Speakers

A Harvard Business alum with over 20 years of retail experience, Olson is a digital-first, purpose-driven fashion industry leader, known for her eye for emerging design talent, of the moment creative marketing and first to market digital innovations. 

Brieane Olson serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Pacsun, the popular youth fashion retailer at the intersection of fashion, art, sports, and music. She became Pacsun’s first female CEO in June 2023 after serving as President since 2021 and Co-CEO in 2023. Olson leads the company’s vision, strategy, and global expansion, ensuring Pacsun continues to inspire the next generation through culture, innovation, and meaningful initiatives.

Olson has driven purpose-led partnerships with cultural icons and organizations that align with Pacsun’s values. She led collaborations with A$AP Rocky as Pacsun’s first guest artistic director, Paris Hilton, and Selena Gomez’s Rare Impact Fund, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to creativity, self-expression, and youth empowerment. She also launched the Pacsun Artist Network Series, an extension of the Pacsun Collective, to elevate emerging designers, content creators, and cultural influencers shaping the future of fashion.

Under her leadership, Pacsun has expanded globally, entering China’s Douyin (the country’s TikTok) and leveraging livestream shopping to engage new audiences. She has also secured key licensing agreements with The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Formula 1, further strengthening Pacsun’s leadership in sports fashion and cultural collaborations.

A champion of digital transformation, Olson has positioned Pacsun at the forefront of social commerce and AI-driven retail innovation. In 2024, Pacsun was ranked among the top 10 brands on TikTok by Women’s Wear Daily. She also established Pacsun’s AI Council and developed an 18-month roadmap for AI adoption, optimizing business operations, customer engagement, and data-driven decision-making.

Beyond retail and technology, Olson has guided the brand’s longtime community-driven partnership with the LA Rams, response to disaster relief efforts in Los Angeles and advanced responsible sourcing and supply chain optimizations, ensuring Pacsun’s values align with the evolving expectations of its consumers.

Olson began her career in fashion with Gianfranco Ferré, Valentino, and Abercrombie & Fitch before joining Pacsun in 2006 as Vice President of Women’s Merchandising. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications and Business from the University of California, Berkeley, and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School, where she now serves as an AMP Ambassador for women in leadership.

She is an active member of several industry-leading boards, including Women in Retail Leadership, Shoptalk, and the National Retail Federation’s CEO Council, where she advises on White House policy. She also contributes to the PTTOW! Cultural Advisory Board and Harvard Business School’s Business & Environment Student Alumni Mentorship Program.

Residing in Newport Beach, California, with her children, Colette and Rousseau, Brieane remains dedicated to driving Pacsun’s innovation forward, fostering cultural relevance, and championing a purpose-driven approach to youth fashion.