Hydrow’s Head of Community on the Power of Writing It Down

Part marketer, part writer, part athlete, all heart. Erin Bailey leads the community team at Hydrow–the immersive at-home rowing company that has raised money from the likes of Lizzo and Justin Timberlake–while moonlighting as a writer tackling something many of us talk about but rarely do: journaling. Her role is anchored in personal experience, ensuring the Hydrow community is literally rowing in the same direction, always supporting one another as each rower strives to reach their daily Hydrow High. The motivation that comes from positive feedback is something that’s been foundational to Bailey’s professional growth, the teams she builds, and the community she now works to nourish. What's the most innovative thing you recently worked on, or are currently working on? I started a daily newsletter two weeks into the pandemic called The Daily Writing Dose. I use journaling as a way to process life and world events; when sharing that, I received feedback that others wished they journaled but don’t know where to start. So, for two years I sent an email every morning with a journaling prompt, additional thought starters, and a few stories of my own. It grew to a robust online community of people who were simply looking for more: connection, purpose, answers, and more out of their own lives. They began to connect with each other, reply to me, or use the questions as a moment to connect with their partners each morning. In a moment where we were forced into isolation, it was an opportunity to reconnect - both with ourselves and one another. What new or up-and-coming innovation are you most excited about and how do you think it will change the future of marketing? I am constantly inspired by how TikTok has broken open marketing. While some platforms have introduced algorithms making it harder to be discovered, TikTok has honed an algo that pushes your brand out to new audiences. It’s enabled individuals to become their own brand and monetize themselves in a way no social platform has before. Tools aimed at longevity and community of these followers is where I feel they still have room to grow. I’m excited to see what they come up with. We hear you’re writing a book! Can you share what it’s about and why you started writing it? I have a personal mantra, ‘the community we want to live in is ours to build.’ To me, that feels empowering. When so much of the world is burning, where does one start in order to have impact? It starts with you. How are you showing up for yourself and those closest to you? Often our smallest interactions are those that can have the biggest ripple effect. Often our smallest interactions are those that can have the biggest ripple effect. Building off the Daily Writing Dose, I received a grant to bring a similar principle to life through this book, Building Momentum. It’s a year-long guided journal to help you deepen the quality and connection to your own life so that you can better show up for yourself and your community. What’s one major setback or moment of failure you’ve had in your career? And what did you learn from it? 5 or so years back, I was laid off through an acquisition. I had put so much of my identity into this role that it felt personal, making it hard to get excited about a new company. I ended up deciding to go out on my own and work for myself for a few months. Leaning into my network, I built out multiple income streams and worked on things I was passionate about. The time I spent working for myself afforded me greater confidence in myself and my career. I’ve since taken more risks and been pickier about the roles I take. Most notably, it gave me a moment of true ownership of the work I want to do and the impact I want to make. Today, you lead community efforts for Hydrow, the immersive at-home rowing experience. What is it about the company or your role that gets you excited to wake up each morning? IMHO, the Hydrow community is second to none. Our members are incredibly supportive of each other, motivating, honest, authentic and admirable. The messages we see within our Facebook Groups, or to our Million Meter Club email, about how our members overcame obstacles in their personal lives through Hydrow are remarkable. I'm inspired to cultivate that community and continue to keep it the safe and supportive space it has come to be. As an athlete I know first-hand how personal fitness journeys are. It's extremely powerful having a passionate crew cheering you on every day as you reach your Hydrow High. You have to hire for one thing and one thing only. What do you look for? The ability for someone to take feedback. It might sound odd but it shows a couple of things to me: They can be a team player. To get better together, we have to be willing to listen to feedback and implement when necessary or hold our own and explain why we might disagree. Also, if you’re receiving feedback it means you’re coming up with ideas. Creativity in our industry is key; being able to share ideas and work with a team to make them happen is the real magic. What’s something most people don’t know about you? I can ride a unicycle. There was a whole club of us in elementary school. Outside of marketing, what is something innovative that inspires you? Music! Or food. I recently moved to NYC and am soaking up the culture here. Truly, watching musicians create art, tell stories and string sounds together in truly beautiful ways lights me up. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Write it down. Are you sensing a theme here? I have a mentor I’d call often when I was frustrated with how something was going in an organization and he’d tell me to write it down. You often learn the most from things you’d do differently than from things you agree with. Keep track of all of it. It’ll make you a better employee, teammate and boss.

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Hydrow’s Head of Community on the Power of Writing It Down

Erin Bailey preaches the importance of connection, empowerment, momentum and feedback

Matt Kerbel

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Matt Kerbel