Erin Cho

As dean of the Polytechnic University’s School of Fashion and Textiles, Erin Cho champions an ethos of creative courage, authenticity and empathy with a singular goal: advancing society and humanity. Her boots-on-the-ground background in design, programming, supply-chain management and e-commerce in the US have informed her expertise as a leader in fashion business, while her scholarship in innovation at the intersection of tech, design and digital transformation has made her a powerhouse in her field. Under Cho’s stewardship, the SFT is laying the groundwork for Asia to become a global centre for fashion, design, technology and culture. Before joining PolyU, Cho made history at the New School in New York, becoming its first Asian woman dean. “As an Asian immigrant woman, I had to shatter so many glass ceilings and society-imposed limits to rise,” she says. “I attribute much of my success
to the power of a community who walked alongside me with unwavering support throughout my career and life journey.” Committed to fostering the next generation of change-makers and global leaders, Cho has dedicated her time to advising innovation hubs, incubators and venture-capital boards, such as the National Retail Federation, XRC Lab, Unicorn Nest and E-Lab.