What we know so far: lecture with Jay Margolis

Jay Margolis is one of the most important men in the world of fashion merchandising. He has served as President of Claiborne Men's and also President of Liz Claiborne Sportswear. He has also served as Chairman and CEO of Esprit de Corporation, and was President and Vice Chairman at Hilfiger/Pepe. Ralph Lauren, Rockport, Greg Norman, and Reebok are also in Jay Margolis's portfolio. For Reebok, Margolis was President and COO. Since 2005, Jay Margolis has been the CEO/President for Apparel Group for Limited Grands. Margolis is an exceptional businessperson because he has deep knowledge of one particular sector: the fashion retail industry. This knowledge and expertise allows him to make sound decisions while being a highly effective leader and visionary.

Starting his lecture by saying that knowledge and education are the best beginnings for a successful career, Margolis also mentioned the importance of travel. He has traveled to Japan and China to network with business partners. Margolis claimed that the people he met "changed his life" but so has the act of traveling itself. Margolis said that when he travels he can see other approaches to innovation and design, which helps him to keep his eyes open and his mind flexible. He has incorporated what he learns from his traveling into his role at Limited and other companies. His discussions about learning from traveling was one of the most important aspects of Margolis's lecture. When we travel, for business or for pleasure, we should not just be focused on the immediate task. We should also look for opportunities to learn from the other culture and the people we meet. We should learn about people in totally different jobs and different sectors, just to get an idea of what other people do. Learning is the most important thing to being successful. Traveling also gives us valuable experience. We need to gain experience, by traveling but also by working and interacting with others.

Margolis also has a positive energy and outlook. He said that being positive is the most important attitude we can have. If we keep searching, learning, and growing we will love our work. Margolis loves his work. He acts, thinks, and feels younger than he is because he is constantly changing. Being open to new ideas and updating yourself is the most important thing in the fashion industry. Fashion equals change, according to Margolis. We should also ways be curious about the world, about ourselves, and about each other. This might mean that we need to change our image. Changing our image can change our outlook on life. People will react to us differently, causing us to meet different people that we would have otherwise. The more we are willing to change, the more experiences we will attract that will help us grow.