branding & Marketing / Social Media Strategy / Monitoring & Evaluation / Impact Storytelling
Languages: English & Portuguese
Lorraine Johnson is a creative industries leader with over 30 years of experience mentoring and uplifting creative entrepreneurs from sub-Saharan Africa to Boston. A passionate and entrepreneurial force, she has built new initiatives from the ground up and strengthened existing programs across the nonprofit and development sectors—including more than 12 years with Handmade to Market; under UNESCO, providing leadership and coordination for the joint UN–Mozambican government Culture in Development program; a decade of senior leadership at the Boston-based nonprofit Artists for Humanity; and numerous consulting engagements.
With nearly 20 years living across sub-Saharan Africa, Lorraine brings a lived perspective and deep knowledge of the handmade sector—from raw materials to markets. She is committed to approaches that are locally grounded, co-designed for lasting relevance, and responsive to evolving needs and market opportunities. Her work centers on amplifying the strengths of creative entrepreneurs and serving as a thought partner on their path from striving to thriving.
Contact: lorraineaj0000@gmail.com
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Based between USA and Italy / Sales & Development / Designer Brands / Buyer Relationships
Languages: English, Italian
With over 15 years of experience in the luxury industry, Marilisa Barbieri is a seasoned professional managing a specialized consulting company that provides luxury business consulting and digital services.
She specializes in assisting creative entrepreneurs in elevating their brand presence, driving sales, and establishing online authority through strategic digital branding. Her approach is result-oriented, prioritizing profitability and growth. Through a range of courses, workshops, and programs, she guides clients in developing well-structured business plans to achieve sustainable growth.
Beyond coaching, she actively collaborates with organizations such as Positive Luxury, NEST, The Luxury Institute, NY NOW, Maison & Object, Tory Burch Foundation, and more.
Her engagements encompass sustainability advising, mentoring, and leading workshops at institutions like the Design & Decoration Building, Pacific Design Center, and New York School of Interior Design.
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Based in New York City / Buyer Relationships / Business Strategy / Fashion Design
Languages: English
Susan Soriano brings over 10 years of fashion industry experience across luxury and contemporary brands in the USA and Italy, having worked with prestigious companies including Lacoste, Brunello Cucinelli, and Prada. Her comprehensive background spans the entire fashion business cycle - from design and product development to wholesale and retail operations.
With international experience in both American and Italian markets, Susan understands the complete product journey from concept to consumer. She now specializes in helping artisan entrepreneurs successfully enter and thrive in the US wholesale market, drawing from her end-to-end industry knowledge.
Currently volunteering with R.I.S.E. Artisan Fund, Susan provides strategic market entry guidance to international artisan brands, helping them navigate competitive positioning, pricing strategies, and trade show preparation while preserving their cultural authenticity. Her recent work includes comprehensive US market analysis for brands preparing for major American trade shows.
Educated at Fashion Institute of Technology with additional international business studies in Italy, Susan is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian. She’s passionate about supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs and preserving traditional craftsmanship through strategic business development that honors heritage while achieves commercial success.
Susan’s unique combination of luxury and contemporary market expertise, international perspective, and commitment to ethical business practices makes her an ideal guide for artisan brands seeking sustainable growth in today’s challenging market landscape.Contact: Susan’s LinkedIn
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Based in Mexico City - Digitization / Using AI / Creative Selling / Sustainable Strategy / Business Operations
Languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian
Sabrina is an international sustainability and social impact leader with 15+ years of experience at the intersection of sustainability, innovation, and global supply chains in the Crafts sector.
She has a degree in Innovation & Entrepreneurship from HEC Paris with professional experience across Europe, Latin America, and Africa.
She is skilled at bridging heritage craftsmanship with contemporary markets to create impactful, sustainable business models.
Contact: membership@creativelearning.org
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Based in Washington DC
Languages: English
Lauren Barkume is the former Training Director at HANDMADE to MARKET. Since joining in 2006, Lauren is an expert in international development, artisan programs and training. Lauren spent nearly 9 years based in South Africa working directly with entrepreneurs, artisans and small businesses in the region, developing community co-created programs, designing and running practical business skills workshops for small business owners, and working in collaboration with artisan communities across Southern Africa.
Lauren is also a photographer who has taken many of the images on this website. Lauren cares deeply about facilitating responsive, community driven development.
