Candidate in the Crowd: Leonora Epstein

Today's candidate in the crowd is Leonora Epstein

As The #ShuftanJobReport roars with nearly 6,500 subscribers!!!!!!, I am rolling out my second phase to help people. I post the report on M/W/F and want to use T/Th to feature excellent candidates. I built this community as a way of bringing together job searchers and those who are hiring. As an homage to Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd," I titled "Candidates in the Crowd." This is a white space for candidates to discuss their previous work, hopes, and dreams and show off anything to the network. The Candidate will capture a hiring manager's attention, and good things will happen.Make sure you are following The Shuftan Job Report for all prior Candidates in the Crowd posts and job postings.https://lnkd.in/gRP2KKsd

My friend, Kate Winick ,?synonymous?with excellence in social media, highly recommended Leonora. After conversing with Leonora and thoroughly reviewing her credentials, I believe in her exceptional abilities.?

Leonora Epstein is not just a digital media executive and leader, she?is a visionary. She has spent years creating and executing content strategies that build audiences and drive revenue. But wait, there is more. She is a fantastic editor-in-chief with a creative vision and an understanding of business strategy. Instead of allowing fragmented relationships?to exist?between editorial and sales, Leonora leaned in and created a symbiotic relationship between the two divisions. As I like to say, sales drives culture, and culture drives sales. Leonora's leadership is a driving force that can transform your business.

Leonora's expertise extends beyond digital content. She has excelled at creating experiential concepts and was one of the first to?

has forged successful partnerships with major companies like Walmart, Home Depot, and Celebrity Cruises while as editor-in-chief at Hunker.

Hunker, led by Leonora, created Hunker House?with the goal of being?a place where people could experience the brand?off?the web page. BRILLIANCE!! At the Hunker House, she oversaw branded?campaigns,?and influencer collaborations and led editorial tent-poles come to life while moderating panels and throwing parties, dinners, and beyond.

Beyond that, Leonora is?always?learning and mastering the upcoming technologies and concepts as media and technology rapidly change. Over her career, she worked across viral content at BuzzFeed, shifted to Video at HelloGiggles, and leaned into SEO and commerce at Hunker. Leonora's adaptability is a testament to her readiness to work with a company that embraces technology and is already mastering the shift to AI as it reshapes the content landscape.

As Leonora waits for a senior-level editorial or brand leadership role, she is growing a Substack newsletter around design, working on consulting, and keeping her skills as sharp as her leadership.

She is the kind of hire who will transcend your business for years and years—add her, and fast!

Enjoy her entry:

Hi, everyone, and thank you for this opportunity to share! I’m Leonora Epstein, a digital media executive with 15 years of experience creating and executing winning content strategies that build loyal audiences and drive revenue. I believe in the power of a unique brand voice to create resilient, profitable, and culturally relevant businesses and brands. While I’ve spent the past seven years helming an interior design publication (Hunker ), I have lots of experience across lifestyle and culture categories thanks to previous senior posts at HelloGiggles and BuzzFeed. I’m looking for a full-time, senior-level editorial or brand leadership position. In the meantime, I’m growing a Substack newsletter about design and I’m consulting/accepting new clients.?

Below, a summary of my experience and achievements, but there’s plenty more detail on my website .

Editor-in-Chief/VP of Content at Hunker (design/decor publication at Leaf Group)

Brand and business strategy; audience development (social, newsletter, referral, SEO); commerce/affiliate strategy; branded content?

• Co-founder; grew Hunker to a top-5 Comscore position while innovating a publishing model uniting digital and experiential media/marketing

• Highest Instagram engagement among competitors within two years; 55% newsletter open rate; profitability in three years
• Pitched/oversaw major branded/experiential campaigns with partners like Walmart, Home Depot, Miele, Celebrity Cruises?
• 2021 Webby nominee: Best Lifestyle Website and Best Social Video
• 2023 Webby nominee: Best Design Website.

Executive Editor, HelloGiggles (Time Inc.)

Editorial lead; content strategy (social, newsletter, site, video)

• Managed an editorial team of 12, divided between NYC and L.A.

• Exclusive content package with First Lady Michelle Obama to promote her Let Girls Learn initiative
• 2016 Webby Win for Best Mobile Lifestyle Site
• Produced Time Inc.'s most viewed video of all time during tenure
• Produced HelloGiggles's highest traffic month in the site’s history

Deputy Editorial Director, BuzzFeed

Co-managed a team of 24 writers and editors during a time when BuzzFeed was pioneering viral formats.

• Consistently delivered posts in excess of 1MM views

• Traffic analysis

• Content strategy
• Special packages and programming

In addition to the above, I’ve done plenty of copywriting (with clients like Amex and Brooks Brothers). I also co-authored a book comparing Gen X/Gen Y culture. My writing has appeared in New York Press, Cosmopolitan, Salon, CNN, MSNBC, Huffington Post, The Cut, and more.

I’d love to hear from you!

[email protected]

CV/portfolio: https://leonoraepstein.squarespace.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/leonora-epstein-5285747/

Newsletter: https://schmattamag.substack.com/