My Revlon Beginning
Even as graduation capped off years of study from Boston College, I entered the job market knowing my education would only get me so far. Unless you’re a born entrepreneur (which I wasn’t at the time!), you start on the bottom rung and work your way up, discovering that initial career steps are really building blocks. My hope with this series is to support others navigating career transitions, reminding you that every role, every boss, and every new responsibility shapes the professional, and the person, you will become.
In the Beginning: The Beauty of Humble Starts My story starts at Revlon. Fresh out of college, I accepted a sales position in New Britain, Connecticut, covering central and southern Connecticut; far from NYC’s glamour but loaded with lessons in grit and growth. Revlon took its new recruits seriously: I joined 40 fellow grads in a 4–6-week, boot-camp-style onboarding in everything Revlon including product training, processes, and even proper fashion etiquette. The corporate message was dress for the level you aspire to, not just the job you are in. I still remember navigating the aisles of department stores that have become retail afterthoughts- Caldor, Bradlees, Kmart, Zayre. (If you remember those, you’re probably smiling right now.)
At first, I wasn’t the solo sales warrior I had imagined, in fact, I began as a supply “Stocker,” learning the ropes alongside a Revlon veteran named Teresa (Terry). She was the Jedi master of sales routines, and more importantly, of relationships. Walking into those stores with Terry was like accompanying local royalty, everyone knew her. Not just by name, but by heart.
Lesson 1: Be Kind to Every Person You Meet Terry embodied the power of kindness. She dressed sharply, yes (thanks, Revlon training!), but her real signature was warmth and connection. She greeted store employees, managers, and stock clerks with genuine care, asking about their families and always remembering small details, from someone’s recent vacation to a kid’s birthday party. Watching her, I learned quickly: kindness isn’t a soft skill—it’s a secret weapon. Terry’s sincerity-built loyalty and opened doors, and today, “no matter who you interact with, be kind” remains a cornerstone of my professional ethos.
Taking on More: The Confidence & Trials of New Responsibilities About three months in, newly confident (and suited for success), I stepped up: managing returns, speaking directly with store managers, and steering sales for a handful of accounts. I also shouldered a quota and the butterflies that came with it. Sometimes those first stretches reveal your strength; sometimes they challenge it.
Lesson 2: Don’t Let Those in Power Define Your Worth One day, my boss Krystal joined me for store visits. Her name was “Krystal,” but the details remain anything but clear in my memory, I just recall her approach: sharply critical, tough to the point of tears, and questioning everything I did. That day rocked me. I left shaken and on the verge of quitting. But sleepless night turned into resolute morning, I decided not only to stay, but to prove her wrong. I doubled down, committed to my style and my goals, and finished the quarter as a top performer. Not long after, I was offered a promotion to NYC, moving out of Krystal’s orbit altogether.
It’s hard to learn, much easier to say in hindsight: never let those in power or those who act like they have power define your value. As Mel Robbins shares in her message “Let Them,” people’s opinions will always color your journey but don’t let negativity drive your direction. I still use “Krystal” as my personal reference point for the kind of manager I strive never to be. Over the years, I have done my best to lift my own teams, teaching when possible, and always reinforcing positively.
Growing in Big City Accounts: Absorbing Wisdom from Every Corner When I moved to NYC, my world shifted in new ways. I managed three major chains (LOVE’s stores, Pricewise and Woolworths (none exits anymore, sadly!)). In addition to running sales, I quickly became a student of business, learning from incredible buyers like Harvey and John. Harvey was a finance whiz and a brilliant negotiator, giving me a crash course in cost analysis and margin management that went miles beyond what I learned in college. John, in contrast, was all about price, relentless in his pursuit of value for his stores.
Six months of creatively pitching campaigns, building promotions, and finding mutually beneficial outcomes gave me my one of my best years of growth to date. With every meeting, I picked up new skills, new tricks, and new perspectives.
Lesson 3: Every Person You Encounter Is a Teacher, Be Open to Learning Everyone has something to offer. Every account, buyer, and colleague give us gifts of experience and it is up to us to accept and use them to make our own toolkit richer. My years with Revlon ended with a rewarding stint in the Almay division and a move back to Boston. By then, my confidence soared, but not every next step is a leap to happiness.
Moving On: The Path Isn’t Always Linear When I left Revlon for a “better” opportunity, it turned out not to be all it was cooked up to be. Sometimes the lure of more money or prestige isn’t worth sacrificing the growth and satisfaction you already have. Stay tuned for my next article— “Jumping for Dollars… and Landing in Doubt”.
Takeaways for Early Career Navigators
- Kindness builds lasting connections, even in giant chain stores.
- No one else can define your worth. Prove it to yourself.
- Being open means every encounter can fuel your career growth.
No matter where you start, embrace each role, learn from those around you, and take chances (even the ones that don’t pay off). Every step, success, setback, or surprise can bring you closer to true career joy.
I’d love to hear your stories. What was your first job out of college? Who taught you kindness or resilience in your journey? Leave your comments and stay tuned for part two in my Career Navigation Series.