UF students connect with retail leaders at NRF Conference

Thirty-five students represented the University of Florida and the Warrington College of Business David F. Miller Retail Center at the National Retail Federation (NRF) Foundation Student Program, followed by the annual NRF Big Show in New York City. This event, hosted in New York City, brought together more than 1,500 college students nationwide to hear directly from industry professionals and launch their careers in retail. 

As an educational partner with the NRF Foundation, the UF Warrington College of Business continues to play an active role in connecting students and faculty with the evolving retail landscape.

This opportunity was made possible in large part through JCPenney Scholarships supported by the David F. Miller Retail Center endowment, enabling students to engage directly with the industry at its highest level.

The University of Florida’s presence was led by a strong contingent from the Retail Society Executive Board, reflecting their leadership in curating an engaging lineup of speakers and behind-the-scenes retail experiences throughout the academic year. They were joined by students specializing in retail and those pursuing the retail minor, alongside a diverse group of other students from across campus. This cross-disciplinary representation underscores the expanding reach of retail as a skillset, attracting students interested in analytics, technology and consumer-focused problem solving.

At the event, students networked with representatives from more than 30 companies, including Uniqlo, Walmart, PwC, CVS Health and Kohl’s. Notable speakers included Steve Preston, the CEO of Goodwill Industries; Maiko Ashley, the vice president of global talent acquisition at Pepsico; and Barbra Bukovac, Partner and Vice Chair of Consumer Markets at PwC. 

Throughout the conference, industry leaders emphasized that retail is collaborative, data-driven and constantly evolving. Speakers highlighted AI specifically as a tool that is reshaping, not replacing, jobs. Although AI is still in exploratory stages in the industry, students were encouraged to build AI literacy skills and understand the contexts in which to use it. 

Students also heard from UF alumna Julia Furnari (BSBA ‘15), who spoke on the conference’s mainstage. She is currently the executive director of Tapestry Foundation & Coach Foundation. Her talk, “Retail as a Catalyst for Change,” framed the retail industry as an opportunity to drive meaningful social and environmental change. 

“You don’t have to work in philanthropy to create change,” Furnari said. “Whether you’re headed into merchandising, design, sourcing, stores, marketing or finance, impact is shaped by the questions you ask, the decisions you influence and the values you bring into the room.”

Beyond gaining industry insights, many students left the conference with tangible career outcomes, quickly securing interviews and job opportunities with companies such as Kohl’s, Abercrombie, Uniqlo and Coach. 

“Serving as NRF Foundation Student Ambassador further enhanced this experience,” Hayden McPharlin (BABA ‘27) said. “In this role, I developed strong organizational and leadership skills through coordinating the trip and acting as a resource for students attending the conference. Through attending the conference, I was able to build connections with many big retail companies, which strengthened my networking and interviewing skills.”

For student Stella Van Aken, the NRF event highlighted the impact of the opportunities provided through the Warrington College of Business and Miller Retail Center.

“Being in New York City, surrounded by industry leaders, made the industry feel tangible and accessible in a new way,” Van Aken said. “That experience has inspired me to continue working hard, given me a clearer vision of who I want to become, and made life after graduation feel more purposeful.”

The NRF Foundation also recognized several UF Warrington students with awards and scholarships, totaling $70,000 across this academic year: 

• CVS Scholarship: Katherine Kaiser (BSBA ‘28)
• NRF Next Generation: Elle Simmonds (BABA ‘26)
• Ray Greenly Scholarship: Kalina Pandelova (BSBA ‘26)
• NRF Campus Ambassador Scholarship: Hayden McPharlin
• Rising Star: Allison Waltman (BABA ‘28)
• Fashion Scholarship Case Competition National Finalists: Hadley Dickinson (BABA ‘28) and Kenza Iddir