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Dana Canedy is a Pulitzer-winning reporter who’s set goals for herself since her first internship. But halfway through her career as a reporter Dana lost her fiancé, which shaped the rest of her life and her career. And Dana figured out how to keep going — becoming the first female administrator of the Pulitzer Prize and the first Black person to head up a major US publishing imprint.
On Working Hard
Dana: There are no shortcuts to success. You have to put in the work. I learned that early on as an intern and I carry that with me now. No one expects you to know everything, but they expect you to put in the work, be curious about what you're doing and ask questions.
On Getting Promoted
Dana: I remember when I was making the transition from a reporter into editing and I said to someone, "Oh my goodness, this is a big leap." And she turned to me and she said, "Look, they put you in the cockpit, now fly the sucker." And that's what I did. You have to believe in yourself or you can't expect anybody else to believe in you.
On Surviving Tragedy
Dana: Life is cyclical, whether you're dealing with a medical situation or financial situation and you feel stuck and frustrated. You have to know that life is cyclical and things will change, even when you think they won't.
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