In Ralph Lauren’s world, there are four seasons—Spring, Summer, Fall, and “what we call Cruise or Holiday.”
Robbin Mitchell, a Ralph Lauren VP of “replenishment,” stands at a podium in the downstairs parlor of the Harvard Faculty Club, where a Polo recruitment info session is being held. She wears a black blazer, and her hair is tied in a skinny ponytail. With the grace of an academic, Mitchell lectures a group of eager undergraduates about Polo’s Executive Training Program for graduating seniors and summer internship for sophomores and juniors.
Major landmarks in the company’s history are outlined, sprinkled effortlessly with a bit of “channel diversification” and “horizontal integration.” Mitchell sets the record straight, declaring that Polo’s founder’s name is pronounced ‘LAUren’ and not ‘LauREN.’
A short video follows Mitchell’s presentation. Majestic music plays as a series of images celebrates mansions, big dogs, golf, canoeing and flowered straw hats. As the video fades out, the four company representatives open the floor for questions. A number of hands shoot up. “About the vision of Ralph Lauren, is that something they teach in the Executive Program?” asks a manicured young man who could have stepped out of a Polo ad himself.
Kathy Schreiner, VP of human relations for the company, hesitates before coming up with, “It’s a unique culture at Ralph Lauren. It’s about the brand. It’s about the family.” Standing beside her, the three others nod. “We all get very caught up in the brand,” Mitchell adds. “You have to love product.”
The questioner and his companion nod to each other, confident in their love of product.
Afterwards, job-seekers mingle with the Polo representatives in an attempt to make that perfect first impression. “A lot of [creativity] happens in-house. Often, inspiration strikes just sitting in our lobby with all the wood and leather and whatnot,” Lauren Rosenthal, of Polo’s replenishment department, tells a student.
Standing by a Perrier cocktail table, Berchmans Rivera ’06 says he intends to pursue the program. “I’m really involved in fashion. It’s just consumed my life for the past couple years,” he beams. “Also, I think it’s less intense than i-banking.”
Over by the buffet, one student asks human relations representative Carla Best how she got her start. “I just fell in love with the culture,” Best replies. “The people.” She breaks down a bit and adds that the company’s success also lured her. “I mean, we can make so much money selling socks!” she laughs. Best shares an anecdote about poaching one of Tommy Hilfiger’s merchandisers. “[The merchandiser] said that Tommy always asks, ‘Well, what is Ralph doing?’” she laughs.
It’s only natural to be curious. After all, it’s his world we’re living in.
