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Milana Knowles
Executive Leader · New York, NY

Milana
Knowles

Marketing · Business Development · Wellness · Beauty · Longevity

One of wellness's most versatile executive leaders — architect of brands, builder of platforms, trusted advisor to founders and boards.

Get in touch →
25+
Years Leading
$7M+
Budgets Managed
VP×3
Executive Roles
Brand Strategy· Wellness & Longevity· Digital Transformation· Luxury Retail· Global Expansion· Executive Leadership· Platform Growth· Beauty & Skincare· Board Advisory· Business Development· Brand Strategy· Wellness & Longevity· Digital Transformation· Luxury Retail· Global Expansion· Executive Leadership· Platform Growth· Beauty & Skincare· Board Advisory· Business Development·
Meet Milana
Executive Philosophy · Vision · Leadership
Marble bust with gold cracks
About

Rare blend of
strategy & execution

Milana Knowles is a visionary executive at the intersection of marketing, wellness, beauty, and longevity — building ecosystems that integrate content, product, consumer experience, and commercial strategy into platforms that define categories and scale.

From 2 proprietary Clarins spas and a flagship retail location to 15 spa locations within luxury department stores across North America — she brings the rare combination of a strategist's clarity and an operator's discipline.

01
Category Expert
Deep domain fluency in wellness, beauty, longevity, and luxury across B2C, B2B, retail, digital, US and international markets.
02
Strategic Builder
Designs integrated models connecting content, audience, product, and monetization from zero-to-one launches to brand repositioning at scale.
03
Execution Leader
Owns outcomes, not just functions. Aligns cross-functional teams to deliver measurable growth with precision and editorial instinct.
"

The most impactful leaders in wellness don't just follow trends — they see what the consumer needs before the market does, and build the bridge to get there.

Milana Knowles · Executive Philosophy
Expertise

Where I create
the most impact

01
Brand Strategy & Positioning
Repositioning brands for growth — from dermaceutical skincare to luxury wellness equipment to digital health platforms.
02
Marketing & Digital Transformation
Full-funnel marketing leadership spanning paid media, influencer, e-commerce, and content strategy globally.
03
International Business Development
Built and scaled operations across North America, Europe, and global markets with deep retail and hospitality partnerships.
04
Retail & Omnichannel Operations
Led 15 proprietary retail and spa locations for Clarins North America. Expert in integrating physical and digital retail.
05
Wellness, Beauty & Longevity
25+ years of domain expertise across spa, skincare, wellness media, and longevity platforms.
06
Platform Growth & Monetization
Designs ecosystems connecting content → engagement → experience → revenue for media, health, and lifestyle platforms.
Career

