Carlye

"You don't always have all the answers in your first six months on a job. You have to be open and questioning and willing to work hard ... You have to be flexible and understand that you are going to have to change on a dime. You are in an industry that is truly dynamic - that's what makes it fun and rewarding."

What do you like best about your work environment?

As a manager I have the flexibility to react to business trends and I am empowered to work with my people as I see fit.

What do you see in the future for Macy's, Inc.?

Macy's, Inc.'s future is so promising because we have the ability to react to whatever the business climate offers. We are strong and fiscally responsible, which allows us to take chances and throw our weight behind something. We can buy fun things and be a retailer's dream. We are at the front of the industry.

Why did you join Macy's, Inc. and why have you stayed?

I joined Macy's, Inc. mainly out of curiosity. I started out in small, specialty store retail, and I wanted to see what Macy's, Inc. was like. I didn't really plan on it being long-term until I saw an opportunity with the management program. What's kept me here is that I have always been challenged. The retail climate is always evolving and we have been able to evolve faster.

What do you enjoy most about what you do and what are your overall job responsibilities?

I enjoy the fact that it's multi-faceted. I deal with people - both my team and the store team, but I also get to deal with merchandise, watching the market and identifying trends. I get the best of both worlds in planning. I get to do the traditional merchandising, but I also get to do some of the strategic planning.

What contribution do you make to your division and how do you feel you make a difference?

I empower my people to think on their own and to get a sense of satisfaction in what they do. We have very tangible goals, which I think is important in the retail environment. If we sell a lot of sweaters that we designed six months ago, then that gives us instant motivation and gratification. The intangibles are a little harder to describe, but it helps to have fun at what you do and to enjoy your job. I think interpersonal skills and the development training at my division helps people enjoy their job. There are good times and bad times, but overall, having a positive attitude and being able to reflect that to my team makes everyone more successful.

What advice would you give to a new associate joining the company? What helped you establish yourself and move ahead with your career goals?

The first advice I would give someone is you don't always have all the answers your first six months on a job. You have to be open and questioning and be willing to work hard to establish what rewards are important to you. Long term, you can make a better decision regarding what you want to do with the foundation that you built on with those basic work ethics. I would also encourage a new associate to be flexible. The retail environment deals with the customer and you never know what the customer wants. You have to be flexible and understand that you are going to have to change on a dime. You are in an industry that is truly dynamic and that's what makes the job fun and rewarding.