SPRING
2021
R E T A I L
RMI
M A N A G E M E N T
I N S T I T U T E
Class of 2021 SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY
SPRING 2021 ISSUE VIII
Our Mission The mission of the Retail Management Institute at Santa Clara University is to: Provide a platform for deep collaboration between leading academics and industry innovators to generate shared knowledge Prepare Retail Studies students for success in the new world of technology driven retail
Contents 03 Letter from the Editor in Chief 04 Gail Kirby's 30 Years with RMI 06 Eugene Choi on Becoming Vice President of 08 RMIRMI x Bloomreach Digital Merchandising Certification 09 Philanthropy Team Redefines RSSA Fundraising 10 Levi's Summer Internship Program 11 Building Virtual Corporate Connections 13 NRF Next Generation Top 25 Semifinalist 14 Alumni Panel on Post-Graduate Life 16 RMI's New 2021/2022 President 17 RMI Class of '21 Graduation 19 Class of 2021 Spotlight 27 Meet the Editors
Dear RMI I am writing this letter during the last few weeks of my time at Santa Clara and it truly does feel surreal. My time here at Santa Clara has been filled with so many great memories, lessons and experiences I will always remember. Despite online classes for the past year, my peers and professors have made the experience just as special.
Letter from the Editor
I want to say a special thank you to my loving family whose support has made me the person I am today. To my housemates and amazing friends, our times in 801 will always hold a special place in my heart. I also want to thank my professors and my peers that I have worked with throughout the past four years. Each of you have made my Santa Clara experience a fulfilling one, and I feel lucky to have spent the past four years as a Bronco! Most importantly, I want to thank my wonderful team here at RMI for all of their dedication and care in putting together this Spring edition of the Magazine. Brooke, you have been the most amazing and insightful teammate in this quarterlong process. I truly appreciate all your hard work and dedication to this issue. Joycelyn, I am so grateful for your leadership and don't know what I would have done without your coaching through the process. And finally, Cindy, thank you for your endless dedication to the students of RMI and this magazine. We are so lucky to have you! After graduation, I am so excited to continue my career in Marketing and begin my position as the Marketing Associate at Ergobaby in Los Angeles.
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Gail Kirby's 30 Years with RMI by Addy Camisa '21
The Retail Management Institute thanks Gail Kirby, a beloved teacher and integral member of the organization, with announcement of her retirement. Professor Gail Kirby has announced her retirement this year, after an impactful 30 years with the Retail Management Program. With her immense contributions to the program and insights as a professor to her students, we as a community will miss her greatly. Kirby, a lecturer at the University, has taught courses in Principles of Marketing, Retail Management, Sustainability Marketing and Marketing Across Cultures. She originally joined RMI in 1991 after connecting with Cynthia Gamage and following her passion to pursue an academic program.
When in New York, Kirby worked with industry professionals and RMI alumni to arrange tours of buying offices and branding centers to make sure the attending students witnessed retail execution taking place in the big city.
When asked about her favorite RMI moments, Kirby states that the Jill Curran Scholarship program, and its annual trip to New York, has been especially notable. After the tragic death of Curran while studying abroad in London, her family put together resources to create this scholarship and honor her in a special way. “The Jill Curran scholarship trip to New York was something that I helped develop and lead since 2004,” explains Kirby.
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Another highlight of her time at RMI, according to Kirby, is her involvement with the recent attendance of the Shop Talk conference in Las Vegas. Despite only leading the trip its most recent year before Covid-19, Kirby remembers how she felt like, “Wow, this is really where we want our students to be.” The conference was a space where students could learn about using technology and information to make decisions in the retail sector. Kirby cites Dr. Kalyanam as the inspiration and vision for joining the conference, as a long time attendee that understood the value it provides.
Looking back on her time with Santa Clara students, Kirby offers wise advice for college careers and beyond. “Follow your dreams, follow your heart, stay focused and take advantage of opportunities,” encourages Kirby. She emphasizes the importance of waking up in the morning and being truly excited about what you do, just like she experienced with RMI. Ultimately, Kirby encourages us as students to enjoy what we are doing, giving it 110%.
