A skateboard gave commuters a new way to enjoy the distance between train and door. Then the company behind it discovered how expensive it is to turn a delightful ride into a durable vehicle business.

Noriko Morimoto is the Chief Marketing Officer of Title Nine, the Emeryville-based women's activewear brand founded in 1989. A Bay Area native who cut her teeth building brands at Burton Snowboards, Gap, Zipcar, NatureBox and Boosted Boards, she has spent a career pointing well-known consumer names in the direction of growth and turnaround. She pairs a UC Berkeley undergraduate degree with an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, and specializes in brand platform development, consumer acquisition and digital-plus-offline engagement.