An Update on The MarketHer

HI, STRANGER!

It's been a while. How've you been?

Why yes, yes, I do feel like your ex sliding into your DMs a few months after a break-up. (Only I promise my intentions are good.) I'll be the first to admit that The MarketHer has ghosted you big time. As someone who hates ghosting and prefers mature communication, I'm so sorry. I know the newsletter (and I) have fallen off the face of the earth these past six months, so I wanted to reach out with an update that's one part apology, two parts explanation, and a huge dollop of gratitude.

If we're connected on LinkedIn, you may have seen a version of this announcement back in January; I appreciate your bearing with me here. If we're not connected on LinkedIn, here's some context:

When I started The MarketHer in 2019, my goal was simple: To make job-searching less painful and leverage my network to help my former colleagues and peers find new roles they were excited about.

But then Covid hit. What began as a way to help WeWork alumni find new roles in the wake of mass layoffs turned into a website, blog, job board, and community for women in marketing and related industries. It became a way to highlight job-seekers and women who were pursuing creative side projects, founding their own companies, and effecting change through their nonprofits—women who were advocating for equality and diversity and, collectively, a better future.

I'm so grateful to everyone who's opened, read, and championed The MarketHer over these past 2.5 years. Your support means the world. I'm still committed to helping people find and create meaningful and fulfilling work, but these days, that commitment looks a little different than it did in the fall of 2019.

In January of this year, I joined a startup called Teal, which is on a mission to empower people to navigate their careers and land roles they love. Through a suite of free tools and resources, Teal brings insight, guidance, and automation to the job search and application processes, combatting many of the taboos related to careers and providing answers to the questions that it often feels there's no one but Google to ask.

It's a small but mighty team and an incredible adventure thus far. Within my scope, I'm overseeing all things brand and content: brand strategy, content marketing, social media, blog, email, newsletter, podcast, press and communications, and interactions with our community—and I'm thankful every moment that I'm able to work with a team of such intelligent, capable humans who are trusting me with the brand and giving me the space to grow, test and learn openly, and channel the ethos of The MarketHer into my daily work.

That said, I haven't carved out the space for The MarketHer the way I was once able to. The end of 2021 left me pretty burnt out, and the idea of sending the newsletter felt like too heavy a load. Now that 2022 is underway, my absence (and subsequently its absence) is a combination of wanting to give my new job my full attention and wanting to spend less of my spare time on my devices.


TL;DR:  

I still don't have perfect answers about what the future of The MarketHer looks like—but for now, here's the plan:

  • I'm going to take a step back from sending the newsletter and give myself permission to do so without guilt. The newsletter may be back eventually, but I'm not 100% sure when.

  • I've removed the password feature from the website and will continue to add open roles to it here on a rolling basis. I'm looking into switching over to a new format for the job board to make this process more seamless and will keep you posted.

  • If you or someone you know is hiring for a role within marketing, brand, comms, etc., feel free to submit it here.

  • I'll comb the job listings on the site regularly to make sure inactive roles are deleted.

  • If there's a role on the website that you're interested in, feel free to reach out and I'm glad to try to facilitate an intro. I'm also happy to connect with anyone on LinkedIn and help with intros if you want to tap into my network.

  • The MarketHer's social channels (Instagram and LinkedIn) have never been quite as active as I intended. I'll keep the pages up for now, but likely won't post too regularly.

HERE’S HOW TEAL CAN HELP:

Though The MarketHer may not be as active as it was when it first started in 2019, I'd love to continue to be of service to you throughout your search in whatever way I can. Fortunately, Teal has many more tools and resources than I had on my own—and it's 100% free to use.

If you're interested in checking it out, here are some places to get started:

Thank you, as always, for everything. For reading and sharing and liking and replying and championing. For supporting and emailing and posting and checking and understanding. I'm so very grateful.

With love,
Lia

✨Meet Rubi Chavez, Head of Marketing at Tastemade

This week, we’re thrilled to highlight Rubi Chavez, who recently joined the Tastemade team as the Head of Marketing. In her new role, Rubi will focus on building out the company’s global brand and marketing strategy, overseeing content that resonates with Tastemade’s 300 million+ monthly viewers across all major digital, mobile, and streaming television platforms.

Rubi was drawn to Tastemade not only for its award-winning original programming and global reach, but also for its deep connection to Spanish-speaking audiences. In 2020, the brand introduced Tastemade en Español—a Spanish-language channel with over 175 hours of programming that reaches over 75 million households in the U.S. with a diverse library of food, travel, and home and design content.

With Hispanic Heritage Month underway, Rubi reflects on the ways in which Tastemade celebrates the diversity and beauty of Hispanic and Latinx culture, both externally through their content and internally through their programming. “At Tastemade, we believe in celebrating diversity both in front of and behind the cameras,” she explains. “With the launch of our ‘Be The Change’ resource page, partners and consumers can get involved by finding more information on Hispanic- and Latinx-owned businesses, books to read, podcasts to listen to, and more.”

Keep reading for Rubi’s reflections on her first-ever job, the most memorable piece of career advice she’s ever received, and what she sees ahead for Tastemade.

Rubi Chavez, Head of Marketing at Tastemade

Name: Rubi Chavez

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Currently based in: Los Angeles, CA

Describe yourself in three(ish) words: Creative, hard-working, and curious

I feel inspired when: I challenge myself with a new creative project (e.g., a home design project or planning a party).

Outside of work you’ll find me: in the kitchen, trying out new recipes.

Congratulations on your new role at Tastemade! You have an incredible history in the brand and marketing space. Can you tell us a bit about your career trajectory and what drew you to Tastemade?

I’ve worked in entertainment marketing for 20 years. Before joining Tastemade, I was Vice President of Marketing at Entertainment One, where I was responsible for brand, content, and B2B marketing for the U.S., Canada, and LATAM. Prior to that, I was Executive Director of International Marketing at NBCUniversal. I spent 17 years at Comcast/NBCUniversal, most notably launching 16 E! International networks in 153 countries in 24 languages. I also spent 5 years in London as Director of Marketing, EMEA, building the E! and The Style Network brands and driving viewership to the networks across Europe, Middle East, and Africa, making them household names.

My big personal passions are cooking, home and design, and travel. This—coupled with my work passions of working in a global entertainment company that celebrates diverse cultures—was what drew me to Tastemade.

As the Head of Marketing, what are a few of the top priorities you see for you and your team in the year ahead?

A big area of focus for us this year and next are our 24-hour streaming networks. This is the fastest-growing part of our business. We want to be where our consumers are, both on social media and streaming, and provide quality lifestyle content aimed at the Gen Z and Millennial audiences.

Tastemade has always been committed to diverse voices and untold stories from around the world. Currently in the U.S. we have three streaming networks—Tastemade, Tastemade en Español and Tastemade Travel—as well as local 24-hour networks in Brazil, LATAM, UK, EMEA, Asia, etc.

In what ways does your work (past, present, and/or volunteer) empower women? 

I’ve worked in entertainment marketing for the past 20 years, in particular with female lifestyle entertainment brands. I think bringing quality content and storytelling to women across the globe helps empower women to live out their passions for food, travel, home and design, fashion, beauty and pop culture, which helps them to become better versions of themselves and to fully enjoy what they are passionate about.

When I became a mother, I started to volunteer at Baby 2 Baby, a charitable organization that helps children living in poverty by providing basic necessities such as diapers, clothing, toiletries, and school supplies. I understood firsthand the responsibility mothers have to provide for their children; volunteering was a way I could help and empower mothers to receive the support they needed to provide for their children.

Image courtesy of Tastemade

Image courtesy of Tastemade

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, it sounds like you and the Tastemade team are doing some amazing things to celebrate the diverse and rich Latin culture. Can you speak to some of the ways in which you’re bringing more representation and awareness of Latinx and Hispanic culture to the entertainment/media industry? 

