From nerves to networking

Challenging My Anxiety at a Macy's x Fashion Scholarship Fund Panel

The Tony Springs, CEO of Macy's

I immediately shot my hand up. I mean, if I didn’t give myself the chance to feel anxious, how could it happen? It wasn’t like I was talking to the CEO of Macy’s, Tony Spring, or anything.

This year, the Fashion Scholarship Fund scheduled a panel discussion with Macy’s CEO, Tony Spring. I also had the opportunity to speak with other incredible Macy’s panelists and learn more about the design process behind Moda 1, how fashion forecasting is conducted in the wild, and the potential of XR technology to shape Macy’s future.

Once my hand was up, another scholar’s hand followed suit. A woman handed me a microphone, assuring me I would go next. Oh, God- I couldn’t help but slowly panic and regret not being fast enough to outrun my anxiety. As my nerves started to rise, I reminded myself to stay calm, collected, and wait my turn to ask my question. When I finally had the chance, I posed my question to Mr. Spring: “Do you believe XR technology could give brick-and-mortar stores a rebirth, considering how popular online shopping has become? What technology is Macy’s exploring for this?”

Though anxious, I was incredibly proud of myself for putting myself out there—speaking up, asking questions, and not letting my anxiety hold me back. Having been diagnosed with severe anxiety, I’ve had my share of panic attacks, and it’s no fun. Even my first year as a Fashion Scholarship Fund scholar, I was nervous about everything—the gala, the events, what I was going to wear... and let’s not forget—socializing!

This year, I made a post offering tips to new scholars—and to myself—reminding everyone not to be nervous. My thought was simple: I didn’t want anyone to feel as nervous as I did, and if I pretended not to be nervous, eventually I wouldn’t be. The Fashion Scholarship Fund panel members loved my post, and Peter Arnold, the CEO, even read it aloud in front of all the 2025 scholars to help them prepare for the upcoming events. I couldn’t help but think, “Well... I really have to not be anxious now!” And there I was, standing with a mic in hand, trying my best to pretend I wasn’t a nervous wreck.

Well, it worked!

Listening to Tony Spring talk about how he wanted to preserve the tradition of brick-and-mortar stores was fascinating. It also inspired me to share ideas on how XR technology, in its various forms, could enhance the customer experience inside and outside of Macy’s physical stores without losing its heritage.

I was also fortunate to hear from the Macy’s panelists, a group of strong, talented women who design, forecast, and write exceptionally well. From this event, I learned the importance of being a student of the customer, being a good synthesizer of conversations, perspectives, and ideas, and becoming a stronger writer and editor. I also realized that it’s better to be a generalist with a range of skills rather than a specialist in just one. Naturally, I now have a stack of podcasts and books to dive into.

Me speaking with Dana Cohn, Director, Editorial Content of Macy's Fashion, Beauty, and Home. We discussed about how storytelling can tailor your brand to your customer!

The event was an incredible learning experience, not only for the insights shared by the panelists but also for the personal challenge of pushing myself out of my comfort zone. No matter how uncomfortable it may have been, it was a valuable step toward becoming the best version of myself.