Since graduating from LIM College in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, Elisabeth Gil has held a wide range of roles in fashion and wonder, including at Gilt.com, Peter Thomas Roth and the Estée Lauder Cos., where she achieved the positions of program manager, global brand supply chain and global inventory and deployment planner.

At first of this yr, Gil took her supply chain management skills to Bark as director of inventory management. Launched in 2012 with BarkBox, a monthly themed subscription of dog toys and treats, Bark describes itself as “dedicated to making dogs comfortable with the most effective products, services and content.”

Here, Gil shares her profession path, the importance of mentorship, and what helped inform her profession selections.

WWD: How would you describe your profession path?

Elisabeth Gil: I might say my profession path was unorthodox. For a very long time, not only did I not know what I desired to do from a profession perspective, but I also didn’t know what I loved or what I used to be expert at. It took me a protracted time and, luckily, plenty of exposure to different areas to work out my passion for operations and executional excellence, which brought me to where I’m now.

WWD: What were among the challenges you faced?

E.G.: The most important challenge in any field is getting your foot within the door or pivoting to a recent department or role. Breaking out in an already competitive industry after which crawling my way from wholesale sales to program management to planning to operations was no easy feat, and it required plenty of résumé-building for me to be taken seriously.

WWD: Is there an expert achievement you’re particularly happy with?

E.G.: My biggest achievements have been in changing the landscape of supply chain inside the Estée Lauder Cos. I used to be lucky to have very influential and supportive managers who encouraged and fostered an entrepreneurial mindset. This allowed me to branch out from my important responsibilities as a supply chain manager and lead company-wide initiatives inside the availability chain operations landscape.

WWD: How did your education help inform your profession decisions?

E.G.: The education I received — and the seven internships I accomplished — at LIM College laid the groundwork for every little thing I even have achieved. Not only did I develop technical skills to make me qualified for specific roles, but I acquired life skills of interviewing, negotiation and professionalism that I still carry with me every single day.

WWD: Have you ever had mentors within the industry? How have they helped you?

E.G.: To me, a mentor is someone who provides a balance of support while pushing you only hard enough to enable you to reach your maximum potential. My supervisor on the Estée Lauder Cos. was also my biggest mentor. Not only did he want me to do well within the role I used to be in, but he also gave me opportunities to succeed beyond that role. This supervisor sought out the person talents of every of his team members and helped us capitalize on those talents and gain exposure to other brands/divisions and executive leaders inside the company. I owe nearly all of my ongoing success to him.

WWD: What advice would you give someone considering a profession in supply chain management?

E.G.: Never stop learning. As is true in most profession paths, the availability chain is at all times evolving. All the time take any and all opportunities to achieve a recent certification in the sphere and volunteer for company-wide initiatives and projects. Résumé-building is the inspiration for fulfillment on this field.

WWD: In the event you could return in time and provides profession advice to your younger self, what would that advice be?

E.G.: Decelerate and let all of it sink in!