Hispanic Heritage Month is a great way to celebrate the diversity and beauty of the Hispanic/Latinx culture. At Tastemade, we believe in celebrating diversity both in front of and behind the cameras. We celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with our biggest campaign to date, creating a series of promos that are running all month long across our 24-hour streaming networks to celebrate the culture and traditions of the Hispanic/Latinx culture. We also created and programmed a variety of Hispanic/Latinx-focused social content across our social platforms to celebrate the diverse culture and to promote local Hispanic/Latinx businesses. With the launch of our “Be The Change” resource page, partners and consumers can get involved by finding more information on Hispanic/Latinx-owned businesses, books to read, podcasts to listen to, and more.

It’s also important to celebrate diversity internally, so we created a series of events for our employees, including a talk with TEDx speaker, Monica Rivera, called “Latin Like Me,” to help inform and embrace our heritage and the duality of being a Hispanic/Latinx American.

Inclusion and equity aren’t just trends. In what ways would you like to ensure Latinx and Hispanic voices stay at the forefront of the conversation beyond Hispanic Heritage Month, particularly in the marketing world? 

Diverse representation is such an important topic. It’s increased over time, which is a positive change; however, we still have a long way to go, not only in front of the cameras, but also behind the cameras. When there’s diversity in organizations—and especially when those people are top decision-makers or in leadership positions—diversity starts to become endemic and part of the norm.

Also, I would love to see more representation of the many diverse backgrounds within the Hispanic/Latinx community as it’s not just one size fits all. Latinos are still seen as a homogeneous group by many, but we represent over 20 Latin countries. There’s room to see these different backgrounds represented in marketing and advertising and not just put into one bucket.

Can you tell us about your first-ever job?

My first-ever job was a seasonal retail sales associate at the Gap. I was only 16 years old and didn’t have any work experience, but what I did have was a positive attitude, a willingness to learn, and a strong work ethic. These values really helped me to navigate the hectic Christmas sales period. This is where I started to learn firsthand about consumer behavior, as well as the power of marketing and brands.

What’s one super memorable piece of career advice you’ve received?

One of the best pieces of career advice I have received was from my former boss at Comcast/NBCUniversal. I was up for a promotion. It was to either receive a higher title at my then-job based in LA, or get the opportunity to move abroad without the title, but gain experience and responsibility. He told me that sometimes the best things are not always handed to you on a silver platter; sometimes you need to go with your gut feeling and hope that things will turn out the way you want them to. 

I took a leap of faith and chose the opportunity to move abroad. Not too long after, I got the title I wanted—ending up with both the things I was working so hard for. That’s how I learned that sometimes you have to go with your gut feeling and trust you’re making the right decision; it won’t always be handed to you. 

Connect with Rubi here, and with Tastemade on LinkedIn and Instagram.

👩‍💻Founder Features: Meet Dre Thomas, Founder & CEO of Smile On Me

We’re back with another post in our Founder Feature series—a way to highlight badass, inspiring women who’ve founded their own companies and nonprofits. (Side note: We also feature those who are looking for their next professional opportunity and those who are pursuing really cool creative work—send us a note if you’re interested in being profiled!).

This week, I’m excited to introduce the amazing Dre Thomas, who founded Smile On Me. Since its inception in 2017, the company has championed girls’ rights to live safe and healthy lives. Its mission: to adequately prepare girls for puberty and provide a space for them to be authentic and discover something new.

Smile On Me celebrates girls, empowering them during one of the most pivotal times in their lives. Research shows that a large number of girls report feeling ill-prepared for menstruation and for changes occurring in their bodies—and girls from low-income communities in the U.S. in particular report negative experiences with this transition. That’s where Smile On Me comes in.

By providing girls with feminine hygiene products (the cost of which can be as high as $100 annually, competing with other personal care essentials), Smile On Me is not only preparing girls for puberty, but also giving them the opportunity to build a healthy foundation for sexual and reproductive health, setting the stage for girls’ relationships with their bodies for years to come. Through healthy environments that allow peer-to-peer interaction, Smile On Me encourages girls to embrace their strengths and celebrate their differences, helping to improve self-esteem and body image in a safe environment in which girls feel heard and valued.

You can read more about Dre’s story here.

Dre Thomas, Founder of Smile On Me

Dre Thomas, Founder of Smile On Me

Name: Dre Thomas

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Currently based in: New York

Describe yourself in three(ish) words: Creative, generous, and people-oriented

I feel inspired when: I’m working to solve a problem and improve lives.

Outside of work you’ll find me: At home.

What led you to start Smile On Me? Can you tell us a bit about the origin story and how it’s evolved since its formation in 2017?

When I was 16 years old, after chatting with her mom at the dinner table, I had an idea to work with young girls in my community in Los Angeles to provide them with hygiene products and create a space where they could be authentic and discover something new. Growing up in a single-parent household, I experienced having limited access to menstrual hygiene products and menstrual hygiene education.

After nearly a decade of working with young people through various non-profit organizations, I realized that my experiences weren’t unique—that girls in communities similar to mine also lacked access to these necessities.  In 2011, I was given an opportunity to move to New York and work with inner-city youth. I discovered that these same problems didn’t stop in Los Angeles, but were common throughout New York and the country. And so in 2017, I decided to launch Smile On Me. (You can learn more about the timeline of the company and its offerings here.)

There are so many cool offerings: Homeroom, the first-ever Wellness Summer Camp for BIPOC girls, etc. How do you envision things evolving in the next year?

I’m hoping we can easily move back into IRL events. The heartbeat of Smile On Me is gathering girls to meet in person and creating lifelong friendships. It’s been great getting to create this online community, but I’m hoping we can soon have both. We are starting to plan our Wellness Summer Camp and I’m so excited. We’ve polled our girls to see what activities they’d like to experience and started reaching out to brands for potential partnerships.

In what way(s) does your work empower women?

Smile On Me empowers women by empowering girls to take charge of their lives.

What’s one super memorable piece of advice you got when spinning up your own business? Any mantras in particular that have stuck with you? 

The best (and most memorable) piece of advice I’ve received: If you stay ready, you won’t have to get ready. I often turn back to this in times of confusion or doubt. Staying ready for me is keeping my ear to the ground, listening to people around me, and understanding the need before I take action. 

For people looking to get involved in supporting Smile On Me, what are the best next steps? How can they donate? 

People can learn more on the Smile On Me website and Instagram, and can donate here.

Connect with Smile On Me here: Website | Instagram

The 6 Resources I Couldn't Do Without in My First Quarter as a Freelancer

IMG_5058 2.JPG

I wish I could say I set out to start my own business intentionally… but truth be told, it just sort of happened. I feel really lucky that my professional stars have aligned over these past few months and provided me with the opportunity to branch out on my own into the world of consulting and freelancing—but it was definitely more of an accidental stumble than a carefully planned decision.

And so, inspired by my friend Lauren Drell—who wrote an excellent Medium piece on the questions she’s been asked most since starting her freelance journey, and another on the 11 things she learned in her first year as a freelancer—I thought I’d round-up the essential tools and resources I couldn’t have done without over my first quarter as an independent worker.

I should also preface all of this by saying I am by NO means an expert on taxes, finances, or any of the advise I’m casually dishing out below. These are all personal opinions and suggestions, and I absolutely recommend consulting with professionals in the space before getting started.

1. ZenBusiness

First things first: Setting up an LLC. There’s tons of great information online about the differences between LLCs, S-Corps, and C-Corps (case in point: this guide from Inc., which is an oldie-but-goodie), so I won’t get into too much detail here, but my first order of business (so to speak) was deciding what kind of entity to form—and where.

Several friends who’ve set up their own businesses before recommended I register my company in Delaware because of the tax structure, but for the sake of simplicity and logistics, I opted to keep my business affairs local in Colorado. To be totally honest, the complexities of filing in both Delaware and Colorado and assigning a registered agent in two places overwhelmed me; I’d suggest consulting with a professional about tax implications before deciding which state to register in. (Full disclosure: something I didn’t do but wish I had.)

