Global experience propels fashion student from Cartier to NYFW

When Bachelor of Business (Fashion and Global Brand Management) student Angelika Auerbach reflects on her time at ICMS, it’s not just the lectures or assignments that stand out – it’s the placements that shaped her future.

From the luxury halls of Cartier in Frankfurt to the creative chaos of New York Fashion Week, Angelika’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) experiences took her across continents, immersed her in the global fashion and luxury industries, and pushed her far outside her comfort zone.

Now, as she approaches graduation, she looks back on how her time at ICMS gave her perspective, resilience and the confidence to build a career that stretches beyond borders.

Tell us about your WIL professional placements in the fashion Industry.

I completed my Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Professional Placement subjects across two countries. This was an experience that completely reshaped my understanding of the global fashion and luxury industries.

Cartier in Frankfurt

My official placement was with Cartier in Frankfurt, where I worked in Client Services for six months. Before this, I had been the brand’s first internal Boutique Assistant in Australia, and when an opportunity came up in Germany (my second home, as I’m half German) I didn’t hesitate. I packed up and moved to the finance capital of Europe, where I immersed myself in a fast-paced, culturally rich environment. It was a huge test of my adaptability, professionalism, and everything I had learned in my Global Citizenship and Introduction to Service Management classes.

Elena Velez in New York

But my experience didn’t stop there. I decided to switch my ICMS studies to online delivery for one trimester so I could extend my professional experience beyond the traditional structure. While in Frankfurt, I met some incredible people working in fashion and PR. That network led me to New York Fashion Week, where I spent three months working in PR and marketing for Elena Velez, one of the industry’s most exciting emerging designers. That experience was surreal. It was fast, gritty, deeply creative, and wildly inspiring.

Looking back, those placements didn’t just give me work experience – they gave me direction. They planted the seed for what I’ll be stepping into after I graduate. I’ll always be grateful that ICMS gave me the freedom and trust to shape my WIL experience into something so globally meaningful.

What was the biggest highlight of your placements? 

I think the highlight for me was that feeling you get when you’re sitting on a plane, saying goodbye to your parents, and you suddenly realise that you have no idea what’s coming next. That pit in your stomach that goes, what have I done? To grow I needed to step out of my comfort zone, test myself, and that I did.

All new things are unfamiliar but the confidence I got from overcoming challenges in different countries was worth it. and soaking up different cultures and their fashion was addictive.

I’ve always believed that you can’t grow by staying in the same place. One of my biggest fears is living a life that’s insular – I did not want to be saying , “Oh yeah, this is the high school I went to”, and still living 30 minutes away. I didn’t want that. So the highlight wasn’t the actual work experience, even though it taught me a lot.

The real highlight was everything around it. The people. The food. The tears. The loss. The moments of homesickness. The stress of trying to find an apartment on my own. The nights I thought I’d made a huge mistake. And the quiet moments when I realised I was figuring it out, step by step.

It was about doing things I’d never done before, without anyone to call who lived in the same city, or country. Without someone there to fix it for me. And honestly, I think we lose a lot of that in our generation. We’re really comfortable. We’re used to instant solutions. But being uncomfortable? Being completely out of your depth? That forces you to grow. That’s where the gold is. That’s what I’ll remember; that’s what changed me.

How would you describe your experience as a student at ICMS?

One of the biggest things I’ve learned during my time at ICMS is that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. It doesn’t matter what your ATAR was. It doesn’t matter how popular you were in high school or how many people you knew on day one. What matters is how you show up – consistently, authentically – and who you are when no one’s watching.

My highlights at ICMS have absolutely been the people. I’ve met some of the most extraordinary individuals. They are people who are driven, kind, and deeply inspiring. One person in particular is my now international best friend, Antonia Windeck, whom I met at ICMS. We’ve spent time together in both Australia and Germany, and she’s become a real constant in my life. In high school, I often felt like I hadn’t found my people, but at ICMS I did.

