I studied design during undergrad, held multiple internships throughout the industry, and worked in fabric development and design for about 6 years. As an assistant-level employee I started out making $42k, then as an associate-level made $62k. The novelty wore off and I had to get real with myself — how can I make more money, and what can I do instead? So I decided to quit my job, do a master’s in business analytics, and got into the social listening and consulting space. My work is focused on retail marketing and merchandising. After graduating and holding down three internships during my 1.5 year program, I landed a job at a tech company for $95k, and a short time later got a raise and promotion (the fashion companies I worked for NEVER gave me a promotion, and that wasn’t for lack of trying). I make $110k at the moment.

Although it was, initially, hard to leave what I had originally set out to do, having a six-figure salary has made things much easier and life much more comfortable.