Follow me through my professional journey where I describe how I used my will to overcome to succeed in my career.
I grew up in what’s considered one of the most stable countries in the world, Sweden. My parents immigrated from Ghana in the early 80’s in order to provide a better life for us. I am very grateful for the childhood I had in Sweden but always knew that I would eventually leave in order to live a “ Bigger Life.” Because of Sweden’s socialist structure, I felt that entrepreneurship and personal success wasn’t always encouraged or celebrated. There is even a law called The Law of Jante ( Jantelagen) that describes this ideology.
I had very high aspirations in comparison to some of my peers so moving to New York was a strategic plan. After starting college I quickly learned the importance of networking and gaining experience through internships. I began doing internships way before my official “Internship Course”. That was honestly one of the most important things I did during college. I had the pleasure of working for Andy Hilfiger at Tommy Hilfiger, Essence Magazine’s Fashion Department and my mentor Sharifa Murdock before landing my first job at PROJECT Trade Show.
My journey started as an Executive Assistant to the President. In this role, I learned about the various departments within the company and top-line strategy. One of the most important things to do in any assistant role is to master learning your boss. Once you have established trust with your manager, it will open up opportunities for you to learn much more about the company, which is invaluable.
Another good tip is to “Look The Part.” When I worked for the former CEO of our Fashion Group, Tom Florio, he always said: “Edwina makes Zara & H&M look amazing.” Florio’s background as former Publishing Director of Vogue surely enabled him to experience some of the most fashionable creations but yet he appreciated my efforts in dressing up and representing him in and outside the office. It may sound vain but looking the part can get you far and lead to an opportunity for your to succeed; especially in an industry like Fashion where perception is key.
After working as an executive assistant for 2.5 years I knew that it was time for a change. I had established that I wanted to move into a sales role but I also wanted to dive into international business, so I worked with my boss and we created the position “International Account Executive.” I presented him with a business plan from a template that I found on google and he was impressed. One valuable thing I’ve learned about asking for promotions is to negotiate with accomplishments and a plan. The company you work for wants to know that you are: A) Invested in their growth and success B) capable of handling the new role and bringing something to the table. In other words, go into your raise request meeting with receipts and proof that you can do the job.
Over the past 8 years of working at a major corporation, I’ve learned the importance of focusing on the positive. As a black woman working in corporate America I am fully aware of the additional challenges that I sometimes have to endure but I DON’T let them overpower my will to overcome and succeed.
The truth is most big companies have the drama: disgruntled co-workers, gossipers, and unmotivated management. However, it’s imperative to focus on your own development and achievements. It’s easy to get discouraged when there is a lot of negativity around but you are responsible for your own happiness. It took me almost 5 years to learn this. Assume positive intent and know that people’s actions are a reflection of what they are going through. Being accountable for yourself is a major key to succeed. Today, I am happy to say that I am managing International Business Development for one of the largest events companies in the world. I am also building my personal brand and tapping into a creative side that is extremely fulfilling and rewarding.
I believe that there is a misconception about working for a corporation and not doing other things on the side. We are living in a time where entire businesses are run online. As long as it isn’t a direct conflict of interest; have the courage to build your own while working for someone else. Before launching EdwinaKulego.com I was nervous about what people would say and how it would be received. I can confidently say that the positive and open-minded people around you will embrace everything that you are doing for yourself. As long as you are intentional and genuine with your approach you will succeed. This new stage in my life has brought back so much creativity and collaboration.
I’ll leave you all with this note. We all have fears and that is inevitable but it’s important to acknowledge and push through. Miracles do truly happen when you power through your fears and overcome them in order to succeed.
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