3 Invaluable Lessons I Learned From Working at Kate Spade Right Out of College

Working at Kate Spade taught me just how valuable positive company culture can be when it comes to your own happiness in the workplace. The company spent a lot of time and effort creating a welcoming culture, which resulted in an encouraging and empowering atmosphere throughout the entire office. Although I was in an entry-level position, I always felt appreciated and valued, which kept me motivated to consistently put my best foot forward when it came to my work and productivity. While my entry-level position came with an entry-level salary, the good vibes and culture around the office made me content with the numbers on my paycheck. From the company celebrations to the out-of-office gatherings and team-building exercises, I enjoyed the people I was working with and learning from, which ultimately increased my loyalty to the company.

Nowadays, I not only look at job descriptions when looking for a role but also heavily research a company's culture. Since most jobs today aren't the average 9-to-5, it is critical to find a place where you feel like you belong. Feeling "at home" at a company where you will spend much of your day can be worth so much more than your actual salary.

During my time at Kate Spade, my position was in Merchandising, where I worked heavily with the Design, Buying, and Product Development teams. Not a day passed when there wasn't some sort of crossfunctional communication. However, by working for a company that grand in size, I quickly realized just how many other departments made up the brand. From Marketing and Public Relations to Finance, Human Resources, and Learning and Development, I yearned to know more about how each of these teams functioned and what their day-to-day roles entailed.

So, I took the initiative to reach out to employees — many whom I had never met — to see if they'd be interested in grabbing coffee to simply chat. Not only did these talks allow me to learn firsthand how each department was a critical slice in the company pie, but it also presented me with the opportunity to network and meet new faces of the brand. Ultimately, these casual coffee chats were what opened many new doors for me in my career.