The highly-anticipated Baker Retailing Trek brought a dynamic, on-the-ground learning experience to students, taking them directly into the heart of two global brands: the iconic Gap headquarters in New York and L’Oréal’s cutting-edge Research & Innovation Center in Clark, New Jersey. Throughout the Trek, students engaged with leaders across retail, beauty, finance, marketing, and research, gaining a clearer understanding of how major brands make strategic decisions, bring products to life, and adapt to an ever-evolving consumer landscape.
At Gap, students enjoyed light bites and coffee while hearing from a panel of senior executives and alumni, including Mariya Slavin Shroff (WG12), SVP, CFO Gap Brand & Head of Gap Inc. Brand Finance; Stephanie Williams (C07), Sr. Director, GFOL and Commercial Plan; Ashton Casey, Sr. Director, Brand Marketing; Noelle Rogers, SVP/GM, Gap Specialty; and Delaney McMullen, Head of GapBody, who also served as our host for the day. The panelists shared insights on the balance of art and science in retail, the importance of market awareness, brand differentiation, and Gap’s focus on core categories like denim, fleece, and pants, while also discussing sustainability perceptions, customer research, sourcing strategies, and navigating tariffs. Following the panel, students toured the Gap store set, gaining an exclusive first look at upcoming products and collaborations before their official release in stores.
The Trek continued at the L’Oréal Research & Innovation Center in Clark, New Jersey, where students began with a networking lunch and a presentation from Maxime De Boni, President of Research & Innovation North America, followed by an exclusive tour of the laboratory in which students donned full PPE and observed scientists at work creating the products we all know and love, such as CeraVe foaming face washes. The day concluded with an alumni panel featuring Fay Shuai (C25), Digital Management Trainee; Michelle Mangini (C88), Sr. Patent Counsel; and Matthew Lohr (GR14), Manager of Advanced Research. The panelists shared insights into their day-to-day roles, offered valuable career guidance, and reflected on their own experiences as Penn alumni, providing students with a unique perspective on navigating the professional world.
This highly engaging event offered meaningful industry exposure, and we are deeply grateful to our hosts at Gap and L’Oréal for their generosity, insights, and warm welcome.
