By Diane Swenson, staff
June 1, 2026
Global business leader Maria Teza joins the Love School of Business as an Executive in Residence, bringing extensive experience in brand strategy, organizational transformation and leading global teams.
Maria Teza, former senior vice president and chief global product officer for Champion at HanesBrands, brings global leadership experience in brand strategy, product innovation and organizational transformation to the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business’ Executive in Residence program.
Teza shares what she hopes to accomplish in her new role and how Elon University students can benefit.
My career path consists of a series of lateral and advancement roles that provided exposure to multiple facets of the apparel industry. These positions prepared me to lead several market-leading brands, develop strong teams and implement transformation across complex regional and global businesses.
I am excited to mentor and guide the next generation of leaders. I look forward to translating classroom learning into real-world scenarios and creating professional pathways through networking, internship opportunities and exposure to different industries.
I look forward to meaningful conversations regarding leadership, insights into managing domestic and global businesses and how students can create a pathway to finding a career in which they will thrive.
Leading a winning global brand combines emotional brand equity, operational scale and local execution. Managing global teams is both challenging and rewarding; it is critical to be well-versed in regional cultures to maximize employee engagement, create consistency in brand positioning and delight consumers.
Leading a large organization requires the alignment of people, capital and processes to deliver results at scale. Aligning on priorities, building strong teams, operational excellence, constant communication, establishing decision-making rights and protecting a culture are the foundational blocks for success.
My primary focus is my family and making the most out of every day. My husband and I travel extensively to explore off-the-beaten-path locations, and we have a passion for boating, pickleball and golf. We enjoy spending time with our three children as they navigate their own career and life journeys, and we continue to coach people and businesses to help them maximize their potential.
Academics & Research
Accounting Economics Finance Love School of Business Management & Entrepreneurship Marketing & International Business
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