Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/510699
latin magazine » spring 2015 31 A t age 25, on what she calls "the scariest day of my life," Danielle Weisberg '04 quit her job as an associate producer for NBC News to launch an email newsletter, theSkimm. Weisberg and Carly Zakin – her friend, NBC colleague and roommate – founded theSkimm in 2012 and ran the business from their Manhattan couch until spring 2014, when they moved into actual office space. Today, Weisberg and Zakin count themselves among nine full-time employees at a rapidly growing company that reaches more than 1 million readers every day. ey also were recently named to Forbes' "30 under 30" list of successful entrepreneurs. Weisberg, who developed a love of writing and storytelling at Latin and wanted to work in journalism, had an appreciation for current events even in childhood. "Growing up and having Sunday dinners with my parents and grandparents, my sister [Jordyn Weisberg '14] and I were expected to know what was going on in the world," Weisberg recalled. After graduating from Tufts University in 2008, Weisberg went on to MSNBC and NBC News, where she worked with Zakin. As the news industry was changing, the economy was deteriorating and jobs were disappearing, they began to worry about their future in the field they loved. "Plus, our friends weren't watching what we were producing [at NBC]," Weisberg added. "ey were smart, but also very busy. We wanted to create a product that made it easier to be smarter. " Weisberg and Zakin sent their first Skimm to 5,000 contacts – "Everyone from ex-boyfriends' moms to people we knew in kindergarten," Weisberg laughed. A few days later, the newsletter was mentioned on "e Today Show." With that, theSkimm was born. Currently, they are growing the business, having raised $6.25 million in financing. According to Weisberg, three factors differentiate theSkimm from other news sources. "First, we focus on professional millennials ages 22-34," she explained. "Second," Weisberg said, "is the way theSkimm caters to the routines of our target demographic: We wake up in the morning, roll over and grab our phones." ird, and most important, Weisberg believes, is the unique voice of theSkimm. "Our intent is to sound like your friend is conveying this information to you," she said. Moving forward, she hopes to expand the voice of theSkimm to different platforms and bring additional audiences to the publication. While Weisberg still utilizes her writing skills, she's discovered that she loves business. She is proud – and amazed – that she became an entrepreneur without a traditional business or tech background. She credits her parents for teaching her the importance of hard work and networking, and she believes that the experiences she received while interning with companies including Latin alumnus Billy Dec '90's Rockit Ranch Productions and MSNBC, were key to starting her career. Weisberg's advice for budding entrepreneurs at Latin? Network whenever possible: "Talk to as many people as you can in industries that interest you." Finally, she insisted, "Take a coding class. ere are so many applications for this knowledge in today's world." In reaching out and informing millennnials all over the country, Weisberg certainly has her finger on the pulse of today's world. Danielle Weisberg '04 Take a coding class. There are so many applications for this knowledge in today's world." latin magazine » spring 2015