Today we’d like to introduce you to Janell Hazelwood

Hi Janell, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

I studied journalism in college, but it wasn’t my first choice. I never really had a specific career title or profession in mind growing up, other than the thought that I wanted to do something creative that would allow me to have fun and be “rich.” I wanted to live in a high-rise Manhattan building, wear designer suits, just like I saw as a child visiting family in New York City. As I got older and began looking at my options for a college major, I thought I should choose business management or something finance-related to focus more on the “rich” part of that dream.

As a college student, I failed math classes one time too many, so I decided to switch my major. My love of creativity hadn’t quite left me, and I knew I was a great storyteller and writer. Majoring in English wasn’t an option because, at the time, I was quite defiant in my thinking. I wanted only to read books by authors like Maya Angelou, Shakespeare, and Omar Tyree, not the required reading for English majors. So, I decided to choose the next best thing which, at the time, at my school, was mass communications.

We didn’t have a journalism school then, so all the PR, print, and broadcast majors were lumped into this one generalized degree. Later, our J-school was established, and I met an editor from The New York Times. He saw I had a talent for editing and told me the salary of copy editors at the time. I didn’t even know what a copy editor was but it was perfect for my childhood dream to live in New York City and make a nice salary (so I thought! The salary he quoted was for experienced copy editors who had been working on the desk for many years! Ha).

After joining my school’s newspaper and thriving in leadership roles there, I was hooked.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

Like anything worth working for in life, the journey was not smooth. However, I had a lot of help via mentors, tenacity of talent, and being in the right place at the right time. As I mentioned before, a Times editor noticed my talent in college and encouraged me to consider becoming a copy editor post-grad. He was also the head of The New York Times Student Journalism Institute. I applied for that program, got in, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. After that, he became a great mentor to me and helped me map out a plan where I could continue with my journalism studies (majoring specifically in print journalism), apply for a job at one of their regional papers, and, if I excelled, take a chance at applying to work on the copy desk at main Times headquarters in Manhattan. By God’s grace and with hard work, the plan led to success, as I did indeed end up working at their offices in New York.

Then a recession hit. Many companies were forced into cutbacks, and I didn’t wait for my turn to be let go. I started applying to work at magazines and I landed a full-time copy desk gig at one of the top business magazines in the country. It was an amazing time. In the early days of magazines turning their attention to monetizing their Web properties, I was able to take on extra work with the publications’ website. I’d eventually transition into digital media and work my way up from copy editor, to section leader, on into management.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

Today, my work focuses on serving millennial women in the areas of life and career advancement. It’s always been my sweet spot in terms of professional passion. It’s the common thread in the content I write or produce and the projects I lead on. Previously, I’ve worked in leading editorial roles for major publications, including The New York Times Co., Conde Nast, and Black Enterprise. I took that experience to venture off on my own as a media consultant, helping businesses and nonprofits led by women (or that served women) to succeed through dynamic storytelling, content creation, and strategic editorial management.

I’m most proud of the fact that I get to continue in my early mission to support millennial women and redefine what success, self-care, and advancement looks like, especially as an older millennial who has been a key part of our generation’s early contributions to advancing the business, technology, fashion, and entertainment industries. It’s amazing to see certain things come into fruition today that we laid the groundwork for as media professionals, creatives, and entrepreneurs. And, while I’m nowhere near “rich,” I get to be creative and do work I love and still pay my bills. That freedom and privilege is priceless.

How do you think about luck?

This is an interesting question that sparks a bit of passion in me to answer. Let’s get into the definition of “luck.” It involves “events or circumstances that operate for or against an individual.” It’s something that relies on “chance”—“a force that brings good fortune or adversity,” according to the classic dictionary interpretation of the concept.

As a Black woman in America, “luck,” as it is often defined, is a lofty, very illusive construct, inapplicable to my community. And it has never played a role in my life. It doesn’t statistically make sense, even in the context of gambling. (There’s no way to be “lucky” in a society where institutions that hold the keys to life and career advancement are fundamentally and systemically rigged.) Also, considering that my family is filled with encouraging, working-class, small town-bred folk, my reality did not point toward the “chance” or feasible outcome of what I’d dreamed or would later do.

I am also a Christian. My worldview totally contradicts the concept of luck. I believe the Bible-based principles related to divine order, faith, prayer and hard work.

I indeed ended up living in a high-rise, wore designer clothes (even covered Fashion Week!), became a manager at a major publishing house before 30, traveled internationally, received awards, interviewed global leaders, entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 CEOs, and disruptors, and enjoyed a very full New York City life–albeit as a member of the lower middle class by earning standards of the time, and again, being a Black woman in America.

The mere fact that it all happened is divine, not luck.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hellojanell.com/