Launch your career
with confidence and a plan.

Work through the MAP framework with someone who's both — a certified coach trained at Brown, and a former creative recruiter with 25 years of insider perspective on creative industry hiring.

[Get Started : Join The Free Compass Hub— Internship Board]

[Compass Membership — $399/yr →]

[Book a Clarity Call →]

Bridgeing the Gap Between College and Career

The Compass Membership and 1:1 coaching integrates deep coaching work with insider recruiting perspective. Students gain clarity on who they are, strategy for how to position themselves, and the structure and accountability to follow through.

A woman with gray curly hair sitting in a cozy living room, smiling while using a laptop, with a bouquet of white flowers in the foreground and a brick fireplace in the background.

Meet Your Coach

Hi, I'm Sam — an ICF Certified Coach (ACC), trained through Brown University's ACT program, and a former recruiter in advertising, marketing, branding, and design.

I've supported students from Syracuse, Brown, Wesleyan, UT Austin, Northeastern, Delaware, Hamilton, Emerson, Ithaca, and Binghamton through the transition from college to career.

Before coaching, I placed early-career talent at agencies like Wieden+Kennedy, Mother, BBDO, Droga5, Ogilvy, and Landor, and at companies including Apple, Google, Lyft, CAA, and Brooks Running.

I’ve reviewed thousands of resumes and portfolios and worked directly with hiring managers which means I know exactly what gets someone filtered out in 10 seconds, and exactly what makes a recruiter stop and pay attention.

Chose either The Compass Community or personalized 1:1 Coaching. Both are built from everything I've learned — on both sides of the hiring table.

 “If you work in advertising and aren't talking to Sam, you're missing out. She's more like an ad world Yoda. She just gets it — the industry, the people, the nuance. Whether you're job hunting, navigating a tricky professional moment, or just need a smart take on something, Sam is your career's secret weapon."

— Steve Fogel · Group ECD, HighDive

Was really struggling to find a full-time job out of college in a field I had no drive to pursue. Sam helped me figure out what I actually wanted to do, and now I’m on a path toward something completely different than what I came in thinking I wanted, and for the first time, I actually have the drive to go get good at it.

— Kyle Andrews · SUNY Binghamton

Where are you in your journey?

You are a current student

Still in school, but want to get ahead — building clarity, direction, and a strategy before you graduate so you're not starting from zero.

You are a recent grad

You graduated and now you're stuck. You're applying everywhere and hearing nothing back — or you don't even know what you should be applying for.

Choose your level of support

You are early career (1-3 years in)

You're in your first role but it doesn't feel right — or you want to pivot into something that actually fits before you get too far down the wrong path.

Compass Membership

Career support for early-career creatives figuring out what’s next.

Founding Member Pricing:

$49/month Regular membership pricing: $79/month
Includes a 7-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Compass is designed for students, recent grads, and early-career creatives who want ongoing support, practical guidance, recruiter insight, and a place to navigate the uncertainty of building a career.

Whether you're searching for internships, trying to land your first role, exploring a pivot, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the process, Compass gives you access to coaching, resources, and support that help you move forward with more clarity and confidence.

What’s Included

✓ The Internship + Early Career Hub
✓ Live workshops twice a month
✓ Office Hours with Sam twice a month
✓ Career Q&A
✓ Full Resource Library
✓ Recording Library
✓ Member pricing on 30-Minute Career Briefs

1:1 Private Coaching

High-touch coaching and personalized career strategy for early-career creatives navigating what’s next.

Private coaching is designed for individuals looking for deeper support, personalized guidance, accountability, and a strategic thought partner throughout their career journey.

Whether you're navigating uncertainty, exploring a pivot, pursuing a specific opportunity, or building confidence in your next chapter, coaching provides dedicated space to think clearly, move intentionally, and make meaningful progressCompass 12

For the person who feels uncertain about what’s next and needs space, clarity, and support to discover it.

Compass 12

Includes:

✓ Twelve 60-minute private coaching sessions
✓ Ongoing accountability and strategic guidance
✓ Personalized exercises, workbooks, and reflection prompts
✓ Up to 6 hours of email support between sessions
✓ Voice/text support for timely questions and encouragement
✓ Compass Membership included

Compass 6

For the person who already knows what they want and wants focused support going after it.

