Courtney Spritzer, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Socialfly, on living life optimistically despite devastating loss, using social media as a strategic tool to advance in any industry, and great advice for people on the fence about changing careers.
Courtney Spritzer learned at an early age that life doesn’t always go how you want it to. She lost her father to Cancer at 10 years old – a devastating and life changing experience that helped shape the woman she is today. Courtney is a woman of substance and has great fashion sense and personal style. Perhaps most importantly, she is a person who takes calculated risks. But she also creates back-up plans for each of her life and career risk she takes – just in case.
]
Courtney grew up in an entrepreneurial family, so it’s easy to understand why she would one day follow that path. But just because we are exposed to something doesn’t mean we actually have the guts to do it. Courtney did. Eventually this insurance underwriter turned American Express financial analyst took a calculated risk to partner with her good friend Stephanie Abrams to start a new business. Together they created Socialfly, a social media and PR firm.
Many would say that friendship and business tend to go together like peanut butter and smoked herring, and should never mix. And, perhaps working with friends it not for everyone. However, Courtney and her friend, now business partner, have discovered that differences can be one heck of an asset when it comes to creating and running a successful business.
Was there something that was difficult for you in childhood that actually helped you be successful as an adult?
I lost my father to cancer when I was 10 years old and that has absolutely shaped who I am and who I have become. Experiencing this as a child was absolutely devastating and life changing. It taught me that things don’t go according to plan and that life goes on. I appreciate and live in the moment because you never know what tomorrow holds. At the same time, I know that planning for the future is important and that accounting for a variety of life events is important even if it is uncomfortable to think about.
How did others support you and to help you move forward?
I was fortunate to have a great support system. My mother was always there for us. She comes from a big family so her sisters were always there for me sister and me as well. At the time, I also had a really great teacher, who had gone through something similar, who was very supportive. That common experience enabled us to relate (and connect) to each other. Today I am involved with a friend’s charity that raises scholarship money for college bound students who have a deceased parent called the LCC Foundation. Losing a parent often creates financial hardship, along with the many emotional challenges. For those who are experiencing what I have experienced, I would recommend creating a support system of family and friends, guidance counselors, or teachers to help them navigate the process.
You have intimate knowledge of how digital and social media helps businesses and organizations. What are three ways that people can use social media as a strategic tool to help them advance in their careers? How you use social media really depends on the type of job that you want. My first tip for anyone, regardless of his or her industry, is to have a LinkedIn page. LinkedIn is the social media tool that is applicable everyone.
Create a great profile and use a professional photo so that anyone who is looking to hire you can see what you do. It’s also a great recruiting tool and I often get requests from recruiters looking for specific people.
For someone trying to tap into the social media industry, having great social media pages like a professional Twitter or a beautiful Instagram account shows that you know how to use these platforms. I’m really impressed when people tweet me asking if I’m hiring or follow up after an interview. It shows that not only are they’re social savvy but they’re really interested and motivated.
The last thing, and probably the most important, is to always remember that the things you do on social media are public, so you want to make sure you’re always putting your best foot forward. When you are looking for a job, people will absolutely Google you. If they find something unprofessional it could kill your chance of landing that dream job. Everyone should be mindful about what you put out there. Posting a picture or a comment could harm you in ways you don’t realize. Be active but be professionally savvy and aware when it comes to social media.
What was one unexpected challenge that you have had to deal with, or continue to deal with, as the co-founder of a social media company?It’sl hard to pick one! I went into business with a really good friend. That could have been a great or a terrible thing. Fortunately in my case, it’s really worked primarily because Stephanie and I are not that alike. We share a common vision. However, our perspective and approach on how we choose to get there are often very different.
