When one door closes another one opens. Well…it’s supposed to. These days, being a college
graduate doesn’t get you access to many doors that have job opportunities behind them, much
less a returned phone call. 

According to a New York Times Article, just 56 percent of the class of 2010 had held at least one
job by this spring, when the survey was conducted. That compares with 90 percent of graduates
from the classes of 2006 and 2007.

Employment rates for new college graduates have fallen sharply in the last two years, as have
starting salaries for those who can find work. What’s more, only half of the jobs landed by
these new graduates even require a college degree.

But then there are young women like Leah Moss, the twenty three year-old founder of JACK
Detroit, who started her own company after those doors did not open.

A native of Michigan, Leah attended Michigan State University–earning a dual bachelor’s
degree in English and Linguistics. After graduation, Leah applied for jobs all over the country
and encountered what too many graduates these days experience—rejection. Experiencing
the highs of receiving your college degree and the demoralizing lows of the recession realities
suck—as the months passed, Leah’s frustration grew.

Amongst family and friends, Leah jokingly asserted that she would just launch her own
magazine–and the idea stuck.

Leah sought advice and as only parents can do, they frankly laid out her worst case scenario–
her company could fail. “My dad said to me look, your worst case scenario if it doesn’t work out
really isn’t that bad—you don’t have any mouths to feed, you don’t have a mortgage payment
hanging over your head and you don’t have a full time job that your gonna risk losing—by
devoting your attention to something else. And in 5-10 years from now when you’re a little bit
older and a little bit more settled—it will be a lot harder to take that leap”.

And with those words of encouragement—Leah set to work creating JACK Detroit.

“Honestly I did not know how to start a company… I really did not know where to begin”, Leah
said.

So she began by reaching out to a former journalism professor in hopes of connecting with
talented seniors who were looking to gain writing exposure. When asked what college course
prepared her best for a career in publishing she pauses candidly and says: “I learned the most
from being on the job from my internship experiences within the journalism industry and my
senior thesis– all of that was helpful in getting the editorial side of the magazine nailed down”.

In tandem, she began organizing the business framework of her magazine through registering

with the state, creating an accounting outline and writing her business plan.

Then Leah tackled funding. Her company received $10,000 of their start-up funding from
kickstarter.com, an on-line pledge platform for funding creative projects. They also were awarded a
$25,000 interest free loan from the Hebrew Free Loan Association, an organization for Jewish residents
of Southeastern Michigan.

Leah gets excited when she speaks of JACK Detroit—the magazine aims to highlight positive
things for men in and around Detroit, effectively capturing the ‘new wave spirit’ of philanthropy
and innovation. To date, her most interesting story she has covered as Editor-in-Chief will be
featured in the September issue. Now in its second month, JACK Detroit has over 15,000 copies
in circulation.

Creative, well driven and organized, typical days for Leah are often long as she is the Editor-
in-Chief and the Publisher for JACK Detroit. Daily challenges involve logistics coordinating—
assigning writers to photographers, scheduling interviews, and selling advertising space—all
under tight deadlines.

“Everyday has been long but great. If nothing else I think the greatest part of it is the end result as I

saw a guy walk out of the store carrying my magazine. Him holding something physical that I made is so
unbelievably gratifying and every issue that’s going to come out will be the same feeling”, Leah said.

She encourages every young woman who’s interested in entrepreneurship to seek counsel from
those who are trusted, be absolutely certain that you have a driving passion for your cause and
to “be willing to take that leap—don’t stop yourself. There is nothing more gratifying”.

Leah’s drive serves as a reminder to all us young women seeking to channel that “young &
restless” energy—take risks, stay humble and open your own doors.

It’s great to be young…and restless.

“You Don’t Know JACK…But You Will” Advice from Leah Moss (The Stuff They NEVER Mention
Before You Graduate):

•

You’re most successful skill sets will be cultivated in your internships—don’t take
them lightly! Internships come with less baggage then careers—take advantage of
opportunities that are unfamiliar or of interest. Intern in politics, at your favorite art
gallery, the circus—this is your only chance to work within your interests without the
pressure of student loans, rent and adult responsibilities.

•

The blind job application process sucks. You have to get out there in your line of work, meet
people, and print out business cards for yourself with your cell phone number and your e-mail
address (even if you don’t have a job) and then who knows where that could lead: if there is an
opening at their company, if there’s a chance for an informational interview, if there’s a chance
for a portfolio review—take it.
Meet as many people as you can and take them up on their offers to help.

•

•
•

Join Linkedin. Seriously.
Developing a business plan takes a lot longer to write than you’ll ever think. Take the amount of
time and length you estimate and then double it.When one door closes another one opens. Well…it’s supposed to. These days, being a college

graduate doesn’t get you access to many doors that have job opportunities behind them, much

less a returned phone call.

