How a part-time job steered a Binghamton University student into his dream career

Every customer has a story.

That belief has guided Mitchell Yegorov ’26 throughout his professional journey, from a brand representative at a local Hollister store during his first year at Binghamton University to his post-graduation role with the merchandise planning team at Abercrombie & Fitch’s home office.

He’s learned the value of building lasting connections, and what began as a part-time job for a student who started as a neuroscience major before switching to the School of Management (SOM) has evolved into a career launch at an iconic American apparel and accessories retailer. He speaks of it less like a job and more like a passion project, one that’s empowered him to blend his skills in unique ways.

“I love connecting deeply with the customer and helping bring out their confidence,” said Yegorov, who graduates in May with a business administration degree and concentration in management information systems. “What caught my interest very quickly was how we want to be that company that starts customers off from their early ages, and follows them along with their story while growing up. There is something in the store that can help connect to the customer’s story; we just have to help them find the right fit.”

Yegorov credits the Hollister store manager who first hired him with showing how to lead by example, offering a window into how this type of business is more nuanced than most shoppers realize. That became even clearer through Yergorov’s project management classes in SOM, where he gained insights into the market potential of retail products.

The skills he built through SOM, from his J-Core coursework to case competitions and his Management 111 class, proved pivotal to helping solve problems and answer questions about planning, allocation, supply chain, and operations for Abercrombie & Fitch.

“I think the value of Binghamton is just unbeatable,” Yegorov said. “My experience managing teams, analyzing store key performance indicators, and understanding customer trends strengthened my contributions to in-class discussions and group projects. My education made me a stronger leader, and my store experience gave deeper context to my coursework.”

Last summer, Yegorov had the chance to join Abercrombie & Fitch’s flagship store management team and helped run a $18 million store with 250 associates. He also participated in Abercrombie’s Freshman Forum and, more recently, the Sophomore Summit, where he drew on his case competition experience from SOM to help the company implement a new product line. His team designed a girls’ “Sundae Funday” collection, which he said, “encompasses the sweetness of a summer treat along with the playful charm of melted cones, sunny days, and carefree adventures.”

One challenge he’s learned every retailer contends with is the inconsistency of customer demand. As a member of the company’s merchandise planning team, Yegorov is looking forward to starting as an item planner, analyzing day-to-day sales and mapping out strategies for what merchandise will be featured in stores nine or even 12 months in advance.

“You are not guaranteed that tomorrow your customers are going to be here, be able to afford your products, or that your products are even going to make it to your stores or your distribution centers,” he said. “That’s why it’s so important to continue following a strategy that supports healthy growth, but also has those backup options in case any of those inconsistencies happen.”

Yegorov is eager to continue exploring how to make a broader global impact at the company that helped define his pathway through Binghamton. He encourages other business students to explore avenues that play to their passions and their professional skills.

If you’re fortunate enough to make it happen, he said, what you’ll end up doing for a career won’t ever really feel like work — it’ll be a fun story.