Brittany Barnes

Originally from Harlem, New York, I've had a front row seat to the beauty and importance of cultural diversity from an early age. After graduating with a degree in Journalism from the University of Connecticut, I pledged my career to alleviating barriers to consumer equity through marketing, storytelling and strategy. I led the production and execution of integrated marketing campaigns for household favorite CPG brands such as Dave's Killer Bread, Nature's Own and Wonder Bread, as a Brand Management Lead at an ad agency in Dallas, TX. My passion for amplifying the rich stories and cultures of historically marginalized communities further resulted in me creating a task force of employees with whom I was able to build & launch a strategic diversity & inclusion framework for the agency, leading to the creation of nine, company-wide employee resource groups (ERGs) and a robust, inclusive recruiting strategy. 

Before joining Ross, I led Supplier Diversity, Sustainability and Human Rights initiatives as a Senior Program Manager at Nordstrom, a role that was a dynamic mix of corporate strategy, program and project management, cross-functional teamwork and innovation. My proudest achievements include the launch of an industry-first, nationwide Black Business Month campaign, a YoY increase in the BIPOC brands on our shelves, and the introduction of an industry-leading equitable payment terms policy. 

Making the decision to come to Ross was an easy one for me; I wanted to belong to a community of inspiring, driven and KIND leaders who equally valued emotional intelligence and professional excellence. The incredible relationships I built with Ross students and alum as a prospective student greatly impacted me and their advice has stuck with me since. I'm honored to serve the Ross community as a Dean's Fellow, Consortium Fellow and Forte Foundation Fellow. 

Outside of classes, you can catch me learning to DJ and dancing at the BUS, decoding Beyonce's Instagram posts, talking about the latest trends in retail & marketing (including my current beauty obsession) and binge-watching Real Housewives.