Izzie Kalaja operates at the exact intersection of consumer demand, planning, and sustainability strategy. As Director of Operations & ESG at FRANKIE4, a B Corp certified footwear brand operating across North America and APAC, Izzie holds dual accountability for commercial P&L performance and ESG execution. Her focus is operationalizing real consumer behavior into merchandising, buying, and forecasting—proving that sustainability scales when embedded directly into a brand's core commercial engine.

Why We’re Excited for Izzie to Speak at SFF26

Sustainability teams frequently lose headcount, budget, and C-suite influence when their work is treated as an isolated marketing narrative rather than a core driver of commercial value. To regain operational leverage and secure long-term resources, sustainability leaders must connect consumer behavior directly to the engine that runs the business: planning, inventory, and trade.

Izzie brings the rare perspective of an operator who manages both commercial trade performance and ESG targets. Grounded in academic research on why sustainability messaging often fails to convert shoppers, Izzie operates on a clear conviction: Messaging alone rarely drives customer conversion—product earns adoption, and systems earn power.

At SFF26, Izzie will break down how translating real consumer purchasing behavior into demand planning and range architecture serves as a brand’s most powerful waste-reduction strategy. By showing how behavioral insights directly improve forecasting accuracy, protect gross margins, and eliminate overproduction before it starts, she demonstrates how to turn sustainability from a perceived "cost center" into a proven engine of commercial value—giving sustainability leaders the exact operational leverage needed to win C-suite buy-in, protect headcount, and secure long-term budget.

Industry Experience & Background

Prior to leading Operations & ESG at FRANKIE4, Izzie worked at Deloitte, supporting global organizations in translating complex operational data into accessible strategy. Her background combines hands-on commercial leadership across APAC and North American retail markets with academic research in sustainability communication, brand positioning, and consumer behavior change.

Izzie specializes in building resilient governance frameworks that translate consumer intent into everyday commercial execution.