Name: Stephanie Kent
Job Title and Description: I’m a producer at TED. So that means a lot of project management on some of our creative projects. I am in the partnerships group, so I work closely with all the organizations, corporations, and universities that TED works with to keep the good ideas that we have spreading. Within that realm, I do a lot of film production and creative project management. I do some of our copywriting and I’m also in our gift-bag program for the conferences, so I do a lot of work on site at the actual TED event. I am [also] the partnerships lead on TEDxActive, my favorite of our conferences!
College/ Major: Emerson College/ Playwright
Website: ted.com and my personal is http://about.me/stephkent
Twitter Handle: @stephkent
What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?
Stephanie Kent: My first job out of college was interning at Macworld magazine and it was [so fun] – I basically wrote video game reviews and I got to try out a bunch of different apps. My dad introduced me to the editor of Macworld, so I met with him for an interview and I had to [go through] a writing application process. It was really funny because I think the first thing I had to write for that interview was a review of a computer, like the actual machine behind a Mac, and didn’t know that much about hardware then. Now, I think hardware interviews are so fascinating.
What’s a typical day like for you? What does your job entail?
SK: I get to work around 8:30AM. I usually start off [by] trying to make a dent in my e-mail. My day is usually pretty full with meetings, so I’ll probably have a couple of meetings in the morning. I’ll have an ‘x’ meeting with different film production companies that I’m working with and check in with [our organization’s] partners to see what they are working on. If we have a big conference coming up, then I’m doing a lot of planning and making sure we’re arranging cool things for them to do while they’re on site. There are a lot of meetings about people and connecting people, which is cool. I work with the TEDx groups around the world, so I check in with them every day and see if there are any questions about sponsorships, their organizations, or how their events are going. I’ll go for lunch, and then usually spend an hour or two on my own projects- putting together an approval for something I want to do with the conferences or an editorial calendar for one of our social media events. I usually try to get my to-do list done for the next day.
What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry when you first started out that you know now?
SK: I wish I had been a little more educated on my personal social media. I went back to my early tweets and deleted some—I was definitely using it like a 17-year old[when Twitter was created]. I wish I had a little more [insight into] how my social media [use] would play into my professional life.
Is there a quote you live by?
SK: “First with the head, and then with the heart.” The key to success is really taking an informed, logical approach to what you’re doing and then making sure that your heart is in it, too.
What is the best part of your job?
SK: The travel. I love to travel and I’ve been very lucky to go to some corners of the world that I’ve never considered traveling to. TED has brought me all over the place. I [also] get to work with the smartest, nicest, and most creative people in the world. I have so many moments that I have to pinch myself.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Do you have a dream job?
SK: My dream job is to own a winery in Napa. I’m from northern California, so I think I would want to have a winery and an event space where I could continue to bring smart people together, have a good time, and enjoy some wine. 10 years! That’s so weird, I just turned 25, so I’ve been thinking about 30 a lot. When I’m 35, I hope I’m still in the media business. I would love to work for a startup or small company in the Bay area back in California.
What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?
SK: I’m a 20- something, that’s hard! Do your research—make sure you are working on things [that] you are passionate about because it is very obvious when you’re not. Also that you are always being friendly and introducing yourself to people, [even on your worst day]. Your network comes from really surprising places. The person I ended up connecting with at TED to get my foot in the door was someone that my dad knew 30 years ago. He remembered my dad as being a really hardworking, passionate, and friendly person, so that ended up getting his daughter a job! Always be on the lookout.
What do you wish someone would have told you when you were in college?
SK: I wish I paid more attention to what [my] classmates were doing, [especially] when the people you basically grew up with are the people doing the hiring and connecting. Those relationships are so valuable. I definitely have a lot of people I wish I kept in better touch with. It’s nice to have people that you trust and worked with [who also] weave into your professional life.
Do you have any advice for college women on how we could get our foot in the door?
SK: There is a physical foot in the door, which I think is just networking and whom you know. The other way to get yourself [through] the door is [by] immersing yourself in the industry. It took me a little bit longer than it should have to understand what types of books, magazines, blogs, and Twitter accounts I should be following and reading. I think that having your finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the industry, whether it’s advertising, magazines, or marketing. Just making sure that you’re consuming the same kind of media as the people whose industry you want to be in and whose jobs you ultimately want one day.
What advice would you give to a student looking for internships?
SK: I would say research above all else. The absolute worst thing you can do is show up and not know a lot about the company or why you’re interested in it. The first question we’re going to ask is, “What is your favorite TED talk?” I feel so embarrassed for some people who don’t have one or can’t even make one up! Also showing that you’ve thought about the company, not just why this is the place you want to work, but how you can contribute [is important].