BERKELEY COLLEGE ALUMNUS MAINTAINS DUAL ROLES AS INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS EXEC AND COSMETICS ENTREPRENEUR
Founder of Essentials by Edwina says Success is Ageless
Edwina Kulego is on a mission. She wants young girls in underserved communities to believe that they can achieve any level of professional success that they desire.
Born and raised in Sweden by Ghanaian parents, Kulego graduated from Berkeley College in 2011 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business. She serves as Vice President of International and Business Development at Informa Markets, which creates platforms for more than 450 international brands. She is also an entrepreneur, launching Essentials by Edwina, a vegan, cruelty-free makeup collection, in 2017.
“I want to show young black and brown girls like my daughter, Legacy (age 3), that they too can become executives in their early thirties, if they choose,” said Kulego, a resident of Brooklyn, NY.
She credits Berkeley College with educating her in two ways – through traditional knowledge in the classroom, and by connecting her with professionals in the real world of business.
“One of the greatest benefits I received from my time and education at Berkeley College was the networking and valuable interactions that I had with my professors and peers,” Kulego said. “Attending the Midtown Manhattan campus provided me with the opportunity to get an authentic perspective on what it is like to be a business professional in one of the most vibrant cities in the world.”
Kulego enrolled in evening classes, which put her in touch with students who were working professionals. She also accepted internships with Tommy Hilfiger, Essence Magazine, and PROJECT Trade Show as a fashion intern.
As an international student, Kulego received support from the International Department at Berkeley College, participating in the Honors Program and being named to the Dean’s List for her academic achievements.
Kulego holds a Global Business Certificate from Harvard Business School Online. She is credited with launching the first International Business Development Department for Informa Markets in 2016. She is also passionate about helping students secure meaningful internships and employment, and is active in the Female Founder Collective, a nonprofit that offers resources to female-founded and led businesses.
“Being successful in business equates to opening new doors and providing professional opportunities to people who come from underserved communities – people like myself who do not have the same privileges to easily enter into the workforce and receive the upward mobility that they deserve,” she said.
Kulego encouraged today’s college students to find internships and mentors, and to “do the work.”
“One of my favorite quotes from my mother is, ‘Cheap things cost,’ ” Kulego said. “Don’t take shortcuts, because you will end up paying for it. Be intentional and accountable.”
Read More: Click here to read more about Berkeley College graduates on the Alumni Spotlight page.
About Berkeley College
Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also offers continuing education programs to enhance career credentials.
Berkeley College has campuses in Midtown Manhattan, NY, and in Newark, Paramus, Woodbridge and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 4,000 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online? serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, for nine consecutive years. U.S. News & World Report named Berkeley College (NJ) one of the Best Regional Colleges in the North in its 2022 edition of the Best Colleges Survey. In 2021 Berkeley College (NJ) was also recognized for the first time as a Top Performer on Social Mobility among colleges in the region. The website address is http://www.BerkeleyCollege.edu.
Photo Caption: Edwina Kulego (pictured top) graduated from Berkeley College in 2011 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business. She serves as Vice President of International and Business Development at Informa Markets and launched Essentials by Edwina, a vegan, cruelty-free makeup collection, in 2017.