Susannah Hutcheson| college.usatoday.com
Welcome to our series “How I Became a …,” where we’re digging into the stories of accomplished and influential people and finding out how they got to where they are in their careers. We’re finding out what their biggest challenges, their biggest passions and their biggest pieces ofwisdom are — for you.
Note: This interview has been lightly edited.
With a passion for politics and public policy, Jessica Tarlov has risen through the ranks of political strategy and commentating.
The political commentator, regular Fox News contributor and senior director of research at Bustle has done everything from analyzing data to working on Boris Johnson's re-election campaign in 2012. USA TODAY College caught up with Tarlov to discuss all things #RelationshipGoals, Ph.D.'s, and political scandal.
What's your coffee order?
No coffee -- always thought it'd stunt my growth. Ended up 5'11 with no caffeine addiction.
Who's your biggest mentor?
I'd say my parents. They're brilliant, bold thinkers that always pushed me to experiment academically and professionally. Having support to take a zigzag path to get where you're going -- and to be cool with not knowing where you're going at all -- has made each phase of my career that much better. Plus their marriage is total #RelationshipGoals.
Also, myformer boss Doug Schoen. He shared his political world with me, always backed me up and taught me so much about valuing myself personally and professionally. "If you don't ask for anything, you'll never get anything," he told me -- words all women need to take to heart.
What's the coolest thing you've ever done?
Hands down, organizing panels and speeches at the Yalta European Strategy conference for Bill and Hillary Clinton. I got to work with their teams, organize their visit and host them. Plus, I was in Yalta just before Putin illegallyannexed Crimea.
What's a typical day look like for you?
I try to exercise before work, but that usually turns into just eating peanut butter. Head to Bustle and work on surveys for various proposals.On a typical day, I'll pitch the Bustletrends group to new clients and then I take a break to be at Fox (News) for a segment. I do a fair amount of evening shows at Fox so am often there until about 8, and then I go out to dinner because eating peanut butter out of the jar is the extent of my cooking.
How would you describe your job?
A total dream. Bustle has given me the opportunity to use every side of my interests in my work: data, politics, social impact and media. I have tremendous freedom to cook up whatever projects I think would best serve our brand and support young women at the same time. I'm learning a new business -- political consulting and a media startup are definitely different -- and getting to bring lessons of my previous life over to Bustle.
What's the best advice someone's ever given you?
Know your worth. And then ask for it.
What does your career path look like?
I went straight into grad school out of college. I had gone junior year abroad to the London School of Economics, and I knew I wanted to go back to London. I was staring down the barrel -- I went to liberal arts school, and I was looking at all these jobs that were going to pay me like $35,000 and expect I could live in New York City for that kind of money, which is impossible. My parents pushed me to go to grad school right away, and I did a public policy masters.
About halfway though the year I had the idea for my Ph.D., which was the idea of the impact of political scandal on politician's careers. I pitched idea to the government department and they loved it, so I decided to stay on. I did another master's in survey methods so that I actually do the Ph.D., so quantitative and qualitative research methods. Then I started writing and that took me to 2012, and I was also working with Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, on his re-election campaign, so doing both of those things at once was an awesome experience.
I hope to be at Bustle for the foreseeable future building out the trends group and keeping up with my TV work. I think about running for office someday and I know I'll always keep my foot in the political door. Perhaps the one good thing President Trump has done is open the door to non-politician politicians. I could see myself taking advantage of that and hope a lot more young Democrats will, too.
What's your favorite part of your job?
Designing unique research plans.
What advice would you give someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
Do the weird thing because it isn't as weird as it may seem. Going from point A to point B won't be nearly as much fun and you learn so much from the detours. Don't listen to too many people - pick one or two and make them your advice committee. Be bold. Revel in criticism. Never change your voice (literally and figuratively).
Follow Susannah Hutcheson on Twitter: @susiebhutch.
This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.
