Alum of the Month

March 2020

March 2020
Lindsay Hymson Schechter

(BA, Psychology, ’04)

Q & A:

  • What was your favorite class, who was your favorite professor, or what is your fondest memory of Hofstra?
    I originally made the decision to go to Hofstra because of its highly regarded Elementary Education program (which is ironic since I now work in communications). My mom worked in early education and my plan was to pursue that as well. Then, while I was attending Hofstra, I majored in psychology but also took some business classes as electives because I had always been intrigued by my dad’s career in advertising. I fell in love with business on my very first day of Professor Edelman’s management class. He was energetic, authentic, and very engaging. I left every class excited to go back and learn more. Once I realized that I’d been bitten by the business bug, I decided to follow that path. I did an internship at E! Entertainment in NYC in the advertising department. It was one of the best experiences I could have imagined. I learned a tremendous amount, worked hard, networked, and had a great time doing it. My senior year I landed an internship at W Magazine in the marketing department, which gave me additional experience. That was basically the moment when I had realized, I was born for this!
  • What was your first job after graduating from Hofstra, and what was the most valuable thing learned in that position?
    After I graduated from Hofstra, I briefly worked at a garment company in NYC but quickly learned that I did not share the same passion for sales that I did for marketing. After only a few months, I left to pursue my interest in communications again and began working at a boutique public relations firm in NYC. It gave me a bigger purpose, felt more aligned with my personal interests, and, although challenging, it was very fun! The most valuable thing I learned in that role is that public relations/communications is not just a job, it’s a lifestyle. And if you don’t love it, then it’s not the right career choice. Luckily for me, it was!
  • What is your field of specialty, and how did you come to work in the industry?
    My field of specialty feels like it was a bit by accident. I have always had a love for storytelling but never intended to have a focus only in consumer goods. It just happened to be where I landed and then continued to grow. Whether it’s with my friends or as a career, the art of storytelling is something that has always been part of who I am.
  • What advice would you give Hofstra students?
    Don’t just study it; go out and live it! Experience is not learned in a textbook. It’s learned by doing and practicing. Another piece of advice that I wish would have been given to me – don’t chase a position or career that you think will make you happy because you could end up disappointed by your own expectations. Instead, find happiness in whatever job you have because you’re lucky to have one!
  • In one word, how would you describe Hofstra?
    Influential
  • What is a typical day like for the business unit communications lead for Johnson & Johnson?
    What I love most about my role is that there’s no typical day. Every day brings a new adventure, a new excitement, or a new curveball to manage. It’s a lot of trying to figure out how to monotask in a position that requires a tremendous amount of multitasking. In one day, I can do everything from managing a large launch event for a new beauty product to preparing an executive for a town hall and working with numerous advocacy groups on responding to new FDA regulations. I’m always learning new things; that’s what makes my job so fun. I’m forever a student.
  • Having worked for Johnson & Johnson since 2015, what has been your most rewarding experience with the company thus far?
    I don’t think there’s one event that I would pinpoint specifically (although I do have many). I think it’s the overall evolution of the company since I first started at Johnson & Johnson. In the consumer division specifically, I’ve seen such a growth in the ways that we work and in the innovation of our products. It’s been a really exciting time to be part of this company, especially the skin health division – we work like a startup and are able to bring new products to market much faster than ever before but also are able to maintain our large scale due to the power of Johnson & Johnson.
  • How has your psychology degree from Hofstra University helped you in your career?
    Having a psychology degree is like having a superpower! Knowing how the mind works helps to motivate, support, and influence others. It has helped me in hiring candidates, building better teams, working with diverse functions, and fostering a better culture and workplace. I’ll be forever grateful for that degree!
Lindsay Hymson Schechter

In the role of business unit communications lead, beauty, at Johnson & Johnson, Lindsay Hymson Schechter drives high-impact communications that inspire and engage consumers in the beauty space. She provides strategic communications counsel to the U.S. beauty industry and respective business unit leaders of iconic brands such as Neutrogena®, Clean & Clear®, Aveeno®, and OGX®. Lindsay represents the communications function as a member of the U.S. Beauty Board.

In her previous position, Lindsay drove significant engagement with North America-based Johnson & Johnson Consumer employees as the manager of organizational communications. She led the communications strategy and execution for organizational change with prioritization, agility, and efficiency to best manage solutions that affected both the business and its employees. In addition, she provided ongoing communications counsel to the NA business unit leaders and developed authentic, individualized dialogues that embodied the business priorities and resonated with employees.

Lindsay joined Johnson & Johnson in 2015 as a brand PR consultant, where she provided strategic public relations and social media counsel, managed innovative influencer programs, and garnered key earned media coverage for brands such as Band-Aid®, Neosporin®, Compeed® and Rogaine®.

Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, Lindsay was the director of communications for luxury Swiss watch brand TAG Heuer, where she was responsible for the development and execution of the brand’s overall communications strategy, including all internal and external communications.

With over 12 years of communications experience, Lindsay has also worked with Lancôme®, L’Oréal®, Avon®, Elizabeth Arden®, and Burt’s Bees®.

Originally from the New York area, Lindsay earned a BA in Psychology from Hofstra University. She now resides in Pennsylvania with her husband, two sons, and dog.