Rahul Kadakia, a GIA graduate and the international head of jewelry for Christie’s who got his start with the auction house at a GIA Career Fair in 1994, kicked off the opening panel “Job Success in Today’s Market” with video footage of the record-setting $57.6 million sale of the Oppenheimer Blue diamond, where he served as auctioneer. “People are realizing more and more the rarity of rare jewels and gems,” he said. Kadakia went on to urge job seekers to stay on top of market trends and know where your customers are. Yancy Weinrich, senior vice president of Reed Jewelry Group, took the stage and echoed the importance of understanding revenue and where the sales come from. “Learn the business. Understand the broader business,” she advised.
“Trust holds this industry together,” said Steven Lagos, founder and chief creative director for LAGOS. “Being bright-eyed is important… Passion is important in this business,” he added.
The newest member of the industry on stage was Natalie Tjaden, a recent GIA graduate and merchandising assistant for Jewelry Television. “The best opportunities are the ones that come from outside your comfort zone,” she said about pursuing a career that would take her around the world.
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