Interview Glamour Brazil
Last year the Glamour magazine asked 3 Marangoni students from Brazil to talk about their careers, aiming to inspire younger generations based on their success stories. I am posting my full interview below... hoping it can be useful to people who intend to enter the world of Fashion and would like more information on the Merchandising role.
What did you like most on the course you studied at Instituto Marangoni?
Master in Brand Management / 2007
1. Good theoretical base:
My favorite classes (and teachers) were Communication, Marketing, Coordination Strategies, Management&Control.
2. International environment & headquarters:
Right in the middle of the "Quadrilatero della Moda", Marangoni is a school that well suits foreigners and Brazilians. Courses are offered mainly in Italian (easy for us to learn) with simultaneous English translators.
3. The "Placement Office":
VERY efficient. They surely helped me with my first 2 jobs.
What top 3 tips could you give to our readers when choosing a course? And regarding the institution they will attend to study?
1. Listen to both your heart & brain:
Your strengths and skills must first define you, but to succeed in your job, you must love it. So choose something that suits your dreams but that is also realistic to your talents - avoid becoming frustrated on the wrong path. Understand if you are more creative or rational... if you are both, I'd say from my experience Merchandising can be a career for you.
2. Research your course well:
Read all course syllabuses in detail, write to the school for questions, and address ex-students for further info and feedback.
3. Choose the school/institution wisely:
A good one weighs positively on your CV. Pick a school that fits your personality and way of life. You will spend a lot of time, money, and energy there.
Go visit it in person if you can in advance... and once you're enrolled, make the best out of it. Teachers at the best schools do have plenty of influence/contacts and can help students who are worth it.
In what skills do you recommend them to invest/improve?
Remember that MUCH will be in fact learned IN the field, I'd say 80-90% used daily on my job was so. I decisely specialized a LOT working. But I can think of some ideas that helped me grow:
1. Recognize and address your weaknesses:
Focus initially MAINLY in those weak points that are relevant to the job.
"Your flaws" may only be lack of experience, and if you address them early enough, you will develop an advantage vs your competition.
You may move up without this, but you will eventually have a team, need to train them, earn their respect. Unless you are a true born leader or surrounded by superficiality, it will be noticed.
2. Learn from other people and your own experience:
Find out with seniors of genuine experience (in your field of interest) their operational routine, understand what they do: curiosity can and will take you far, while preventing you from making wrong moves.
Internships in Italy can be great learning fields that do turn into real jobs. Search the right department for you and "hunt" a company you admire - this will optimize your time, guide/determine your career path, and open doors at other companies of similar values.
3. Aim high and work for it:
Don't settle if the job/place/boss does not challenge you enough nor makes you happy. Don't count on "luck" and occasions.
But don't rush either into a higher position if you know you don't deserve it yet. You must be able to sustain it afterwards with confidence.
4. Learn to communicate well and effectively:
I was very quiet and shy in the beginning of my career. Yet the more you know the subject, the better you become at sharing your views and influencing people positively.
5. From a language point of view:
Aside from Italian, English is mandatory and French can be very useful. Prepare well before time if you can. Practice makes perfect.
And what top 3 tips can you give when it comes to succeed working in fashion market?
1. The right personality mix:
No one appreciates arrogance. Diplomacy, teamwork, and a positive attitude at work are always popular. Be strong and confident, yet open minded and humble.
People can be nasty, evil, and incompetent (sometimes even these three things altogether). But... the fashion world is small, and from my experience, those people eventually lose power.
Above all: work hard to keep a healthy relationship with all your bosses/peers. It is impossible to please everyone, but know you did your best.
Do have the courage though to stand up for yourself and others if/when necessary. I sometimes had to... and don't regret it.
2. Focus/determination:
Prove yourself always available and keen to learn... be the first to arrive and the last one to leave - especially while building your career "UP". Ask questions, share thoughts, learn quickly. Prepare and be ready at all times, you never know when you will be called to a last minute meeting (happened to me with Mr. Armani multiple times). Your voice will come out naturally confident and you will be trustworthy... which will make you more interesting vs the "average candidate".