After retiring, Kirby looks forward to having time to slow down and enjoy being at home. Specifically, she plans on following her passions for swimming and exercise, hoping to read some good books along the way. We here at RMI thank Professor Kirby for her 30 years of dedication to the program and its students. We look forward to hearing about her future plans and staying in touch!
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Eugene Choi on Becoming Vice President of RMI
by Brooke Eldiridge
"Through RMI, I met some of the best people at SCU and received valuable skills and opportunities.”
Eugene Choi ‘21 wrapped up his multi-year relationship with RMI by stepping in as Vice President for his last quarter at SCU. RMI president Adele O'Neill appointed Choi as VP in the spring after she graduated and started her full time position with Rakuten.
Choi quickly got involved with the executive board upon joining RMI. His junior year, he started as a recruiting member and then continued on as Recruiting Chair for his senior year. He says that being on exec was a valuable experience.
“Adele asked me to take on some of her responsibilities and some new & exciting projects,” Choi said. “I was happy to accept and start this new role of Vice President, in which I planned and organized with Adele behind-thescenes to ensure our students get the most out of RMI for spring quarter and beyond.”
"I was happy to accept and start this new role of Vice President"
Choi’s time with RMI started back in his underclassmen days; he joined in the spring of his sophomore year. “I knew no one in the program and had no idea what I was getting myself into,” Choi said. 6
"Being in the Vice President role has gained me a deep appreciation for the diversity and excellence of our students and how much our program has grown in the past four years,” Choi said. “I really appreciate the amount of work that Dr. Kalyanam, Cindy, Adele, our professors and exec board have put into making our events, speakers, and resources accessible for the students throughout the pandemic.” As Choi’s time as VP and as a student at SCU comes to an end, students across the program will definitely benefit from everything he has contributed over the course of his years with RMI. Choi plans to build an alumni network to keep himself, past, and future alumni all connected post graduation.
“I am an idea person by heart and being on exec for two years meant non-stop sharing of ideas and insights,” Choi said. “After Cynthia [Gamage] retired, Cindy [Cooper] allowed me to fulfill some of my ideas by taking on LinkedIn and some of the admissions responsibilities. I got (a lot) more involved with RMI this year than expected and I don't regret a minute of it.”
“I hope that after I leave here, the students we've welcomed into the program can bring new life to the program and take the future of retail into [their] own hands,” Choi said. “We are the next generation of leaders.."
Under Choi’s leadership, the Recruiting Committee has reached record numbers over the course of the 2020/21 academic year– even despite the virtual format.
“I hope that after I leave here, the students we've welcomed into the program can bring new life to the program and take the future of retail into [their] own hands"
“Just in my time here, we've consecutively broken the record number of enrollments for the Retail Studies minor,” Choi said. “I do have to shout out our Recruiting team this year for working hard virtually and achieving something that has never been done and quite honestly will never be done again.” Choi’s rich understanding of the RMI community along with overall genuine passion for retail made him more than qualified to step in as VP. Not only did he contribute immensely to the program, but he also gained from the experience. 7
RMI x Bloomreach Digital Merchandising Certification by Addy Camisa '21
According to Olivia Mannion ‘21, her favorite part of the certification program was “learning how prevalent and necessary digital merchandising is in the current retail space.” Mannion states that currently, Bloomreach powers 25% of all US and UK e-commerce businesses and is constantly expanding, which demonstrates the valuable insight they provide on the retail universe. Korngiebel shares that her favorite part of the program was the provided simulation where students were able to play around on the backhand of a mock store. With this simulation, participants were able to practice the main learning objectives in real time and gain firsthand experience with the material.
This past March, seniors from the RMI program were offered the opportunity to attend a first-ofits-kind Merchandising Certification program with Bloomreach. The program was led over two days by Justin Daniel, Business Services Consultant from Bloomreach, Instructor for RMI's Digital Merchandising Certification and RMI Industry Fellow. Each day, the students attended the zoom session for five hours to learn from Daniel’s instructions and demonstrations, practicing how to navigate the Bloomreach platform through trial and error. The program was primarily lecturebased, followed by a course test at the end of the program to earn the official certification.
