Christiana Kouderi's Karl Lagerfeld Internship Story

Hi, CHRISTIANA KOUDERI . Can you share where you are from and your internship position at KARL LAGERFELD ?

CHRISTIANA KOUDERI : My name is CHRISTIANA KOUDERI , and I'm originally from Thessaloniki, Greece. During my internship, I was a Digital Marketplaces Intern (e-commerce). I worked with the brand's external partners, such as FARFETCH , ABOUT YOU , Zalando , and Breuninger . My responsibilities involved managing the brand's presence and product activations on these platforms.

How long was your internship??

CHRISTIANA KOUDERI : My internship was 6 months long, starting from March 2024 until September 2024.?

What was the process like while applying for your internship position??

CHRISTIANA KOUDERI : In terms of the application process, I found the job opening on LinkedIn and applied to the company for two positions: the one I ultimately secured and another for a Social Media Intern position in their Paris office. For both applications, which I submitted on January 13th, 2024, I included all required documents: my CV, a cover letter, and a recommendation letter. Five days later, HR reached out with a positive response, requesting my availability for a phone call to discuss the application in more detail and confirm the validity of the internship requirements (such as a university agreement).

After the initial call with the HR representative, I had two additional online interviews: one with my future supervisor and the intern I would be replacing, and finally, one with the team director. I received the official offer on February 10th and was given about two and a half weeks to relocate, secure accommodation, and begin my internship at the Amsterdam office on March 4th.

What was the most memorable part of your time at KARL LAGERFELD ?

CHRISTIANA KOUDERI : There were many memorable moments during my internship, but one that particularly stands out is the day KARL LAGERFELD launched on 24S, a new external partner the company had just signed with around the time I joined the team. Even though I was working remotely from home before my summer holidays, the excitement among my colleagues was palpable. We all changed our backgrounds during our Weekly Call to celebrate the occasion, dedicating the meeting to the launch.

What was the biggest challenge you faced during the internship??

CHRISTIANA KOUDERI : The biggest challenge I faced during the internship, especially in the first two months, was learning how to prioritize tasks and determine which ones were most important. This was because my team worked closely with several other departments, including the standard e-commerce team (Karl.com) and the brand marketing team. As a result, I received multiple tasks daily, not just from my supervisor but from other employees as well. However, I believe this challenge was to be expected, as it's natural not to be fully familiar at the beginning with how the teams are interconnected and how the workflow should progress.

Was there a class from Digital Fashion Communication master that specifically benefited you during your internship?

CHRISTIANA KOUDERI : The two courses from my master's that I found particularly relevant and useful for my internship were "e-commerce and cyber security" ( Mauro Vignati and Emanuele Mele, PhD ) and "critical consumer behavior" (Professor Michael Gibbert ). While I had to adapt our assets to meet the specific guidelines of each marketplace, a key part of my daily tasks involved ensuring that our products were effectively presented online and displayed to the audience in the best possible way.

What advice would you give someone looking to intern at KARL LAGERFELD ??

CHRISTIANA KOUDERI : What I realized about the company, particularly the teams at the Amsterdam office, is that they place a strong emphasis on an individual's personality and character. While job experience and skills are certainly important, they prioritize selecting someone who stands out as a person. Thanks to its diverse, multinational workforce, the company has a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere. One aspect I personally appreciated about KARL LAGERFELD is that the hierarchy among employees is barely noticeable in terms of interactions— it only comes into play when dealing with tasks and reporting structures.

What’s next in your career story?

CHRISTIANA KOUDERI : In the short term, I am working on my thesis, which focuses on Vogue Greece , while I'm back home after two years of frequent relocations. My ideal career path is working in fashion journalism with companies like Condé Nast and Hearst Magazines. While I'm currently taking a more measured approach, I am on the lookout for job openings related to fashion editorials or opportunities in social media management and marketing.