The Power of a Founder: Bringing Lorna Jane Clarkson to New Zealand
Rise & Shine welcomed Lorna Jane Clarkson, founder and CCO of Lorna Jane, the original creator of activewear and one of the world’s most inspiring female founders, to New Zealand for a three-day program combining thought leadership, strategic media profiling, and brand experiences.
At the heart of her visit, we secured Lorna Jane Clarkson as the headline speaker at the Girls in Business 2025 Conference, where she opened the day with a keynote Q&A celebrating female entrepreneurship and business empowerment. Her presence inspired more than 800 attendees, giving them the opportunity to hear first-hand from a global changemaker whose brand has redefined how women dress, move, and live. Beyond the stage, our team designed an itinerary to extend her impact across broadcast, print, and digital media, including features on Breakfast NZ TV, The Coast Radio, One News, and fashion titles FashioNZ and Fashion Quarterly. Each touchpoint spotlighted Lorna Jane’s founder journey, her Never Give Up podcast, and her vision for activewear as more than clothing - a movement.
To complement this, we hosted an intimate PR lunch at The French Café, bringing together leading fashion and lifestyle media and influencers for a beautifully styled experience inspired by the new Spring collection, complete with curated gifting and branded activations that deepened emotional connection to the brand. And to bring it full circle, a bespoke Lorna Jane pop-up store at the Girls in Business Conference gave attendees the chance to meet Lorna Jane in person and take home a piece of the brand. This integrated campaign deliberately focused on storytelling and thought leadership over product placement, strengthening Lorna Jane’s relevance and resonance in a market where audiences seek authenticity, inspiration, and connection. Friday’s activities alone generated outstanding media and social engagement results with a ROI 12:1- and that doesn’t yet include the organic value created through Lorna’s Girls in Business appearance or the internal staff event, both of which sparked significant community engagement and user-generated content that continues to build momentum online.
An example of the power of storytelling through profiling a founder and extending this narrative to both key opinion leaders and the wider community. At Rise & Shine, we specialise in helping brands craft stories that resonate, connect, and inspire. If you’re ready to elevate your brand through meaningful storytelling and strategic PR, we’d love to chat.