Taylor West ’14 Exploring the evolution of shopping

Taylor has remained engaged with the Academies since graduating from the College of Holy Cross. She shares her journey with us here.

What do you value the most about the education you received at Academy?

The elements of my experience that I find myself talking about the most are the unique traditions, the intimate learning experience, the lifelong friendships and the network they created, the encouragement I received to lean into my interests as a student (and integrate those interests into my learning), and the structure implemented into our days.

Was there a specific teacher that stands out for you?

I can’t possibly say just one but Mr. Zabinski was and still is one of my greatest mentors. I took every photography class he had, and then made up my own when those were exhausted. Then there is Mr. Bishoff, whose teaching style was the reason I went to school for economics. And of course, my friend and advisor, Mr. Fitz. In addition to being an inspiring teacher, his brutal honesty about how things are is something I copied myself and will never forget!

What specific skills did you learn that helped you be successful in college and in your professional career?

The consistent emphasis on balancing my school work, my sports/health, interests, and family life has helped me immensely in the early stages of my career and in college where it’s so easy to get overwhelmed with ambition and workload, which can lead to burnout. I’d also have to say I developed a sense of “I can learn how to do anything” at AAG that’s followed me ever since and brings a “yes” attitude to every table where I have a seat.

Tell us about your career path and your current job.

I graduated from The College of the Holy Cross in 2018, studying economics and studio art with a focus in photography and participating in a year-long study abroad program at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. While I had no idea what I wanted to do, I thought securing a balance between the right and left sides of the brain (every creative endeavor points back to business, after all!) at a liberal arts school would be a safe bet while I figured things out. After college, I joined WS Development, a national development firm based in Boston, Mass. Today I am their senior manager of retail experience and incubation, focused on providing dedicated, best-in-class retail strategy to the tenant mix from brand conception to design, all the way to opening day. I also run and host The Retail Darwin Podcast—available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts—exploring the evolution of retail alongside thought leaders, colleagues, and industry professionals.

Were there challenges along the way? If so, how did you overcome them?

There are challenges every day! It would almost be weird without them. I think challenges big and small force you to reflect on your goals, your purpose, and more importantly ground yourself in the foundational skills you must lean on. I tend to overcome my challenges by doing just that.