Jennifer Lovitt Riggs (USA 88-90) is Founder and President of Nota Bene shoes, an innovative company that is determined to design attractive and comfortable shoes for women.

 

“After UWC, I went to Wellesley College, and then the Fletcher School combining programmes at Tufts and Harvard University to study International Relations. I then spent six wonderful years at Booz Allen Hamilton. I loved it! My clients were mostly in the Intelligence Community; the contributions we made to improving some of their processes and hence the quality of their decisions still makes me proud.  They need every little bit of help they can get, no?  But a walk across the Pentagon parking-lot en route to deliver a briefing caused a blister, and inspired me in a way that still surprises me.  In a moment, I decided that someone had to make shoes for professional women that they could actually walk in all day. 

 

“Thus began a technical and marketing research pet project that grew into a shoe company. Working with international suppliers, companies, and to some extent distribution, engages every bit of my UWC/International Relations skills.  In the meanwhile, my husband and I have had two children Jackson and Eleanor, which together with work keeps my plate pretty full. 

 

“UWC was HUGELY important to me – not only in my academic education but also in my whole outlook/approach to problem solving in a multi-cultural environment."