Walking away with a Bloomreach certification, students take away valuable lessons on digital merchandising and the activities that drive a purchase each step of the way. Korngiebel explains, “I feel like the skills I gained have realworld value, allowing me to contribute more to an organization. I have already seen the payoff of having this certification as the company I am interning for increased my responsibilities. Now, I am taking over promoting and digitally advertising our new app!” Mannion agrees, stating,“I now understand the importance of building a magical online experience for the consumer. Overall, I can take the knowledge I gained through this certification to become a more well-rounded, collaborative team member in any future retail job I might have.” With their newfound knowledge gained from the Bloomreach Certification, RMI attending seniors feel prepared to go into the retail landscape and enrich the organizations they join. RMI thanks Bloomreach, Professor Kalyanam and Justin Daniel for their valuable insight and commitment to the program.
Laura Korngiebel ‘21 attended the program and explains that “having the program spread over two days was great because it gave [the students] time to digest the information.” After the program, the students were able to take the certification test on their own time, allowing for them to review what they had learned before the final assessment. Students state that they highly valued the program’s supplemental videos and review materials. 8
Philanthropy Team Redefines RSSA Fundraising by Addy Camisa '21
In order to give back to the community and foster connections within the Retail Management Institute community, RMI executive board’s philanthropy team put together a unique philanthropy event. Isabelle Sung ‘22, head of philanthropy, collaborated with her committee and the social media team to organize the event that involved a 3x3 social media Venmo fundraiser. With the template that members of RMI could post on their social media pages, RMI was the first club on campus to provide an incentive for Santa Clara students to donate money while also being automatically entered into a raffle. Not only was this philanthropy working for a great cause, it was giving back to the students of RMI who have had a less than conventional year.
The raffle prize included gender-neutral items from black-owned businesses such as Salt n Sprinkles, a vegan baking company, as well as Rosen Skincare, a clean beauty company whose products are healthy for you and the planet. Needless to say, students were eager to take part in the fundraiser. Although it was more difficult to reach students in person while not being on campus, the social media and philanthropy teams worked to create an impactful and effective event. The fundraiser raised hundreds of dollars for The Opportunity Fund. We here at RMI are grateful to the community for their involvement and look forward to more philanthropic events in the future.
The event had hoped to raise funds for The Opportunity Fund, which helps fund underserved small businesses, particularly those owned by low-income immigrants, individuals of color and women. According to Sung, RMI felt passionate about donating what they raised “so that the Opportunity Fund can continue to foster entrepreneurship in low-income communities.” Sung states that RMI hoped to aid those hit hard by the pandemic, and support black-owned businesses in the raffle while also donating to efforts to help small businesses. Individuals could become a part of the fundraiser with donations of anywhere from $2-$15. With those donations, these individuals would be entered into a raffle worth $150 and give back towards a great cause.
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Levi's Summer Internship Program by Btooke Eldridge '23
Levi Strauss & Co joined RMI to present their 2022 internship program. The program, spanning 10 weeks, includes a housing stipend, is paid, and may include an offer to return full-time post graduation. Levi Strauss & Co, headquartered in San Francisco, is a retailer that includes Levi's, Dockers, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co., and Denizen brands. Known for their signature denim, the company works in wholesale, eCommerce, outlet, and their own and operated stores. Focused on genuine activism, voting rights, and sustainability, the company values profits through principals.
Omar Luna '19
Merchandising Assistant
Pedro Da Silva '19 Associate Planner
One of the key aspects of the program includes a project that all interns work on throughout the 10 weeks. In a group of five to seven interns, the interns work on real life problems that have an impact on the business.
Two RMI alumni, Omar Herrera Luna and Pedro Da Silva, joined RMI to present about the Levi Strauss & Co summer internship program. The 10 week internship program starts in June and goes until August. The functions they’re hiring into this summer will be released in the coming months. Herrera Luna and Da Silva hosted a panel to answer questions about the program after the presentation. Herrera Luna works in the top department as a merchandising assistant and Da Silva works in men’s top/ outerwear as a financial planner for levis.com.
