After Ed clinked glasses with the editors of XO Group at their swanky downtown NYC headquarters for a recent Happy Hour, he knew he had to learn more about the company and its star employees. The bald man snagged an interview with XO Vice President and Executive Editor Rebecca Dolgin and caught a glimpse into her day, pinpointed the necessary qualities she looks for in potential hires, and discovered her favorite part about their lower Manhattan offices. (And nope, it’s not the fashion runway, projection screen for playing Xbox Kinect, or the bar with a kegerator.)
Check this out, whippersnappers:
Ed: As executive editor, we’re sure there’s no such thing as a typical day on the job. What are some of your main responsibilities?
Rebecca Dolgin: When overseeing so many different brands [Ed note: XO is home to go-to resources like The Knot, The Nest, and The Bump], it really is different every single day. One day I could be working on the 50 things we’ve planned for TheKnot.com. Then it’s the gift guide we’re filming for TheNest.com and working on a lineup for a summer issue for The Knot magazine. I work really closely with the different teams here: product development, marketing, advertising, community and social group. It’s not just every day that’s different — it’s every half-hour!
Ed: What’s the most rewarding part of your position?
RD: I think the audience. Being in touch with the reader and being involved in her life when she’s looking for direction or making choices — whether she’s planning her wedding, just got married, or preparing for a new baby. We’re reaching this person at such a vital time when she needs help. It can be information, like which couch to buy, how to swaddle, breastfeeding — it can be anything. I think it’s so rewarding when you’re offering that to someone who needs help.
Ed: Is there anything you wish you had known about the mag biz when you first started out that you know now?
RD: I wish I had known not to be intimidated or shy. We’re all in this industry where reporters, journalists, and people who want to connect — whether it’s through visual images or the written word — with an audience. You can’t be shy; your job is to connect with people. Make sure that if you’re at a press event, you don’t go in late and sit in the back. In some ways, what we all do is we’re advocates. We have to be advocates for our readers.
Ed: What do you love most about the XO Group office space?
RD: It’s an amazing space. I usually get in in the morning before most people do and watch the sun come up through the windows. At my desk, I have this gorgeous view of the Hudson on one side of me, and behind me I have this amazing view of the Brooklyn Bridge. Just being able to start the day in this kind of space is incredibly inspiring.
Ed: What is the vibe the company is going for with this type of environment?
RD: It’s an open office space and everyone sits in the open — from the CEO to the coordinators. There’s a lack of hierarchy in that everyone is entitled to an opinion and there’s open communication. It’s a very entrepreneurial company. It was started by entrepreneurs who really wanted to maintain that vibe. It’s a very lively office.
Ed: To fit in that kind of atmosphere, what qualities are essential in an XO employee?
RD: Because we’re an entrepreneurial company, we really look for self-starters — people who are incredibly resourceful, passionate, and motivated. I think those three things are more important than your level of experience. If you’re resourceful, passionate, and driven, you’ll figure out a way to get things done.
Ed: If you could give a potential job candidate three tips for breaking into the company — or magazine media in general — what would they be?
RD: I think you should always go for a brand or company that excites you; one that you really believe in the mission and the audience. If you don’t love the mission, then you’re not going to love your workday. In this industry, you have a lot of long days and you have a lot going on. If you don’t really believe in what you’re doing, it can be kind of a drag.
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