Jill Blumenfeld (W'77)

Feel free to reach out to Jill at  jill.blumenfeld@gmail.com

What did you study at Penn and when did you graduate? 

I  double majored in what was then called Management of Entrepreneurship and Marketing and graduated in 1977. 

What was it like being at Wharton when it was only 20% women?

Good in some ways and bad in others. Starting with the latter, we had to work harder and there were expectations to be like men. Most women in my generation didn’t go to business school so we were carving our own paths. Within Wharton, we tended to steer towards Management or Marketing concentrations as opposed to the men who leaned towards Finance or Real Estate. It was interesting seeing such a harsh divide between genders. On a more positive note, as women, we could take advantage of networking and it was easier to stand out.

Can you tell us about your career journey?

I always knew I wanted to go into retail as my family had a background in the industry, but they were focused on discount retail. I wanted a more broad experience and also didn’t want to immediately work for my family. After graduating, I went to NYC to work for Mark Cross, an American brand started in 1845 selling fine leather goods, like Hermes. I was fortunate to be put in touch by a fellow student whose father had exceptional contacts in the luxury industry. At the time, two brothers ran Marc Cross, and I assisted one brother on the merchandising side. Having a business background allowed me to add value immediately and I was exposed to many different aspects of running the business by working directly with the company President. 

During that time, a headhunter contacted me to work for Lancel which is a French leather goods company, opening their first store in NYC. Before I started working, they sent me to a language school because I didn't speak French at the time. I then opened the store on Madison and 62nd street and got hands-on experience concerning store daily operations from recruiting staff, overseeing inventory, and taking care of a P&L. 

In the early 1980s, Bottega Veneta was a very well known brand whose advertising was “when your own initials are enough.” I went to work for them overseeing their Madison Avenue and  Beverly Hills locations. During this time I met my French husband and we eventually moved to Paris. I worked for the company for a total of 20 years with a few breaks in between as I had my children during this period. The company then merged with Gucci and, with managerial changes, I realized it was time for a new chapter. I saw a blind newspaper ad for someone who “understands luxury customer experience,” and thought it was worth applying to. This decision would be pivotal in my career as I became the first retail person hired  for the launching of a luxury mobile phone called Vertu, owned by Nokia. The team I created and trained, opened the first Vertu store in Paris eventually leading to 24 stores globally. I stayed with the company for 8 years, opening multiple stores, recruiting teams around the world, and am very proud of the fact I participated in launching a new luxury sector  for  mobile phones. However the constant travel was all consuming. I then decided to take a job in France with Alain Mikli, a luxury eyewear company with several retail stores globally. 

Towards the end of my career, I knew I had one job left in me so my last role was for Value Retail which owns 11 luxury brand outlet shopping centers across Europe and China. I worked for one called La Vallée Village located outside of Paris. As the Customer Experience Director, I brought my luxury customer journey experience to the mall focusing on how to support the mall brands with luxury services for customers allowing for higher sales. When COVID-19 hit, I decided it was time to retire. I’m now based in Nice, France and serve as a career transition mentor for a Professional Women's Network in my free time. 

What advice do you have for our readers?

Follow your dreams. Do what you want to do. You spend too many hours at work for you to be  working at something you don’t feel passionate about. 

It’s hard to go against the grain, but you should find work that satisfies most of your needs. Don’t just take a job or work in an industry that looks cool or because your friends are doing it. You want to be on a  path that you find fulfilling 

What has been the proudest accomplishment of your career?

I am most proud of my time at Vertu because I was a core part of creating a new luxury sector that didn’t previously exist. I am very proud of the fact I had a hands-on role in creating the customer journey for this brand and hiring teams around the world.

What has been the biggest challenge of your career?

Remember I’m a couple generations behind you! My biggest challenge was being taken seriously as a woman. Even though retail had more women than some other industries, it was still very much male dominated at the upper levels. I also felt like it was difficult juggling work life balance. I realize now that life is too short and you need time for yourself and your family.  

What’s your favorite place you’ve ever been to?

I love Southeast Asia! I was in Singapore quite regularly for Vertu. Not only are the places incredible, but the people were also amazing. I’m still in touch with a number of them.