Retail Communications Leader Developed Her Foundation at St. John’s

Raquel Ringgold ’20CCPS, ’21MBA has always been a self-starter. At St. John’s University, she found an environment that nurtured her curiosity, strengthened her leadership abilities, and provided a foundation for a career in high-impact retail communications.

“It was a warm and supportive place to grow before stepping into the professional world,” Ms. Ringgold recalled. “Being surrounded by people with diverse perspectives shaped me in ways I hadn’t anticipated.” 

“Hearing their stories made me better,” Ms. Ringgold continued. “Collaborating with people who were so different created an incredible synergy. St. John’s let me lead, but in a space where I could also learn and grow.”

Originally from Poughkeepsie, NY, Ms. Ringgold built her career in retail communications in New York, NY, and now serves in a senior role as Enterprise Communications Associate, Corporate and Company-wide at Macy’s, Inc. In her role, she supports enterprise communications for the legal, finance, technology, and human resources divisions, partnering with teams across Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Bluemercury to ensure alignment, clarity, and engagement. She develops executive messaging, shapes strategy for companywide initiatives, and creates storytelling content that connects colleagues to Macy’s, Inc., culture and priorities.

The role combines her early passions for fashion and storytelling – interests that naturally led her to a career in communications.

The seeds of Ms. Ringgold’s success were planted at St. John’s, where she embraced the University’s Vincentian mission while pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and a minor in Fashion Studies from The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies.

With the employment market uncertain amid the COVID-19 pandemic, she pursued a Master in Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree from The Peter J. Tobin College of Business. Shortly before earning her M.B.A. at 22, Ms. Ringgold joined Saks Fifth Avenue as a Communications Manager, becoming one of the youngest managers employed at the 100-year-old retailer.  She collaborated with leaders across corporate functions and store teams to develop communications strategies and produce content that brought the company’s luxury brand to life internally. From creating immersive internal experiences to managing executive messaging and supporting high-profile events, she helped shape how colleagues engaged with the brand and each other, laying the groundwork for her next role.

After three years at Saks, she joined Macy’s, Inc., where she found a culture that reflects many of the Vincentian values she experienced at St. John’s.

“At Macy’s, we have five values we strive to live by, which reminded me of the Vincentian values of St. John’s,” Ms. Ringgold explained. “My favorite is understanding—which focuses on creating connection and taking the time to understand before trying to be understood.”

“Pick up clues from others around you and make them feel comfortable,” she continued. “Do not let someone sit alone or feel out of place. Like at St. John’s, those small gestures make a community feel like home.”
 
Ms. Ringgold has long been an achiever. During her teen years, she built a strong following as a social media creator and fashion journalist. She participated in beauty pageants, including the 2018 International Junior Miss New York Teen title. 

In 2014, she developed a fashion blog called Omnivogues while attending Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie. She parlayed that into an early career as a brand ambassador for retailers including Nordstrom, Express, and Victoria’s Secret, and into partnerships with Teen Vogue—where she was named a Teen Vogue It Girl—and The Rachael Ray Show, where she was named a style expert.

As an undergraduate at St. John’s, Ms. Ringgold studied abroad at the University’s Paris, France, and Rome, Italy locations, completing a college experience anchored in three global fashion  capitals—New York, Paris, and Rome.

Later, while pursuing her M.B.A., Ms. Ringgold took part in the University’s Executive-in-Residence Program, consulting with companies and nonprofits. She also served as a graduate assistant in the Office of Media Relations, identifying and writing stories of interest to the St. John’s community and engaging with members of the media. Nearly half a decade later, she has  emerged as a leader in retail communications. 

“I was prepared academically, and that mattered,” Ms. Ringgold said. “But more than that, St. John’s shaped the way I show up in the world. The Vincentian mission stays with you. If you live those values, you’ll always find ways to contribute to your community."