The future can be daunting. Though there is no true way of completely eliminating this sinking feeling/depression/total denial of the real world/disoriented post-grad state (or whatever you want to call it) we can seek advice to ease the transition! I caught up with Hannah Hutton, a UVM ’12 alum, who is doing it big working for The Honest Company (founded by Jessica Alba, how cool?) in Los Angeles. Read her story for some powerful inspiration, as well as some laughs!
Describe your first job and how it helped you get to where you are today.
My first “real” job (aka not babysitting and getting paid in cash) was when I was 16 at a sandwich shop on Martha’s Vineyard where I stood behind the counter taking people’s orders, restocking ketchup and sweeping up all of the sand patrons brought in from the beach. It wasn’t the sexiest job but it was a job that required hard work. I felt lucky to have the job and was proud to use it to start my resume. Did I wish I could call in sick and go get into trouble with my friends? Of course, but I needed money to shop, go get ice cream and go to the movies. The fact that my parents require that I work at 16 was an incredible opportunity that I’m thankful for. The following summer, a friend invited me on a month long yacht trip with her family around the Mediterranean. Fully staffed yacht, exploring islands and completely free! I didn’t understand why my parents wouldn’t let me go but I learned that the answer was hard work. Sure I could have learned a lot about the world traveling with my friend, but looking back I now realize that earning my own money at a young age and being proud of the job I have, whether it be folding napkins or organizing produce in the walk-in, should be valued despite your age or occupation.
When did you realize what you wanted to do with your future/as a career, and what are the steps you took to get there?
Oh gosh! I don’t know if I still know exactly what I want to do with my future. Being in CDAE at UVM definitely made me realize that I want to work for a company that is constantly benefitting others. Socially Responsible Marketing was one of the coolest courses I took. No matter what kind of company you are it is vital that you have the best interest of society in mind not only for the present but for the long haul.
What is the biggest mistake you have made and how did it help you get to where you are today?
Due to the fact that I am flawless I cannot answer this question. I kid, I kid. I wish I had known about CDAE sooner at UVM. I did not switch into the program until my sophomore year and I was somewhat all over the place my first year. My freshmen year was such a blur of mistakes but it helped me find the right friends (that I still talk to every day).
One mistake was taking a class called Puzzles, Games, and Algorithms to fill my math requirement. I only read the puzzles and games part on the course description, not realizing what algorithms were even a little bit. So that was rough. Luckily I learned the algorithms on how to solve a Rubik’s Cube and if we could solve it in less than 5 minutes we got an extra 15 points on our final. Thank god for that, I definitely needed those points, plus now I can solve a Rubik’s cube!
What made you decide to move to the west coast?
Honestly, I moved to the west coast looking for an adventure. I had lived in New England my whole life and wanted to try something new. I had graduated in May of 2012, had a fun summer job and then September rolled around and I had no plan. One of my best friends and roommates from UVM, Courtney Hally ’12, was in the same boat, we had always discussed California but no one thought we would actually do it (including us). We had college degrees and we were in complete denial that the ‘real world’ was next. It was time to take a leap of faith- look out LA! Courtney came down to Boston from Maine, we packed in one day and took off for a drive cross-country. Everyone in their 20s should drive cross country; it was such a blast and an incredible way to see our country. We did it in 6 days and stayed with friends all along the way. Random yet most fun stop? Genoa, Nevada- those people can party.
What is the biggest adjustment you have had to make since graduation/moving to LA?
Being so far from my family has been the biggest adjustment. I suffer from severe FOMO so although I adore my life out here, seeing pictures of my family celebrating their birthday’s and the holidays together is rough. Or when they all watch Homeland together on Sundays! Brutal. Since being out here, my Boston pride has definitely gotten stronger. There is a Boston bar right around the corner from my house! It is the perfect taste of home. I am an east coast girl at heart though; I’ll be back for you Boston!
Favorite part about living in LA?
The weather is, of course, my favorite part of LA! I get to wear flip-flops 365 days a year and I can see the beach from my house! Exploring the ins and outs of LA is such a treat. My other east coast transplant friends and I created somewhat of an ‘LA bucket list’. Every weekend we try to embark on a new adventure, whether it’s trying to act hip by going to the trendiest restaurants or just going on a new hike, there is never a dull moment in this city.
Least favorite part?
The traffic can be brutal. The public transportation in LA is not the same convenience I grew up with in Boston and NYC. However, when I am stuck in traffic I call my mom, hands free of course! It is the perfect way to catch up and take advantage of some time that would be otherwise wasted.
