Emily Diaz W'17
Feel free to reach out to Emily at emilyclairediaz@gmail.com
What did you study at Penn and when did you graduate?
I graduated in 2017 and studied communications with minors in consumer psychology and classical studies.
What were you involved with as an undergraduate?
Wharton Women in Business, MUSE Marketing, and Tri Delta
What was your favorite part of Penn/Wharton?
The post-Penn experience! I was definitely anxious about what my future would look like after graduating, but it didn’t take long to realize how large and unified the Penn presence is in the city. It’s pretty special once you realize that the friendships made at Penn only grow stronger year after year - I wish I could tell my 22 year old self it only gets better!
What do you do now and where are you based?
I’m currently in my second year at Columbia Business School. I’ve been in NYC since I graduated in 2017, beginning my professional career as a buyer at Bloomingdale’s and eventually switching over to financial planning. Amid the onset of COVID-19, I was furloughed for a couple of months and used that time to re-evaluate my future. I quickly decided business school was the best next step for me, specifically Columbia because of its location in one of the fashion capitals of the world. After I graduate in May, I’ll join BCG as a consultant focusing on luxury retail.
Generally speaking, when you’re at Penn it’s very easy to feel like you have to be on a “traditional” path, but one of the best pieces of advice I received during OCR was that the company you join right after graduation is very rarely the company you’re going to be at for the rest of your life. I know a lot of people feel like their first job is the one that should set them up for financial security, but there’s an argument to be made to experiment and prioritize your passions while you’re still young.
What has been the biggest challenge of your career?
Becoming my own advocate. Once you graduate and enter the real world, there is no longer a set path or structure to follow, which can make it difficult to gauge success. Positive reinforcement and recognition comes much more sporadically than the cadence of grades we grew used to in the first two decades of our lives, and unfortunately people aren’t always going to hand you rewards such as raises even when you deserve them. You have to advocate for yourself, and speaking specifically to women here it’s even more important to learn this lesson early on. It’s not going to be comfortable - I’ve definitely felt imposter syndrome in these conversations, but I remind myself that the worst case scenario is that they say no and more often than not I’ve left these interactions feeling empowered.
What’s your favorite and least favorite thing about retail?
Favorite: the creatives. There are certainly a fair number of analytical minds, focused on the numbers alone, but fashion is a blend of art and science and it’s exciting to work with eccentric individuals day to day.
Least favorite: the outdatedness. If you ever hear in a workplace “we have always done it this way,” you should think critically about the strength of the firm’s values and culture. It’s never been more important for brands to be flexible and willing to adapt; unfortunately, large department stores are very slow to change.
How do you juggle work life balance and friendships?
First piece of advice, don't be scared that the friends you used to see everyday are no longer free.
In my first year out of college I had to consistently remind myself that I’m longer on the same cadence as my friends - and that’s okay! Work doesn’t just start at 8 and end at 8. You’ll have friends working 7 days a week, and you'll have friends free at 5pm everyday. Try to prioritize yourself when it feels like everyone else is all over the place. Your friends will still be there regardless of the time and distance you’ve spent away from each other.
Second piece of advice, try not to compare yourself to those around you. Right before I turned 25 I felt a little overwhelmed about my place in life, both personally and professionally. I felt like everyone knew what they were doing and where they were going and I just felt directionless. Thankfully, a friend of mine recommended I read a book called The Defining Decade by Meg Jay and it completely changed my viewpoint. In summary, it's all about being okay with not being okay in your 20’s and learning how to make the most of what feels like a destabilizing time in life. I truly recommend it to everyone!
Any general words of wisdom?
I have a very hard time with this, but don’t be afraid to ask for help. Reaching out to friends or mentors is so important. Life isn’t always every man for themselves and you’ll be pleasantly surprised how many people around you are willing to lend a helping hand.
Also, every friend was once a stranger! (Thank you Andy Cohen)