They make a way. - Maryland Institute College of Art

Jeffrey Rugh ’99 PAINTING
Senior Vice President for Business Development, Prada / New York, NY
“I think it is a big asset—to be sensitive to the elements related
to branding, positioning, and customer experience that are
actually quite tricky. To have an aesthetic antenna up is actually
a big part of being in the luxury business. You have to be able
to understand the subtle cues that are given to a customer—
if you aren’t able to get those very quickly, it doesn’t matter
what kind of analytics you bring to the picture, you’re not
fundamentally getting what it’s all about.”
Jeffrey Rugh started off working as a salesperson
in the women’s ready-to-wear department at a
Beverly Hills store, but soon became known as
someone who was willing to take on positions that
never existed before. Now Senior Vice President
for Business Development at Prada, his primary
responsibility is the retail expansion of the company.
He works with senior executives to develop strategic
plans for the Americas—Canada, the U.S., Mexico,
and Latin America—including real estate development
and managing relationships with department
stores so the customer gets the full Prada experience.
His ability to help the company move into new
markets means that they reach more customers
than ever before.
He studied painting at MICA, but also spent
a great deal of time focused on art history.
He attributes his rise within the company to his
lack of preconceived notions about how business
should operate and brands should be promoted.
He says that artists can also think of themselves
as brands with immensely transferable skills—
tackling problems, thinking critically, and defending
solutions. Rugh finds it especially important to be
able to listen to and understand variables others are
considering, and to ask the right questions. In doing
so, he has gathered crucial business intelligence.
AGGRESSIVE CURIOSITY, RUGH SAYS, IS
SOMETHING NURTURED AT MICA, AND IS
WHY MANY MICA ALUMNI HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO ACHIEVE AT A NEW AND HIGHER LEVEL.
In fact, when Rugh is reviewing resumes for
jobs at Prada, he looks for someone with unique
experiences that provide a window on how they
passionately pursue their ideas. Looking at things
outside of the default way, he thinks, can give
people a leg up on the competition.
ENTERPRISE
MARYLAND INSTITUTE COLLEGE OF ART 2012 ANNUAL REPORT
47