Who We Are
About The Visionary Mafia
The Visionary Mafia is a San Francisco based social club and hub for visionary thinking. Our online magazine and networking platform is curated with Entrepreneurs and Start-Ups in mind. We ask and answer the truly impactful and helpful questions that entrepreneurs need to know about the very first key steps when getting started, and about how to grow with integrity, prowess and speed.
The Visionary Mafia is the brainchild of Publicist & Social Club pioneer Marcy Clark who founded The Women’s Mafia in 2005, which served as one of New York’s premiere women-run Social Clubs for 15 years. Known for their signature NY Fashion Week events, as well as for raising funds and awareness for important causes, the Women’s Mafia counted over 850 members and attracted hundreds of women and men to a wide variety of events supporting up-and-coming designers, artists, small businesses, novel products and worthwhile causes.
The Visionary Mafia is an online piazza to meet and connect with entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial business leaders in the San Francisco Bay Area and around the world. This is an opportunity to open up and have the conversations that really matter when you are getting started, and when you are ready to drive your company into rapid growth. You can submit yourself for a profile or guest article on the site, and you can also request an introduction to fellow entrepreneurs here.
Founder, “La Madrina” Marcy Clark
Visionary Mafia Founder Marcy Clark is passionate about your social life and your business’s success. A seasoned entrepreneur and event planner, with two decades of experience in Public Relations, nothing makes Marcy happier than introducing you to your next business partner, collaborator, gym buddy, best friend or romantic partner.
Marcy is the founder of Marcy Clark PR and Events, a PR and Branding consultancy run out of San Francisco’s Pacific Heights district. Her work is grounded on the principles of storytelling, creativity, kindness and integrity.
Marcy has worked on brand development, consumer outreach and public relations campaigns from San Francisco to New York, Austin, the U.K., South Africa and Dubai with a variety of clients. Her specialty is positioning clients as experts, readily identifying the key messages that will connect with the media. She only takes on clients who she ethically believes in, focusing on those who have a desire to be of service.
Marcy regularly secures placements in top media outlets such as The New York Times, TIME magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Reuters, USA Today, Town & Country, Food & Wine, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Elle, Vogue, Vogue Business, Time Out New York, Buzzfeed, PureWow, Well and Good, Goalcast, NPR, NBC, CBS, ABC, Bloomberg Radio and more.
Marcy is known for crafting signature experiential events where guests feel uniquely welcomed and delighted. After running the Women’s Mafia for 15 years she then started the Wellness & Retreats events company VitaminR with Kori Burkholder. From 500 person New York Fashion Week Events, to intimate Vermont press retreats, Marcy’s events are known for authenticity, building community and the joy of learning in good company. A seasoned Media Training and Public Speaking facilitator, Marcy is the creator of the “Sacred Branding,” “Storytelling for Business” and “Public Speaking for Visionaries” workshops. A certified Yoga Teacher, Marcy has led Yoga and Wellness Experiences from the Standard Hotel in Miami, to private rooftops in Capri, and even a Los Angeles Lingerie Trade Show.
The connections she garners in the PR and Events world give her great pull and influence to use for Visionary Mafia events. Venues, businesses and brands like to partner with the Visionary Mafia because Marcy understands how to ensure all collaborators realize their branding and sales goals.
Marcy connects with her Latina heritage by pitching in Spanish as well as English. When not working she can be found with her family, traveling, volunteering for women’s causes or hosting yoga retreats.
Editors
Manny Portillo
Manny Portillo is a publicist, Communications and Marketing Professional based in Atlanta. He specializes in brand development, positioning, influencer marketing, and PR campaigns for food and beverage, lifestyle, nonprofit, and entertainment clients. With a focus on market research and generational/sociological targeting, Manny has secured top placements in both English and Spanish media outlets such as Univision, The New York Times, and CBS News.
