Join us for a conversation with Brieane Olson, Chief Executive Officer of Pacsun. Students will have the opportunity to learn from Olson’s career journey, leadership experience, and innovative approach to building purpose-driven brands that connect with Gen Z consumers.

Brieane Olson is the chief executive officer of Pacsun, a leading youth lifestyle retailer known for its innovative, purpose-driven brand strategy. With nearly two decades at the company, Olson has led transformational growth through bold merchandising, strategic partnerships and a deep focus on Gen Z consumers. Her leadership reflects a modern retail mindset that blends creativity, data and social consciousness to build relevance in an ever-evolving marketplace.

Before becoming CEO in April 2023, Olson served as president of Pacsun, where she helped redefine the brand’s identity through digital-first campaigns and groundbreaking collaborations. Under her direction, Pacsun launched high-impact initiatives with cultural icons, including A$AP Rocky, Kendall and Kylie Jenner and Jerry Lorenzo. She also oversaw the brand’s international expansion into Selfridges London and the Middle East, establishing Pacsun as a global style influencer. Olson’s approach to business centers on aligning brand values with community needs. She led Pacsun’s $5 million investment in inner-city Inglewood schools and developed localized outreach through the Delivering Good program, empowering store teams to make tangible, community-level change. Her ability to pair business growth with social good underscores her belief that companies thrive when they reflect and uplift the communities they serve.

With a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and business from the University of California, Berkeley, and as a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program — where she now serves as an ambassador — Olson has built a career at the intersection of strategy, creativity and leadership development. She has also worked with luxury fashion houses in Italy, further shaping her understanding of global brand positioning and design thinking.

Olson currently serves on the boards of Women in Retail Leadership, Pinterest, the National Retail Foundation CEO Council, Conscious Capitalism and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She is a frequent speaker on purpose-driven leadership, retail innovation and the future of consumer engagement. She lives in Southern California with her two children, Rousseau and Colette.
 

This program is open to all eligible individuals. USC Annenberg operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.

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