Anyway. Back to the company formation process. There are so many websites that offer LLC registration, with ZenBusiness, LegalZoom, and Northwest among the companies recommended most often. After some VERY deep Google rabbit holes, I went with ZenBusiness, and I’m so glad I did. They handle everything for you: preparing and filing your LLC, annual report services, operating agreements, EINs, DBA services, and so much more. I already had a business website and email address set up, but for those who are new to that as well, ZenBusiness also helps with domain name purchase and email integration. There was excellent, prompt customer service support when needed (though the process was pretty seamless.) Truly can’t say enough good things about them.

(Side note about the business address: I ended up renting a mailbox through UPS since USPS doesn't allow you to legally use their street address for business purposes and I didn’t want to make my home address public.)

2. Wingspan

Once I got past the name (IYKYK), I realized Wingspan is a freelancer’s godsend. Their tagline is “Everything you need to freelance” and that TRULY couldn’t be more accurate. It’s a one-stop shop for sending client invoices and tracking payments, bookkeeping (who knew taxes as a freelancer were so complicated?), health insurance benefits and retirement savings, and so much more.

They also have tools like an hourly rate calculator (more on this in a future blog post!), a quarterly tax calendar you can subscribe to so you never miss a payment deadline, and a robust resource hub with helpful template forms to create everything from NDAs to consulting agreements to contracts.

You can register for a demo here, and you decide to sign up, here’s my referral code. (After the 14-day free trial, we’ll both get $50.) I swear I’m not being paid to say any of this—I just can't recommend it enough.

Note: There are comparable platforms and services out there, like Bonsai and HoneyBook, both of which I’ve heard great things about, but from the peers and fellow freelancers I’ve spoken to, Wingspan is by and far the winner. My vote is not to bother with QuickBooks—you can get that same functionality from any of these three alternatives.

3. Calendly

I’m pretty sure Calendly has saved me at least five hours of back-and-forth email scheduling in the last quarter—and that’s probably a conservative estimate. Like, I’m sort of unclear on how I functioned before using Calendly; It’s SUCH a game-changer for scheduling meetings. All you have to do is link your calendar(s) (the premium plans let you integrate multiple, which is so helpful), set your available hours (you can vary them by day), choose the event types you’d like to offer, customize your personal link, and voila.

You can take it up a notch with Zoom and Google Meet integration (a must!); there are also automations for custom workflows (think meeting reminders, thank-you emails, text confirmation, surveys, etc.) and lots of helpful integrations (e.g., Stripe, Salesforce, HubSpot, Mailchimp, etc.). I can safely say Calendly’s pro plan has been worth every penny.

4. Toggl

I’ve used Toggl for years—even in my non-freelance jobs—and it remains one of my favorite productivity tools. On the freelance front, I’ve found Toggle Track essential for calculating time spent on each client and project. Sure, I could just use a regular old clock or timer, but is that as organized or visually appealing? Nope.

Like so many of the other tools featured here, Toggl offers tons of integrations and premium add-ons, but truth be told I only really use the timer feature and regular analytics reports, and have found that the free version is more than sufficient for my solopreneur needs.

5. Notion

People having been raving about Notion for a few years now, but until recently, I was a bit skeptical. Getting used to a whole new interface sounded like an adjustment I didn’t have the patience for. After all, what was wrong with Google Docs and Google Workspaces?

Everything, as it turns out.

After a bit of a learning curve, I’m officially on the Notion bandwagon and can safely say I’m never getting off. (Unless, you know, the platform ceases to exist.) It’s SO beautifully designed and sophisticated and intuitive with its note-taking capabilities and nested pages. It’s not that the tool is critical for freelancing, per se, but not even two months into using it, I can’t remember how I stayed organized without it.

Notion calls itself an “all in one workspace,” which feels 100% accurate. From organizing notes and documents to managing projects and tasks, building out content calendars and style guides to mapping out approvals and to-do lists, it’s truly a powerhouse. And there are beautiful (free!) templates to help you get started. One of my favorite things about Notion is that it’s just as effective for personal use as it is for professional use.

6. IndeCollective

Last but not least, IndeCollective. This one’s a long one, but please bear with me.

When Sam Lee, a former WeWork colleague and overall rockstar of a human being, reached out to me a few months ago about a new startup he’d created, I had no idea it was going to change the course of my career—quite literally.

Some background for those who don’t know me: I left my role at WeWork in May of 2020, after 5+ years at the company (more on that decision here). I was fortunate enough to take some time off afterward to recharge and do some soul-searching—a privilege I don’t take lightly. I told myself I’d use a full six months to regroup before even approaching the job search, at which point I’d be refreshed and energized and have a newfound sense of clarity and purpose.

Things I didn’t take into consideration: Reality. A global pandemic. The toll that 2020 took, both mentally and emotionally, even though I was fortunate to be safe and healthy and to say the same for my loved ones. By the time my self-imposed six-month grace period drew to a close, I hadn’t had a single breakthrough or a-ha moment. And so I procrastinated, setting Q1 2021 as my new deadline for landing a job.

But, as they say, man plans and God laughs. By mid-April, I was in my fourth straight month of job-searching and interviewing and take-home assignments (which… more on that another time). As the founder of The MarketHer I felt a little silly—here I was running a newsletter aimed at helping other women find meaningful work, and yet I was struggling to even figure out what I wanted for myself. None of the full-time opportunities I’d had my heart set on were panning out: I was either too senior or too junior, or the recruiter didn’t find my skill set transferrable, or I realized way late into the process that the role I was chasing was causing more anxiety than excitement.

And that’s when Sam reached out—somewhere in the space between stuck and discouraged, still yearning for a strong gut feeling or magical sign from the universe about what I was “supposed” to be doing.

Sam’s new company, IndeCollective, was born from his desire to help fellow independent workers translate their specialized skills into successful businesses and achieve better balance. Through the program, he brings together a curated group of talented independent practitioners and agency-builders, and, over a carefully planned 10-week course comprised of workshops, breakout groups, and programming, provides the cohort with the education, expert guidance, and supportive peer group they need to take their independent work to the next level.

Sam and I hopped on a call on a Thursday, and by Friday, I was unstuck—maybe not in the way I’d envisioned in May of 2020, but he helped spark something that excited me: the prospect of pursuing my own path instead of going back in-house full-time. And with that, my new plan began to crystalize. I took Sam up on his offer to join the IndeCollective Spring cohort in exchange for helping with their social media strategy and content—and oh. my. goodness. I’m so glad I did.

I truly can’t say enough good things about the program. (And I’m not being paid to say them—I just wholeheartedly believe in it and in the work Sam is doing.) The foundational basics (pricing, productization, scaling, networking, developing a bulletproof psychology, and so much more), coupled with the incredible people I met through the workshops, breakout sessions, and our weekly (A) Team meetings, made my transition into independent work at LEAST ten times easier than it would’ve been had I started down the path alone. As many others before me have pointed out, freelancing can be lonely—but as Sam likes to say, “independence doesn’t have to come at the cost of community.” I’m beyond grateful to have had the support of the IndeCollective community as I set about my new chapter.

If you’ve read this far, THANK YOU. Have any recommendations for other tools and resources you’ve found essential as a freelancer or independent worker? Leave ‘em in the comments below! 

Changes to the Format of The MarketHer

Hey friends!

Hope your summer is off to as great a start as possible. If you're anything like me, you're still figuring out how to navigate a "post"-pandemic world (with the understanding that it's still a very real threat).

