Max's new way to answer the perennial question:
"Tell me about yourself" (last update, 2017)
That the study of any one thing can inform the study of everything else.
(I find everything interesting)
(from a multi-functional career)
(and this one drives the other two)
I've rotated across 7 teams in product, marketing and people. Currently I focus on People Analytics at BuzzFeed. I write stories and perform music as a freelancer, too.
and the city is my favorite subject of conversation.
I went to Hunter College High School, which is important later on (and people like to ask about my English teacher, Lin-Manuel Miranda).
'90-'08
to study Econ and Marketing (a new love after downloading photoshop and running a successful student government campaign for an underdog).
But one fateful day...
'08
on happiness and mindfulness in psychology (in the form of TED talks) was so impactful that I changed my primary major to Psychology.
I would later cold email that influential speaker, Dr. Dan Gilbert, and work for him at Harvard University.
'09
Straight out of school for the Emerging Leaders Rotational Program in their Media Business.
It would be a great opportunity to approach my top passion, entertainment and media, from a cerebral, research-heavy point of view.
'12
'12-'14
as a dual resource. We turned Electronic Dance Music into a science through survey and measured products I helped to develop (and raise sales by 10x).
My work was used to keynote the EDMBiz conference and the Cannes Lions Marketing Festival!
'14
came with a request for me to rejoin the product team.
My top achievement there was taking a product from a new idea to >$1 million in new business in 5 months.
'15
...that or writing product marketing materials based on Drake's "Hotline Bling".
'12-'16
I co-founded and served as editor-in-chief for Nielsen's first ever consumer-facing content blog. Our work was seen over 5MM times, translated worldwide, syndicated by MSN, and licensed for use in college textbooks.
'13-'16
It was product marketing that really took on a life of its own.
In 2016, I left Nielsen to work for startups in the "people" space and consult independently.
I product managed at HR Tech company WayUp, encouraging businesses to build diverse talent pipelines by optimizing talent search and analytics tools.
I took time to focus on my own volunteer initiative, PASSNYC: a team of Hunter friends functioning as a not-for-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to broadening educational opportunities for New York City's talented underserved students.
'16
In January 2017 I began working in People Analytics at BuzzFeed, building on my work in happiness @ Harvard, my HR Analytics foundation at Nielsen, and everything else in between.
Check back in with me soon!
'17