 

According to a New York Times Article, just 56 percent of the class of 2010 had held at least one

job by this spring, when the survey was conducted. That compares with 90 percent of graduates

from the classes of 2006 and 2007.

 

Employment rates for new college graduates have fallen sharply in the last two years, as have

starting salaries for those who can find work. What’s more, only half of the jobs landed by

these new graduates even require a college degree.

 

But then there are young women like Leah Moss, the twenty three year-old founder of JACK

Detroit, who started her own company after those doors did not open.

 

A native of Michigan, Leah attended Michigan State University–earning a dual bachelor’s

degree in English and Linguistics. After graduation, Leah applied for jobs all over the country

and encountered what too many graduates these days experience—rejection. Experiencing

the highs of receiving your college degree and the demoralizing lows of the recession realities

suck—as the months passed, Leah’s frustration grew.

 

Amongst family and friends, Leah jokingly asserted that she would just launch her own

magazine–and the idea stuck.

 

Leah sought advice and as only parents can do, they frankly laid out her worst case scenario–

her company could fail. “My dad said to me look, your worst case scenario if it doesn’t work out

really isn’t that bad—you don’t have any mouths to feed, you don’t have a mortgage payment

hanging over your head and you don’t have a full time job that your gonna risk losing—by

devoting your attention to something else. And in 5-10 years from now when you’re a little bit

older and a little bit more settled—it will be a lot harder to take that leap”.

 

And with those words of encouragement—Leah set to work creating JACK Detroit.

 

“Honestly I did not know how to start a company… I really did not know where to begin”, Leah

said.

 

So she began by reaching out to a former journalism professor in hopes of connecting with

talented seniors who were looking to gain writing exposure. When asked what college course

prepared her best for a career in publishing she pauses candidly and says: “I learned the most

from being on the job from my internship experiences within the journalism industry and my

senior thesis– all of that was helpful in getting the editorial side of the magazine nailed down”.

 

In tandem, she began organizing the business framework of her magazine through registering

 

with the state, creating an accounting outline and writing her business plan.

 

Then Leah tackled funding. Her company received $10,000 of their start-up funding from

kickstarter.com, an on-line pledge platform for funding creative projects. They also were awarded a

$25,000 interest free loan from the Hebrew Free Loan Association, an organization for Jewish residents

of Southeastern Michigan.

 

Leah gets excited when she speaks of JACK Detroit—the magazine aims to highlight positive

things for men in and around Detroit, effectively capturing the ‘new wave spirit’ of philanthropy

and innovation. To date, her most interesting story she has covered as Editor-in-Chief will be

featured in the September issue. Now in its second month, JACK Detroit has over 15,000 copies

in circulation.

 

Creative, well driven and organized, typical days for Leah are often long as she is the Editor-

in-Chief and the Publisher for JACK Detroit. Daily challenges involve logistics coordinating—

assigning writers to photographers, scheduling interviews, and selling advertising space—all

under tight deadlines.

 

“Everyday has been long but great. If nothing else I think the greatest part of it is the end result as I

 

saw a guy walk out of the store carrying my magazine. Him holding something physical that I made is so

unbelievably gratifying and every issue that’s going to come out will be the same feeling”, Leah said.

 

She encourages every young woman who’s interested in entrepreneurship to seek counsel from

those who are trusted, be absolutely certain that you have a driving passion for your cause and

to “be willing to take that leap—don’t stop yourself. There is nothing more gratifying”.

 

Leah’s drive serves as a reminder to all us young women seeking to channel that “young &

restless” energy—take risks, stay humble and open your own doors.

 

It’s great to be young…and restless.

 

“You Don’t Know JACK…But You Will” Advice from Leah Moss (The Stuff They NEVER Mention

Before You Graduate):

 

•

 

You’re most successful skill sets will be cultivated in your internships—don’t take

them lightly! Internships come with less baggage then careers—take advantage of

opportunities that are unfamiliar or of interest. Intern in politics, at your favorite art

gallery, the circus—this is your only chance to work within your interests without the

pressure of student loans, rent and adult responsibilities.

 

•

 

The blind job application process sucks. You have to get out there in your line of work, meet

people, and print out business cards for yourself with your cell phone number and your e-mail

address (even if you don’t have a job) and then who knows where that could lead: if there is an

opening at their company, if there’s a chance for an informational interview, if there’s a chance

for a portfolio review—take it.

Meet as many people as you can and take them up on their offers to help.

 

•

 

•

•

 

Join Linkedin. Seriously.

Developing a business plan takes a lot longer to write than you’ll ever think. Take the amount of

time and length you estimate and then double it.