Stephanie Kaplan Lewis Talks About Bootstrapping Her Campus Media Over the Last Decade
Apr 8, 2024
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Stephanie Kaplan Lewis, Co-founder and CEO of Her Campus Media, discusses bootstrapping her business. Topics include empowering Gen Z, campus chapters, pandemic career platform, revenue strategies, team structure, and lessons in building a community for media businesses.
Her Campus Media evolved from a student publication to a diverse Gen Z marketing ecosystem.
The platform empowers aspiring journalists and college women through community-driven journalism.
Her Campus Media fosters authentic engagement and connections through community-centered events and programming.
Deep dives
Origin Story of Her Campus Media
Her Campus Media was founded by Harvard undergraduates as a digital platform that started as a student publication. Transitioning from a print magazine to an online platform allowed widespread access to college women across the country. The founders observed a gap in content tailored to college women not addressed by existing magazines, leading to the creation of Her Campus Media to empower aspiring journalists and cater to the unique needs of college women.
Evolution into a Gen Z Marketing Ecosystem
Over time, Her Campus evolved into a Gen Z marketing ecosystem with diverse brands and offerings, including College Fashionista and Spoon University. These platforms cater to various Gen Z interests, providing owned media brands, influencer communities, and integrated marketing services. The initiatives are founded on empowering the next generation and fostering authentic engagement with the audience.
User-Generated Content Model
Her Campus Media primarily features content created by student journalists from campuses nationwide. The national content is overseen by a select team of student journalists collaborating with the full-time editorial team. The platform emphasizes community-driven journalism, providing aspiring writers and creators opportunities to develop skills and gain exposure in the media industry.
Influencer Collective and Brand Partnerships
The Influencer Collective at Her Campus Media serves as a community of Gen Z and young millennial creators and influencers seeking mentorship, skill development, and brand opportunities. Emphasizing professional growth beyond transactional engagements, the platform offers a holistic approach to nurturing content creators and influencers, aligning with brands authentically.
Community-Centric Strategy and Event Programming
A community-centered approach is integral to Her Campus Media's strategy, driving audience engagement and event participation. Hosting tailored events like Creator's Loft during New York Fashion Week exemplifies the platform's commitment to creating immersive experiences. Leveraging the power of community and event programming fosters authentic connections and aligns with Gen Z preferences.
My guest this week is Stephanie Kaplan Lewis, co-founder and CEO of Her Campus Media, a network of brands that serve college students across thousands of colleges. In this conversation, we dug into the early days of the business, the various advertising products they take to market, how they think about the inevitable graduation of their audience, and where they see the business going from here. I hope you enjoy our discussion.
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