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What is the job?
Chief of Staff at an innovative consumer products company.
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Rowan is rethinking the $100+ billion tween consumer products & lifestyle industry from the inside out – with an intelligent, strong brand that combines: educated, medically-approved content, innovative design, and a superior experience to disrupt industries that have underserved kids and their parents for generations.
We are beginning with the milestone of ear piercing, a market that is in dire need of a delightfully simple and fun online offering. Rowan has closed an institutional-backed seed round.
Q&A with Louisa Schneider, Founder & CEO
Where did the idea for Rowan come from?
I was working at a hedge fund covering distressed malls and Claire's, in particular. Then, I had an experience at Claire's with my nieces, who are teenagers, and also had my daughter around that time. I realized that there had been no innovation in the ear-piercing space, despite it being something that most women and many men do at some point (or at many points) in their lives. Getting your ears pierced is an emotionally resonant experience and that made me think there was an opportunity to build something great in the space.
What was making the leap to being a founder like for you?
It was exciting! At Columbia Business School, I was always thinking about different ideas for businesses, but this was one that I couldn't stop thinking about for months. I sat down with a friend who was the CFO at Capsule who helped me think through the idea and sketch it out on paper. After that, I decided to make the leap.
What's your biggest priority right now at the company?
Growth. We have a lot of exciting opportunities for growth right now. Technology is critical to the experience that we're creating, both in terms of building our nurse networks and for the customer.
You spent a lot of time in the finance world - how has that shaped you as a founder?
I really enjoy numbers and have an appreciation for unit economics. The way that I think about our business is making sure that the unit economics of any single event are favorable to us in a way that's scalable. I'm not comfortable with businesses where a hope and a dream is necessary to achieve profitability. With venture where it is, I think this is the best way to build a business.
What do you particularly value in people on your team?
First, a sense of ownership is really something that is critical. If someone comes on the team and feels a sense of ownership with respect to Rowan and with respect to their role, they're going to proactively think about potential problems and solutions. Second, having a real desire to win. It's a very competitive landscape today, as it is with most startups, because with good ideas, many competitors are likely to enter the space. We're building a team that's willing to roll up their sleeves and tackle the small, day-to-day tasks while keeping an eye on the broader vision. I would also say that being able to give and receive constructive feedback is important and that being willing to stand up for your ideas is valued here at Rowan.
In your mind, what's the most exciting part of this Chief of Staff job?
It's a role where you'll have really high visibility and interaction with investors and potential partners. You'll work directly with me and be a critical member of the senior team. You'll be a hub of the wheel with a lot of people coming to you. And as the business scales, you'll have a unique vantage point.
The Role: Chief of Staff
Why this is a great job
Rowan has big plans and in this role you’d get a front-row seat to all the action (and own significant parts of making sure it happens). If you want visibility at the senior level of a company, responsibility, and growth, this could be the role for you.
The nitty gritty
Company website: www.heyrowan.com
Who you’d be working for: Louisa Schneider, Founder & CEO
Location: NYC
Funding: $4M
We’re looking for a Chief of Staff who wants to jump in and help with all aspects of Rowan’s business and company operations (including the administrative operations of running a start-up). If you have 2-4 years of experience and are looking to make a jump into start-ups, this is the role for you. You must have a can-do attitude and be excited to work in a fast-paced environment!
Role
Support the CEO through driving strategic projects, crafting presentations/memos/briefs, and calendar management (e.g., scheduling and organizing of meetings, conferences, calls and travel)
Manage administrative documents and accounts, and HR-related processes like team onboarding, expenses, etc.
Consistently gather knowledge on new and emerging trends and best practices in industry vertical and e-commerce
Identify areas for efficiency and improvement across all initiatives
Support strategy execution by creating agendas, materials and logistics for cross functional projects and be responsible for flagging projects or goals requiring resources and attention
Qualifications
2-4 years out of college
Hyper-organized with high attention to detail
Prior experience in consulting or finance a plus
Willingness to jump in wherever needed; relentlessly resourceful; a creative problem-solver
Able to work independently
Excels at logistical and communication related tasks, excellent written and spoken communication
Must be NYC-area based
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