Back to School After 25 Years

by Sheila Callaham for Forbes

In June 2019, Elizabeth Kosich graduated a second time. After spending 25 years in marketing and branding, she went back to school to earn a certificate in image consulting from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Kosich’s new focus was a natural expansion of a longtime passion around fashion and branding.

Kosich describes going back to school as a massive undertaking since she had to juggle night school and weekend classes while committed to a full-time job. But it was a necessary investment in order to pivot her career.

“Being back in school filled me with that sense of wonder and possibility of what could be. I can’t say it was easy, but being my own advocate for positive change boosted my feelings of personal power.”

After knitting a gold lamé knitted string bikini over a decade ago that make Kosich feel like a Bond girl, she began to notice how women everywhere were uncomfortable in their bodies.

“I wanted to be supportive, and there are a lot of tricks to camouflage and accentuate what needs to be minimized or featured,” she said, “For example, matte fabrics hide imperfections, whereas shiny ones make them stand out.”

Feelings around self image run deep and this awareness set Kosich on the road to designing something that would work for everyone. Serving women on a deeper level because her North Star as she began designing The EveryBody Wrap®—soon to become her new line of dress wear for every woman, regardless of body shape, size or age.

Why back to school? Kosich was already in the process of launching The EveryBody Wrap® when she enrolled in the image consulting program. Her goal was to understand client needs for differently shaped bodies. “After doing the research, I discovered the training was the same as my natural talents—image styling that enhances personal attributes and minimizes physical weaknesses. In other words, a degree in the science of looking good.”

For Kosich, it was a matter of realizing that there was an industry for doing what she had been doing over many years for free. Whether someone was getting married and needed the perfect five-day wardrobe or an executive woman wanted to level up her career or a woman wanted guidance to transition her style to accommodate her changing body, that was the one-on-one consultation that most inspired her.

The certificate program not only helped Kosich understand her customer better, but it also gave her added credibility and credentials. After four years of product development, she recently launched her new line.

“The fabric is absolute magic and stretches from here to Timbuktu,” she said. “That’s the secret to how I can make The EveryBody Wrap® fit any woman!”

On making a mid-career change, Kosich believes learning and personal evolution are continuous, and listening to that inner urging is essential to maintaining personal happiness and fulfillment. For anyone looking for a mid-life change she recommends exploration.

“Take classes or listen to podcasts and webcasts to help determine how you would like to spend your time,” she advises. “Most importantly, don’t wait!”

Kosich tells a story of a high school friend in D.C. who worked in public policy all of her adult life. Two of her three children are in college, but she decided to go back to school and recently graduated from Interior Design School.

“Anyone can make a change. First, you have to be committed to your happiness. Amazing things happen when you make a promise to yourself, then do the work to deliver on it.”

See published article on Forbes.com here.