Her Story
About Hannah
Hannah Shepherd is a Territory Sales Manager for Skechers, a role she has held for nearly three years within the footwear sales industry. A driven and creative merchandising professional with more than ten years of experience across buying and retail, she built the foundation of her career at Von Maur in Davenport, Iowa, where she progressed from Executive Trainee to Buyer and ultimately Senior Buyer over seven years, overseeing planning, pricing negotiations, logistics, and vendor relationships. She also spent time as a Senior Customer Success Manager at Amazon, developing growth strategies for third-party sellers before transitioning into her current position at Skechers, where she now leads analytical initiatives while continuing to bring a creative, trend-forward perspective to her work with buyers on assortments. Shepherd holds a Bachelor's degree in Apparel Merchandising from Iowa State University, earned in 2015, which laid the groundwork for her full-lifecycle skill set spanning planning, buying, negotiation, logistics, allocation, and sales management. Her path into the industry was shaped by an early interest in fashion combined with a natural aptitude for analytical thinking, a combination that continues to define her approach to leadership today. Outside of her professional accomplishments, she is active in her church community and participates in Bible studies, and she dedicates time to volunteering through her church and her children's school. Above all, Shepherd is guided by a strong commitment to family, work-life balance, and flexibility, along with a belief in the importance of having a voice within an organization. She is passionate about mentorship and supporting the growth of other women in leadership, drawing on the mentorship opportunities that shaped her own career. She encourages young women entering the industry to trust their instincts, speak up even in rooms where their input may seem overlooked, and build a community of mentors and advocates who can help lift each other up.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Hannah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being a driven, energetic, and creative professional with over six years of experience buying and merchandising in the apparel, footwear, and retail space. I started my career learning and growing within the retail environment, and I later used my apparel merchandising degree to secure a role as a Buyer with Von Maur. Beyond my career, I also credit my ability to balance life as a golf, sports, and dance mom.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise staying true to yourself and not quieting your inner voice, especially when you have new and innovative ideas — share them. In the kind of leadership role I've taken on at Skechers, which works a bit more behind the scenes, I make a point of speaking my mind and getting the ball rolling. It's about continuing to have a voice in rooms where you might not think it matters, while staying true to who you are. It's also about finding a community of people who will advocate for you, surrounding yourself with other leaders and mentors, and helping build up other women.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important things to me are being able to value my family, along with work-life balance and flexibility. I also place high value on having a voice within my company and being heard, as well as continued growth. I care deeply about being able to speak up without fear, and I value seeing women in leadership roles within my company, along with the mentorship opportunities I've been fortunate to have.
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