Designing a Career With Impact
After more than twenty years in the garments industry, Britt Ludvigsen was ready to move to the next challenge. Her company, founded in 2009, was now well established and had a strong relationship with Inditex's Zara—one of the most successful global fast fashion retail brands—and she was a recognized figure within the Bangladeshi garments industry. However, her business had become routine. It needed to evolve. As a result, Britt asked herself, "what's next?"
For Britt, this wasn't just about driving Texprego's growth, it was about bringing together a lifetime of thoughts and ideas into a single vision for the company. To do this, Britt was adamant she needed to nurture new skills, broaden her perspective and meet individuals that would inspire her to make her vision into a reality. The logical next step was to get back into education. Britt enrolled in our Senior Executive Leadership Program—Middle East (SELPME), where she participated in sessions on the HBS Campus and in Dubai.
After completing the program, she was asked a question that brought everything into focus: "You've been privileged to attend the best business school in the world—now, what are you going to do with it?" The answer was clear. Britt no longer thought of just expanding Texprego. It was time to pursue her longtime dream—launching a clothing brand that would empower women in her community.
Fashioning a New Path
Britt's experience at SELPME propelled her in a new direction. She hadn't applied to SELPME with the intention of building a new company. It was the guidance of her SELPME professors and coach that pushed Britt to clarify her vision and find the best way of achieving it. Building a new company could become a crucial part of her plan.
Equipped with the goals she developed during SELPME and in partnership with her mother—a path-breaking entrepreneur of her own— Britt is launching a new fashion label for Muslim women. The label will have social impact at the heart of its strategy and will champion the heritage and achievements of women in the region.
"It's essential to me to give back to my community," Britt said. "This new venture is a great way to do just that."
Britt has already started taking bold steps. Last year, Britt resigned from her directorship at a government entity to devote to her new project. "My SELPME coach told me that if I wanted to save the world, I needed to take care of myself first," Britt said. "I realized I needed to take a step back and recharge before I could do more."
As the plans for her new organization come together, Britt continues to draw on the tools and strategies she acquired in SELPME—and the confidence that inspired her to start the clothing brand she's always dreamed about. “Before joining SELPME, I was focused on running my business,” Britt said. "Now I'm thinking bigger than ever."