Ann's Blog

Ann@Work

Hi there! My name is Nicole and I’m the new Human Resources Coordinator for Ann Taylor! A little over three months ago, I decided to take my career down a new path and leave the world of publicity for human resources. I was lucky enough to find an amazing opportunity here at Ann Taylor. So now instead of emailing and chatting with editors and producers every day, I spend my time being a business partner to all of the fabulous talent within our company.

A lot of people may think this is a huge career change, but (I have to say) HR is a lot like PR in more ways than you might imagine. Much like a publicist is the guardian/advocate for a brand, as part of the Human Resources team, I’m a guardian/advocate for the company’s culture and what we stand for. It’s my job to bring our Purpose, Values and Behaviors to life, and it is my responsibility to ensure each of your feels connected to the Ann Taylor brand.

So what have I been doing (or what do I do on a day-to-day basis)? Well, a large portion of my role (and what I truly enjoy about HR) is working directly with associates. From on-boarding to assisting them with any questions or concerns that might come up, it’s part of my job to be the go-to resource for our associates and to give them the tools they need to make them even better at what they do.This allows me to help them put their best selves forward every day – a value I am personally committed to, and I feel honored to be in a position that allows me to help others do the same. The other portion of my job involves things like preparing for each Town Hall, presenting to our new hires during Induction, coordinating Leadership Lunches and brainstorming with my team about how to make this year’s Engagement survey and our Performance Management process even better! It’s my hope that (as the newest addition to our HR team) I will grow into a trusted business partner to all of our associates.

For as long as I can remember fashion has always been a passion of mine. I always LOVE looking through magazines to see what trends are in for the season, and even as a little girl I can remember trying on four different outfits before choosing the perfect one – not much changes for a girl who loves clothes, shoes and accessories! All that being said, it’s truly an inspiration to be working alongside such talented people and to be part of an iconic brand with so much history. I can’t think of a better place to have taken my career!