Miki Tokashiki earned a Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in the field of Sustainability from Harvard Extension School (HES) in 2025. After years in the apparel industry, Miki now champions multi-stakeholder engagement efforts across innovators, brands, producers, and NGOs to scale advanced material solutions and sustainable sourcing for Canopy, an international environmental nonprofit.
This post was written by Miki Tokashiki, Next Gen Supply Chain Manager, Canopy, June 2025.
With two decades of experience in fabric research, sourcing, and development for the apparel industry, I had built a career focused on bringing beautiful, functional textiles to designers, brands, and customers. I worked with stakeholders across the globe, navigating everything from creative briefs to supply chain logistics.
But as conversations around sustainability in fashion grew more sophisticated, I began to ask deeper questions. How could I contribute to a future that valued both design and environmental responsibility? That curiosity brought me to the Harvard Extension School (HES).
The idea of enrolling in a graduate program while working full-time was daunting. I started small, with the Graduate Certificate in Sustainability and Innovation, but quickly remembered how energizing learning could be. Researching subjects I was deeply passionate about felt less like homework and more like a creative outlet.
What started as a short-term learning experience stretched into almost six years of study. I wasn’t in a rush—I let my interests evolve alongside the sustainability field itself. Over time, the learning didn’t just deepen my industry literacy—it began to reshape my career aspirations entirely.
I initially hadn’t intended to switch careers. But the more I studied, the more I realized I wanted to bridge my experience in fashion with new tools for systemic change. With guidance from Amanda at the Mignone Center for Career Success (MCS), I worked through ideas of what my ideal role could be—and eventually wrote down my “dream job.” That exercise was pivotal.
Today, I work at the intersection of innovation, fashion, and sustainability as the Next Gen Supply Chain Manager at Canopy Planet, a nonprofit scaling the use of low-carbon, next-generation alternatives to wood-based textiles.
Returning to school also helped me rediscover the joy of being surrounded by smart, curious, high-achieving people. My coursework connected me with professionals I might never have met otherwise. And beyond classes, HES offered more support than I expected—from advisors and librarians to guest lecturers and fellow students.
These relationships reminded me that growth doesn’t just happen through academic research—it happens in the “zoom hallway chats”, the office hour drop-ins, and the weekend study sessions where we mostly pumped each other up as we questioned the sense of it all.
1. Write Down Your Ideal Job
Seriously. Putting your ideal role on paper helps crystallize what matters to you—and opens pathways you didn’t know existed.
2. Tap Into Harvard’s Resources Early
There’s a whole ecosystem of support at HES—use it. The Writing Center, career advisors, library staff, guest speakers—they’re there for you. I wish I had started asking questions even earlier.
3. Network Beyond Class
Your classmates are often the most valuable people in the room. Don’t underestimate their experience—and don’t be afraid to ask questions or grab a virtual coffee.
4. Talk to People in the Field
During school projects, I reached out to professionals doing work I admired. Most were happy to chat—and many offered unexpected insights or connections. Some of those conversations have now turned into real-world collaborations.
5. Stay Curious, Not Perfect
Take the leap into something new, ask “dumb” questions, and trust that clarity will come with time. Our mantra for my capstone research class was “a finished paper is better than a perfect paper.”
To read more Harvard Extension School (HES) alumni stories and advice, view the HES Graduate Spotlights and read Making a mid-career industry shift.
