Name: Khiara LaBrie
Current Job: Promotion Assistant at Glamour Magazine
Bryant Graduation Year: May 2011
Major: Marketing
Hometown: Rhode Island
HC: A lot of people dream of working in some department of a top magazine, does working for Glamour live up to all the “glamour” of a lot of people’s dreams?
KL: Yes, it does! I remember my first day here was everything I could have dreamed it to be, from the big “Glamour” wall to the outfits the girls were wearing in the office. There are a lot of perks too- free nail polish is passed out as often as compliments about your new shoes (let me tell you, nothing goes unnoticed)! But with that comes a lot of hard work and really long hours. As I’m sure you would expect, it can be extremely demanding.
HC: What do you like the most when it comes to working for Glamour? What do you like the least?
KL: What I liked the least… The first couple of months I was here, I felt like I had no idea what I was doing. There was no form of training for my position so it was a sink-or-swim type of situation. It could be really discouraging at times but now looking back I’m proud of the hard work it took to get to this point. I was able to learn the ins and outs of this job because of it. Even though it was a tough period, I wouldn’t change a thing.
What I like most about working here… There’s a lot! I love working the events we put on (like Women of the Year where Jennifer Lopez, Tory Burch and Chelsea Handler were a few of the award winners!), I like that every day is different and there’s always a new project to be working on, but I think the best part about Glamour is the team. The people here are inspiring, compassionate and funny. They are just genuinely good people. I enjoy trouble-shooting with them as much as I do talking about last night’s episode of The Bachelor.
HC: Which experiences at Bryant would you say helped you get you to where you are today?
KL: Tough question. I can’t think of a particular experience that directly helped me get here. I feel as though it is more of the person you become just from being a student at Bryant that gets you places. The high expectations that are put on you as a student, the abundance of group projects, the late nights you stayed up to finish papers, while still finding time to make it to E-board meetings. It forces you to prioritize, multi-task and do whatever it takes to get something done. I’d say the Bryant experience as a whole helped me get to where I am today.
HC: What do you miss the most about Bryant?
KL: Having access to anything and everything! My friends were all at an arms reach, if I wanted to dance I could join the dance team, if I had a question about something I could go to ACE. As corny as it sounds, I miss the ability to learn anything there, too. The variety of clubs that were available- you take them for granted! Now it’s hard to stay up to date with different trends going on in the world when you’re working in one industry 50+ hours a week. Life just isn’t as easy! Haha!
HC: Any advice to the graduating class of 2012?
KL: A few things:
- Network! It’s all about who you know. Make connections and then maintain the relationship. Professors, alumni, friends of friends, be open to a conversation with anyone. Especially now when there are so many great resources at your fingertips.
- You don’t have to settle. Go for that job that you really want or a job that will eventually get you there. People thought I was crazy for turning down my first job offer (with no other offers on the table at the time) but I was just being true to myself. I had a vision of what I wanted and stuck to it.
- Don’t let a single day slip away. Make a bucket list and be sure to check off everything before you leave. Make it a point to go out during the week if you can, get off campus and mix things up, reconnect with friends you’ve drifted from and take too many pictures!
HC: Any advice to the freshmen who started this year?
KL: Take advantage of everything Bryant has to offer. Join clubs that interest you, go to the SPB events and don’t limit yourself to one group of friends- make it a point to get to know as many people as you can. Never stress too much; that paper will get done one way or another.
HC: Where do you see yourself in five years?
KL: To be honest, I have no idea… as time passes I realize the opportunities out there are literally endless. I want to take advantage of them as they come way but who knows what those opportunities will be! Whatever it is, I know I’ll be happy!