Among the many changes I'm acclimating to these days: a new format for The MarketHer. Since the newsletter's inception in late 2019, the goal has been to help women find meaningful work, and to do so with a curated approach and tailored, personalized introductions. As the world's evolved—and with it my personal and professional circumstances—I've found there's a more streamlined, sustainable way to share open roles with this community. Here's what that'll look like:

  • 🆕Each edition of the newsletter will still feature new roles and opportunities, but instead of 30–75 roles per edition, there'll be a smaller amount featured in the newsletter, and the rest will live in a pretty AirTable form on The MarketHer's website. (See the video below for a sneak peek!)

  • 🚨You’ll now be able to sort the roles however you want—location, company, years of experience, and so much more.

  • 🔑 The AirTable form will be password protected so that members of the MarketHer community get access before non-members. The password will change regularly and be included in each new edition of the newsletter. Current password: NovembHER

  • 🔐Having trouble accessing the page? Let us know.

  • 👩‍💻In addition to full-time and part-time roles, we'll aim to up the number of freelance and contract opportunities listed so that independent workers who are in the market have additional support.

  • 📆When people submit new roles, they will be added directly to the site—so be sure to check back regularly for updates!

  • 👀I'll moderate the form on an ongoing basis to ensure inactive roles are taken down, but this new format will allow for greater longevity/visibility for open positions.

Have feedback about this new format? Drop me a line here.

And as always, if you know of an open role in comms, marketing, brand, social media, or related industries that you'd like featured in the next edition, please fill out this form.

🎙 Creative Spotlight: Lucy Gao, Creator & Host of Growing Up Immigrant Podcast

One of my favorite parts of The MarketHer—in addition to trying to help women find meaningful roles in the marketing world—is figuring out ways to highlight badass, talented, inspiring women in several ways: those who are looking for their next professional opportunity, those who’ve founded their own companies and/or started interesting side-hustles, and those who are pursuing creative work we’re moved by.

Next up, I’m excited to introduce Lucy Gao, a talented marketing and communications professional whom I had the pleasure of working with at WeWork. Lucy recently created and launched a brilliant new podcast called Growing Up Immigrant, and was kind enough to give us all the details. Read on, and don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple or Spotify.

Lucy Gao, Creator & Host of Growing Up Immigrant

Lucy Gao, Creator & Host of Growing Up Immigrant

Name: Lucy Gao

Hometown: Born in Beijing and grew up in Toronto

Currently based in: Toronto

Describe yourself in three words: Creative, ambitious, and resourceful.

I feel inspired when: I’m being creative, learning, and trying new things, usually outside my comfort zone.

Outside of work you’ll find me: Making excessive amounts of lists, playing with my cat, taking French classes, doing improv, and spending time with family and friends.

Your new podcast, Growing Up Immigrant, is fantastic. Can you tell us a bit about the origin story and how the podcast came about? 

Growing up in Toronto, where almost half the population is foreign born, many of my friends have different cultural backgrounds. Sometimes we would talk about certain topics through the lens of our respective cultures, and it was fascinating hearing about the differences, but more so the similarities. I wanted to bring these stories to a larger audience, especially since they’re so relatable—like how long it takes to say goodbye to guests, or our moms passive-aggressively comparing us to anyone and everyone, to more serious topics like a lack of understanding in many immigrant families about mental health.

I’m also really proud to feature diverse voices and highlight the immigrant experience, which is not always represented in mainstream media. If we can start to discover how similar we are with people who are different from us, perhaps this can help create more empathy, respect, and ultimately more understanding between people of all backgrounds.

What’s one of the biggest things that has surprised you about launching a podcast? Has the creative process been what you’d expected thus far? What are some of the roadblocks you’ve faced in its development?

There was a lot of positive feedback when I launched it, which was really moving. Messages from friends and friends of friends saying, “Oh my God, I relate so much to that,” or, “I was laughing so hard when you guys started talking about the Royal Danish cookie tins.”

The creative process is also incredibly fulfilling. Putting the outlines together, designing the cover art, recording the episodes, and even the editing process. I’ll be editing for hours and I’ll look at the time and be like, Oh wow, it’s 2 a.m. I’m in a deep state of flow, which I love. 

Any tips for other first-time podcast producers?

Sound quality is everything—definitely make sure everyone has good mics! I record in my closet because it has the best acoustics. Also, I’ve found the best way to learn is to do everything myself, from picking the music to fixing plosive sounds, and everything in between. Although it’s time consuming, it’s super rewarding to have a finished product at the end of it.

Tools I use: Blue Yeti mic, Zencastr for group recording, Anchor for distribution, and Canva for marketing materials.

What’s one super memorable piece of advice you got when starting/launching Growing Up Immigrant?

Before we recorded the first episode, my friend Arianne, who’s on the podcast, told me that I should be prepared for the episode to turn out differently from what I planned— to just go with the flow. And that’s exactly what happened. My friends took my questions and prompts and brought the discussion to a whole new level. Preparation is, of course, still very necessary, but it’s also important to let the conversation take on a life of its own and see where it leads you.

You have an awesome background in communications. How does the Growing Up Immigrant podcast tie into your professional experience? How did your prior work inform this project?

Working in communications, there’s a lot of writing, editing, researching, creating campaign plans and editorial calendars, etc. I’ve definitely applied that structure and diligence to the podcast. 

What sorts of professional opportunities are you looking to tackle next? Are you looking to go in-house somewhere? Freelance? Continue working on the podcast as you take on a new role? 

I would love to combine my marketing and communications experience with my producing capabilities to tell compelling stories and create meaningful moments. I am looking for new professional opportunities while also continuing to learn and seeing where my projects take me. I definitely want to keep Growing Up Immigrant going regardless of what I do next!

Anything else we should know? 

Putting myself out there and working on these creative projects is quite a new experience for me. I’ve had a corporate job since I graduated from university, so diverging from that path and not working full-time feels quite scary (and is, ironically, very un-immigrant of me). But I’m sticking with it—for now at least… until my parents start asking me about it. 🙃

Connect with Lucy and the Growing Up Immigrant podcast here: LinkedIn | Instagram

👩‍💻 Meet Hannah Bomze, Co-founder & CEO of Casa Blanca

Over the past year and a half, we’ve highlighted women on the blog who are in the market for a new opportunity, who’ve launched inspiring side-hustles, and who are pursuing creative projects we’re obsessed with. Now, we’re introducing a new series called Founder Features, shining a spotlight on women who’ve started their own businesses.

First up: Hannah Bomze, the co-founder and CEO of real estate startup Casa Blanca. (You can read more about the company in this TechCrunch piece.)

Hannah Bomze, Co-founder & CEO of Casa Blanca

Hannah Bomze, Co-founder & CEO of Casa Blanca

Name: Hannah Bomze

Hometown: NYC

Currently based in: NYC

Describe yourself in three words: Determined, original, and innovative

I feel inspired when: I see people using the technology we created, and when I am working alongside agents who are using our platform and thriving.

Outside of work you’ll find me: Chasing my two sons.

What led you to start Casa Blanca? 

The industry’s lack of opportunity for new talent and lack of transparency and new and innovative technology.

How do you plan to use your platform to empower women? 

The company is based on the thesis of flexibility. We don’t force people to work certain hours, which allows working mothers to have flexible hours. We have an agent who has worked with us for three years, and she has been able to work if and when it fits into her schedule. We have a structure set in place to facilitate the business.

Why are you looking to hire real estate salespeople with non-traditional backgrounds? 

The culture of the real estate industry is broken. Casa Blanca agents don’t fit into the stereotypical agent mold, which is oftentimes seen as aggressive and pushy.  Casa Blanca agents are thoughtful in how they communicate with clients and work to build meaningful relationships.

Anything else we should know? 

We’re expanding to other states! We’re currently based in New York and Colorado but will be branching out within the year!

Connect with Casa Blanca here: LinkedIn | Instagram | Website

✨Market Her: Paige Newberry

This week’s spotlight is on Paige Newberry, a digital media and marketing consultant with a broad range of experience who’s focused on creating a better world through better businesses. Read on to hear about Paige’s trajectory, and don’t forget to connect with her on LinkedIn.

