Bronco Spotlight: Ashley Ostrowski
Bachelor of Science in fashion merchandising and Bachelor of Arts in public relations, 2020
Business Analyst at Meijer's Corporate
As an analyst at Meijer, I will be in charge of monitoring sales data, allocating merchandise and assisting the buyer in buying and planning activities. I interned at Meijer last summer, and it gave me great experiences that helped prepare me for my future role. I knew my first day of my internship that I wanted to continue my career with Meijer, and I am so lucky I have the opportunity to do so.
What activities, resources, or people helped you prepare for your career?
I had great instructors that helped prepare me for my career and always encouraged me to push myself. Within the fashion department, Dr. Fraizer and Kelly Weathers helped me learn more about a buying career and were my biggest cheerleaders throughout my four years at Western. Dr. Omilion-Hodges in the School of Communication helped me understand how I could tie together my fashion and public relations skills to make myself more marketable.
Which of your skills had the biggest impact on your success?
Learning how to look at things from an analytical standpoint has been the most helpful skill I have learned at Western. Almost everything we do has data behind it, and can be analyzed to become more efficient. Having both the merchandising and public relations background has taught me how to look at the consumer cycle from a holistic standpoint, and better understand the consumer from start to finish.
What experiences impacted the choice of your career path?
Going into WMU four years ago, I had no clue what I could do with a fashion degree. Through classwork, studying abroad and my internship I was able to uncover my strengths and pick a career that utilized them- and is a whole lot of fun.
What advice do you have for others pursuing a career similar to yours?
My advice for anyone who is thinking of going into a similar role is to learn how to analyze everything you do and understand the importance of data in decision making. Don’t give up when things get hard, and dream big!