My background is finance and operations and hers is sales. I’m definitely more analytical; where she makes decisions more quickly. The beauty of our partnership is that we balance each other out! One of the things that we did was something called “StrengthsFinder” (a fee based professional assessment sponsored by the Gallup Organization/Press). You take an assessment that ranks 34 talents or strengths starting with the most naturally reoccurring talent based on your behavior. Knowing where our talents and strengths lie is incredibly useful. Instead of getting frustrated with each other for not seeing the other person’s “side,” we embrace our differences and divvy up roles based on where we excel. Can you share a seemingly unrelated personal quality or trait that became an asset in your profession? One of the things that is really important in social media is having a sense of style and what looks good. I’ve always been interested in fashion and took lot of art classes in high school and college. It is very helpful to have a sense of what looks good and what is on brand for a client. Being an excellent writer is very important, but social media is visual. Having an eye for what’s on trend and what’s in style is a certainly great asset. What would be your best advice for people who are on the fence of changing careers? I have faced this situation twice. Initially in my first job working at Hanover insurance as an underwriter when I decided to take a position as a financial analyst at American Express. And then when I left AMEX to go into social media. When I was deciding what to do, the first thing that I thought was: Is this in line with my ultimate goal? One big goal for me was return to New York. In the second situation, I had to decide if it made sense to quit and work for myself and give up the security and benefits. Ultimately, I knew I didn’t want to be in finance focused role anymore. I also spent a good deal of time thinking, “what’s my backup plan?” Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, I wanted to be one too. At the time that I made the decision to start Socialfly, I loved social media, and still do, but what also went through my mind was that I was still young (23 or 24 years old at the time) so, if it did or didn’t work out, I knew there would be a lot of other opportunities. My goal was to learn things from the experience that I could apply to anything else. Whether it’s certain contracts or partners we work with or people who we decide to hire, I always think about what we can/will do if it doesn’t work out. I take calculated risks but always have a backup plan. Your role as a business owner requires some degree of life balance. What is a lesson that you can share with others to help others strive for (and hopefully achieve) that balance? Once you start a business you’re going to be working around the clock and there’s never a good time to go to the gym or have dinner with a friend or even take a vacation. That being said, since there never is a good time for these things you better make time for it. Now that the business is up and running it’s ok to step away from time to time, in fact, it’s actually a good way to refocus. Carve out some time for you and what’s important to you because, I promise, everything’s going to be there when you return. [Laughter]
What is one piece of unconventional or quiet wisdom that you received from someone?
In my first job out of college I asked my mentor for one piece of advice that helped her get to where she was and she said, “Fake it till you make it.” That is something that stuck with me, especially in transitioning careers and being a young person starting their own business. Eventually, you won’t have to fake it anymore and it just becomes who you are. Something I’ve just learned recently as a business owner has to do with managing a growing team and company. You shouldn’t expect other people to have the same motivation as you do as the owner of a business. Their motivation is always going to be different. Understanding what motivates them is key.
About Courtney Spritzer
As COO and Co-Founder of Socialfly, Courtney oversees all operations, strategy, and finance. Socialfly is a leading social media marketing and PR firm specializing in fashion, beauty, and hospitality. Since 2011, Courtney has developed strategic social media plans for her clients and successfully implemented campaigns for 100+ clients, including John Varvatos, NEST Fragrances, The Palm Restaurants, Michael C Fina, Full Beauty Brands, and Caviar Russe. In addition to her work at Socialfly, Courtney is the Co-Founder of Startups in Stilettos, an exclusive networking group for female entrepreneurs in New York City. Prior to starting Socialfly, Courtney was a Financial Analyst at American Express and a Bond Underwriter at Hanover Insurance Group. This native New Yorker and lover of fashion proves that career success can be found through hard work, taking chances, and applying lessons learned from every personal and professional experience. Courtney has found her purpose, or at least part of it, by trying new things, finding a career that matches her interests and skills, and giving back to others. A passionate philanthropist Courtney sits on the board of the LCC Foundation, a charity that provides scholarships to college bound students who lost a parent to cancer. This is a cause close to her heart as Courtney lost her father to stomach cancer at age 10. Currently, Courtney is working on co-authoring her first book, which will be available for sale in 2015. Courtney Spritzer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a minor in Business Studies from New York University. Follow Courtney on Instagram @courtspritzer where she shares her passion for fashion, food, and travel.