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Passion for Fashion

Whitney Newman not only has a passion for fashion, but also for travel and sustainability.  How will her IPS help merge her passions into a satisfying profession?

Whitney Newman creating pieces for her business.About Me

As a resident of North Carolina's Outer Banks, I believe in a simple life where comfort comes naturally and casual is the dress code for your day. Yet for as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with big city travel, haute couture, and creative energy. My current quest is to merge my passions into a business plan and satisfying profession.

I have always loved creating things, from tote bags for friends to painted furniture and wall art for my college residences, but until recently never considered making my hobby into a potential job. This summer I decided to test my creative talents by selling some of my pieces at a local art shop, Lighthouse Garden. I guess you could say I'm doing things in reverse with my "back to basics" approach. I've been learning all the ins-and-outs of product development and marketing through the business school, and now I'm applying it to my own business model centered on personalized craftsmanship.  

Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, I've always known that I wanted to be a business major but wasn't sure where my concentration would lie. That is where the Mason School was so resourceful. As early as the fall of my freshman year, the business school was helping me narrow my options and define my Individual Program of Study (IPS) without me even realizing it. I attended the DoG Street to Wall Street event and quickly realized that finance careers were very exciting, but the fast track did not suit my style. Over the past three years, my participation in the myriad of Mason School conversations, activities, and courses have led me to pursue a degree in Marketing with a concentration in Management & Organizational Leadership. 

Whitney Newman speaking at the U.S. Department of the Interior.Impact & Engagement

For me, getting involved at William & Mary was easy and enjoyable. Most everyone you talk to is a part of multiple service and social groups. I love being a sister in Kappa Kappa Gamma, as well as serving on the Executive Board for Up ‘til Dawn to raise funds and awareness for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

I'm also involved with the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project as one of the organization's student energy ambassadors. Through this position, I have the opportunity to promote energy awareness and education each summer at NEED's National Youth Awards in Washington, DC. This passion for sustainability and conservation led me to get involved with the business school's newly founded Net Impact chapter. I am so excited about the progress we've made this past year, launching Saatchi & Saatchi S's Do One Thing campaign campus-wide and inspiring our peers and faculty to work towards a sustainable lifestyle!

Whitney Newman while studying abroad in Rome, Italy.
Highlights

The moment I enter the business school, the atmosphere both soothes and motivates me. There is a feeling here that you are part of a group that is genuinely revolutionary in their educational endeavors. I think one of the greatest aspects of the business school is that each person's experience is a team effort.  From the foundation semester to choosing my major to studying abroad, I have always been surrounded by classmates and mentors that care about my goals and help me achieve them. 

In my quest for the perfect place to study abroad, I would have been lost with out the support of the program advisors. They tirelessly helped me narrow down my options until I settled on studying in Rome, Italy at John Cabot University. My time abroad was truly invaluable and has left me with some of the greatest memories and experiences of my life. I love that the flexibility of the business program allowed me to couple my international emphasis with my passion for fashion in the Eternal City. 

After soaking up the "dolce vita" philosophy while in Italy, I returned to the United States with a newfound perspective on how I want to live my life. Italians believe that you should live in the moment and seek every opportunity to fulfill your passions. For me, this means taking time to pursue my love of the arts and traveling whenever possible. I am looking forward to going to Southeast Asia this winter break with the William & Mary Global Immersion Program. I have heard such great things about the trip from past participants and cannot wait to visit the region firsthand!

One of Whitney Newman's painted accessories.Next Steps

With senior year rapidly approaching and the "What are your post-graduation plans?" question becoming an increasingly popular topic of conversation, I have finally decided to commit to exploring my creative passions. Instead of doing a traditional internship over the summer, I returned home to focus on developing my woodworking, sewing, and painting skills for my graduate school portfolio and future endeavors. 

I plan on attending the VCU Brandcenter for the Creative Brand Management track to pursue a Masters of Science in Mass Communications/Advertising. This unique program will allow me to combine my knack for design with my business smarts and desire for a sustainable lifestyle. As the Italians and the Mason School have taught me, the more you explore the more you learn and grow. I have been fortunate to build a solid foundation with all the wonderful opportunities at William & Mary.  Thanks to the world-class education and environment at the Mason School of Business, I am equipped with the necessary tools to go forth and design my life.