From building brands for the world's most recognized names to building pathways for the next generation, Farai Simoyi translates two decades of brand and cultural strategy into institutional impact.
As Head of the Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund at the Fashion Scholarship Fund, she designs and leads the scholarship, mentorship, and workforce development infrastructure that turns corporate social responsibility commitments into measurable outcomes for college students nationwide. Since joining as the Fund's inaugural head in 2024, she has expanded its reach, increased the scholarships awarded each year, and advanced initiatives that connect students to opportunity. Her work was recognized with the 2026 LEADers Impact Award for Social Impact from LVMH—Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy.
That work is built on instincts sharpened over more than 20 years designing and consulting for some of the most recognized names in fashion and entertainment—including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Justin Timberlake, Rachel Roy, Anne Klein, and Robert Rodriguez—contributing to more than $800 million in sales across celebrity-led fashion ventures. She has also guided 70+ international brands into the U.S. market through brand strategy, brand placement, retail placement, and marketing. Her work has been recognized by Forbes, Vogue, Fast Company, Newsweek, and New York Magazine, and she competed in the inaugural season of Netflix's “Next in Fashion”.
In 2020, Simoyi became Program Director and Professor of Fashion Design at Thomas Jefferson University, where she established the institution's Diversity in Design course, examining the intersection of design, diversity, wellness, and underserved communities. Her work in higher education has centered on connecting education to the evolving needs of industry while creating pathways for students to build the networks, skills, and experiences needed to navigate professional environments.
As Founder of The Narativ House, she builds platforms and brand partnerships—including collaborations with Vevo, W Hotels, Red Bull Media, and Vice Media—that create opportunities for international designers and brands, translating purpose into commercial and cultural impact.
Simoyi is a frequent keynote speaker and advisor whose work sits at the intersection of corporate social impact, leadership, education, creative industries, and talent development. She has spoken and advised at institutions including Harvard University, Yale University, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Embassy of Zimbabwe, and Standard Bank's Africa incubator, and is the author of Dazzling Zelda (Simon & Schuster). She is currently completing her Ed.D. in Leadership Studies at Marshall University, where her research examines how corporations and universities can design scholarship and workforce development programs that create durable access to opportunity, social capital, and career pathways for the next generation of leaders. Her research builds on her professional work designing and leading programs that connect institutional investment with the talent and communities those investments are intended to serve.
FEATURED ON:
