{"id":31583,"date":"2021-08-02T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-02T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/?p=31583"},"modified":"2021-08-03T12:24:10","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T10:24:10","slug":"networking-is-all-about-building-that-authenticity-and-that-genuine-connection-with-someone-you-look-up-to-lynn-yu-ceo-of-jason-wu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/networking-is-all-about-building-that-authenticity-and-that-genuine-connection-with-someone-you-look-up-to-lynn-yu-ceo-of-jason-wu\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cNetworking is all about building that authenticity and that genuine connection with someone you look up to\u201d \u2013 Lynn Yu, CEO of Jason Wu"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>We were privileged hear from Lynn Yu, CEO of global fashion label Jason Wu, as she joined us from New York City for the latest in our prestigious Learning From Leaders conference series. Lynn, who has worked for other global fashion brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Jimmy Choo and Chanel, was candid and concise with her advice on networking, perseverance and the power of the brand pyramid in fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3457\" height=\"1162\" src=\"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/MicrosoftTeams-image-11-1.png\" alt=\"Business School\" class=\"wp-image-31688\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Starting Out: The Power of Networking<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Lynn Yu was born in mainland China and moved to the U.S. when she was 14 years old. She always dreamed of working in fashion, even going so far as to mention it in her admissions essay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While studying at Harvard, Yu made fashion industry connections the old-fashioned way: through cold calling. &nbsp;Not knowing many people in the fashion industry, she utilized Harvard\u2019s expansive network to connect with her sartorial heroes. Her bravery was rewarded; many of the fashion moguls she contacted during this time, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.donnakaran.com\/home.do\">Donna Karan<\/a> and senior management at <a href=\"https:\/\/row.jimmychoo.com\/en\/home\">Jimmy Choo<\/a>, became her mentors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unsurprisingly, Yu is adamant about the power of connection. \u201cNetworking is all about building that authenticity and that genuine connection with someone you look up to,\u201d she said, stressing the importance of cultivating and maintaining these relationships. For example, Yu made significant career moves based on recommendations from her network, which is what lead her to Jason Wu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When asked what it was like being a young person in such a senior position, Yu said, \u201cIt\u2019s especially crucial for you to have a certain level of vision, and conviction in your vision&#8230;it\u2019s important to have [other people in the industry] see you as a person with gravitas and poise and a strategic plan that\u2019s very well built-out in order to really command a certain amount of credibility in the industry.\u201d Yu also cautions humility, and stresses that collaboration with experts, rather than top-down management, is extremely important for young corporate leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"atbs-ceris-responsive-video\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Lynn Yu: Tips on How to Get to the Top\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wCRK-x_Q0-8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Adapt and Overcome: How the Jason Wu Brand Weathered the Pandemic With Aplomb<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/jasonwustudio.com\/\">Jason Wu<\/a> brand began fourteen years ago as a niche fashion house focusing solely on what Yu calls \u201cAmerican luxury.\u201d Founder Jason Wu wanted to prove that American designers could supplant old European couture houses as signifiers of luxe living. \u201cJason was very determined to break that tradition and fuse some elements of American sportswear with European couture craftsmanship.\u201d Since then, \u201cWe\u2019ve sort of built out our brand pyramid in a way that we\u2019re not only well-represented in the luxury world, but also equally developed in the contemporary space, as well as the mass space.\u201d Jason Wu now has three labels to accommodate this market breadth: Jason Wu Collection at the highest level, Jason Wu occupying the contemporary space, and J. Jason Wu at a mass price point. Yu identifies this structure as a brand pyramid, with the highest-end products at the top and the mass-market items forming the base. Jason Wu has also recently expanded into beauty and homeware lines, and Yu plans to roll the brand out even further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In response to a student question about whether mass-market availability damages the appeal of a luxury brand, Yu said, \u201cThe short answer is \u2018no,\u2019 but it has to be very skillfully done.\u201d She went on to outline two ways to use this kind of distribution structure and still protect the integrity of the brand: \u201cOne, make sure that Communications is always putting the spotlight on the luxury sphere.\u201d Secondly, \u201cMake sure that whatever you develop at a mass level is not a watered-down version of your best, most iconic sellers at the luxury level.