Meet GCNYC Alumni
Our distinguished Alumni are contributing to the common good through organizations across the globe. Learn more about their roles, what they studied, and their GCNYC experience below.
Alumni Stories
After graduating, Kiki served as the Digital Director for the Center for Humane Technology where she focused on mobilizing people to take action and reimagine 21st-century digital infrastructure that supports wellbeing, democracy, and our shared information environment after the release of the Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma. She’s now writing the rules of advertising as the Director of Marketing for PlantBaby, an innovative nutrition company that designs clean and healthy plant-based foods and beverages to fuel the next generation. She received her Masters of Science in Impact-Focused Business and Investing.
Why This Career Path?
“I felt as though I was perpetuating a broken system by further investing in social media platforms as an advertiser, and I decided to return to school to give myself space to study the problem, pinpoint exactly what the problem was, the role social media played, how it related to an advertising business model, and the connection to how we consume news, understand the world, and make decisions.”
How Did GCNYC Shape Your Journey?
“At GCNYC, we were in small, intimate classes that were conversation-based. In addition to intellectual conversations, my professors also made space for emotional health, emphasizing meditation, movement, and honest self expression.”
What Lessons Were Most Valuable?
“I was grateful to learn about topics of sustainability not directly in my line of work. It only benefited me to have a larger perspective and connect the issues of social media to an even bigger picture of system failure.”
Megan is a certified sustainability practitioner who graduated from GCNYC with a Masters Degree in Impact-Focused Business and Investing. As a Manager of Product Sustainability at Ralph Lauren, Megan has applied her knowledge from her degree to build achievable strategies that are aligned with business goals. *Featured in WWD
What Course Moved You?
“Global Political Economy was an incredibly impactful course and it was taught in a methodical, organized, and thought-provoking way. Thinking through the numerous case studies with the teacher, Meredith Wilf, made us think differently, more strategically, about real world issues and how businesses approach geopolitical challenges.”
Why This Career Path?
“It felt important to pair my sustainability expertise with a foundational business knowledge to develop and recommend sustainability strategies that are also aligned with business goals.”
How Did GCNYC Shape Your Journey?
“Most if not all classes highlight the systemic challenges and nuances that have to be considered when trying to make sustainability-based decisions. I now feel more empowered and capable of incorporating business and profit strategies into sustainability plans.”
Wesley Scott is a Clothing Designer for 3sixteen, a NYC based menswear brand. He is also Co-founder, Partner, and Designer for Mount Sunny, a wellness studio in Phoenix Arizona with an in-house supplement and clothing line. He got his Masters of Science in Impact-Focused Business and Investing.
What Course Moved You?
“International This program’s focus on sustainability and business gave everyone in my classes a foundation of business acumen and then built on that with a focus on ethical practices, sustainability knowledge, and the understanding of how to create lasting impact.”
Why This Career Path?
“I became a co-founder and have since been slowly developing a sustainably made clothing collection that is sold alongside their supplement line and in their practice. Therefore, I wanted to deepen my knowledge of ethical business and sustainability and share a classroom with like-minded individuals.”
How Did GCNYC Shape Your Journey?
“Anyone who has an interest in making a positive impact on the world, on any scale, would be lucky to have the guidance and expertise of the GCNYC community, whether that be through courses or a full program.”
Louise is a Raw Material and Sourcing expert with experience in global apparel sourcing, product development, textile manufacture, garment manufacture and compliance. She got her Masters of Science in Risk, Resilience, and Integrity Management.
Why This Career Path?
“As a VP of Raw Materials, it was imperative to understand risk management that exists within supply chains.
How Did GCNYC Shape Your Journey?
“The courses at GCNYC were crucial to how I navigated the pandemic in 2020 and lead my team’s swift response to the disruption of our industry.”
A Piece of Advice?
“If brands take responsibility and accountability, as a whole we can come together to make a difference.”
As a leader in fashion and apparel with 30 years of experience, Lorenza has a proven track record of success driving product lifecycle management, global raw material sourcing, fabric R&D, and textile innovation. She received her Masters of Science in International Fashion Marketing.
Why This Career Path?
“I knew I wanted to be in the space of sustainability, of circularity, and in textile sustainability. GCNYC was the only next step that made sense.”
Were The Courses Valuable To You?
“While at GCNYC I was actually actively teaching students elsewhere, and the classes at GCNYC were so relevant to what I was teaching that I started incorporating everything I was learning into my curriculum.”
Any Advice For Others?
“You can’t work within the now, you have to envision the future.”
Emily is the Sustainability Lead and a Senior Designer at Children’s Apparel Network, a childrenswear company. She received her Masters of Science in Sustainable Fashion.
How Has GCNYC Changed Your Career Path?
“I knew I wanted to be in the space of sustainability, of circularity, and in textile sustainability. My education from GCNYC has projected into a role of managing and advising my company as they begin their sustainable fashion shift. Understanding the larger picture of global business and climate change is essential to positively impacting today’s fashion companies.”
What Stood Out Most About Your Experience?
“GCNYC has a unified community through students, faculty, staff, and the larger GCU family joined in their commitment to the common good. We are all trying to better our communities and are eager to help each other reach our shared goals. “
What is the title of your thesis? Are there any updates you’d like to share?
“My thesis title is Circularity in the Fashion Industry: Communication Gaps in Textile-to-Textile Recycling.”