If you're in the market for a new role and looking to be featured, please fill out this form and we’ll be in touch.

Paige Newberry

Paige Newberry

Name: Paige Newberry

Hometown: Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Currently based in: Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Describe yourself in three words: Adventurous, strategic, and resourceful

Previous experience: Over the past few years as a digital media and marketing consultant, I’ve had the opportunity to work with multiple organizations in support of their brands’ goals while assisting them in building their marketing and communication efforts. While my work has recently been focused on the nonprofit and tech industries, I discovered my strength in creating content that holds strong to the voice and direction of companies in multiple categories.

Previous to my work as a marketing consultant, I was the sole marketing producer at an enterprise-level digital marketing software company based in Boca Raton, FL/Cambridge, MA. Producing content for a SaaS company may not sound thrilling, but I was able to get creative and develop a strong engagement with our audience through efficient communication and high-impact resources. Not only did I win a Summit International Gold Award for the best sales video at that time, but the videos I produced have brought in more sales opportunities than any other effort their current sales team has run. Let's just say that I try to make the most of the challenge at hand!

Following the sale of the company, I decided to pursue my lifelong passion for marine life and moved to Indonesia to work in sea turtle conservation. This led to over two years of travel around the world, working in conservation and sustainability and improving my growth mindset, strong communication skills, and strategic creative vision.

After moving back to Florida, I utilized those experiences to support and assist multiple organizations as a marketing/communications consultant and web developer/designer who focuses on creating a better world through better businesses. I have had my work for those organizations featured in Forbes, BBC, CNN, ABC News, and many other publications.

What I want my next opportunity to look like: While I absolutely love the challenge of freelancing, it feels like it's time to find an organization that not only can I dedicate myself to, but that I feel is dedicated to me. I have sunk my heart and soul into my clients and love working with them, but I do miss the feeling of having a great company culture and dynamic around me. I'd love to be able to grow with—and assist in the growth of—a great organization.

I feel inspired when: I see my work making a true difference in the lives of others.

Outside of work you’ll find me: Hiking, rock climbing, freediving, and discovering a new place in my converted van.

Connect with me here: LinkedIn | Instagram

If you've found a role through The MarketHer or would like to be featured as you start your job search, we'd love to include you in an upcoming issue. You can get in touch here.

✨Market Her: Begum Elsa Cura

This week’s spotlight is on Begum Elsa Cura, a Paris-based strategist and operations expert who has experience bringing together entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 businesses while supporting WeWork's international expansion across the U.S. and Europe.

If you're in the market for a new role and looking to be featured, please fill out this form and we’ll be in touch.

Begum Elsa Cura

Begum Elsa Cura

Name: Begum Elsa Cura

Hometown: Paris, France

Currently based in: Paris, France

Describe yourself in three words: Creative, reliable, and driven

Previous experience: I'm a multilingual strategist and operations expert who's brought together entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 businesses over the last five years while supporting WeWork's international expansion across the U.S. and Europe. I have proven experience in balancing the evolving needs of product and users across B2B & B2C landscapes, and have overseen the product lifecycle from market and user research, strategy and product roadmap development, to effective implementation, retention, and future growth through a cross-functional alignment. Previous to WeWork, I held roles in market research, financial analysis, and CX across real estate, hospitality, and finance sectors, and completed my BA and MA in Economics with a specialty in Real Estate Finance & Development from Columbia University.

What I want my next opportunity to look like: I'm looking to partner with inspiring companies in the U.S. and Europe on a freelance or part-time basis to break down bureaucratic complexities. I want to be part of the journey to innovate solutions that simplify people's daily lives through empathy, with a central focus on the user's needs and experience. I'm particularly interested in product management, strategy development, and operations management.

I feel inspired when: I read memoirs and listen to podcasts of entrepreneurs and artists with extraordinary journeys and empowering advice, while discovering new ventures that are changing the world. I also love spending time in nature and doing road-trips that provide spontaneity and a newfound energy.

Outside of work you’ll find me: I'm a startup coach on the Mana platform, supporting innovators in their entrepreneurial journeys, and through my consultancy, I advise on strategic direction for pre-seed and seed startups whose missions I connect with. I also love writing poetry (under @thoughtsbyafountain on Instagram) with some of my pieces published in journals, and am working on my book this year.

Connect with me here: LinkedIn | Instagram | Website

If you've found a role through The MarketHer or would like to be featured as you start your job search, we'd love to include you in an upcoming issue. You can get in touch here.

,

✨Market Her: Karen "K" Abate

,

This week's spotlight is on my friend Karen “K” Abate. Though we met through family and both worked at WeWork, we didn’t really get to know each other until we both moved to Denver last year. Professionally, K’s speciality is building community through operations, hospitality, and workplace strategy, BUT I wanted to feature her in The MarketHer because of her incredible passion project/side hustle: Denver K Design.

K Abate (@denverkdesign). Photo: @dead.west

K Abate (@denverkdesign). Photo: @dead.west

Name: Karen “K” Abate

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Currently based in: Denver, CO

Describe yourself in three words: Efficient, ambitious, and positive

Hobby-turned-side-hustle: Denver K Design

How did Denver K Design start? Like so many others in 2020, I was laid off by my previous employer. I found myself with a lot of extra time on my hands and needed a creative outlet—so I tried macrame for the first time in December. I started posting my macrame designs to Instagram and the response from family and friends was, "Can I buy that?" I started to feel motivated to try new knots and create new pieces because the response was so positive.

How did you branch out beyond family and friends? I reached out to Parlor—a local plant shop—and ended up creating a partnership and tapping into one of my favorite pastimes: creating community. The next thing I knew, I was invited to sell my designs at one of their outdoor markets, and the response was overwhelming.

Macrame (in The MarketHer colors!) from Denver K Design

Macrame (in The MarketHer colors!) from Denver K Design

What’s next for Denver K Designs? Next up: another socially distanced pop-up market in Denver. I’m still looking for a full-time role doing my previous work, but in the meantime, I’m really enjoying tapping into my creativity and the side hustle of building a business.

I feel inspired when: I can be creative! I love creating anything from experiences to crafts.

Outside of work you’ll find me: Boxing, doing yoga, hanging with friends and my dog, Bagel, or DIY-ing something!

Connect with me here: LinkedIn | Instagram (DM for custom macrame orders!)

If you've found a role through The MarketHer or would like to be featured as you navigate your job search, we'd love to include you in an upcoming issue. You can get in touch here.

Therapy & Mental Health Resources for 2020, 2021 & Beyond

leslie dwight.jpeg

A global pandemic. A modern-day civil rights movement. An incompetent president treating the United States like one big episode of reality TV. Wildfires causing apocalyptic orange skies. An impending election. Needless to say, 2020 was… something else. (Hands up if you’ve noticed an increase in anxiety this year. 🙋‍♀️🙋🙋‍♂️)

But as Leslie Dwight so beautifully puts it,

“What if 2020 is the year we’ve been waiting for? A year so uncomfortable, so painful, so scary, so raw — that it finally forces us to grow.”

We’re at what feels like a true crossroads in the history of our world. As we teeter on the precipice of change—learning and unlearning and growing and rebuilding—it’s more critical than ever to normalize conversations around mental wellness, and therapy in particular. Change of this magnitude doesn’t (and can’t!) happen alone, nor can we expect progress unless we invest in ourselves emotionally, mentally, and physically. We’re all navigating our way through these ~unprecedented~ times, but no one says we must do so by ourselves; when it comes to our mental health, that’s where therapy comes in.

Below are crowd-sourced recommendations from friends, colleagues, and trusted sources for beginning (or resuming) a therapy journey at various price points. For a more thorough breakdown on how to get started, check out this piece and podcast from NPR. (And if you’re in the NYC area and want a local recommendation, I can’t say enough good things about the team at Citron Hennessey!)

