At the end of March, I had the incredible opportunity to meet with just a few of many amazing career women who work at Hearst Tower in NYC! Hearst is a media and communications company that owns magazines, television stations, and radio stations all around the U.S (think: Cosmopolitan, Oprah Magazine, Good housekeeping). Their headquarters are in New York, which is where I got the chance to meet with some of the incredible women workers behind the scenes.

The tips I got were tailored to my own interests and goals as an aspiring science writer. We talked about finding stories that are newsworthy, pitching to publications and how to appeal to an audience. I walked away from this day feeling so inspired and motivated to continue to create with confidence and put myself out there as a rising writer. They gave me a lot of great professional advice that could apply to all fields, so here are my biggest take aways from each women …

Jaimie Clayton: Deputy Editor at HGTV Magazine

Be confident in what you create and don’t be afraid to put it out there!

Sarah Esgro: Deputy Managing Editor at HGTV Magazine

Some minds think linearly and other minds think creatively, some more one than the other. If you feel you’re somewhere in the middle, don’t be afraid to wrangle both sides. In short, look for ways to combine your passions and pursue what’s authentically you!

Barb Maushard: Senior Vice President of  News, Hearst TV

Always keep at the forefront your power and your purpose in your career field. Look for quality, fairness, accuracy, and balance in all things.

Alex Carlin: Vice President of Corporate Communications

Do what it takes to gain experience, trust your instincts, and remember that timeliness is key in career building.

Anna Gress: Associate Manager, Event Marketing

Keep a professional contact list! (seems so simple and obvious, right? but do you have one?) Anna even recommends remaining in touch with these contacts over time, even if it’s just to pop in and say happy holidays once a year.