Fashion Merchandising - Alumni Spotlight
Jacqueline Marshall is a 2010 graduate of the Fashion Merchandising program at Bay State College. She is currently a National Wholesale Manager at the BCBG Max Azria Group. We caught up with her and asked her a few questions about her post-graduate life in NYC.
What inspired you to study what you did while at Bay State College?
I loved Fashion when I was in high school, and always dreamed of life in a big city. I wasn’t ready to move to New York just yet, but knew ultimately that is where I would land my first big job in the industry. It was an important to me that I receive a four-year education, and at the time Bay State was one of the few schools in Boston which offered Fashion Merchandising in more than just a two-year program.
What did you enjoy most about your education at Bay State College?
Without question, the most enjoyable part of Bay State was the community. Smaller classes left time for a one-on-one experience with Professors and fellow students. Also, this community took place in the heart of Boston. To that I owe thanks for my first networking experience. I still keep in touch with most of the people I met during my time at Bay State, and I don’t think I would get that from a larger school.
Did you have a favorite class/instructor?
I couldn’t possibly choose just one. The Fashion Merchandising faculty during my time at Bay State was more like a team. Each Professor was an integral part of my learning experience, and each had something magnificent and unique to bring to the table. My favorite classes were Textiles, Visual Merchandising, and Public speaking.
What do you currently do now/how did you get there?
I currently work for BCBG Max Azria as a Wholesale Manager. I manage two divisions; BCBG Max Azria Handbags, and BCBGeneration Handbags. I oversee a team of Account Executives which work directly with Buyers of Major Department Stores and Specialty Boutiques. Before this job, I worked my way up the experience ladder at a small Exotic Handbag Brand called Cashhimi. I started there as an Account Executive, and was eventually promoted to Director of Sales. Prior to that, I worked in retail in Boston during my time at Bay State; Saks Fifth Avenue, BCBG Max Azria, and Guess Jeans.
How did Bay State College prepare you for your career?
Bay State College gave me the tools I needed to be independent. My Professors gave me the history and function of this industry which in turn motivated me to explore further. In my opinion, there is a certain threshold of information which you can learn in college and anything past that is best through hands-on experience (relative to the Fashion Industry). Bay State provided me with both the knowledge and experience.
What is a piece of advice you can give current students?
PAY ATTENTION. Use your mind as a sponge. Do not study to pass the test. Study to absorb the information, no matter how irrelevant you think it is at the time. During my time at Bay State, I could have never understood how important some of the information is. Every day, in any industry job I have had, there is without question a topic which comes up that has a direct relation to something I studied at Bay State.
Is there anything else you would like to tell us/add that we haven’t asked already?
Before I came to Bay State, people had doubted the success which could come from a degree in Fashion Merchandising. I was constantly questioned and discouraged, but chose to go with my gut feeling. What I have learned that it is not just your degree that gives you success, it is what you do with it. Applying yourself, acquiring drive and courage alongside your degree; that is where success stems from. You will only go as far as you push yourself. Do not let other people’s successes or failures dictate your future. I didn’t and I am proud of my success.