Carlene Higgins started her publishing career as an
administrative assistant at Salon Magazine before joining Flare nine years ago. As
beauty director, she’s responsible for award winning photo shoots,
up-to-the-minute beauty stories and testing the latest products and trends.
Twitter: @carlenetweets
Website: www.flare.com
Did you always want to be in the media? If not, what
other careers were on the horizon?
minor in English. I worked in advocacy for a bit but it didn’t suit me. I felt
good about making a difference in the world but ultimately, I wasn’t happy and I
don’t believe that’s doing anybody any good. I needed more structure and
creativity and once I stepped foot in the magazine world, I knew I was in the
right place.
Where would you like to be five years from now?
love my work, I’m being challenged, I’m learning and I’m given the freedom to
push my work creatively in different areas I want to go. Sometimes I think
about being an editor in chief or starting a website, and other times I dream
about going in on an independent project with somebody and making trillions of
dollars on a really great idea instead of writing about other people’s all the
time.
Any advice for people getting started in your industry?
photocopying and filing, nobody is going to keep you around long enough to find
out what you really are good at. Make yourself indispensable, pay your dues,
and every once in a while, push to go in the direction you want to go. Also,
forget the attitude problem you mastered in high school. It won’t work in the
real world (my tongue bled from all the biting those first few years). You need
to quickly adjust to find new ways of settling matters. Hint: it involves
removing your feelings from any work situation. It’s tough. Practice your poker
face in the meantime.
What are your favourite media outlets, not including your own?
seems to be having a moment right now. I’m pretty convinced Game of Thrones and
Girls could be the best shows ever to air, just comparing to a few years ago
when I actually thought Lost was a really good show.
Best interview you’ve ever had?
daughter’s true DNA.
Worst?
company tomorrow.
the most you want to say (thanks Dad).
Be brave and forgive yourself when things don’t always
work out. It was worth a shot.
arrived is the equivalent of telemarketers calling during dinner.
about #wins.
A) the name of the product B) a description of its benefits including key
ingredients C) the price D) the launch date E) arrives 3 months before the
launch date.
Haters.
Lovers.
Abbey it’s a bit scary.
Home.
Ellen DeGeneres.
Ellen DeGeneres.
Both.
Email.