Each project focuses on a specific department, with the intention to expose interns to learn those skills as well as skills from multiple other departments. To further encourage this, interns sometimes work within a different department than their internship. At the conclusion of the project, the interns’ work is displayed at the Intern Expo where all employees and the Global Leadership Team have a chance to see their finished products.
Together Herrera Luna and Da Silva explained the internship program, answering RMI members’ questions throughout the presentation.
The application process is open to rising juniors and seniors and consists of a written application and an interview. Applications will open around August.
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Building Virtual Corporate Connections With our Corporate Liaison, Olivia Mannion by Olivia Mannion '21
Before entering college, I used to think of LinkedIn as “Facebook for my parents.” Four years later, however, I now understand that couldn’t be farther from the truth. LinkedIn is one of the most powerful tools for finding a job or internship in the professional world. I’m still no expert on LinkedIn, but I would love to share a few of my favorite tips for standing out amongst the crowd! 1) Take advantage of SCU alumni! You would be surprised to learn how many SCU alumni are working at some of the top companies in not only the Bay Area but all over the world. My tip for networking with an alumni working at your dream company is to search the company, click “People”, and then type in the name of your university. You can also go to the Santa Clara University LinkedIn page, click “Alumni,” and search the company as well. Broncos love to help out their fellow broncos! 2) Upgrade your profile! It’s important to think about your profile as your professional brand. Because of this, many people don’t understand the 11
importance of having an appropriate profile photo and an informative but punchy profile headline. I also don’t think students take enough advantage of the Summary statement. This section is the main place for you to stand out! It’s important to be concise about your experience, qualifications, and goals, while showing a bit of your personality. 3) Build a strong network! I recently read a book that explained the “power of weak ties” in finding an internship/job and I couldn’t agree more. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone that you may not know very well because they can be far more valuable! It’s important to understand, however, that it’s important to maintain these connections by continually checking in -afterall, networking is a two way street, not just a transactional relationship. 4) Claim your unique LinkedIn URL This tip is rather technical, but instead of having LinkedIn come up with a random URL for you, you can create your own unique URL instead. For example, my URL is www.linkedin.com/in/oliviamannion. This makes it easier for people to search for you online.
LinkedIn is one of the most powerful tools for finding a job or internship in the professional world ... It’s important to think about your profile as your professional brand.
5) Share your work! LinkedIn now allows you to share real examples of your work, which you can add to a specific experience or your Summary statement. Adding examples of your work can make your profile more visual and interesting and shows employers actual proof of the amazing work you can produce. 12
NRF Next Generation Top 25 Semifinalist Peyton Darrow Each year, the NRF (National Retail Federation) Foundation hosts the Next Generation Scholarship contest. RMI’s Peyton Darrow ‘22 was named a top 25 semifinalist among other applicants from across the country. "I found the prompt to be very interesting so I was excited to complete it,” Darrow said. “The application has been extremely interesting and has pushed me to use a lot of the skills I’ve learned here at Santa Clara.” The second phase includes completing a case study created in collaboration with Meijer, an American supercenter chain located throughout the Midwest. Along with the case study, applicants will complete two different phone interviews with retailers. Darrow has already started her case study that is due in August. She said she has been able to apply concepts from her OMIS 108 Operations Management course to her work.
by Brooke Eldridge '23 The 2021-2022 Next Generation scholarship allows juniors or seniors enrolled in University Member schools to compete for a number of different scholarships up to $25,000. If the NRF Foundation Student Program in New York City convenes in person in January 2022, the top 25 semifinalists win a travel stipend to attend. Applicants must have a GPA at or above 3.0 and have experience in retail.
“I’m looking forward to the next portion of the application on Meijer,” Darrow said. “Meijer is primarily based in the Midwest so it has pushed me to conduct a lot of outside research. It has been rewarding completing a case on a brand I was previously unfamiliar with.” On August 30, NRF will select and notify the top 10 applicants. The NRF Team will conduct quick fire interviews with those top 10 finalists and then narrow the pool to the final top 5. After the final round interviews, the top recipient of the $25,000 scholarship will be announced at NRF Foundation Honors.
