Student and alumni connections often shape career paths in unexpected ways. For University of Richmond alumni Sarah Greenberg and Isabel Pearson — both leadership studies majors in the Jepson School from the Class of 2024 — those connections led to careers in fashion.

Greenberg’s path began with an internship at J.Crew Factory’s corporate office in New York City. “I was specifically looking for internships on the business side of fashion and then finally landed one for the summer after my junior year,” she said. She stayed in contact with recruiters after the internship, which led to a full-time offer shortly after graduation. The experience introduced her to the pace of retail and reinforced the value of the business and leadership skills she gained at Richmond.

Once in her role as assistant merchant, Greenberg helped open a door for a fellow Spider. After reconnecting almost a year and a half after graduation, Greenberg and Pearson discussed their current professions, as Pearson worked at Michael Kors at the time. Greenberg made it clear that should the opportunity present itself for a job opening at J. Crew Factory, she could refer Pearson for the position. When something opened up, she did. Today, Pearson works on the same team, supporting Greenberg’s former manager. Their connection reflects how Richmond alumni continue to support one another beyond graduation.

As assistant merchants on the women’s accessories team at J.Crew Factory, Greenberg and Pearson oversee categories such as accessories, handbags, jewelry, and shoes. Each season, they analyze past performance and collaborate with design, production, and sourcing teams to shape upcoming lines.

“I compile weekly sales recaps, manage inventory flow with the allocation team, and work with cross-functional partners to develop new styles,” Greenberg said. “After cross-functional discussion between the merchandising and design teams, our design team sends us sketches, and we identify opportunities by looking at prior sales.”

“My role is to support other merchants and collaborate with design and production teams to make products feel creative, unique, and distinctly on-brand,” Pearson added. Both describe their work as highly collaborative, requiring them to balance creativity with business goals.

Greenberg credits her Jepson coursework, particularly theories and models, with helping her navigate both the analytical and interpersonal sides of her work. “I did not study fashion, but studying business and leadership at Richmond gave me a strong foundation,” she said.

She often applies lessons from leadership studies courses when working with colleagues with different perspectives. “My designers are creative and aspirational, so I have to balance their ideas as a merchandiser. I ask things like, ‘That’s beautiful, but is the cost low enough to justify a return on our investment?’ Jepson taught me how to communicate and operate differently with different groups of people.”

Pearson echoes that sentiment. “Our classes emphasized public speaking, voicing your opinion, and working across functions. That is crucial in this role. You have to be comfortable speaking up,” she said.

She believes these skills will continue to serve her as she takes on more responsibility. “Jepson really shaped my leadership mindset,” Pearson said.

For Pearson, Greenberg’s support reflects the strength of the Richmond alumni community. “I ended up in this role through a UR alum connection,” she said. “I had not seen Sarah in over a year, and she immediately helped me and shared her experience.”

For students interested in fashion — or any field that might not have a clear road map — their advice is simple: Reach out, follow up, and use the alumni network.