Sydney Edwards is a third-year business marketing student from Houston,TX attending Howard University. She has professional experience in the public relations industry, retail, consulting, and real estate. Committed to developing foundational knowledge to support her interest in the marketing and fashion industry. Providing a unique and valuable insight on how to engage the consumer and maintain long-standing relationships ethically. Sydney also had an interest in promoting sustainability, women empowerment, and gaining financial literacy to share with others of marginalized communities.
How has attending an HBCU set you up for success?
Attending an HBCU has allowed me to grow in confidence in which I can carry with me into professional spaces. I have been able to network with like minded individuals and be inspired to contribute to the community of my peers and generations to come. I have been afforded professional experiences that will help me to navigate my future career with learned skills and insights into various industries all within three years of my college education!
How are you looking to contribute to the professional world upon graduation?
I am looking forward to contributing to the professional world by constantly striving to promote not only equality but equity in various spaces that aren’t typically given to those of marginalized communities. I don’t want to just have a seat at the table but invite others to the table until we can eventually build our own. I also hope to provide mentorship and empowerment to young black women who have so much unbounded potential.
What is your dream job?
This question warrants a two-part answer, in that although I would like to join a fashion corporation within the marketing space doing specifically campaign management. I do not plan on being an employee forever and I will eventually scale my own styling business, Call Me Denni, into an entire fashion brand. That is my true passion and end goal, however in my early career I do hope to learn and contribute to an established fashion brand/company.
How do you express your personal sense of style through fashion?
This is essentially what I’ve built my own business off of. Expression. I find myself to be a very multifaceted person and I further exhibit that through my sense of style. I love trying different styles from different eras, playing with silhouettes, seeing what essence or vibe I want to showcase on a particular day. That's the exciting part of fashion you can be whoever you choose each day. The important thing is that you're staying true to things that you identify with and not chasing trends. That way your style choices will always be timeless and authentically you.
What role will you play in the future of fashion?
My role in the future of fashion will be to promote sustainability as a lot of us young people have a responsibility to do. As a collective we have to make change for younger generations. It is personally important to me to promote authenticity and expression. You can only cosplay someone for so long before you don’t know who’s staring back in the mirror at you. The world needs diversity to continue innovation and that can’t happen if we constantly regurgitate ideas. I think unique expression will be a large focus of mine in the industry.
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