Perseverance with Danielle Schostak

This past Tuesday MCMP welcomed Danielle Schostak, Senior Social and Community Manager at Calibrate, to our meeting. Danielle is a graduate of Parsons School of Design where she received a BBA in Strategic Design and Management. In her current role, she helps to foster the community of Calibrate, a modern health business that aims to reshape conversations about weight, by planning events and speaking directly to members for feedback on how to improve Calibrate. 

Danielle’s career journey began in college. Throughout her four years at Parsons, she interned for Roberto.Coin, Veronica Beard, Proenza Schouler, Harper’s Bazaar, The Row, and Industry Standard NY. Upon graduation, Danielle accepted a position at Capsule, a pharmaceutical company, working as a Pharmacy Experience Associate. Her experience at Capsule taught her to be customer-focused and empathetic. Danielle gained valuable insights as she spent a year and a half working as the sole marking associate at Capsule. It is at Capsule that she meant her mentor Isabelle. When Isabelle left the company, Danielle began looking for another job. She landed a role as Marketing Project Coordinator at Shinola and stayed there from 2019 to 2020. In 2020 she got a call from Isabelle who had started her own business, Calibrate. Danielle took a leap of faith and joined Isabelle as her Senior Social and Community Manager. 

As Danielle explained her journey of perseverance and self-advocating, she emphasized three main career lessons: you are your own best advocate, the worst they can say is no, and treat your job as a responsibility—not just a job. Danielle’s perseverance is unmatched. She said that if she hadn’t stood up for the things she wanted, she wouldn’t be where she is today. Danielle communicated with members the importance of taking risks in order to figure out what they like and don’t like. Members left the meeting feeling motivated and ready to utilize the advice Danielle gave.

—— October 26, 2021 by Kristina Gurgone