Jessica Rich Gives Entrepreneur Lecture to Woodbury Community
As part of its amplified Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, Woodbury’s School of Business is focusing its entrepreneur lecture series on minority business leaders this academic year. On Thursday, January 28, the Business School welcomed guest speaker, Jessica Rich, founder of the Jessica Rich Brand, to address the Woodbury community.
Jessica began her entrepreneurial journey on social media by sharing her love of fashion and style with newly acquired and long-time fans. As they entered her world and followed her journey, they inspired one another to reach their dreams. The positive feedback and demand she received from her loyal audience led her to launch her online store in 2015.
In late 2017, Jessica debuted Transparent by Jessica Rich, her first line of shoes. Transparent has been wildly successful and proved that her signature aesthetic could be carried across multiple categories. The intent behind her clear stiletto heels is to pair them with anything and everything, giving the customer versatility and once again saving them money without sacrificing style. Finding the balance between modern design and fine craftsmanship, Jessica’s footwear is stylish yet wearable.
in Dec 2020, Jessica took over the former Giuseppe store and opened her newest brick and mortar location at the Beverly Center alongside Versace, Burberry & Balenciaga. Jessica’s designs have been worn by high-profile celebrities such as Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B, Joan Smalls, Saweetie, Lala Anthony, Normani and Toni Braxton, among others. Jessica has been featured on Vogue, Pop Sugar, Page Six, Footwear News, People Magazine, Essence Magazine, InStyle, Black Enterprise, US Weekly, E! News and Daily Mail securing her path in the fashion industry. Jessica is an international brand having customers across the globe.
Evaluating her current prominence in the lucrative but unpredictable fashion world, Jessica admits to one area that she considers incomplete: finishing her business education and earning a formal degree. She stated that she seriously considers resuming this path, as she now sees how that can deepen her insights, improve her strategic acumen, and strengthen her negotiation skills.
Among the attendees to Jessica’s lecture were faculty and staff members, current students and alumni. Jessica’s honest and detailed responses to questions pertaining to proper social media use, responsible investment, moving into new directions, and dealing with unforeseen surprises were well-received. Her helpful attitude was immensely appreciated, and we hope to be able to invite this trendsetter to future business lectures to share her insights.
Last Updated on February 10th, 2021.