The scholarship application process consists of three phases. The first phase includes an essay portion, personal brand video, two letters of recommendation, resume, headshot and school transcripts. From this phase, the group of applicants is narrowed down to 25 semifinalists, announced in May. 13
Alumni Panel on PostGraduate Life by Addy Camisa '21
In early April, RMI was fortunate to welcome back five program alums to discuss aspects of their postgraduate life with questions sent in by younger members of the institute. Members of the young alumni panel included Angelina Hazzouri, Katie Kelley, Lyssa Urrutia, Anelly Allmen and Olivia Kem, all of which graduated in Santa Clara University’s Class of 2020. All individuals offered a unique perspective to life after college and careers in retail, bringing knowledge from various industries.
What have you learned from RMI that has helped you in your career?
What do you think are the best ways to secure a job post-graduation?
How has working from home and the pandemic affected your work life balance?
Kem recommends being open to connections anytime, in and out of RMI, because you never know when you will meet people Hazzouri states that you would be surprised how often you will come across fellow RMI alumni in your career; it is always beneficial to check LinkedIn for RMI alumni at a company you are interested in
Kelley suggests reaching out to individuals you think have an interesting job, even if their company does not have any openings Urrutia reminds students the importance of remaining open to opportunities because your first job may not be your forever job Hazzouri encourages students to be mindful of not stressing out too much, given the unusual world we are living in
Allmen emphasizes setting a strict schedule for yourself early on in order have a separation of work and outside life; she also encourages students to be honest with your team with how much work you have because they cannot necessarily tell behind a screen Kem states that it is good to teach people how you want to be treated early on and what they can expect from you, especially at after-work hours
What challenges have you experienced in the early stages of your career?
How can one find a mentor?
Kem has found that the technical side of parts of the business like their wide range of acronyms can make you feel overwhelmed initially, but you will learn just like everyone else has Hazzouri suggests asking coworkers to have zoom meet and greets to combat the difficulties of getting to know people working from home Kelley emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries for yourself for your mental health
Kem suggests that rotational programs like the one she is currently in is valuable because of the built-in mentors it provides Urrutia suggests setting up meetings with people you connect with on projects to develop those relationships and keep in touch
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How do you stay motivated through setbacks? Kem emphasizes recognizing that everyone has setbacks and to extend grace to yourself; in everyone else’s eyes it is not the end of the world Allmen states to not let the fear of making mistakes stop you from working Kelley suggests to often speak to others about your problems because chances are that they know something about it or have gone through the same thing; always be able to admit when you have a question
Anelly Allmen Buying Coordinator, Stitch Fix
Tips on getting your resume seen? Kelley suggests finding recruiters on LinkedIn to find their email and politely reach out to get human eyes on your resume Allmen encourages to be consistent in reaching out because you will eventually get on their radar despite their busy schedules Urrutia states that when networking, ask the person you are speaking with if there is anyone else they recommend that you talk with
Angelina Hazzouri Assistant Merchant, Women's Leathergoods, Coach
Lyssa Urrutia Data Analyst, Walmart
Olivia Kem Rotational Management Program Trainee,
Gap Inc. 15
Katie Kelley Associate Launch Manager, Side
RMI Welcomes a New President by Addy Camisa '21
RMI is thrilled to announce that Emily Chao '22 is RMI's new Retail Studies Student Association President for the 2021-2022 school year. Chao will work alongside Cindy Cooper and Kirthi Kalyanam to develop the RSSA Executive Board and create a meaningful year for all RMI students. Cindy Cooper shares, "[Chao] will be a valuable resource for potential RMI students who want to learn more about the minor as well as a mentor within the RMI Community." Chao '22 is a Senior Finance major and Retail Studies and Ancient Studies minor originally from Fullerton. We are so grateful to have Chao as an integral part of the RMI organization and look forward to a wonderful year ahead!
