On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, luxury retail marketing students visited New York City, gaining firsthand industry exposure through experiences with Sachin & Babi, Pardgroup, Ann Taylor, and WindowsWear. Established in tribute to Melvin Jacobs, a Penn State graduate and former Chairman and CEO of Saks Fifth Avenue, the program supports outstanding marketing students in advancing their passion for retail. Through the experience, Jacobs Fellows deepened their understanding of the industry and built valuable connections with professionals, helping to prepare them for successful careers in luxury retail.
At Sachin & Babi, the students had the unique opportunity to meet with Babi Ahluwalia (Creative Director & Co-Founder), Amy Riordan (CEO), and Fedra Najera (E-Commerce & Marketing Manager) in their private New York City showroom. They gained firsthand insight into how a global luxury fashion brand operates across creative, business, and digital functions. The conversation provided a behind-the-scenes look at a collection’s process, from concept to sharing it with the world, while also exploring how the brand positions itself in the market, manages growth, and connects with customers through e-commerce and marketing. Students were able to ask questions directly to leadership, making it a highly engaging and real-world learning experience that bridged both creative vision and business strategy.
Stefano Pieri (Managing Director, U.S.), Anat Gilad (Business Development & Client Partnerships), Roberto Strino (Head of Projects), and Avneet Bhatia (Strategic Business Development, Sports & Entertainment) of Pardgroup shared insight into how the company works with luxury brands around the world to design and produce window displays, pop-ups, and large-scale retail activations. The visit offered a behind-the-scenes look at the process behind these experiences, highlighting the coordination required across global teams, the pace of tight timelines, and the ongoing need for adaptability and problem-solving to bring each project from concept to execution.
Phoebe Scherer (Brand Marketing Manager) and Caroline Lipsey (Brand Marketing Coordinator) from Ann Taylor shared insights into their career paths and offered an overview of their roles within the brand, providing a firsthand perspective on working in brand marketing.
The students also had the opportunity to engage in a discussion on New York City’s fashion retail history with Jon Harari, CEO of WindowsWear, who welcomed the group and framed the conversation in a way that connected the city’s past to its present—highlighting how its history continues to shape today’s brands, stores, and decisions across the industry.
For more information on tours & experiences, visit www.windowswear.com/tours.