ASSOCIATE SPOTLIGHT SERIES: AN INTERVIEW WITH GEORGIA
April 10, 2026
In our Associate Spotlight series, we are highlighting associates across the company who are shaping our community and who embody our Life at Centric philosophy every day.
Meet Georgia Bitterman, Associate Buyer, Kids, based in New York City. In her Interview, Georgia shares how she made an inter-company transition in her career journey, cross-functional curiosity, and finding her balance in the world of buying.
Finding Her Footing
Georgia’s path to her current role wasn’t a straight line—it was shaped by curiosity, self-reflection, and a willingness to follow where the work led her. She first came to Centric Brands in 2021 as an Allocation Intern based in Greensboro, North Carolina, during her senior year of college. The experience gave her a strong foundation in the business and introduced her to Centric’s fast-paced, collaborative environment. But it also offered an early lesson in self-awareness.
“When I started at Centric Brands as an Allocation Intern, I was eager to pursue allocation, but I quickly realized the role was more analytical than what I was ultimately looking for. Rather than stay the course, I leaned into that realization and followed it somewhere unexpected.”
She went on to pursue a master’s degree in Fashion Trend Forecasting through a program in Florence, Italy, an experience she describes as incredibly valuable. Even so, she found that a role focused primarily on creativity wasn’t the right long-term fit either. What she was really looking for, she discovered, was something in between.
The Right Balance
That search led Georgia back to Centric. In 2024, she rejoined the company as an Assistant Buyer, Kids, based in New York, building on her earlier experience and stepping into greater responsibility. By 2025, she was promoted to Associate Buyer, a milestone she attributes to both her own development and the mentorship she received along the way.
As an Associate Buyer for boys’ sportswear, Georgia works closely with the Sales, Design, and Production teams. The role is precisely the balance she had been looking for, one that blends data-driven analysis with creative engagement.
“I realized I was looking for a career that balances analytical thinking with creativity, and I found that balance in my role as an Associate Buyer. It allows me to apply data-driven insights while also shaping assortments and working closely with the design team.”
Growing Through Intentional Learning
Georgia’s growth at Centric has been as much about discipline as it is about opportunity. One area where that’s especially evident is her development in Excel. When she joined as an Assistant Buyer, she had limited experience with the tool and quickly recognized how critical it would be to her success. She responded by dedicating consistent time each week to LinkedIn Learning* tutorials on her work-from-home days—a quiet but meaningful commitment that paid off in improved efficiency and confidence on the job.
Her manager, Rebecca Steiner, Senior Vice President of Sales, Kids, has also played a central role in her professional journey. Under Rebecca’s leadership, Georgia has developed greater confidence in her decision-making and a deeper understanding of the business.
A Cross-Functional Perspective
One of the more distinctive qualities Georgia brings to her team is a perspective built across functions. During her time as an intern in Greensboro, she made a point of learning beyond the boundaries of her own role, spending time with teams across Design Ops, Product Design, and Merchandising. That initiative gave her a clearer picture of how many moving parts come together to bring a product to life, and it’s a perspective she carries with her into her work today.
What energizes Georgia most in her current role isn’t a project or a product category; it’s the people. She speaks highly about the talented, collaborative team she gets to work alongside every day, and credits that environment as a consistent source of motivation as she continues to grow.
