How do you transform a century-old creative institution into a future-ready force without losing sight of its roots?

In this episode of AI at Work, we spotlight Dr. Joyce Brown, President of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), who has spent 26 years leading a quiet revolution in fashion education. As the first woman and first African American to hold the role, Dr. Brown has reimagined what it means to prepare students for creative careers in a digital world.

She shares how, when she took the helm in 1998, FIT was operating with outdated systems and a siloed approach to education. Through strategic planning, bold hiring decisions, and a commitment to change, she reshaped FIT into a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and forward-looking institution.

Under her leadership, FIT quadrupled its use of technology in teaching and launched the DTech Lab, a hands-on innovation hub where students work directly with brands like Netflix, Adidas, Girl Scouts, and Tommy Hilfiger to solve real challenges using emerging tech like AI and advanced materials.

This episode also explores how FIT is fostering a new wave of sustainable design. Students are using kombucha, mycelium, and pineapple fibers to rethink fashion from the ground up, while also cultivating a natural dye garden on campus. We unpack how the school integrates innovation, science, and sustainability without losing the soul of design.

Dr. Brown reflects on how FIT has responded to social and global shifts, from the pandemic to social justice movements, and how students are using creative work to make sense of the world. Her insights offer a compelling look at what education can achieve when it embraces experimentation, diverse voices, and emerging technologies.

Whether you're in fashion, tech, education, or simply interested in how institutions evolve, this conversation offers a masterclass in visionary leadership and what it takes to truly modernize without losing meaning.

How are you preparing your team or organization for a future shaped by creativity, technology, and purpose? Join the discussion.