Patti Cohen is my mentor. As employee #1 at Donna Karan International, she was the former EVP of Global Marketing and Communications and is hugely responsible for creating these powerhouse brands. Patti is the epitome of what a leader should be. Over her 30 plus years at Donna Karan, she helped start and build it all — an extraordinary marketer who had a vision for the brands beyond what anyone had ever seen. Everything I know, I have learned from her. Without her, I would not be where I am today.