Student
Student Farrah Cogan Shares her FIDM Journey from an A.A. in Fashion Design to an MBA
Please tell us a little about yourself.
Hi, I'm Farrah
Cogan, a marketing professional with over 6 years of experience in
brand marketing. I graduated with my Associates Degree in Fashion
Design, Bachelor of Science in Business Management, and I am about to
finish my MBA—all at FIDM. I worked for Louis Vuitton for three years
and with my expertise, have been able to develop and implement
strategic marketing plans to achieve company objectives.
Before Louis Vuitton, I worked at the W Hotel and Francesca
Collections. In addition to my professional achievements, I am proud
to have received awards such as the Louis Vuitton Joy Giver Award and
actively participate in non-profit volunteer work with organizations
such as SSBTR, Breast Cancer Society, Starts With One Today, and the
Diabetes Association.
What made you choose FIDM for your MBA?
My
passion for fashion led me to FIDM. To get a degree in fashion, I
knew I needed to go to a technical school. I visited FIDM's open
house where they hosted booths promoting all the majors they offered.
That is when I spoke to a student who was in the MBA program. I had
no idea FIDM specialized in so many other majors in different
industries. After that, I decided to pursue a bachelor's degree in
business management at FIDM. Having a business degree was very
important to me. I have been able to complete my MBA in one year at
FIDM since I obtained my bachelor's degree there. I would like to
thank FIDM for providing me with the opportunity to complete my
college studies there.
What was your favorite class in the MBA program?
Although
there were several classes that I enjoyed, my favorite one would have
to be Creativity, Innovation, and Design in Business. In this class,
Professor Selinske gave the assignment to design, innovate, and
develop a game by solving business problems that would be played by
our classmates. It was so much fun seeing the game my group created
and sharing it with the class. Throughout class, we learned all about
trial and error as we modified our game every week. This was a very
fun experience and we even got to make an infomercial by the end of
the process to "sell" the game that we had developed.
What do you want to do after you graduate?
After I
graduate, I want to specialize in brand marketing. Professor Dr.
Morrison always said to find something that we are good at and that
we can become experts in. During my MBA, I learned how much I love
marketing and specifically have a talent for brand marketing.
How is FIDM preparing you for your career goals?
FIDM
is preparing me by aligning professors with experience in my major.
All my FIDM professors are extremely knowledgeable and have brought
in guest speakers based on the class's career goals. The professors
care about each student’s goals and want us to succeed. I have been
able to add all the projects I have done in class to my professional
portfolio.
I was the President of Phi Theta Kappa for years through FIDM. Phi Theta Kappa is an honor society and a great way to get into Greek Life. I am also actively involved in professional development, having completed the LI Learning Champion Program and being part of the Nordstrom Ambassador Program.
Is there anything you would like to share with students considering the FIDM MBA?
I recommend getting an MBA at FIDM. The program is fast-paced but doable. I was working a part-time job while going to FIDM and was able to keep my 3.9 GPA. I recommend picking your professor’s brains throughout the courses because they know their stuff! Overall, it is a great program with great instructors!
