Lauren Magnuson

Chief Operating Officer

2024 - Current

nextNYC is a joint venture between Brooklyn Bridge Ventures (founded by Charlie O'Donnell), Tech:NYC, and sponsorship partners to foster the New York startup and innovation community. Our mission is to enhance accessibility within the tech community and provide crucial wayfinding support for newcomers through events, newsletters, and special content. In this role, my responsibilities include securing sponsorships and managing relationships, planning and executing events, overseeing promotion and marketing strategies, shaping our web presence and branding, managing all communications, handling budgeting and finance, managing staffing initiatives, and fostering key partnerships and collaborations.

Operations and Events

2023 - 2023

Operations and Business Development

2023 - 2023

Director Of Operations

2021 - 2023

- Lead the sourcing and negotiating of strategic acquisitions - Manage company events and teambuilding initiatives - Oversee payroll and accounts payable/receivable - Initiate and lead projects to improve efficiency and productivity across departments - Hire and manage staff to assist with special projects - Project manage strategic initiatives as needed

Director Of Operations

2017 - 2021

- Managed operational functions of a $38 million seed-stage venture capital firm - Produced large and small scale events with budgets up to $50,000 - Wrote and designed content and marketing materials across email, web, and social - Owned product responsibilities for Feedback.vc, the firm’s proprietary service for founders

Business Manager

2017 - 2018

- Managed all business aspects of running a professionally touring comedy team including client management, finances, social and email marketing, and internal/external communications - Oversaw a 300% increase in revenue YOY - Produced and managed an off-Broadway run of an improvised musical

Producer/Performer

2012 - 2017

Harold Night Producer: May 2016 - June 2017 Comedy Lab Producer: May 2015 - May 2016 Harold Night Asst. Director: June 2016 - June 2017 Harold Night castmember: June 2014 - June 2015, June - Dec. 2016 All Access castmember: June 2015 - June 2016 Studio 40: Dec. 2012 - June 2014

Web Business Analyst & Scrum Master

2013 - 2017

Worked closely with developers, designers, copywriters, and business stakeholders to continually maintain and improve five websites for EF Tours. Managed large projects from start to finish on a cross-functional agile development team. Helped to define, gather and analyze requirements that include inputs from marketing, sales, customer service, design and development. Served as team's business domain expert, and identified opportunities for improvement.

Loyalty Program Coordinator

2012 - 2013

With a focus on customer experience, managed several aspects of the loyalty and incentive programs for Educational Tours group leaders. Booked and tracked a high volume of flight requests, managed the referral reward program, developed email and marketing content, and served as point person for technical fixes and enhancements.

Account Coordinator

2011 - 2012

Public relations account support for health and technology clients. Wrote media alerts, speaking submissions, and award entries. Secured client coverage in business and trade media and provided social media content creation. Took a break from May-October 2011

Tour Consultant

2010 - 2011

Retention sales. Managed over 95 customer accounts as group leaders' primary contact for planning and recruiting domestic tours. Maintained loyalty by building relationships with customers from the point of sale onward to ensure their repeat business.

Senior Regional Account Coordinator

2008 - 2010

Customer service in English and Spanish for customers of educational tours abroad. Trained and assisted in the development of new employees. Created and managed daily shift schedule. Handled escalated customer calls. Conducted special projects with the web and marketing teams.