Keynote at Penn State’s Powerful Women Paving the Way Conference

Roadmap to Success: Hustle

On April 15, 2016, I had the pleasure of delivering the keynote address at Penn State’s 2016 Powerful Women Paving the Way Conference. This annual event, which is attended by hundreds of students and local business professionals, is designed to elevate women in their careers and drive their personal and professional success.

My presentation focused on what I believe are the three keys to success: Know Thyself, Hustle and Ask. I shared stories from my work in the Entertainment and Media world – as a national correspondent for Inside Edition and covering CBS Thursday Night Football. I also understand the challenges of trying to do it all. As a wife and Mother of two, I offered my thoughts on how to be a young, working Mother in today’s world.

From behind-the-scenes stories of the interviews I’ve conducted with famous athletes, media moguls, and entertainers, to practical tips I’ve gleaned from top business people, I discussed how to compete and succeed with the best and the brightest. My goal was to empower these women to dream big. We ended the session with a lively Q and A. These ladies are smart and determined, and asked very thoughtful and in-depth questions about how to plot their own career paths.

There were so many great questions that the Q&A could have gone on for another hour or more! After my presentation, I had the opportunity to talk 1-on-1 with many of the attendees. I was grateful to hear that they were inspired and motivated by my speech.

I was as energized as the attendees by the time the event was over. This was an amazing opportunity to share the lessons of my personal and professional journey with other women and encourage them to never stop hustling!

Megan keynote

 

 

**The following post was published on the Girl Scouts blog. For a link to the original post, please visit: http://bit.ly/1PrlcVA  

This year marked the sixth year I’ve had the privilege of covering the Super Bowl for Inside Edition. It is always a special assignment for me because it’s the most coveted assignment for a news correspondent and the most-watched telecast in our country. This year, however, was extra special. During Super Bowl week, a few rock star Girl Scouts from Northern California met me and my photographer in Super Bowl City to get a behind-the-scenes look at the work that goes into covering the big game.

We kicked things off with a discussion of all things media. I explained what a day on the job looks like for me and my photographer, including how we shoot our report, how we conduct an interview, and how to work well under pressure.

Afterward, I interviewed the girls, letting them hold and speak into the microphone. They each practiced shooting a “standup,” or an on-camera report. They all did an awesome job! After they practiced their reporting skills, I introduced them to various members of the CBS media team and they asked us questions about our careers and experience. They asked great questions and the team shared real-world stories about working in television news.

Opportunities to practice skills like this were really important for me as I was growing up and determining my career path, so it was a pleasure to pay it forward and give the Girl Scouts a taste of what it’s like to work in the world of broadcast media.

We ended the day by talking about how important it is to set goals, work hard in school, and keep dreaming. This is such an important message for young girls and one of the reasons I was honored to partner with the Girl Scouts and bring these young women a chance to be a part of something that few people get the opportunity to experience. 

This message is especially important for young girls who are interested in working in television, specifically sports television. Do great work and let your hard work speak for itself. Be the best you that you can be. Develop a thick skin and let things roll off your back—and don’t forget to keep a sense of humor!

Megan Alexander is a national news correspondent for Inside Edition, the longest-running, top-rated syndicated national news magazine television show. Alexander is also a special correspondent for CBS Television with the team at Thursday Night Football, covering the games and related stories for all CBS affiliates around the world. Follow her on InstagramFacebook, and Twitter.