Experience

2020 – Present
MK Consulting
New York, NY
Founder & Principal
Boutique consultancy advising top-tier beauty, wellness, luxury retail, and lifestyle brands on market entry, strategic positioning, and platform growth. Clients range from longevity concepts and technologies, health supplements, skincare, wellness coaching, and wellness education platforms. Trusted by founders, CEOs, and investors navigating the rapidly evolving wellness and longevity landscape.
  • End-to-end strategy: positioning, product development, go-to-market, and growth
  • Architect ecosystems integrating content, services, and physical experiences
  • Guide founders in category creation within emerging health verticals
  • Gharieni Group (2023–2025) — Led U.S. market entry and strategic repositioning, evolving the brand from a luxury equipment provider into a consumer-facing wellness and longevity platform. Expanded into hospitality, medical wellness, and longevity clinic verticals.
  • MOV — Corporate Health Platform — Advised on platform positioning and core value proposition across mental health and performance for distributed workforces. Designed content and engagement architecture to drive daily use and retention.
  • Organic Spa Magazine — Built and led strategic partnerships for the wellness industry's most trusted media authority — a legacy brand reaching over 2 million readers across 30,000+ luxury spas, resorts, hotels, and 5,000+ VIP airport lounges globally.
2019 – 2020
Dr. Brandt Skincare
Miami, FL
VP, Marketing & Digital
Led global marketing and digital transformation for a leading dermaceutical skincare brand — rebuilt the marketing architecture from the ground up.
  • Drove 15% growth in digital sales and engagement through rebuilt paid media, influencer, and e-commerce strategy
  • Implemented 5-year product development and sales strategy
  • Crafted successful product launches with influencer partnerships and innovative advertising campaigns
2012 – 2018
Clarins Group
New York, NY
Executive Director, Retail Stores & Spa Division
Oversaw retail and spa operations across North America — operating as a brand within a brand, building a standalone retail and spa business that became a benchmark for the group's North American strategy.
  • Achieved $3 million in revenue growth through luxury wellness innovation
  • Managed 2 proprietary spas, 1 flagship retail location, and 15 spa locations within luxury department stores
  • Integrated spa and retail for an elevated, differentiated customer experience
2006 – 2010
SpaFinder
New York, NY
VP, Spa Sales & Marketing
Led global spa marketing and media partnerships for the world's largest spa and wellness media company — helping define the category of digital wellness marketing before it had a name.
  • Pioneered digital campaigns across a global network of 20,000+ spas and wellness destinations worldwide
  • Managed and grew SpaFinder's marketing platform — the largest spa discovery and booking network globally
Impact
$7M+
Budgets managed across career spanning global brands in beauty, wellness, and luxury
$3M+
Revenue growth led through luxury wellness innovation at Clarins North America
20K+
Spas on SpaFinder's global marketing platform — the world's largest spa discovery network
25+
Years executive leadership in beauty, wellness, longevity & luxury retail
David side profile
What Others Say

Testimonials

"

Few leaders possess the combination of vision, expertise, and mentorship that Milana brings to the table. At SpaFinder, she was instrumental in shaping key initiatives and driving growth, all while ensuring her team was empowered and supported. She is a natural leader with a keen business acumen. Her passion and dedication make her an invaluable asset in any role she takes on.

Former Colleague
SpaFinder
"

Milana is a brilliant mind who inspires everyone around her with her boundless energy and creative spirit. Working with her is both a pleasure and a true marketing and business development master class.

Industry Colleague
Wellness Industry
Press & Speaking

In the Room &
On the Record

AGEIST Magazine
Global Wellness Institute
Women's Leadership Summit
Corporate Strategy Events
Wellness Media Panels

Featured contributor and panel leader across wellness, beauty, and longevity media. Recognized by the Global Wellness Institute as an industry innovator with expertise spanning spa marketing, retail development, and brand strategy.

Creation of Adam
Capabilities

Skills

Hard Skills
Brand StrategyP&L ManagementE-commerce GrowthPaid MediaProduct DevelopmentDigital TransformationRetail OperationsInternational ExpansionGo-to-MarketContent ArchitectureInfluencer MarketingPlatform MonetizationBudget ManagementPartnership Development
Leadership & Soft Skills
Visionary LeadershipExecutive CommunicationCross-functional AlignmentTeam BuildingStakeholder ManagementCategory CreationStorytellingOperator MindsetAnalytical RigorBoard GovernanceCoaching & MentorshipConsumer Insight
Marble bust
Leadership

Board & Advisory

Green Spa Network (GSN Planet)
Board Member · 2024 – Present
Governance and industry leadership for the leading trade association shaping wellness sustainability and innovation.
MOV — Corporate Health Platform
Strategic Advisor · 2022 – 2023
Defined platform positioning and engagement architecture for a digital mental health and performance platform.
Global Wellness Summit
Industry Advisor
Recognized thought leader at the world's foremost wellness industry gathering.
Education

Academic Background

Columbia Business School
Digital Marketing Strategy, Customer Engagement & Analytics · New York, NY
University of Reading
Master of Arts, English Literature · Reading, UK
University of Zagreb
BA, English & Italian Language and Literature · Zagreb, Croatia
Let's Connect

Open to
exceptional
opportunities

Available for executive leadership roles, board positions, and strategic advisory engagements in wellness, beauty, longevity, and consumer health.

Chief Marketing Officer Chief Growth Officer VP Brand & Marketing Board Director Strategic Advisor
Emailmilana.knowles@gmail.com LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/kmilana Phone646-752-1200