The Outsiders Perspective: Your opportunity to transition into fashion and luxury
The Outsiders Perspective aims to revolutionise the fashion, luxury and beauty industries by providing unparalleled access to a diverse pool of highly skilled professionals. We chat to Founder, Jamie Gill, about the importance of driving diversity in the industries and how candidates can join the programme.
ICAS: What made you set up The Outsiders Perspective?
Jamie Gill: Put simply, I set up The Outsiders Perspective as an immediate call to action to increase representation in fashion, luxury and beauty. I wanted to focus on operational roles, where it is easier to transition into the industry. Brands are missing a huge opportunity to drive profitable and successful businesses by not embracing diverse ways of thinking and perspectives from a wider scope of skilled talent.
After studying architecture at Nottingham University, I relocated to London in the thick of the financial recession. At the time architecture and the design industry were fighting to survive, and I decided to take a career pivot into finance joining Deloitte London. After working in consulting for five years, whilst also studying Chartered Accountancy, I joined an investment fund that focused on British luxury fashion.
There, I joined the board of ROKSANDA, before being made CEO in March 2018. It was while in this role, in September 2020, I was invited to join the Executive Board of the BFC to support the fight against prejudice and discrimination in response to the Black Lives Matter movement.
During this time, I reflected on my own career journey, where I had benefitted extensively from cross industry experience and varied skillset building. I realised the opportunity that our industries were missing when it came to professional, diverse talent. This became the inspiration for and culminated in, The Outsiders Perspective.
ICAS: Can you please give us a bit more information about your programme?
JG: The Outsiders Perspective’s mission is to revolutionise the fashion, luxury and beauty industries by providing unparalleled access to a diverse pool of highly skilled professionals.
We do this firstly through a talent acquisition programme that enables high-performing and passionate candidates with transferable skills to bring fresh perspectives, drive profitability and deliver higher representation.
We collaborate with leading fashion and luxury houses including Chanel, Burberry, Lululemon, McQueen and Tiffany & Co., who contribute to the workshops, supporting candidates with the knowledge and tools needed to transition into a career in the industry.
Areas of focus include sales, legal, marketing, merchandising, operations, technology, finance, strategy and HR, working with industry leaders and partnering with leading brands who are looking for diverse talent to evolve their business.
ICAS: What do Chartered Accountants get out of it?
JG: The fashion, luxury and beauty industries need Chartered Accountants to bring professional rigour and structure into a creative space where the focus has been on product and building brand equity. These industries need financial expertise, but from those who have a passion for the creative industries and can lead on budgeting, financial planning and cost control, whilst understanding the essence of the brand.
Completing The Outsiders Perspective programme gives candidates the opportunity to apply their skills in an exciting environment, meet new people, build a network and use their skill of accountancy to drive value for global brands, where training in this area is lacking in industry.
ICAS: What advice would you give to accountants wanting to make the move into the luxury and fashion industry?
JG: We’re looking for applicants who have always wanted to work in these industries, with The Outsiders Perspective now being their pathway in. We’re not marketing to people who haven’t already explored this career transition. Candidates need confidence in applying, working to build a network on and offline, educating themselves about the industries by following relevant industry leaders, reading, watching and absorbing, attending events and exhibitions working to build their understanding of the industry.
ICAS: What are the main challenges for accountants getting into the industry?
JG: We’ve found that the main challenge for accountants getting into the industry is the initial barrier to entry, being seen by the brands, alongside not applying for roles due to a misconception that they won’t be able to succeed.
It’s both perception of the industry and the industry itself being overrun with applications that rely upon existing relationships or networks to bring in talent from another similar business. That is how being a part of The Outsiders Perspective programme can support accountants to transition into fashion, luxury and beauty - by working with our brand partners to put you forward for the roles that work for your requirements, wants and needs and giving confidence to brands that you’re committed to the role and it’s not a risk to support you in transitioning into industry.
About The Outsiders Perspective
The Outsiders Perspective (TOP) is a not-for-profit accelerator platform for people of colour committed to increasing representation in operational roles in the fashion, luxury and beauty industries.
TOP accelerates representation through services driving action including a twice annual talent acquisition programme, TOP bespoke services, TOP Community and data and insights reporting with the support of a growing list of brand partners.
To find out more about The Outsider Perspective and how to join the programme visit their website.
Join the programme
Are you interested in a career in fashion, beauty and luxury? Apply to join the programme before Sunday 22 September here.
Social Media:
LinkedIn: @theoutsidersperspective
Instagram: @theoutsidersperspective
TikTok: @theoutsidersperspective