Disclosure: The opinions in this post are my own and are not sponsored. Advekit generously offered a 50% discount code for MarketHer readers, but I will not benefit financially from any appointments scheduled through their platform.


ADVEKIT

“Finding the right therapist within a budget can be a challenge, but the founders of Advekit have created a match-making platform that also helps users understand and tap into their out-of-network benefits,” writes Christine Hall in Crunchbase. Advekit—which was founded in 2017 and recently raised $2.6 million in funding—pairs users with licensed therapists for the lowest-possible cost based on criteria like area of focus, time of day, and insurance. Though Advekit is most active throughout California, Chicago, and the tristate area, they do have practitioners across the U.S. and are actively expanding. (And their teletherapy offering makes it easy to find a licensed professional to speak with, regardless of your physical location—a plus for COVID and beyond.)

Advekit, which came highly recommended from a former colleague of mine, has generously provided a discount for MarketHer subscribers. Use code MARKETHER50 for 50% off your first therapy session. (Thanks, Advekit team!)

ALMA

Like Advekit, Alma helps pair users with a therapist that suits their needs. They offers mental health professionals and providers the tools and resources they need to better manage their practice and deliver great care, both in person and online (kind of like “WeWork for therapists”). After telling the team at Alma what you’re looking for, they’ll share a list of providers in their network who match your criteria, and from there you can schedule a 10-minute consultation to get a sense of who you might be comfortable working with. (Each provider at Alma sets their own rates and makes their own decisions about going in-network with major insurance payers.)

BETTER HELP

I feel like half the podcasts I listen to these days are sponsored by Better Help, and I’m not mad about it. As the world’s largest e-counseling platform, BetterHelp offers access to licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, and board-licensed professional counselors. They’re on a mission to make “professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient—so anyone who struggles with life’s challenges can get help, anytime, anywhere.” You can choose to exchange messages, chat live, speak over the phone, or video conference with your counselor—truly something for everyone. I don’t have a referral code of my own, but I’ll leave you with the referral link from one of my favorite podcasts, Help Me Be Me (more on that below).

HEADWAY

Headway “helps you find therapists who don't take insurance anywhere else.” During the COVID-19 crisis, all Headway providers are offering virtual sessions covered by insurance. Their site makes it easy to compare potential therapists and book appointments, whether you’d prefer to continue via video or eventually move to an in-person format.

MY WELLBEING

One of the things I appreciate about My Wellbeing is their response to the Black Lives Matter movement. They’ve compiled a list of resources for “action, advocacy, support, and learning,” including a round-up of organizations that provide mental health resources specifically for POC—a great starting point for those looking for support, as well as those inclined to donate. (One of the organizations I’m passionate about: The Loveland Foundation, whose therapy fund that provides financial assistance for therapy to Black womxn and girls.)

But back to the process. As with many of the other companies in this post, My Wellbeing pairs users with therapists through personalized matchmaking. (Think of it like ZocDoc, but for therapy.) Their COVID response was also comprehensive, with special offerings, support groups (both pay-what-you-can and free), a list of therapists offering temporary teletherapy, low-fee resources, and free tools.

ZENCARE

Zencare’s easy-to-navigate interface makes the therapist search a breeze for users in select cities and states: New York, L.A., Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, the Boston area, Connecticut, Chicago, and Seattle. This women-led company aims to better the therapist search process, and in addition to private sessions, they offer resources for therapy groups in a handful of cities and a helpful breakdown of the various types of therapy.

THE LOVELAND FOUNDATION

Founded by author, activist, and educator Rachel Cargle, The Loveland Foundation is “committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls.” They started a fund to raise $600,000 to provide 5,000 hours of free therapy to Black women and girls when they need it. You can sign up for services here, or learn more about ways to get involved and donate here.

A NOTE ABOUT TALKSPACE

Originally I’d included Talkspace in this round-up, but after reading this New York Times piece about the culture there, I can’t in good faith recommend it.

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE IS STRUGGLING WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, HELP IS AVAILABLE. CALL THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE AT (800) 273-8255.

INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS & PODCASTS I LOVE:

Not quite ready to start therapy, but want a little nudge in that direction? Below are some of my favorite Instagram accounts and podcasts for self-care, self-help, and beyond:

  • Lisa Olivera // @_lisaolivera: Lisa’s Instagram account is one of my all-time favorites. (Like… one of the main reasons I stay on the app.) In addition to regularly sharing thought-starters, journaling prompts, and beautiful reflections, Lisa (a therapist and writer) just launched a new self-paced online course called “Cultivating You.” Though it’s technically not a direct substitute for therapy, I get SO much value out of Lisa’s content that it serves a similar purpose.

  • Yasmine Cheyenne & The Sugar Jar Podcast // @yasminecheyenne & @thesugarjarpodcast: Please excuse me while I continue to fangirl. I’m just as obsessed with Yasmine’s work as I am with Lisa’s. Yasmine is a teacher, writer, speaker, and advocate on mental health and spiritual wellness, and her Instagram posts always resonate. With the belief that hearing other people’s stories can “help us release, heal, and grow,” her recently launched podcast centers on conversations about self-healing journeys and features incredible humans like Layla Saad, Alex Elle, and Dosse Via.

  • Sarah May & Help Me Be Me: Though she’s not a licensed therapist, podcast host Sarah May is SO spot-on with her research and observations—she’s truly found her calling. Positioned as “self-help for people who hate self-help,” the Help Me Be Me podcast serves as an “emotional toolkit for creating positive change in yourself.” 10/10 recommend.

  • Morgan Harper Nichols // @morganharpernichols: An artist and poet, Morgan Harper Nichols has amassed a dedicated following of over 1.5 million followers on Instagram. She creates “daily reminders through art, inspired by real stories,” and I kid you not when I say her work is like chicken soup for the soul. (I just purchased her book, All Along You Were Blooming, and can’t wait to dive in.) Oh, and she has a podcast! So much to love.

Black Lives Matter

I held off on sending out The MarketHer last week. Instead, I muted. I listened. And began to learn. And un-learn. And diversify the embarrassingly homogeneous social media accounts I follow. I reflected. Read. Donated. Unfollowed. Subscribed. Signed. Researched. Emailed. Amplified. Made mistakes. Tried again. All of that is such a privilege to say—and it's only the beginning of what I want to be a lifelong commitment to anti-racism.  

As a white woman, I'll never fully comprehend the suffering that has stemmed from a long and painful history of systemic oppression, but to the Black community—and especially Black womxn—I see you. I hear you. I stand with you. And I want to be a better ally, not in a performative way, but in the truest sense. 

I'm grateful for the many amazing Black womxn who've shared their thoughts, voices, reflections, art, activism, and written work on social media, particularly over the past few weeks. There are a ton of incredible round-ups posted highlighting Black-owned businesses and brands to support; anti-racism and Black feminist books to read (and purchase from independent Black-owned bookstores); racial justice organizations to donate to; petitions to sign; educational media to consume; and Black creators to follow. The breadth of information that's at our disposal is humbling; now it's on us as allies to show up and do the work. Not all of that work will be visible to the outside eye or shouted from the rooftops on social media—and that's ok.  

This newsletter may be a tiny platform, but it's a step—and every single step counts. I want to be clear about my commitment when it comes to The MarketHer:

3 Organizations I'm donating to: 

  • The Okra Project—a New York City-based grassroots collective that aims to combat food insecurity among the Black transgender community—launched two new mental health recovery funds to provide Black trans men and women sessions with a licensed Black therapist, free of cost. Learn more here.  

  • Black Girls Code empowers girls of color ages 7–17 to become innovators in STEM fields, leaders in their communities, and builders of their own futures through exposure to computer science and technology. 

