Brittney Perry Gives Us The Sneaker Essentials Scoop for #SoICould

Yellowbrick on February 2, 2021

Name: Brittney Perry
Course: Sneaker Essentials
Instagram: @perrycoshoes
Website: https://perrycoshoes.com/

Where are you working now?

I’m working on releasing 2 fall color-ways of my shoe and creating a new silhouette to release in 2021.

Has your experience in Sneaker Essentials impacted your career at all yet, and if so, how?

It got me back in the groove of graphic design and some of the basics or brainstorming ideas such as mood-boards.

Why did you think the course was right for you when you enrolled?

I wanted to have a better understanding of the history of sneakers and how they are made.

How did the course prepare you for working in the sneaker industry?

Taking the course would allow me to speak more intelligently about sneakers. Knowing the history and technical terms would definitely help anyone stand out to a potential sneaker employer.

How did the partnership with Fashion Institute of Technology for Sneaker Essentials affect your choice to take the program?

Complex gave the sneaker program more credibility. Seeing that I could potentially have opportunities to be featured by Complex and work with others in that space was encouraging.

What is your biggest takeaway from this program?

Learning the ins and out of how a sneaker is made as well as the parts of the shoe was really beneficial. Even though I have a sneaker brand now, the program helped me gain a greater understanding of sneakers. This can help me communicate my ideas clearly to my manufacturer.

What would you say to a friend or fellow Sneakerhead about Sneaker Essentials?

If you want to have a career in the footwear industry, I would highly suggest enrolling in Sneaker Essentials. You will learn the ins and outs of the industry. Not only about sneakers, but also marketing, design, and videography in the sneaker field.

Jasmine O’Conner Talks Sneakers, Coursework and Following Her Passion

Yellowbrick on February 1, 2021

Name: Jasmine O’Conner
Course: Sneaker Essentials
Instagram: @jasmine_oconner

I enrolled in Sneaker Essentials so I could..

Follow my passion and dream of working in the sneaker industry.

Where are you working now?

Cummins Inc.

Has your experience in Sneaker Essentials impacted your career at all yet, and if so, how?

Not yet.

Why did you think the course was right for you when you enrolled?

I knew this course was right for me when I enrolled because I had just started a new chapter in my life and was ready to go after my sneaker passion.

How did the course prepare you for working in the sneaker industry?

I have way more knowledge about the sneaker industry than I did 12 months ago.

How did the partnership with Fashion Institute of Technology for Sneaker Essentials affect your choice to take the program?

It highly affected my decision. I’m always looking for things that are real and have credibility

What is your biggest takeaway from this program?

I loved learning about the design process and the thought that goes into it. It was very helpful to see the inside of the factories as well.

What would you say to a friend or fellow Sneakerhead about Sneaker Essentials?

Taking Sneaker Essentials was a very humbling experience and I would recommend the course.

“So I Could…” | Abigail Killam

Yellowbrick on February 1, 2021

Name: Abigail Killam
Course: Sneaker Essentials
Instagram: @ajkillam1202

I enrolled in Sneaker Essentials so I could..

enhance my knowledge of the sneaker industry and strengthen my resume to land a job in the fashion retail industry.

Where are you working now?

Everbridge.

Has your experience in Sneaker Essentials impacted your career at all yet, and if so, how?

It has been a strong talking point on interviews.

Why did you think the course was right for you when you enrolled?

I want to get into the fashion retail industry specifically footwear and this course just seemed like it would help me on that career path.

How did the course prepare you for working in the sneaker industry?

I find that this course gave me great knowledge and boosted my confidence in sneaker knowledge.

How did the partnership with Fashion Institute of Technology for Sneaker Essentials affect your choice to take the program?

It heavily affected my choice as the Fashion Institute of Technology has a reputation for being one of the best schools in the world for fashion and if I was going to take a class it might as well be from the best.

What is your biggest takeaway from this program?

The creative skills I have built for myself in the assignments I had such as creating the mood board to designing sneakers, and creating an unboxing video.

What would you say to a friend or fellow Sneakerhead about Sneaker Essentials?

I would highly recommend enrolling if you want to do a deep dive into every aspect of the sneaker industry.

“So I Could…” | Michael Franz

Yellowbrick on January 4, 2021

Name: Michael Franz
Course: Sneaker Essentials
Instagram: @welcomemyfranz

I enrolled in Sneaker Essentials so I could..

pivot my career path to sneakers through the added skills this course provided.

Where are you working now?

