Celia (Yichun) Lou

I was born in 1996 in Hangzhou, a very gorgeous city in China. I came to UK for my studies in 2020. After completing my master program at the University of Leeds, I started my job straight away in early 2021. I currently work as a business analyst for a leading power company. My working experience mostly relates to marketing, branding, advertising and event management. In my wider life, I enjoy working out in gym, hiking and travelling a lot.

What made you want to apply to your MA course and to Leeds?

With a passion for fashion and entrepreneurship, I enrolled the MA Fashion, enterprise and society. The program is an interesting mix of fashion, entrepreneurship, marketing and branding. This combination attracted me and made me apply for the course.

What is it that makes you passionate about your area of study?

I think I have always had an interest for fashion and entrepreneurship. The former catches my attention in life and has shaped my style a lot. It is conceptional while inspiring. The later, is probably built in my DNA. I dream about creating something and owning it one day. Feeling the interaction between myself, my business and the real market makes me excited. That is probably the main reason that drives me forward.

What aspects of the course did you enjoy the most?

I think the access to multiple interesting forums impressed me the most and I enjoyed them a lot. My thanks to the program leader Caroline, for connecting us to many great designers and entrepreneurs in the fashion industry, which enabled us to really talk to them and learn from their experience. The network connections to industry is something that is not easy to gain on your own.

Did you work closely with a particular tutor or member or the University’s academic staff? Tell us about that experience.

I had a very pleasant working experience with my MA program leader Caroline. She was extremely nice and easy to communicate with, Caroline always showed her care, understanding and support to the students, and that matter more during the circumstances around covid. No matter the questions about study, life in UK, or work-related, she was always the go-to person. Apart from that, her strong work ethic inspired me a lot both in life and the workplace.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your time at Leeds and on the course, or about the skills you developed?

During my time at the University of Leeds, I enjoyed the diversity and convenience of the education. I luckily made some really good friends with international backgrounds. We met in university, and shared many career dreams and values. I cherish the friendships I made at university and because of those, I successfully improved my communication skills a lot, as well as my understanding of the diverse and inclusive culture of the UK.

What would you say to anyone thinking of applying for your course?

I would recommend to those who have a passion for fashion and entrepreneurship to apply for MA Fashion, enterprise and society. The teachers are all nice and supportive, while the University of Leeds provides basically everything you need during the study. Hopefully you will enjoy the environment and the journey as much as I did, and let it help you get closer to your goals and dreams.