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SCM Students Attend NRF Conference in New York City

By Wisconsin School of Business

January 28, 2025

Over the winter break, three BBA students–Brielle, Skylar, and Georgia–had the opportunity to attend the NRF Foundation Student Program located in New York City, accompanied by Associate Director Blake Bishop. This program creates opportunities for college students to start their future career in retail and gain insights into the industry. Students were able to attend tours in NYC offices, listen to presentations by CEOs and executives, and network with other students and industry leaders. Keynote speakers and expert sessions offered insights on emerging trends such as AI-driven personalization, process mining, and data security.

One of the overarching topics of this year’s conference was the use of artificial intelligence in the retail industry. Brielle Hagen noted her favorite part of the conference was the speaker session titled “AI-Powered Design: A New Era of Creativity” by Joshua Longo, Senior Director of Design: Hardgoods at Crate & Barrel. Hagen reflected on her experience sharing, “I got to learn about the whole design to market process that I never knew about before and how AI is helping streamline the process.”

Additionally, Brielle, Skylar, and Georgia were awarded the Ray Greenly Scholarship. The Ray Greenly Scholarship Fund recognizes students nationwide who demonstrate creativity, entrepreneurial drive, and innovative thinking in developing new ways to connect retail customers with brands and products. It provides financial support to students pursuing a degree in fields most relevant to digital retail such as supply chain. It also offered recipients the chance to meet other scholarship awardees from across the country. 

The final day featured a massive career fair, where juniors and seniors had early access to explore full-time and internship opportunities. Overall, the conference was an eye-opening and enriching experience that offered invaluable lessons and connections in the retail world.