Alumni | Stern 10 x Stern Corporate Ambassadors on The Business of Luxury: Trends, Technology, and Transformation

The Stern 10 alumni group and the Stern Corporate Ambassadors Program held a panel on the evolving luxury retail landscape. Welcome remarks were given by Rima Makhoul (BS ‘24), Demand and Inventory Planner at Coach and member of the Stern 10 Alumni Council Committee. The conversation was moderated by Professor Thomaï Serdari and featured distinguished Stern alumni:

• Shimul Varghese (MBA ’10), SVP of Global Merchandise Planning and Inventory Management at Coach
• Allison Zlotnick (MBA ’23), E-commerce Manager of Merchandising at Prada
• Bonnie Jensen (MBA ’25), Enterprise Marketing, Data Foresight, Growth Intelligence and Predictive Analytics at Estée Lauder

(Left to right) Professor Thomaï Serdari, Shimul Varghese (MBA ’10), Allison Zlotnick (MBA ’23), and Bonnie Jensen (MBA ’25) shared their insights on the luxury retail industry.

Alumni and MBA students in the luxury and retail space gained insight from the unique perspectives shared during the conversation.

Panelists explored the forces reshaping the luxury retail industry: shifting consumer expectations, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics, and the delicate balance between heritage and innovation. The panel also highlighted how brands balance creating personalized customer experiences while maintaining exclusivity in an increasingly global and accessible market. The discussion blended career insights, industry trends, and a forward-looking perspective on the ever-changing luxury retail field.

The conversation was concluded by a Q&A and reception, where alumni had the opportunity to mingle with the panelists.

After the discussion, alumni mingled with the speakers during a reception.