As chief marketing officer and vice president of corporate marketing at Samsung Electronics America, Allison Stransky is at the helm of the mega brand’s marketing strategy, driving initiatives for the company’s visions for the future of connected homes and its broader sustainability mission.
Prior to stepping into her role at Samsung, Stransky honed her skills starting in beauty and personal care before veering into tech and has experience at global companies including Google, L’Oréal, Unilever and Johnson & Johnson. At Samsung, she told WWD she sees the future being created.
As reported by WWD, Samsung has had a longstanding commitment to fashion, with the understanding that technology and fashion go hand in hand. The company has partnered with like-minded designers, including a recent collaboration with LaQuan Smith during the Met Gala, and media organizations to inspire people to pursue creative passions.
Most recently, Samsung unveiled a partnership with Ashley Furniture with a modern retail experience that showed how to create a smarter, more functional home.
Here, Stransky, talks to WWD about her daily routine, her career and the tech she’s excited about today.
WWD: What is the first thing you do in the morning?
Allison Stransky: You’d think because I work for Samsung I go straight for my phone, but I intentionally do not. I try to ease into the day with a clear head. Over coffee I’ll do a quick email scan to make sure nothing urgent came through overnight — Samsung is headquartered in South Korea, so our nights are their days — but then I’ll put it away so I can focus on my other job as mom.
I am also obsessed with health and wellness tracking and have gone all-in on wearables. My Galaxy Ring is with me always, and I love to geek out on my personal data — especially my stress levels. I look at my trends from the day prior and can set an intention for the new day. Having perspective on my overall health and wellness is really powerful.
WWD: What is a wellness routine that’s a must for you?
A.S.: Sleep. I’ve learned that I can’t pour from an empty cup, and everything — my energy, mood, even decision-making — is better when I’ve had a good night’s rest. I track how I’m sleeping with my Galaxy Ring — not for just the data but to hold myself accountable to wind down at night. And I have an automated wind-down routine in my Samsung SmartThings app.
At 10 p.m. the lights dim, we close the shades and change the thermostat to our preferred sleeping temperature. When my space tells me it’s time to relax, it’s time to stop scrolling and switch to a book or a podcast.
WWD: What is a retail/tech trend that you’re excited to see coming to life right now?
A.S.: AI-powered personalization in consumer tech and how it intersects with all facets of our lives. AI is a game changer and we’re realizing its ability to optimize everything. Our mobile devices are becoming our very own AI companions, helping you live healthier, work more efficiently and even care for loved ones.
From a brand and marketing perspective, we have an abundance of rich data and can leverage AI to drive an experience that is deeply intuitive and practical for people’s real lives. Not only that, but we can reach them with hyper relevant and personalized messages at different points in their journey.
WWD: What is the best advice you would give someone starting out in their career today?
A.S.: Bring your whole self to what you do. Because in bringing your whole self, you’re also bringing what’s most unique about you, and when you hone your uniqueness, that can become your superpower. Live in that. I think real value is added when you understand what makes you and your perspective unique — and you find the confidence to share it.
The other advice I share with people, whether it’s someone on my team or a mentee, [is that] you have to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. That’s where you grow and often where greatness comes through.
WWD: Looking throughout your career, what is something that you are most proud of?
A.S.: My career started in beauty and personal care and veered into tech. I have had the privilege of working at some incredible companies over the years, but I have to say, my first CES with Samsung in 2024 was a truly exceptional moment in my career. To announce new SmartThings and AI capabilities, we livestreamed a cooking demo with Martha Stewart from the floor of the Samsung booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center. It was operationally complex, but a showstopper. When we pulled it off, we looked back and said, “Wow. We are creating the future at Samsung, and people are so excited for it.”
I’ve had a few other seminal moments along the way. At L’Oréal, one of my favorite roles was running the U.S. Garnier Haircolor business. At this time, we were really starting to understand the importance and power of digital marketing and knowing it can be tricky to pick the right shade of hair color. I think this was the beginning of me getting bitten by the digital bug that led to my next couple of opportunities.
WWD: What is your ideal shopping retail experience?
A.S.: I’m definitely a hybrid shopper. I’ll often start online, scrolling for inspiration and getting a sense of what’s out there. Filling a cart that I may or may not ever buy. But I do love shopping IRL. Curated displays, touching and feeling products. Getting into a store is a luxury these days because time is hard to come by. I really appreciate the retail experience, because it’s where brands can bring their stories to life.
In fact, I’m very excited about Samsung’s partnership with Ashley Furniture. This partnership is all about seeing how furniture and electronics come together in a seamless way to create a smarter, more functional home. This kind of integration makes the retail experience feel modern, relevant and fun because shoppers can experience something unique in store that can’t be replicated the same way online.