Coming from a multicultural household, I often felt like the way we did things at home didn’t quite align with how things worked socially in Australia. But ICMS is different. It’s one of the few places where I’ve felt that diversity isn’t just present – it’s celebrated. It truly is a space for everyone.

And if I’m being really honest, one of the things that most impressed me about ICMS is the culture it has built. People often talk about tall poppy syndrome in Australia – how ambition is sometimes looked down upon. But ICMS is the opposite. The culture here lifts you up. It’s supportive.

If you’re motivated, if you’re willing to grow – ICMS will help you grow.

That, for me, is the greatest highlight: knowing I was in a place that didn’t just prepare me for the future, but believed in it for me – even before I did.

You were awarded two scholarships during your time at ICMS. Why did you apply?

I didn’t think I was the kind of person who got scholarships. I wasn’t a straight-A genius at my school, Inaburra. I didn’t have the most polished resume. I just had this quiet voice inside me that said: maybe.

ICMS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Scholarship

It was my mum who pushed me to apply for my first scholarship at ICMS – the ICMS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Scholarship. I was hesitant. I didn’t feel like I ticked every box. But she said, “What’s the worst that could happen?” So I applied, not because I expected to win, but because I thought it would at least be an opportunity for interview practice. I was also nervous about studying at a private college. A scholarship, even a partial one, could make all the difference for me.

What I didn’t realise at the time was that applying wouldn’t just help financially, it would reshape my whole tertiary experience. Through that first scholarship, I got to attend the scholarship ceremony before my classes even started. I walked into Orientation Week already knowing people. I had friends before most students had even unpacked. That one decision gave me a sense of belonging from day one. It made ICMS and the concept of higher education feel less daunting.

I would encourage you to apply if you resonate with one of the scholarship opportunities. My main piece of advice is to be authentic.

Courtney-O’Connor Scholarship

When I applied for the Courtney-O’Connor Scholarship, it wasn’t because I thought I was extraordinary. I didn’t feel like I had it all figured out. If I’m honest, I was nervous – even questioning whether I was asking for too much. But I had started working on a business idea I believed in, and I’d been actively involved in the ICMS community, emceeing events, mentoring new students, and doing my best to show up and contribute.

So, eventually, I took a deep breath and applied.

Receiving the scholarship was one of the most meaningful moments of my ICMS journey, not because it was about recognition or prestige, but because it made me pause and realise just how far I’d come.

It wasn’t a prize; it was a reflection. It reminded me that growth doesn’t always look flashy. Sometimes it’s just quiet consistency, small steps, and doing the work even when no one’s watching. What I want other students to know is: you don’t have to be perfect to be deserving. You don’t need the most polished idea or the highest grades to apply. You just need to be willing to show up for yourself.

How do you think being an ICMS scholarship recipient will help you in your future career?

Being an ICMS scholarship recipient has changed the way I see myself – and the way I step into opportunities.

The ICMS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Scholarship specifically gave me the confidence I didn’t know I needed. From day one, it made me feel chosen, like I had a place here.

When you walk into a new environment and your name is already on the wall, when you’re invited to events because the college recognises you – not just as a student, but as someone with potential – it shifts something inside you. I felt motivated to do more, to push myself further, because someone else had already believed in me enough to back me with this scholarship. That sense of belonging made me step into opportunities I probably would have avoided otherwise. And I know that same mindset – the ability to feel worthy, to put myself forward, and to back myself – will continue to shape my career.

The Courtney-O’Connor Scholarship was different, but equally life-changing. It validated my business idea – Runway Connects – in a way I’ll never forget. To have someone successful and experienced (ICMS founder Darryl Courtney-O’Connor) read my business plan and say, “This is worth investing in”, gave me a level of self-belief that money alone can’t buy.

I now have a business plan ready to launch after I graduate in October 2025, and I know that courage started with that moment of recognition.

