Rachel Martino lives and breathes the beauty department. Rachel’s love of fashion and beauty began at a young age, when she used to stash magazines and beauty catalogs under her bed. After an internship with mark cosmetics, Rachel realized her passion could be her career. Today, Rachel works as the assistant manager of global social media at Origins, an Estee Lauder Companies brand, and you can also find this 24-year-old Brooklyn girl hard at work on her fabulous YouTube channel and on her blog RachMartino.
So, how did she get to where she is today? Rachel credits her success to being kind and upbeat; she is always enthusiastic and eager for new projects and opportunities for learning. Read on to learn this lipstick loving gal’s advice on moving to a new place, juggling a full-time job, and her outside interests—using personal experience to fuel your work.
Name: Rachel Martino
Age: 24
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Current Title: Assistant Manager, Global Social Media at Origins, an Estee Lauder Companies Brand
Education: B.A. French & English, Emphasis Writing, Belmont University 2012
What was your first job out of college and how did you land it?
My first semester of college I decided to sell mark, a trend brand of Avon, in my dorm room make extra money and meet new friends. On a whim I applied for their summer internship program in New York City and served as their social media intern after my freshman year in 2009. As part of my job, I researched bloggers and vloggers and became totally entranced with the beauty community online. I launched my YouTube beauty channel and started making makeup and hair tutorials along with haul videos.
After graduating, I moved to New York City to look for a job. I started as a publicity intern for Small Girls PR. I had met Bianca, the co-founder while at SXSW and we totally hit it off. I went to work part-time at their Brooklyn offices and worked part-time for a fashion start up. I also launched my blog, RachMartino, and focused on fashion and lifestyle. In the fall of 2012 my old internship coordinator from mark, now the vice president of sales at Origins, an Estee Lauder Company, reached out saying Origins was looking for a community manager. I jumped at the opportunity and I’ve been part of the team for two years.
You’ve been in the fashion and beauty industry since graduating college. Has it always been of interest to you? When did you decide to pursue it as a career?
I’ve always been obsessed with fashion and beauty. When I was growing up I’d stash magazines and makeup catalogs under my bed. I didn’t consider it as an option for a job until I landed my internship at mark. From then on, I was hooked!
You’re from Lexington, Kentucky. Tell us about moving to New York City to pursue a career in the beauty industry. What were some of the biggest adjustments or struggles? How did you overcome them?
I moved around a lot as a kid. In fact, I’ve lived in six different states (and in France!) so I’m always game to relocate. New York was definitely a change of pace for me, but one that I took with stride. I’m a fast-paced person so New York has the perfect vibe for me; I love the energy of the city. It was hard to adjust to the cost of living and the weather but the opportunity has far outweighed the cons.
Networking helped you land your first position in PR. What advice do you have for recent graduates moving to a new city and looking for a first job?
Talk to everyone! The first thing that I learned when living in New York is everyone has a really cool job and knows lots of people with really cool jobs. New Yorkers tend to get a bad rap for being unhappy or unfriendly but in the right settings so many cool NY’ers open up and can often help connect you with someone in your field. Joining networking groups, meet-up events, or just tweeting away can open new doors. There are a lot of great specific niches you can break into (like for me, beauty and marketing folks) with the right connections.
Walk us through a typical day as a community manager for Origins. Give us a glimpse into your day-to-day life!
Every day is a little bit different in my role. When I get into the office, I check my email and respond to comments and questions on our social channels. I often have a meeting or two with our marketing and/or PR team to discuss upcoming campaigns and executions. I post a photo to the @originsusa Instagram, grab lunch, and catch up with my co-workers. Some days, I work with a freelancer in our ‘social media studio’ an office build-out created especially for social media asset creation. I also work to help identify brand advocates and relevant influencers to reach out to for specific campaigns or gifting.
Also, you run a successful blog and YouTube channel! How have the skills you learned from developing these platforms helped you succeed in your career?
My blog and YouTube channel were definitely one of the reasons I was hired to work at Origins. I think my dedication to grow and engage an audience online and across social media helped set me ahead of the pack. Having a blog and YouTube channel requires branding, understanding of social platforms, and a love for content development— all which helped me navigate working on a skincare brand.
What personal characteristics would you say have contributed to your success thus far?
For me, being kind and upbeat has gotten me very far. I love creating relationships with others I work with and the connections I made in my internship helped me to land the job I have now. Being enthusiastic is also incredibly important for a junior role! Managers are more likely to give you more responsibility if you seem genuinely excited about the opportunity and are eager and ready to learn.
Between your full-time job as a community manager for Origins and your blog, how do you find balance?
It’s not always easy, that’s for sure. My passion for my blog certainly drives me to continue working hard on the content and it really is fun for me. Even in college I juggled school with a retail job and my blog, so for me it’s second nature. I try and stay as organized as possible and maximize my time on the weekends to keep both my dreams alive!
What advice would you give women who want to pursue a career in the beauty industry?
Love it, learn it, embrace it! Having a true love of beauty really does get you far. Also working in a beauty retail environment early on can be a big advantage on your resume. I worked at a local beauty store throughout college and it really helped me learn more about the business. Also, take makeup classes if you can!
What has been the most memorable moment of your career thus far? Why?
We recently launched a product targeted specifically to 20-somethings called Original Skin. Because I’m a millennial I was very involved in the campaign from the beginning and suggested early on we focus the campaign around the ‘Quarter Life Crisis.’ Fast forward to today, the product is in-store with the headline, “Is Your Skin Having a #QuarterLifeCrisis?” I worked very closely with our agency to identify influencers for the campaign, which I loved! I’m extremely proud of the success we’ve seen. Girls in this age range really get it, and that’s huge from a marketing perspective.
What advice would you give your 23-year-old self?
Well I’m only 24 now, but looking back to the previous year I would say, “Know your worth and ask for what you want.” I think it’s hard for a lot of women, especially women starting out in their careers, to ask for more money or more responsibility but it’s so crucial to know the value you add to an organization to move forward. Focus on your unique skills while you continue to work and learn more about your weaker areas.
Rachel Martino is The Everygirl…
If you could have lunch with any woman, who would it be and why?
I would love to meet Chiara Ferragni aka The Blonde Salad. I follow her blog and I’m constantly inspired by her success! She seems down to earth while still being an incredible female entrepreneur in the blogger space.
Favorite book?
Lolita
I wish I knew how to _________.
Sew! It’s on the top of my list of things I want to learn how to do.
Go-to coffee order?
A 2% vanilla latte!
Dream vacation?
Greece
Favorite Instagram accounts?
Oh my goodness so many! Here are a few of my faves: @themoptop, @kendieveryday, @keikolynn & @bowsandsequins. Mostly my fellow blogger babes!
What are some of your favorite things to do in New York? Favorite spots?
I live in Williamsburg and I hang out in the neighborhood. I adore brunch! My favorite spots are Le Barricou, a charming French bistro, Beco, a friendly local Brazilian place with killer cocktails, and Campbell’s Cheese Shop a grocery with amazing food to go.
Best advice you’ve ever received?
My dad is a top executive at a large corporation so I get a lot of my work advice from him. I still remember the first time I asked him his ‘secret to success in business’ and he told me, “Be nice to everyone.” I try to remember that everyday. So simple but incredibly smart and rounded!
Favorite way to treat yourself?
A massage or acupuncture.
Morning or Night?
Afternoon!
