Olivia Smashum
Olivia Smashum
Founder & Creative Director, Blue Olive, has over 20 years of experience in entertainment and digital media. At SoHarlem, Olivia is Designer-In-Residence and also serves as a marketing and design coach for emerging designers.
Previously Olivia was Executive Vice President of Marketing and Product Development at HBO, where she led customer relationship efforts for 25 million subscribers and iconic brands including, Sex in the City, The Sopranos, and Cinemax. As digital distribution transformed the industry, she also played a key role in the successful online launch of HBO Go and Max Go. Her experience in developing strategic partnerships and branded digital content, together with launching brand extensions, are invaluable in her new role as founder of the Blue Olive fashion line and an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at SoHarlem.
Blue Olive works with US manufacturers to source the finest quality fabrics and achieve the perfect fit. By using sheer, breezy fabrics, sophisticated colors and flirty silhouettes, Blue Olive successfully creates collections that capture the spirit of endless summer and limitless possibilities through separates that transition seamlessly from day to night.
Olivia is committed to delivering a timeless collection of wardrobe basics created for ALL women and to developing collaborations with emerging female visual artists, with Blue Olive serving as a platform that provides visibility and empowerment globally. Olivia is a graduate of Hampton University and received her MBA from Columbia University.