I’m the President of the Joyce F. Brown Fashion Institute of Technology, and This Is How I Work.
This year, Dr. Joyce F. Brown celebrates his 20th birthday as President of the New York Institute of Fashion, SUNY School of Arts and Business, whose distinguished alumni include designers Calvin Klein and Michael Kors, Grace Chen and Editor-in-Chief of Elle. chef Nina Garcia. Before becoming the first woman and first African American to serve as FIT President, she was Vice Chancellor of the City University of New York, Deputy Mayor of New York City for Public and Community Affairs and Professor of Clinical Psychology. We spoke with Dr. Brown about how she got here, how she works, and how to make decisions in an academic setting.
Location: New York, NY. Current place of work: President of the Fashion Institute of Technology. Current mobile device: iPhone and iPad.
Tell us a little about your past and how you became who you are today .
I grew up in a home where reading was encouraged and education was paramount. My parents don’t have the opportunity to attend college, but this is my sister, and I would be no question.
I grew up near the NYC City College campus and was inspired by the hundreds of students I saw walking from subway to class every day. I could peer into their laboratory windows from our apartment. The campus was our playground. I wanted to be like them.
At the same time, I was equally influenced by my grandmother, a wonderful seamstress who sewed for many famous designers. My mother also knew how to sew. So life was filled with fabrics, decoration, gorgeous textiles, hand embroidery, mannequins, 3-way mirrors, pins and bobbins on the floor, spacers and basque.
When I got to FIT, it was a bit like going home. I never learned to sew, but having received the education that my parents wanted for me, now I am surrounded by dynamic creative people – students and teachers who are changing the world by creating beautiful things. I understand and appreciate the passion and muse that motivates them. Entering FIT was karmic.
Tell us about a recent work day.
- 8:30 am: Breakfast with Board of Trustees and FIT Foundation members.
- 9:45 am – quarterly meeting of the Board of Trustees.
- Immediately after lunch, a meeting with architects to plan the construction of our new academic building.
- Afternoon: An interview with a potential material science teacher and a meeting with our corporate partners in our FIT / Infor Design and Tech Lab.
- In between meetings, answer emails, make phone calls, and work at your desk.
- In the evening, take a guided tour of the Norman Norell exhibition at the FIT Museum for the Women’s Forum, followed by a reception.
What apps, gadgets or tools can’t you live without?
My iPhone, of course; iPad; email and texts.
How is your workplace arranged?
I work between my desk and the large conference table. I have a lot of meetings in my office, so we are sitting at the negotiating table. If I am interviewing in the office, I have two chairs with headrests that I can use for conversation.
I try not to have any photographs on my desk because it seems to be a mess. I know where to find everything on it – but it’s not a very good view! I have many reminders of special occasions in college – photographs, the ceremonial shovel laid when laying the foundation for the construction of a new student canteen a few years ago, faculty publications, and illustrations.
But what I love the most is the toys that our toy design students make. Almost all of the key character toys your kids or grandchildren play with have been created by our toy design alumni. When I’m not using my chairs for interviews, Eeyore sits in one of them and looks around the room.
What’s your best shortcut or life hack?
I’m not very good with labels. If I can take some time to think about the project in stages, I can usually combine some of the steps and save time. Writing helps me make sense of the project, so I make lots of lists (sometimes just cross them out for joy!). By learning the details, I can recruit the best team members.
Tell us about an interesting or unusual process you have at work.
The academic model is very different from the corporate one. It is much less hierarchical and requires an understanding of what is known as co-management. Ultimately, I am responsible for decisions and their results, but I find the consultation process valuable.
At FIT, we have been involved in a number of strategic planning projects over the years. In each iteration, I started with a planning board made up of representatives from different groups in the community, where we work with the facilitator to identify aspirational goals, discuss strategies to achieve them, and outline initiatives that will move us forward. We then organize a series of roundtables with an even wider community where we present the plan resulting from the Planning Council’s work and each table in turn provides answers.
By the end of the process, at least 200 people had expressed their opinion on the definition of our goals and the methods we should use to achieve them. We then publish our preliminary results and invite other community members. The real value of the process lies in the fact that we develop a shared vision for our future. If people see that their ideas are reflected in the plan, they can “own” part of the plan, and therefore there will be great investments on their part to achieve our common goals and even exceed our aspirations.
Who are the people who help you achieve results, and how do you rely on them?
At the operational level, I have my own staff, and at the operational level, I have an office made up of vice presidents with their own areas of expertise to help implement the college strategic plan, a document co-authored by the entire FIT community and which is the lifeblood college.
How do you keep track of what you need to do?
It’s like running a small town; it’s definitely 24/7. I make a lot of lists, and as they say, you need a whole village – my team is watching me so that I don’t go astray. And, of course, my phone. One of the great things about this technology is that I can send messages in the middle of the night without disturbing anyone, and I get my answer in the morning.
How to recharge or relax ?
I love theater. I love flowers and gardening. I like to travel; It’s great to be in a different time zone so I can play while I sleep in NYC and still be doing work at night (so maybe this doesn’t count as a break). I love quiet, casual dining with my husband and friends.
What’s your favorite side project?
I love decorating and shopping, and I convinced myself – and even my husband – that this is all research and part of the job.
Who else would you like to see to answer these questions?
Jeff Bezos.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Pay attention. Listen carefully. Include good ideas when you hear them. Respect communication methods and responsibilities in your organization. Let others see their input so they can own a piece of the project.
What problem are you still trying to solve?
Do it all and get a reasonable amount of sleep.