Ladies, I think we can all agree that there's nothing better than a little female empowerment which is why we're so excited about this week's Boss FOX. Meet Lauren McGoodwin, founder and mastermind behind Career Contessa, the only career website built exclusively for women seeking advice and resources for their career (talk about female fabulousness). We are thrilled that we had the opportunity to interview Lauren as she shares her story and advice on her journey thus far!
Tell us your story, why did you start Career Contessa?
Career Contessa actually started as the project for my master’s thesis. After college I’d found myself struggling in yet another job, I was shocked by that because I’d been so proactive throughout college. After all those hours in the Career Center, I still felt poorly equipped. Even after I landed in a job working in recruiting at Hulu, I was still frustrated at the lack of career resources for women. So, I wrote my master’s thesis on millennial women and career resources, and Career Contessa was built as a “prototype.” The response was so positive that I made Career Contessa my passion project while I continued to work full-time. After 1.5 years of double-duty, I left to build Career Contessa into the resource it is today. Job searches are tough but navigating your career growth is even harder!
Who is your biggest role model?
I have so many! Currently, I’m really inspired by women entrepreneurs who are self-funded like Sara Blakely of Spanx or Sarah Kauss, the CEO of S’well. Building a company is ridiculously hard—timing and cash flow are everything!
How would you describe yourself in 3 adjectives?
Proactive, collaborative, persistent
Describe a day in the life of Lauren; What’s the best part of your job?
I’m an extreme morning person. I like to get up at 5am and use the first hour to either catch up on work, brainstorm on a big project, or walk while I listen to a podcast. Then it’s off to the office in downtown LA. My one hour commute allows me to catch up on calls, NPR, books on tape, etc. My time is the office is a mix of team meetings, working on projects like this interview, and lots of calls with potential clients. Clients might be a company looking to recruit on Career Contessa, a brand wanting to partner, or clients from our e-courses and career coaching services. I usually end my day between 5-6pm and head to Whole Foods to grab dinner before I start my commute home. Yes, I know my day has very little balance but it works for my life right now.
Do you have a go-to gift?
Lately I’ve been making charity donations in the name of the person I’m gifting. I also really love to give great paper goods like a journal, notebook, thank you cards, etc.
What has been the most pivotal moment of your career so far?
We’ve had some big career breaks with things like brand partnerships (we recently launched our 2nd event series with Trunk Club), editorial partnerships with Refinery29, and some exciting projects in the works!
What advice would you give someone looking to start a business?
Save money! Starting a business does require funds and you’ll probably have a few months where you don’t make anything so, save your money before you make the leap.
Just for fun; If you had to have dinner with someone famous, who would it be and why?
I just heard Michelle Obama speak at an event and even though I didn’t think I could respect her more, I do. Michelle, let’s grab dinner!