As the need for data science and the intersection between retail and tech prevails, I plan to implement these concepts in the program. I hope to continue expanding our community of future industry leaders and to preserve a tight community while providing resources and opportunities, like mentorship and networking events, to connect. -Emily Chao 16
RMI Class of 2021 Graduation by Brooke Eldridge '23
RMI celebrated a graduating class of almost 50 seniors with a virtual graduation service on June 3rd. The class of 2021 is the 40th class to graduate from SCU's RMI. The service included a speech from Executive Director Kirthi Kalyanam and Vice President Eugene Choi as well as a virtual graduation ceremony read by Gail Kirby.
The RMI Class of 2021 has encouraged unprecedented growth for the program. Choi explained that the general perception of RMI as an academic organization has changed a lot since his freshman year. He even admitted that, before joining, he thought that retail pertained only to apparel or fashion. The Class of 2021 has definitely proven that retail is not just restricted to those categories. In the heart of Silicon Valley, the Class of 2021 has gained invaluable retail experience in tech, e-commerce, and beyond. RMI has provided an environment for the graduating class to explore dozens of different careers within retail.
During his portion of the event, Kalyanam reflected on how the RMI Class of 2021's unconventional senior year mirrors the same tumultuous time that the retail industry has experienced over the course of the past year and half. Like the retail industry, the Class of 2021 has had to quickly adapt to rapid changes in technology due to the pandemic. As retailers move from brick and mortar stores to ecommerce, the Class of 2021 traded in person classes for zoom. Kalyanam explained that retailers have always been at the center of these technological changes. The RMI Class of 2021 is all the more equipped for this landscape as a result of this past year.
Though they endured cancelled internships, a virtual senior year, and graduating within a pandemic, the RMI Class of 2021 is leaving SCU to join a world that has an extremely bright future. As the country begins to reopen, retailers nationally are gearing up to apply what they have learned and continue to innovate within the industry– RMI alumni will without a doubt be at the heart of this growth.
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RMI Class of 2021 Caroline Alexander Ashley Anderson Francesca Baffico Ashley Beaver Addy Camisa Helen Chase Angela Chen Eugene Choi Elizabeth Conn Maddie Dillabough Michael Doherty Christina Domanico Katarina Draskovic Claire Edwards Natalie Elliott Elizabeth Fachetti Joycelyn George Andrew Gileo Sophie Hunt Kate Knight Laura Korngiebel Annie Lavelle Sofia Lippmann
Mary Maas Olivia Mannion Sperry McQuaid Christian Mora Mia Murayama Jane Nabholz Sammy Nofal Megan Nuti Molly O'Brien Adele O'Neill Paige Parentice Kate Ramsay Gretchen Reinert Anna Rosztoczy Sophie Scher Madeline Schroeder Vienna Smith-Murillo Jack Sondag Isabella Trevino Mackenzie Wessell Shelby White Natalie Wilder Madeline Wong
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Class of 2021 Spotlight Caroline Alexander Post-grad plans? Post-grad, I will be working for Stryker in San Jose as a Financial Analyst through their Finance and Accounting Rotational Program. What will you miss most about SCU? After graduation, I will miss living in the off-campus neighborhood surrounded by my friends and peers!
Katarina Draskovic Post-grad plans? Associate Product Marketing Manager, Google, Bay Area What will you miss most about SCU? The SCU community (friends, faculty, staff) and everyone that made campus feel like a second home to me. I'll be back to visit often :)
Olivia Mannion Post-grad plans? Unfortunately, I do not have post-grad plans as of yet, but I have 2 final interviews this week What will you miss most about SCU? The thing I will miss most about SCU is all the amazing people I've met--from professors, classmates, and friends-everyone I've met has had such a positive impact on my life. 19
Class of 2021 Spotlight Molly O'Brien Post-grad plans? I will be working as a Merchant Assistant Planner at Ingrid & Isabel in San Francisco. What will you miss most about SCU? I will miss the SCU community most after graduation, it is unlike anything else I have ever been a part of.
Jack Sondag Post-grad plans? After graduating, I’ll be moving to San Francisco to work at Main Street Research, a wealth management company, as their Co-Director of Marketing. What will you miss most about SCU? I'’ll miss the sunshine the most, but SCU’s campus is a close second.