3. Passion/personal marketing:
This is also mandatory if you want to stand out from the crowd. A good cv may only "add to a pile"... what will make the difference - aside from your actual knowledge/experience - is how you present yourself and how much it shows you care for your career/job. This too will define how "well" you'll be remembered.
A good school is "the front door"... but you must build a solid reputation all the way up for people/employers to care for and refer you.
You have a strong profile; how did you establish it?
I initially graduated in Architecture (2003) and studied some Business Administration, before finally switching to Fashion.
Like many Brazilian students, I started college a bit too young (only 17-18) and a little confused.
After a year studying languages in Europe (2003), I decided eventually to attend Parsons (Fashion Design) in NY, working in Design offices for 2 years. Anna Sui was my first fashion employer (2004), and through her I met James Coviello, who had his own brand and designed Anna Sui's knitwear label.
My idea at the time was to start my own business afterwards, so by working directly with smaller design brands / business owners I assumed I'd quickly "learn it all"... but I did not feel quite ready for the task back then.
While I enjoyed working in the creative field, I felt like I was missing an important part of the management/sales processes.
So in 2006 after a long research I decided to study Brand Management at Marangoni. Aside from the school reputation, my Italian was not so strong and I wanted to live in Milan for a full fashion experience in Italy. And there, a whole new world opened up after my graduation. I worked briefly for a small Italian sportswear brand (FGF) - a company I had developed a project for in class. But I did not relate much to the product, and its headquarters were in Vicenza. As I wanted to stay in Milan, Marangoni put me in contact with Sergio Rossi - where I started from scratch in the Accessories Merchandising team, as an intern, in 2008.
I fell in love right away with that job, with luxury accessories, with the company, and the Gucci Group... I worked at SR for 5 years, growing from Assistant to Manager, following up the whole design process from the first sketch/proto to final sales.
I had the privilege to work with great shoe designers, managers, directors... ex employees from Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Versace, Armani, Prada, Miu Miu, etc.
By 2011 I started receiving offers/calls from other companies... the fashion world is indeed small. By the end of 2012 I had 3 great options: Armani, Louis Vuitton, or Bottega Veneta. I was sad to leave SR, but ready to move forward.
All of them were amazing opportunities, but in the end I chose Armani - where I stayed for almost 4 years as Manager for both Emporio and Giorgio lines.
An ex Shoe Specialist from Prada was building up his team there and the opportunity of working with Mr. Armani himself was irresistible (and was for sure unforgettable).
In the meantime... Ferragamo, another amazing company, invited me to join their team in Florence - but at that point at Armani I was also being promoted (given also the handbags to manage), so it did not seem right, and I stayed another year.
In 2016 I finally left for a new challenge at Cavalli as Head of all Women Accessories... yet, at 37, I decided to take a break from full time jobs to join my soon-to-be-husband, who had been transferred for work to Sofia, Bulgaria - where I am now based.
Looking back, I have learned/gained much experience, with a 360• view of the cycle of the product, while building a name/career in luxury companies.
I now plan to continue as a Merchandising consultant for ww brands, teach aside, start a shoe blog... maybe a brand.
How long does it take to build a career like yours, from the beginning/study to the top?
It took me over 10 years to build a strong CV and reputation in Fashion. I guess the first 3 years are the toughest ones, your name is not known yet in the market and you think it will just never happen. But then... there is that moment at some point when you notice you don't really need to look for jobs anymore, since as mentioned, head hunters and/or ex colleagues will spread out a good word for you. And when jobs will be looking for YOU, you will know that all that effort was finally worth it.
Alonside with me, the other two interviewed Marangoni ex students from Brazil were: Paula Cademartori and Gustavo Martini.
Below the article link in portuguese: