Michael obtained his bachelor's at FIT and later began working at Tommy Hilfiger as an allocator. Wanting a master's program that would impart skills specific to the business side of the fashion world, Michael chose LIM College’s online Fashion Merchandising and Retail Management degree as the next step in his education.
Hometown: West Deptford, NJ
Major: Fashion Merchandising and Retail Management, MPS
What was your educational background prior to starting your master's program at LIM?
I had been bouncing between different colleges and majors because I was unsure what I wanted to pursue. But there was one thing I was passionate about: fashion. So, I decided to apply to FIT’s Fashion Merchandising Management program.
What are you liking most about your LIM College graduate program? What are you learning in it?
Aside from how engaging the classes are, I like the variety of courses I've been able to take. Being able to learn everything from managing a retail location to merchandising metrics and more has allowed me to diversify and grow my skillset.
For my final projects, I've had to create my own retailer and come up with technology strategies for a major company. Being able to apply everything I've learned in my classes and getting to submit a creative final presentation has been my favorite part so far!
Having earned your bachelor's at FIT, what's different about LIM and what this school focuses on?
With my time at FIT, I learned fundamentals that helped me enter the job market. My time at LIM is taking these existing fundamentals and elevating them to make them more applicable as I continue to grow in my career. The interactivity of the classes and having incredibly experienced professors make it easier to apply these skillsets outside the classroom.
Speaking of entering the job market, please tell us about your job at Tommy Hilfiger.
I've been working at Tommy for three years, first as an allocator and now in a senior capacity. Working with a lot of numbers and data within Excel, advanced spreadsheet modeling, and merchandising metrics at LIM have really helped me in how I approach data and how I can be more efficient at work.
What is it like earning this master's degree while also being a working professional?
It can be stressful juggling a 40-hour workweek while also being a student! LIM has definitely made it easier by having self-guided online courses, which allows me to complete my assignments at my own pace. It also allows me to structure the pace of how I earn my degree; for example, I’m taking one class per session, and that allows me to focus.
Any advice you’d like to share?
If you’re worried about working full time while being a student, I’d encourage you not to be intimidated. It can be a lot, but it's absolutely doable if you put the time and energy into it. There's so much information from my classes that I have been able to apply in a corporate setting. Vice versa, working full time has allowed me to offer my experience on discussion boards and in assignments.