  • Naaya Wellness, founded by Sinikiwe Dhliwayo, is launching a new initiative called The Check-In that's designed to support BIPOC high-school students in maintaining wellness during COVID-19. The curriculum centers on yoga and meditation, and students will have access to a therapist to address and support their needs during the pandemic. 

3 Black womxn whose work I'm subscribing to on Patreon: 

  • Aja Barber is a writer, personal stylist and style consultant whose work focuses on sustainability, ethics, intersectional feminism, racism, and the ways in which systems of power impact our buying habits. 

  • Rachel Cargle is a public academic, writer, and lecturer whose activism and academic work provide intellectual discourse, tools, and resources centered on the intersection of race and womanhood. She is also the founder of The Loveland Foundation, an organization committed to bringing opportunity and healing to communities of color—especially Black womxn and girls. 

  • Nicole Cardoza is a social entrepreneur, investor, and public speaker dedicated to making wellness accessible for everyone. She founded Yoga Foster, a national nonprofit  that empowers educators with yoga and mindfulness for the classroom, and Reclamation Ventures, a fund that invests in high-potential, underestimated entrepreneurs who are making wellness more accessible. She's also the creator of the Anti-Racism Daily newsletter. 


3 promises for the future of The MarketHer: 

  • To ensure at least 15% of the roles listed each week are at companies with a Black founder and/or CEO. I promise to pay closer attention to the diversity of the companies I'm highlighting. 

  • To amplify voices of BIPOC—and especially Black— womxn through our newsletter, blog, and social channels. At least one of the recommended reads each week will be a piece written by a Black womxn.

  • To commit to anti-racism for the long-term: to continue to learn and unlearn, to donate to racial justice organizations on an ongoing basis, and to support Black-owned businesses with my dollar, not just my words. 

✨Market Her: Freya Dumasia

Today’s spotlight is on Freya Dumasia, a NYC-based strategist passionate about global connection and creating a lasting impact. If you're in the market for a new role and looking to be featured, please fill out this form and we’ll be in touch.

Freya Dumasia

Freya Dumasia

Name: Freya Dumasia

Hometown: Dubai, UAE

Currently based in: NYC

Previous experience: I have had experiences in advertising agencies across the globe, including Researcher at FCB in New Zealand, Strategic Planner at FP7 (part of McCann Worldgroup) in Dubai, and a Brand Architect at People, Ideas & Culture (PI&C) in Milan. I am a global strategist fascinated by the human condition. I’m passionate about research and insights that deliver strategy to ignite business growth.

Describe yourself in three words: Empathetic, dedicated, and lion-hearted

What I want my next opportunity to look like: I am on the hunt for a full-time role in strategy within agency life and beyond. I want to bring my diverse background into the workspace and believe brands are cultural constructs, so my understanding the business dynamics around them is important in engineering an idea that is meaningful. I keep searching for opportunities in strategy that will allow me to explore impactful solutions for businesses.

I feel inspired when: I am exposed to information and stories of people from different walks of life that shape my thinking in a new way. I am inspired to work hard on things that use my skills for good—for good people and good businesses—and create an impact across the board, whether on a macro level of changes in businesses or a micro level of entering into people's everyday conversations. The power and execution of creativity is an exciting journey.

Outside of work you’ll find me: Being a Brand Ambassador at She Runs It (Advertising Women of New York), an inaugural Board Member and Mentor at Women Who Create, and Student at The University of Oxford Said Business School in Women's Leadership Development. Also, I find joy in taking it back to the basics with creating things using my hands, including sketching, painting, baking, and cooking.

Connect with me here: LinkedIn | Website

If you've found a role through The MarketHer or would like to be featured as you start your job search, we'd love to include you in an upcoming issue. You can get in touch here.

The Ultimate Guide to Job-Searching in the Age of COVID-19

Isn’t it ironic that it took social distancing to make our world feel closer? We may be apart physically, but in many ways, we’ve never been more strongly connected. One of the beautiful things to rise from the ashes of this pandemic is the breaking down of digital barriers—something about these unprecedented times has brought out human goodness and a surge in strangers helping strangers.

Whether you were affected by COVID-related layoffs or furloughs, or you’ve simply reached a point where you’re looking for a career change, I hope the following resources, reads, and recs are of help. To those whose jobs have been impacted in recent months: my heart's with you. Please shoot me an email or DM me on LinkedIn if I can help introduce you to any of my connections.

Onward, friends. Here’s to a brighter future.


⭐️Favorite resources

  • First and foremost is Teal—a company started by Dave Fano (former Chief Growth Officer at WeWork) that helps people advocate for themselves professionally and build meaningful careers. My favorite features:

    • In response to COVID-19, they’ve pivoted nimbly to launch critical tools and resources—including a Career Assist program, which is now free to those whose jobs were impacted by COVID-related layoffs.

    • You can read more directly from Dave in this LinkedIn post, but I highly recommend one of the resources he mentions there: the Teal Career Commons Slack channel.

  • A sorority sister of mine, Jamie Albers, co-founded an amazing company called Mento, which provides people with the support, tools, and resources they need to better manage their career health. Like Teal, Mento has sprung to action in recent weeks with some valuable COVID-19 resources:

    • Unemployment Care was designed to help people manage their jobs (and their income). Their Benefits Finder Tool helps you determine your healthcare options and if you're eligible for an extra $2,400 per month in pandemic assistance.

    • Their COVID-19 Relief Resources Tracker rounds up helpful relief programs, free services, and job opportunities, all in one place.

    • The Mento blog offers a ton of helpful resources on topics like COVID care, unemployment, and healthcare.

  • LinkedIn has put together some helpful (and free) learning courses and employability tools to help folks hone the skills they need to pursue in-demand roles in an increasingly digital job market. (There’s even a specific learning path geared toward finding a job in challenging economic times!)

✅TL;DR, who’s hiring?


📋For recruiters

In the wake of mass layoffs, some incredible databases have surfaced to help those impacted land new roles elsewhere.

  • Following the layoffs at WeWork last November, many alumni looking for new opportunities added their information to this master spreadsheet. (List may be updated soon—stay tuned.)

  • Airbnb’s humane approach to their most recent round of layoffs made waves—and for good reason. I love how they compiled this database of alumni in an easy-to-navigate format on their site to help them find new roles.

  • A newly formed list of Uber alumni impacted by recent layoffs.


👋Additional ideas

Huge thanks to those who’ve reached out to offer to help. If you want to add your services below, please fill out this form and I’ll edit the post on a regular basis.

  • Max Johnson (based in Seattle) is offering free resume, cover letter, and copywriting services.

  • A fellow WeWork employee named Edward Gorbis launched an awesome career coaching platform called Career Meets World with some helpful (and free!) resources to help people land on their feet quickly. In addition to job-searching, the platform also offers tips for interviewing and negotiating.

  • Social enterprise MovingWorlds is on a mission is to empower people and organizations to scale world-changing ideas. Part of how they do that is by sharing resources on topics like professional development, career transitions, capacity building, and more with a focus on the social impact sector. Check out their career growth resources here, and articles on how to leverage your career during COVID here.


📰Critical linking

If you'd like to be featured as you navigate your job search, we'd love to highlight you on our blog and in an upcoming issue of The MarketHer. You can get in touch here.


✨Market Her: Erin Cornell

Erin Cornell is a rockstar—and I know firsthand because she interned for our corporate communications team at Scholastic once upon a time (aka too many years ago that doing the math makes me feel old). Read on for more on Erin. Know of an opportunity that might suit her? Feel free to reach out to her directly on LinkedIn.

If you're in the market for a new role and looking to be featured, please fill out this form and we’ll be in touch.

