In the early Spring months, I had the opportunity to interview Miami University Fashion and Design's president, Madeleine Kirchof. We sat in a small cluttered office with black and white photographs of fashion models overcrowding the walls, while Kirchof beamed as she recalled her simple yet charming childhood.
She casually twirled her golden hair in her slim fingers with flashes of her pale pink nail polish showing through the silky strands of gold. It flowed in waves to adorn her glowing, porcelain-like skin. Her eyes, framed by long lashes, are a bright sapphire blue and seemed to brighten the room.
At the time of the interview, Kirchof was a 21-year-old senior at Miami University where she was majoring in Global Politics and Diplomacy from the College of Arts and Science with a double minor in Management and Leadership and International Business.
Kirchof was your typical, hardworking and stressed out college student overwhelmed with balancing classes, school work and Miami University’s Fashion and Design program of which she was the current president.
Growing up in Wilton, Connecticut, she was always very interested in fashion and shopping. Her fondest childhood memory was her mother’s 40th birthday when her dad took her and her two sisters to New York City.
He at first wouldn’t tell them why he decided to take them to New York City; he wanted to surprise them.
He took them to DVF (Diane von Furstenberg) to let their mother pick out any dress she wanted for her birthday. Kirchof remembered looking at all the pretty dresses in amazement and saying “When I grow up, I want to own a pretty dress just like these.”
With a broad smile, she added, “I walked into DVF unaware that I would work there in the future. You just never think that something so small could impact your life.”
In 2016, Kirchof became a summer financial analyst intern for DVF in New York City. Kirchof has had many internships throughout her time in college, which includes a product development internship with MM Lafleur in 2014 and a treasury risk internship with Synchrony Financial in 2015.
Despite her bubbly personality and radiant smile, Kirchof tries to control a personal struggle which has become an obstacle in her life: her health. In high school, she suffered mononucleosis and chronic fatigue syndrome which forced her to quit all sports.
Fortunately her health struggles allowed her to explore other passions she had such as fashion.
“It’s hard. Being president of a club is like 25 hours a week, plus school, plus work, plus being in a sorority. And it’s hard when your health isn’t up to par with everyone else’s. It’s a really personal hurdle.”
With goosebumps blooming on her arms, Kirchof recalled her life changing experiences that put her on the path that led her to where she is today.
In her junior year of college, Kirchof was at a crossroads.
Kirchof was very finance driven as she had spent one year as a finance director for MUFD, and she was also in the middle of a finance treasury internship for Synchrony Financial. However, she was torn between finance and fashion, and she didn’t see how they could coincide.
“At the end of my internship, I had to give a presentation to the executive of the company. It was completely terrifying but awesome! It gave me confidence and pushed me over the edge of being scared of public speaking.”
Her smile faded into a frown as she continued, “After the presentation, I was given a full time position offer. So, it was either sign my life away and work finance after school, or turn the best internship down and take a risk that I would find something else that I love. I was freaking out because I didn’t know what to do; I thought I was too young to make this decision.”
Later that day, Kirchof was called into her boss’s office.
Kirchof described her boss as “a good friend who was the classic badass boss.”
She congratulated Kirchof on the amazing offer and killer presentation she gave. However, Kirchof’s boss caught the look in her eyes when Kirchof talked about what she did for the Miami University Fashion and Design program. Her boss told her that the way she talked about fashion was very different than how she talked about finance, and even though she was good at finance, she wasn’t passionate about it.
Kirchof’s boss did not want her to make the same mistake that she made ten years prior. Like Kirchof, she was offered a finance internship with Synchrony Financial, and she took it. However, just like Kirchof, she was more passionate about fashion than finance.
“That was the biggest turning point in my career,” Kirchof said.
She had faced other challenges before, but her family’s examples and support have strengthened her.
Kirchof has always been very close to her parents. She has very fond memories of Christmas and Fourth Of July along with vacations to St. John or the British Virgin Islands with her family.
“My parents are my role models. They push me and motivate me to my fullest potential.”
Kirchof’s parents are not the only key role models in her life. Sarah LaFleur, founder and CEO of MM LaFleur, was Kirchof’s first boss she interned for in 2014. She admired LaFleur from day one with how dedicated and hardworking she is.
“One day, she (LaFleur) asked me to go to lunch. I was so excited but so nervous at the same time. I loved fashion, but back then I didn’t see it as a career for me. She was so honest with me, and she really inspired me to go after things that don’t seem realistic.”
Kirchof’s love for fashion allowed her to explore many opportunities that didn’t seem possible. “When I came here (to Miami University), I realized that the fashion industry is a real thing that I could be involved with. Freshman year, I joined MUFD as a PR and Marketing committee member and that’s when I really got involved with fashion.”
Kirchof went to the first MUFD meeting and knew that she wanted to stand in the president’s shoes one day. “I was so inspired by her. She was an incredible leader, and I wanted to have that big of an impact before I left this campus.”
Kirchof was shocked when she found out that she was going to be MUFD’s next president in 2016.
