ASSOCIATE SPOTLIGHT SERIES: AN INTERVIEW WITH PREETI
February 20, 2026
In our Associate Spotlight series, we are highlighting associates across our Company who are shaping our community and who embody our Centric Brands philosophy every day.
Meet Preeti Dogra, Production Manager, Buffalo, at Centric Brands Canada. Preeti’s career journey reflects dedication, resilience, and a strong commitment to growth, taking her from early aspirations in India to building a successful path in fashion and production at Centric Brands.
Finding Her Path in Fashion
From her early school days in a small city in India, Preeti knew exactly what she wanted: a career in the fashion industry. Despite completing high school in science, her heart was drawn to creative arts and fashion. Growing up in a conservative family where leaving home for education was uncommon, especially for young women, Preeti’s mother became her champion—encouraging her dreams and supporting her decision to pursue fashion design. With that crucial backing, Preeti passed a rigorous national-level exam and secured a coveted spot at one of the top 10 fashion schools in the world, the National Institute of Fashion Technology, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in knitwear design and technology.
After graduating in 2014, Preeti launched her career as an assistant merchandiser at a factory in India. Through dedication and hard work, she advanced to a management role at a buying agency, working with global brands across the US, Canada, and Europe. Over eight years, she built deep expertise in production and apparel sourcing.
A Leap of Faith: Moving Across the World
In 2022, Preeti made one of the toughest decisions of her life: she moved to Canada after getting married, leaving behind her family and friends to start a new journey in a country with a completely different culture and way of life.
She landed in Alberta on Canada’s west coast, far from the fashion industry opportunities she sought. But Preeti refused to settle. She consistently searched for opportunities that matched her profile. When she discovered a contract position at Centric Brands through a former colleague from India, she faced another difficult choice: the role was in Montreal, on the opposite coast, requiring yet another major relocation. And it was only a one-year contract with no guarantee of permanency.
With her husband’s unwavering support, Preeti decided to take the risk. In February 2024, she relocated across Canada to join Centric as an Order Management Coordinator.
Building Success at Centric
While the coordinator role differed from her previous work in production, Preeti embraced the opportunity to learn. When her contract converted to a permanent position in September 2024, it validated her decision to take the risk. But Preeti wasn’t finished.
Throughout her year and a half as an allocation coordinator, she never stopped looking for opportunities in production and sourcing within Centric. She actively reached out to various channels and connections within the company, consistently checking for openings.
Despite her determination, Preeti worried about how her manager might react to her desire to move to a different department. During her mid-year review, she gathered her courage and had an honest conversation about her career goals. The response was transformative—her manager not only supported the transition but actively encouraged her professional growth.
With guidance from HR on the proper procedure and her manager’s backing, Preeti applied for a production manager role.
“I kind of kept that confidence in myself that it doesn’t matter what the other person is looking for, but one conversation wouldn’t hurt. Even if I was not selected at this point of time after the interview, I would still take the feedback on what I need to improve in myself.”
Her persistence paid off. Preeti successfully transitioned to Production Manager, bringing her career full circle to the work she’s most passionate about.
Lessons in Perseverance
Preeti’s journey—from a small city in India to one of the world’s top fashion schools, through eight years building her career, across continents to Canada, from coast to coast pursuing opportunities, and finally finding her place at Centric, demonstrates extraordinary perseverance and clarity of purpose.
Her Advice for Anyone Facing Career Transitions:
Use your networks and connections. Reach out for help and suggestions. Preeti’s connection with a former colleague opened the door to Centric, and her internal networking helped her transition to production.
Be persistent and never settle. Consistently search for openings and keep yourself open to starting at an entry level if needed but have confidence that you can rise. Communicate openly. While intimidating, honest conversations about your career aspirations can open unexpected doors. Remember that your experience doesn’t disappear when your location changes. In a new country, you may need to re-express your skills in a local context, but your foundations remain solid.
“When you move to a new country, you’re not starting from scratch—you’re starting with strength. Grow with curiosity, connect with courage, and let your purpose guide every step forward.”
Looking ahead, Preeti sees her current role as another step in her ongoing growth. She’s excited to continue expanding her expertise at Centric, staying true to the passion for fashion that has driven her from those early school days when she first wrote her dreams in a scrapbook—and then had the courage to make them real.
