In a recent interview with Fortune, Squarespace CMO Kinjil Mathur advocated for youth to be flexible about work hours and compensation to gain valuable experience.
Kinjil Mathur – CMO at Squarespace
In today’s challenging job market, securing a position with a good work-life balance can be difficult. Kinjil Mathur, Chief Marketing Officer at Squarespace, discussed the need for young people to be open to working any hours for any pay to build their experience, in an interview with Fortune Magazine.
Mathur, who has a background in tech and fashion with roles at Conde Nast, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Foursquare before joining Squarespace, drew on her own experiences from nearly 20 years ago.
“In my freshman year, I used to scour telephone books to find business contacts and call them up, asking for internships, even if it meant working for free,” Mathur recounted.
She emphasized the importance of being open to any opportunity, stating, “You’ve got to be willing to do whatever it takes. I was prepared to work for free, at any time of day, and in any capacity. It’s essential to stay flexible and open-minded.”
Social Media Reaction:
Online responses to Mathur’s advice have been mixed, with some users expressing frustration.
One user wrote, “That’s some cold-blooded nonsense.”
Another commented, “That’s outrageous. Even though I’m not Gen Z, I need you to stop that, Kinjil Mathur. Read the room.”
A third user added, “@Oriannarosa should have called out Kinjil Mathur directly and ended the interview. This perspective is outdated and harmful. Such capitalist attitudes undermine societal progress.”