Kristin Patrick's career path defies traditional boundaries, extending across fashion, beauty, entertainment, and consumer goods sectors. As the current Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Digital Officer at Marc Jacobs since 2024, she focuses on steering the company's worldwide revitalization with an emphasis on digital advancements and compelling storytelling.
Her mornings commence early in New York City, beginning at 6:30 a.m. with an information-gathering ritual that combines reading diverse publications such as The Information, Rest of World, and Highsnobiety. This blend of sources covers business intelligence, global technology developments, economic trends, and cultural movements, offering her a well-rounded understanding of emerging directions. Additionally, she checks her horoscope each day, noting her astrological sign as Gemini.
At 7 a.m., Patrick fuels her day with strong coffee prepared at home, favoring Dunkin's vanilla-flavored brew, reflecting her Massachusetts roots. Complementing the sensory start to her day, music plays a vital role, with an eclectic selection currently including artists such as SZA, Charli XCX, and Burna Boy. Sometimes she lets Spotify's algorithm guide her listening choices, gravitating towards sounds that feel vibrant and timely. Prior to leaving for work, she incorporates Wim Hof breathing exercises to prime her mental focus.
Her commute at 8 a.m. usually involves walking through New York City, which she regards as an educational experience in cultural observation and style trends, from streetwear to the nuances of morning commuter behavior. On occasions when she's in Los Angeles, she directly enters her home workspace for virtual meetings.
Kristin acknowledges there is no conventional day for her starting at 9 a.m. Her tasks oscillate rapidly between reviewing creative campaign materials, analyzing financial models to boost e-commerce growth, and engaging in customer relationship management segmentation discussions. This dynamic environment reflects the integration of artistic sensibility and commercial strategy that energizes her professional approach.
By 11 a.m., the focus intensifies on her capacity to juggle creativity with business discipline. One ongoing challenge is predicting cultural trends ahead of their widespread recognition rather than simply reacting to them. She describes this tension among creative vision, data analysis, and perfect timing as energizing and essential for transformative results. While crafting a visually appealing collection or marketing campaign is important, she emphasizes that simultaneously ensuring these efforts contribute positively to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) is critical. Operating at this intersection is demanding but rewarding.
Lunch around 1 p.m. is usually quick and nearby the SoHo-based Marc Jacobs office, with favored options such as Balthazar. Importantly, she makes it a point to connect with her daughter, a college student, to check in on her day. For Kristin, this routine offers grounding amid professional demands.
Later in the afternoon, around 2:30 p.m., Patrick employs a productivity strategy that foregoes highly structured calendar blocks. Instead, she works in intense, focused sprints interspersed with breaks, a system that embraces a controlled form of chaos. For communication efficiency, she adheres to a "three-line rule" for emails, favoring quick calls for any correspondence surpassing three lines to maintain momentum.
At 3 p.m., small indulgences and moments of respite punctuate her workday. She appreciates a gumball machine provided by the e-commerce team for a sugar boost. Additionally, the dog-friendly office environment allows her to take walking breaks with her daughter's dog, Beatrice. These moments offer valuable mental rest and a fresh perspective to continue her work.
Concluding her workday around 5 p.m., Kristin reflects on her achievements and experiences with three success criteria: building something productive, learning new information, and sharing laughter. This reflective practice shapes her definition of a fulfilling day.
Post-work activities include Pilates or spin classes that serve both as physical exercise and forms of meditation to restore energy for the following days. Dinner routines vary due to her lifestyle; ideal occasions involve home-cooked meals focusing on protein-based dishes, while dining out with friends or her daughter introduces variety, with Italian cuisine being her preferred choice.
Travel is a consistent component of her career, often requiring work in cities other than her residence. While travel disrupts routine, she embraces the unpredictability for its capacity to inspire creative and cultural insights. Walking through unfamiliar urban environments provides irreplaceable observational opportunities that inform her understanding of imminent fashion and cultural shifts.
Before sleep, around 10 p.m., she engages in a final digital update via TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest, platforms she monitors closely to stay informed about prevailing trends and cultural movements.
Kristin Patrick's approach to integrating creativity with disciplined business management, her mindfulness regarding cultural trends, and her thoughtful incorporation of personal and professional priorities exemplify the modern executive's balancing act in the fashion industry.