Angelica Munson

5 Questions


What makes you feel In Charge?

Supporting others like family, friends, co-workers or mentees in solving problems, issues or providing helpful guidance. I also feel In Charge when I am continuously learning new things.

Who is your role model?

My mother. A kind, intelligent, positive and beautiful woman who gracefully raised 5 kids, earned a Master's Degree at Columbia University all the while flourishing at her nursing job and then in senior roles in hospital administration. She exposed us to books, art, musicals, taught us piano and is still known to make a delicious pineapple upside down cake! She’s also an excellent golfer.

Is there a tradition or ritual you enjoy?

Our tradition is to celebrate every birthday, anniversary and holiday! The ritual I enjoy most now is going to Pilates with my daughter and going to the cinema to see all types of movies with my son, an aspiring filmmaker.

What is your favorite type of music?

I have also been a music lover since I can remember. I love jazz, hip hop, reggae, new wave, hardcore, classical, etc. Music was always playing in my house growing up and plays in my home to this day 24/7. I think I married my husband because of his vinyl collection (over 10K)! Check out @funkforthepeople on Instagram

Do you have a hidden talent?

I am known by very close friends to always plan the best events, dinners and give stellar recommendations on where to go in NYC for a great meal! If you need advice, come see me!

5 Questions



What makes you feel In Charge?

Supporting others like family, friends, co-workers or mentees in solving problems, issues or providing helpful guidance. I also feel In Charge when I am continuously learning new things.


Who is your role model?

My mother. A kind, intelligent, positive and beautiful woman who gracefully raised 5 kids, earned a Master's Degree at Columbia University all the while flourishing at her nursing job and then in senior roles in hospital administration. She exposed us to books, art, musicals, taught us piano and is still known to make a delicious pineapple upside down cake! She’s also an excellent golfer.


Is there a tradition or ritual you enjoy?

Our tradition is to celebrate every birthday, anniversary and holiday! The ritual I enjoy most now is going to Pilates with my daughter and going to the cinema to see all types of movies with my son, an aspiring filmmaker.


What is your favorite type of music?

I have also been a music lover since I can remember. I love jazz, hip hop, reggae, new wave, hardcore, classical, etc. Music was always playing in my house growing up and plays in my home to this day 24/7. I think I married my husband because of his vinyl collection (over 10K)! Check out @funkforthepeople on Instagram


Do you have a hidden talent?

I am known by very close friends to always plan the best events, dinners and give stellar recommendations on where to go in NYC for a great meal! If you need advice, come see me!

“If I see you that way, with love, I must let your grief into my heart, your story into my heart, I must stand up for you when you’re in harm’s way. What happens when we see George Floyd as our brother, or Breonna as a sister, migrant children as our own sons and daughters—what would we risk?” 

Energy is Beautiful



Angelica Munson, Chief Digital Officer of Shiseido, the Japanese multinational skin-beauty company with over 150 years in the game, believes beauty is more than skin deep. In fact, she has never felt more comfortable with herself than she is now. Naturally, we were curious about her definition of beauty.

“When I think of beauty, I immediately think of my mom. Not because of her physical beauty but because of her life force and positivity,” she explains. A year after Angelica was born, her mom received a job offer that prompted her parents to emigrate from the Philippines to New York City. They spent a year working hard, making a home, and navigating life in 70s New York. After excelling at their careers and her mother completing a master’s degree at Columbia—plus a few Studio 54 nights here and there—Angelica’s parents brought their five kids to New York. 

“Being exposed to culture in a robust city is such a privilege. That upbringing defined 'beauty' for me as energy, which is easy to find in New York. You have such a kinetic life in a frenetic city, so you’re always re-energizing yourself,” she laughs. “But beauty is also about connection. Whether you’re connecting with people or nature, sometimes connection is facilitated by digital, but I also appreciate the analog, the hands on, you know?”