Previously, Manny worked at CNN and in the Office of Congressman John R. Lewis (GA-06). Born in Coyuca de Catalán, Mexico, and raised in Atlanta from the age of one, Manny brings a unique “Ni de Aquí Ni de Allá” (neither from here nor there) perspective, blending his Mexican heritage with his American upbringing.
A graduate of Oglethorpe University with degrees in Communication Studies, Public Relations, and Sociology/Social Work, Manny served as president of Oglethorpe’s PRSSA chapter and of Environmentally Conscious Oglethorpe Students. In his free time, he enjoys figure skating and gardening.
Engie Hassan
Engie Hassan, Founder of of EngieStyle, is a celebrated costume designer, style commentator and red carpet stylist for Celebrity, Royals and CEO’s. An alum of Vogue, French Vogue, Teen Vogue and Numero, Fashion Stylist Engie Hassan is a sought after arbiter of taste and a go-to connector, helping clients broker meaningful alliances with the who’s who of the fashion industry in the U.S., Europe and across the Arab world. Engie works with clients and media in her NYC home base and around the world. Tastemakers such as Anna Wintour have lauded Engie for her vision for clients and the late Karl Lagerfeld singled out her eye for accessories.
From The Oscars to the SAG Awards, Hassan dresses some of the most glamorous women and men in the world. For Red Carpets Hassan has styled Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Ramy Youssef, Jeremy Piven, Taryn Manning, Rizwan Manji (Schitt’s Creek), comedian and disability advocate Maysoon Zayid, Antoinique Smith (including her My Genius: Aretha premiere performance) and many others.
As a Style Commentator she has hosted red carpet style interviews and offered insights for ET Arabia, InStyle, NBC, Vogue Arabia, Grazia Middle East, Conde Nast Travel, The Express, The NJ Morning Show and many others. Engie has also styled music videos for Zach Matari (Fl!p it) and also Lauryn Hill, Tony Nominee Joshua Henry (Grow!), Jackie Nese, Frances Rose, Lily Massie, Mikel James, Deanna Demola and Young GVD.
For personal styling / shopping she has worked with Orlando Bloom, Miranda Kerr, Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Andre Holland, Amir Arison and more. Her Cannes styling for Indian actress and activist Fagun Thakar secured best dressed lists including Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, HuffPost, The CUT and more.
Hassan is an in-demand costume designer and wardrobe stylist for film and television. For film she has helmed costumes for films including Last Call (2021) Christmas With the Walters (2021), Crabs in a Bucket (2022), Sanctioning Evil (2022), The Basement (2022), For Television she has costumed Money Hungry (with Kal Penn), Bedlam (Cannes award winner for Web series), The Perfect Murder (ID) and more. She associate-produced and costume designed the independent film “The Man in The Attic’ with the debut of Emma Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn’s granddaughter. She was the Associate Producer and Costume Designer for the film ‘Letting Go’ which was featured and honored at film festivals around the world.
Hassan is a sought after collaborator for international fashion and accessories collections, having served as the Fashion Director for GenArt, a Brand Ambassador for Osay the Label with model Kenza Fourati Mohyeldin and collaborating on a jewelry collection with Tunzel.
Hassan is passionate about using Fashion and Accessories as a bridge between cultures. She regularly uses her creativity and connections to bring together fashion industry luminaries alongside CEO’s and global financiers, her charity events raising over $2million in funds and increasing awareness for causes near and dear to her heart.
Kori Burkholder
My career journey has been far from linear, but each twist and turn has taught me invaluable lessons. I began as a music enthusiast with big dreams of working in the entertainment industry. That passion led me to chase down my dream roles at major record labels and entertainment companies, where I built a fulfilling career. Along the way, I realized that my purpose wasn’t just to land my dream job but it is to help others find theirs, too. I made the leap from employee to entrepreneur, transforming my side hustle into a career coaching practice. This shift allowed me to guide people through their career transitions, combining my experience in a competitive industry with a deep desire to empower others.
