By: Vedika Soni, Senior, Marketing, and Digital & Social Media Applications in Business.
Meet Professor John Talbott
Professor John Talbott is the Director for the Center of Education and Research in Retail at the Kelley School of Business. He has played an integral role in the Marketing Department since his arrival to Indiana University in August 2007. As a long-standing faculty member, Professor Talbott has not only seen diversity grow but has also aided in stimulating the development of Kelley’s diverse culture. Professor Talbott values diversity and emphasizes the importance of inclusion by encouraging students to interact with their peers during classes and learn about different cultures. After having worked in the retail sector for over twenty years, Professor Talbott shares knowledge and experience in the field with students through the Kelley Retail Workshop.
The Kelley Retail Workshop
The Kelley Retail Workshop gives young business professionals an opportunity to dive into the retail environment and enhance their understanding of the industry through close-knit lectures, group simulations, industry partnerships and recruitment events. The Workshop is an asset for all those interested in pursuing a career within the fast-paced retail industry. It not only allows students to interact with industry professionals on a one-on-one basis, but also fosters the development of a strong professional network. The Retail Workshop recruits a batch of 30 students every fall and mandates the inclusion of at least one international student to incorporate a diverse perspective. Students are selected based on the applicant’s video introduction and personal statements which highlight the diverse backgrounds of each student. The application process focuses on diversity within individual experiences, in terms of race, age, gender, and cultural heritage, as well as business interests. The Retail Workshop is open to students specializing in any major at Kelley as well, which also helps increase diversity.
The Retail Workshop provides students with multiple opportunities to interact with each other through course events such as a weekend trip to New York City and a visit to the Abercrombie & Fitch campus. Corporate dinners and round table speed networking events give students the opportunity to share their experiences and interact with peers and professionals to develop diverse perspectives. One of the most unique features of the Kelley Retail Workshop is its strong ties with industry leaders such as Macy’s and Ralph Lauren. This relationship extends to the classroom by ensuring the course aligns with current industry practices. All of these experiences provide impactful opportunities for students to learn from experts and each other.
Talbott on Making Kelley Diverse
Over the years, the Marketing Department at the Kelley School of Business has grown to attract a large student and faculty population of different ages, races, genders and cultural heritages. While the Kelley School of Business has a large proportion of international students, particularly from Asia, only 10% of the student population that are Black. Kelley is actively undertaking initiatives to ensure all cultures are represented. One of these initiatives is a Summer Outreach Program to interact with underprivileged and under-represented children. These outreach programs have played a vital role in improving the diverse make-up of the Kelley School of Business as they attracted under-represented populations that differ not only in race and culture, but also educational interests. In an attempt to make the Kelley Retail Workshop more diverse, Professor Talbott is working with the Simon Youth Foundation to reach out to diverse high school students to create an interest in retail at a younger age. These children are at risk of not completing their education and may not be fully aware of the potential opportunities available in retail. With the Simon Youth Foundation, Professor Talbott hopes to increase their access to educational resources such as the Kelly School of Business, ultimately infusing educational and financial diversity within the Marketing Department.
Kelley’s Diversity
The Kelley School of Business is a diverse institution that recruits and retains students from different walks of life. The student body exudes diversity as it represents different countries, age, gender, cultural heritage and educational interests amongst others. Nonetheless, the Marketing Department is actively seeking to improve its diversity and to help students develop a holistic outlook. This growing diversity within the school can be attributed to faculty members like Professor Talbott, who are undertaking initiatives to ensure every classroom in Kelley has a diverse outlook.
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