A fun fact about Angelica is that she enjoys gardening and going on mushroom hunts. While reading about a Chief Digital Officer finding fulfillment through IRL experiences may seem unexpected, Angelica argues that the digital initiatives she has implemented with her team and colleagues at Shiseido are all grounded in human connection and emotion. 

Her deconstruction of digital experiences is simple, “Every moment now is digital, but at its core the digital experience is rooted in personal interactions (that for many started at the beauty counter). Shopping now is conducted online and through social media, however the way and the ‘why’ we shop have remained the same. Brands should continue to deeply listen and understand their audiences, be respectful, and custodians of this knowledge in order to deliver a meaningful and immersive experience—digital or otherwise. The goal with digital is to create relevant services that often emulate in-person exchanges while delivering it in a convenient way. When brands have a strong DNA and deliver products and services with empathy towards their customer and combine the two with data and technology, that’s when the magic happens.” 

 Before her long career in Digital Marketing and eCommerce, Angelica worked in film and documentary production—an industry that equipped her with invaluable skills: storytelling and problem-solving. “Anything can happen on a set. The clothes don’t get there, the weather goes crazy, you’re on location and didn’t get a specific license… you just have to figure it out. That’s served me very well in business. That and well—,” she lets out a chuckle, “I used to edit, but this was back when everything was on film at university. So, I was literally cutting out 16mm film and taping it onto a wall to build a story. It comes in handy when I’m putting together a proposal deck, you want to tell a story and make it meaningful and memorable.”

Angelica’s film career lives on through her son, whom she took to visit film schools the week leading up to our interview. It comes as no surprise that both of Angelica’s kids are invested in the arts. As a city-dwelling teen, Angelica used to leave her all-girls Catholic school early to attend concerts at CBGBs and The Ritz and record signings at Tower Records in the Village—to see bands like The Ramones, New Order, The Cure, and The Psychedelic Furs. She even met her husband while she was working at BMG, post-film career, and he was at Atlantic Records. The walls in their home today are lined with roughly 10,000 records of rare funk and soul and music is always playing, mirroring Angelica’s childhood home.

 Earlier, we mentioned that Angelica feels more at ease with herself today, after years of exploring her interests, identity, passions, and everything that comes with that. “It's like a matter of time, of experiences, of failures, of successes, before you get there. But I think that everyone should always take a moment and contemplate ‘What are my strengths? What are my superpowers? Who has helped me in my journey? How can I further support those around me?’ From family to friends to work colleagues, I truly cherish and appreciate my team. They're so smart and diverse. In general, bringing different people together to work collectively is something I truly enjoy. 

 “I think that also makes me feel beautiful. How you can then coordinate what you need to do with your teenagers, with your husband, with the people on your team. Keeping that energy up and that life force and giving that to others. They give it back and it becomes a virtual cycle. And everyone feels energized, beautiful, and connected.”

 The photographer for this shoot was Kyle Dorosz, you can keep up with his work here. To keep up with Angelica’s husband’s music, follow @funk4thepeople on IG.


This idea of summoning ancestors is more accessible than one would think. Valarie channels the energy of her grandfather, a biological ancestor, but she also sits at the feet of Black thinkers like Dr. King, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and bell hooks.

This idea of summoning ancestors is more accessible than one would think. Valarie channels the energy of her grandfather, a biological ancestor, but she also sits at the feet of Black thinkers like Dr. King, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and bell hooks.

Energy is Beautiful


Angelica Munson, Chief Digital Officer of Shiseido, the Japanese multinational skin-beauty company with over 150 years in the game, believes beauty is more than skin deep. In fact, she has never felt more comfortable with herself than she is now. Naturally, we were curious about her definition of beauty.

“When I think of beauty, I immediately think of my mom. Not because of her physical beauty but because of her life force and positivity,” she explains. A year after Angelica was born, her mom received a job offer that prompted her parents to emigrate from the Philippines to New York City. They spent a year working hard, making a home, and navigating life in 70s New York. After excelling at their careers and her mother completing a master’s degree at Columbia—plus a few Studio 54 nights here and there—Angelica’s parents brought their five kids to New York.  

