The Apparel and Merchandising Emerging Leaders Panel Discussion returned for its third year on Thursday, Oct. 6. The event invites alumni back to the department to share their experiences in industry, career advice, and lessons learned from their time at Colorado State University.
Alumni
Three alumni returned to share their expertise with current students as they prepare for their required internships and start their careers.
Erin Eastburn (’12)
Metta Society, Co-Founder
Erin spent more than seven years in the fashion and beauty industries in New York City prior to co-founding Metta Society. Her background includes a specialization in digital marketing strategy with expertise in advertising and social media strategy, content creation, influencer marketing, and website optimization. In 2022, Eastburnwas awarded Forbes’ The Next 1,000, a prestigious award given to 1,000 leaders across the United States who are redefining the American Dream via their businesses.
Claire Fontanetta (’12)
Metta Society, Co-Founder
Eastburn’s collaborator and CSU classmate, Fontanetta gained experience as a writer and editor before joining forces with Eastburn to co-found Metta Society. Her writing covered a variety of topics ranging from health and wellness, to beauty, to lifestyle. Her background in editorial and creative direction gives her a unique perspective for each of the brands she partners with. In 2021, Fontanetta was named to Forbes’ The Next 1,000.
Nicole Head (’16)
Global Category Manager – Personalization, Crocs
Nicole Head graduated from the CSU Department of Design and Merchandising with a bachelor’s degree in apparel and merchandising and a minor in business. She interned with PAIGE Denim in Los Angeles and was hired to be their LA showroom assistant. After moving back to Colorado, she accepted a job as an associate category manager for Crocs. Five years later, she is still there as a category manager for the personalization business.
Lessons for students
The visiting professionals offered advice on careers, internships, and reflections on their lives as students. The three agreed on the importance of finding and maintaining relationships with mentors to continue career growth, always looking for new opportunities that increase the opportunity to learn, and prioritizing internal work environments and cultures. They also offered advice based on their time as students. All three alumni agreed that they cared too much about grades while at CSU. “Grades are important,” said Fontanetta, “but I wish I hadn’t stressed about straight As.” Eastburn shared she wished she had taken greater advantage of all the opportunities for learning available at a university. During her time at CSU, she completed many internships, eager to get into the working world. “Enjoy the time to learn,” said Eastburn, “and don’t hurry too much to start your career.”
Kotsiopulos Education Enhancement Fund
The Apparel and Merchandising Emerging Leaders Panel Discussion was made possible through the generosity of Antigone Kotsiopulos through the Kotsiopulos Education Enhancement Fund. Kotsiopulos is a professor emerita and worked as both the department head for the Department of Design and Merchandising and the associate dean for academic programs in the College of Applied Human Sciences (now Health and Human Sciences).
Kotsiopulos cares about connecting students to industry, even before they graduate. The panel discussion with CSU alumni provides this networking opportunity for students.
This year, for the first time, the Kotsiopulos Education Enhancement Fund also provided funds for the Apparel and Merchandising Industry Expo, where both locally and nationally recognized companies came to CSU to network with students looking for internships or entry-level positions.
The Department of Design and Merchandising is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
