Here we go

In my world, everyone knows each other. That is, I believe that every one does and I’m always surprised that Matt MacDonald isn’t good buddies with Chelsea Coleman or Brock Kirby and Travis Kim don’t hang out all the time. I assume Annie Sarabia and Natalie Cedillo are best of friends, that Emily Sander and Rachel Benner are pals. It’s because I’ve been doing this community-building thing for so freakin long that I mistakenly think I’m the center of the universe.

So it goes with the magic of this New York trip. Professor John Murphy (you know him, right?) reminded me long ago that it means something to introduce people to the world and to each other. This is my 29th year doing just that.

The New York Experience is a business trip, a time to learn about possibilities, build a network, discover. What we’ll make in New York is the stuff of opportunity. We’ll all – every one of us – learn so much, take home new perspective, remind alum why they’re proud, eat on the cheap, make new friends, marvel at a beautiful city made for exploring. Pretty soon, everyone will know each other. That’s as it should be.

Deb Morrison 04.26.2019

CONNECT!

There are plenty of things that come into play when it comes to getting hired, but one key element is who you know! Reach out to as many people in your field as possible and connect. You don’t have to talk about strictly work or job related things (may be in your best interest not to start with that anyway), but just start a genuine conversation. Be human! 

-Duane Harris

Which One?

There are an endless amount of agencies, each unique and different from another. From the two years I have been on this trip, I have developed a mental list of what to look for when trying to figure out what type of agency is for you . .

Notice …

1. The work they have recently produced
2. How you feel when walking around the agency
3. The clients they work with
4. How your role acts within that agency

Do …

1. Research agency
2. Connect with people who currently or have worked for the agency
3. Ask questions
4. Stop seeking the holy grail of jobs
5. Trust your gut

WAIT

While it is so important to make yourself heard and noticed, it is just as crucial to listen. During the Flock takes Flight event, one of the panelist made a point that has stuck with me, and is something I want to continue thinking about about acting upon.

It is the acronym WAIT: Why am I talking?

To stimulate and welcome diversity, all people should have a platform and get a voice that is both heard and considered. Some steps in that direction include integrating yourself into your community or a new one; finding something new everyday; listening to others points of views, stories, and experiences; and standing for diversity. 

Nows the time. We are the people.

- Katey

Differences + Similarities

I have been lucky enough to have gotten to go on this trip two years in a row. Each year was a completely different experience, but combined have truly been two of the most valuable and important weeks of my entire college career.

Junior year New York was like a dream. I was in a city I had never been to with people I enjoyed being around. No decisions had to be made and the stress of finding a job was far away on the horizon.

Senior year was the opposite. New York had switched from a dream to a reality. I was now in a city I would call home in a short few weeks visiting agencies I could actually work for in the future. While I am now beyond excited, overwhelmed puts it lightly when trying to explain all of my emotions I felt while on the trip.

To make the most out of the experience as a junior, be a sponge and just absorb. Take in each agency visit, conversation, walk through the city, and wrong subway stop. Enter each day and agency visit with an open mind. You will surprise yourself with what you like and do not like. Make friends and connections. And do not forget to set aside time to be a tourist.

Senior year come with a similar open mindset, but take time to really reflect on the city, agencies, and your next step post graduation. Table the job search, but at each agency visit ask yourself if this is the culture, people, and work you want to surround yourself with. While the statue of liberty and famous food places are exciting to see, put the camera down and explore the not so touristy parts of the city.

- Katey

Networking

To be frank, the thought of networking makes me want to throw up. The introverted side of me comes out and all I want to do is retreat into my shell. Questions start whirling around in my head: what if they don’t like me? What if I don’t know what to say? What if there is an awkward silence?

While I was on this trip last year, I would rationalize not introducing myself or starting a conversation, and from time to time I still catch myself doing it today. I would tell myself, “Oh, you can just email them, there is a really long line of people wanting to talk to them, I will do it next time.” Looking back now, by not having those one-on-one conversations, I was missing out on important connections, insights, and knowledge.  

