Episode 2: Intentional Greatness In Journalism and Media, with Allison Kaplan

Allison Kaplan is a respected writer, editor, public speaker, content creator, and self-proclaimed shopping guru. In her role as Editor-in-Chief at Twin Cities Business Magazine, Ali manages content development for print and digital content as well as events. Ali’s writing has appeared in a number of prestigious national publications including Lucky, ShopEtc., and Delta Sky Magazine. In addition to her frequent work as an event emcee and moderator, she is a sought-after television and radio guest and hosts the weekly radio show Shop Girls alongside her mother on myTalk107.1. Ali is a true example of how women in leadership positions can balance all aspects of their lives and still excel in their careers.

What You Will Learn:

• Ali explains why she always loved writing and why she followed a career path into journalism. She shares her intense focus on pursuing her journalistic dreams and discusses not wanting her reputation to be that of “first woman editor” at Twin Cities Business Magazine.
• Ali shares how her unique perspective has allowed her to make some major changes and improvements to the magazine. She shares specific examples of some of the changes she has made and the content she has reworked.
• Ali discusses balancing her career with her role as a mother, and she explains how she has tried to integrate her kids into her work life. She talks about the challenges of setting boundaries for her kids and for herself.
• Ali talks about co-hosting a radio show with her mother, and about the pressures of running a magazine. She explains the struggle of managing others and shares the challenge of doing versus delegating.
• Learn how Ali is dealing with the ever-evolving print journalism industry. She shares why digital media and print media both have their place, and she discusses the profound changes that social media and technology have brought to journalism.
• Ali discusses the skepticism that today’s society often feels toward media, and she explains why it makes journalists’ jobs more important than ever before and necessitates authenticity and a new level of depth.
• Ali shares how she finds inspiration through consuming media, traveling, riding her bicycle and other strategies. She discusses the rare times in which she gets burned out on social media.
• Ali discusses the methods of self-care she follows to make time for herself, and the legacy she hopes to leave behind. She also shares her advice for women in business: stay open to opportunities, be willing to try new things, and work hard.

Resources:

• Twitter: @AliShops
• Website: http://tcbmag.com/
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/allison-kaplan-30aab73/

Intentional Greatness in Journalism and Media

You’re here because you know that learning never ends. You’re the kind of entrepreneur, business owner or leader who realizes that the pursuit of a perfect life, while a worthy goal, is also an impossible one. You know there is no end to the race, and you’re ready to power through anyway. You know that the climb to the top is endless, but you’re going to make the climb anyway. In short, you’re ready to become an unf♥<kwithable leader.

Meet Allison Kaplan. Ali is the Editor-in-Chief of Twin Cities Business Magazine as well as a writer, public speaker, content creator, fashionista, shopping guru, radio host, and an awesome mom. As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Ali has had to consistently prove herself throughout her career, all while balancing her working life with her family life. Ali has learned the remarkable art of juggling all her varied roles in life and charting her own path to success, showing that driven and focused women in leadership positions truly can have their cake and eat it too.

In this episode of the Intentional Greatness Podcast, Ali and I discuss the career path that led her to become Twin Cities Business Magazine’s first female Editor-in-Chief, and she shares the challenges and victories of being a career professional and a devoted mother at the same time. Ali is a remarkable leader who is carefully steering her publication through the modern challenges that have caused many print magazines to fail in recent years.

A Lifelong Love of Writing

Ali has loved writing since she was a young girl, and as she grew up she knew that she wanted to pursue a career in the field. She ultimately chose to go into journalism and lean into her self-described “nosy” nature. Her career in journalism has culminated in her current role as Editor-in-Chief at Twin Cities Business Magazine, where she is making smart changes to modernize her publication through digital offerings, events and content changes, all while continuing what is already working.

Ali is managing the challenges of leading her team through these big changes and through the difficulties that the internet age has brought to the magazine industry. Shei is adapting to the needs and expectations of some of her millennial staff, some of whom have never actually held a print magazine in their hands before thanks to the prevalence of digital and social media. Through it all, Ali manages to keep a level head and continues to work to grow her magazine’s online reach. Many of the challenges Ali has faced will be very familiar to any women in business and leadership positions who have had to fight to earn their place.

Integrating Family and Career

One of the particular challenges that Ali has had to face has been maintaining a healthy balance between her demanding career and her role as an awesome mom. One of the strategies she has used has been introducing her kids to her work and allowing them to see how and why Ali does what she does. She also works to set appropriate boundaries for both herself and her kids, including limiting phone use and having occasional “unplug” time. In addition to Ali’s role at Twin Cities Business Magazine, she also co-hosts a weekly radio show called Shop Girls alongside her mother Harmony, an experience that Ali says has been both challenging and fun.

Ali Kaplan is a fantastic example of how women in leadership roles can strike a balance between their home lives and careers while still finding time for some self-care. Ali has blazed her own trail and has set her own parameters for her life, defining success for herself and pushing through all the obstacles she has encountered along the way. I hope you find her story as inspiring as I do!

Meet Allison Kaplan. Ali is the Editor-in-Chief of Twin Cities Business Magazine as well as a writer, public speaker, content creator, fashionista, shopping guru, radio host, and an awesome mom. As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Ali has had to consistently prove herself throughout her career, all while balancing her working life with her family life. Ali has learned the remarkable art of juggling all her varied roles in life and charting her own path to success, showing that driven and focused women in leadership positions truly can have their cake and eat it too.

In this episode of the Intentional Greatness Podcast, Ali and I discuss the career path that led her to become Twin Cities Business Magazine’s first female Editor-in-Chief, and she shares the challenges and victories of being a career professional and a devoted mother at the same time. Ali is a remarkable leader, and a great example to other women in leadership, who is carefully steering her publication through the modern challenges that have caused many print magazines to fail in recent years.

A Lifelong Love of Writing

Ali has loved writing since she was a young girl, and as she grew up she knew that she wanted to pursue a career in the field. She ultimately chose to go into journalism and lean into her self-described “nosy” nature. Her career in journalism has culminated in her current role as Editor-in-Chief at Twin Cities Business Magazine, where she is making smart changes to modernize her publication through digital offerings, events, and content changes, all while continuing what is already working.

Ali is managing the challenges of leading her team through these big changes and through the difficulties that the internet age has brought to the magazine industry. She is adapting to the needs and expectations of some of her millennial staff, some of whom have never actually held a print magazine in their hands before thanks to the prevalence of digital and social media. Through it all, Ali manages to keep a level head and continues to work to grow her magazine’s online reach. Many of the challenges Ali has faced will be very familiar to any women in leadership positions who have had to fight to earn their place.

Integrating Family and Career

One of the particular challenges that Ali has had to face has been maintaining a healthy balance between her demanding career and her role as an awesome mom. One of the strategies she has used has been introducing her kids to her work and allowing them to see how and why Ali does what she does. She also works to set appropriate boundaries for both herself and her kids, including limiting phone use and having occasional “unplug” time. In addition to Ali’s role at Twin Cities Business Magazine, she also co-hosts a weekly radio show called Shop Girls alongside her mother Harmony, an experience that Ali says has been both challenging and fun.

Ali Kaplan is a fantastic example of how women in leadership roles can strike a balance between their home lives and careers while still finding time for some self-care. Ali has blazed her own trail and has set her own parameters for her life, defining success for herself and pushing through all the obstacles she has encountered along the way. I hope you find her story as inspiring as I do!

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