“Being exposed to culture in a robust city is such a privilege. That upbringing defined 'beauty' for me as energy, which is easy to find in New York. You have such a kinetic life in a frenetic city, so you’re always re-energizing yourself,” she laughs. “But beauty is also about connection. Whether you’re connecting with people or nature, sometimes connection is facilitated by digital, but I also appreciate the analog, the hands on, you know?”


A fun fact about Angelica is that she enjoys gardening and going on mushroom hunts. While reading about a Chief Digital Officer finding fulfillment through IRL experiences may seem unexpected, Angelica argues that the digital initiatives she has implemented with her team and colleagues at Shiseido are all grounded in human connection and emotion. 

Her deconstruction of digital experiences is simple, “Every moment now is digital, but at its core the digital experience is rooted in personal interactions (that for many started at the beauty counter). Shopping now is conducted online and through social media, however the way and the ‘why’ we shop have remained the same. Brands should continue to deeply listen and understand their audiences, be respectful, and custodians of this knowledge in order to deliver a meaningful and immersive experience—digital or otherwise. The goal with digital is to create relevant services that often emulate in-person exchanges while delivering it in a convenient way. When brands have a strong DNA and deliver products and services with empathy towards their customer and combine the two with data and technology, that’s when the magic happens.” 

Before her long career in Digital Marketing and eCommerce, Angelica worked in film and documentary production—an industry that equipped her with invaluable skills: storytelling and problem-solving. “Anything can happen on a set. The clothes don’t get there, the weather goes crazy, you’re on location and didn’t get a specific license… you just have to figure it out. That’s served me very well in business. That and well—,” she lets out a chuckle, “I used to edit, but this was back when everything was on film at university. So, I was literally cutting out 16mm film and taping it onto a wall to build a story. It comes in handy when I’m putting together a proposal deck, you want to tell a story and make it meaningful and memorable.”


Angelica’s film career lives on through her son, whom she took to visit film schools the week leading up to our interview. It comes as no surprise that both of Angelica’s kids are invested in the arts. As a city-dwelling teen, Angelica used to leave her all-girls Catholic school early to attend concerts at CBGBs and The Ritz and record signings at Tower Records in the Village—to see bands like The Ramones, New Order, The Cure, and The Psychedelic Furs. She even met her husband while she was working at BMG, post-film career, and he was at Atlantic Records. The walls in their home today are lined with roughly 10,000 records of rare funk and soul and music is always playing, mirroring Angelica’s childhood home.

 Earlier, we mentioned that Angelica feels more at ease with herself today, after years of exploring her interests, identity, passions, and everything that comes with that. “It's like a matter of time, of experiences, of failures, of successes, before you get there. But I think that everyone should always take a moment and contemplate ‘What are my strengths? What are my superpowers? Who has helped me in my journey? How can I further support those around me?’ From family to friends to work colleagues, I truly cherish and appreciate my team. They're so smart and diverse. In general, bringing different people together to work collectively is something I truly enjoy. 

 “I think that also makes me feel beautiful. How you can then coordinate what you need to do with your teenagers, with your husband, with the people on your team. Keeping that energy up and that life force and giving that to others. They give it back and it becomes a virtual cycle. And everyone feels energized, beautiful, and connected.”

The photographer for this shoot was Kyle Dorosz, you can keep up with his work here. To keep up with Angelica’s husband’s music, follow @funk4thepeople on IG.

“As soon as we put people up on pedestals and make them into saints, we sap them of all their power. It’s so easy to say ‘Well, they were saints. They were superhuman. That means I don’t have to try and be like them.’ What does it mean to see them in their messiness and faults? We can begin to acknowledge our own vulnerabilities and faults and say ‘I too am worthy enough to be able to show up and live a life dedicated to love.’”