American Honda Motor Co. as a District Sales Manager in Atlanta, GA

Has your experience in Sneaker Essentials impacted your career at all yet, and if so, how?

I used the downtime of the past 3 months pandemic to buy an ipad and apple pencil and learn to design mockups in Procreate, some paid opportunities have already come through the pipe, my final assignment being an example of that.

Why did you think the course was right for you when you enrolled?

Because I love all things sneakers and wanted to become a student of my passion!

How did the course prepare you for working in the sneaker industry?

It taught me the top down view of what the industry looks like and what the different roles entail. I was able to see where sneakers began and where they are going in all facets as well and that was important to being a well rounded student of the industry.

How did the partnership with Fashion Institute of Technology for Sneaker Essentials affect your choice to take the program?

Brought validity to the curriculum for me.

What is your biggest takeaway from this program?

That there is a vast amount of jobs and roles that you could fit in within the sneaker world, you just need to carve out your place in it by honing in on which part you love most.

What would you say to a friend or fellow Sneakerhead about Sneaker Essentials?

I would highly recommend taking the course and putting the time in to soak up every lesson.

“So I Could…” | Harrison Davis

Yellowbrick on January 4, 2021

Name: Harrison Davis
Course: Sneaker Essentials
Instagram: @sneakerscoffeechampagne

I enrolled in Sneaker Essentials so I could..

gain a more global perspective on the industry that I’m so passionate about.

Where are you working now?

Stadium Goods

Has your experience in Sneaker Essentials impacted your career at all yet, and if so, how?

Sneaker Essentials helped me decide what part of the industry I was most interested in pursuing the rest of my career in. Having owned a tier one independent sneaker boutique for 6 years, most of my vantage point comes from that angle of the industry. As I transitioned from Baltimore to NYC, Sneaker Essentials helped me to narrow down my specific interests within a much wider industry and endless opportunities in NYC. Ultimately I landed at Private Client Services at Stadium Goods. Being introduced to a more in-depth look in to the SG brand, and mission, during the Sneakers Essential course definitely impacted my decision to apply to positions at Stadium Goods.

Why did you think the course was right for you when you enrolled?

I enrolled in Sneaker Essentials to get a broader perspective of the industry, end-to-end. My primary experiences had been as a collector and owner in the independent space. To grow my career and be able to compete in the NYC market I wanted to grow my knowledge of design, supply channels, big box, mass marketing, etc.

How did the course prepare you for working in the sneaker industry?

The course gave me great perspective into the mass amount of different avenues you can take within the sneaker industry. From design, to supply chain, processing, management, buying, customer service; I really feel like the course gave a great overview of the industry as a whole.

How did the partnership with Fashion Institute of Technology for Sneaker Essentials affect your choice to take the program?

Just like FIT legitimizes the knowledge being shared, the partnership with Complex legitimizes that the people sharing the knowledge are significant in sneaker culture, beyond just knowledge.

What assignment, course, and/or instructor sticks out in your mind or taught you something valuable?

Sue from Rime really stuck out in my mind. Her authentic story about creating a boutique in the early 2000’s, to her first collab with Puma, to the struggles of being independent really resonated with me, and gave great perspective around that era of the industry.

What would you say to a friend or fellow Sneakerhead about Sneaker Essentials?

I would tell friends that are both interested in getting into the industry, or who have been in the industry for a while, that the course is a great high level framework of the industry at large. For those looking to get into the industry, this gives invaluable insight into many of the heavy hitting brands and stores. For those who have been in the industry for a while, this allows you to look back at the industry from the outside in as you prepare to make your next moves or rethink old logic.

Webinar Recap | Breaking Into the Gaming Industry with the Founders of Decoy Games

Yellowbrick on December 15, 2020

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When your mom worked at Toys R Us when you were younger and you have access to all the games, it makes sense that you would grow up to have a career in the gaming industry. Brothers Kahlil and Ahmed Abdullah grew up playing video games and ended up launching their own indie game company, Decoy Games. They took their passion for gaming and turned it into a multi-award winning company that is focused on creating unique gaming experiences and encouraging innovation across all aspects of the gaming industry.

We recently sat down with Kahlil and Ahmed to talk about their latest endeavor, Swimsanity, and what it took to get the game created, made, and sold to major video game platforms. They also told us some of the benefits of networking, how to network (even in a pandemic), and the best places to find jobs in the gaming industry. Get ready to take some serious notes and check out the webinar recap video above. For more information on breaking into the gaming & Esports industry, visit yellowbrick.co/gaming.

