By Grace Boyle Know Your Strengths – Write down your top three strengths. Then, make sure you have a story for each that illustrates WHY you possess that particular trait. These should be your rock star qualities that will help you stand out from others. Know Your Weaknesses (And How to Talk About Them) – On the flip side, as much as we would like to be amazing at everything, no one is perfect. Everyone has areas where they can improve. Make sure you know what your own weaknesses are and then talk about how you are working to overcome them. Do More Than Just Google the Company – Anyone can do a simple Google search of a company and look at their website. Go deeper. For example, if they are a tech company with physical products, go to a store, test out their product, talk to the product rep, learn about how it works, etc. Talk to people currently at the company to build relationships and learn about the company culture. Interviewers will be impressed that you went the extra mile. Embrace What Makes You Unique – There is truly no one else that shares your same story. Embrace what makes you, YOU! Companies want to see who you are, what you bring to the table, and how you will make them better as a company. As cliché as it sounds, it is important to be yourself. Know How to Tell a Story – The best way to answer interview questions is to tell a succinct and informative story illustrating what skills make you ideal for the role. Be sure to provide the “why” behind each of your answers. Send a Timely Thank You Email – Sending a thank you email after your interview is extremely important. Always acknowledge and thank people for taking the time out of their day to get to know you. It shows your attitude of gratitude and professionalism, and it is an opportunity for you to reiterate your interest in the job. If you do not have their contact information, ask for it at the end of the interview. Chances are, they will be happy to give it you.

By Cole Friedman “There is an opportunity for everyone as you’re jumping into new companies to lean in and acknowledge that things will be different.” At a recent FUTURE NOW Leadership Talk on November 17th, 2021, with FUTURE NOW Founder and CEO Peggy Kim, Donna Sharp advised attendees to lean into change throughout their careers, as it’s been something that’s served her well. And as the Managing Director of MediaLink, a leading consulting firm for major marketing and media companies, Sharp knows what she’s talking about. Graduating from college in 2006, Sharp originally investigated marketing as a career because it seemed exciting to her, having learned about this possible path from her college career center. Joining Starcom, a media and marketing agency based in Chicago, right out of school, she remembers feeling immediately valued for her social media knowledge. “I was the only person on the [digital media] team who had a Facebook account at the time,” Sharp recalled proudly. Her initial experiences in the industry taught her that she, along with any other young person starting out, had something to add to the conversation. Additionally, she found that working within a media agency gave her an outstanding education about the complex ecosystem of media. She learned that “about 75% of the people doing that marketing work [at large companies such as Coca-Cola or Apple]…sit at agencies, they don’t sit within the brands themselves.” Compiling research, developing resources, and negotiating for clients in Sharp’s entry-level role exposed her to the real work required for a company to be heard in a crowded marketplace. As she navigated the industry, Sharp developed a love for connecting companies with the right people and technologies, as well as helping large brands tackle problems from multiple angles, which is what ultimately drew her to consulting. She found that investigating brands from an outsider perspective revealed to her the trends and issues many media organizations engage with daily. Sharp notes that, as a consultant, “you actually find that there are similar challenges being attacked within different companies.” Sharp’s hunger to learn and expand her experience in the global marketplace led her to a life- and career-changing three-year stint in China. She took advantage of her then-company’s international connections to transfer to China, seeing the move as the biggest possible challenge with the biggest possible reward. She didn’t know the language or the culture, but she was eager to learn and was driven to meet any challenge. Sharp discovered that the cultural shock and linguistic barrier forced her “out of being a micro-manager.” She had to completely trust her local team members since she couldn’t read their work, which was in Mandarin Chinese. Leaning into this trust and team-focused mentality made the experience rewarding for her as a manager, and she took the lessons of empathy and understanding into her next roles. Drawing on her experience abroad, Sharp advised the audience of young professionals to stay curious, both about their work and the future of the industry. She encouraged the attendees to value their consumption of media. “We’re all content creators and we’re all consumers of media, and so, your ability to not only be savvy on the platforms…but being able to take a step back and recognize…[how to translate] your participation in this trend for a brand or advertiser [will help you go far in your career]. Additionally, when asked about what lies ahead for marketing and media, Sharp noted two big disruptions in media sales: the rise of subscription-based models over ad-supported mediums; and the role of influencers reaching consumers, a trend that Sharp saw happening in China back in 2013. “Understanding that business models are going to change” is key for young professionals, Sharp emphasized. Change is a constant. Embrace it!

