Many people dream of a career in the retail industry, but for Lauren Ginsberg ’06, it was an accidental move that blossomed into a rewarding career.

After graduating with honors from North Carolina State University (NC State) in Raleigh, NC., with a degree in business administration, Ginsberg took a position at a large investment bank, working in futures and options trading. After a few years, she saw her job evolving, but it felt automated, and she was unfulfilled. She yearned to do something a bit more creative. That led her to return to NC State to seek a dual-degree program for a Master in Global Luxury Management and a Master of Global Innovation Management. The degree offered her the opportunity to not only continue her studies in business, but to learn about design and textiles.  

The choice turned out to be a good one. It led to an 11-plus-year career with Gap Inc., where Ginsberg has forged a distinctive and nontraditional path in the retail industry. In her role, she plays a pivotal part in shaping educational initiatives that empower teams and individuals across the business. Currently, she is leading all learning, education, and engagement for Athleta North America. She has also taught both undergraduate and graduate students about B-Corporations (B-Corps) by sharing Athleta’s rigorous certification process.

Outside of work, Ginsberg enjoys studying new languages, cooking, yoga, and traveling with her husband, Albert.

Read the Q&A below to learn more about Ginsberg’s work and memories of Berkshire.

What sparked your interest in a career in retail management?  
It actually was an accident and not originally my long-term plan. For me, retail management was designed to be the short-term solution while I looked for "real jobs." What I quickly learned was that retail management sparked my passion for customer service and my entrepreneurial interest in business operations. I enjoyed problem solving, the challenge of leading people, and crafting employee engagement. When I embraced this as a career path, the opportunities continued to present themselves for me to grow at Gap Inc. 

What are B Corps and what is the certification process?
A B Corp is a company that meets high social and environmental performance standards, accountability, and transparency while balancing profit with purpose. Certified by the nonprofit B Lab, B Corps commit to using business as a force for good, considering the impact of their decisions on employees, communities, and the planet. Some well-known B Corps include brands like Patagonia and Ben & Jerry's. The certification process includes a B Impact Assessment evaluating impact in several areas. A minimum score of 80 out of 200 points is required, and recertification happens every three years to maintain status and continue to meet the moving target and ever-evolving standards. 

What advice do you have for anyone interested in a career in retail management?
Gain hands-on experience working part-time for a company whose values resonate with your own. Your first job isn't as important as the job it will lead you to next. Learn about customer service, selling culture, and community impact. Develop your leadership skills to motivate teams, handle conflicts, and drive performance. Select your undergraduate studies in business management, brand management and marketing, or textiles to learn about fabric, inventory management, merchandising, budgeting, retail math, etc. Remember that retail management is extremely fast-paced and ever changing; it's important to be adaptable, embrace change, and be able to solve problems quickly. 

What Berkshire teachers influenced your college decision and career path?
Señor Ibáñez and Señora Duyree were teachers whose impact shows up in my life every day in the most surprising ways. Ibáñez taught me to work hard for what I want and reminded me that everything is possible, while Duyree creatively inspired me with the history and culture of people through art. 

In college, their impact led me to double major in business administration and Spanish language and literature. Despite being told I couldn't graduate in four years because the credits didn't overlap enough for the two degrees I was working towards, I studied abroad in Spain my junior year, taking my finance classes in Spanish, to prove them wrong. As a result, speaking Spanish became my superpower. 

In 2020, I worked in the New York City Voting Polls as a translator for Spanish-speaking voters, and in 2021, I traveled with Athleta to educate local employees in our first international store in Costa Rica. These experiences showed me how speaking Spanish can bridge cultural gaps and it allowed me to build trust in both personal and business relationships, all while advocating for Spanish-speaking communities.

What are some of your fondest memories from under the Mountain?
It's hard to choose just a few, but aside from the moments with classmates and close friends, one fond memory was spending the night in the Henry Thoreau House during freezing winter conditions as part of an extremely creative writing exercise in Mr. Charpentier's class.

I also enjoyed kayaking and white water rafting with the Ritt Kellogg Mountain Program. One time I even biked 25 miles home on Route 23 to Hudson, NY, with the mountain biking team, ate dinner with my parents as a team, and then returned to campus in the school van with Mr. Morley. I even learned how to make maple syrup in the Sugar House with Mr. Dalton, all of which are memories I hold with me today.