#uncgspartans

Today, UNCG Career Story is excited to feature Andréa Butler.She is an alum that is the Editor-in-Chief/Publisher of Sesi magazine. Andréa shares some wisdom on the decision to become an entrepreneur and the importance of following the career that makes you happy. 

Read the interview with her below & check in next Tuesday for a new story! 

Tell me about your organization, and your specific role:

Sesi (which means "sister" in the Sotho language of southern Africa) is a quarterly, teen magazine for Black girls. On a mission to fill that void in the mainstream media, in which Black girls are virtually invisible, Sesi celebrates them. Through an entertaining mix of features highlighting their beauty, their fashion, their celebrities, their social issues, and more, we celebrate the culture of Black girls everywhere. I am editor-in-chief/publisher of Sesi. I launched the magazine with Shannon, a friend of mine since high school, initially back in 2009. We published three test issues and relaunched in December 2012. As editor-in-chief, I manage freelancers, collaborate with our art director (Shannon) on cover design, approve the entire layout, conduct interviews, write and edit articles, manage our social media profiles, work closely with our printer to ensure proper production of the mag, and much more.

What skills are most important in your position?

The most important skills an editor-in-chief must have includes a solid grasp of writing and editing (grammar, spelling, punctuation, AP Style knowledge, etc.). It's also super important to be organized, have strong leadership skills, and stay up-to-date on current industry trends and how they relate to your audience. You must also understand your audience/readers so you can provide the content that they're looking for.

Tell me about the path that led you to this role:

It all started when I was a magazine-obsessed teenager. I legit could not leave a store without buying at least one. One night as I was lying on my bedroom floor, flipping through old issues of Seventeen and YM, I thought to myself how frustrating it was to basically never see anyone who looked like me on the covers. Inside the mags was no different. There was typically only one "token" Black girl who didn't have my hair texture or skin tone, so I couldn't use the makeup or hair tips meant to stand in for all Black girls. Those magazines also never discussed issues I was facing as a Black girl. A thought popped into my head. It was one of those moments when inspiration just strikes: "If there's still not a magazine that speaks to Black girls by the time I'm done with school, I'll start one myself." After several detours -- teaching high school English for five years and working as a senior editor at LivingSocial for almost four years -- I finally called up Shannon and we launched the mag.

What advice might you offer to students who are embarking on their professional journey or starting the job search process?

My advice is do not get discouraged if you don't land a job you completely love at first. Most journeys are not straight lines, but when you look back, you'll see that every stop along the way has readied you for the next. Definitely pursue a career that you enjoy because, as cliche as it may sound, life really is too short to hate what you spend the majority of your life doing. Learn everything you can about your chosen career and work your way up to your goals.I've learned that persistence and patience are important. Of course, I, too, have my days when I wonder if I'm doing the right thing. As an entrepreneur, there will be tough days, but it's always worth it in the end. I've learned that as long as I keep pushing forward no matter what, I can surmount the obstacles in front of me and open up even more doors of opportunity.

What kinds of support could you or your organization bring to current UNCG Students?

I could definitely connect with students on LinkedIn and I'm open to discussing internship opportunities, as well. I am also available to come speak to UNCG students about magazine publishing and /or entrepreneurship as a career option.