LIM alum Patrick Mays has served on the College's Industry Advisory Board since 2021. In this capacity, he has helped students prepare for their future careers and even has an LIM student interning with him at SPARC Group/Lucky Brand, where he is the Senior Director of Merchandising.

What events and initiatives are you involved in as an LIM Industry Advisory Board member?
I wanted to find a way to get more involved as an LIM alum and connect on a deeper level with students and other alumni and advisors. Since joining the board, I’ve participated in “Pitch Night,” where current students have the time to present themselves professionally and share their resumes for critique by our board. I’ve loved coaching and sharing the tips I’ve picked up over the years with students just starting out in their careers.

You’ve also hired an LIM intern to work with you professionally. Can you tell us about that?
Yes, SPARC Group we have an LIM student intern on my Lucky Brand merchandising team. She has interned at other companies throughout her time at LIM, so she was very confident walking into this position!

From your experience as an LIM student and an Advisory Board member, what can you say about the importance of college students completing internships?
Internships give students real-life work opportunities that are vastly different from learning concepts in a classroom. This experience is very attractive to employers who are looking for young professionals who can step into role and immediately be successful. Internships also allow students to figure out what type of role they might want to pursue after graduating.

What makes LIM different from other fashion colleges?
From the industry’s point-of-view, LIM students have the reputation of being mature and driven young professionals. Because of the specialized business courses LIM students have taken, they can combine business acumen with their knowledge of the fashion and lifestyle industry seamlessly.

How did LIM prepare you to achieve your career goals?
My fundamental business degree courses at LIM set me up for success to start out in buying and corporate retail. I am now building on those skills and getting my MBA.