ASSOCIATE SPOTLIGHT SERIES: AN INTERVIEW WITH MIMI
May 15, 2025
In our Associate Spotlight series, we are highlighting associates across our Company who are shaping our community and who embody our Centric Brands philosophy every day.
Meet Mimi Huang, Senior Manager, Merchandising, Sports, Entertainment & Licensing Group (SELG) at Centric Brands Asia. Mimi plays a key role in developing and producing licensed kid’s sleepwear for Walmart, with a hands-on approach to learning and a commitment to teamwork, Mimi excels at navigating tight deadlines while delivering excellence.
Can you share insights about your role and responsibilities?
I’m responsible for the development and production of Walmart’s licensed kid’s sleepwear. In this role, I ensure competitive pricing while maintaining quality and profitability. I focus on building and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers to ensure timely and efficient production and adherence to product specifications.
How did you become passionate about your career?
Moving from Li & Fung to Centric Brands in 2022 came with a learning curve, but with my leaders’ (Jeff Pinkow, Executive Vice President, Sourcing, and Kari Yau, Vice President, Sourcing & Production) guidance and encouragement, and the supportive and collaborative culture at Centric Brands, I quickly adapted. This positive experience fueled my passion for my work, and I’ve remained highly motivated and enthusiastic ever since.
Can you share your approach to swiftly acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills?
My approach to acquiring new knowledge and skills is to first define what I need to learn. I then seek the information or training I need and apply what I’ve learned through real-world tasks. I test different approaches to determine what works best and share my findings with others.
For example, when Walmart required an electronic color approval process, I joined a data color reading training. I obtained the certification and immediately applied my learnings. This hands-on practice helped me better understand and meet Walmart’s new requirements, ensuring production continued to run smoothly.
Can you discuss when you had to manage competing priorities and tight deadlines?
In the past two years, we’ve had several urgent all-season orders. To stay on track and ensure the programs ship on time, we establish concrete deadlines for each step of the process. We align with the New York team to plan timely and clear communications. At the end of each day, we review progress as a team and adjust our plans for the next day. This structured approach helps us successfully navigate tight deadlines while maintaining quality.
How would your friends describe you?
In my friends’ eyes, I’m someone they can always count on. I’m a good listener, supportive, loyal, and genuinely care about them and their well-being.