Both scholarships have taught me that when someone believes in you – financially, academically, and personally – it creates a ripple effect. It makes you want to rise to the occasion, to prove them right. That’s how I see these scholarships shaping my future: they’ve given me the courage to bet on myself, and I know that will carry me into every challenge and opportunity ahead.

When someone believes in you, they give you permission to believe in yourself.

How did you find the scholarship application process?

The application process for my first ICMS scholarship was quite seamless. Submitting the documents was straightforward, and I felt well supported by my Student Advisor throughout. The hardest part wasn’t the application itself, it was the waiting. I had almost forgotten I’d applied when, during Degree Taster Day at the Northern Beaches Campus, I received a phone call letting me know I’d been successful. I remember standing there, shocked, overwhelmed, and just bursting into tears.

Not only had I been awarded the scholarship, I’d also received one trimester of on-campus accommodation. That moment gave me the chance to truly start my college life. I packed my things, moved in, and from that moment on, everything changed.

It wasn’t just about the money. It was about momentum; it gave me a launchpad.

The second scholarship felt more daunting. This time, I was putting something deeply personal on the line: a business idea I had created from scratch. I knew that Darryl Courtney-O’Connor, the founder of ICMS, would be reading it. And there’s something incredibly vulnerable about sharing a vision you’ve built yourself with people you admire. But I reminded myself: whether I got it or not, I’d already won something.

I had written a business plan, submitted it, and opened myself up to growth. That mindset helped me move past the fear. And when I was told I’d received the scholarship, I realised I’d not only been recognised – I’d been heard. That was a turning point.

These processes weren’t just about winning, they were about becoming. Each step forced me to step further into who I am and who I want to be. And for that, I’m endlessly grateful.

What is your advice for students thinking about applying for a scholarship?

My advice to any student thinking about applying for a scholarship, whether you’re just starting your degree or you’re halfway through, is this: don’t apply unless you’re ready to surprise yourself.

Because that’s what a scholarship can do. It can change everything.

It’s not just about the money, it’s about what it represents. It’s someone saying, I see something in you. And once you hear that, you start seeing it in yourself. So apply, even if you don’t feel 100% ready. Apply, even if there’s a voice telling you you’re not the kind of person who gets chosen.

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, and sometimes the scariest leap becomes the exact moment your life begins to change.

What doors do you think your studies at ICMS will open for you?

I honestly believe the doors are always open, you just have to be willing to knock. Somewhere, someone is always ready to give you a chance if you’re willing to bring the effort.

For me, these experiences have already opened the door to working overseas, building global networks, and even laying the foundation to start my own brand.

But beyond the career stuff, it’s also opened something internal. I’ve grown up. I’ve become more secure in who I am. I care a lot less about what people think of me now, especially compared to who I was in high school, because I’m proud of what I’ve done. I know I’ve taken risks, done hard things, and backed myself when it would’ve been easier not to.

So yes, this journey has opened professional doors. But it’s also opened doors to self-respect, resilience, and clarity. And those are the kinds of doors that keep unlocking more the further you walk through them.

You’re about to graduate, what are your plans for the next 12 months?

In the next 12 months, my plan is to move back to New York. It’s a city that, for a long time, felt like nothing more than a pipe dream. But dreams have a funny way of becoming reality when you work towards them consistently.

Right now, I’m in the process of applying for entry-level marketing roles, and if I’m lucky enough to secure one, I plan to enrol in an MBA program to further my education. Honestly, that sentence still feels surreal to say out loud. For the longest time, I thought a bachelor’s degree would be it for me. I never imagined I’d even want to keep studying – let alone in one of the most competitive cities in the world. But I’m proud of how far I’ve come.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you can absolutely change your life. There’s nothing wildly special about me – I just try. I show up. I do the work. And that’s been enough to take me places I never thought I’d go.

This next chapter feels like the beginning of something I once thought was impossible. And now I’m living it.