The undergraduate experience she gained from her LIM internships—and from launching the College’s student-run publication, —gave Maranda the foundational skills to pursue her LIM master’s degree in Fashion Marketing while also working full time.
What was it like completing your LIM master's degree as a working professional?
As a full-time working professional, I was so grateful that LIM's MPS degree had courses that worked with my traditional 9-to-5 schedule.
I could work a full day and either log on to see what work I had due that week, or head to my in-person class that met from 6:30-9:00 pm, a time that was perfect for after work hours.
A lot of my assignments could also be delivered over weekends, so I could put those final finishing touches on whatever project I was working on that week.
How did your LIM experience and degrees aid you in getting your Financial Times position?
I’m proud to be the Financial Times’ first-ever North American Content Director. In my role, I collaborate across the company’s editorial, sales, design, and product development teams to ideate and pitch unique, multiplatform content programs for advertising clients across the US, Canada, and Latin America.
Upon moving from Chicago to NYC in 2014 to earn my BBA in Marketing, I helped cofound LIM’s fashion and lifestyle magazine, . At the time, it was just me and two other students, and I'm blown away with how the magazine has grown since then. LIM's trust, encouragement, and support for students has allowed the publication to get to where it is today.
I wouldn't be in my position at one of the world's most prestigious newspapers, without the advocacy from LIM—including President Marcuse and the magazine’s faculty advisor John Deming—and if it weren't for all the resources LIM offered me. And with the ever-changing landscape of the fashion and media industries, I'm so excited to see what the next generation of professionals will bring to the table, and to see how LIM plays a part in that.