Everything You Need to Navigate What Comes Next.
Built from 25 years inside creative recruiting
Compass is an action-oriented career membership for creative professionals at every stage. Whether you’re breaking in, building momentum, stepping into leadership, or ready for a change, you’ll find the clarity, practical guidance, support, and accountability to move forward.
What Your Compass Membership Includes your MAP
Mindset
Get clear on who you are, what you want, and what may be holding you back.
How: Lessons, prompts, and worksheets to create clarity and your roadmap to what’s next.
Join Workshops and Office Hours that give you a place to work through what you want out loud — values, strengths, what's really going on, instead of alone.
Adventure
Explore new possibilities, test different directions, and discover what could be next. I believe one conversation with the right person can change everything.
How: Lessons and workshops on networking, informational interviews, and exploring what's next.
Live group conversations, recorded interviews, and the growing Career Guide Library.
Research roles and industries, prepare thoughtful questions, and get more out of every conversation. Active members can also book optional, separately paid 1:1 sessions with a participating Career Guide.
“Sam’s guidance kept me focused and accountable, even when I felt overwhelmed. I absolutely feel more confident in navigating my career path.”
Jake —
Pathfinding
Turn your clarity into a focused career plan and take action with support.
How: Lessons and workshops on resumes, interviewing, salary negotiation, and job search strategy — plus 25 years of recruiter insight on how employers actually evaluate candidates. Explore curated opportunities through the Industry Insider Job Board, and stay accountable to your next steps with structure and encouragement built in.
"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—
"I've learned so much about my values, where I want to go next, and how to get there. She has a gift for taking everything you're working through and synthesizing it into a clear, actionable path forward.
If you're unhappy where you are and unsure what comes next, Sam is exactly the person you need!"
Majorie—
One Membership.
Choose How You Want to Join.
Monthly and annual members receive the same complete Compass membership experience, including live support, MAP resources, community, workshops, the Career Resource Library, the Guide Library, live Guide conversations, and the ability to book optional private Guide Sessions.
Choose monthly membership for flexibility or annual membership for the best overall value.
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Founding Member Rate: $59/month
For the first 50 members, Compass Membership is available at the founding rate of $59/month.
After the first 50 spots are filled, monthly membership will increase for new members.
Join as a founding member to get full access to Compass, including MAP resources, community, Office Hours, job board, Inner Circle access, Guide Library, live conversations, and member-only access to book private Guide Sessions.
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For members ready to commit to the full Compass journey, the annual membership gives you full access for the year at the founding rate of $595/year.
After the first 50 founding memberships are filled, annual membership pricing will increase
Includes everything in the Monthly Compass Membership — MAP resources, community, Office Hours, job board, Inner Circle access, Guide Library, live conversations, and member-only access to book private Guide Sessions.
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Limited to 15 members
For members who want the full Compass Membership plus deeper 1:1 support.
Includes everything in Annual Membership, plus two private 50-minute coaching sessions with Sam to help you clarify your direction, process what you’re learning, and move forward with more strategy.
Explore the Career Guide Network
Learn from experienced professionals across industries, roles, and career stages who offer real-world perspective on how careers and workplaces actually work.
Through interviews, career stories, live group conversations, and the Career Guide Library, you can research a field, understand a role, prepare for an interview, and ask more informed questions. All of these resources are included with your Compass membership.
When you need more personalized guidance, active members can also book an optional, separately paid one-to-one session with a Career Guide.
Meg Douglass: Award-Winning Brand Builder | Head of Brand & Creative
Fun fact: Meg lives at the beach—but does not like the beach.
Steve Fogel:Executive Creative Director, Highdive NY
Rachel Lee Walsh: Creative, Advertising, Marketing Recruiter - Electronic Arts
Fun Fact: Rachel would probably crush a very niche game show where contestants identify songs from random phrases.
Jonathan Cude:CCO TBC Ex CCO Mckinney, W+K
Fun Fact:Apparently, Jonathan doesn’t appear as tall on Zoom as he is in real life.
Rachel Frederick:Executive Creative Director/Art Director, full-time at Johannes Leonardo, Droga5, BBDO, adam&eve, and Ogilvy. Now freelancing at agencies like Opinionated/Tombras West, Le Truc, Said Differently, and Crispin.
Fun fact: Rachel professionally recorded her famously loud laugh after David Droga told her he would miss it when she announced she was leaving Droga5.
Daniela Vojta:Founder, CCO. House of Rabbits! | Mentor & Advisor | Leading Innovation & Creativity | Championing Women
Leslie Ali: Global Creative Director | AI-fluent Brand & Product Builder
Amber Justis:Head of Social Creative, VaynerX LA & VaynerMedia LATAM
Jill Applebaum: Chief Creative Officer | Executive Creative Leader | ex Meta,
Tom Scharpf: Freelance Quality Meats, Preacher, 72andSunny, The Martin Agency, Arts & Letters, Venables Bell, etc. VCU Professor Strategy
Fun Fact:Tom can wiggle one ear — just one. He still hasn’t figured out how to unlock that same power on the other side.
Tom Sebanc: Creative Director & Writer ➤ Former W+K, Apple, Fallon, McKinney, Carmichael Lynch
Fun Fact: Tom once wrote a piece of code for a program that analyzed data from a spacecraft. That code eventually made its way into a NASA repository used by scientists — despite Tom not being a programmer or scientist.
Jen Pao: Head of Brand and Creative Ops Chime
Jason HolzmanCreative & Brand Strategy Leader Former NBCUniversal / Macy’s
Fun Fact: Jason has four tattoos.
