Cat Quinn, Exploring the Intersection of Beauty and Identity at Refinery29

January 6, 2020

Cat Quinn is the Beauty Director at Refinery29 and is focused on exploring the deep intersection of beauty, identity, and expression for women. From a young age, Cat knew she wanted to enter the world of journalism. From clipping and saving magazine articles, to becoming Editor-in-Chief of her high school paper, to a long stint at Allure Magazine, Cat has continuously pursued her passion of mission-driven story-telling.

In this feature, Cat shares with us her career in journalism, how she grew her skill sets in this area, and the importance of forming relationships. Read along to soak up her incredible career advice for ambitious women, such as yourself.

Early career

When you went to college, did you have a clear idea of what you wanted to do for a career?

I fell in love with magazines from a very young age, so I actually began pursuing a career in journalism as early as junior high. I started clipping and saving magazine articles that inspired me, sought out panels and talks from local journalists in my area, and worked my way up to editor-in-chief of my high school paper. By the time I was applying for college, I knew I wanted to enroll in the University of Missouri’s journalism program, which offered a very hands-on curriculum. Students actually work for the city newspaper, where all of the editors are professors. I was writing obituaries and running around as a traffic reporter in my first week in the program. I learned so much, and the alumni network was instrumental in helping me land my first job out of school.

You started your career as an Editorial Assistant in Allure. How did you land your first position and how has it influenced your career as a Beauty Director?

fewer things bring me as much joy as @chanel.beauty and label makers

167 Likes, 3 Comments - Cat Quinn (@catquinn) on Instagram: "fewer things bring me as much joy as @chanel.beauty and label makers"

I knew I wanted to start my career at Allure magazine under the amazing founding editor, Linda Wells, who completely changed the way beauty is reported in our industry. I lived and breathed Allure, eagerly awaiting my monthly subscription, ripping out articles that inspired me, and studying the masthead to connect with my favorite editors on social media.

I learned that the beauty director at the time, Amy Keller Laird, was from Columbia, Missouri, where Mizzou is located. I emailed her for an informational interview and she told me she could meet with me when she was back home for the holiday break. I cancelled my flight home to Los Angeles and met with her instead, and it was the best decision I ever made. Six months later, when she was looking for a beauty assistant, she hired me and I started there a few days after I graduated. I can’t tell you how much Allure (a.k.a “beauty bootcamp”) influenced my current career. I learned how to responsibly report on the industry, strengthened my writing under some of the most talented editors at Condé Nast, honed my skills for pitching and run-throughs, soaked in advice from some of the most creative minds in fashion (from Pat McGrath to Paul Cavaco), and gained confidence in myself and my abilities. I will forever be grateful for that time, and still have and use Linda’s famous style guide (including her list of banned beauty words, like “peepers” and “tresses”).

Refinery29

After 4 years at Allure, you made the switch to Refinery29 as the Deputy Beauty Director. Why did you make the switch and when did you realize you were ready?

I will always love and feel a connection to Allure as the place that launched my career, but as I noticed the industry start to shift, I felt a strong pull toward Refinery29. I was spending hours on the site every day, and bringing it up in meeting after meeting as an example of what the future of beauty looked like. I loved the way Refinery spoke to women, how inclusive its casting was, and the mission-driven values it stood for. Then, when I went in for an interview, I felt an overwhelming sense of purpose and excitement for what I could both learn and bring to the brand. I knew it was the right step for me, and it was the perfect opportunity to make the jump from print to digital.

You are currently the Beauty Director at Refinery29, a millennial-favorite media brand. What exactly does your role entail?

As the beauty director at Refinery29, I oversee all editorial content as it pertains to beauty. There is a major misconception that beauty editors just write about hair and makeup, but we actually explore much deeper themes of identity, self care, and self expression. We’ve done stories on the transformative power of makeup for women in prison, and the pressing state-wide laws surrounding natural hair discrimination. To us, beauty is a part of a person’s 360-degree life, and we’re on the front lines of reporting the stories that matter and resonate with our readers. On the day to day, that means overseeing a team of writers and editors, meeting with brands and people about the next big thing in beauty, working with writers and freelancers on features, representing the brand through sales calls, social media, keynotes and appearances, and being a liaison between our creative teams. It’s a busy job, but I love every minute of it.

What skills did you realize you needed to succeed in your role and how did you go about learning them?

My first year at Refinery was a total whirlwind — there were so many technical skills I needed to learn that I hadn’t previously used as a print editor. It was a baptism by fire as I raced to grow my proficiency in SEO, catchy headline writing, what felt like hundreds of programs (from Asana, which we use for our editorial calendar, to Dash, our content management system), and so much more. I also enrolled in management training through Refinery where I learned to be an effective and supportive manager, and used Refinery’s yearly educational stipend to do media training, which helped me immensely when it came to interviews and presentations.

You’ve been at Refinery29 for nearly 4 years. How has your role changed since you joined, and what did you do to advocate for yourself for a promotion?

considering emptying my bathroom shelves and just getting ready in the @chanel.beauty atelier every morning 💕 (more in stories!)

284 Likes, 10 Comments - Cat Quinn (@catquinn) on Instagram: "considering emptying my bathroom shelves and just getting ready in the @chanel.beauty atelier every..."

When I started at Refinery29, I advocated for the role of deputy beauty director and was then promoted to beauty director after eight months. The best thing I have learned in my career is “show not tell” — rather than just asking my manager for a promotion, I showed her I was ready for one by going above and beyond in my current position and proactively taking on the responsibilities of the next role I wanted. When it was time to ask for a promotion, I had already been doing and excelling at many parts of the job for several months. That being said, I didn’t just keep my head down and work hard and wait for promotions to happen — every time I felt I was ready for one (both at Allure and Refinery), I scheduled a meeting with my manager, brought concrete examples of my work and what I could accomplish in the role, and asked to be paid commensurately. That confidence came from mentors who supported me, including my older sister, Rosie O’Neill, who coached me through a lot of those meetings in my early career.

Advice

What do you wish you knew when you were first starting your career?

In a creative role, work/life balance is so important — and that’s the opposite of what you hear as a young woman entering a competitive industry. I was always the first to arrive, the last to leave, worked almost every weekend, never took time off, and was consumed by my job 24/7. Now, I work my butt off during working hours, and try to turn off on nights and weekends. I give myself time for exercise, relationships, vacation, and self care, and it’s made me such a better person and manager. I also stopped checking Slack and email the second I wake up, and begin my day with exercise and meditation instead, which has worked wonders for my mental health.

What advice do you have for aspiring business women looking for positions in the intersection between beauty and media?

Relationships. Relationships. Relationships. They’re the most important part of your career, and we’re living in an exciting time where they are more accessible than ever. Seek out connections on social media and at networking events, ask for the informational interview, apply for the internship. Be kind and warm to everyone you meet — you never know who will be hiring or know someone who is — and surround yourself with strong women who support you and don’t compete with you.