Contact: membership@creativelearning.org
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Based in Hudson Valley, NY — Product Development & Design / Branding & Storytelling / Multi-Sales Channel Development / Business & Financial Management / Supply Chain Management
Languages: English, Spanish (conversational)
Sara Berks is the founder of MINNA, a B Corp-certified home goods brand she built over 12 years from a single product into a 600+ SKU catalog sold through 150+ retail partners including Design Within Reach, Nordstrom, and MoMA Design Store. At the heart of MINNA was a network of 400+ artisans across Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia, and Uruguay. Sara built the brand from the ground up setting pricing strategy, building sales channels, designing every product, and owning the P&L through every stage of growth. She knows what it takes to turn a handmade product into a sustainable business.
Sara understands the artisan sector from both sides: as a brand builder who brought handmade goods to major retail markets, and as an operator who understands the full arc from artisan production to major retail buyer, how to price for profitability, how to tell a brand story that resonates with the market, and how to make operational decisions that lead to business sustainability and growth. She now runs Portals, a brand strategy practice working with mission-driven founders, alongside a studio collection of wallpaper and fabric by the yard.
Contact: saraberks.com
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Based in USA – Impact / Monitoring and Evaluation
Languages: English
Rachel Landale is a seasoned international development professional with deep expertise in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), particularly within the handmade and artisan sectors.
With over a decade of experience supporting artisan enterprises around the world, Rachel brings a practical, culturally sensitive approach to helping handmade businesses articulate their impact.
She has worked extensively to design simple, effective tools for impact measurement, guide artisan groups in developing logic models and indicators, and build their capacity to track progress and tell compelling stories backed by data.
Through her role at HANDMADE to MARKET (formerly Aid to Artisans), Rachel has provided coaching and technical support to artisan-led businesses across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, helping them improve their M&E systems, gather meaningful feedback from stakeholders, and demonstrate the social, cultural, and economic value of their work to funders and partners.
Contact: rachell@creativelearning.org
all coaching Prices & offerings
starter package - $269 USD
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One 30-minute consultation
One 1-hour coaching session
Choose one of the following topics to discuss with your mentor:
Product Development & Design Review
Costing & Pricing
Branding & Marketing
Social Media Strategy
Buyer Relations
Trade Show Preparatio
Export & Logistics
Business & Financial Management
Production & Quality Control
Monitoring, Evaluation & Social Impact
growth package - $439 USD
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One 30-minute consultation
Two 1-hour coaching sessions
Choose one-two of the following topics to discuss with your mentor. A different topic can be chosen for each session:
Product Development & Design Review
Costing & Pricing
Branding & Marketing
Social Media Strategy
Buyer Relations
Trade Show Preparatio
Export & Logistics
Business & Financial Management
Production & Quality Control
Monitoring, Evaluation & Social Impact
deep dive package - $609 USD
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One 30-minute consultation
Three 1-hour coaching sessions
Choose one-three of the following topics to discuss with your mentor. A different topic can be chosen for each session:
Product Development & Design Review
Costing & Pricing
Branding & Marketing
Social Media Strategy
Buyer Relations
Trade Show Preparatio
Export & Logistics
Business & Financial Management
Production & Quality Control
Monitoring, Evaluation & Social Impact
FAQs
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Anyone who identifies as a handmade artisan or creative entrepreneur is welcome to register. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale your existing handmade business, these sessions are designed to meet you where you are and help you move forward with confidence.
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Our mentors are from all around the world. We are able to offer sessions in English, French and Spanish. Once you register, you will fill out a form where you can share your language preference.
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Mentors will be assigned to you by the HANDMADE to MARKET team based on your specific needs.
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All of our mentors have years of experience. By speaking with a mentor directly, you can learn from their mistakes, ask direct questions, and get tailored answers for your specific situation.
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Participants must send any materials to be reviewed at least 48 hours in advance.
They should join the session from a computer (not a mobile device) to enable screen sharing and full participation.
For technical sessions—like costing and pricing—they must come prepared with all relevant cost data ready to discuss.
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Our HANDMADE to MARKET Membership is an annual or monthly subscription program that offers self-paced online courses, monthly workshops, and a community of likeminded entrepreneurs.
These one-on-one coaching sessions are single coaching sessions with you, the entrepreneur, with one of our mentors where you can ask them specific questions about your business.
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If you need to cancel your one-on-one coaching session, we require at least 48 hours’ notice. Cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance are not eligible for a refund or credit. This policy helps us respect the time and availability of our coaching team.
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If you miss a scheduled session without prior notice, the session will not be refunded. However, we offer a one-time courtesy credit to reschedule your session. If you miss the rescheduled session for any reason, no additional credit or rescheduling will be offered.
We strongly recommend ensuring a reliable internet connection and arriving on time to make the most of your session.
Have questions?
Feel free to reach out to us with your questions!