photo by steed media service

As vice president of retail for Valentino USA, June Haynes oversees staffing, buying and an array of retail responsibilities for Valentino’s North American boutiques in New York, Boston, Bal Harbor, Las Vegas and other locales. Haynes is also charged with addressing the strengths and weaknesses of each operation and developing strategies to help grow the business. She believes in the communal spirit of business, and understands the importance of mentorship. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” she says.

You don’t climb the corporate ladder without making a few missteps, and Haynes is not above a little self-critiquing. “The biggest miss in my past was [not] analyzing the staff,” she admits. “I reacted and cut people who might have developed and become true stars. I think it was a missed opportunity. [You have] to work with them to help them.”

Haynes thoroughly enjoys her position with Valentino and encourages others to find professions that are meaningful to them and play to their professional strengths; but they should make sure to utilize every resource and maximize every learning opportunity. “[If you] feel that you’ve mastered that craft and there’s nowhere else to go, it’s certainly time,” she advises.

Playing to her strengths has served Haynes well over the course of her career, and she surely has earned the right to dispense advice to anyone looking to succeed in fashion, retail or any other industry. -todd williams

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