There are many different roles that comprise the fashion industry. One of the most coveted is Editor-in-Chief. For those of you looking to work towards this role, my advice is to try and find ways to get involved with a student publication! Michigan State University has it’s own student-run fashion publication, VIM Magazine. VIM, which garnered its name from the MSU fight song, is a fashion, beauty and lifestyle magazine made entirely by students for students. The magazine has gained quite a bit of attention on campus, and was even recognized by StyleCaster as one of The 15 Best Student-Run College Fashion Magazines in the nation. I caught up with one of the two Editors-in-Chief, Amanda Kadykowski, to ask a few questions.
Name: Amanda Kadykowski
Role: Co-Editor-in-Chief, VIM Magazine
CollegeFashionista: Can you explain what VIM Magazine provides for students?
Amanda Kadykowski: The magazine features articles about seasonal trends, men’s and women’s fashion, beauty and health, interior design, life at MSU and more. VIM also gives students the opportunity to gain valuable fashion-related experience in a wide variety of fields. At our meetings, we bring in guest speakers from the fashion industry, such as the founder of CollegeFashionista, Amy Levin!
CF: What does your role as Co-Editor-In-Chief entail?
AK: As the co-Editor-in-Chief, I am responsible for setting the vision of the organization as a whole and acting as a leader for our 125 members. I have to delegate tasks and responsibilities among my staff of directors, who then work with their teams on various projects. Editing the magazine is actually the smallest part of my role as co-Editor-in-Chief, and leadership is definitely the largest.
CF: What is the most rewarding part about working on an issue?
AK: The most rewarding part about being involved with VIM is the ability to see my team succeed and take pride in their work. I love seeing the look on someone’s face when they see their article or photo shoot published in the magazine. Also, I am always ecstatic when I hear someone has scored an internship or full-time job offer and credits it to being involved with VIM; that shows me that what we’re doing is valuable and is helping people reach their goals.
CF: What are your career goals after graduation?
AK: I hope to begin a career in the field of marketing in a position that challenges me every day. I have a lot of interests and would be open to exploring careers in a variety of industries. Ideally, I would love to combine my love of fashion with marketing. This summer, I’ll be interning with a company that builds and develops high end malls, so I’m excited to get involved with the retail industry and learn about the marketing behind successful brands!
Learn More: You can follow VIM on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also stay up-to-date by reading the blog; look for both Amanda and myself on the “Board of Directors” page!
