Lindsay Deutsch: Gannett Innovation Lab

Hey Listers, we’re pleased to present the California Women’s List Rockstars of the Month, spotlighting you, the very special leaders in our network. We all know amazing and inspiring people in our lives who are leaders in their community, at work, in their homes, across the state and across the country, and this is our way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make California Women’s List what it is. This month’s Lister is Lindsay Deutsch.

2016’s time to get to work! I’ve set myself up for success, and now I need to hustle and make it happen. Also, I’m going to be really into nail art. I decided.

What do you do and why?

I’m a content strategist for the Gannett Innovation Lab, where I work with a small team to come up with product ideas and develop them in 3–6 month rapid cycles. Gannett is a big communications company that owns 155+ newspapers and digital properties around the world. The media industry is in a time of massive change, and I love being one of the people tasked with figuring out how it will succeed in the future — aka make money in the time of the Internet — through experimental solution development.

Up until January, I was a journalist for USA TODAY, the biggest media company Gannett owns. I started with an internship in college, was hired after I graduated, and held two roles as a digital writer and producer, both for about two years each. I decided to pivot my career when I realized it was no longer day-to-day news that excited me, but looking at the bigger picture and thinking outside the already established box.

What is your current state of mind?

I feel chill, but focused on my career. Five years out of college, I’m right on track with my career planning. (However, if you’d asked me two months ago, I would have said I felt totally trapped! Things can change quickly.) My end goal is to learn all that I can under the umbrella of a big corporation, then take those skills and start my own media or communications company. So as long as I’m learning — no matter how random the task may be — I’m happy and know I’m being productive.

Who is your mentor or who do you mentor?

I’ve been lucky to have several mentors in my career, many of whom I now consider close friends. My high school journalism teacher, Hilary Gates, is my first and most enduring mentor. I thank her for fostering my writing and my confidence, accepting me at my best and worst, and most importantly showing me there’s never one right answer or one correct path.

When I started at USA TODAY, I was only 20. My first group of editors practically raised me. They saw me through tantrums and triumphs, both personally and professionally, and acknowledged my growth and accomplishments in a way that made me care wholeheartedly about my work and the work of those around me. I unconditionally trust my former editors Dennis Moore, Jocelyn McClurg and Alison Maxwell in a way that transcends the workplace.

I have two younger journalists who consider me their “friendtors” — I’ve done my very best to impart all the real-life, cliche-free wisdom my mentors gave me, while letting them make their own decisions. Everyone beats to their own drummer, and is going to do their best and happiest work when they’re free to do so! My biggest takeaways — if you’re not happy, you’re doing something wrong. I really think if you follow your gut, you’ll be fine. The only time I’ve gotten into trouble was when I followed someone else’s gut.

When have you seen your mother most powerful?

My mother is the most powerful when faced with adversity, and has shown me there’s a positive way to approach even the most heartbreaking situations. While working full-time, she was my sister’s caretaker during a year of medical uncertainties. Later, she was my grandmother’s primary caretaker on her deathbed, and now she takes care of my grandfather (and he’s super grouchy — it’s no easy feat!). Through it all, she keeps a sense of humor and the attitude that failure is not an option. There are no brick walls, just creative solutions.

Once, she told me a co-worker got angry at her for being too positive. I hope that happens to me one day.

How do you think women can help other women succeed?

I think the best way women can help each other succeed is to be confident in their abilities enough not to consider other women threats, and to help them without thinking of them as competition. Being willing to help — either tangibly career-wise but also just as a sounding board sometimes — is immeasurable. There may be fewer women than men at the top, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Rather than imagining we’re all fighting for the same spot, imagine a world where there are multiple spots that let everyone shine.

It sucks, but sexism in the workplace is real. The gender salary gap is real. I’ve experienced both. I think both of these are perpetuated by a status quo that consists of both men and women. Women owe it to themselves to break that, regardless of how inconvenient it may be and how out of the way it may take you. We’re all in this together.

What song do you listen to when you’re getting pumped and why?

The Hamilton soundtrack! I’ve listened to the hip-hop Broadway musical every morning when I get ready for work for months. Not only is it incredibly catchy, but founding father Alexander Hamilton’s endurance and commitment to success is actually quite inspiring. Who knew?!

What’s on your ‘List’ in 2016?

For me, 2015 was a time to set up a foundation. I moved from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco in June. I secured a promotion and new job outside the newsroom in December. Now, 2016’s time to get to work! I’ve set myself up for success, and now I need to hustle and make it happen. Also, I’m going to be really into nail art. I decided.

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California Women's List

California Women’s List is a PAC dedicated to fundraising for, supporting, and electing pro-choice, Democratic women to office in California.

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