Interview with Melanie Danko, aspiring woman executive

Who else better to interview for TNGG than a fellow Gen Y, career woman, and outspoken blogger?  Melanie Danko is the epitome of Gen Y’s “have-it-all” approach to life.  She’s got the career, the lifestyle, the smarts, and still makes time to be a girl and have some fun.  Read on to figure out how she does it, why she does it, and her version of living out loud.

1. Who the heck is Melanie Danko?

I’m 21 years old.  I live, work, play, and study in New York City.  I like cupcakes and I’m addicted to “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” Rachel Zoe terrifies me but I’m still kind of obsessed with her, her wardrobe and her propensity for inventing words and quirky phrases.

2. You’ve taken an untraditional route in your education.  What did you do and why did you do it?

I began my education at Villanova and ultimately transferred to Northeastern University. I fell in love with Boston and chose Northeastern for it’s location and well-known co-op program. After switching my major multiple times, still unsure what I wanted to do, I went on co-op in July of 2009.  I was lucky to find a job using my own resources and connections at L’Oreal USA in New York City.  I moved out to NYC, not even have spent there more than four nights in the city in my life.  I fell in love with my work and realized that my passion for business and marketing. I dreaded the classroom, had never been able to focus or succeed.  I was always that “B-” student, just squeaking by. However, in the workplace, I thrive.  The thought of going back to campus and falling into my same routines in school was draining. After talking with some advisors and Northeastern and some amazing senior management at L’Oreal, we found an alternative. I have enrolled in an 18-month online program that allows me to continue working full-time at L’Oreal and still obtain my degree. It’s a lot of work ahead of me, but I’m ready and excited for it.

3. So you work for Redken… what’s that like? What do you do there?

Redken is one of L’Oreal’s many brands and it’s the brand that inspires me, stylists and millions of consumers daily.  I currently work in Redken’s Education Development and will continue my internship in Interactive Marketing.   My responsibilities include competitive analysis, assisting management on any projects, writing releases for magazines and, probably the coolest function of my job, updating the company twitter. I have the pleasure of creating all content that comes out of @Redken5thAvenue under my penname “Madison.”

4. You’re barely 21 and working at Fortune 500 company.  So clearly jobs are available.  What would you say to job seeking grads on how to succeed early?

I never thought I would be in a Fortune 500. Like I said, I struggled in the classroom and people like to make you think that if you can’t succeed in school then you can’t succeed in life. This is just not true! If you have the ambition and enthusiasm you can succeed where you want. Push for your job, call, follow-up, and network. Be gracious in your endeavors and seek out mentors who have the future and qualities you look up to.

5. You work long hours. Why?

When you’re at the starting point in your career you have to make an impression. Some of the hardest workers are the ones on the “lowest rungs” of the corporate ladder. If you don’t make your ambition clear in the beginning then you’ll be looked over in the future.  I also have to work hard because I have a second job assisting with the launch of a major iPhone application called KnockingLive. It has been an incredible ride, helping them with PR, branding, and marketing. That stuff requires putting in the extra hours as well.

6. What is your view on branding and marketing to your consumers?  How should big brands (like Redken) reach their consumers personally while maintaining a clear and consistent message?

Twitter has been a great resource to humanize the Redken brand. The embrace of social media allows companies to become friends with their consumers and an easy resource to them.  Redken utilizes Facebook, YouTube and Twitter to talk to their consumers and give a more personal and inside look into the brand.  The social media outlets stay consistent with the Redken vision and provide inspiration and a look into the professional edge of Redken.

7. You also write for a very high traffic blog. What got you into this?

It’s funny, I was blogging before it was even called blogging, when we called it LiveJournaling.  I’ve always been passionate about writing, especially humor pieces. Sort of like Jen Lancaster-type humor.  After showing some writing to a friend, I was encouraged to start writing for the website that I write for now, CollegeCandy.  It’s a great way for me to be creative and to consistently write and has given me some fantastic opportunities.  A lot of people tease bloggers, but without my ties to the website I would have never gotten to do amazing things like interview on the MTV VMA Red Carpet or be a VIP at Fashion Week.

8. Do you need to keep your corporate jobs and personal hobbies separate?  How do you do this?

Definitely! It’s great to be immersed in work, but everyone needs time for themselves. I try and keep my weekends open to explore New York and work on creative projects or spend time with friends. A great way to keep your head out of work all the time is to keep a group of friends who have nothing to do with your job. As much as I love my work, there are some Friday nights where I just want unwind and spend time not talking about work.

9. What are the top 3 reasons you aspire to be a Fortune 500 exec?  You recently wrote a beautiful piece on this.

1. There are not enough female executives, still. We’re approaching 2010 and there’s more than enough room for women to excel in the corporate world. It’s time to break the ugly stereotypes that exist today and put more women in the top positions.

2. I aspire to a top position to keep myself motivated and working harder. If I have something to look forward to it keeps me going.

3. I know I can do it and do it well.

10. Word of wisdom to new career Gen Y’s?

Be yourself. Stay genuine and gracious, don’t let anything stand in your way or anyone tell you “no.”

If you want more of Melanie, you can follow her on Twitter: @tinkermellie.