Queen of crafts: Linda Kozlowski, Chief Operating Officer of Etsy
Queen of crafts: Linda Kozlowski, Chief Operating Officer of Etsy https://csuiteold.c-suitenetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/queen-of-crafts-linda-kozlowski-chief-operating-officer-of-etsy-1.jpg 450 450 C-Suite Network https://csuiteold.c-suitenetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/queen-of-crafts-linda-kozlowski-chief-operating-officer-of-etsy-1.jpg
Etsy’s Linda Kozlowski has experience in international growth, a passion for creative small businesses, and a sophisticated global ecommerce platform – and she plans to use her powers for good.
For anyone looking to buy or sell handmade, vintage or craft items, international online platform Etsy is a veritable playground. With a seamless and aesthetically pleasing ecommerce platform supporting more than a million ‘micro-entrepreneurs’, it takes only a few clicks, US$0.20, and your imagination to set up a global business.
Linda Kozlowski knows the importance of a creative outlet
Etsy’s current COO Linda Kozlowski brings more than 20 years of experience in operations, international marketing, business development, public relations, and customer service, including stints with other digital leaders Evernote and Alibaba. But long before she joined the workforce, as a child Linda was a student of creative expression, regularly observing and engaging with her mother’s passion for crafts.
“My mother was very creative and ran a business selling all sorts of different types of crafts, while also doing a lot of community and volunteer work,” she says. “She was the person who helped me understand how important it is to have a creative outlet. Even if it’s not your full-time occupation, creativity really helps keep your intellect strong and maintains your ability to always be open-minded about the world.”
Even if it’s not your full-time occupation, creativity really helps keep your intellect strong and maintains your ability to always be open-minded about the world.
Working on all manner of crafts, including painting, beading, aluminium flowers, and building miniature rooms and houses, Linda’s mother was responsible for the more than 30 miniature rooms now on display at various museums around the US. She’s also whom Linda credits as the driving force behind her love of Etsy as she spends each day supporting its sellers – people just like her mother looking to make a trade out of their creative interests and unique collections.
The Etsy Empowerment Loop
“There’s a fairly consistent theme in the types of roles I’ve sought to work in throughout my career; they’ve all been really about supporting entrepreneurs and helping small businesses grow,” she says. “That’s always been extremely important to me. I am very passionate about helping the little guy grow in order to be able to take advantage of everything the world has to offer. I think it helps drive economic growth – and I feel like it also helps drive creativity and job growth as well.”
