Business and Beyond's Feature Friday ft. Jaya Iyer

From Academia to Apparel Disruption | The Power of Mastery in BusinessJaya Iyer’s journey is a true masterclass in strategic evolution.With a PhD in fashion merchandising from Iowa State University, she didn’t just study the industry — she dissected it. From teaching fashion buying at the university level to authoring a widely used textbook on fashion in emerging markets, her foundation was built on deep expertise.But she didn’t stop there.Jaya immersed herself in the operational side of the business—working in apparel manufacturing and exporting, and later serving as a buyer for ThinkGeek. That level of proximity gave her something most never achieve: a full understanding of the value chain.And that’s where the real business lesson begins.Mastery builds authority.Authority builds influence.When you understand how an industry truly works—from research to execution—you position yourself not just to participate, but to disrupt.Instead of staying in the comfort of academia or corporate retail, Jaya, founder of Sahaand, made a bold decision: to challenge what wasn’t working and re-engineer the system from the inside out.This conversation dives into leadership, conviction, and the courage it takes to pivot from observer to architect.If you're building a business, navigating a transition, or aiming to lead with clarity—this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.Support the show