By Jenna Kersten '17
Tricia Carney ’94 is experiencing a high level of success at a company known for high fashion, style and spirits. She is the director of tax for the parent company of some famous luxury brands, including Louis Vitton, Moet and TAG Heuer and Christian Dior.
Carney’s position at LVMH group includes doing tax accounting for the company and evaluating different businesses for ways to save money. Carney said she can only do her job by having good, solid relationships with the 65 brands that fall under the LVMH name in several categories, including fashion and leather goods, perfumes and cosmetics, watches and jewelry, wine and spirits, and selective retail.
Carney said the company values creativity and innovation in all positions, from design and product creation to the administrative team. “They’re always pushing for us to take our career to the next level,” Carney said.
Carney came to campus last month to speak with students about her career and offer tips for success during a lecture titled “Creating Your Tomorrow.” Over the course of the lecture, Carney shared some suggestions for success with students in the context of the progression of her career.
“First and foremost, you need to construct a network,” Carney said. “It’s actually developing personal relationships with people and really getting to understand that people of different interests can really push you to think outside your box."
Carney referred to this as “expanding your color palette,” and said that she developed this skill through her experiences at Siena. Initially a commuter student, Carney pushed herself to meet new people and develop different networks of friends. By doing so, she exposed herself to people she may not have otherwise come into contact with.
“It made me realize that people who are not like me are even more interesting,” Carney said. “It opened up a whole other world.”
Self-evaluation has been a key part of Carney’s success.
“Always ask yourself what illuminates you,” Carney said. By constantly asking yourself questions, Carney believes that you can determine more of who you are and what you want.
“The most successful people are the people that listen. See what other people have to say, as well as listen to yourself,” Carney said.
Her take home message to students was to take control of what comes next. “The best way to predict the future is to create it,” Carney said.
Carney’s lecture was a part of the School of Business Lecture Series. Her speech was the final lecture of the semester.
