An MBA Thesis on the Pitfalls of Fashion Leadership

Join hosts senior style icon and former mental health professional Theodora Krochman, and entrepreneur and documentarian Melissa Pierce on "Why Don't We Dress for Dinner Anymore?" as they examine fashion as a psychological and cultural phenomenon.

In Episode 13, Melissa shares exciting news about completing her MBA thesis, which examines how the absence of strategic planning sets small creative businesses back, creates poor workforce feedback loops, and keeps fashion brands trapped in survival mode. Drawing from her personal experience working in the fashion industry, Melissa describes the challenges of operating in environments where leadership fails to establish clear key performance indicators and collaborative decision-making processes. Teddi, drawing from her own marketing background in healthcare, provides contrasting examples of effective leadership practices that involve team members in budget decisions and strategic direction.

The conversation expands to explore the broader challenges facing creative professionals in the fashion industry, with both hosts noting how many talented designers and stylists in Chicago must maintain other careers while pursuing their passion part-time. They discuss the particular difficulty of monetizing artistic pursuits without compromising creative integrity, sharing personal examples from their families, including Teddi's husband Ken, a talented artist who spent years in the insurance industry to support their family despite his artistic talents. The hosts reflect on how economic necessities often force creative individuals to put artistic aspirations on hold.

As the episode wraps up, Teddi and Melissa contemplate the value of pursuing one's passion, even if later in life, highlighting how constraints of time, energy, and financial responsibilities can postpone creative pursuits. Their candid conversation offers listeners insight into the business realities of creative industries while celebrating the persistent drive that keeps artists and fashion professionals pursuing their vision despite institutional and economic challenges.

Follow Teddi, Melissa, and the show on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@teddilovesfashion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@the.melissa.fierce⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@getdressedfordinner⁠⁠⁠⁠