5 Career Quotables From Grammy Nominated Songwriter Madison Love

Yellowbrick on March 24, 2021

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Working in the music industry doesn’t happen overnight. It requires hard work, training, and persistence. Grammy nominated Songwriter Madison Love knows all about the grind it takes to break into the music industry. She recently got her big break and even a few Grammy Noms but it didn’t come without all of the hustle that comes with it. Madison is an NYU alum of the Clive Davis Institute. She is also a songwriter from a few pop star faves including Lady Gaga, Ava Max, and Selena Gomez. She recently sat down with Yellowbrick’s Music Industry Essentials course to talk about her journey through school and how she transitioned into a career in the music industry.

Madison loves what she does, and it shows. “The best part of my job, honestly, is being able to connect to millions of people emotionally through your voice and your emotions”, she said. “And it’s kind of a crazy thing when you hear other people screaming the song that you wrote and you’re just thinking, wow, this is so unreal”. She dropped a lot of useful gems during this interview. Bringing a pen and paper to take notes is highly recommended. You can see some of her quotables below.

If a career in the music industry is something you’ve always wanted, let Music Industry Essentials help you take that first step. Visit Yellowbrick.co/music to apply.

1. “I don’t want to share all of my secrets, but I write down a lot of titles and lyrics all the time in this (shows a journal) and I always bring it to every session, so I’m prepared.”

2. “I think that hustle has gotten me where I am today and getting big cuts like the song that I collaborated on for Lady Gaga album that’s coming out. I wouldn’t have been able to be in that room if I didn’t really, really hustle to get there.”

3. “You just say yes to everything. I’ve molded myself over the years to try and lend myself to other styles to get more cuts, because I have songs that have gone on the radio that are Latin, I’m speaking Spanish, a lot of songs I speak in, whatever language you want, I’ll do it.”

4. “You have to be able to mold yourself into whatever situation you want to be, but still being authentic to you and being authentic to what you want to present.”

5. “As a songwriter, you don’t really make that much from streaming.
You’re getting YouTube, you’re getting Apple Music, you’re getting all these other services. But it’s still not as much money as you think. You have to have multiple, multiple hit songs a year to be making a lot of money.”

Sneaker School Grad Gets A Nod From Forbes 30 Under 30

Yellowbrick on March 18, 2021

Naz, a Sneaker Essentials graduate, recently launched MIDSOLE MAG. MIDSOLE MAG is a women’s digital sneaker-based fashion magazine based in Turkey. She launched the magazine after taking the course and realizing there was an opportunity to tell the stories behind sneakers in Turkey. Naz is a candidate for the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. She wrote about her experience in the article below. 

In May 2020, I created an online sneaker-based fashion magazine called
“MIDSOLE MAG”. My biggest reason for creating this magazine was to support women in the sneaker industry and spreading that culture. I started this business with zero budget and in the midst of a pandemic, it became
extremely successful. There is a common misconception that women are not as involved in sneaker culture as men, but that is not true. We have
proven that through having a staff made up entirely of women. Therefore,
I wish to use my career as a tool to highlight that women have long been
a part of the sneaker scene and to give them the recognition that they
deserve.

MIDSOLE MAG is an online magazine (www.midsolemag.com). As a Gen Z’er, I wanted to design something that speaks to my generation and highlights the issues that we face. My generation is known for being “Born with technology,” so an “e-mag” seemed like the perfect place to start. We
have a very active Website and Instagram audience, along with a magazine application called “Dergilik”. Dergilik only accepts well-known
magazines like Vogue, Elle and now MIDSOLE MAG is amongst them. Also, it is the only streetwear magazine in Turkey and without any paid promotion we gained a total of 14K followers in less than six months.

Furthermore, shortly after the first issue, we started to collaborate on
creative projects with global brands such as Nike, Reebok, Converse,
Lacoste and local brands / sneaker stores such as Wunder and Les
Benjamins. Our creative projects include editorials, special edition
issues, collage artworks and illustrations, which showcases how strong
we are on the creative side. We also have commercial arrangements with
Dior, Louis Vuitton, adidas, North Face, Vans and many other global
brands. In our regular issues, there are sections from History to
Beauty. Our mission is to spread the culture and describe what that
means to the communities around us.

Lastly, I was requested to be a panelist for a Complex Networks and
Fashion Institute of Technology partnered a program called “Yellowbrick
Sneaker Essentials.” On October 20th I hosted a webinar about the
“International Woman In The Sneaker Industry” and shared my experiences
as a woman in this industry and gave advice to others who wish to create
a meaningful impact in the sneaker world.

I am beyond proud and honored to be so accomplished in such a short period of time. Also, I am thankful for the people who have supported me along the way.

Fashion Business Essentials: Course One Review | Entrepreneurship & the Fashion System

Yellowbrick on March 11, 2021

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Chloe is a student in the new Fashion Business Essentials course by Parsons x WWD, powered by Yellowbrick. She is a member of the student advisory panel. Check out her written review of Module One below.