Kate Knight Post-grad plans? This Fall, I will begin my Master of Science (MSc) in Fashion Management degree at IÉSEG School of Management and Istituto Marangoni in Paris, France. What will you miss most about SCU? The opportunity to take a variety of interesting classes across totally different disciplines at any given time.
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Class of 2021 Spotlight Sperry McQuaid Post-grad plans? Post-graduation plans is to pursue my Masters in Social Entrepreneurship and Change at Pepperdine! What will you miss most about SCU? I’m going to miss the community the most at Santa Clara, and saying hi to people on campus:)
Mike Doherty Post-grad plans? I will be starting as an Executive Team Leader with Target in the South Bay! What will you miss most about SCU? I'll miss the endless friends that I've met through classes and social events and being able to walk around this beautiful campus everyday!
Natalie Wilder Post-grad plans? Strategic Finance Development Program Analyst at Uber What will you miss most about SCU? I will miss second floor at the lib the most
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Class of 2021 Spotlight Christina Domanico Post-grad plans? Working at Rivian at their Palo Alto office! What will you miss most about SCU? Running into people at Benson :')
Gretchen Reinert Post-grad plans? Grad school at BYU What will you miss most about SCU? Warm weather and friends
Sofia Lippmann Post-grad plans? Interning at Tata Harper Skincare and starting acting school in 2022. What will you miss most about SCU? My friends, learning so much from class on a daily basis, my favorite trees around the area & sunny California!
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Class of 2021 Spotlight Meghan Nuti Post-grad plans? I am planning to return to the company that I completed my internship with, Grocery Outlet, and work as an assistant buyer. What will you miss most about SCU? I will miss the people that make SCU such a great community the most. I am so grateful for the friends I was able to make and the professors I was able to work with along the way.
Mia Murayama Post-grad plans? After graduation I will be furthering my education at San Francisco State University as a student in their Pre-Health Post-Baccalaureate program with the hopes of one day going to medical school! What will you miss most about SCU? I will miss all the supportive and loving people I have met and worked with over the last 4 years!
Madeline Wong Post-grad plans? Working in San Francisco What will you miss most about SCU? I will definitely miss the tight knit community at SCU and RMI!
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Class of 2021 Spotlight Joycelyn George Post-grad plans? Right now I am working at a Nike retail store in the apparel department. In the future, I would love to work at Nike HQ, a fashion magazine company like Vogue, a clean beauty company like The Ordinary, or a philanthropy-focused brand like Tatcha. Eventually I want to start my own business! What will you miss most about SCU? I will miss all the amazing opportunities that RMI has provided, such as inspirational guest speakers, trips to New York, and company tours. I will also miss SCU's beautiful campus, and hanging out and studying in Dowd Hall.
Helen Chase Post-grad plans? I currently have interviews lined up, and I am looking for jobs in the Bay Area as well as New York. What will you miss most about SCU? I will miss my friends and housemates as well as the RMI community!
Janie Nabholz Post-grad plans? Working for Oracle in Denver. What will you miss most about SCU? The tight knit community and the friends I’ve made here:)
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Class of 2021 Spotlight Andrew Gileo Post-grad plans? My post-grad plans are still unknown as of now. Most likely I will take a year off and continue working in my hometown before going back for an MS in Marketing. However I am also still applying for fulltime positions as well.
What will you miss most about SCU? What I will miss most about SCU is the sense of community that was present all across campus, as well as the constant opportunities that were given to us.
Laura Korngiebel Post-grad plans? SDR at FreeAgent CRM What will you miss most about SCU? Seeing the homies in second floor lib
Sophie Hunt Post-grad plans? Moving to NYC and pursuing a career in marketing What will you miss most about SCU? The ability to learn more about topics that genuinely interest me
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Class of 2021 Spotlight Claire Edwards Post-grad plans? I am working in eCommerce and digital marketing at Sun Bum in San Diego. I graduated in March so I am already working full time remotely and we will be returning to office in July!
