Alumni Spotlight: Michelle Kunz
Michelle Kunz, 2016 & 2017 FSF Scholar, University of Florida & SDA Bocconi
Originally from Orlando, Florida, Michelle earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Florida with a focus on Retail Leadership and Mass Communications. She was honored with the Fashion Scholarship Fund Award twice consecutively, in both 2016 and 2017, and attributes the organization as the pivotal catalyst in her career’s success.
Currently serving as the U.S. Marketing Manager for Narciso Rodriguez and Issey Miyake fragrances at Shiseido Americas in New York City, Michelle drives both brands’ growth in the U.S. market while championing local strategies to ensure optimal brand development. Operating as a self-proclaimed “jack of all trades” marketer, her responsibilities include overseeing new product launches, collaborating closely with the salesforce on event animation, conducting market analysis and strategy ideation, and managing cross-functional partnerships with global brand holders.
Prior to her role at Shiseido, Michelle lived abroad in Milan, Italy, where she earned her MBA in Luxury Business Management at SDA Bocconi. Throughout the program, she honed her passion for brand storytelling and cultivating impactful global marketing campaigns. Further expanding her European experience, she later joined the International Marketing team for Lancôme Fragrances as a Marketing & Product Manager at L’Oréal’s global headquarters in Paris, France. There, she assisted in the strategic planning of integrated marketing campaigns and product development for two of the brand’s iconic franchises: Idôle and La Nuit Trésor.
Michelle’s journey in the industry began at Macy’s headquarters in New York City, where she served in various merchandising roles within men’s collections and women’s shoes before transitioning to the creative side as a Fashion Content Editor. During her tenure, Michelle also became one of the original members of the newly pioneered Style Crew, which allowed her to conceptualize, style, and create original fashion and beauty affiliate content for millions of Macy’s shoppers across various social channels.
Having built a strong foundation in both the fashion and beauty industries, Michelle’s innate passion for connecting with people has remained at the core of her career. Whether serving as a Career and Academic Peer Mentor at the University of Florida, mentoring countless prospective FSF Scholars, or coaching young professionals interested in entering the industry, Michelle has made it a priority to pay it forward by candidly sharing the insights she’s gathered throughout her dynamic experience.
Michelle is profoundly grateful to the FSF and the endless opportunities it has afforded her as an alumna since winning both awards. “Discovering the FSF case study competition and receiving the scholarship award was truly life-changing for me. It validated my ambitions of working in the fashion industry I always dreamed of joining and offered me countless opportunities to connect with industry titans and students alike. It has continued to fuel my confidence to boldly pursue my goals in this ever-evolving industry and has remained a steadfast pillar in my success. I feel indebted to the FSF community for all the incredible memories it has given me throughout these years and remain passionate about driving impact as an alumna of this organization whenever possible.”