In my junior year at Plattsburgh State, I began calling my favorite magazine at the time, Teen People, to ask about their internship program. I called every single day until I got through to the internship coordinator, which led to an interview and then to my internship. After graduating, I was working as a substitute teacher when I was called to discuss an open assistant position there on the publishing side of the business. Though some people told me that transitioning later into the editorial side of the business would be difficult, I took the job. It turned out to be one of the best things I ever did. I learned how the advertising, sales and marketing teams work, and ultimately it gave me a better understanding of magazines, brands and publishing on the whole.

I was hired at Latina magazine as a staff writer, and I wrote lifestyle pieces, celebrity profiles and also got to work with the brilliant Fashion and Beauty Directors there. Years later, I was hired as a Beauty Director and everything clicked. It was the greatest feeling, having everything I loved professionally coming together. I loved interviewing beauty pros, learning about the scientific advances in skin care, the latest trends, ingredients and I wasn’t afraid to test anything—from bold lip colors, to microcurrent facial devices. The fact that I got to write about all of it was a dream.

Everyone is smart, quick, creative and kind. The level of multitasking is off the charts, and you truly feel that everyone at this dynamic brand is invested in—and in love with—what they do. I learn from someone every day. The relationships between departments are fluid, and that enables an insane amount of creativity. Our Editor Ariel Foxman reads our reader mail on the daily, and it serves as a constant reminder to engage with our readers across all platforms and to be focused on their likes and needs. It’s continually energizing!

I loved my time at Allure, and got to travel to Milan and Paris for a couple of seasons as their Fashion Week beauty reporter. Those were incredibly challenging and rewarding experiences, but when I was approached about an opportunity at InStyle, it sparked a fresh excitement. I was excited to talk about beauty in a different way. It was the chance to work for a dynamic, far-reaching brand that, with a footprint of over 21 million, helps women across the world look and feel their best every month; it was a chance to write about celebrity beauty trends, red-carpet styles and help make those aspirational looks attainable. I wanted to contribute to that positive voice and provide that kind of service each and every day.

Definitely! An enormous amount of sweat and energy goes into selecting, researching, testing, photographing and writing about every product we feature. As Beauty Director, I’m involved in packaging beauty stories, helping the team find fresh ways to bring trends to life. I conduct interviews, write and edit pieces, test and help select products. I attend launch events every day, which allows me to stay on top of the latest trends and product news. With all of that said, the job continues to evolve as our industry grows, so every day is a bit different from the last.

I write everything down. I supplement my Outlook calendar with an actual weekly planner that I keep on my desk (I’m a visual person, and it’s easier for me to get a sense of my week that way). If I’m working on a large feature—like, say, our “Does It Really Work” franchise, or our “Black Book” salon and spa directory—I’ll create an alphabetical binder to keep my interviews, forms and press releases sorted.

I like to plan things out, you know—dot all of my I’s and cross all of my T’s. I’ve learned that you have to leave room for evolution in the process. Sometimes a change can come at the last minute that negates your original plan, but ultimately makes the product so much better!

I may start the day at a beauty launch event. While commuting, I’ll check my Digg app and comb through Twitter and Instagram. When I arrive at the office, I review emails and try to check in with different departments to see where we are on current stories. In between meetings, I’ll work on reporting, editing or writing pieces. I typically end most days at another launch event.

I think you have to be actively passionate about the topic, and that in turn enables you to dig deep when reporting. For example, since I’m obsessed with lipstick, when I hear that there’s a new formula out there, I report until I learn the differences between, say, pigment spheres and hyaluronic acid spheres.

Keep at it. I’m not lying when I say that when I was in college I would ring up the Teen People masthead every single afternoon until I could submit my resume. I would take trips to Manhattan and drop off my resume with the messenger centers in the buildings. But I also tried to have the goods to back up the persistence; I researched companies, wrote for newspapers and kept busy. So, if I was lucky enough to get an opportunity, I could give it my best shot. I also would try to keep an open mind. You never know where one job or one meeting will take you, and everyone’s path is different.

I basically pick every brain I meet; I talk to everyone and ask about their opinions on the industry, media, beauty, fashion—and I learn so much, from the latest app to download, to the newest must-read book.

I hope that I can continue to do my job across multiple platforms, constantly growing and evolving and producing innovative beauty content.