By Anna Harrison Today, as the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Cox Communications, Sujata Gosalia leads her team on the cutting edge of technology to shape the future of the media landscape. It all started with her love of television, which “stretches way back,” she told FUTURE NOW Founder and CEO Peggy Kim in a FUTURE NOW Leadership Talk on September 22. “I grew up in Lexington, Kentucky as a kid of immigrants,” Gosalia told Kim, “and [TV has] always been a window to the world for me and getting to see things I normally wouldn’t get the opportunity to see.” Thus, began a love of storytelling, and while Gosalia initially thought she would help tell stories through a career in journalism, she pivoted once she realized the possibilities that the business and technological side of things offered. She earned two degrees from the University of Pennsylvania: one in international studies, and another in economics from The Wharton School. She later went on to get a master’s degree from the London School of Economics. Gosalia emphasized the intersection of technology and media, two areas that often are presented as opposites. "Technology actually enables content creation and storytelling in new and different ways. They are not separate fields. They are actually highly intersectional, and understanding one actually helps you be better at the other." Gosalia credits her experience on a project to help "a set of publishers redefine how they were going to bring their content from the physical world into the digital world” as foundational to this understanding and the trajectory of her career. To those who might have never considered a career on the technology side of the media business, she encouraged the audience to “collect capabilities” and build upon them, and singled out intellectual curiosity as one of the most important qualities to possess. In the ever-shifting world of technology and media, Gosalia shared that it’s important never to become stagnant but to be curious, be proactive, and constantly explore new things. She applies this mindset with her team as well, where she works to drive innovation as they serve their customers. “There’s a lot more innovation and new tech being built,” she said, “but I think the magic happens when it meets a customer problem…new or old [technology], are we actually making our customers’ lives better?” "What technology really needs these days are people who are willing to think customer-back. How will people use this? How does this solve problems for them in their daily lives. And so, how should I think about the propositions that I'm delivering? And that, married with how the technology is evolving can create great benefits for our society." On the topic of leadership, Gosalia believes in “experiential learning" and adapting one's leadership style to each team. “Value is created by the place where our people serve other people,” she explained. “My job is to support those who are creating value… Let them be amazing, smart, talented creative geniuses… and let me just make sure things are out of their way to do that.” For Gosalia, leadership is all about service and it’s also about creating a more equitable workspace. Diversity and inclusion are near and dear to her heart. “I know what it feels like to be the other. You feel less than… and I never want anybody to feel that way.” At Cox, she has been an executive sponsor for employee resource groups that build awareness and allyship, and knows the importance of sharing her own journey to both educate and inform others. She works to make sure that diversity is as fundamental to Cox and “as important as financials.” She concluded her talk with this final thought: “Life is too short to be in environments where your values do not align to the values of the place where you are. Let your values guide you, because they will be good guides for you.”

By Anna Harrison It’s easy to focus only on how to get a job, but what do you do once you actually get one? How do you make a good first impression, second impression, third (you get the idea)…and set yourself up for success? Here are some tips to make yourself stand out in the workplace once you arrive: 1. Introduce yourself and remember names. It may seem simple, but these first introductions are vital. So, make sure you know what you’re going to say about yourself and write down a list of who’s who in the office. (One good thing about the pandemic: if you’re bad with names, like I am, Zoom provides them on the screen for you—but write them down anyway.) Be sure to talk to as many people as possible. Don’t be shy! Be a sponge and soak it all in. 2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s your first day / week / month on the job, and no one expects you to know everything; no one is going to think you’re an idiot for asking a question. In fact, asking the right questions shows that you’re proactively engaging in your role, not just waiting to be told what to do. If there’s a role someone has that you want to learn about, ask them about it! I work in Program Planning at Cartoon Network but have set up chats with people from Development and Business Operations, because I want to know more about what they do—plus, it helps me with my job. I am developing a more holistic view of things. People want to help. So, even if you might be shy or embarrassed to ask, don’t be. 3. Set goals. Don’t let things fall by the wayside just because you’ve secured a job. It can be easy to get complacent once you’ve gotten a job, because it might seem like the hardest part is done. However, you need to make goals beyond simply “get a job.” Where do you want to be in six months? A year? Five years? How can you get there? What do you need to start doing now to achieve those goals? If planning for the future frightens you (as it does me), then set hard deadlines on your calendar to force yourself to get