AAS Fashion Marketing student Gina Paljusevic tells us about her experience with Barneys New York Collegiate Intensive Program.

“The Barneys New York Collegiate Intensive Program was an all-access pass to what goes on behind-the-scenes at the Barneys New York headquarters. In my three weeks working with the company, I met close to the entire team. We had a daily schedule of different departments to meet with and were allowed to ask them anything we wanted, not only about the store operations, but their career paths and experiences in the industry. Seeing such a close-knit group of people who collaborate and truly love their jobs and the company they work for was inspiring and really set a standard for me in terms of the type of work environment I desire in my career.  The team has diverse backgrounds, and Barneys welcomes and nurtures this diversity which reflects in their brand overall.

“We also got the opportunity to collaborate as a team of six students and create a seasonal marketing strategy. We had the opportunity to present it to the corporate staff including the CMO, who truly listened to our ideas and let us showcase our potential. It was amazing to see all of our diverse backgrounds and minds come together and collaborate on a great strategy that could be carried out in real life. This exercise gave us the opportunity to see what great results can be achieved when all department talents come together and collaborate to help a brand grow.

“Being able to meet all of these great people and get such an exclusive look into one of the most successful luxury retail companies was a once in a lifetime experience that I will always appreciate, especially as someone who wouldn’t have access otherwise. I hope Barneys continues this program because they have so much to teach, not only about the fashion industry, but good business overall.”