My Biggest Lesson: Lauren King
Lauren King is the director of digital media and activation at integrated creative company Butler, Shine, Stern and Partners (BSSP), where she manages and fosters relationships with key industry partners while continuing to stay ahead of the rising trends within the digital marketplace. A veteran of the media industry, Lauren previously served as an associate media director at Horizon Media where she worked for over four years on the Constellation Beer, Wine and Spirits account, with a primary focus on Modelo Especial, the fastest growing domestically imported beer in the U.S.
LBB> Is there one event / piece of wisdom from your career that's always stayed with you? What is it?
Lauren> The biggest piece of advice I have is to never make any huge decisions about your career from a place of weakness. You always want to be thinking about your career and your next step from a place of strength. You want to ensure the changes you are making are not out of desperation for change.
LBB> Set the scene! How old were you when you learned this insight, where were you working, how long had you been there, what year was it, what was your role and how were you feeling generally about your career at this point?
Lauren> I was living in New York City, working primarily on a new business team and was burnt out. I was unhappy with my life, my career and had no work life balance. I was desperately looking for a new job and considering leaving New York to try and find the happiness I so desperately desired. I will never forget, I was sitting on a stoop in Soho and on the phone with my mom, contemplating taking a job in Austin. We were discussing the potential role when she pushed me to take a beat. She told me being happy with myself first and being in a positive mindset will lead to the growth I need. She was concerned I hadn’t done enough to effectively communicate what I needed to be happy in my current role and that I wasn't clear on what I needed in my next role to feel empowered to succeed. She insisted on taking a new job in the mindset I was in, could lead me to making a clouded decision out of desperation and she was right.
LBB> And if you got some words of wisdom from a particular person or there’s a key, influential person in this story – tell us about them! What was your relationship to them, what were they like, how did you feel about them?
Lauren> My mom has always been my rock and the person I go to for advice, both personally and professionally. She has my best interest at heart and her main motivation in life is for her loved ones to be happy.
LBB> Why do you think it struck such a chord?
Lauren> It has stuck with me for so long because it's what led me to where I am today. It taught me the importance of communication and the need to advocate for myself and what I want out of my career. The only person responsible for your happiness is you, so make sure you are doing everything in your power to get yourself what you need to be successful.
It also taught me that when you are looking for a new job, you need to ask questions about what is important to you . Ever since that moment, I have taken pride in how I have navigated the inevitable ups and downs of my career. I am currently extremely happy working at BSSP, where I have all the tools I need to be successful.
LBB> How did it change you as a person and in your career? And as you’ve progressed in your career, how have you re-evaluated this piece of advice?
Lauren> I have taken it with me as I have grown throughout my career. It is something I think about very often, especially when I am making life altering decisions.
LBB> Is this insight or piece of advice something you now share with others – if so, how do they respond to it?
Lauren> Yes, it is something I discuss regularly, especially with the more junior individuals that come to me for career advice. I think it's important especially when thinking about long term career goals.
