May 25, 2022 Categories: Blog, Public Relations & Marketing, Stanton Team Tags:

Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in Global Brand Convergence, a virtual event for college and university students, faculty and professionals in public relations and marketing. The event aimed to connect a global community and share PR and marketing advice, innovations, and concepts to advance participants both in the classroom and in their communication careers.

Jacqueline Strayer, a communication and marketing expert, brand consultant, educator, cultural enthusiast, and adjunct professor at the NYU Stern School of Business, founded the event, which was attended by over 150 registrants from nearly 50 countries.

I participated in the panel discussion “Two Learning Journeys: The Road Taken,” joined by Rayner Loi, a young entrepreneur in Singapore and the Co-founder and CEO of Lumitics, an AI food tech startup focused on food waste prevention. We discussed why we chose our career paths, and I explained what had prompted me to pursue my master’s degree in PR halfway across the world, how I built my network in the United States, and more.
Here are some of my thoughts on the work I enjoy, the importance of learning, networking, and being true to who you are!

GBC

A Passion for Media

I was always interested in pursuing a career in the field of media since high school and this prompted me to pursue a triple major (Psychology, Literature, and Mass Media & Communications) in my bachelor’s degree program at Christ University in Bangalore, India. During my undergrad years, I undertook a variety of internships — as a photojournalist at a regional paper, a copywriter at an advertising agency, and finally at a PR agency where I got to learn various tactics and strategies across a variety of industries including technology, fintech, etc.

I enjoyed developing plans and seeing those plans come to life in various tactics deployed for clients in multiple industries, and this ultimately encouraged me to pursue a master’s degree in PR. At the time, PR was at a nascent stage in India and especially in the academic programs offered, and I was aware that the United States was far more advanced in the practice of PR.

Landing in Syracuse

As I researched graduate programs, Syracuse University’s program impressed me with its depth and breadth of coursework, along with its numerous networking opportunities. This encouraged me to apply for the graduate program at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

The Newhouse School provided very unique electives in our coursework such as Financial Communications and Investor Relations, crisis communications, and research, which were all of interest to me. The financial communications program was one-of-a-kind in the country when it started, and this helped me carve out a career in the competitive marketplace. Importantly, I met many dynamic working professionals and industry veterans during my time at Syracuse who were instrumental in mentoring and advising me about career paths in the industry.

Networking is Vital

The single most valuable lesson for anyone starting out their career in any field is networking. Network with your peers, professors, industry professionals, and look for associations/affiliations in the field you plan to choose as your career. I made LinkedIn my best pal and connected with people both in-person and for virtual coffees. You learn tremendously from people with varied backgrounds. Their willingness to offer time to mentor students and budding professionals pleasantly surprised me.

Be a Cultural Add, Not Just a Cultural Fit

Firm leaders are always looking for talent who can bring diversity of experience, thought, culture, and outlooks. People who don’t necessarily fit in can greatly contribute to an organization’s culture and to the advice and experience offered to clients. Young professionals need to be identifying organizations where they can add value by challenging the status quo and in turn help them grow.

 

With this PR and marketing advice in mind, see if Stanton is the place for you!

 

By Sneha Satish, Director