Pushing Perspectives Speaker Series Welcomes Vox Media

Marlborough students were joined by a panel of five women from Vox Media on Monday, November 15 for the latest installment of the school’s Pushing Perspectives speaker series, hosted by the Career Connections Club. 

These women, all representing different careers in media, discussed the ever-evolving media landscape, their multi-hyphenated career paths, and challenges that women face in progressive industries. While each panelist is responsible for varied positions across Vox Media, the winding path that brought them to their respective roles was a pleasant reminder to our students to continue to follow their passions, respect the process, and embrace change–no matter where their path may lead.

Jackie Cinguina, Senior Vice President - Marketing, oversees sales and marketing for Vox Media. She spoke about adapting to change, and bringing your passions into each job you have. Graduating Magna Cum Laude from Fordham University, Jackie never expected her English Language and Literature degree to bring her to her current position. She spent the first half of her career in advertising, eventually transitioning to publishing and now, digital publishing. 

Abby Afronofsky, Senior Director, Brand Strategy, began her career in media but detoured into the world of international relations and politics. She ultimately returned to digital advertising, nonprofits, and consulting prior to her current role at Vox Media, where she works on positioning the company’s editorial and business offerings to advertisers and industries, creating sales and messaging materials, and strategizing creative ways to tell Vox Media’s story. 

Tara Reilly, VP Experiential & Partnerships, discussed how she originally thought her career was full of turns, never aligning to a clear path. What she ultimately realized during her application process at Vox Media was that there was a common thread among all of her previously held positions – her passion to create experiences for others. Tara’s position oversees all events and experiential activations across the Vox Media portfolio. 

Charleen Chang, Senior Client Partner, leads strategic sales and partnerships with top advertisers, yet her professional career began in the beauty and lifestyle industry. 

Paulina Morandi, Experiential Coordinator, recently began her career after graduating from Hofstra University in May 2021. She initially believed that she wanted to be in business and finance, and instead, has found her path in the media industry providing creative support for signature events and experiential activations. 

With unabashed honesty, each panelist shared their advice and truths, further inspiring our students who are the future generation of creators, marketers, and leaders. Some highlights are below. 

Tara R: “One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced in my career is this past year...It required us to reinvent everything that we once knew in real-time, all while recognizing that we don’t have all the answers–and that’s okay!”

Jackie C: “Nurture your passions and make sure that your future bosses know about it. Right off the bat, you may have to learn a new skill set to learn the background of your position, and that’s okay, but if you have a good boss, you will find someone who will help you ignite that passion and express it into what you do at your job.”

Abby A: “Listen to your intuition starting now. Follow those threads that elevate and uplift you. There’s a good chance that you’ll be able to maintain happiness in your career even if it’s not your dream job right out of school. And equally as important, always strive to have a life outside of your career.”

Charleen C: “As important as it is to find the thread that elevates you, also know what you don’t want. Make sure to try it, and know that if you don’t like it, that will naturally guide you to what you do like.”

Paulina M. “It’s also okay to not know your passions, because things change. Be open to that change, and find a mentor that will help guide you throughout the process.” 

Jackie C: “Embrace your failures, learn from them, and don’t let them stop you.”

Vox Media reaches 112 million people across their sites and 2.3 million magazine readers every month. Their portfolio features New York Magazine, Intelligencer, The Cut, Vulture, The Strategist, Curbed, GrubStreet, The Verge, Vox, Recode, SB Nation, Polygon, Eater, Vox Media Studios, Epic, Vox Media Podcast Network, Vox Creative, Concert, Chorus, Coral and Forte.