Sona Flasikova

Sona Flasikova
MSc International Fashion Marketing, 2018
Senior Wholesale Allocator at Ted Baker

How would I describe Heriot-Watt (HWU)?
#international #prestige #friendly #diverse #innovative

I studied MSc International Fashion Marketing at Edinburgh Campus and graduated in 2018. I chose HWU for many reasons but I would like to highlight some of them.

Firstly, HWU's global ranking is very high and I always wanted to study at a prestige university, which HWU definitely is.

Secondly, the International Fashion Marketing programme was just right for me. It was my dream to work in fashion industry and I believed that with the knowledge and experience from this programme I would be able to find my dream job and I did.

Lastly, but not least was the fact that most students are international. It is a great opportunity to meet amazing people from all over the world and learn from them.

My most memorable time was graduation day for sure, and receiving the George Davis Prize for my dissertation. I learned so much, met so many amazing people, professors and made friends for life. If I had not studied at HWU my dream would never come true. Thank you!

After I graduated; I started to look for my dream job and as many fashion headquarters are based in London, I knew where my next step would be. In my list of dream companies that I would love to work for, is my current employer – Ted Baker. I started in January 2019 as a wholesale allocator and after nine months I was promoted to senior wholesale allocator, currently manage a team of six.

Within the wholesale department there are great opportunities to grow and I am looking forward to learning new things and moving forward. There is a long way ahead for me to become wholesale mechandising manager however I believe with my education and love for my job, one day I will achieve this goal.

If I could go back in time and give advice to 'me' it would be ‘don't hesitate, ask questions and you will get answers' and ‘there is no bad question'. I would give the same advice to current students - ask questions and you will learn more. Don't be afraid and remember what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

A little extra bit about me: I am originally from Slovakia and I moved to the UK in 2016 after I graduated from my first university in the Czech Republic where I studied Marketing and Management. In my free time I love to run, walk, do workouts or spend hours in the kitchen – cooking and baking. I live an active life but I also like reading or listening to podcasts in the garden.