FIDM Welcomes Guest Speaker From Leading Activewear Company
FIDM Merchandising & Marketing Director Mimi Su recently invited her friend and former colleague, Shequeita Orr Frazier, Director of Digital Planning at a leading activewear company, to share her industry story in a virtual meeting with students in the Premier Marketing and Merchandise Product Development Groups.
Frazier, who has held positions in planning and buying at Abercrombie, Payless, Target, and Saks Fifth Avenue started the conversation with the value of networking. “Internships played a major role in helping me land my first job,” she told the students. “Networking is not about being social, per se, but it’s about cultivating trust-based relationships.”
She initially pursued investment banking and interned at Bank of America in Consumer Product Marketing. She started to develop an interest in buying which she expressed to her admin, who then connected her with a buyer at Target. It was the same person she had met at a social event in Scottsdale months prior. She landed her first job in the fashion industry and became a Sr. Business Analyst of Planning & Allocation at Target.
As Frazier grew in her career, she presented herself as a leader and praised her teammates. She recognized her natural ability to motivate her peers, and made the shift from individual contributor to manager. “I’ve been hired in many of my roles because of my leadership skills,” she said.
Frazier said she was not initially fond of group projects in school, but she would grow to learn the value of motivating, leading, and influencing her peers. Group projects taught her time management and delegating skills. She grew to learn the tremendous value in group projects.
“Group projects at FIDM not only prepare you for the work environment,” Mimi Su added, “but they also prepare you to become a leader.”
Frazier covered the state of the industry and lessons learned during the pandemic. “Omnichannel is no longer just trending—it’s here to stay,” she said. True sportswear is declining, but athleisure has seen tremendous growth as people spend more time at home.
In the midst of the pandemic, the industry is also learning the value of a diversified supply chain within multiple countries.
One of the students asked her advice on how to get a promotion. She said that “it’s never a risk to be clear on your goals [with your manager.] Assess gaps in your skillset so you can learn and fill the gaps. Work with your manager.”
Succession planning is important in any work environment. She makes a point to identify new leaders. A good business is constantly setting up long-term goals and strategies.
She said her favorite part of her company’s culture is the idea of creative solutions leading the way. They make time to sit together and brainstorm.
As the company she works for is a leader in social justice, Su took the opportunity to play a recent ad of theirs addressing Black Lives Matter.
“I want to welcome everyone to this movement,” said Frazier. “When someone says, ‘I stand with the Black community,’ it requires action. You have to commit to being a resource. Talk about past mishaps. Be an actionable ally. You have to educate yourself and vote. Donate to organizations and causes that support Black-owned businesses, long-term. Welcome to the movement, for everyone.”
In her parting thoughts, she told the students that they are their own brand. She recommends they practice their “elevator pitch,” and be very clear on their strengths and goals. And, for recommended reading, she said she loves the book, “The 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization,” by John C. Maxwell.
Categories: Merchandise Product Development Merchandising & Marketing Industry Partnerships
