Name: Natalie MacNeil
Age: 25
Location: Home base is Waterloo Region, Canada and my heart is currently in New York.
Education: BA in Business and Political Science
Job Title: Media Producer
What She Does: At the age of 25, Natalie is a producer and co-founder of Imaginarius, an Emmy award winning digital media company as well as founder of SheTakesOnTheWorld.net, a site that supports and inspires career-minded women and women entrepreneurs. “In college I knew I wanted to get into digital media but I didn't know I'd end up where I am now," says Natalie. "I started it with a lofty vision almost four years ago and our team has really taken it beyond my expectations."
How She Got Her Gig: "I started blogging a few years ago when I was travelling the world. It was a good way to stay connected to the people I was meeting. In March 2008 I started She Takes On The World as a resource for ambitious women and it’s been growing every since."
Dream Moment: Throughout her experiences, Natalie's encountered many inspiring moments but there were two that really stood out. One was participating in the Women: Inspiration and Enterprise (WIE) event and being able to meet amazing women like Arianna Huffington, Donna Karan and Sarah Brown. “There's nothing quite like bringing together brilliant women from around the globe and that's what WIE was all about.” Her other pinch me moment was winning the prestigious Stevie Award for Blog of the Year. “My whole team at SheTakesOnTheWorld.net works sooo hard and it's nice to get recognized for our work once in awhile,” says Natalie.
Secret to Success: Knowing how to network. “I am always networking. These days I do most of my networking online and the majority of my network is people who I haven't actually met in person yet we support each other and connect one another to new opportunities,” says Natalie. It also helps that she isn’t a shy person so talking to people feels natural for her. Natalie does point out that networking is tough for people without the gift of gab and that's the beauty of social media. Her advice? “Get online and work it!”
Never Take No For An Answer: Natalie never has. "You have to be able to roll with the punches and keep moving forward even when a lot of people tell you 'no'", Natalie says. “Success is about persistence! And you have to look the part. Don't underestimate how important your image is to your success.”
This Job's For You If: You're outgoing, not afraid to start chatting people up and know how to make decisions—even when they're unpopular. "You have to follow your gut.”