Jennifer is a full-time Corporate Sustainability Strategist and a part-time Certified Personal Trainer & Nutrition Coach. She received her Masters of Science in International Fashion Marketing.
Why This Career Path?
“I wanted to influence business leaders to value the health of people and our planet.”
How Did GCNYC Shape Your Journey?
“Earning a master’s degree from GCNYC has opened up a plethora of opportunities for me within the developing field of sustainable business which has been gaining significant momentum!”
How Are You Making An Impact?
“Combining my experience in the supply chain with a Master’s in International Fashion Marketing, I am helping to expand and evolve my company’s sustainability strategy. This includes educating people across various functions of the business on how their day-to-day work can have adverse impacts on suppliers and their workers. As a side hustle, I empower others by coaching them on how to set and achieve their fitness and nutrition goals.”
Shannon is the Sustainability Division Director of Chapter 2, a Public Relations Agency located in Manhattan. She received her Masters of Science in Impact-Focused Business and Investing. *Featured in BOF
How Did GCNYC Shape Your Journey?
“GCNYC offers a well-rounded curriculum on sustainability including the finance industry, business, fashion and social impact. I’m very happy I chose GCNYC as I got a very one-on-one education in a supportive environment.”
Any Advice?
“My one piece of advice for someone pursuing a career in fashion sustainability is to build relationships and be sincere. It’s a small industry and someone you meet one day, you will absolutely reconnect with down the road.”
What Is Your Biggest Sustainability Challenge?
“The biggest challenge is that these brands (and companies in general) are not set up to reward their sustainability achievements in the same manner that profitability is rewarded.”
As an Account Luxury Manager at The Real Real, Mallory is an expert in luxury consignment, the circular economy, and sustainability. She received her Masters of Science in Impact-Focused Business and Investing.
Why This Career Path?
“To learn more about sustainability within the fashion world, for a career shift, and most importantly, to challenge myself in general.”
How Did GCNYC Shape Your Journey?
“What I really liked was that it was built around working professionals and was incredibly affordable compared to other grad schools in NYC.”
Any Advice?
“If COVID has taught us anything, it is that life hits you with unexpected situations and you have to adapt to them.”
After 14 years of a combined successful career in technology, investment banking, publishing, fashion and the eCommerce industries, Peju received her Masters of Science in Impact-Focused Business and Investing. After graduating, Peju has since consulted with various professional leaders and individuals, providing values and vision-based leadership, including well-being advisory for life-work harmony. Peju is also the host and producer of The BadassFabulous Podcast which is a faith and courage-based well-being podcast that helps people become more of who they were created to be in a fearless way.
How Has GCNYC Changed Your Career Path?
“My GCNYC education has allowed me to know that everything I intend to do in my career is now related to helping companies and individuals understand the transformation they need grow through, in order for them create and complete initiatives that serves the greater good.”
What Stood Out Most About Your Experience?
The systems and design thinking approach to almost everything, where we had to look deeper into every project we worked on and how creating a great solution might simultaneously cause a new problem in a different way or area. I also liked the well-being aspect to the program, most of the instructors were quite mindful and challenged us as well in a positive way.
What is the title of your thesis? Are there any updates you’d like to share?
Title: The Relationship Between Employees’ Satisfaction And Corporate Culture: The Role Of Community In Workplace Culture That Enhance Employee Well-Being And Institutional Success. I have expanded on what I learnt from doing the research and currently use that as a base in working with individuals which has helped in delivering great results.
Natalie is a Sustainability Consultant at Great Forest, committed to sustainable solutions through effective collaboration, reevaluation of systems, and creative methodology. She is especially passionate about waste reduction and creative reuse. She received her Masters of Science in International Fashion Marketing.
Why This Career Path?
“Although I wasn’t actively pursuing a graduate degree it seemed like the opportunity revealed itself. The flexibility, school’s mission and focus, and cost all fit my life very well. “
How Did GCNYC Shape Your Journey?
“I feel that the community of peers and mentors I met during my time at GCNYC was fantastic. Being surrounded by people driven by a similar mission was very powerful. The systems thinking course taught by Seisei was very impactful; She opened our minds up to considering how actions affect the system they are within. The course was interactive, insightful, and fun.”
What Would You Share With a Potential Student?
“The GCNYC Alumni community is so supportive and that makes all the difference.”
As the Sustainability Lead for Macys Inc., Elizabeth manages environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy, operations, and disclosure. She is a leader in value-based business, corporate responsibility, and sustainable innovation.
Why This Career Path?
“After receiving my bachelor’s in International Trade & Marketing from FIT, I worked at a NGO focused on labor standards in factories, which led to my current role at Macy’s in Sustainability and Social Impact. GCNYC came onto my radar because Macy’s was a member of the Fair Fashion Center and they were offering scholarships and fast-tracked applications for the first cohort.”
How Did GCNYC Shape Your Journey?
“Most formal education doesn’t teach you how to think. Anyone can read a book and learn content, but solving problems is hard. GCNYC is a place where fashion professionals interested in ethical production and consumption can meet and share ideas.”
Any Advice?
“COVID-19 has accelerated the need for companies to focus on environmental and social impact, and the financial risks and opportunities associated with ESG issues. This means we need to look beyond the traditional CSR and sustainability teams to incubate these ideals at every level of the organization. GCNYC can act as a connector of creative professionals who seed smart solutions throughout the industry.”