Steve Leibow, B.S.’91

From Finance to Fashion

By Jim Sciancalepore, M.A.’93

“I got into this industry by accident,” said Steve Leibow, senior vice president of Planning for Branded Sportswear & Secondary Markets at PVH Corp.

PVH is best known for its portfolio of trend-setting brands, such as Calvin Klein, IZOD, Arrow and Van Heusen. In his current role, Leibow manages a team in charge of budgeting and planning $280 million in annual wholesale sales revenue for PVH – working with some of the nation’s top retailers to determine product offerings, logistics and pricing.

It all started with Leibow’s degree in finance and management information systems (MIS) from UAlbany … and a small twist of fate.

Unable to find an immediate position in his concentration after graduation, Leibow took a job as sales manager at Herman’s World of Sporting Goods. His finance background led to a position in the company’s buying office and, later, to his initial role as retail analyst at PVH. Sixteen years later, Leibow has worked his way up to senior VP.

Leibow credits UAlbany with teaching him how to work as part of a team with people from different backgrounds, as well as the importance of meeting commitments and deadlines. A member of the business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi, he still counts his fraternity brothers among his closest friends.