Erin Cornell

Erin Cornell

Name: Erin Cornell

Hometown: Long Island, NY

Currently based in: NYC

Previous experience: I have 5+ years of communications experience in working with B2B and B2C brands across industries ranging from finance, tech, education and professional services to deliver support in media relations, content development, internal communications and strategic planning. I began my career working at a global mid-sized PR agency for four years to build experience in public relations, client services and account management. My love for developing content grew as I learned how to draft bylines, company blog posts, press releases, pitch materials, social media editorial calendars and award and executive speaking submissions. In an effort to broaden these skills with more of a focus on marketing, I transitioned into a Marketing Communications Specialist role at a global consulting firm, where I supported the creation of communications plans for internal campaigns and worked with teams across the firm to develop content for marketing collateral, public relations initiatives, email marketing campaigns, web copy and social media channels. For the last two years I have also been a contributing blogger for Just Us Gals, a Boston-based lifestyle blog, where I write about career, wellness and mental health.

Describe yourself in three words: Hardworking, curious, friendly

What I want my next opportunity to look like: I’d like to pursue my passion for writing through a full-time position focused on content creation that also provides an opportunity to learn new technical skills in digital marketing. I’d like to broaden my expertise in marketing strategy, measurement, and analytics. I would welcome any freelancing opportunities of this nature in the short-term, though I thrive most in tight-knit collaborative team environments.

I feel inspired when: I listen to podcast episodes about personal and professional growth, particularly around women with untraditional career paths who have achieved success by starting a business or creating their own dream job.

Outside of work you’ll find me: Going for long walks, attempting to learn TikTok dances, learning how to needlepoint and working on my personal blog.

Connect with me here: LinkedIn

If you've found a role through The MarketHer or would like to be featured as you start your job search, we'd love to include you in an upcoming issue. You can get in touch here.

✨Market Her: Carly Quellman

This week's spotlight is on the talented Carly Quellman. Know of an opportunity that might suit her? Feel free to get in touch via the contact info at the bottom of this post.

If you're in the market for a new role and looking to be featured, please fill out this form.

Carly Quellman

Carly Quellman

Name: Carly Quellman

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Currently based in: Brooklyn, NY

Previous experience: I am a writer and producer with a background in journalism, international spacial planning, and performing arts. I have written copy for numerous local organizations and brands including Red Hook Star-Revue, Friends NYC, everybody water, and Quoted Magazine, where I am currently the Associate Producer. I have experience in copywriting, digital marketing, and video production roles—it was through those multiple experiences that I found myself passionate about pursuing positions within the experiential marketing space. Before COVID-19 hit, I left my full-time job for an assignment in Honduras, where I was part of a 10-day project focused on the global water crisis. 

Describe yourself in three words: Whimsical, passionate, driven

What I want my next opportunity to look like: I am in the market for a full-time role, but due to COVID-19 I am open to anything that speaks to my outlook on life. (See below for what that is). I would like to pivot out of strictly writing roles into more-active positions in the experiential marketing and content production fields. I love purpose-driven companies and nonprofits that speak to things such as: environmental sustainability, clean beauty, and social impact initiatives.

I feel inspired when: I am combining the multiple things I love into something that challenges the status quo and advocates for change. Travel always inspires me and reminds me that while my individual story is unique, I am human first and foremost.

Outside of work you’ll find me: Plotting my next travel destination, specifically for where I'm going to pursue my Masters degree. I love hot yoga, dance, and anything movement oriented. Being outdoors is my gateway to staying healthy (and sane), so anything involving vitamin D is my go-to.

Connect with me here: LinkedIn | Instagram | Website

If you've found a role through The MarketHer or would like to be featured as you start your job search, we'd love to include you in an upcoming issue. You can get in touch here.

📹 Creative Spotlight: 6 Feet Apart by Clare Cheyne

There’s no doubt that the past few months have shaken us all to the core. With so much of the world in a delicate balance of quarantine, self-isolation, shelter-in-place, and by-choice hibernation, creativity feels more precious than ever. (Anyone else feel self-imposed pressure to create something meaningful during this pandemic? I can’t stop thinking about how Shakespeare wrote King Lear during lockdown.) But that inner critic aside, many loved ones (and total strangers) are finding inspiration and creative outlets in this newfound sense of quiet. It felt like the right time to introduce a new series highlighting the incredible work and passion projects of fellow storytellers, creators, and marketers.

As a videographer and visual storyteller, my good friend and colleague Clare Cheyne was determined to use this time at home (outside of work) in a positive way, to create and contribute something good to the narrative. “This moment in time felt like an important story to capture given all we’re facing at the moment,” she said. A few weekends ago, she ventured out for the first time in a number of days (keeping a safe 6 feet away from everyone), and shot this video.

Clare said it best in the caption of her Instagram post:

“I hope we never see anything like this again in our lifetime. I hope we can save as many as possible while we still can. And I hope that amidst all of the fear, what we remember after all of this is over is the humanity that so many people showed when it was easier to only look after ourselves. More than ever, we need to keep sharing the good stories—and to keep staying home, so we can beat the shit out of this virus. *Note that we stayed 6 feet away from all humans while shooting this.”

 

Clare is a New Zealand–raised, New York City–based videographer and storyteller. Happiest behind a lens (or in downward-facing dog at a Y7 class), she currently oversees social media video strategy at WeWork. You can check out more of Clare’s videography and photography here, and connect with her on LinkedIn.

✨Market Her: Rhiannon Sawyer

This week's spotlight is on my friend and former colleague Rhiannon Sawyer, an absolute rockstar who oversaw strategy and operations for the social media and editorial teams at WeWork. Know of a role that might suit her? Get in touch!

Rhiannon Sawyer

Rhiannon Sawyer

Name: Rhiannon Sawyer

Hometown: Sydney, Australia

Currently based in: New York City

Describe yourself in three words: Passionate, determined, and loyal.

Previous experience: I have 12 years of experience as an operations and strategy specialist, social media marketer, journalist, and film critic. Most recently I was at WeWork running operations and strategy for the global social media and editorial teams. Prior to that I worked at NBC Universal, overseeing the operations and strategy for the social media marketing of Seeso, a comedy streaming service. Back in Australia, I managed the social account strategy for the television arm of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for 3 years, which involved not only community management and content creation but also launching and tracking national and international campaigns for huge initiatives and TV programs (heard of 'Ja'mie Private School Girl,' anyone?) and creating guidelines, training and best practices for social media production for managers around the country. For five years prior to that I was an editor, journalist, and ran social for a national features magazine, a B2B small business magazine, and a film magazine.

What do you want your next role to look like? I'm in the market for a full-time gig running operations and strategy, whether for a marketing team, CSR team, or wider business team. I enjoy solving problems, coming up with systems and processes, and losing myself in a good spreadsheet as I tackle a budget or data. I have a burning passion for social justice and doing what we can to help save the planet, so I'd love to work for an organization that shares my values and is truly trying to make the world a better place.

I feel inspired when: I have a challenging problem to solve.

Outside of work you’ll find me: Going on adventures with my husband and son, exploring New York and the States!

Connect with me here: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter

If you've found a role through The MarketHer or would like to be featured as you start your job search, we'd love to include you in an upcoming issue. You can get in touch here.

✨Market Her: Marnie Williams

After a month-long hiatus from The MarketHer, I'm back on this snowy Saturday with the first issue of the year, and with it, an exciting announcement: we have our first match.

Congratulations to Marnie Williams on her new role at Greenhouse! 

Marnie Williams

Marnie Williams

Name: Marnie Williams

Hometown: Golden, CO

Currently based in: Brooklyn, NY

New company and role: Content Marketing Manager at Greenhouse

Describe yourself in three words: Strategic, collaborative, and positive

I feel inspired when: I see the creative and engaging ways in which content connects clients to the brands they love

Outside of work you’ll find me: Practicing yoga, rock climbing, traveling, or performing musical improv

Connect with me here: LinkedIn | Instagram

If you've found a role through The MarketHer or would like to be featured as you start your job search, we'd love to include you in an upcoming issue. You can get in touch here.