Hi, Jamie! Thank you for sitting down with us this year. We very much enjoyed our interview with you last year. In your role overseeing worldwide consumer products for Sony Pictures, we'd love to know what you are working on now?

JS: We have a busy 2023 underway, and a lot to look forward to in 2024! As we head into Licensing Expo, we’ll be celebrating an unparalleled roster of new content from classic and cherished IPs such as Ghostbusters and Gran Turismo, and new IPs with continually growing followings such as Cobra Kai, The Boys and Gen V; fresh collaborations and product launches that bring our fan-favorite characters and properties to life will be unveiled at the show.

We’re also gearing up for a milestone 40^th anniversary year for not one – but two – of our most iconic properties, Ghostbusters and The Karate Kid. Both properties will release all-new content in celebration, including a much-anticipated sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and two new offerings from Sony Pictures Animation – the first-ever Ghostbusters animated movie and a Ghostbusters animated series – both currently in development. The Karate Kid franchise will also release a feature film in 2024. Much more information to come, but next year, we’ll be unveiling a program that commemorates the 40^th anniversaries of the iconic The Karate Kid and Ghostbusters franchises. It’s an exciting chapter for Sony Pictures.

What was your favorite project to date?

JS: It’s hard to pinpoint a favorite project from the past seven years of working with Sony; there’s so much to be proud of, and there’s also so much to look forward to. Of course, we’re gearing up for the sixth and final season of Cobra Kai, which is bittersweet. It’s been an honor to watch its fanbase grow, and I’m thrilled to be able to continue its legacy through consumer products.  

What trends do you see in toys or games that excite or worry you?

JS: There is so much to be excited about cross-category, but fashion is a big trend in the Licensing world right now. Fashion, beauty, and apparel have become a large part of our consumer products portfolio over the years, and in 2023 and beyond, we’re continuing work with several leaders in the industry to help our fans transform into the characters and scenes they love most. Later this year, Gen V, the college spinoff of the wildly popular series The Boys, is set to release new apparel & accessories with Ripple Junction. Her Universe and Torrid will introduce the showstopping fashions based on the time-traveling historical drama Outlander. And that’s just to name a few!

What advice would you give a young adult graduating from high school or college today?

JS: Have an open mind, your first job will not be your last, do what you love, send thank you notes.

What and/or who inspires you?

JS: Of course, I’m endlessly inspired by the superstars at Sony Pictures Entertainment, but I also find immense inspiration from our licensees, who constantly deliver fresh ideas and collaborations that keep our fans engaged and keep Sony Pictures and it’s key properties at the forefront.   

How do you define innovation?

JS: The ability to meet consumers where they are, in my opinion, defines innovation in the world of entertainment.  

What was your favorite toy or game as a child?

JS: Barbie, Risk, Operation, Play-Doh