VP Urges Professionals to Send Weekly ‘Scary Emails’ for Career Growth

Sending unsolicited emails can be intimidating, but one tech executive says the practice is among the most effective tools for advancing a career. Mallory Contois, vice president of growth at online learning startup Maven, attributes much of her professional success to consistently reaching out to people and companies through what she calls “scary emails.”

Over the course of her 15-year career with startups, she says these cold emails have led to jobs, new ventures, and valuable connections, including her current role, which was created specifically for her after she pitched herself to Maven.

Contois’s perspective shifted dramatically at age 25, when she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. That experience, she explained, made her less hesitant to ask for help or pursue opportunities. “For me, going through that health crisis really just opened a new reality,” she said. “No one’s going to be upset at me for asking for help. The worst thing that happens is they don’t respond, or they say they can’t help me.”

Woman in front of a computer | Source: Pexels

Since then, she has committed to sending ambitious cold emails, which she describes as both daunting and highly rewarding. The practice, she believes, can transform anyone’s career trajectory. “If you send one ‘scary email’ a week for the rest of your life, I promise you’re going to have an insane career,” she said.

Strategy Behind ‘Scary Emails’

For Contois, success lies in making the recipient’s task as easy as possible. Whether seeking an introduction or applying for a job, she advises providing ready-to-use material such as a copy-and-paste message, resume, or direct contact information. Messages should be concise and easily skimmable, giving just enough detail to prompt interest.

“It doesn’t have to cover everything, just enough to get them to respond and be like, ‘tell me more,’” she said.

She recalled one particularly effective message to a recruiter: “Hey, I know I don’t look like the right candidate for this role. If you just look at my resume, you wouldn’t even look at me twice, but here’s 4 bullet points about why I’m actually perfect for this role. Can you please forward this to the hiring manager and just let me know what they say?” The approach worked, and she landed the job shortly after.

Woman talking on the phone | Source: Pexels

Overcoming Intimidation

Acknowledging that sending such messages can feel overwhelming, Contois encourages professionals to consider the recipient’s perspective. She believes most people are flattered when approached with a thoughtful note. “More often than not, we’re flattered and impressed when someone reaches out to us with a thoughtful message,” she said.

The Payoff

For Contois, the habit of sending “scary emails” has been a defining factor in her career. She insists the low-risk, high-reward strategy can help others create their own opportunities and accelerate professional growth. “Putting yourself out there will result in ‘astronomical’ career growth,” she said.