What will you miss most about SCU? I'll miss the tight knit community as well as the beautiful campus. I also think SCU has such a great work-play balance, with students who are serious about their studies and career paths but also prioritize their social lives. I've thrived in this type of community and it's made me realize how important that factor is in job searching and selecting the right workplace environment.
Anna Rosztoczy Post-grad plans? I will be moving to San Francisco and working for Workday as a Functional Consultant. What will you miss most about SCU? I will miss the community! While the relationships I have made here will outlast college, I will miss being in such close proximity with everyone and the campus energy.
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Meet the Editors
Addy Camisa
Brooke Eldridge
Editor in Chief
Editor
I joined RMI at the end of my sophomore year in 2019, which is a decision I am so glad to have made. I chose to join RMI because of the program's passionate and kind students and faculty. I also was eager to get involved in the invaluable events put on throughout the year.
I joined RMI my first quarter of freshman year— before I had declared any major, minor, or pathway at SCU. I would love to work in advertising within retail; having all encompassing retail management training is thus a pivotal part of my college education. My favorite class at SCU thus far was my Business Ethics class where we applied ethics to current day Silicon Valley cases.
My favorite class I've taken at SCU is my MGMT 162 Business Capstone where we learned through case-based studies the ins and outs of real world business practices.
Fun fact: I would love to apply my passion for both retail and design through being the creative director for a company in the beauty industry.
Fun fact: I can't wait to move back to Southern California to enjoy the beaches, food and spend time with friends/family.
A special thanks to Cindy Cooper for her support throughout each publication! 27
Retail Management Institute Advisory Board
Faculty & Staff
Barry J. Feld, Chairman
Kirthi Kalyanam, Ph.D., Executive Director, Retail
Kirthi Kalyanam Ph.D.
Management Institute
RMI Executive Director
Gail Kirby, Ph.D., Marketing Professor Wei Shi Ph.D., Marketing Professor
Kamelia Aryafar, Google
Cindy Cooper, Projects & Programs Manager
Kent Anderson, Gear UP Consulting Kris Bazán ’92, ’99 MBA, Apple Mark Brashear ‘83, Consulting and Serving on
Retail Studies Student Association
Board of Directors' Soumik Chatterjee, Petco Michelle DeMartini-Wlazlo, JCPenney
Executive Board
Ken Duane, Phillips-Van Heusen Corp. Barry Gilbert, WineVIP
Adele O'Neill, President
Gautam Gupta, M13 Ventures, Co-Founder
Olivia Mannion, Corporate Liaison
NatureBox
Isabelle Sung, Philanthropy Chair
Mark Lavelle, Magento, an Adobe company
Philanthropy Board: Sophie Cichanowicz,
Jim Miller, Wayfair
Natalie Elliot, Jaya Kapoor
Matt Murphy ‘02, Montage Ventures
Jaya Kapoor, Director of Diversity, Equity, and
Mike Osorio ‘84, Tori Richard Ltd.
Inclusion
Gisel Ruiz ‘92, retired, Wal-Mart
Eugene Choi, Vice President - Recruiting Chair
Michael Schriver, Louis Vuitton
and Linkedn Strategist
John Strain ‘90, Old Navy
Recruiting Committee: Christine Coleman,
Chantel Waterbury ‘97, INSPR
Maya Denzel, Andrew Gileo, Laura Korngiebel, Riely McCullough, Alex Park
Emeritus
Mentoring Chairs: Madeline Wong, Kate Knight
David Folkman
Sophie Scher, Marketing Director
Ellen Magnin Newman
Anna Becker, Social Media Director
Philip Schlein
Addy Camisa, RMI Magazine Editor in Chief
Joseph Tomaselli
Editor: Brooke Eldridge Chloe Schecter, Social Events Director Special Projects and Events Committee: Alexa Bolnick, Emily Chao, Carly Cieciura, Camryn Yuen
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R E T A I L
RMI
M A N A G E M E N T
I N S T I T U T E
Santa Clara University 500 El Camino Real, Lucas Hall Suite 111 Santa Clara, CA 95053-0399
Stay Connected www.scu.edu/rmi @retailmanagementinstitute @retailsantaclarau @retailscu @rmi_santaclarau Retail Management Institute SCU