Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share 176. Maya Browne, The Road Not Taken
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
176. Maya Browne, The Road Not Taken
Show Notes:
Maya Browne recounts her senior year at Harvard, including writing her thesis "Idealizing Vision" which was about how magazine editors, photographers, and designers had shaped the ideal female form in the 20th century, and additionally another was an article for Essence magazine about eating disorders. It was the first article of its kind that drew data from women of color, and it won an award called the Excellence in Media Merit Award (EMMA).
Writing, Modeling, and Playing Violin
Maya describes her first job at Details magazine under James Truman, where she handled reader mail and sometimes made-up stories. She shares how she got her job at Conde Nast through a letter from Professor Martin Perez and a meeting with Andre Leon Talley in Paris. Maya describes her side job as a fit model and her transition to working for James Truman at Details. She recounts a call from Jonathan Newhouse offering her a job in London in sales, which she declined to pursue a career in editorial. She shares her involvement in the music industry, playing the violin in music videos and with various artists like James Brown and BB King.
Missed Opportunities and Film Experience
Maya discusses her move to Heart & Soul magazine, a fitness and beauty magazine for women of color. She describes her transition to the advertising business in San Francisco and her marriage to Peter Brattander. Maya recounts a missed opportunity to play with Nine Inch Nails at the MTV Awards and her later involvement in the film Ray. She shares her experience of fame and the attention she received after Ray won six Oscars. She talks about her involvement in the film industry and why she left it to go back to business school.
Philanthropy and Transitioning to Business School
Maya describes her mentorship at The Robin Hood Foundation, leading to her involvement in philanthropy and with Quogue Chamber Music. She talks about her work on the board of The Door, a nonprofit for runaway and homeless youth. Maya shares her current work as an educational consultant and her plans to help kids at The Door in the future. She discusses her involvement in the film Brother Versus Brother and her ongoing interest in supporting various projects.
Rituals, Relationships, and Resources
Maya updates on her current activities, including playing the violin, writing, and fitness. She shares her experience of meditating and journaling as part of her daily routine. Maya talks about interviewing the rising king of Hip Hop, Puffy Combs, and she recounts a recent experience at Bergdorf Goodman during the Knicks parade and the unexpected encounter with Basketball Wives. She reflects on the importance of rituals, relationships, and resources in her life.
Harvard Reflections
Maya found the majority of her courses and professors at Harvard hugely influential. She mentions Professor Martin Peretz and shares a memorable experience from a design class where she made up a story to avoid an F and played the violin instead. Maya talks about her current work with Brownstone as an educational consultant and her approach to helping students with college applications. She emphasizes the importance of early conversations about college goals and the sacrifices required for success.
Timestamps:
03:59: Early Career in Media and Music
34:43: Transition to Advertising and Film
35:08: Involvement in Philanthropy and Education
35:26: Current Activities and Reflections
38:32: Impact of Harvard and Career Highlights
Links:
Instagram: @iammayabrowne
Maya's Podcast, Stories from the Brink: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stories-from-the-brink/id1552888806
D'Angelo "Cruisin'" Video: https://youtu.be/JAfuUZRou7g?si=TmizL6CpKE1Ub3Lk
Brownstone Tutors: http://www.brownstonetutors.com/
Quogue Chamber Music: https://quoguechambermusic.org/
The Door: https://www.door.org/
Interview on Sean Combs: https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/new-again-sean-puffy-p-diddy-puff-daddy-combs
James Brown Video: https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/all-in-the-family/umc.cmc.4knzr9b4kg7gvg0r8zl4dc57w?showId=umc.cmc.30wl2femq05e35uf85r3eks06
*AI generated transcript and show notes.
View all episodes
By Will BachmanShow Notes:
Maya Browne recounts her senior year at Harvard, including writing her thesis "Idealizing Vision" which was about how magazine editors, photographers, and designers had shaped the ideal female form in the 20th century, and additionally another was an article for Essence magazine about eating disorders. It was the first article of its kind that drew data from women of color, and it won an award called the Excellence in Media Merit Award (EMMA).
Writing, Modeling, and Playing Violin
Maya describes her first job at Details magazine under James Truman, where she handled reader mail and sometimes made-up stories. She shares how she got her job at Conde Nast through a letter from Professor Martin Perez and a meeting with Andre Leon Talley in Paris. Maya describes her side job as a fit model and her transition to working for James Truman at Details. She recounts a call from Jonathan Newhouse offering her a job in London in sales, which she declined to pursue a career in editorial. She shares her involvement in the music industry, playing the violin in music videos and with various artists like James Brown and BB King.
Missed Opportunities and Film Experience
Maya discusses her move to Heart & Soul magazine, a fitness and beauty magazine for women of color. She describes her transition to the advertising business in San Francisco and her marriage to Peter Brattander. Maya recounts a missed opportunity to play with Nine Inch Nails at the MTV Awards and her later involvement in the film Ray. She shares her experience of fame and the attention she received after Ray won six Oscars. She talks about her involvement in the film industry and why she left it to go back to business school.
Philanthropy and Transitioning to Business School
Maya describes her mentorship at The Robin Hood Foundation, leading to her involvement in philanthropy and with Quogue Chamber Music. She talks about her work on the board of The Door, a nonprofit for runaway and homeless youth. Maya shares her current work as an educational consultant and her plans to help kids at The Door in the future. She discusses her involvement in the film Brother Versus Brother and her ongoing interest in supporting various projects.
Rituals, Relationships, and Resources
Maya updates on her current activities, including playing the violin, writing, and fitness. She shares her experience of meditating and journaling as part of her daily routine. Maya talks about interviewing the rising king of Hip Hop, Puffy Combs, and she recounts a recent experience at Bergdorf Goodman during the Knicks parade and the unexpected encounter with Basketball Wives. She reflects on the importance of rituals, relationships, and resources in her life.
Harvard Reflections
Maya found the majority of her courses and professors at Harvard hugely influential. She mentions Professor Martin Peretz and shares a memorable experience from a design class where she made up a story to avoid an F and played the violin instead. Maya talks about her current work with Brownstone as an educational consultant and her approach to helping students with college applications. She emphasizes the importance of early conversations about college goals and the sacrifices required for success.
Timestamps:
03:59: Early Career in Media and Music
34:43: Transition to Advertising and Film
35:08: Involvement in Philanthropy and Education
35:26: Current Activities and Reflections
38:32: Impact of Harvard and Career Highlights
Links:
Instagram: @iammayabrowne
Maya's Podcast, Stories from the Brink: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stories-from-the-brink/id1552888806
D'Angelo "Cruisin'" Video: https://youtu.be/JAfuUZRou7g?si=TmizL6CpKE1Ub3Lk
Brownstone Tutors: http://www.brownstonetutors.com/
Quogue Chamber Music: https://quoguechambermusic.org/
The Door: https://www.door.org/
Interview on Sean Combs: https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/new-again-sean-puffy-p-diddy-puff-daddy-combs
James Brown Video: https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/all-in-the-family/umc.cmc.4knzr9b4kg7gvg0r8zl4dc57w?showId=umc.cmc.30wl2femq05e35uf85r3eks06
*AI generated transcript and show notes.