Lisa Rowan (she/her)
Researcher
What I can offer as a mentor
Lisa can mentor on topics related to work/life balance, boundaries, and burnout; managing large topic or geographic beat; refining workflow efficiencies; managing long-term projects; and pursuing fulfillment in and beyond a career in journalism. Lisa has worked at three online journalism startups over the course of her career.
Biography
Lisa Rowan is a writer and researcher based in Roanoke, Virginia. She currently works as an analyst at a boutique due diligence and consulting firm, and is available for additional freelance or part-time work. She was most recently a staff writer covering education at Cardinal News. Prior to that, she was a senior staff writer, then an editor at Forbes Advisor, covering consumer finance. Lisa's experience also includes stints at Lifehacker and The Penny Hoarder, covering personal finance, retail, consumer affairs, and features. Her book, Money Hacks, was published in 2020.
She was an Education Writers Association Awards finalist in 2026 for explanatory reporting. She has won numerous awards from the Virginia Press Association for her investigative and education reporting.
Lisa spent nearly 10 years cohosting Pop Fashion, a top-rated weekly podcast about the business of fashion and culture. A former full-time freelance writer and vintage shop owner, she is well versed in the gig economy and the small-business landscape. Lisa is a graduate of the University of Maryland and Georgetown University.
Her work has appeared in Retail Dive, Glossy, The Washington Post, Family Circle, CityLab, and the Washington City Paper, among many others. Lisa has also appeared on a variety of television news shows, radio programs and podcasts to discuss her work.
She received a 2019 Creative Pinellas Emerging Artist grant for literature. When she’s not working, Lisa can be found writing her second novel, practicing the banjo, or rewatching early-aughts reality TV.