MATHURA HAWLEY

...is a storyteller who understands the business of creative and who grows and inspires brands and teams with insight, passion and kindness.

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Mathura has been a Director/VP of brand, creative, art and copy for Ralph Lauren, GAP,

The Children’s Place, American Eagle, Nautica and Hanna Andersson.

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His lessons in branding began from presenting national advertising to Ralph Lauren, then overseeing

the global messaging for GAP, learning the retail store world from The Children’s Place and

American Eagle, creating a brand from scratch with American Living, shaping the rebranding of Nautica with the resources of VF Corporation, and relaunching Hanna Andersson from a catalog company to a

digital-first brand with a parent-to-parent voice.

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One of his favorite and most personal projects was to create the copy and voice for the launch of Shinola Pet products, originated by Bruce Weber and made by hand by local people in need in Detroit, Michigan. 

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Most recently, Mathura has helped an innovative purpose-driven digital fashion start-up define its mission and find its voice, a classic men's shirt company revitalize and elevate their imagery, and a local family-owned bakery define and position itself for growth.

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This spring, Mathura decided to go minimal, letting go of 95% of his lifelong possessions, buying an 

RV to pull with his Jeep, and heading out on the road for new adventures.  He is documenting his journey on Tik-Tok and already getting good and bad advice from all kinds of interesting people.

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Some other things that you might want to know:

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Mathura grew up in the West Catskill Mountains of upstate New York

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He once lost 160 pounds and became a personal trainer

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He came out proudly in 1995

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He has had a wife.  He has had a husband

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He is creator and host of an LGBTQ+ Podcast

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He is the voice of the bartender on the Meet Cute podcast series "Cruise Ship," written by Sarah Shepard

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He has interviewed Morgan Freeman and other celebrities on environmental issues

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He has lived in NYC, Miami, San Francisco and Portland

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Being a dog dad for ten years was his greatest pleasure

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He studies eastern religion and took the name Mathura, the birthplace of Krishna,

as a way to represent the birth of his own spiritual journey

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He is now, and forever, a Stevie Nicks fan

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He seeks, teaches, and encourages empowerment through truth and kindness

 

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Mathura helped to develop the first diversity committee for VF Corporation, establishing a LGBTQ Taskforce for Nautica/Kipling.  He has been a lifelong supporter of LGBTQ rights, GMHC, Green Chimneys, and recently served on the charity event board for Dove Lewis Animal Hospital in Portland.