Includes:

✓ Six 60-minute private coaching sessions
✓ Accountability, strategy, and action planning
✓ Personalized resources and coaching exercises
✓ Up to 3 hours of email support between sessions
✓ Voice/text support for timely questions and encouragement
✓ Compass Membership included

Your Questions, Answered

What if I'm not sure what career I want? You're in the right place — and you're in good company. Not knowing exactly what you want is one of the most common starting places. We do the inner work before the tactical stuff, because clarity about direction is what makes everything else work.

Do I need a portfolio? No. Not every creative role requires one. But if yours does, this is actually the best time to join — not after your portfolio is "finished." Most students wait until everything is perfect and then realize their narrative is missing. We audit your work as it is and tell you exactly what's needed, so you're not building pieces that won't help you get hired.

Is this only for advertising and design? No. The framework applies to anyone looking to navigate into a creative field. The recruiter lens is universal. What changes is the vocabulary, and we work through that together.

What's the difference between Compass and 1:1? Compass is community-based: live workshops, group office hours, Q&A with me, resource library.

1:1 is private: just you and me, working through your specific situation, your specific goals, your specific moves. Both use the MAP framework. The difference is format and depth, not quality of insight.

What happens after my 1:1 sessions end? You have the option to move into Compass Community at $79/month — ongoing workshops, office hours, Q&A, and the full resource library. The search doesn't end when the program does.

The calendar is the one thing we can't negotiate.

Graduation happens once. Internship recruiting windows open and close on someone else's timeline.

If you're a senior, a recent grad, or a junior who's tired of applying and hoping or someone who supports early career entry, this is your start.

  • "Sam and I met back when I was recruiting for an agency and she was an external headhunter. I instantly connected with her because she was genuine, a great listener, had great taste and always supplied candidates that were a great fit. Sam was never trying to "make the placement", she was genuinely interested in the needs of the agency and also the career trajectory of the candidate. That was her sweet spot and what makes her so good at her job - truly helping the candidate figure out what their best career move is and then helping them land it. Sam is incredibly connected and has excellent judgment in helping people determine their superpower and position their skills to land their dream job. I trust Sam's taste, advice and heart.” implicitly."

    Amy Starkman Global Talent Operations Director at Wieden + Kennedy

  • "I love Sam because I trust Sam. She has always picked up the phone when I call, and she always tells me the truth but in a way that we both end up laughing together. At every pivotal moment, transition, move, promotion in my career I've had Sam in my ear, brain and heart.”

    Tim Roan - Former Chief Creative Officer, McGarrah Jessee

  • “Sam found my book in the most unorthodox of ways. She recognized potential and talent in me as a junior creative coming from a smaller shop with not a ton of produced work that really felt representative of my capabilities as a creative copywriter. Not only did Sam help me land two job offers in a tough industry to break into, but she became my go-to when I needed career advice over the years. Though it wasn't her official job at the time, Sam was a personal career coach to me as I received other offers and worked out how to navigate the advertising industry as a whole. Unlike many recruiters I'd worked with, I never felt that Sam's advice was self-serving. She nudged me in the direction that she knew would be best for me, not the one that would land her a bigger bonus check. We'd all be lucky to have someone looking out for us as much as Sam looks out for her creatives.” Hallie Cain Associate Creative Director / Copy at BBDO New York

    Hallie Cain Associate Creative Director / Copy at BBDO New York

  • "Sam tactfully identified areas of improvement to help optimize my job search and increase visibility. I was told I was not alone in feeling overwhelmed by the transition from education to work.” ."

    Jillian — Ithaca College

  • "Sam is thoughtful, knowledgeable, and kind. Her expertise is beyond helpful in navigating the world of creative careers (and even that sounds like an understatement!) Anybody would be lucky to learn from her and acquire skills that are valuable not just for recent grads but for life". Emily Powers ‘24 Parsons

    Emily —Parsons

  • "Working with Sam has been an incredible experience throughout my job search journey! Her support, advice, and genuine interest in my career aspirations made all the difference. Sam's ability to understand my strengths and match them with the right opportunities was invaluable. They not only provided guidance every step of the way but also instilled confidence in me during the process."

    Bella — Sarah Lawrence

  • Big update here! By some miracle, I am employed by MrBeast (the big YouTuber I was talking about!) I also owe you a huge thank you for all your guidance and support along the way- you gave incredible advice and strategies that motivated me and shaped the way I did my networking in order to get to this point. Couldn't have gotten here without you! Looking forward to staying in touch, and I’ll keep you updated! Jake

    Jake -Syracuse University