The graduate of Istituto Marangoni and creator of her own brand named Lèylla Studio, Azerbaijani fashion designer Leyla Babayeva was selected and successfully completed the prestigious Women@Dior & UNESCO mentorship program. Over the course of a year, Leyla underwent intensive training, worked under a Dior executive, led an international project team, and was recognized as one of the program's top projects. In an exclusive interview with Global Art magazine, Leyla discussed her experience, leadership, international collaboration, and why Azerbaijan has always remained at the center of her professional journey.
— Welcome to Global Art! We congratulate you on your achievement and are proud of you! A year ago you became one of the participants in the Women@Dior & UNESCO program. Today, the program has concluded. What was this year like for you?
— Hello! Thank you for the invitation and congratulations! It was an incredibly rich and transformative experience. After the selection, a whole year of intensive work began. We participated in educational modules, workshops, and meetings with Dior professionals from various departments of the company. The program not only allowed us to gain new knowledge but also to gain a completely new perspective on leadership, career development, and social impact. For me, this year was a period of growth, new connections, and very valuable professional discoveries.
— What stages did the program consist of?
— It consisted of two main parts. The first was a large-scale e-learning educational program developed by Dior and UNESCO. We completed training in various areas and had to successfully pass a final exam.
Upon completion of this stage, participants received a certificate and were admitted to the second part of the program – creating their own project as part of the Dream for Change Project initiative. This is where the most interesting and practical work begins, as you're not just learning the material, but creating a real project that can benefit society.
— Mentoring was an important part of the program. Who was your mentor?
— My mentor was Federica Mattucci, Senior Architect and Visual Director at Dior. She works at a very high level within the company and has extensive professional experience. Throughout the year, she supported my development, shared her knowledge, helped me structure my ideas, and supported me throughout the project. For me, this was a unique opportunity to learn from someone who is involved in creating the visual world of one of the most influential brands of our time.
We met in person, as Federica invited me to Dior headquarters in December. She arranged a special pass for me and gave me a tour of the company's headquarters. After many months of online communication, we met in person. Seeing the workings of Dior from the inside, meeting my mentor in person, and experiencing the company's atmosphere was a truly inspiring experience.
Federica Mattucci, Senior Architect and Visual Director at Dior, and Leyla Babaeva
— Please, share with our readers the details about the project you worked on.
— It was crucial for me that my project be related to Azerbaijan and reflect topics that are truly close to my heart. International teams are formed to participate in the Dream for Change Project, comprised exclusively of program participants. We couldn't invite outsiders, so each team brought together women from different countries and professional fields.
I became the leader of our group. Working with me were participants from France, Italy, Australia, and Japan. We included specialists in marketing, business, textile engineering, and fashion design. Despite our different cultures, languages, and professional backgrounds, we managed to create a strong team and build effective collaboration.
I was also selected as the regional delegate for Italy. This was a great honor for me. As a regional delegate, I interacted with program participants in Italy, organizing online meetings, discussions, and various activities. This allowed me to meet a large number of talented women, learn their stories, and expand my professional network. Furthermore, this role gave me the opportunity to develop my leadership skills and take on additional responsibilities within the international Women@Dior community.
As a result, our project was ranked among the top 20 initiatives submitted by participants from around the world. This joyful event is recognition of the tremendous work of the entire team. For this achievement, we received additional certificates of successful completion of the program. But most importantly, it's the understanding that our idea was truly noticed and highly valued.
— Are you still working on the project today?
— Yes, absolutely. Although the official program has already concluded, our project continues to evolve. We are still working on its further development and staying in touch. I also continue to communicate with my mentor, Federica, which is especially valuable to me.
— What does participating in Women@Dior & UNESCO mean to you personally?
— First of all, it's confirmation that talent, hard work, and perseverance can open doors on the international stage. From the very beginning, it was important to me to represent Azerbaijan with dignity. During interviews and conversations with program participants, I spoke about our country, the achievements of Azerbaijani women, their strength, professionalism, and desire to develop.
I sincerely believe that such international initiatives help young people not only build careers but also become agents of positive change in society. If my story inspires even one young woman from Azerbaijan to believe in herself and more boldly pursue international opportunities, then this journey has not been in vain.
Interview was conducted by Jamala Nakhchivani, Editor-in-Chief of Global Art Magazine.
