Every issue, GRAZIA USA highlights 17 Game Changers, who inspire, educate, and celebrate individuality, beauty, and style. Meet Dr. Muge Erdirik Dogan, the president of Amazon Fashion, who’s excited to see science expand the shopping and style space.
We’re in a world where technology is increasingly making a presence in the fashion industry. I have been with Amazon for 14 years, leading Category, Technology, and Operations teams in the Baby and Beauty businesses before being appointed as President of Amazon Fashion in February 2021.
My background is rooted in technology and innovation, and it’s been really exciting to see more science play into fashion. What I look forward to in my new role in the company is continuing to leverage my expertise in science, technology, and innovation as Amazon Fashion continues to expand its selection and deliver inspiring shopping experiences for customers.
For example, my team’s progress with The Drop’s made-on-demand model — where items are only produced when an order is placed to reduce waste — is an area we will continue to test, learn, and innovate on behalf of customers.
It has been such an exciting and rewarding journey throughout my time at Amazon and I’m excited to continue working with the team to create more ways to surprise and delight customers. While my responsibilities in this new role including developing and executing Amazon Fashion’s growth strategy, building technology, developing new private brands, and merchandising and marketing in inspiring ways to our customers. I also believe that building a culture that is welcoming and inclusive is integral to people doing their best work.
Through unprecedented times comes incredible ideation, and I want everyone to feel empowered to speak up if they have an idea or are interested in making a change, so we can all work together to shape the future. I want to see an environment that is equitable, where everyone has a seat at the table, and I hope to see more companies continue to champion women and underrepresented groups at the leadership level.
While I took on this new role amid these unprecedented times, there have been a few ways I stayed motivated. First, it helps when I break big problems into smaller manageable chunks. I find that it makes the task at hand seem a little less intimidating. Second, a self-care routine is very important to me, which includes running, leaning into authentic connections where I can be my most vulnerable self, being kind to others, remembering to look at situations from other’s perspectives, prioritizing intentional and quality time with family and my two kids, and — most importantly — being kind to myself.
I have found that the best way to stay hopeful in our ever-changing world is to build a support network, inclusive of friends, families, and mentors in one’s career field. This support system brings hope and encourages you to be confident in your ideas, which will in turn help you deliver on your commitments. As a working mom, I find the support system and community more helpful than ever as we navigate through the world of balancing work and family.
Also, I encourage everyone to prioritize their own version of a self-care routine. I find it incredibly important to prioritize activities that recharge me so I can show up as my best self every day. I catch myself quoting Lincoln a lot these days: “This too shall pass.” To me, hope is the feeling of optimism. Remembering that everything is temporary is a good reminder to bring us back to the present, celebrate the small wins, and let go of things we cannot change — even though that last point is extra hard to do sometimes!
— As told to Colleen Kratofil
Pick up GRAZIA USA’s March 2022 issue on newsstands and email [email protected] to subscribe.
