Name: Erin Bunch
Job Title and Description: Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief at Broke Girl’s Guide
College/Major: USC/Writing for Screen & Television
Website: www.BrokeGirlsGuide.com
Twitter Handle: @brokegirlsguide
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Daniels
Her Campus: What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?
Erin Bunch: There is definitely no such thing as a typical day! Since we are a new startup (launched in June 2010), my partner and I basically wear every single hat in the company. We have interns and some freelancers, but beyond them, it’s just us. I spend my days writing, editing, brainstorming, managing partnerships, Tweeting, Facebook-ing, Pinterest-ing, handling PR outreach – you name it, I do it. We are also currently in the process of raising money, so a lot of time is devoted to meeting with potential investors.
HC: What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?
EB: I PA’ed at Entertainment Tonightmy senior year in college. After that, I began my career as the Assistant to the President of Production at DreamWorks. That position was extremely competitive, but I had an edge because I had interned at DreamWorks in college. Internships matter!
HC: What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry when you first started out that you know now?
EB: I’ve since pivoted industries, but there is still definitely a lot I know about the movie business that I didn’t understand when I got started in it. I think the biggest thing to realize and understand if you’re going to try to “make it” in the movie business is that your relationships are absolutely everything. It’s a very political business, so you’ve got to learn to navigate that aspect early on. In terms of launching my own business, I wish I had known that you work more when you own your own business and that you are technically less “free” than you were before. Your mind is on your company 24/7, or else you’re doing something wrong. I figured I’d be working from Paris half the year or something. No dice—it can be very stressful.
HC: Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better?
EB: My boss at DreamWorks, Adam Goodman, taught me a lot about the professional world. He also opened a lot of doors for me. I would also be remiss in not mentioning Rita Ravindra, who is an advisor to Broke Girl’s Guide and who has helped me apply my creative talents to business.
HC: What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?
EB: “Do what you love and the money will come.” – My mom. I’m still waiting for the big paycheck, but my quality of life is 100% better now that I enjoy what I do for a living.
HC: What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?
EB: Fear! I’ve been supporting myself since I was 18, so there have definitely been times in which I’ve made career choices based on fear rather than gut instinct. The job market is scary these days, but if you really believe you have a talent for something, I think you should pursue it no matter what.
HC: What is the best part of your job?
EB: The best part of my job is that I work for myself. I also love how challenging it is to figure out how to do a ton of jobs you have no training for (we did not learn to make investor decks or write press releases in my screenwriting classes).
HC: What do you look for when considering hiring someone?
EB: Creativity. We are a small company in need of constant innovation, so I want to bring people on board who can contribute to the evolution of Broke Girl’s Guide.
HC: What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?
EB: Stop making excuses and just start the ball rolling on whatever entrepreneurial venture you’ve got dreamed up. The worst case scenario is that you learned a lot more than you would have while punching a clock at your 9-5 and your resume will be better for it. The best case scenario is that you get to conduct interviews about said business while at home in your bathrobe at 1 p.m. in the afternoon.
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