Yvonne Besvold

Yvonne Besvold (’82, Management Information Systems)
Senior Financial Officer
Patagonia, Inc.

1. What inspired you to work within the retail/fashion industry? 

I was initially attracted to the industry as a way to combine a financial/technical job with a tangible end product! My first job as an IT auditor was at Carter Hawley Hale stores, an early leader in using shared services to support multiple retail organizations. I have continued in the industry by working with companies like Disney and Patagonia who are committed to a strong brand, vision, values, quality and customer service. I especially like the challenge of working for Patagonia where we push the envelope in how we operate our retail/consumer products business to help save the home planet.

2. Would you say that retail/fashion is a good industry for aspiring women executives? 

Absolutely!! While fashion was an area that has always attracted many women executives, management and back-office leadership positions had been male dominated. But now, it’s been really exciting to see the growth in the number of women and minority leaders in those types of leadership positions. Women have traditionally been associated with shopping for fashion and entertainment purchases, yet most decisions these days in overall spending and purchasing behaviors are shared equally by the genders.

3. Where are the most opportunities for women in this industry? 

Typically, the jobs held by women have been in the design/production, retail management and HR areas. However, data analytics, information technology and direct-to-consumer roles continue to be an expanding frontier for women, as are jobs in finance, data analysis, and logistics. Retail/fashion companies that provide strong support systems for working parents and create attractive and flexible working environments will succeed in attracting the best candidates to this industry. 

4. You earned your degree in a STEM discipline. How has that impacted your career? Would you say that other women should follow that path? 

My STEM degree got me my first job in the industry as my technical experience stood out against the more traditional backgrounds. As my career evolved in the financial world, much of the work has involved leading or participating in technical projects. My current responsibilities have evolved into evaluating and ensuring the technical talent to meet strategic goals.   

I would encourage women to both study and get experience with STEM or other technical expertise in some form or fashion.  This includes technical studies as a minor (or a certificate) since it gives women a leg up for these types of jobs, as well as industry experience. Once women go into the workforce, they should volunteer to take on projects or ask to work on assignments to gain additional technical expertise. The sky’s the limit and it’s amazing to see representation across companies in all facets of operations.