Any celebrity run-ins? Describe the best one.
So many! You’re always seeing people at restaurants, at the airport, and just down the street. My parents visited me in October and we went to Château Marmont for lunch one afternoon in West Hollywood (the food is amazing and it is such a scene- I highly recommend it). My mom and I went to the ladies, teeny tiny bathroom, and Zoe Saldana was in there- we obviously tried to play it cool. So my mom, Zoe, and I (the three best friends that anyone could have) are waiting in line, when a lady in a stall (who had definitely had a few) shrills because she had dropped her phone in the toilet! So the three best friends that anyone could have (Zoe, Hannah, and Cissy Hutton) are calming her down, trying so hard not to laugh, and giving this chick advice on how to salvage her phone. It was beyond hilarious and random. Zoe is obviously gorgeous and could not have been nicer. Side note: Munch from Law & Order SVU was there and has two of the cutest dogs ever.
Describe your job and what it entails
I work for The Honest Company, which is pretty much the coolest start-up company ever. The Honest Company is the best one-stop shop for safe, affordable and stylish products. We carry eco-friendly disposable diapers, cleaning products that don’t have all of those icky chemicals in them, non-toxic bath & body products and whole-food based health and wellness supplements. Founder Jessica Alba came up with the idea when she was pregnant with her first child, Honor. Jessica tried out a ‘baby safe laundry detergent’ on herself. She had an allergic reaction and thought, ‘how could this be safe to put on my newborn if it is giving me a reaction?’ She tracked down Christopher Gavigan, CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World and father of three, and they decided that people deserve better and that together, we can make it better. With that, The Honest Company was born.
We launched in January of 2012 and I joined the team that November (Courtney joined in March!). I am a Team Lead in the Client Services department, which means I manage a team of 9 Client Services representatives directly and help oversee the whole department with the rest of our management team. As a Team Lead, I monitor representative’s efficiency and make sure we’re delivering the best service possible to our customers. I’m available for questions, assist with escalated situations and support them in order for our team to be the best. I also work cross-functionally with many other departments to develop programs, policies and new ways of doing business because as a startup, we wear a lot of different hats. In true start-up fashion, every day I get to work directly with our product team, marketing team, operations team, technology team, social goodness team – honestly I work with everyone, which is why this community is so amazing! I’ve helped develop our Live Chat program, which is growing into a new chain of Client Services. We have a team of Live Chat reps that have live ‘instant message’ conversations with customers browsing our website. It is an alternative way to chat with those customers who don’t have the time to call in. I’m also always here to deliver a little delight to my team’s day, driving culture and raising morale is the core of our company.
Most exciting part of your job?
Hands down the people I work with and watching the company evolve. We are growing so quickly and constantly coming out with new products, it is just go-go-go here and I LOVE that. From walking into Whole Foods or Nordstrom and seeing our products on the shelves to Cupcake Wars featuring Honest on their season premiere- I find myself having a lot of ‘proud mama’ moments and it is so rewarding to be a part of it all.
Being a start-up, we all hunker down and pull a lot of hours- literally sunrise to sunset. You would think we would get sick of each other, but the truth is we all head to happy hour and karaoke together afterward or participate in a Social Goodness event together on the weekend. Everyone is just so happy and passionate about our brand that the positive energy is contagious. We know how to have a LOT of fun here.
Least exciting?
Working at a start-up company that is growing so fast it is kind of impossible for there to be a day that lacks excitement. My senior spring semester at UVM my earliest course started at 1pm (it was awesome) and I now wake up at 5am every morning to get ready for my commute. So that was most definitely a struggle at first, but the fact is, touching on what I mentioned earlier, I am walking into a building filled with people who believe so strongly in what we are creating that I am instantly fueled with energy.
Goals for the future?
In terms of goals for the future, I love where I am right now. I am so grateful that things have worked out so well. I am constantly learning so many different aspects about the business world every day that I plan to stay on this path and continue to grow with the brand.
Any advice for college graduates?
Do not over analyze everything. Stress less. Go with your gut and take risks. Meet people, make connections and follow up. The connections you make with new people will be your reward. Don’t just go for something because it sounds cool and you want to impress people. Any work is good work. We are young and still learning so much that it is important to seize every opportunity we get.
Hopefully Hannah has proved to you that with a little dedication and drive for adventure, you really can make your twenties just as amazing as your college years. Shoot for your dreams and embrace the future—no matter how scary we all agree it is.