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Due to the nature of their work, it was not feasible for the Jason Wu staff to be fully remote throughout the pandemic, so they shifted towards a hybrid workflow model. This new idiom seems to be working\u2014Jason Wu was the only brand to open both New York Fashion Week (NYFW) with live runway collections, of course respecting social distancing and strict COVID-19 testing. \u201cWe\u2019re happy to be the \u2018last man standing,\u2019 if you will, that really supported New York Fashion Week,\u201d Yu said. Fashion lovers will be pleased to know that Jason Wu plans to show its collection again at this upcoming September\u2019s NYFW, and Yu hopes this time they\u2019ll be joined\u2014safely\u2014by other designers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yu identified an acceleration in ecommerce sales during the pandemic. She does not anticipate this trend to disappear even as the world returns to normalcy, calling e-commerce a \u201clifeline\u201d for many brands. When asked by host Vanham why shoppers returning to brick-and-mortar establishments were so keen to seek out luxury brands first, Yu used China\u2019s economic re-opening as an example of \u201crevenge shopping\u201d: \u201cThere were people lining up outside the doors of Chanel and other luxury brands&#8230; even though some of these brands actually had price increases during the pandemic to raise their margins. But people&#8230;were very hungry for any kind of luxury, or anything that would sort of relieve some of the stress coming from the pandemic.\u201d Yu points out that U.S. retail sales in March rose overall by 9.8%; Jason Wu\u2019s data showed a similar upward trend. She hopes this rebound pattern will continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Global Influences, Global Goals<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Lynn Yu and Jason Wu are both native Mandarin speakers with ties to China, which Yu claims gave them a sense of responsibility towards establishing the brand in that market. \u201cWe\u2019re actually very happy to report that last July we were able to open our first global flagship at the IFC Mall in Shanghai.\u201d For those unfamiliar, the IFC Mall boasts over one hundred and eighty flagship stores, including brands such as Chanel, Burberry, and Prada, among other high-end entertainments. Jason Wu\u2019s second Shanghai location opened at the Kerry Centre just a week before this interview. Yu plans to expand the brand further in China, which she predicts will eventually be the number-one country for luxury goods consumption. \u201cEven pre-COVID, China\u2019s power was already undisputed in the fashion industry, and that\u2019s been further cemented as the pandemic started&#8230; So, we certainly hope we\u2019ll able to leverage our cultural affinity to further build out our presence in the market.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The identity of the Jason Wu brand, however, remains rooted in classic American luxury. \u201cJason\u2019s designs are built for women who appreciate craftsmanship&#8230; It\u2019s really about sharing that appreciation for the finer things in life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yu went on to compliment Wu\u2019s design process, adding that he is very focused on his customers\u2019 needs and experiences. \u201cI think he definitely dresses the woman in a way that she would like to feel.\u201d She also reminded the audience that Jason Wu rose to prominence as Michelle Obama\u2019s favorite designer and worked with her over fifty times. In addition, she cites Wu\u2019s superior technique and multicultural background as particular trademarks of his work. \u201cHis mood board has elements from East and West,\u201d she said, adding that the upcoming resort collection is inspired by cosmopolitan Shanghainese women of the 1920s and 1930s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Advice for Aspiring Fashion Moguls<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Yu, it is not necessary to have an educational background in fashion to work in the industry. \u201cI think it\u2019s fairly safe to say that that is a myth; that you have to start as an intern and work your way up&#8230; if you have the passion, you should be able to find your way here.\u201d .<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yu stressed that anyone working in this sector must be adaptable. \u201cFashion as an industry is inherently fickle&#8230;It\u2019s driven by trends, it\u2019s seasonal&#8230;so there is certainly this need to constantly evolve as time goes on, and to be a leader of dictating trends.\u201d She cites accommodating COVID logistics as an example of this necessary flexibility.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ms. Yu recommends that anyone wishing to rise to a C-level position in a competitive industry to develop the thickest skin possible, learn how to network effectively, and continuously advocate for yourself. Yu believes strongly in the possibility and power of opportunity and encourages students to watch out for any coming their way. \u201cOpportunities don\u2019t wait for the right time,\u201d she said, \u201cYou just have to jump on [them].\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At <a href=\"http:\/\/www.euruni.edu\">EU Business School<\/a>, we have been educating the entrepreneurs and business leaders of tomorrow since 1973. Join our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/diversity-in-education\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"27084\">multicultural and diverse community<\/a> to gain the knowledge, skills and mindset to excel in the workplace of the future!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We were privileged hear from Lynn Yu, CEO of global fashion label Jason Wu, as she joined us from New York City for the latest in our prestigious Learning From Leaders conference series. Lynn, who has worked for other global fashion brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Jimmy Choo and Chanel, was candid and concise with her advice on networking, perseverance and the power of the brand pyramid in fashion. Starting Out: The Power of Networking Lynn Yu was born in mainland China and moved to the U.S. when she was 14 years old. She always dreamed of working in fashion, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":31683,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1773,1777,1769],"tags":[658],"class_list":["post-31583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-eu-business-school-community","category-eu-business-school-guest-speakers","category-learning-from-leaders","tag-learning-from-leaders","post--single"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\r\n<title>\u201cNetworking is all about building that authenticity and that genuine connection with someone you look up to\u201d \u2013 Lynn Yu, CEO of Jason Wu | EU Business School<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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