From Fashion Merchandising to Entrepreneurship: How LIM Shaped My Journey

I majored in Fashion Merchandising, driven by an interest in how creativity meets commerce. The hands-on experiences, the classroom discussions that connected trends to real-world business strategy, and most importantly, the emphasis on networking, communication, and confidence gave me a foundation that extended far beyond fashion. At LIM, I learned how to “sell myself,” not in a superficial way, but in a way that meant knowing my value, presenting ideas with clarity, and building relationships that matter.

Those skills became the springboard for everything I do today, as I proudly wear many hats: I am the co-owner of a successful ballroom dance studio, the founder of a real estate investment and rental business, and a lifestyle content creator. At first glance, those ventures may seem far removed from fashion. But in truth, they are each connected to the lessons I learned at LIM—lessons about branding, creating memorable experiences, and building businesses rooted in creativity and connection.

From the Dance Floor to the Boardroom
My primary business is the dance studio, where we teach all ages but focus primarily on adults. If you’ve ever watched “Dancing with the Stars,” you have an idea of the kind of magic we create for our students. What began as a passion project quickly grew into something much bigger. Through dedication, strategy, and a focus on building community, we have become a top studio in our region!

Owning a studio is about so much more than "teaching steps." It’s about creating confidence in others, building relationships, and curating an experience. Those are the same principles I first studied in fashion merchandising: how to understand your audience, how to present something beautifully, and how to deliver value in a way that keeps people coming back.

Real Estate, Hospitality, and the Power of Experience
I also co-own a business focused on real estate investment and short-term rentals. We purchase, renovate, and flip properties, as well as host them on Airbnb. For me, it’s another extension of creativity and business combined. Just like styling a look or building a brand, transforming a property is about vision. It’s about seeing potential where others may not, and then curating every detail to create an experience that feels inspiring, welcoming, and memorable for guests.

^{(Credit: @paraisodestinations on Instagram.)}

Hospitality and fashion have more in common than many people realize: both are about presentation, both are about detail, and both are about how you make people feel. LIM taught me to think critically about these connections, and that thinking has carried me across industries. One LIM experience that stands out was being part of The Lexington Line, LIM’s student magazine. I wrote several pieces for it, one of which focused on local New York City artists. That assignment pushed me to step outside my comfort zone to reach out to creatives I had never met, while also leveraging existing connections to get introductions. I learned how to pitch the value of a story, get people genuinely excited about participating, and collaborate to bring a creative vision to life. Those lessons in communication, outreach, and relationship-building became essential skills that I rely on every day as an entrepreneur.

A Digital Voice and Building Community
As a digital content creator, I vlog, work with local businesses, and share lifestyle content across social platforms. At first, I started this as a way to connect with others and document my journey, but over time it grew into another meaningful outlet for entrepreneurship! I get to highlight small businesses, build partnerships, and share creative work that inspires others, while also staying connected to the roots of marketing and communication that I first studied at LIM, where each experience taught me how to share ideas effectively and build lasting relationships.

During my final semester, I relocated to California to work with the global sports and entertainment media company Tiny Horse, as my Senior Co-op. Tiny Horse is a full-service agency with capabilities across branding, creative, paid media, influencer marketing, and content marketing, and I contributed to client projects, brainstormed creative campaigns, and saw firsthand how messaging and branding shape public perception. Those experiences, from pitching NYC artists for magazine features to supporting agency work on the West Coast, laid the groundwork for how I now market my studio, communicate with rental guests, and create content that resonates with people online.

The LIM Advantage
If there is one thread that ties all of my ventures together, it is the foundation I built at LIM College. The courses in merchandising taught me about understanding audiences and market trends. The projects taught me how to think entrepreneurially. The networking taught me the value of relationships. And the overall experience gave me confidence to stand in spaces that, at first, felt unfamiliar and grow into them with strength.

As a student, I imagined myself working in fashion retail or corporate merchandising. Today, I find myself a multi-industry entrepreneur. Yet, I still see fashion woven through all of it. Because fashion isn’t just clothing. It’s business, it’s presentation, it’s storytelling. I rely on skills in each of those fields every single day. Looking back, I am deeply grateful to LIM for preparing me not just for one career path, but for the confidence to create many. The greatest gift of an LIM education is that it doesn’t put you in a box—it gives you the tools to think, to create, and to lead.