Q Early Bird or Night Owl? If you had asked me this when I was at Trinity, I would have said Night Owl. I was definitely one of the late knockers on Front Gate, on the way back to my room after an evening with the hockey girls. Now, I would say that I enjoy being an Early Bird, and I endeavour to be one whenever possible. There is something beautiful and empowering about having that time to be at peace with your thoughts before the day begins. Q A dvice to your younger self? I would tell teenage Alice to hold on for the ride. Through your hardest times will come the very best moments in your life. And I would say, be proud of who you are. The more authentically you live, the more happiness and joy you will find. Q Analogue or digital diary? Analogue diary, every time. Despite being the founder of a technology company and having spent my career bringing digital into physical spaces, I carry around a notebook and pen everywhere I go, in every meeting, to jot down my observations and revisit them. Perhaps because I am happiest in nature, there is something about the physicality of my surroundings that grounds me. So, I will have an analogue diary forever. I say this despite having taken all of my notes at Trinity on my laptop. Q S omething you can’t live without? I am inseparable from my friends and family. The people I went to Trinity with are still my core group of friends, and we are as close as ever. Our WhatsApp group is named ‘Trinners Holdings’. These friends, along with my family, form the foundation for everything that I am and do. Q Y our greatest mentor? I honestly can’t choose just one. From Trinity to being a junior advertising executive in London, to landing my dream job at Burberry, and then reaching the C-suite at Ralph Lauren, I couldn’t have achieved what I set out to without multiple guiding lights. I am incredibly grateful to all of them for helping me navigate complex problems, ideas, and environments. I believe it is invaluable for young people coming up in any industry to find leaders to learn from and not to consider one mentor’s advice as all-encompassing, because every person has a unique lived experience and background. Different leaders have had such profound impacts on me at different stages of my life. It’s critical to know what you need to learn from each person. Q W hat does the future hold for you? I hope for a future that is rich with family and friends, love, and, of course, animals. In terms of SYKY, we genuinely believe we can change the future of the fashion industry. We believe it has been a centralised industry for far too long, concentrated around key cities and dominated by certain demographics. But talent isn’t limited by geography; it is distributed ubiquitously. As we onboard new people into the industry throughout the world, we bring in new perspectives and lenses, and that’s incredibly important work that needs to be done. We look forward to tapping into talent that is creating digital fashion – and physical fashion – for the future. Q A cause you care about? I care deeply that people see themselves represented in the world. For me, as a child, witnessing queer individuals building their families and lives – whether in media, advertising, or positions of leadership – would have had an enormous impact. This is a microcosm of a need that is imperative worldwide. I am also incredibly proud of the SYKY team. We all come from diverse backgrounds and perspectives that inform how we view the world. This diversity makes our organisation stronger and more competitive because we draw from an abundance of rich stories and experiences. This, in turn, shapes how we are building SYKY and how we will change the future of fashion. Q O ne piece of advice for 2024? Stay curious. Constantly be a student of life. There is always something to learn from every interaction, every encounter, and every person around you. Once you decide where you want to go, focus and believe in yourself. Click here to register for our Inspiring Ideas @ Trinity webinar, ‘How Talent is Disrupting Luxury Fashion’ with Alice Delahunt Photography: Barry McCall
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