Liam Moran ’19 Finds Breadth and Depth at Macy’s

By Amelia Yeager '20

Kenyon’s Economics department sparked an interest in finance for Liam Moran ’19. The Macy’s Executive Development Program has helped him turn that interest into a profitable skill set and in-depth knowledge of corporate finance, which he uses today in the company’s Finance division. “I would see these things happening in the world, like tariffs coming into play or the stock market dropping,” Liam says. “Macy’s lets you apply world events to the financial functioning of a business. It’s like you’re weathering this storm, and you get to decide how you help Macy’s get through it.”

Every year, recent college graduates enter the Macy’s Executive Development Program in one of  seven areas. For Liam, this was Finance/Accounting, specifically the corporate finance track, based in Cincinnati, OH. Over the course of two years, participants are trained in the ins and outs of working at a Fortune 500 company. “Macy’s is such a big company really at the helm of retail, which is changing quickly and dramatically,” Liam says. “It’s really exciting to get to be part of it.” Liam currently works in Financial Planning and Analysis doing corporate reporting, which includes monthly results forecasting and presentations, long-range sales plans, and seasonal expense plans.

At the suggestion of Professor Corrigan, Liam applied to the program and secured a position in August of his senior year. He had previously interned at Macy’s in 2018, so the decision to apply was a natural one, especially with the encouragement of his Kenyon teammates: “There was a steady pipeline of Kenyon swimmers getting internships at Macy’s that turned into jobs. Everyone spoke highly of the culture there: they said it was uplifting, accepting, but also competitive.” That’s not the only similarity between the Kenyon and Macy’s communities. “The program is kind of a liberal arts view of the corporate world,” Liam says. “You complete four six-month rotations, in either a finance or accounting track. So you get the opportunity to try a few different departments, which is really special.”

Macy’s is a uniquely immersive employer, which Liam cites as a major benefit of the program. “They really invest in your future. I have the opportunity to be at the intersection between our divisions and upper management. As a newcomer to the company, I actually have a dramatic impact on the business.” Macy’s empowers their employees through a robust training program involving a vast range of professional skills. For Kenyon students, this style of learning is familiar. “It really gives you a breadth of knowledge so you can be successful anywhere,” Liam says. “You gain the knowledge and finance skills to be a leader at Macy’s, but you also have the critical thinking skills from Kenyon to make the most of all these opportunities.” Liam still remembers his Integrated Program for Humane Studies (IPHS) coursework in his training sessions. “I learned to appreciate breadth in Professor Shutt’s classes, and the same interdisciplinary learning came up at Macy’s, too. There’s never going to be a day when I stop learning at Macy’s.”

Those who complete the Executive Development Program are guaranteed a placement at Macy’s, an opportunity Liam intends to take advantage of. His future plans include pursuing an MBA and making a visit to campus on October 2nd as a representative of the program. “Making connections is the biggest part of getting a job,” he says. “So go to the CDO, take advantage of the Kenyon Career Network, perfect your resume so it tells a story—that stuff only takes a few minutes, but the effects are tenfold.”

Interested in joining Liam as a member of the Macy’s Executive Development Program or applying for a Macy’s internship? Stop by their table in Peirce Hall during lunch or attend the evening information session on October 2nd and apply through Symplicity.