Former Harper's Bazaar and Refinery 29 editors share no-BS career advice that every 20-something needs to hear

Name a more iconic duo, I’ll wait. Get ready for the most epic no-BS career advice from two of the most successful women I feel incredibly grateful to know.

 

First, we have @Madison.Utendahl. My mentor, my friend, my boss. Madison is the founder & CCO of her own content, digital storytelling & social media creative agency called Utendahl Creative. She worked at Refinery29, was a founding partner of the Museum of Ice Cream & wait for it…she received not one, but TWO Webby Awards. Like WHAT?!

 

Next up is @ChrissyFord; you guys probably already follow her on Instagram, especially if you’re into fashion & astrology. She literally made her way from intern to special projects director at Harper’s Bazaar *GOALS* & now she’s entering a new chapter in her career as a freelancer in the fashion world.

 

If there’s one thing Madison has ingrained into my mind, it’s to trust the timing in my life. With COVID in the picture, a lot of people are experiencing layoffs & furloughs. Not to mention, many of you guys are in college or have recently graduated, so we’re talking cancelled internships & challenges with landing a first job. It’s hard to wrap your brain around that. So, in an effort to reassure you that everything will be alright in the end, Madison talks about learning to trust the timing in her career journey (9:00).

 

Then, Chrissy opens up about what it was like to graduate during the 2008 recession, because the struggle of finding a job when everyone in the editorial space was getting laid off was REAL. She also walks us through her intern-to-director career path at Harper's Bazaar (11:55).

 

You guys know I’m basically the queen of networking, so I obviously had to throw this in here. Chrissy reveals the secret to meeting people in the fashion & media world & discusses the incredible impact these relationships have had on her career. In fact, she attributes much of her career growth to IRL events. (15:45).

 

Even though meeting someone IRL is not really an option atm, you don't have to press pause on your networking efforts altogether. You absolutely need to hear Madison & Chrissy spill trustworthy tips on how to navigate the networking game in the era of COVID. (17:45).

 

These ladies strip back the layers about getting started in your career to show everyone that it takes a lot of hard work & resilience to move up the ladder & eventually land your dream job, or create it (27:45).

 

Once you enter the real world, you’ll realize most industries are a bit cut-throat. We have a much needed chat about what it takes to develop a thick skin & get real about not taking things too personally (32:40).

 

But guys, the hustle is worth it! And these girl gazers are proof. Just take a look at their career highlights (34:10).

 

We close this candid conversation with one last piece of career advice from both panelists: Learning to give your goals the space & freedom to pivot is extremely powerful. Listen to your gut & always put your happiness first (39:55).

 

Before we head out, we end this episode with our Gaze Goal’s of the Week! A Gaze Goal is just a realistic self-care goal to cure your Sunday Scaries. I know we're in quarantine, so sometimes the days seem to mesh together, but I love starting the week off on a positive note. The point of setting a *realistic* self-care goal is that it's not only super motivational, but it's also actually attainable (43:25).

 

Connect with us on Instagram!

@GirlGazePod; @TaylerBradford

@Madison.Utendahl

@ChrissyFord