Luxury & Retail MBA | Tommy Jay Ly

Hometown
Flushing, New York

Undergraduate
Fashion Institute of Technology - Fashion Merchandising Management

Previous Industry
Tory Burch

Student Clubs
Vice President of Focused MBA, OutClass
Chief of Staff - Events, SGov
Associate Vice President - Treks, Luxury and Retail Club
Asian Business Society

My time at NYU Stern has reshaped how I see the future of luxury: not just as a business of beauty and scarcity, but as one ready to be reimagined through strategy, data, and AI.

After 8+ years in the fashion world at brands like Tory Burch, J.Crew, and Kayser-Roth, I knew the industry from the inside: how products get built, how teams coordinate across seasons, how decisions ripple from design to the sales floor. What I wanted next was the strategic lens to shape those decisions, not just execute them. The Focused MBA was the right fit because of the Luxury & Retail focus. The timing also lined up with NYU Stern launching it's inaugural AI Specialization, which sits exactly where I see the industry heading. In one intensive year, I could build the business toolkit, join a community of people who share my passion for luxury, and come out ready to lead its next chapter.

For me, community at Stern came from saying yes early and often. Within the first few months, I joined the OutClass board as VP of Focused MBA, took on AVP of Treks for LARC, and became Chief of Staff - Events for Student Government. Each role connected me to a different part of the school. The support has come from the classroom too-f rom my Communications team becoming a real unit while preparing our boardroom-style presentation. Serving as a Teaching Fellow for Professor Sharlach has shown me how invested the faculty are in student's growth. As someone who's energized by people, I've found that Stern rewards you for putting yourself out there, and it gives back much more than you put in.

My favorite class so far has been Leadership with Professor Nate Pettit. I came into Stern thinking of myself as a people person, and I am, but his course made me look at what that actually means when you're leading. One assignment that stuck with me was where I had a deep-listening conversation with a peer and was not allowed to respond back until a given amount of time. It sounds simple, but it pushed me to stop thinking about my next response and really focus on what the other person was saying. Truly a lesson that I took with me was sometimes being a great leader isn't always about what you say but how you listen.

One of the biggest highlights of my Stern experience was attending the ROMBA conference in Dallas, Texas. It meant a lot to be in a room with fellow LGBTQ+ MBA Candidates and leaders from schools and companies across the country. The energy was incredible. Every conversation, whether at a panel, a recruiting session, or over dinner, reminded me how powerful it is to show up fully as yourself in business. I came home with new connections, a clearer picture of the paths ahead of me, and an even deeper appreciation for the community we have at Stern. It also showed me that Stern's network goes far beyond New York, and that going to these events is one of the best ways to see it in action.

My biggest piece of advice is to come in ready to say yes, because a Focused MBA moves fast. You only have one year, so don't wait until you feel settled to get involved. Join the clubs, go to the events, and interview for leadership roles early. Some of my most meaningful experiences, from joining the OutClass board to visiting the Costume Institute at the Met, came from opportunities I could have easily passed on. Second, bring your industry experience into every room. Your background is an asset, and classmates and professors will value the perspective you bring from the real world. And finally, plan ahead on the practical side. Map out your courses, learn how registration and waitlists work. The year goes by quickly, so the more intentional you are, the more you'll get out of it.

As someone born and raised in New York, I thought I knew this city, but Stern has shown me a completely different side of it. For someone focused on Luxury & Retail, there's no better classroom. Through Stern I've had a private tour of the Costume Institute at the Met, and visited Ralph Lauren's showroom, experiences that connect what we learn in class directly to the industry. For someone who loves networking as much as I do, the city puts industry leaders, alumni, and events within reach almost every night. At Stern, New York isn't just where the school is; it's part of the curriculum.