This post is sponsored by Amtrak and Her Campus Media. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Shades of Sarah possible!
Just a final Her Conference 2015 recap! Can’t believe it’s been a week already!
♡ Train ride into New York — Amtrak is easily my favorite way to travel in the Northeast region! It makes the trip from Philly to New York a breeze!
♡ Pizza and wine with my freshman roommate, the best way to unwind before a jam-packed Conference
♡ Serious exploring of lower Manhattan. So. much. walking.
♡ Consuming my weight in iced Chai lattes — even tried a raspberryone waiting for my Amtrak at Penn Station
♡ Blurry selfies with my new blogging friend Erica from Coming Up Roses
♡ Another inspiring Her Conference!
~ Sarah
P.S. If you’re still a student, lucky duck! You can save 10% on Amtrak when booking with the Student Advantage card. You never know when it can come in handy!
I spent this past weekend at Her Conference, an annual conference for college women and recent graduates who are interested in the journalism, marketing and journalism industries. While I may not be looking for my next internship or first job any more, it was still incredibly inspiring to hear industry leaders share their honest advice. Here are some of the gems.
On being a woman in the workplace…
Supporting women never goes out of style.” Terri McCullough, Director, No Ceilings: The Full Participation Project
You don’t deserve everything; you deserve to earn everything.” Neha Gandhi, Vice President of Editorial Strategy, Refinery29
Nobody can take away your knowledge. Nobody can take away your hard work.” Alicia Quarles, Correspondent, E! News
Being a woman means waking up earlier, going to bed later and working harder.” Faith Popcorn, Founder and CEO, Faith Popcorn’s Brain Reserve
On asking for help…
We have to accept the idea that we are all going to fail a little.” Michelle Tan, Editor-in-Chief, Seventeen
It was years of me being defensive before I realized that asking for help is built into the system.” Lisa Arbetter, Editor, People StyleWatch
On Friday afternoon, I’ll be hopping on an Amtrak and heading to New York for Her Conference 2015! HerCampus.com, a site I wrote and edited for in college, launched the conference four years ago and it’s my third time going! It’s geared towards collegiettes (i.e., college women) interested in the media industry as well as bloggers. This time, I really will feel like a post-grad (the last time I went was in 2013, a couple months after graduating Fordham), which is crazy! Since it’s not my first rodeo, I thought I’d share some tips I’ve learned from past conferences.
Let’s start with your supplies (besides your smartphone, of course!):
Pen & Notebook:Chances are both will be included in your goody bag, but if you have a dedicated blogging notebook (I actually use this one from Poppin), don’t forget it!
Portable Phone Charger: Tweeting and Instagramming is definitely encouraged at Her Conference, which means a lot of time on your phone! There’s only so many outlets and charging stations available at in the conference space, so a portable phone charger or power bank is clutch (especially if it’s cute too).
Mini/Disposable Toothbrush:Her Conference is a long day. Fun and empowering, but exhausting! Breakfast, lunch and snacks are served to help you power through, but a quick restroom stop to brush your teeth will help you feel refreshed!
Blotting Papers:You may not use blotting papers throughout the day, but when you arrive at the conference after a long walk or sweaty subway ride, you’ll be glad to have them on hand (plus they won’t ruin your makeup). Also useful if you have post-Conference plans and don’t have time to freshen up. New York in July is no breeze!
Business Cards & Case: You put lots of time in perfecting your business cards (I actually just got my newest ones from MOO on Monday — highly recommend them!), but the presentation isn’t complete without a classy case to hold them in.
Some other tips:
Dress for fashionable functionality. It’ll be hot outside, but the room temperature can definitely fluctuate, even from room to room. Layers are a must! I recommend a cardigan or blazer, depending on your personal style. Also, consider flats. When I wore heels, my feet were definitely sore by the end of the day. Keep it collegiette chic!
Review the schedule beforehand. There’s only so much room for each session, so a quick look at the schedule will help you prioritize. If you’re part of the Her Campus team and can attend the conference on Saturday and Sunday, some of the sessions do overlap, albeit with different panelists.
Pack light. This isn’t just referring to what you bring with you (besides the above, you really shouldn’t need too much extra!). You will be acquiring stuff, from goody bags to potential giveaways, so make sure you leave room to bring everything back home with you!
Have you been to any blogging conferences? Share your essentials in the comments! If you’re going to Her Conference, don’t forget to say hi!
