From Tuck Bridge to Tiffany & Co: Meet Three Bridge Alumni Shaping the Fashion Industry
From driving sales at Michael Kors to promoting outdoor play at Northern Classics and designing jewelry at Tiffany & Co., three Tuck Bridge alumni reflect on how their experiences in the program paved the way for successful careers in the fashion and retail industries.
Tyson Shepherd, Bridge’13
Brand Ambassador, Michael Kors
Why was it important to you to attend the Tuck Business Bridge Program? What skills were you trying to round out?
As I was completing my BA in English, I realized that developing more specific business-related skills would help me be competitive in the job market. With that in mind, I knew I would benefit from learning financial computations, negotiation, corporate communication, and Excel modeling skills.
What was a highlight of your Tuck Bridge experience?
The highlight of my Tuck Bridge experience was the capstone project, for which my teammates and I delivered a projected valuation of a popular athletic apparel company. I solidified my knowledge while also learning more about an industry I loved.
Tell us about your role today.
As a brand ambassador for Michael Kors, I build strategic partnerships with compatible brands within the luxury sector, drive sales goals across multiple business channels, and oversee customer outreach efforts to ensure brand loyalty.
What impact do you want to make with your work?
With my work, I aim to change the world by empowering others to see how truly transformative fashion can be. I have always thought of clothing as armor that people use to help navigate their way in society, and I am proud to be able to help others tailor said armor to meet their needs.
Is there a specific lesson or skill you learned in Bridge that you utilize in your role today?
Understanding economics and the basic psychology behind supply and demand has allowed me to be a more effective salesman and connect with the business I manage in a very meaningful way. By leveraging the principles of scarcity, I can more effectively communicate the value of a sale to potential clients and secure otherwise unattainable transactions.
Rachel Heydlauff, Bridge’10
Chief Operating Officer, Northern Classics
Why was it important to you to attend the Tuck Business Bridge Program? What skills were you trying to round out?
I attended a liberal arts college and worked at a family camp every summer. While I knew I had a lot to contribute to the business world, I struggled to get an interview when applying for full-time jobs during my senior year without traditional business knowledge or experience. When I discovered the Tuck Business Bridge Program, I knew it was exactly what I needed. It gave me the essential skills of a business degree, the hands-on training of an internship, the prestige of a top-ranked school, and the career guidance to land my first “real” job.
What was a highlight of your Tuck Bridge experience?
One of the highlights of my Tuck Bridge experience was the team capstone project. My team chose to analyze the Boston Beer Company, and we had the opportunity to present our findings to an esteemed panel. This experience taught me how to conduct thorough business research and create a professional presentation, skills that I carried into interviews and my roles in finance with Bessemer Trust, as well as consulting with Accenture and Deloitte.
What made this project especially memorable was that my dad purchased stock in the Boston Beer Company based on our analysis that it was undervalued. When we conducted our research in July 2010, the stock was around $67/share and later peaked at $1,253/share. It was an exciting introduction to investing!
Tell us about your role today.
I recently transitioned from Deloitte consulting to the chief operating officer at Northern Classics, a premium line of outerwear and accessories for kids. We specialize in technical skiwear, offering winter coats, snow pants, and coordinated accessories. As our company is still in its early years and relatively small, I engage with all aspects of the business, including finance, marketing, operations, HR, product development, sales, and customer service. Many of my responsibilities are new to me, so I’m grateful for my solid foundation of general business knowledge.
What impact do you want to make with your work?
At Northern Classics, we’re on a mission to help shape curious, resilient, confident, gritty kids through outdoor play. By keeping kids warm and dry, I hope to help them enjoy outdoor play and create lasting family memories.
As a leader in a small, growing company, I’m excited to shape our culture as we expand. I look forward to hiring and training exceptional people and contributing to an environment where everyone can thrive.
Is there a specific lesson or skill you learned in Bridge that you utilize in your role today?
Bridge gave me confidence in my business acumen and adaptability, enabling me to take on any role. I never expected to reach a C-Suite position, but here I am. I know I wouldn’t have had opportunities at top companies or achieved my current success without Bridge.
Nelly Mendoza-Mendoza, Bridge’18
Fine Jewelry Designer & Creative Director, Nelly Creative Studios
Model Maker, Research & Development, Tiffany & Co
Why was it important to you to attend the Tuck Business Bridge Program? What skills were you trying to round out?
I’ve always been interested in business, so Tuck Bridge was a great way to gain exposure to business classes and concepts as an undergrad. Going into Bridge, I aimed to round out my hard skills such as Excel, and learn more about the softer skills such as marketing and negotiations. As an economics major at Dartmouth, I gained many skills in terms of markets and abstract concepts but during Bridge, I learned more about the world of business in real market settings.
What was a highlight of your Tuck Bridge experience?
The summer I spent at Tuck will always be one of my favorites. It was a summer for business and growth—it felt like a mini-MBA. I worked on interesting content and fully engaged in the experience because I knew it was unique. I met like-minded individuals from other universities, learned from top professors, and studied companies and business strategies.
Tell us about your role today.
Today, I work in the jewelry industry. As an undergrad, I started making jewelry and eventually began selling my work. Now, I design, make, and market my designs, working with materials like high-karat gold, platinum, diamonds, and colored gems. From what started as giving away my work or selling it to friends, I now have established an online presence. I still manage everything, from social media to photography.
In 2022, I got the opportunity to join the Tiffany & Co. Jewelry Design and Innovation Workshop in New York. I work in the innovation studio helping bring to life the newest collections. On top of sharpening my creative skills and taking part in exciting opportunities, I’ve met and learned from many of the leaders at the company as well as from the parent company, Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH). I have experienced first-hand success and lessons. I see myself as a multifaceted leader, both at Tiffany and outside of it.
This experience has given me a closer look into the workings of a creative giant and the luxury industry, furthering my business and creative skills.
What impact do you want to make with your work?
I want to continue making beautiful work that inspires and leaves behind a strong brand. I try to do so every day, realizing the importance of consistency.
I also want to inspire others to pursue their ideas and play with their creativity. Creativity lies within each of us, but it takes courage to explore new ideas, even when the outcome is uncertain. Nevertheless, I believe in taking calculated risks. Taking risks is what enables us to think outside of the box, which leads to discovery. If I had let fear hold me back, I never would have tried. I reminded myself that I possessed all the skills necessary to succeed. Therefore, I needed to create a solid action plan and trust my ability to overcome any challenges.
Is there a specific lesson or skill you learned in Bridge that you utilize in your role today?
I still remember the Challenger Space Shuttle lecture very clearly. It is a perfect example of what can go wrong when everyone is on board but fails to see the bigger picture or account for smaller details. I’ve seen it firsthand when a project is being rushed without considering the full picture, only to be paused or canceled at the last minute when the costs or risks become clear.
This ingrained my belief in raising concerns and communicating, even when it might not be the most popular idea. I am aware and conscious of the influence I have on others, so, I communicate clearly and elegantly to prevent any miscommunication.
