Hofstra alum compares the life cycle of a handbag to life post-grad

Thomas Craig, BA ‘06, sits with Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Eva Badowska on the Tuesday evening panel for the Executive Speaker Series. // Photo Courtesy of Annie MacKeigan.

On Tuesday, Nov. 28, Hofstra alum Thomas Craig of the class of ‘06 returned to the Guthart Cultural Center Theater to speak as part of the Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (HCLAS) Executive Speaker Series. Craig has worked as the vice president of global planning, allocation and operations for Marc Jacobs since March 2021.

Craig opened the panel by emphasizing the environmental thinking that goes into supply chain management, specifically for Marc Jacobs.

“I pride myself on doing a good job, really trying to make sure we’re not wasting products,” Craig said. “The fashion industry is the second-worst industry for climate change, and that is something that is on my mind all the time.”

Craig described his work as being similar to seeing handbags through their life cycle. HCLAS Dean Eva Badowska, who directed the interview portion of the event, was particularly interested in this comparison. Craig described a few of the phases as “active, then there is markdown and death.”

Craig also gave advice to students about their future careers.

“[The first] 18 months is key. If you do not get promoted, leave,” Craig said. He noted that moving around jobs will help immensely with networking in post-grad.

Craig emphasized the importance of curiosity and how it will help students land a job.

“When I’m looking to hire someone, I don’t really care what they majored in so much,” Craig said. “I’m more interested to see that they are hungry to learn.”

“We try every semester to bring an alumnus or alumna back to campus to feature their spectacular rise in career after Hofstra,” Badowska said. The Executive Speaker Series serves as a tool for students of many different disciplines to have a talkback with a current industry professional. They also provide students with networking opportunities.

“I came here because there was a supply chain professional coming to speak,” said Shae Parham, a junior supply chain management major who is also is involved in various supply chain classes and clubs on campus. “It’s a smaller major, so we don’t always have speakers in the industry, so I was excited to have someone in the field who was coming in.”

“I have an interest in sustainability and finance,” said Chris Schwartz, a junior finance major who is looking to pursue a career in the same industry as Craig. “I thought it would be interesting to see how the industry conducts its business, since it’s a very manufactured and carbon intensive industry.”

“I really appreciated the advice,” Parham said. “I also appreciated the transparency overall. I really feel like taking what you learn from this [school], and the name of [Hofstra] does make a difference.”