Erynne Zhang

As women, we're brought up to undervalue the work that we do and to feel like we need to be totally prepared for the roles that we apply for before we go after them. The best advice I've received is to go for it, even if you don't have everything perfect. The way it was told to me was pretty funny and informal, essentially to think like a privileged white male, but really what it is, is to put yourself out there and make the case that you're ready. I think a lot of women are scared to do that, and just allowing yourself to be vulnerable and take a chance pays off. I don't know that I would say in print to embrace your privileged white male, but that's essentially what the advice was.

It's not in your head - it's a tough market right now for everybody, especially for those that are entering their career in the first stages. Find ways to be nimble in that environment. Just know that the position where you first land probably won't be where you stay forever, but you'll get experience from that that's valuable and guides your future next steps. My advice to women coming out into the field for the first time now is just to really be flexible and nimble and open to opportunities. We're all in this storm together, so reach out to your peers, reach out to others. I think the support that's there from others in the field is really strong, and we'll get through this together.

I'd say the biggest challenge and the biggest opportunity is AI. I personally have had my work just elevated by the tools and technology that's available to me now. It's just such a great resource when you know how to use it. The challenge is going to be for those that really aren't taking the time to learn how to integrate that into their workflow, because it's really not a matter of is AI going to take my job - it's more the people that know how to use AI are going to take your job. So you need to make sure that you're getting on that train now and learning how to really use it to your advantage, because it's here, and it's here to stay, and it's just growing every day, so don't be afraid to dive in.

Authenticity is so important, especially with AI becoming pervasive in the media environment. I think people are getting pretty fed up, but even before that, authenticity is what drives success for a lot of leadership and leaders in general. I think that's a mix of bringing your values to your leadership style, but also bringing your personality to the table as well. So authenticity is a big one for me. And grit - especially now, just people that can stay true to their values, even through challenging times, I think is a really important value of mine.