#hobf

Jesse Barlowe

Product Insights Coordinator

New York, NY

Zeena Halepota

Client Services Manager

New York, NY                                                                         

Right now, most of my friends from college are doing amazing things. It's making me feel like, "oh my god, I'm not doing the same things as them, they're basically living their dreams right now.” For example, I'm not moving to Europe to go on tour with a major recording artist, and I'm not moving to Paris to represent and lead a team for my company. While I'm not doing as amazing things that are putting my name out there, I'm doing really well with my own goals.

You can't really compare yourself to others, you have to celebrate your own goals. I think for me, when I was younger I always thought that I had to be as good as my friends and my siblings, but really, you should just compete with yourself. That's the only thing that's going to get your far, and you can't compete with everyone else.

Working here offers so many opportunities, and I have to put things in perspective--I have to remember that I have things that people would die to have too.

Claudia Restrepo Video Producer Los Angeles, CA

How often had you dealt with the reality of being a person of color?

“I feel like I’m always walking the line of ‘I’m not just this, I’m not just Latina’ but I would say a lot of the professional steps I’ve taken have been enabled in part by being Latina. It’s this weird push-and-pull of ‘I’m not just this thing’ but also ‘yes I am this thing’ as it could get me into your diversity program or college scholarship.”

What’s it like working on “Pero Like”?

“It’s really exciting to be on the ground floor of it. There’s so many different types of identities inside of the Latino community and on my team. I grew up in a very white suburban area. I’m always asking myself, ‘Am I Latino enough?’ The rest of the world tells you you aren’t white enough, so it’s hard to feel like you don’t fit into what the ideal Latino is. It’s been very cathartic, to say I am enough, I do have a voice to share.”

What has been a mind breaking insight?

“You’re only as good as your last project, which has been a major adjusting since coming to BuzzFeed. You write a script and you give your whole life to it for a while. And here, you’re as good as the last two videos you’ve done, which pushes you to accomplish more. I’ve never been good at the numbers game; I’m much more interested in the execution of things, how it looks, how it resonated with someone, and lot of projects that are experimental or speak to marginalized voices just aren’t going to have the numbers, but it’s important to have that outlet.”

Essence Gant Beauty Editor New York City, NY

“I hope [the beauty industry] will just be diverse without having to announce it. I want diversity to be the normal thing. Right now it's like... oh, this magazine did this spread and it had so many different models all from different backgrounds and it's such a big deal that they're trying. It's a big deal because you never see it. I hope in five to ten years it's just normal because it shouldn't be a big deal. I hate when I watch award shows and certain celebrities are like the first to get in an award in something— it's 2016, you should not be the first! The first asian woman. The first black woman. The first latino woman or man to receive an award, be on the cover of a certain magazine, or be the face of a beauty campaign. There shouldn't be any more firsts. And it's like, good for the individual person for accomplishing that, but it also speaks to the larger issue of what's really happening.

My hope is that diversity is just common and people just do it because they should, and they're not awarded for it; it's not ground breaking. Like no, you're just being a good human being and not being racist.”

Gabi D’Addario Senior Manager, Global Video Adaptation Los Angeles, CA

“I’m starting to feel like the whole point of getting an education is not so much the stuff that you learn, because you forget it, you know? The facts you forget. But it’s more about knowing you have the capacity to learn things, and getting through it, just going through the experience of something that’s difficult. And sometimes you wonder why you’re there and you’re not sure if it’s always going to serve you...but knowing that you can do it is ultimately the reward it gives you. So while it’s not the same thing as running a marathon, it’s not physical, there is an element of endurance that you need to get through school and to get a job and survive in the workplace. I loved the school that I went to, and I’m proud that I got there and that I made it through.”

Quinta Brunson Development Producer Los Angeles, CA

“I think the reason why I like sharable media and sharable comedy so much is because I was always looking to reach other cultures when I was growing up. It was just enticing to me to find out what other people of other cultures were about and what they found interesting or funny. One of the earliest memories I have is when I was 5 and meeting a white kid for the first time and just enjoying her company. And I remember our families didn’t really want us to talk to each other, but her and I got along so well and I knew that was important. Even at such a young age I knew that was an important thing. I was a dancer for a long time and I would go to dance camp and be around Asian kids, Latin American kids, white kids, all kinds of kids. And our common thread at that point was dance, that was the reason we were all there. 

So, I think from an early age I’ve been interested in comedy that reaches a lot of people more than just comedy for the sake of being funny. It’s so easy to make a joke about a Kardashian or a Trump, I could do that in a second. But I don’t want to do that. I want to make a good piece of work that pushes culture forward.”

Michelle Fleischer Learning Specialist New York, NY

“I have an awesome job where I get to work with everyone in the organization, not just NY where I am based at but with BuzzFeeders from Europe to Australia. What I love about working at BuzzFeed is that everyone is so excited to learn. All of our sessions are optional and we have waitlists! That was one of my “oh my gosh” moments that what I'm doing is making an impact. I try to make all of the sessions as fun as possible. It's like being a teacher. We play Jeopardy in one of our new hire sessions and people love it!"

“Everyday I look in the bathroom, I cannot believe that I'm pregnant and due any day. I am very excited for this new phase of my life and totally scared but working keeps me distracted. It's a very flexible work environment and everyone has been extremely supportive. I'm really excited for this chapter of my life.”