Home City: Kotte, Sri Lanka
Program: Fashion Merchandising and Retail Management, MPS
Current Position: Director of E-Commerce and Digital Marketing, 尝测蝉蝉茅 New York
Why did you decide to earn a master鈥檚 degree at LIM?
When I chose LIM it was a well-researched decision. At the time, I was running an event production company in Sri Lanka and felt like I had reached a point where I wanted something bigger. I wanted to grow both personally and professionally. I was drawn to the idea of working in the fashion industry and living in New York City.
As I was researching fashion schools, I knew I needed to choose one with a strong reputation. When you want the best of something, where do you go? When you want a good pair of leather boots, you go to a shoemaker. When you want a really good watch, you go to a watchmaker. When you want the best education in the business of fashion and not design, you choose the only school that specializes in that field of study. I knew enrolling at LIM was the right decision because it specializes in the business of fashion and also has a strong reputation for producing successful professionals in the industry.
In your view, what makes LIM different than other fashion schools?
What makes LIM different is that it offers a boutique experience, where you get the best, from the best, to be the best in the fashion industry. The smaller class sizes mean personalized attention from professors who genuinely care about your success. Plus, the alumni network is incredibly supportive, often becoming mentors to help guide you in your career. It's a place designed to help you thrive in the business of fashion.
What role did LIM鈥檚 Office of Career and Internship Services play in helping you launch your fashion career?
LIM鈥檚 Office of Career and Internship Services played a key role in helping me launch my fashion career. I landed a merchandising internship at Tommy Hilfiger through their support. Shortly after graduating, I secured my first full-time position as an assistant manager in e-commerce at Aeropostale. That was also through a recruiter whom I met at an on-campus career event.
As you progressed in your career, how have you used what you learned in your master鈥檚 program?
As I progressed in my career, I kept coming back to the soft skills I learned during my master鈥檚 program. While retail math, merchandising, and trend forecasting were useful for understanding the businesses I worked with, the most impactful lesson was developing the habit of staying informed and making-data backed decisions. Our professors encouraged us to read fashion, economic, and business publications and share insights, which turned me into a lifelong learner of this dynamic industry.
The training I received at LIM enabled me to confidently present business strategies and work alongside and support experienced CEOs and executives. As someone who came to the United States as a teenager with no friends or family here, whose first language is not even English, I never imagined I鈥檇 be contributing to major business decisions in the U.S. market. But the strong foundation I built at LIM made it possible.