Sharifa's Bio

Sharifa Cudjoe attended Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island during the 1997-1998 academic year. She did experience a great college life, but after attending Johnson and Wales for a year, she felt like she needed to get more out of her fashion curriculum. Sharifa moved back to New York City, the fashion capital. In New York, she attended and graduated from Wood-Tobe Coburyn with an Associates degree in Fashion Merchandising and Buying in the year 2000.

While attending Wood-Tobe Coburyn Sharifa had the opportunity to intern with New York designer and TV Host Mark Montano. She also at the age of 17 began working at Atrium Soho’s high-end fashion retailer as a sale associate; Atrium is where Sharifa gained her knowledge of fashion and a sales associate fulfilling customer’s satisfaction. Having such a great foundation, when an opportunity arose at French Luxury Fashion and Leather Goods Company Louis Vuitton, she jumped at it. At Louis Vuitton, Sharifa headed up the customer service department. During her two years working there, she implemented and developed operation tools that made this department capable of servicing the consumers.

Sharifa soon realized that she wanted something more fashion driven and challenging. This profound awakening took her back to the fashion emporium Atrium. It was then that the owner of Atrium, Sam Ben Abraham acknowledged the talent and potential of Sharifa and decided she would be the perfect match for his future business endeavor. Together in 2003, they built the famous tradeshow PROJECT where she is currently the Director of Sales. This position allows her to hand pick the best contemporary brands in the marketplace while maintaining outstanding relations with her clientele.

Being given this amazing opportunity by her mentor Sam, Sharifa gained a sense of responsibility and leadership that has helped to expand her entrepreneurial skills and launch the BKLYN INTERN. This non-profit organization was created to give young teens the chance to pursue their career in fashion. The BKLYN INTERN was also established for high school students to build character and self-esteem through their experiences.

In June of 2007, Sharifa engaged in a business venture of her own. With the help of Colin and Latisha Daring, owner of Pieces she opened a shoe boutique, My Shoe Diary. The boutique is located in Brooklyn’s chic Park Slope. Sometime in the near future she would like to expand My Shoe Diary to a larger space in Brooklyn.

So much done in such little time, stayed tuned to what the future holds for the original “BKLYN INTERN”!!!!