it done. Break down your goals into small, actionable steps and tasks. Create a list; prioritize it; group tasks in smaller chunks, give yourself a deadline each week to accomplish them. Also, don’t be afraid to voice your goals to your peers and bosses—it’s good for them to know where you see yourself long-term, and they most likely can help you get to where you want to go. 4. Get to know your teammates. You and your colleagues work towards a common goal, and they can become your allies and friends. If there are after-work events, make every effort to attend or participate, whether it’s a happy hour or a sports league or volunteer opportunity. If there aren’t any after-work events, organize one! Though it might initially seem intimidating, everyone—no matter where they are in the chain of command—is ultimately just a person, and it can be easier to connect outside of the work environment. Events are good ways to learn more about the company, network with others, and make friends with your coworkers—plus, they can be a lot of fun. For example, speaking from experience here, karaoke is a great way to get more comfortable with your colleagues, because now you’ve seen them at their most embarrassing. It really helps you overcome any intimidation you might feel around them. 5. And most importantly, take initiative. As you get more comfortable in your job, begin to ask for more responsibilities and show your interest. Organize lunches or Zoom calls with your colleagues. Ask them about their own projects. Go that extra step in your work without being asked. Be proactive! Show that you’re invested in the role and make yourself stand out with your enthusiasm. Again, I personally set deadlines on my calendar to ensure that I follow through and reach out about any ideas that I might have. Don’t underestimate the power of Google Calendar!

By Anna Harrison Natasha Woodwal, who sometimes goes by Tash but never by Nat, wanted to be a child actress, then later, a criminologist. But, when she graduated from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom in 2009, it was with a degree in economics. She rushed a few job applications to media and publishing companies before a family dinner. At that point, it was less about having a passion for the industry and more about avoiding her parents’ disapproving looks across the table. Luckily, Haymarket Media Group reached out about an opportunity. But, it was for a job in event production for which she had no experience. During the phone interview, Woodwal quickly Googled about it, and did well enough to book an in-person interview. As she told FUTURE NOW CEO and Founder, Margaret Kim, in a Leadership Talk on October 20, “Something clicked in the interview,” and she got the job. Early in her career, though, Woodwal felt insecure about being the youngest in the room. “I used to come at that with frustration,” she admitted, saying that she assumed people didn’t take her seriously because of her age. Looking back now, she wishes that she had told herself, “You are the youngest in the room. Great! So, you have a perspective that they don’t have. Bring it. Bring it to the table.” Woodwal also battled imposter syndrome at times. “Was I given certain opportunities because I’m young, because I’m female, because I’m brown?” But, ultimately, “I decided that I need to embrace the fact that I am different, and that is a superpower.” "You have something that will make you unique that only you bring to the table....Embrace it....If you’ve been given [an] opportunity, take it, run with it, show them that you deserve it.” “People say, ‘Oh, I was invited to the party, but no one asked me to dance.’ …And I’ll say, ‘Well, you’ve got legs. Get up, go to the dance floor, and dance! Why do you need to be asked to dance?’” Woodwal has done exactly that over the course of her career. After four years at Haymarket Media Group, she moved over to Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, where she has worked her way up to become the Head of Content Development. The Cannes Lions festival is the “Oscars of the advertising industry,” said Woodwal, attracting over 15,000 branding and communications professionals to celebrate the best creative marketing work from around the world. Set against the exquisite backdrop of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, it is attended by speakers like Bill Clinton and Will Smith and many more. For Woodwal, it allows her “to be curious every single day," and she revels in it. Creativity lies at the heart of her job, and she believes “creativity can change culture, it can change mindsets, it can grow businesses." Cannes Lions reaches a vast, diverse, international audience, and Woodwal is ever mindful of that diversity and works to develop content for the festival that speaks and appeals to creatives from around the world. When the festival was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic and moved to a virtual format this year, Woodwal and her team had to get creative in a whole new way and relearn their jobs to put content across many different platforms as opposed to for one in-person festival. “You have to be agile, particularly in events,” she said. “[Covid] has forced us to be more strategic." And, having empathy has become especially important to her as a leader during the pandemic. “Empathy is really, really important,” because “your team doesn’t work for you, you work for them.” And, Woodwal works to help foster an empathetic environment, especially for younger employees navigating a world that has become almost entirely virtual. Covid may have prevented those water cooler moments or casual chats in the break room that make someone feel like a true part of a team, but Woodwal is always eager to reach out and connect, even if it’s virtually. “You have to practice [empathy],” she reminded listeners. “You have to make an effort to practice it.”