"I’m so excited to be included on the advisory panel for this course so I’m able to see the course firsthand and tell you how it’s going!"
- Chloe

You can press play on the video above for a course content sneak peek.

In the first course, the program focused on Entrepreneurship & the Fashion System. I personally found this first course very interesting. Reading about how much the fashion industry has changed within the past few years.

Nowadays, it’s become more commonly seen for people to launch their own business. No longer are people looking to be hired under someone and become apart of the fashion industry, that’s old news.

I’ve noticed it myself, more and more of my peers are making announcements on social media of their new business launching. I think it’s inspiring to see, and to know now that because it’s become more common, it’s also become a little easier to achieve.

Half of this course is focused on entrepreneurship which again I really liked. The rest of the course focused on sustainability which I also believe to be another recent major focus of the industry. Within the past few years, consumers have begun to question the ethics behind the production of fashion.

Where is it being produced? Is the factory safe, are the working conditions humane? Will the production of these items positively or negatively impact the environment? These questions were merely whispered throughout the industry before.

But as time progresses, designers are realizing that the fate of the industry is in consumers hands. People no longer care about what the celebrities are wearing, because influencers are now dominating the market.

Thanks to our persistence, we are slowly making an impact on the industry and turning the old ways into the new ways. If you want information on how you can register for the course, visit yellowbrick.co/fashionbusiness.

“Ask Me Anything” with Foot Locker Engineer Brennan Nichols

Yellowbrick on March 10, 2021

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Foot Locker Engineers are not always easy to get a hold of. Operations Engineer is a job title in the sneaker industry that is rarely public facing. Their position works heavily behind the scenes to help keep the Foot Locker brand on point. Yellowbrick Ambassador and Sneaker School grad Brennan Nichols is the Site Operations Engineer at Foot Locker.

Foot Locker Inc. is the leading brand that celebrates sneaker and youth culture worldwide. Their portfolio includes Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Eastbay and Footaction. They have about 3,000 retail locations in 28 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Foot Locker recently invested $100M in the reseller platform GOAT, which could yield interesting Goat x Foot Locker collaborations in the near future.

Brennan decided to take some time out of his day to give the Yellowbrick community some much needed career talk and industry gems via a ZOOM Webinar. He talked about his current position at Foot Locker, as well as his Sneaker School experience, solid Resume Tips, Building your network, and how to nail your interview for the job you want in the sneaker industry. At the end of it all, he opened up the floor for an “Ask Me Anything” Q&A session. We jotted down some of the top questions and answers and compiled a list below. You can press play on the video in this article to hear the webinar in its entirety, including all the questions and answers.

How did you get started in the sneaker industry?

“I started back in college where I did an internship at this sneaker boutique called Self Conscience. It is no longer open but it was the starting point for many people who have careers in the industry. I started as an intern, doing events on the weekends. We did a really cool collaboration with adidas back in 2008. That gave me my first love of the sneakers, the industry and sneaker marketing events. That’s the best place to start, as an intern.”

Do network connections matter and did a network connection help you get your job at Footlocker?

“Connections always matter. That goes back into building your network. Building my network helped me. What helped me was going to events, volunteering. Volunteering didn’t get me the job at Foot Locker but it helped me beef up my resume. I got my job from a staffing agency who saw my resume on Linkedin. They contacted me for an interview and I started as a temporary worker. A lot of big companies start people off as contract employees so don’t get discouraged by getting an offer on a contract position. Sometimes you get paid more often and paid more per hour. Sometimes you don’t have benefits so it depends on your livelihood but if you have the ability to go through a staffing agency, I recommend it.”

Can the Sneaker Essentials certificate of completion lead to a job opportunity?

“It can lead to a job opportunity but graduating from the program won’t give you a job. The course gives you a lot to talk about in interviews. Taking the course and having the certificate can lead to a lot of conversations during an interview. I’ve been in a lot of interviews with a lot of companies and they ask about the course. Whatever you learned from the course, you can mention it in the interview and that helps you stand out from the other candidates.

If a sneaker career is something you’re interested in, visit yellowbrick.co/sneakers. You can reach out to Brennan on IG. His handle is @wallstreetbnic.

The 5 Things We Learned from Syn Martinez, Founder of AfroBrutality

Yellowbrick on February 25, 2021

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Sneaker School allows people to level up their sneaker knowledge to take next steps into a possible career in sneakers. Sneaker School student alum Syn Martinez put himself in the right place, at the right time and was ready to make his move. He recently teamed up with Global Footwear brand Puma to release a branded gear collection under his brand, AfroBrutality. The collection includes a signature Puma silhouette with AfroBrutality branding set to release in June 2021.

AfroBrutality is not just a fitness brand, it’s a movement. The belief behind the brand is that the power of exercise not only tones the body but uplifts and educates the mind. Martinez believes in self-expression and created the AfroBrutality brand and movement so that people can exercise and express themselves unapologetically, AfroBrutality aims to create a more diverse and inclusive space in the cross-functional training community, with workouts that incorporate Black History education (not just in February) and dope workout gear to match.

