"Seeking the imperfect brings out our true brilliance"

ACE LO

" I'm so excited to embark on my postgrad journey seeking a career in merchandising or consumer products division as I see myself improving the consumer experience in the omnichannel presence while fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture "

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

"Leaders are made, not born"

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Welcome

The ACE COLLECTIVE is a website that showcases my personal life as well as my achievements and portfolio, highlighting my educational projects and personal work to lay out my expertise and practical experiences in product merchandising and marketing, specifically in consumer insights and ad campaigns in the Retail, CPG, & Entertainment Industry.

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About Me

Hi there! If you're reading this, you're probably wondering who I am and pondering whether to read on... forever...and...Don't worry, it's short & simple!

My name is "Yi Lu" (Yee - Lu) but my preferred name is Ace. I was born in central Wisconsin and received my bachelor's degree at UW-Madison in August 2023 as a first gen student. When I was young, I have always dreamed of living my life in California or some other metro area, majorly due to the magtitude of diversity, sense of belonging, and creative network. I've traveled to LA & NYC before so every trip felt reinvigorating. Anyway, attending this flagship university was my big step towards this goal. Throughout my time as an undergraduate, I was able to secure great opportunities like attending NYC National Retail Federation Retail Show 2022 (Online event due to covid), study abroad at National Taiwan University in Taiwan, participate in remote internships, and my recent international onsite internship in Vietnam with the help of the UW Study Abroad Office, amazing professors, and advisors. Upon graduation, I happily walked out the door with no debt and feeling excited about the next chapter!! Stay tuned!

Education

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Year: 2019 - 2023

Degree: Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies

Certificates: Entrepreneurship & Professional Chinese Communication

Prior to becoming a Wisconsin Badger student, I felt confused and was unsure whether or not a traditional business degree was the right choice for me because I like to be creative, but I wasn't sure to commit to a Fashion Business degree at FIT since I love the entertainment industry and marketing as well. It wasn't until I found "Retailing & Consumer Behavior" (as of 2021, renamed Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies) in the School of Human Ecology. I love how versatile this major was, blending retail, fashion, and business marketing.

Favorite Courses:

Chinese Language Courses
Intro to Entrepreneurial Management
Product Development in Retailing
Consumer Analytics
Retail Financial Analysis

About us

Take a Chance

Growing up, I had always struggled to make new friends and express my thoughts since I knew I was different - being born prematurely after surviving a car crash..at least that's what my mom told me. I felt that my motor skills were developing slower than others and speech impediment made my life miserable, but that had never stopped me from exceling and staying true to myself. Honestly, this made it very difficult for me to showcase my best ability during interviews and get the necessary guidance I needed during college, leading to imposter syndrome. Although I may spend hours practicing my interviews or forget an aspect of the STAR method, I just want to be given a chance because I'm always curious to learn on the job and devote to my work. I genuinely love meeting new people and collaborating in a team setting.

My Career Track

Here's an outline of my Top 3 job roles I'm currently interested in and how employers can match my skillsets to a particular role. Oftentimes, these name may be interchangeable with similar roles in various industries so I added some example responsibilities that a role in this list may hold.