Amaiya Sims

Entrepreneurship for Creatives, MA

(She/Her) I am pursing my MA in Entrepreneurship for Creatives. I am a fashion stylist for personal wardrobe, costuming, and more while also working as the Retail Operations Associate for Chicago retail tech startup Garmentier. Entrepreneurship and establishing my own company has been a lifelong dream of mine, this program has already helped me make steps towards that and I am excited to share the journey. Outside of work and school I love aerial yoga, creating content, and photography!

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU WERE DOING BEFORE YOU CAME TO COLUMBIA.

I am very fortunate that my entire college career has been at Columbia! I completed my undergraduates degree in Fashion Merchandising with a minor in Entrepreneurship within 3 years. The network I established at Columbia allowed me to work at many jobs and internships such as Apple, Kohl’s Corporate, and even win the National Retail Federation’s Next Generation Scholarship.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE COLUMBIA FOR YOUR GRADUATE STUDY?

I chose to continue my graduate studies at Columbia because of the unique program and ecosystem that they offer. When I learned that the MA program for Entrepreneurship was only 1 year, and simultaneously prepares you to launch your venture at the end of the program, I knew I had found the right place yet again. My dreams and goals are very specific to the Chicago area, and I simply knew that I did not want to leave.

TELL US ABOUT A PROJECT YOU’RE WORKING ON THAT YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT.

The entire MA program provides step-by-step advice and mentorship on how to launch your business, and so the larger project that I am currently working on is launching my styling agency: Amaiya’s Atelier. More specifically I am very excited about expanding and specifying my business model. Having an idea in your head is one thing, but filling in all the holes with details in another. Especially, when there are holes you did not know existed! The professors and even my cohort have helped tremendously and given very specific feedback to make the process easier and enjoyable!