Earlier this month, the AfroBrutality collection debuted at the Puma Flagship store in New York City. The in-store presentation included 2 levels of activity with the collection and shoes on display. There were workout stations available for trial workouts and Syn created custom workouts for all to enjoy, during the event or at home. Participants were outfitted in AfroBrutality Tees and Masks for socially distanced safety. The upper level was Workout HQ. There were guided and group workouts happening which are all available for people to check out on the Puma app.

We recently sat down with Syn for a virtual webinar conversation. He talked about his sneaker journey so far, the process of going from Sneaker School to Puma collaborator and gave some tips into how people can follow in his footsteps to get into the sneaker game. We were able to catch five of his most solid gems and share them below. If you want to see the full webinar conversation, you can view it in its entirety here. If you want more information on how you can apply for Sneaker School, visit yellowbrick.co/SneakerSchool.

1 – “When I come with ideas, I see them all the way through.” – Syn spoke about how many times people have ideas but no follow through. He likes to see his ideas from concept to product and follow through all the time. It is important to have all the steps to an idea because sometimes that is the difference between a brand taking or leaving your idea on the table.

2 – “Logos? It’s all about the details.” – Syn spoke in detail about the importance of storytelling and details when designing a logo. He had to re-think his logo a couple of times before deciding on a final design. He wanted to make sure the image resonated with the story the brand was telling. “And you want to make sure it looks good on everything.”

3 – “The art of pitching w/o pitching.” – When asked about how he pitched his idea to Puma, Syn said, “ I didn’t. I’ve built an incredible presence that my brand was innovative and tried and true, to where they reached out to me. This is done by years of hard work. Sneaker Essentials helped me figure out verbiage, and how to turn an idea into a pair of sneakers, to build my ability to negotiate and know what I was talking about.

4 – “I put myself in a strategic place so I could win.” – Hard work definitely pays off and Syn spoke about how he worked hard and was always prepared in every way for his next move. When Puma approached him, he was ready to give them all that they needed for next steps.

5 – “Do you want to be around for a lifetime, a reason or a season?” – You have to be all-in if you want to succeed in the sneaker industry. While most people want to have a career in the sneaker industry, they need to decide on how bad they want it. If they want to be around for a long time, they need to always have content and always be ready to put in the work.

New Program Alert | Invest In Your Career with Fashion Business Essentials

Yellowbrick on February 24, 2021

The School of Fashion at The New School’s Parsons School of Design, in collaboration with WWD, the leading source of news and analysis for the fashion, beauty, and retail industries, and the New York-based education platform Yellowbrick, today announced Fashion Business Essentials, a program that offers a deep exploration into the innovation and changes happening across the Fashion business; including effective uses of information technology, strategic business planning, decision-making, planning management, brand development, and effective communications within organizations.

Learners who complete the program will earn a non-credit Completion Certificate from Parsons and will gain a full understanding of key roles, skills, and functions to be successful in the fashion industry. All course materials and instruction will be provided online, enabling students to complete lessons at their own pace and fit the course into their daily lives.

The program offers more than 15 hours of instruction and project time offered across five modules titled, “Entrepreneurship and the Fashion System,” “Managing Fashion Production,” “Fashion Branding,” “Marketing Strategies,” and “Retailing and Distribution.”

Instruction will come from Parsons faculty, along with fashion insiders and experts. Instructors include Keanan Duffty, Director of Fashion Programs, Parsons; Khary Simon, Vice President at The Premiere Group, Parsons Faculty; Jasmine S. Young, Vice President of Operations at Ami Colé; Sydney Price, Founder & CEO, The Knew Purpose, Parsons Faculty; Rick Helfenbein, Retail & Fashion Industry Consultant, Former Chairman, President & CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association; and many more.

“The fashion industry has endured many challenges over the past year and we see its recovery as an opportunity to bring more diverse voices into the ranks,” said Ben Barry, Dean of the School of Fashion at The New School’s Parsons School of Design. “In this program, we’re building opportunities for talent who hail from non-traditional backgrounds in the fashion industry, and we’re furthering our mission to change the fashion education experience for the better.”

“WWD has been covering the Fashion industry since 1910, and few if any years have been more disruptive to the industry than 2020 was. However, where there’s disruption, there’s opportunity,” added Amanda Smith, President of Fairchild Media. “This is a chance for a whole new generation of talent to join us in reimagining the industry in bigger and better ways. By partnering with Parsons and Yellowbrick, we’re helping educate the next generation and we’re excited to tap our staff’s extensive knowledge in providing that education.”

“Fashion occupies a special place among creative industries, as expressed to us by the thousands of learners who have come through our Fashion and Streetwear programs,” said Rob Kingyens, President and CEO of Yellowbrick. “For learners who are dedicated to learning all they can, we wanted to create a next-level educational experience that highlights the intricacies of this massive and inspiring industry. By tapping the passion and expertise of Parsons and WWD staff, we’re now able to help fashion professionals and businesses advance in this exciting industry.”

Beginning today, visitors to allprograms.wpenginepowered.com/FashionBusiness can sign up for an exclusive preview of the program. The first group of students will be admitted to Fashion Business Essentials later this month.

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.

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