Mirjam-Sarah Lepp, PhD Student, USI

In order to help current students and recent graduates to find their way in the working world, many of our alumni shared their career story. Here the story of Mirjam-Sarah Lepp, PhD Student at USI in Lugano. USI Degree: Master in Digital Fashion Communication, 2021.

How did you start your career?

I started my career in fashion in 2016 when I graduated from my bachelor’s studies at Florida State University with a degree in marketing and communication studies. After that, I moved to Los Angeles to work for BCBGMAXAZRIA to work in their Creative Services department. After working there for a year, the company went through a restructuring. I spent a few months freelancing for other companies in Los Angeles (Anastasia Beverly Hills and the Scott Brothers) till accepting a full-time position in Estonia (where I am originally from) to work for a start-up, Click & Grow as their Social Media Manager. I worked at Click & Grow for 3 years, during which I completed my master’s in Digital Fashion Communication at USI and Sorbonne. During my master’s studies, I completed an internship for a Paris-based start-up, Heuritech, as a Fashion Client assistant, doing trend forecasting reports and fashion show reports for clients like Dior and Prada.
After graduating from the master’s program in 2021, I began to freelance again in social media, working for companies like Adidas, Fabletics, and Plenty. I did this for about 2 years. In October 2023, I realized that while I enjoyed social media, I wanted to focus more on research, and getting a PhD had always been a dream of mine. During that time, USI opened up a position for a PhD study in Digital Fashion Communication, getting to work with the same professors I did during my master’s study. I was accepted in January 2024 and began my research in “Fashion Literacy and Online Learning.”

Why did you choose to do a PhD at USI?

Getting a PhD has always been a goal of mine and I wanted to contribute to the fashion industry in a substantial way beyond marketing and storytelling of product.

What is your current role/duties?

In my current role, a significant portion of my time is spent working on research and writing articles for journals or conferences on my topic of fashion literacy and online learning. However, the other part of the role consists of working directly with the students in the master's program in Digital Fashion Communication. Sometimes, this part of my role looks like speaking with potential new students about the program or working as a TA in current classes like Digital Fashion Communication: Introduction and Digital Fashion Communication: Online Lab. I also manage the social media team, which is composed of current students, and post research updates from the team on the LinkedIn and Instagram pages. Additionally, I manage the newsletter for the master and created graphics for the upcoming FACTUM conference.

In your opinion, what are the qualities necessary for a successful PhD at USI?

To be a PhD student, you need good time management skills, selfmotivation, creativity, and a willingness to collaborate and work well with others.

What positive aspects and qualities meant most to you during the study programme you attended?

I enjoyed many of the classes we had, from Brand Management to Corporate Social Responsibility to Fashion Communication. All of the professors were knowledgeable in their given topics and inspired interesting conversations and debates in class, along with many of the group projects we had to complete. Additionally, during my studies, I met three of my best friends through the master's program, whom I am still in contact with today, 7 years later!

What competences and skills acquired in your USI Study Program have been useful/are useful to your professional career?

I had the opportunity to live abroad in two different cities and cultures, Lugano and Paris. Having that opportunity expanded my worldview and allowed me to connect with friends and colleagues around the world! So many companies have international teams, so knowing how to connect and interact with others across cultures is so important.

What is your advice to USI students entering the job market?

Network! Take advantage of any opportunity you have to speak with industry professionals, whether it be Long Night of Careers, workshops, or events in Lugano. Your passion for your future will come through with the conversations you have with others, speak boldly about what you are looking for, intern for as many industries and roles as possible to know what you like and don't like, and have a good LinkedIn page where you can keep in contact with past and present employees. And don't be afraid of a few no's in the beginning it happens to us all!