profile

WIA Profile: Amber Kukulya

Beginning her career in the corporate world as a human resources professional has equipped Amber Kukulya with skills that make her a natural for business development at Masque Sexual Flavors. That is, once she overcame the dissonance between her past role and now working in adult, where everything she once considered inappropriate for the workplace became her bread and butter. After being taken under the wing of Michael Guilfoyle, Masque’s president, Kukulya has started to make a name for herself as an adult industry pro. In this month’s WIA Woman of the Month spotlight, she discusses her motivation and accomplishments so far with Masque.

What is your role and responsibility at Masque?

Our goal at Masque is to increase intimacy between couples, and we literally do that every day.

I oversee sales and operations. I handle most of the national sales strategies and customer relationships and have been assisting in our recent international launches. I work out of our headquarters in Tampa, Fla., and manage finance and accounting, shipping and distribution, office management, quality assurance and human resources. I also travel and represent the brand at industry and women’s/couples events throughout the year. We wear many hats, but have an extraordinary team that contributes to all efforts.

What is a typical day at the office like for you?

With the conversations and ad approvals that take place on a daily basis, I would not say any day is typical! If I’m not traveling, I’m usually in the office catching up on emails and calls, pushing our sales efforts, communicating with vendors and customers, organizing the finances and assuring all orders and requests from customers are being received and sent out with first priority.

How did you get into the pleasure products business?

This is always a funny story to tell. My background is in human resources and I came from a HR Generalist position working for a relatively conservative engineering company. I actually used to counsel employees on using inappropriate language in the workplace. Needless to say, what’s considered “inappropriate” has changed just a bit.

Michael Guilfoyle (president of Masque) and I worked in the same building and became fast friends. I was always intrigued by the company, watching it grow from a distance. I knew working with such a skilled entrepreneur and manager like Michael would be beneficial for my career, and eventually discussions among friends turned into a job offer. I made the move 10 months ago and couldn’t be happier with the decision.

What challenges have you confronted in your career and how have you overcome them?

Dealing with the industry switch was a bit of a challenge in the beginning. I received push back from certain professional organizations I am involved with as well as various family members. But after a few months, hesitation to discuss often turned into genuine interest and intrigue. Seeing that I was still a business professional and working for a legitimate business quickly changed minds. I still have those moments when I tell someone what I do and get the judgmental response, but that rarely happens now that I’m so used to discussing it. The funny thing is that this industry has some of the most intelligent, insightful and genuine individuals I’ve ever met. It really is proof that you can’t judge a book by its cover — even if it does have a shocking adult product on it.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Talking with couples who have used our product and hearing that it not only had a great impact on their sex lives, but their relationships. Our goal at Masque is to increase intimacy between couples, and we literally do that every day. One day we received an email from a cancer patient that was going through chemotherapy and experienced excessive dry mouth and taste distortion. She used our product and wanted to thank us for making sex for her normal again. Amazing.

What is your personal motto or mantra that you live by?

Never stop learning. It’s impossible to be an expert on everything, and we can always learn new things from others.

What career accomplishment are you most proud of?

Obtaining my PHR (Professional in Human Resources) certification — even though I’m no longer specifically working in the field, the knowledge I learned has helped me in countless situations. I pretty much didn’t have a life for the four months I was studying for the exam, but it was well worth it!

What are your professional goals for the remainder of 2013?

To continue to grow the Masque brand and fantastic relationships we have made with others throughout the industry. I’m also looking to learn a new language and travel more internationally, to help with my goal of being a more knowledgeable businesswoman. I’m excited to see what 2013 has in store for us!

Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry's most influential female executives.

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

profile

Electric Novelties Execs Reflect on Company Origins, Mission

When Zach Goode first crossed paths with Electric Novelties over 20 years ago, both he and the company were deeply entrenched in the apparel world. Goode was handling sales for a friend’s novelty T-shirt company, Sik World, while Electric specialized in sexy lingerie and clubwear.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
profile

Sensual Distributors Ltd. Blends Real-Life Love Story, Passion for Pleasure Biz

This local brick-and-mortar is a “mom and mom” operation led by co-owners Alana Thompson and Angini Singh, a lesbian couple who overcame their country’s strict, religious culture to create a sexual wellness boutique that serves their unique community.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

How History Drives Marketing Strategies Today

Thanks to the efforts of activists, sex educators and members of marginalized communities, products like sex toys, lubricants and adult films have become much less stigmatized, and much more visible and accepted in the public sphere today.

Hail Groo ·
opinion

BAFTA Nominations Highlights Importance of Gender-Neutrality

While the Brit Awards have paved the way for gender inclusivity by introducing gender-neutral award categories, it has recently been confirmed that the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards will not follow suit.

Scarlett Ward ·
opinion

How to Explain Wax Play to Shoppers

When it comes to candles in the bedroom, most folks think of them as a great way to create a sexy ambiance. For folks who enjoy wax play, however, candles are also a kinky way to heat things up. While it may sound daunting to the uninitiated — because, you know, fire and hot dripping wax — wax play can be a fun and accessible sensation-play option, as well as an excellent intro to BDSM.

Rebecca Weinberg ·
trends

An Inside Look at the Decision-Making Process of Expert Merchandisers

Buyers in the sexual wellness industry bear a weighty responsibility. They must strike the perfect balance between meeting customers’ demonstrated needs with tried-and-true products, and staying on top of the latest trends — and that is only scratching the surface.

profile

WIA Profile: Catherine Corsaro

As director of product training and information for JO parent company CC Wellness, Corsaro oversees all sexual health and product education from the company’s Valencia, California headquarters, including training new reps who may have never touched a bottle of lube until their first day on the job.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Novum Veteran Executive Team Leverages Expertise to Grow Brand

Novum Brands may be relatively new on the sex toy scene, but there’s nothing green about George Gatziaris and Vadim Daysudov, who together founded, own and helm the business.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

Al and Michele Harrington Discuss Vision for Pleasure Brand Love Verb

Former NBA player Al Harrington has matched his success on the hardwood with equally impressive accomplishments in the business world, including creating cannabis company Viola. Now, Harrington and his wife, Michele, have expanded their business portfolio with Love Verb, a venture aimed at enhancing couples’ intimacy through a variety of pleasure products.

Quinton Bellamie ·
opinion

A Look at the Benefits of AI for Optimizing Retail Operations

In the ever-evolving landscape of retail tech, staying ahead of the curve is not just advantageous — it’s mandatory for survival. Currently, small-to-midsize retailers face an unprecedented opportunity to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) features to gain an advantage, enhance employee productivity and optimize operations.

Sean Quinn ·
Show More