Diana Robinson, MBA ‘13 originally came to LIM College as a master’s degree student, looking to make a career change from financial services to the fashion industry. Now, with years of experience working for such high-profile names as Gucci and The Estée Lauder Companies, Robinson teaches the online graduate-level Marketing Metrics course.
What do you do professionally outside of teaching?
I currently work in trade marketing within the beauty industry for The Estée Lauder Companies. I project manage strategic marketing initiatives from concept to execution for major department stores, working cross-functionally with product marketing, creative, consumer engagement, finance, global and account executive teams.
What’s your approach to teaching?
I aim to create a collaborative learning environment by being relatable to the students, while creating a sense of community. I strive to have an environment where I’m not only lecturing, but the students are also engaging and can effectively relate the content to their work or everyday lives.
What makes LIM different than other schools?
LIM focuses on the business of fashion. Students learn skills that are required to work in the back of the house in the fashion industry, such as buying, operations, marketing, supply chain, product development, merchandising, etc. When I was researching schools as a student, that was a deciding factor for me, as I knew I wanted to work in fashion on the corporate side, as opposed to the design/creative aspect.
How did earning a graduate degree from LIM help advance your career?
My experience as an MBA student at LIM College played a major role in my successful transition from the financial services industry into a fashion career. While still a student at LIM, I landed my first corporate job in fashion at a major luxury fashion house. Prior to my enrollment at LIM, it was extremely hard to even get an interview at a fashion company.
What are some of the characteristics of a successful fashion business professional?
One ideal characteristic of a successful fashion business professional is to be agile. The fashion industry is constantly evolving, so it’s important to stay abreast of the latest market shifts, business trends, and industry news!
What advice would you give students who are interested in launching their own business?
My advice is to research, research, and do more research. Research who’s currently in the market of the industry you’d like to pursue. Who are the customers they are serving and what products or services are being offered? With this information, decide what’s currently missing and what can be improved on. Additionally, do a competitive analysis by seeing what works and doesn’t work for potential competitors. Next, when you’re ready to launch your own business, take that information and apply it during your strategic planning phase.