Press play on the video below to see the Trailer for Decoy Games release, Swimsanity. 

Webinar Recap | Esports & Gaming Careers With Ford Models’ Justin M. Jacobson Esq.

Yellowbrick on December 15, 2020

When it comes to starting a career in the gaming and esports industry, there are quite a few options to choose from. Most people think that you have to get top scores on games and have lots of followers to be successful in the gaming industry. While those things may help, there are other ways to turn your passion for esports and gaming into a career and make some money. We recently sat down with Justin M. Jacobson ESQ., an Esports attorney who currently heads the Gaming department at Ford Models. He spoke to us about the different careers and job opportunities in the gaming industry and the type of skills needed to get these jobs. He also spoke about where you can look to find these jobs and gives great tips on how to be successful in your career. Justin also hosts the podcast Preediction, Esport Biz Show. Check out the latest episode here.

After watching this webinar recap above, feel free to visit Yellowbrick.co/gaming to get more information on how you can turn your passion for gaming and esports into the career you want!

Career Spotlight on Former Nike Marketing Manager Les Green

Yellowbrick on October 21, 2020

The sneaker industry is full of career opportunities. While sneaker design is one of the most sought after paths, there is a huge variety of other jobs and careers to pursue. The Sneaker Essentials course was designed to give students an inside look at all of the possible career paths and help them capitalize on their unique skills to carve out their own path . From marketing to design to engineering, there is a career opportunity for everyone.

Sneaker Essentials recently sat down with Teespring’s Vice President of Marketing, Les Green, to talk about some of the things he has accomplished across the industry. Green has held down some key positions in the sneaker industry. He has worked with some of the world’s most influential brands for over 18 years. He served as Nike Africa Marketing Director, Nike Mexico’s Senior Brand Director, Senior Brand Director Nike By You, and Global Brand Director Nike Sportswear. He played a key role in some important campaigns and product launches. He worked on the Nike Tech Pack. the 2012 Olympics, and Nike by you (which most people may know as Nike I.D.).

“I don’t want that exclusivity of product to

translate into exclusivity of talent and opportunity”

Check out the clip above to hear Les talk about breaking down barriers to breaking into the industry. Visit Sneaker Essentials to find out if a career in sneakers is right for you – and for more knowledge from former Nike Marketing Manager, Les Green.

Yellowbrick Highlights Student Entrepreneurs for National LGBT Month

Yellowbrick on October 15, 2020

The Yellowbrick student community is a great place to find budding talent. Our diverse community is a solid blend of students looking to find their place in a career that they love and others who are looking to grow their skillset. Yellowbrick programs are designed to give students the foundation they need to start building towards a career they are passionate about.

In honor of LGBT History Month, we are highlighting the websites and businesses of our LGBTQ student community. We’ve created a space to highlight some of the businesses that were founded by students in our courses. The landing page for these brands can be found here and when you click on the select squares, you can visit the pages and engage in their services. These businesses offer everything from t-shirts to hoodies to recording studios to makeup. This landing page was created to amplify the businesses and services in our Yellowbrick community.

Please take the time to visit the page and take a look at what some of these brands have to offer. There is also a main student businesses page and we will be adding to that list as the year progresses. Be sure to check back in from time to time.

Webinar Recap | April Walker Talks Mental Health & Wellness for “Survive & Thrive” Part 2

Yellowbrick on October 10, 2020

The year 2020 has proven to be a lesson for everyone. When January 1st came around, it is fair to say that no one knew what to expect. By March, the world was looking into the unknown without a clue as to what would happen next. Lives changed, daily routines were disturbed and it took a while for people to figure it out. Mental Health is always important but in these trying times, it is a major key. Developing a routine and coping skills to keep a level head is important. Even if your path is carved, developing ways to keep your mental health in check, can do more good, than harm. 

 

In honor of World Mental Health Day (October 10th), we will be revisiting the Survive & Thrive 2 Part Webinar series with Streetwear Essentials contributor and Walkerwear founder, April Walker. For Part 2, she discussed the importance of mental health and wellness in general but more importantly, during these trying times. She touched on what it was like working in the streetwear industry, the toll it took on her and how she was able to maintain and be successful. While everyone has to do what works for them, it is important to share the types of things people can do to stay mentally (and physically) well. Therapy is expensive and not an option for everyone. Meditation, exercise, healthy eating, and other things can lead to a positive road to solid mental health. Listening, taking notes, and applying what could work for you is helpful to start. 

 

Press play on the webinar above. Be sure to bring a pen and paper because the tips are plentiful. 

 

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