Book a meeting with our expert Janina

Meet our expert Janina: Powerwoman with deep experience in fashion, retail and tech!

Janina Schmidt-Žilič’s journey through the fashion world began at just 16, working in a boutique and falling in love with the industry’s rhythm. Fast-forward to today, she’s a Business Development Manager at Chainbalance, where her years of experience in fashion retail meet the dynamic world of SaaS solutions. With her unique mix of industry knowledge and digital savviness, she’s helping brands make their merchandising smarter, more agile and more connected.

Her academic background in International Textile and Clothing Management gave her a 360° view of the fashion lifecycle, from raw yarn to finished product, design and business. This holistic understanding laid the groundwork for her roles at Tally Weijl, ESPRIT and vente-privee, where she managed everything from bags to women’s fashion.

But when the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the landscape, Janina pivoted too. Her growing curiosity for digital transformation led her into SaaS, where she embraced roles in customer success and project management. It was the perfect storm of experience, one that made joining Chainbalance a natural next step.

At Chainbalance, Janina combines her deep fashion expertise with a passion for problem-solving. She’s not just selling software, she’s building bridges between data and day-to-day merchandising realities. As a self-described “customer care-taker,” she thrives on making things work, turning challenges into opportunities and ensuring both sides win.

What drives her? The culture. She values openness, collaboration and the freedom to shape solutions that truly help. Outside of work, you’ll find her puzzling, walking to true-crime podcasts, gardening or dreaming up her next DIY project.

Janina believes that fashion’s future lies in blending intuition with innovation and she’s helping brands get there, one smart solution at a time.