NEXTonSCENE is Contributor at Forbes, Elana Lyn!

Jaclyn Zukerman
May 30, 2017
3 min read

As an entrepreneur or career driven individual, Forbes is one of the TOP places to read when it comes to insight on business and finance!

A few weeks ago, I was reading through Forbes.com on "womenpreneurs" aka women entrepreneurs and career advice. Low and behold the continuous contributor was Elana Lyn!

I was so intrigued by her writing and what she represented that I did some research, found her website and decided to reached out to her!

At NEXTonSCENE we are all about showcasing the people behind the scenes and bringing them to the spotlight so NEXTonSCENE TODAY is Elana Lyn!!

Currently residing in the Upper West Side in New York City, you can always try to find Elana in her free time at Central Park!

Elana's writings can be found in Forbes, Fortune, TIME, Women’s Health, Business Insider, Fast Company, Mashable, Refinery 29, Brit + Co, The Huffington Post to name a few..

So now to questions! Elana , How did you fall into the world of writing?

"After graduating, I became a paralegal at a law firm in New York City. Amidst stacks of briefs, blue books and binders, I realized how much I missed writing, creativity, and truly having ownership of a project. While I checked brief citations and compiled velo-bound documents, posts would go out filled with topics I was passionate about. When I started my blog, I never imagined that anyone other than my closest friends and family would read it. I certainly never imagined that it might help me get hired for new jobs, but that’s exactly what happened. The founder of a women’s career development startup followed me on Twitter, and after writing about her company a few times as well volunteering for them, I was invited to join their team as the social media manager. I discovered that I enjoyed writing both short form and long form content and I started writing for them and other publications. I currently work at mllnnl, a marketing agency that focuses on marketing to millennials. I am a contributor for Forbes, Monster, Thrive Global, and more and I'm always pitching articles to other publications."

Name two things you can't live without!

"I'm going to go the sentimental route and say my friends and family!"

Who is someone you admire the writing world?

"I love journalists who infuse their personality into their writing and write in a way that is conversational and engaging. Teen Vogue is so on point right now, especially with their political coverage. I instantly read anything by Lauren Duca (left) and my friend, Lily Herman (right)."

Favorite quote?

"Say yes, and you'll figure it out afterward." Tina Fey

What advice would you give someone going into your field?

"Be authentic and develop your own unique “voice.” Let your personality shine through! The posts will be more enjoyable to read and people are more likely to keep coming back because they feel like they know you. Being authentic and genuine is important in all aspects of your life. I think that you can only be happy when you are accepted for being yourself. Of course, strive to be the best possible version of yourself, but don’t try to be someone you’re not. You’ll be more successful if you embrace and celebrate what makes you, you."

When you are not writing for Forbes, tell us what else you do in your free time!

"You can usually find me hanging out with friends and family, working out, exploring NYC, and spending as much time as possible in Central Park."

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

"I’ve never been very good at being in the present moment. I always try to plan ahead or think about the past. I’ve been meditating and reading about meditation a lot this year and, right now, my goal is to be better at being in the present. That being said, I hope I continue to share meaningful advice, strengthen my writing, work with mission-driven brands, and pursue personal and professional growth every step of the way."

Well Elana that was super inspiring and we can't thank you enough for taking the time to be showcased NEXT!