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Sara Chesner
Executive Assistant to the CEO of J.Crew Group
Professional Background
Sara Chesner is a seasoned professional with an extensive background in the retail and fashion industry, bringing a wealth of experience in executive assistance and management. Her career began in retail management, where she honed her skills in customer service, staffing, and operational leadership. Starting as an Assistant Manager at Abercrombie & Fitch, Sara quickly ascended through the ranks to become a Store Manager, showcasing her ability to drive sales, enhance customer experience, and manage teams effectively.
Her journey in retail continued at Banana Republic, where she served as the Customer Experience Supervisor, later advancing to Manager of Hiring and Staffing at the flagship location. These roles enabled her to develop fundamental skills in recruitment, team development, and customer engagement, which would later prove invaluable in her subsequent roles in executive support.
Transitioning to the corporate side of the fashion industry, Sara joined J.Crew, one of the leading American retailers known for its classic styles and quality apparel. Starting as the Human Resource Manager for the flagship store, she played a pivotal role in employee engagement and talent management within the organization. Her success in this role led her to executive assistant positions, where she supported high-level executives, including the President and the Senior Vice President of Stores.
After establishing herself at J.Crew, Sara took on the role of Executive Assistant to the CEO at Madewell, J.Crew's sister brand focused on denim and casual apparel. Her contributions were instrumental in managing executive schedules, facilitating communication across departments, and ensuring the smooth operation of executive functions, ultimately contributing to the brand's growth.
Sara's capacity for handling complex administrative tasks and her keen understanding of the retail landscape made her an ideal candidate for her current position as Executive Assistant to the CEO of J.Crew Group. Here, she continues to support company leadership while contributing to projects that enhance operational efficiency and drive business success.
Education and Achievements
Sara holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Business and a minor in Dance from Loyola Marymount University. This unique combination of business acumen and creative expression through dance reflects her diverse skill set, enabling her to approach challenges with creativity and strategic thinking. Throughout her academic journey, she developed a strong foundation in business principles, which has been pivotal in her career in the retail sector.
Her professional achievements are highlighted by her rapid ascent through various roles in reputable companies. From team leadership positions in retail management to critical executive support functions, Sara demonstrates her adaptability and commitment to excellence. Notably, her ability to maintain high standards of professionalism and efficiency in fast-paced environments has earned her recognition among peers and leadership alike.
Key Skills
Sara possesses a multitude of skills that define her professional profile, including:
- Executive Support
- Team Management
- Recruitment and Staffing
- Customer Experience Enhancement
- Project Coordination
- Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Each of these skills has informed her career trajectory, allowing her to support executives effectively, enhance customer experiences, and foster team development.
Commitments to Professional Development
Beyond her formal education and career responsibilities, Sara actively engages in professional development opportunities to keep abreast of industry trends and best practices. This commitment ensures she remains at the forefront of new initiatives within the retail sector, allowing her to apply current strategies to her roles and adapt to the evolving landscape of fashion retail.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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