2015
Laura Nagamine
Laura Nagamine, a 2014 graduate of the International MBA programme, has launched an online boutique, Pretty in Petite. Specially designed for women 5’4” and shorter, Pretty in Petite offers limited edition pieces in petite proportions, giving women freedom from unnecessary alterations.
“It all started as a class project,” Laura, founder and CEO, explained. “Inventing a business and writing a business plan was all part of our entrepreneurship module. I didn’t go into my MBA course expecting to become an entrepreneur, but by the end of the module, I was pitching the idea to local businessmen and women, and thought ‘hey, this could work!’”
The inspiration for her business came from the need for business wear for a networking event at Riddel Hall. Standing at a mere five feet (152.4cm), Laura struggled to find smart clothes that fitted her short frame. Channeling her frustration, and armed with prior retail experience at Saks Fifth Avenue, Laura sought to create an online boutique that specialized in petite clothing in styles that couldn’t be found on the high street.
Laura is thankful for her time at Queen’s University and the opportunities the Management School provided, “I’m very glad I came to Queen’s for my MBA, it gave me a great foundation and practical skills to launch my business”. Upon graduation, Queen’s University sponsored her Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa, enabling the Hawaii-born US citizen to pursue her business idea while living in Northern Ireland. Since her time at Queen’s, Laura has been awarded office space in the QUB Hatch incubation space, and was accepted into the Women in Business Power of 4 Mentoring Programme.
To learn more about Pretty in Petite, contact Laura Nagamine at laura@prettyinpetite.com.