“I applied last minute. I didn't want to run for president at first, but I was pushed very hard by the entire executive board to apply. I didn’t think I would ever get this role. I was overwhelmed and excited, of course.”
Kirchof had many goals she wanted to accomplish as president of MUFD, the biggest one being the spring fashion show. She wanted to make it bigger and better than last year’s.
Kirchof has always had the drive, passion and ambition that is immeasurable.
Madeline Rieman, who was MUFD’s president in 2015-2016 and a 2016 Miami University graduate, said, “Since the first day I met her (Kirchof) as a sophomore, I knew she was going places. It’s been an amazing to see her growth, and I’m honored to have such an innovative mind as my successor.”
Rieman was elated to come back to Oxford for MUFD’s 2017 spring fashion show. “I knew they would make me proud!”
Being president was not an easy job, of course. Kirchof had to constantly balance life between school and MUFD related-things.
“I always had so much to do. I had seven committees to maintain, and I had to make sure I didn't drown myself in school work. Sometimes I had to skip class in order to go to meetings or do other MUFD stuff!”
All of the hard work definitely paid off. Miami Fashion and Design won the most improved organization award from Miami University, and Kirchof won the Miami University Leadership Award.
With everything that goes on in Kirchof’s busy life, how does she stay organized and sane?
“My Google calendar is my best friend,” she said. “I don’t know where I’d be without it.”
In her free time, she likes to go to Root Yoga and bike around to relieve her stress.
With a smile, she added,“I have a lot of people helping me with my crazy work, especially Kelsey Maloney.”
Maloney was MUFD’s vice president in 2016-2017. She said, “Maddie Kirchof is without a doubt the hardest working person I know. She pushes everyone to become a better version of themselves. She definitely made me a better person.”
“Hard work definitely pays off,” Kirchof said with a sigh of relief. “I think my biggest accomplishment in life is being able to graduate college with experience. I’m always afraid of the unknown, but in 10 years, I hope to see myself balancing an awesome career, married, and have my own family.”
Her boyfriend, Sebastian Monnin, has complete faith in Kirchof’s ability to thrive in whatever industry she decides to enter next. He said, "I've never met someone so well prepared to tackle the real world problems of personnel and resource management that are sure to be encountered as a new program manager or team lead."
A role model is what many people define Kirchof as.
Her sister, Kate Kirchof, said, “She is the most driven and genuine person I know, and she has taught me such critical values in life just by growing up by my side. She is going places in this world, and I can't wait to see where life takes her. Her joie de vivre is unmistakable past the first thirty seconds of having a conversation with her.”
She loves involving herself in activities outside of work such as philanthropy. Her love for travel and helping others came together her summer before entering high school. By the time she had graduated from Wilton High School, she had been on four church mission trips and a bike trip from Maine to Quebec.
She loves adventure.
Her adventures at Miami have been endless from studying abroad in Fiji and Luxembourg. She lives life with zest, and it is infectious.
She has always been there for so many other people no matter what time it is or how busy she is.
For example, she was in Nashville, Tennessee when she saw a man sitting in his car bawling his eyes out. Being the helpful and kind person that she is, Kirchof quickly approached the man and asked him if he was okay. He explained to her that he had tourettes syndrome. When he realized he was out of gas and had lost his wallet earlier in the day, he had an outburst. Another man saw this outburst and called the police on him. The man spent a long time explaining to the police that he had tourettes syndrome until they finally let him go.
Kirchof immediately said “Hold on, I will be right back.” She ran to get $20 out of an ATM machine to save his day.
Occurrences like that happen everyday with Kirchof. She is always there to help anyone in need.
Kirchof’s other sister, Grace Kirchof, said, “She has a gift to make you believe in yourself, especially when you are at that point where you just want to break down.”
Ever since Grace was diagnosed with a chronic illness, postural orthostatic syndrome, she’s had many days where she just wanted to break down.
Grace said, “Even though Maddie was 13 hours away, she always picked me right back up and put a smile on my face. She has taught me so much and really shaped who I am today.”
No matter how glamorous and enchanting the fashion industry seems, it is not completely flawless. There are so many things that can be improved. Kirchof said she believes the most important aspect of the industry that needs changed is body image.
“The industry is already working to fix this by moving away from the classic fashion shows because the models are all the same: tall and skinny. And that’s just not the reality of this world. The majority of these people buying clothes are not that body type. There needs to be an appreciation for other body types because you are beautiful no matter what.”
Kirchof loves to stay up to date on fashion trends on many social media sites.
“I have a weird obsession with Instagram. When it first came out, I noticed how unique it was because it tells a story of your life. Say you post once a week or once every two weeks, those are like little memories. I’ve always been a fan of photography, and it’s such an interesting way of showing your life. It’s like a modern photo album.”
College really shaped Kirchof to be who she is today. Her advice to someone aspiring to work in the fashion world is to believe in yourself. Know the brand you are applying for inside and out. Know the industry because it is constantly changing.
She said, “I wish I could go back to freshman year and tell myself to not follow anyone else’s expectations. Don’t pick a cookie cutter major; don’t settle. Do what you love.”
