As a freshman at Boston University, Miri Chan knew she was interested in the retail industry, but like many freshmen, she didn’t have a clear roadmap for how to get there. Her school didn’t offer a retail major or merchandising track, and at the time, the NRF Foundation wasn’t widely known on campus. Everything changed when a conversation with a professor opened the door to new possibilities.
Miri attended the NRF Foundation Student Program for the first time as a sophomore, an experience that opened her eyes to the breadth of opportunities available to retail-focused students nationwide. While there, she was inspired by the presence of the NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship finalists and the visibility of students who were already building strong industry connections.
For Miri, coming from a university without a formal retail pathway, the Student Program became a turning point. It introduced her to scholarships, case studies, recruiters, career fairs, and a larger community of students who shared her interests and showed her that there was a place for her in the industry.
Determined to remain involved, Miri returned the following year as a student ambassador to better understand how students could maximize the Foundation’s offerings. In 2024, she applied for the NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship, completing a Macy’s case study and earning a spot as a top 10 finalist. Although she couldn’t attend the Student Program that year due to studying abroad, the experience motivated her to try again.
The following year, Miri reapplied, this time completing a UNIQLO case study while balancing internships and work commitments. Her hard work paid off when she was selected as the top recipient in 2025, marking a full-circle moment after years of involvement with the NRF Foundation.
The Emerging Retail Leaders training helps retailers invest in their early talent like Miri — building their skills, networks and careers. Find out more about Emerging Retail Leaders.
As the top scholarship recipient, Miri was invited to attend the NRF Foundation Emerging Retail Leaders summit in 2025, an experience that further shaped her early career perspective.
At the time, Miri had only been in her full-time role at Ralph Lauren for about a month. She expected the event to primarily include professionals at a similar stage but instead found herself learning alongside peers with anywhere from one to ten years of experience. Hearing their stories, challenges, and long-term goals helped her realize that professional growth doesn’t stop after landing a first job and that learning remains a constant at every stage of a career.
The Emerging Retail Leaders summit gave Miri practical advice she could immediately apply, while also reinforcing that even experienced professionals are still navigating growth, uncertainty, and ambition. That insight helped her feel more confident as she began her career, knowing she wasn’t alone in asking questions or seeking guidance.
Emerging Retail Leaders also allowed Miri to connect more deeply with NRF Foundation board members and leaders she had previously only seen virtually. Seeing those leaders speak and engaging with them in person strengthened relationships she had already begun building through her scholarship and board involvement and underscored the importance of long-term engagement within the Foundation community.
Across the NRF Foundation’s programs from the Student Program and scholarships to Emerging Leaders Miri, credits the Foundation with helping her build critical soft skills that now define her professional approach.
Repeated exposure to networking environments, leadership conversations, and mentorship opportunities pushed her to step outside her comfort zone. Through her board involvement and Emerging Leaders experience, she learned not to hesitate when reaching out to senior professionals for advice, discovering that many leaders are eager to support passionate students and early-career professionals.
That confidence has translated directly into her day-to-day work, where she actively seeks conversations, builds relationships across teams, and approaches networking as a long-term investment rather than a one-time interaction.
Today, Miri’s journey reflects the cumulative impact of engaging deeply with NRF Foundation programs. From discovering the Foundation as a freshman to launching her career through scholarships, leadership opportunities, and an expansive professional network, each experience played a role in shaping her confidence and career direction. Wherever Miri goes next in her career, she has the tools and the support of the NRF Foundation in her back pocket.
For students considering getting involved, Miri’s story is a reminder that opportunity doesn’t always start with a perfect resume; it starts with the willingness to show up.
