In this ongoing series I will be featuring a variety of successful people who have made career changes in 2009, despite the bad economy, to inspire those of you thinking of making that drastic change!
Jamie Rubin had a hugely successful career littered with accomplishments including marketing for the NBA and WNBA, researching for the award-winning Ric Burns documentary “New York: A Documentary Film”, and producing segments on popular shows including “The Abrams Report” and “Buchanan and Press” for the cable news network MSNBC. Most recently she worked for Yahoo! as a news producer, even co-producing the first online-only interview with then President George W. Bush and the first online-only debate among the Democratic candidates for President in 2007.
By thinking long-term and tuning in on her changing values as a new mother, she started her company Milkstars, where she now designs and sells fashionable tops for nursing mothers.
What made you desire a change from your previous career?
Jamie: I worked as a news producer at MSNBC for many years producing primetime news shows and breaking news specials. After MSNBC I produced original content and special events for Yahoo News. I had a baby last year and the fast paced nature of news doesn't really jive with having a child. Also, with Twitter, Facebook, blogs, etc., the whole nature of news is changing and I wonder how obsolete a lot of news positions I would have been qualified for in the past will become.
What career are you in now and what attracted you to it?
Jamie: I work in the fashion industry. I design and produce fashionable clothing for women nursing their babies. I have always been interested in fashion from a shopping perspective but I have no experience in the industry. I was attracted to it because it's a passion and something that is relatively easy for a newcomer to get involved with.
How did you prepare for your new career switch to gain experience and education?
Jamie: I did a lot of networking and took a lot of people out to lunch.
How did you get your first big break in your new career?
Jamie: Luck. I was laid off from my job at Yahoo! earlier this year and given outplacement services. One of my career coaches has a best friend who runs a fashion company with a maternity line. She introduced us, we had a talk, and everything started to make sense. She then became an invaluable mentor for me as I went forward. I wouldn't have gotten as far as I have without her.
What are some of the positives and negatives about your new career?
Jamie: I love being my own boss, making my own hours, etc. but the tradeoff is harsh. I am on my own for health insurance and I don't have a steady paycheck. Working a season ahead is also new for me. My deadlines used to be in 4 or 5 hours. Now I have to think about being ready for Spring in the Fall and vice versa.
What would you say to others thinking of breaking into your new field?
Jamie: It's a lot of work but you see results very very quickly. Either someone likes your product and buys it or they don't. It's that simple.
Comments
I think this is going to be a big trend this year and it's a good idea to look at a career change as an option.
Janice Litvin
Zumba Contra Costa
Janice (at) ZumbaContraCosta (dot) com
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