FRANK CONFORTI
Chief Financial Officer
Urban Outfitters, Philadelphia
Class of 1998, BS in accounting
What do you love about what you do?
Three things come to mind. URBN is a big company that employs an enormous amount of talented people in so many areas. Being able to work, learn, and be challenged by them on a regular basis is awesome. Second, finding my way to help the company grow profitably. As a retailer, our focus is always on pleasing the customer and doing it as effectively yet efficiently as possible. I love how my role allows me to support those goals. Finally, for more than 20 years, I have been able to help so many of the people I’ve worked with grow in their careers, and being even a small part of that feels really good.
Which of your accomplishments make you most proud?
Achieving my goal of becoming a CFO at such an early age would have to be at the top of my list. Of course, I am answering strictly professionally here—my family always comes first.
The secret of your success?
First and foremost, it comes down to hard work. I realize that sounds simple, but I have always put a lot of effort into what I do, and it pays off. Secondly, I would say always trying to find ways to add value. There is a way to get your job done and then there is a way to do your job well. I’ve been focused on adding value in any way that I can in any role I have had. Finally, timing and opportunity. I have been fortunate in my career to have been in the right place at the right time and to have been given the opportunity to prove myself. I will never take that for granted.
There is a way to get your job done and then there is a way to do your job well. I’ve been focused on adding value in any way that I can in any role I have had.
How did your Moravian College experience impact your life?
In high school I was, well, less than focused on education and my professional future. Moravian College pushed me—to learn, to study, and to juggle successfully what I thought then was a busy calendar. I also had a great mentor in Larry Bezdecki, the head of accounting. On a more personal note but equally as impactful were the friendships I made. Despite everyone’s busy schedules and lives, we have remained close to this day.
Do you wear Urban apparel?
I like the graphic tees, and my wife is a fan of Anthropologie.
Tell us something surprising or interesting about you and your world outside of work.
Not sure there is too much surprising. I have been married for 18 years and have two children. My son, Matthew, is 12, and my daughter, Katie, is 10. They are great kids who both do well in school and are very involved in sports, which eats up almost all of our time when we are not working, but I wouldn’t change any of it.