Speed Mentoring at Heritage Auctions, April 15, 2026
The Jewelry Edit Foundation hosted a Speed Mentoring session, Building Your Future in Jewelry, at Heritage Auctions in New York. The event convened emerging designers and jewelry professionals with accomplished mentors across key areas of the industry, including design, branding, manufacturing, PR, sourcing, sustainability, licensing, and sales. The evening fostered focused, one-on-one conversations that allowed mentees to gain tailored insights from industry leaders, all while surrounded by the incredible jewelry of Heritage Auctions.
Grounded in the Foundation’s mission to cultivate access and opportunity for young professionals entering the industry, the session fostered an open and collaborative environment for knowledge-sharing, connection, and growth. Each rotation offered mentees practical guidance on navigating the complexities of the jewelry industry—from building a brand and scaling production to forging strategic partnerships—while reinforcing the value of community and mentorship.
The evening left participants with clear insights into jewelry careers, expanded networks, and a strengthened sense of direction for their professional journeys. The event highlighted the importance of mentorship and collaboration in supporting the next generation of talent within the jewelry industry.
Among the mentors were Michael Robinson, founder and designer of David Michael Jewels; Gina D’Onofrio, Director of Fine Jewelry at Heritage Auction; Nirvana Randhawa, procurement and supply chain leader at Accenture; Bella Neyman, founder of New York City Jewelry Week; Daniel Baez, President and Founder of Daniel Jewelry Casting; Elisheva Jasie, luxury brand licensing executive; Sheena Butler-Young, Senior Correspondent at Business of Fashion; Meghan Folsom, Co-Founder of PR firm Mega Mega Projects; Patricia Madeja, studio jeweler and educator at Pratt Institute; Katherine Van Dell, Senior Specialist of Fine Jewelry at Heritage Auctions; Jamie Henderson, Director of Fine Jewelry at Heritage Auctions; Vera Prather, Director of Fine Jewelry at Heritage Auctions; and Rosena Sammi, Founder of the Jewelry Edit and TJEF.
