Alumni
Merchandising & Marketing Graduate is Assistant Merchant at Sephora
After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business from Saint Mary’s College of California, Shelley Dela Cruz came to FIDM to pursue a Merchandising & Marketing Professional Designation degree via the college’s eLearning Program. Since graduating in 2017, Shelley has gone on to work as an Allocation Analyst at Ross Stores, Inc. and Assistant Buyer for Old Navy. She’s currently in a new role, based in San Francisco, as an Assistant Merchant for Sephora.
Tell us a little about yourself: I am a Bay Area native and have lived here my entire life. I come from a big family of seven plus four dogs. I feel like I am currently living my dream working at Sephora as I am a beauty and skincare-obsessed individual with a strong curiosity for trying new innovations. Outside of work I love to read multiple books at a time, do yoga, and try new food.
What are your current responsibilities in this new role? I currently work as an Assistant Merchant for Clean Skincare, Wellness, and CBD. I partner closely with brands to help optimize the customer’s in-store experience with the brand through visual merchandising, marketing, and launches throughout the year and to continue to successfully drive their business at Sephora.
Why did you choose FIDM? I chose FIDM because I was able to utilize the Bachelor’s degree I already had and supplement it with a valuable learning experience at FIDM to give me the relevant knowledge to pursue a corporate career in retail.
How do you feel FIDM prepared you for what you are doing now? FIDM prepared me by giving me a focused experience of how to understand, speak to, and drive a retail business.
What went into your decision to enroll in FIDM's eLearning Program? At the time of my decision, I had to consider how I would receive an education while also working full-time to support myself financially and the FIDM eLearning Program gave me that option.
Tell us about your online learning experience. What was the best part? The best part was that while it was an online program, it was still really interactive and set me up to remain accountable the same way I would have been if I was attending in-person. I also got to interact with people from all over the country and sometimes internationally!
Do you have any advice for current FIDM Students who are experiencing online classes for the first time? Treat the program as if you are attending in-person and build relationships with the people you’re learning with. It’s a great opportunity to network and doing the online program really encourages time management and organization on a personal level that will be useful in your professional career.
What is your biggest goal right now? My biggest goal is to continue growing in the merchant space within Sephora and to be part of a launch that disrupts the beauty industry.
Anything else you’d like to share? Patience has been the most crucial value to have in working in this industry as it continues to evolve. And, make sure to make friends and have fun along the way!
FIDM has been offering eLearning courses and entire majors online for over 15 years. We’ve been able to build on that foundation to deliver a true FIDM experience for our students currently experiencing an online-only quarter. FIDM's holistic approach focuses on academics, research, student activities, and career planning. Please contact FIDM Admissions to apply.
Categories: Merchandising & Marketing Alumni
