For Fatumata Sow ’26, an iSchool senior, connection comes naturally. Nowhere is that more evident than in her makeup chair. “I’ve built relationships with clients that are just great,” she said.
Sow began experimenting with makeup in middle school, teaching herself through hours of YouTube tutorials and practicing on friends, sisters, and anyone willing to sit in her chair. Her hobby soon became her first source of income when her older sister’s friends began asking her to do their makeup—and eventually grew into a side hustle she carried with her to college.
Over time, her chair has become a space not just for creativity, but for conversation and mutual exchange. “Some people spill their deepest, darkest secrets to me, but I’ve also had the pleasure of receiving advice from people older than me,” she said.
Such guidance has been especially meaningful to Sow as a first-generation college student. Raised in the Bronx, New York, she is the first in her family to be born in the United States after her parents immigrated from Guinea, West Africa. Education was strongly emphasized at home. “My parents didn’t have access to education growing up and told us that education was really important,” she recalled.
When it came time to choose a college, Sow was drawn to the iSchool for its flexibility and breadth. She initially enrolled as a data analytics major before switching to information management and technology. The cross-disciplinary nature of her coursework appealed to her. “The two sides of my brain are competing, in a way,” she said. “I’ve always been a creative person, but at the same time very analytical and organizational. The iSchool really helped me learn that I can do both in a way that suits my passions and skills.”
Her two concentrations reflect that balance. Through innovation, design and startups, Sow has explored how inspiration can evolve into meaningful products or initiatives. “Whether you pursue a business or a nonprofit, any idea can serve some sort of community in the world,” she said. She has paired that creative focus with a more technical concentration in project management, building skills she hopes to further develop by pursuing a Project Management Professional certification in the future.
Beyond the classroom, relationships have been central to Sow’s experience at the iSchool. She credits the close-knit nature of the community—including faculty, staff, and advisors—with helping her navigate college and identify new opportunities. Her academic advisor, in particular, has guided her since her first year, encouraging her to apply to the EuroTech short term study abroad program, and later to study abroad in London, marking her first experiences traveling internationally. “It’s a small but mighty community,” Sow said. “I love that, and I’ve gone out of my way to contribute back.”
As a peer advisor, she has supported students navigating the transition to college. She is also deeply involved with the Black and Latinx Information Science and Technology Society (BLISTS), where she now serves as vice president. “Being part of a community like that gives me an outlet to practice leadership skills, bring people together, and contribute in my own unique way,” she said.
Sow’s academic and leadership experiences have translated into a strong professional trajectory. She has spent two summers at EY, first as a technology consultant launch intern, then as a digital risk consultant intern. “The community at EY really made me want to stay,” she said. “I think it’s a great place for me to build my skills.”
Looking ahead, Sow hopes to eventually bring all facets of her interests together. She plans to pursue an MBA and sees herself working in the beauty industry as a product developer. Whether she is interacting with clients in her makeup chair or contributing to teams in a professional setting, Sow finds fulfillment in helping people feel supported and confident. “I just want to be able to impact somewhere in the world while also doing things that are feeding my creativity and my happiness — because that’s when I do my best work,” she said.