In Conversation with Katherine (Kat) Kim Choroco
Tell us about your background:
Ever since I was a little girl "working" (AKA, stuffing my face with readily available inventory) in my parent’s neighborhood grocery store, I’ve had a passion for brands and customer engagement. I didn’t realize it back then but marketing, retail, and customer service have always been a part of my life.
I’ve had the fortune of working across a wide range of companies, from mass to true luxury, and in a variety of industries and retail formats. Believe it or not, I started my career in litigation consulting, as I thought I needed a strong business foundation prior to starting my marketing career.
After consulting, I made my way into marketing, joining a B2C online education startup as a Strategy and Marketing Analyst. Shortly after, I joined another startup, an online affiliate network, as a Marketing Manager managing client accounts in the education and DTC space.
I always knew I wanted an advanced degree and headed to New York to pursue my MBA. It was there, after taking retail courses and my summer internship at Bed, Bath & Beyond, that I knew I wanted to pursue a retail career!
Post-MBA, I leveraged my startup experience at saks.com and then built my CRM and loyalty experience in another internal role at Saks Fifth Avenue and later at Ann Taylor. At Chanel, I learned about true luxury and worked in multiple marketing and product roles across all the business divisions – Fashion, Watches & Fine Jewelry, and Fragrance & Beauty. I left and joined Calvin Klein to head up marketing for their runway business and pivoted to a global marketing role for the jeans, sportswear, children’s, and home categories. I then had an opportunity to return to my retail roots and joined Bergdorf Goodman to lead integrated and brand marketing programs.
On a personal note, I’ve been in NYC for almost 20 years. I never intended to stay after my MBA (I was a California girl all my life!) but I met my future husband, found my role at saks.com, and I just stayed. We have three inquisitive and high-energy children who manage to keep us on our toes every day!
What do you wish you’d known when you started out?
I honestly don't know if there is something specific I wish I'd known. I firmly believe that in my career, I made choices (both good and bad) in succession that ultimately led me to where I am now. You have to have faith that the decisions made in the past were done with the best possible information (and intuition). I feel incredibly privileged to have worked at some of the most beloved global brands.
Best career advice you've ever received?
This may sound obvious, but to always be your own cheerleader. No matter how great your manager is, or how much a mentor is willing to be your champion, you have to take control of your career. Earlier in my career, I never promoted myself nor my accomplishments. I just assumed that my work would speak for itself. It never occurred to me that I needed to be vocal and an advocate for myself. And this is something that I am still working on after all these years!
What leadership qualities are important to you?
Authenticity, empathy, transparency, respect, and trust.
I think it's so important to listen to and understand what motivates your team, and what unique skills that each person brings to the table (and how they all can come together to deliver on the business/brand goals).
What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far?
The biggest challenges of my career have been when I’ve pivoted into a new role or taken on a new project. At Chanel, in the midst of so much change (right before having our third child and purchasing our first home), I started a new functional role in a new business division. I’d never done a market share analysis or retail sales projections, but I had to quickly learn how to manage a product category. At Calvin Klein, I had never worked on, let alone managed, a global campaign and I had the opportunity to lead one of the biggest brand campaigns of the year. Each of these experiences challenged me to quickly adapt and stretch in ways I had never done before.
And for fun, what is your favorite wardrobe staple?
Pre-pandemic, you would've found me in a myriad of pleated midi skirts! Plaid, metallic, solids, color-blocked, you name it, I probably have a version of it! Nowadays, you'll find me in my range of my favorite lived-in jeans with a soft tee or cozy sweater (depending on the temperature inside my house!).
LinkedIn URL
