Good morning, friends!

It’s hard to believe, but I’ve been in journalism since I was 16 — that’s literally half my life.

My love for reporting began when I joined my high school newspaper, and it’s only grown stronger since. I became obsessed with crafting stories that were not only truthful but compelling. Over time, storytelling has evolved from a passion into my career.

I’ve been fortunate to work at places like CNN, USA TODAY, and FORTUNE magazine. None of it happened overnight — I knew early on that getting my foot in the door mattered more than waiting for the “perfect” role to appear.

Recently, I sat down for a Q&A with Ryan Teague Beckwith’s Your First Byline. If you’re looking to break into journalism (or any field), here’s my top piece of advice:

What advice do you have for people looking to break into journalism?

“Too many people wait for the perfect role to open before they send in an application. I never wanted to be a social media manager, but I really wanted to work at Fortune, and I knew that once I was in, I could develop the skills necessary to become a reporter.

“My advice is: Don't pigeonhole yourself as doing one type of thing or being one type of person. The people who thrive in their careers (and in life) are people who are flexible and open-minded. Choose roles that will stretch your skillset and allow you to learn from the best people in the industry. Once you're in an organization that you respect, you can move into your ideal role. Remember, trust is earned.”

Read the full Q&A below:

Your First Byline

My First Byline: Polina Pompliano

What is your current job…

Read more

4 days ago · 5 likes · Ryan Teague Beckwith

PROFILES.

— The man behind OpenAI [**HIGHLY RECOMMEND**]
— The founder revolutionizing warfare
— The Hollywood mogul heirs in hot water
— The actor who has defied genre
— The accounting startup that imploded

PEOPLE TO KNOW.

The man behind OpenAI: In his most wide-ranging interview as CEO of OpenAI, Altman explains his infamous four-day firing, how he actually runs OpenAI, his plans for the Trump-Musk presidency and his relentless pursuit of artificial general intelligence—the still-theoretical next phase of AI, in which machines will be capable of performing any intellectual task a human can do. (Bloomberg; alternate link)

“We are here to build AGI and superintelligence and all the things that come beyond that.”

The founder revolutionizing warfare: Palmer Luckey, the founder of the $14 billion AI-powered weapons startup Anduril, has become the face of change in the defense industry. And with his mullet, uneven goatee, and Hawaiian shirts, it’s not the face you might expect in the generally buttoned-up sector. Unlike most polished, suited, and scripted defense executives, Luckey comes across as brutally honest and undeniably weird. In language that’s sometimes vulgar, he discusses his high-profile termination from Facebook; gleefully explains his various rivalries; and readily takes on questions that might make the average executive squirm. Here’s how he’s revolutionizing warfare. (FORTUNE; alternate link)

“I don’t care if people think that I’m nice or cool or fashionable. But I do care that they think that I am moral.”

The Hollywood mogul heirs in hot water: The heirs to the fortune of Hollywood mogul Kirk Kerkorian have all the trappings of a successful Hollywood dynasty — from the Malibu beach house to their own cosmetics line, but behind the scenes is something amiss? This is a story of excess, lawsuits, and financial trouble. (The Hollywood Review)

“Whatever’s going on — innocent bookkeeping errors, temporary cash-flow issues or something more untoward — the Kempers aren’t saying.”

The actor who has defied genre: Adrien Brody has made almost 60 movies playing a multiverse of characters, from punk rocker to ventriloquist to bull fighter to Roman general; he’s played Arthur Miller, Houdini, and a wonderfully whimsical Salvador Dalí in Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris. He has defied genre and typecasting, headlining big action movies, sci-fi, thrillers, and horror. Here’s why he is drawn to high-risk roles. (Vogue)

“An actor’s journey should be a much more creative process, full of experimentation, full of risk.”

COMPANIES TO WATCH.

The accounting startup that imploded: Friday, December 27, was supposed to be the start of a relaxing holiday weekend. But it was chaos for thousands of small business owners who use Bench, an accounting and tax startup based in Canada that raised $113 million from investors like Bain Capital Ventures and Shopify. That morning, they found themselves unable to log into their accounts right as tax season was starting. Bench’s entire website was offline except for a notice that Bench had shut down after 13 years of operation. Here’s how it all fell apart. (TechCrunch)

“I’ve never seen anyone just shut down like that. That’s crazy.”

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