Andy Chang: Brand Marketing + Account Management
Laura Patterson : Executive Producer PS 260
Fun Fact: Laura has a 1-year-old parrot named Sabini, after the mafia character in Peaky Blinders.
Serena Connelly: Freelance Executive Creative Director | Experiential Events & Brand Strategy | AI-Integrated Creative Practice
Fun Fact: Serena says people are often surprised to learn that she is not actually an extrovert — she spends about 90% of her time at home.
Private Career Guide Sessions are optional, paid separately from membership, and available exclusively to active Compass members. Rates and availability vary by Guide. Most 60 Minute sessions currently range from $100–$250.
Built on Paying It Forward
Paying it forward is at the heart of who I am and how I work. I've built my career making introductions, opening doors, and connecting people who need help with people who can help. I've seen what can happen when someone has the right conversation at the right time, clarity, confidence, momentum, sometimes an entirely new sense of possibility.
The Bridge Fund
Private Guide Sessions are paid separately. As membership and the Inner Circle grow, the Bridge Fund helps make Compass memberships and Guide Sessions available to people who need them. It's one more way of keeping that same spirit of paying it forward alive — for anyone trying to break in.
Hi, I'm Sam, founder of YCC and your coach.
I'm an ICF-certified coach (ACC), trained through Brown University's coaching program. Before that, I spent 25 years as a creative recruiter, co-founding a boutique firm that placed talent at Wieden+Kennedy, Droga5, Ogilvy, Apple, Google, Lyft, Brooks Running, and other top agencies and brands.
That combination — recruiter and coach — means I can work with you through the whole journey: from figuring out what you actually want, to going out and getting it. MAP is how I've organized everything those 25 years taught me, and it's what this membership is built on.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Private one-to-one Guide Sessions are not included in the membership price. They are a purely optional, separately paid service available exclusively to Compass members.
Each participating Guide chooses their own session format, rate, availability, and areas of focus. You do not need to book a private Guide Session to receive the full value of Compass.
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Private Guide Sessions are available exclusively to active Compass members.
You can learn about the Career Guide network on this page before joining. Once you become a member, you will be able to view participating Guides’ session options, individual rates, availability, and booking information inside Compass.
Both monthly and annual members may book Private Guide Sessions while their membership is active.
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Each Career Guide chooses their own rate, session length, and availability. Rates are not based on seniority or level of expertise, but on personal preferences
Private Guide Sessions are purely optional for members who would like personalized, one-to-one guidance from a particular Guide.
Members can also learn from Career Guides through live group conversations, recorded interviews, and the Guide Library—all as part of the Compass membership.
Current rates and booking options for private sessions are available to active members inside Compass.
Rates vary by Guide, session length, and format. Many private Guide Sessions range from $100–$250, while some Guides may offer limited sessions at a lower rate.
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Compass is an interactive group membership where you can bring your real career questions and receive live, personalized guidance through Office Hours, workshops, community conversations, and recruiter insight from Sam.
The support is tailored to what members are actually navigating, but it does not provide the dedicated time and depth of an ongoing private coaching relationship.
Members who want additional one-to-one support may choose the Annual Membership + Coaching option, book private coaching with Sam when available, or add an optional private Career Guide Session.
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Workshops rotate through the topics members ask for most — networking, interviewing, salary negotiation, career transitions, portfolio reviews, leadership, job search strategy, and more.
Office Hours are where you can bring your specific questions and get support in real time, whether you’re stuck on an application, preparing for an interview, navigating a decision, or wondering what to do next.
Sessions are recorded whenever possible, so you can watch on your own time if you can’t make it live.
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Compass is for anyone navigating a career question they don’t have a clear place to bring.
It’s for students and new grads trying to figure out where to start. Early-career professionals who thought the path would be clearer by now. Mid-career and senior professionals navigating a pivot, layoff, transition, or quiet “is this still it?” moment.
If you’re somewhere in the in-between, this is for you.
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My background is in placing talent at agencies and brands, so I bring a strong lens around storytelling, positioning, networking, and navigating creative industries.
But the questions Compass is built around are universal:
What do I want?
How do I talk about what I do best?
How do I network?
How do I move through a transition?
How do I stay confident when the path feels unclear?If you’re navigating any of that, you’ll find support here.
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Yes. Monthly memberships can be cancelled anytime with no long-term commitment.
Annual memberships are paid upfront for the year.
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“If you work in advertising and aren’t talking to Sam, you’re missing out. She’s not just an incredible recruiter, she’s more like an ad world Yoda. Over the years, Sam has helped me land gigs, but more than that, she’s been a sounding board, a trusted advisor, a source of sharp insight, and someone I’ve leaned on for honest advice when I’ve needed it most. 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 Executive Creative Director at Ogilvy
Steve Fogel Group Executive Creative Director at Ogilvy
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"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
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"For going on 20 years, Sam has helped me gain clarity, navigate big decisions, and shape the direction of my career. If you're looking for some of the same, I've got three words for you: go see Sam." Jon Wagner ECD TBWA/Chiat-Day
Jon Wagner ECD TBWA/Chiat-Day
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"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
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“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
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"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
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"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
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"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
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"Your Career Compass was an excellent tool in organizing my thoughts and vision for my future. Through weekly calls with Sam, I was able to not only get a clear vision of my big career goals- but also got a step closer each time with calculated action. Her guidance kept me focused and accountable, even when I felt overwhelmed. I absolutely feel more confident in navigating my career path! "
Jake —Syracuse University