Five Questions With Laura Brounstein, Director, Editorial and Business Development for Cosmopolitan and Seventeen Magazines

By Chloe Cornell

Chloe- You are the Director of Editorial and Business Development for Cosmopolitan and Seventeen Magazines. What exactly do you do and what are the most exciting aspects of your job?

Laura- I get to do lots of different things, which I love! My job is to come up with big ideas and partnerships that will grow the Cosmo or Seventeen brands, meaning, things that will help us better serve or engage our readers – or help us make more money! The goal of both brands is to provide women and girls the tools and inspiration they need to make their dreams come true, whether they’re dreaming of becoming president one day or simply finding the right red lipstick. I love any time I get to engage directly with our readers and hear directly what matters most to them. And I love when I get to bring women’s priorities into larger conversations around things like big business or politics.

Chloe- You just came back from the world economic forum in Davos. I know that this was not your first time attending the conference. Clearly women’s empowerment and equality is a hot topic worldwide. How did that impact the conversations and discussions there?

Laura – Everywhere you went in Davos, it felt like people were having one of two conversations: they were either talking about cryptocurrencies and blockchain or gender equity issues. Obviously, I have a lot more to say about the second one! A real difference I noticed this year is that there were more men engaged in the conversation and acknowledging the role they have to play in changing inequities and dynamics in the workplace.

Chloe- What do you think we will see come out of the conference in regards to changes for women in the workforce? Any specific action plans?

Laura – There were a lot of conversations about creating new “rules” for the workplace. Some of those need to come from the top and some are things everyone can do. For example, when companies offer “parental leave” rather than “maternity” leave, it’s better for women, because it doesn’t imply that only women may miss work when they have kids. One everyday thing we can all do is shine the light on each other’s accomplishments to make sure they get noticed. When your friend has a great idea, make sure everyone realizes it!

Chloe – In light of this era of women’s empowerment and the Time’s Up movement, are you changing anything about the editorial approach at Cosmopolitan and Seventeen Magazines?

Laura – I don’t think we’re changing anything because of Time’s Up, because Cosmo and Seventeen have always had a feminist point of view. Especially in the last few years, we are really careful to frame any recommendation or trend in terms of doing things to make YOU feel good, rather than worrying about other people’s opinions. We do a lot of stories about success, money and gender issues. Cosmo was the launch partner for the Lean In foundation, we work closely with a lot of women’s groups to be at the forefront of new strategies and ways of thinking. We did a huge editorial package in the fall called How To Run For Office, encouraging women to get more involved in the political process. Women need to be better represented in our government!

Chloe – For our readers who are students in high school, what would you advise someone who wants a career in journalism? What skills, classes, college major and/or internships would be beneficial?

Laura – Get writing! Work on your school paper or magazine or start your own like
Girl Tribe! Internships are also great because they show what it’s like to work in a real office and you get to learn from people in action.