In Conversation with Mary Beth Sheridan

Tell us about your background:

I recently left Anthropologie, where I was chief merchandising officer leading Home and Beauty, in a restructuring of the business. I am excited to have kicked off 2023 searching for my next leadership role. My experience merchandising apparel, home, gifting, and beauty, across DTC and stores, supporting both creatives and business leaders, has prepared me for my next steps.

I have a diverse background. After 20 years at Lord & Taylor, where I merchandised women’s dresses and apparel, men’s apparel and footwear, and later led the stores team, I was recruited by Macy’s in 2012. While I was at Macy’s, the merchandising leadership role evolved by taking on the digital strategies of the brand. Later, the design team was also folded in under my responsibility. Both of these changes evolved my scope in such positive ways, preparing me for my next steps.

In 2019, I received a call from Anthropologie, as URBN was looking for someone to fill a newly created chief merchant position, to lead their fastest growing Home and Beauty business segment. This was a very different landscape—leading what was a rapidly expanding DTC business in a founder-led company through the development of a strategic plan and operational process, while integrating home and beauty into Anthro as a big part of a fashion apparel lifestyle brand.

Some background about Anthro—I was responsible for my own P&L (Home and Beauty is separate from the Apparel P&L), and I delivered strong double-digit comps, while continuing to push product evolution and range. My areas led the way in acquiring new customers and younger customers for the brand. I am also proud of my team’s engagement and professional growth.

In supporting and leading my team at Anthro, I was able to bring all of my experiences in digital, merchandising, stores, visual, design, planning to this role. Also, I gained vertical brand experience—so different from my dept. store foundation in broad disciplines.

What do you wish you’d known when you started out?

How important constant networking and relationship building is in this business. I’m really good at it now, but missed about 20 years of opportunity!

Best career advice you've ever received?

I’ve been tapped to make lateral moves several times in my career. Even though these moves pushed me out of my comfort zone, taking them was great advice. My mentors and supporters saw that I could add value and learn new sides of the business.

What leadership qualities are important to you?

Communication, collaboration, listening, curiosity, risk-taking.

What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far? 

The volatile nature of the business is sometimes challenging to navigate from a career-perspective.

And for fun, what is your favorite wardrobe staple?

Great shoes—sandals, sneakers, platforms!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-beth-sheridan/

Instagram: @Mbs_22