I swear I was born with a business brain. My mind has always naturally deconstructed things and came up with solutions, almost simultaneously. As a result, I have always been fascinated with the way business works. When I was a kid, I started several businesses from pet-sitting to personalized t-shirts and mousepads. I didn’t know the significance back then but to say I was ahead of my time is an understatement.

In high school, I participated in an intense business program with a focus on entreprenuership at UCLA’s Anderson School of Business. While there, I wrote my first business official plan and my team won top honors. I haven’t stopped writing business plans since then. In highschool I also participated in team sports, had a part-time job, wrote in several literary contests, and had an extremely rigorous academic workload. I was the quintessential Gen-Y overachiever–minus the social awkwardness. I still am.

Fast forward a few years, I graduated high school and decided to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Go Heels!). It was my first time away from home and I relished in the freedom. While there, I studied Management and held a leadership role in several extracurricular activities. I also got a job at a local shoe store for pocket money and fell in love with Retail and learned my biggest business lesson yet: business is 99% psychology.

I didn’t consider Retail as a viable career option until I got a job as a summer intern with one of the world’s largest big box retailers. I excelled in the fast-paced, quick-fire environment. I loved the sound of cash registers and the hustle and bustle of supply chain management. I finished the internship in 10 weeks and despite only being a Sophomore, I received a full time job offer to be carried out upon graduation.

I was so excited about beginning my career. I wanted nothing more than to finish school and get started. And that’s exactly what I did. I completed my undergraduate degree program in only 3 years and moved to Charlotte, NC to begin working. I started my retail career in Human Resources and then moved to an Operations role where I managed our brand’s apparel and accessories departments.

I honestly believe there are only a few industries that can give you the kind of hands-on psychology lessons that Retail does. I instantly became a sponge and immersed myself in the culture. My first blog, uShop therefore iBlog, chronicles many of my experiences (personal and professional) during the latter part of my time in retail.

I recently left the retail industry to pursue its sister industry, hospitality. I now work in Corporate Sales for one of the world’s largest hotel chains. Admittedly it has been an adjustment, but I’m elated to say that I am falling in love all over again with yet another industry that is as resilient, scrappy and energetic as I am.

Long term, I think I’d like to pursue a career in brand management, marketing, or strategic planning; but regardless of where I end up, I do know that my work will always have meaning. The day that it doesn’t is the day that I stop.

Cheers!

Kiersten