Introducing Girlboss, the LinkedIn Alternative for Millennial Women
Photo by Milly McKinnish
By Milly Mckinnish
When you log into girlboss.com, you’re welcomed with a minimalistic interface, pastel colors, and the promise of a “strong, curious, and ambitious” community. Think Glossier, but a networking platform.
This site is Sophia Amoruso’s latest venture. Not familiar with that name? She’s the founder of NastyGal and the titular girlboss. In 2014, the term catapulted into fame when Amoruso released her autobiography, #Girlboss. Three years later, Netflix adapted the book into a sitcom with the same name.
Amoruso knows that you’re more than just your resume, and the website reflects that belief.
When you create your profile, you’re given three simple tasks: fill in the blanks of three sentences, add your horoscope and Myers-Briggs type, and map out your “journey.”
Journey moments can include the typical resume points (new jobs and promotions) and more personal aspects (moving to a new city or running a marathon).
Users are also encouraged to link their social media pages and personal websites to show a more holistic view of themselves.
Sure, Girlboss’ profile features are unique, but what separates it from similar websites is the content it produces. In addition to being a new professional network, Girlboss releases articles, podcasts, and Q&As with successful women in a variety of industries.
The content is divided into six categories: work, money, wellness, beauty, identity, and life. Article topics range from how to slide into someone’s DMs to tips on giving up alcohol for Dry January to the lack of dress codes in millennial workspaces.
Niayla-Dia Murray, a senior philosophy and political science major at Drexel, found Girlboss in July while searching for a website for women professionals.
“I looked at the content [on Girlboss] and found that it was not only entertaining, but helpful. Which is rare in my opinion, because usually content geared towards women is not often informative or guiding, so Girlboss was a breath of fresh air,” Murray said.
Another way Girlboss differentiates itself from other competitors: personalized connections. On the site, members are limited to one friend request a day. When you hit the “Say Hi” button, you’re asked to specify why you want to connect and add a note. The person then has 24 hours to accept and respond, à la Bumble.
While it is unclear how many current, active users are on Girlboss, in early July, when the website was invite-only, 54,000 people had joined the waitlist.
Without a doubt, LinkedIn (with its 260 million monthly active users) is Girlboss’ biggest competition. However, Amoruso claims LinkedIn is traditional and outdated—it does not accommodate for people with multiple part-time jobs or various career paths.
“Their product is really centered on that type of work: ‘Here’s nothing about my character and everything about where I went to school, and where I worked,’” Amoruso told The Wall Street Journal in October 2018.
Murray shared the same sentiments, adding “while LinkedIn is virtually inclusive of all age groups, it does feel a bit unwelcoming to younger generations.”
There’s something liberating about the network’s emphasis on openness and fostering meaningful connections.
Sites like LinkedIn can be overwhelming; it seems as if the network is teeming with seasoned professionals who know how to write the perfect summary, take the perfect headshot, and have a mile-long list of meaningful work experiences.
Girlboss, on the other hand, is filled with women who want to share their experiences, further their careers, and empower others. It doesn’t matter what stage of your career you’re in. On Girlboss, there’s no shame in asking questions, saying you need help, or sharing life updates.
Amoruso’s website is open to anyone who fits the boss babe mold—no matter your age, work experience, or profession. This brings us to the question: what exactly is a girlboss? To find the answer, I asked members of the site, self-proclaimed girlbosses themselves.
Here are their responses:
“To be able to conquer and seize daily life’s obstacles.”
“Someone who is able to face challenges on a daily basis while continuing to uplift and empower those around them.”
“[S]he believes in herself, even in the darkest of times. ”
Jillian Bishop, a marketing manager in Keene, NH, put it simply: “[s]omeone who handles their sh*t.”
While there is no clear cut definition, all the replies to my post had one common denominator—to them, girlbosses are resilient and strong.
Right now, you can only access Girlboss on desktop. There isn’t a Girlboss app available on the App Store quite yet, but check out this sneak peek of it on Amoruso's Twitter:
“I think the beta version of Girlboss, thus far, has a lot of potential to be a competitor to them especially LinkedIn,” Murray said. “It's going to capture a very strong community, and allow for more diverse networking.