click any image to enlarge
A Glimpse Into YMA’s Fashion Scholarship Fund

For people who don’t know, I am a YMA Fashion Scholar as of this past January. Basically that means I competed to win a scholarship by completing a big ass fashion project that centered around creating your own e-retailer and outlining the logistics- everything from operations, supply chain, merchandise, competitor analysis to the marketing plan, and realistic financial projections. It was a lot of work! Anyway, luckily my project made the cut and now I am apart of this wonderful organization. There are about 250 scholars in my class from a huge range of US colleges.

Luckily, since I am in New York this summer (where the YMA is based) I am able to go to events that they organize for the scholars. So far this has included the kick-off event, held in the Cassa Hotel, and a handful of Breakfast with the Boss events.

To explain the Breakfast with the Boss summer series a bit more, the YMA is highly connected in the fashion world and has been able to organize over a dozen of these events where a handful of scholars are invited to a company’s office for a breakfast Q&A with the company or brand’s leader(s). So far I have met: Mitch Quaranta, CEO of Swatfame… Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs, founders and designers of luxury brand Cushnie et Ochs… & Jeff Kantor, Chairman of Macy’s.com. This upcoming week I will be meeting Wayne Meichner, President and COO of Polo Retail. Still have my fingers crossed that I’ll be able to get into the one with Jason Wu… These events have been so great and continue to exceed my expectations, giving me motivating insights, advice and anecdotes. Fun fact: more people stumble into the retail industry than you’d think.

BONUS: I’ll take free coffee any day.