While my legs still turn to jello at the thought of networking events, I have come up with a few tricks and tips that helped me this year in New York to overcome that anxiousness. For all those fellow identifying introverts I hope this can help and give a little guidance as you continue networking …

1. Come with a list of questions beforehand
2. When in doubt, ask about their journey or themselves
3. Go up right after the presentation is done, so that you do not have time to change your mind
4. At the very least, just introduce yourself and say thank you
5. They want to talk to you just as much as you want to talk to them

- Katey 

Never Undervalue Yourself

I’ve always enjoyed talking to people. The actual endeavor of approaching people has honestly never been something that scares me. This week, surrounded by the people in these agencies, for the first time in a long time I was finding myself becoming intimidated. It’s an odd thing, to go from an environment of people you see everyday, know who you are and create an environment for you in which you feel as though you can undeniably be yourself all the way to a place where you are suddenly realizing no one in the room knows you and what you’re capable of. Just like the expression, “rip off the bandaid,” in these situations where you start to let fear of failure or fear of rejection start to creep up to you, you have to remind yourself of one simple truth: we are all human. That person you look up to who’s out in the “real world” and making cool shit was likely in the exact same position you are and felt the same hurdle of intimidation to someone they idolized. However, all it takes is a firm hand shake, the confidence in yourself to know that the things you’re thinking and speaking have validity and importance, and a humble ora to follow that you are always going to be transparently yourself no matter the topic of conversation. Just because you are “younger” doesn’t make your ideas any lesser, and just because you’re still figuring things out doesn’t mean your lost. In fact, putting yourself in conversations that challenge you to be vulnerable is only going to lead you closer and closer towards the thing you are continuing to strive for: your purpose. Never undervalue yourself because what you have to offer an company is just as important as what the company has to offer you. The next time you’re intimidated to approach a person or situation, remind yourself that there is only one person holding you back from the possible opportunities ahead, and that’s yourself.  

-Emily Pearson 

Terms I Absorbed

For strategists, here are a few terms I absorbed over the course of the week: 

1.     Sponge – the want and ability to absorb information, our most valuable asset, interpret how that information plays a role in our own lives (if not store it for later) and continue to go through life open to whatever opportunities for learning may present themselves.

2.     Social listening – paying attention to the conversations being had in spaces where people feel they can openly speak their mind (ie bars, coffee shops), being aware of where people are putting their time and focus, and observing what shared beliefs among different groups of people are.

3.     Account Manager – aka a hybrid Strategist. Now being called “account manager” in numerous agencies, strategists are beginning to encapsulate this new title. The account manager is expected to oversee the project in it’s entirety while also ensuring that all of the moving parts, from media planning to creative, are moving in directions that maintain the original strategic insight.

4.     Key Insight – the simple truth shared among the demographic you are trying to reach, yet is still something everyone can relate to or agree with and is inarguable.

5.     Pivot – the ability to confidently, and easily appear as though, you can fluctuate your attention and skillset with changes. i.e cultural changes, industry changes, social changes, etc.

-Emily Pearson

The Last Supper.

While I could easily be writing about my last meal in the beautiful city at a scrumptious, overpriced, famous boujee NY restaurant, my “last supper” was actually at “Jumbo’s 24-hours Bagels”, but man….was it AMAZING. It was equally a cheap, dine-in pitstop as it was the best bagel  I’d tasted so far (and I ate one every. day. No joke.) The bagels were fresh-out-the-oven-warm, perfectly sesameed (for my sesame bagel), flawlessly fluffy and superbly toasted. It was most definitely the best “going away” meal I could have ever asked for; simple, delicious & cheap. 

While this whole “last supper” idea is a bit dramatic, I actually was able to reflect a lot about my week in NYC. As I sat there chowing down on my magical bagel, I started imagining what it would be like to actually live here and work at an agency (maybe even one that we visited). Before the trip, I had never been able to picture myself in such a big city so far away from my family and friends but after spending the week exploring and learning about city (and ad) life, a small desire to maybe live here in the near future was sparked. While there are things about NY that I would have to get used to like the subway, the traffic and the crazy honking 24/7, I think that it doesn’t sound as scary as I previously had thought. I definitely would need to cut down on the bagels though….

xoxo, 

Krissy Selven 

5.11.18