Backstage at New York Fashion Week as an NYU Steinhardt Student

Running the Runway

Life as an NYU student during Fashion Week is all about time management. This season, Daniella balanced a part-time job at Calvin Klein, a full load of MCC classes, and her internship at Lindsey Media. A typical day started at the office at 9:00 a.m. for preshow planning. At 1:30 p.m., she’d head to her 2:00 p.m. class, after which she’d pivot back to Fashion Week events. Other days, she’d put in a full shift at Calvin Klein before heading to a NYFW show.

“I wanted to be as reliable as I could. I wanted to spend as much time as I could at Fashion Week,” she recalls. Every day, Daniella did the heavy lifting behind the glamour: Creating lookbooks, preparing showrooms, assisting stylists, and managing “press pulls”—the essential process of gathering pieces to send to major media outlets.

The days often stretched late into the night, but she had a secret weapon: “You definitely have to wear the right shoes! I’d bring two pairs of shoes into work at Calvin Klein so I didn’t have to wear heels all day.” Still, the energy of the industry fueled her. “It’s really tiring, but it’s worth it. I definitely enjoy it.”

From Trainee to Teacher

This year, Daniella’s experience felt different. Having earned Solomon’s trust during her internship, she was tapped to lead the Fashion Week charge, training a group of 30 interns from across the country. For Daniella, the role felt natural. “I’m the oldest sibling, so mentoring and being the role model is who I am as a person. I knew I wanted to help out these interns,” she says.

She focused on sharing the technical skills that make or break a PR professional: mastering Excel, writing effective emails, and developing the agility needed to succeed. “I was picturing myself when I first started, and I remember I was nervous,” she recalls. “I wanted to learn really quickly because there’s limited time before the event starts. The people who helped and mentored me inspired my work ethic.”

The NYU Edge

Daniella always knew NYU was the right fit. More importantly, she always knew fashion was her future. She found her place in Steinhardt’s MCC program after learning that alumni land powerhouse roles at major media companies. Through Focus classes (which provide a broad media overview) and Framing courses (which dive deep into specific industries), she carved out a path centered on fashion PR. Additionally, she added a minor in Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology at NYU Stern School of Business to round out her expertise.

Her academic foundation helped her realize her true calling. “This is not a small college town. You’re at NYU in New York City, and this is your chance to do what you want,” she affirms. While she once dreamed of a career like in Emily in Paris, she discovered she preferred the authentic, one-on-one relationship-building of PR. “You want to make sure your client is represented in the best way possible,” she says.

Beyond the classroom, Daniella leverages NYU’s many clubs and resources to network and build new skills. She balances her studies with leadership and community in the Communications Club, the Undergraduate Latin American Business Association, and the Luxury and Retail Association (LARA).