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BEHIND CMK BRIDGE
MEET CLARA
— the founder behind CMK Bridge, a bi-cultural ally helping brands grow on both sides of the Atlantic.
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I’ve spent over a decade supporting fast-growing North American companies expanding into France — and French companies looking toward North America.
Recent partnerships include Hogsalt, Chicago’s iconic hospitality group, and Dash Hudson, the Canadian SaaS leader in visual marketing.
With Hogsalt, I coordinate the group’s French development alongside CEO Brendan Sodikoff — from strategy to on-the-ground execution. Their first Parisian address, La Renommée, opened in 2024 to remarkable acclaim, listed by Vogue among the best new tables in the city. With Dash Hudson, I led a customized market research initiative with qualitative analysis and commercial positioning to inform their French expansion.
These collaborations reflect what I do best: bring clarity, cultural intelligence, and acceleration to transatlantic expansion.
THE BIRTH OF CMK BRIDGE
I founded CMK Bridge with a single conviction shaped over years of international work: crossing the Atlantic demands cultural intelligence, operational speed — and relationships on the ground.
Market reports are not enough. Companies need a partner who:
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understands both ecosystems and advises with clarity
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decodes the cultural drivers behind decisions
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activates a reliable network at the right moment
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delivers fast, pragmatic execution
​My goal: to make transatlantic expansion a transformative experience, not a costly lesson.​​
AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNEY
Before CMK Bridge, I built a global career across the US, UK, and Germany.
At Leica, I moved from Head of Marketing UK to Manager, Global Partnerships & Cultural Projects at the brand’s German headquarters, where I led high-profile cultural activations with personalities including Jamie Cullum, Ted Dwane, and Mary McCartney.​
​​​​I developed global partnerships and produced major international events — The Luxury Collection, Photo London, Paris Photo, Photo Shanghai, Goodwood Revival — positioning Leica at the intersection of art, culture and luxury.
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Those years taught me how to navigate complexity across borders, balance strategic vision with creative execution, and deliver under pressure — skills I use daily with founders and country leaders today.
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Earlier in my career, I spent three formative years at EVINS, a PR and MARCOM agency on Madison Avenue, serving legacy and luxury brands such as Leica Camera, Nat Sherman, Pisco Portón, and Vitra, while also helping to expand the agency's client portfolio.
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EVINS is where I became known for my “can-do attitude” and my ability to deliver on ambitious, time-sensitive projects. It shaped my analytical rigor, strengthened my approach to relationship-building, and gave me a calm, solutions-focused way of operating in fast-moving environments. ​
AN INTRA-PRENEURIAL MISSION IN FRANCE
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Before founding CMK Bridge, I returned to France to lead the launch of Baby Smile, Germany’s market leader in newborn photography.
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As Director of Operations, I built the French entity from the ground up — signing 34 maternity hospitals in six months and recruiting 42 people in eight months.​
It was an intense, entrepreneurial experience that taught me the most important lesson of all:
You cannot copy-paste a business model from one country to another. Every element — the offer, the narrative, the pricing, the customer behaviors — must be culturally translated.
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That insight sits at the heart of CMK Bridge and informs every expansion project I lead today.​​
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
My journey didn’t start in a boardroom — it started with curiosity.
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Studying in the US changed everything. After the Sorbonne, I moved to Connecticut and New York, earning a double major in Sociology and Communication with a minor in Business at UConn, then completing a Master’s in Media, Culture & Communication at NYU.
In the American system — with its freedom, small classrooms, and real-world applied teaching — I discovered my natural leadership style, my appetite for challenge, and my ability to thrive across cultures and languages.​​
How we work.
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AGILITY
CMK Bridge is your network of French advisors. Our strength comes from both our Founder, Clara, and our dynamic network of trusted experts. As needed, Clara brings together specialized teams to craft tailored solutions for your needs. This approach keeps us agile and prepared to handle projects at full speed.
EFFICIENCY
Our project-based approach ensures that each initiative receives focused attention and expertise. By working directly with Clara, clients benefit from streamlined communication and quick decision-making. This eliminates unnecessary layers and speeds up the process, making your journey smoother and your localization efforts more effective.
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SYNERGY
Synergy means achieving more together than alone. At CMK Bridge, we believe in the power of collaboration and integrity. We work hand-in-hand with our clients, keeping them informed at every step of the journey.