New York City has long been a global stage for the fashion industry, but breaking into the “business of style” requires way more than just, well, style. It calls for a high-performance toolkit—one that includes legal frameworks, digital agility, and the hustle and support to make pivotal connections.
Fordham Magazine caught up with three grads who leveraged their degrees and the Fordham network to score a seat at the table with some of the world’s most iconic brands. From the “engine room” of Ralph Lauren to the digital newsstands of Marie Claire, here is how these Rams help run the show.
The Digital Newsstand Director
Christina D’Ambrosio ’18, Deputy Director of Social Media, Marie Claire
For D’Ambrosio, the combination of her Fordham coursework and a series of high-profile internships helped her land a job that didn’t even exist when she was in college.
D’Ambrosio at the 2025 MTV VMAs | Photo courtesy of D’Ambrosio
The Role: As deputy director of social media for Marie Claire, D’Ambrosio turns traditional stories into viral moments to engage new and longtime fans of the magazine on TikTok and Instagram. “For a legacy brand like Marie Claire, our social platforms are our new newsstand: It’s how people find us,” she says.
The Fordham Edge: “My job didn’t exist when I was in college,” D’Ambrosio says. Her Fordham coursework in communication and media studies taught her to bridge magazine journalism and the ever-shifting dynamics of social media.
“I think you have to be nimble, and you have to be willing to learn new things every single day. Being able to have that foundation of journalism but also understand the tech side was really important for me specifically.”
The NYC Advantage: Going to college in the heart of the city allowed D’Ambrosio to complete three pivotal internships—at College Fashionista, MTV, and the Knot. By graduation, she didn’t feel thrown into the “deep end of adulthood.”
“I already had a community here. I already had professional experience,” she says. “And I think that’s such a unique thing that Fordham offers because of where we’re located.”
The Global Strategist
Monique Padrid ’17 MSL, Global Head of Temporary Visual Merchandising, Dolce & Gabbana Beauty
Padrid’s journey from Fordham’s pioneering Master of Studies in Fashion Law program to Dolce & Gabbana proves that legal expertise is one of the most valuable assets in the industry.
Padrid at a Dolce & Gabbana pop-up installation in Dubai | Photo courtesy of Padrid
The Role: Padrid says her Fordham law degree is the “something different” she needed to excel in visual merchandising. At D&G, she collaborates with product marketers to bring campaigns and new product launches to life in the real world—from flagship stores to Sephora shelves and displays in retailers like Macy’s.
The Real: “What people see in a magazine or in a store, it’s very polished, right?” Padrid says. “And a lot of people think that it’s just very creative. But the process is quite long and operational. I am on Excel most of the time, and I am on calls with my different counterparts globally to see how we can properly execute these things.”
The Fordham Edge: Padrid credits her Fashion Law Practicum for shifting her mindset from theory to practice. “It put everything in perspective,” she says, and helped her build skills she uses daily when negotiating with suppliers and working with creative partners.
The Showroom Strategist
Anna Gaylord ’23 | Wholesale Showroom Manager, Ralph Lauren
For Gaylord, the Fordham network isn’t just a concept: It’s the reason she landed her role at Ralph Lauren.
Gaylord with Ralph Lauren colleagues at the 2025 Ryder Cup | Photo courtesy of Gaylord
The Fordham Edge: By reaching out to a Fordham grad at Ralph Lauren, she secured a referral that led to her current position. “The Fordham network is huge, and it’s so helpful,” she says. “And honestly, it’s the reason why I have this job. You’d be surprised how many people want to help.”
The Role: Gaylord manages Ralph Lauren’s “engine room,” the wholesale showroom where buyers review new collections and place bulk orders for their stores. She puts her Fordham degree in communication and media studies to work coordinating the flow of collections from design and production into the retail space, ensuring that every showroom presentation meets the high standards of a heritage fashion house.
“Essentially, my job, especially during market week, is making sure that the brand is being represented in the right way and getting into the hands of the right people.”
The Advice: Gaylord offers vital advice for Fordham seniors: Be persistent, harness the Fordham network, and don’t get discouraged. That can be difficult when peers in fields like finance have full-time job offers well before graduation, but not all industries move at the same pace.
“It’s really hard, especially when all your friends are going out and celebrating because they got their offer in October, and you’re sitting there in May like, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing.’ So, not getting discouraged is huge.”
