Many career paths are unplanned. As specialists in insurance communications, we hear from insurance professionals all the time who found their way to their professions through unplanned or unexpected means. The same can be true of public relations. Whether it’s journalism, marketing or human resources—the PR field is uniquely suited to diverse backgrounds. That is why we are sharing this blog series breaking down how our team members came to find their current PR roles. For any new grads trying to figure out what they want to do, or even established professionals looking to make a change, we hope this series can shed some light on the PR field. 

What did you go to school for?

I earned my degree in public relations and advertising from DePaul University. 

What did you envision your job would be? 

I always thought I would take the advertising route, but I reconsidered my track after listening to a few speaker presentations in college. By the time I graduated, I had a strong grasp on what working in an agency might look like and I was really interested in gaining experience in that environment. 

What was your first job out of college? 

I worked in a restaurant kitchen immediately after college for a while, but right before the pandemic hit (in a completely unplanned stroke of luck) I landed an internship at a Chicago-based boutique public relations agency. I was originally hired because of my kitchen experience as the agency was pursuing an account in hospitality. When the pandemic later became a reality, my role shifted and I had the opportunity to become more involved with other, non-hospitality accounts at the agency. 

How did you end up in your current role?

Pandemic-related challenges left me on the hunt for a more B2B focused opportunity in a similarly sized agency. I had a few options, but none felt like a fit for me. When I found the job listing with Kimball Hughes PR, I felt like everything was falling into place. I enjoyed my interviews with the team and I felt like I could fit into the culture. I was intrigued by working in an industry, like insurance, where I had plenty of room to learn. As the agency evolves, those factors that drew me here in the first place remain. 

What has surprised you most about your career or yourself given your current role?

What has surprised me the most about my career is how much of an asset curiosity would be. I have always liked to learn new things, but I did not realize how much that would help me to better serve my clients. 

What have you learned from your career journey?

I have learned a lot in my career so far and I really look forward to what the future holds. Public relations is a people business that depends on genuine connection to thrive. When you specialize in an industry like insurance, you learn it is a very small world. Making an impression on someone in even a fleeting conversation can open doors down the line. I always thought this meant putting forth a “professional version of myself,” but after a while I saw that the best conversations came from simply being myself. I did not need to try to check boxes I thought would better present me to others as a professional. That version of myself felt stuffy and robotic. The minute I let a little more of my personality show, I found my conversations were more substantive and I started getting better feedback. It is an extremely freeing realization when you are early in your career. 

What lesson or myth-busting idea would you want to share with someone thinking about a career in public relations?

When I was in college, everyone talked about wanting to join an in-house team at a large corporate brand or wanting to land a job with a large public relations agency. Surprisingly, no one said “I want to work at a small agency that specializes in insurance.” But I highly recommend emerging professionals and recent grads consider all options. At a smaller agency like Kimball Hughes PR, you have the chance to touch so many different aspects of public relations and make your mark on the agency itself. An agency our size depends on team members to share ideas and discuss options to improve processes. Often, you even get the freedom to test some of those ideas out. It is an incredible opportunity to grow quickly as a young professional and you really become connected to the work you are doing if you immerse yourself in it.