Ashley Barby fashions her own start-up with the help of her MBA

With an interest in technology’s disruption of the retail and fashion industries, Ashley Barby noticed there was an ecosystem evolving, but nowhere for people to connect in it. So she built a platform where they could.  

In 2018, Barby created FashionTech (external link, opens in new window) , a platform for entrepreneurs in the fashion, retail and technology industries to connect and share ideas. She decided to pursue her MBA the following year to expand her business skills, and chose the Ted Rogers MBA program because of its focus on entrepreneurship. 

Here is what the recent graduate (MBA, 2020) had to say about her start-up, and how she is applying what she learned in the Ted Rogers MBA program to her business: 

Tell us about your organization/work.

I am the Founder of FashionTech, which is the preeminent global community hub for innovators and information seekers at the intersection of fashion and technology. We connect innovators and professionals through various channels and programming while delivering leading industry insights. 

We also provide immersive and engaging programming through webinars, speaker series, professional networking opportunities, white papers, case studies and ongoing industry analysis. Our focus is on connecting the emerging fashion technology industries in Toronto, London and New York.

What inspired you to start your business?

I have always been interested in how technology is disrupting the fashion and retail industries. I also noticed that there was an entire ecosystem evolving around the intersection of fashion and technology, but nowhere for people in the ecosystem to connect. I decided to start FashionTech to fill this need.

Why did you pursue your MBA and why did you choose the Ted Rogers MBA program?

A lot of my business knowledge has been learned through experience and by working with a number of startups. I decided to pursue a MBA in order to formalize my training and education in business. I chose the Ted Rogers MBA program because of the focus on entrepreneurship which aligns closely with my background.

How did the Ted Rogers MBA program assist you on your entrepreneurial journey?

I was able to leverage a lot of what I was learning in class directly in my day-to-day work. Whether it was applying concepts that I had recently learned, or using my business as a case study for a project or assignment. This merging of professional and personal knowledge was invaluable as I was able to combine my experience and learnings from both perspectives.

Completing my Ted Rogers MBA was one of the most impactful decisions of my life and a decision that I am so happy I made.