What course are you (or were you) studying?

Diploma of Business (major in fashion)

Congratulations on your new role. What is your role title and what company do you work for?

Head of Visual Merchandising for Witchery in ACT.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Each day can be a little different depending on what part of the month we are in.

Some weeks I'll be releasing a new collection (the start of every month), styling window and in-store mannequins, looking at weekly and monthly reports and seeing ways to improve the store performance by communicating to head office in Melbourne, developing and implementing floor plans for new collections and standardising each store that best represents the brand.

What are you enjoying most about your new role and/or the company you are working for?

I have always been a creative and hands-on type of person, which is why I have thoroughly enjoyed this job and the responsibilities that come with it. Witchery continues to inspire me with it's on trend and empowering pieces, making it such an exciting and innovating job to be in.

Tell us about your career journey and how you landed your role.

While I was studying for my Diploma of Business (major in fashion) I was working as a casual sales assistant at the Witchery concept store in Bondi Junction. It was during this time that I met and worked alongside other visual merchandisers, who provided hands-on training and tasks for me to complete during their visit. During this period, I showed a strong work ethic and a 'can-do' attitude, allowing me to explore different parts of the industry and receive hands-on experience.

A year later, I discovered that the team were hiring for a visual merchandiser to cover the ACT region (also a place that was close to my hometown) and believed I could take on this challenging, yet rewarding role. After completing a practical assessment and interview, I was hired and ready for this new chapter.

What are some of your career and study highlights so far?

Seeing the stores grow and evolve over time (both financially and visually) has been a constant achievement of mine. To think I started off as a sales assistant and later becoming Head of Merchandising for ACT is something I am very proud of and continue to work at everyday.

Do you have any advice or tips for our current and future students looking to pursue a similar career?

I feel as though (from my personal experience) it's not what you know, its who you know. If you continue to show enthusiasm and curiosity across all aspects of a job, people will notice you and will take the time to support and mentor whatever prospects you may have. Another piece of advise would be to work for a large company that has career growth and allows you to find different opportunities or passions that might interest you. This was certainly what led me to where I am today.

Recalling on your time at Orana, what was it like being a fashion student?

When I first started my journey at Orana College, I was very unsure as to where I wanted to work. However, soon after studying with Orana, I was able to carve out my vision and future career goals. The teachers were always knowledgeable and supportive during my studies and allowed me to have an open and engaging conversation about their experiences within the industry.