Full-Circle Communications Lessons: Social Media & Successful Careers

Throughout the semester, I have had the privilege to listen to and learn from some of the top communications leaders in the Dallas area. From food, to electronics, to oil and gas- our class has heard a bevy of first hand experiences and lessons that have helped us to expand our knowledge and perspective of “real-life” communications: the good, the bad, the ugly- we have heard it all!

To culminate our weekly Wednesday get-togethers, we met with Katherine Bradford and Lee M. Gillis to learn about their roles, experiences and advice regarding digital technology, social media and strategic marketing. This was a class every college student should have the chance to listen in on because the lessons can be applied further than just the communications realm. These lessons were communications related that apply to everyone- regardless of your area of study.

Mrs. Bradford is currently the Vice President of Development for NOVO1, and even though she is a Raider at heart, is a long-standing contributor to the CCPA program at SMU. During her 20+ years in the communications field, she has honed in on the “digital footprint” aspect of communications that we all must be aware of. If there was a social media guru- it would be Katherine Bradford.

She walked us through the most important go’s and no-go’s of social media ranging from e-mail etiquette, to Linked In professionalism, and everywhere in between. She stressed the importance of having an online plan for branding yourself and being aware of the digital footprint that is trailing our identity in the WWW. She told us to be repetitive, consistent, and most of all, relevant. Make it clear who you are, what you do, what area you are focused in, etc; don’t leave any ambiguity as to who the real “business” you is. Whether you want to believe it or not, employers DO use social media as a screening tool, and your email, Facebook, and Linked In etiquette and portrayal can make a difference in getting the interview, and/or getting the job. Don’t sell yourself short, but don’t you dare fluff something you can’t back up; using the internet correctly is key. Just because you didn’t put it out there, doesn’t mean it isn’t there- do a check of your own digital footprint. Be cautious about your Facebook, its settings and what your profile reveals about you. Google yourself and see what comes up and don’t hesitate to try your full name because you have to see what angle your identity has taken in the digital world.

In addition to Mrs. Bradford, our class was introduced to Lee M. Gillis, an Executive Vice President for EMS (Excel Marketing Systems, Inc.). For over 16 years, he has held vital roles in many top-rated BPO companies and worked with multiple Fortune 500 corporations. Recently, he has worked with many of these corporations to incorporate some of the social media-related techniques he has established over the years. Mr. Gillis refers to his techniques as “response driven” social media offerings that pertain largely in part to the communications and call-center divisions. Mr. Gillis opened with a very noble lesson. He told us to always be impeccable with our word; “Integrity means the world to clients and employers.” Being as we are in a global world now, this applies to more than just human face-to-face interaction. We must “maintain integrity” and stay “impeccable to our word” at all times. Mr. Gillis continued this theme while introducing another theory he lives by. He believes his role is largely in part to enhance the lifetime of customer value. Mr. Gillis’ honorable morals, is honored, will make any communicator respectable and successful in regard to their reputation in the communications field- which is something we should all strive for.

I think these lessons were a great note to end the semester with because they bring all the speakers and all the lessons full-circle, back to what it really means to be successful. First, you have to have the foundations from Mr. Bradford’s lesson and then once you have mastered this, Mr. Gillis’ lesson must be applied in order to honor and continue to be regarded highly and be respected in your field. In the end, I believe respect and honor are major contingencies to the measure of success we will achieve in our lifetime.

Special Guest, Agi Geva: Communications Week

                We can read as many books, and study as many articles, watch as many movies, and visit as many museums as we want, but there I think there is no better way to learn then from first-hand experience… and the 2^nd best way is to hear about it and learn about it from someone who has experienced it first-hand.  The Holocaust is always a sensitive topic and I am sure we have all heard different stories about it and different perspectives and learned about it in different ways. I have been to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in D.C., and the Imperial War Museum in London, read about it in text books, and seen multiple movies about it, but nothing compares to hearing about it from Agi Geva, an 81-year old holocaust survivor from Hungary.

                Agi Geva, her mother and sister were all deported from their home to Nazi Death Camps. Geva was first sent to Auschwitz, then Plaszow, then back to Auschwitz and lived to tell her story that led up to this, during, and after the “silence.” The stories that Geva shared with our class were far beyond my realm of knowedge and were some of the most extraordinary instances of courage I have ever heard. Geva’s mother was strategically smart enough to decipher what the different selection lines meant and what they needed to do in order to stay together- which they did, the entire time.

                Her astounding personal accounts of the Holocaust are extremely rare and are a representation of strength and determination in the face of pure evil. Agi Geva currently works with the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and speaks to audiences eager to learn from her and about her personal experience. Decades passed between the end of her imprisonment and when she began to speak of her past. She did say some things she cannot remember, but the things she does, are still vivid images that she illustrates to her captive audiences. The strength and courage Geva has to recount and revisit her past is truly amazing.

                The Holocaust it not an easy topic to discuss, but it is important that we do, and that we hear from the survivors like Agi Geva while we still have the chance. My generation is one of the last generations to hear about it and learn from the generation who experienced it first-hand. Like it did mine, just hearing Geva’s story will change your life. It is up to us to continue to tell their stories and pass along their lessons and like George Santayana once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”  

Flink12

            I never really thought my blogs for this class would go beyond the eyes of my classmates, professor, guest speakers, and well, my parents (but only because I wanted to prove to them I was actually ‘blogging’). I was wrong.  Brenda McEwan, a representative for Flink12, contacted me a couple weeks ago because she stumbled upon my Blog! Whoa, this goes to show, if it’s out there, and if its public, it can be found!

McEwan suggested that I take a look at Flink12, a brand new, Playful, easy, private sharing social media site that encourages its users to Focus on the people who are the most important in their life. Flink12 is a new and completely different social network that encourages private sharing in small groups. It is not like every other larger social networking site because it prioritizes the serious issues around privacy, security, and a dilution of the meaning of "friends," first and foremost. Flink12 is the first of its kind to focus solely on the connections that are the most important in your life in a simple and fun way.

A few weeks ago, I touched on the concept of ‘over-sharing’ in our social media lives and how I think it is important that we think twice and be careful about what we are making public about out private lives. McEwan found my ideas to be very similar to the founding reasons for Flink12! So, I encourage you all to take a look at it too- you never know, this could be the next “big thing,” and you could be one of the first to know about it. She included the link to a micro-site that has more info, images, videos, banners and more: http://flink12news.com... Check it out!

The reason why I am now blogging about this, is because I believe this is an effective and appropriate use of social media and networking. I applaud the Flink12 team for really appealing to the route of the social networking overload. McEwan and Flink12 are strategic and appropriately affective in their drive to encourage the importance of privacy, in this increasingly public world!

Brenda McEwan gave me permission to post her contact information if any of you would like to contact her to learn more about Flink12!

Brenda McEwan
Flink12.com
facebook.com/Flink12
twitter.com/Flink12

Best of luck to you all at Flink12!

Communication, Technology & Globalization Short Film

I made this video for my Technology & Globalization class. In short, the assignment was to create a short film about a topic we are passionate about that we think will be of interest to our peers. I hope you enjoy it!

http://youtu.be/y-BMUvTJZSU

There Is Always Time To Do One More Great Thing In Life

How many times have you found yourself back-pedaling when you are trying to explain something that seems so simple to you, yet the receiver just doesn’t quite understand? It’s frustrating, and I will be the first to admit that. Frank Roby has mastered the art of communications and has a pristine way of conveying a message that will be acknowledged and understood by both himself and the receiver. For 35 years, Roby worked in traditional business roles, but a few years ago, he decided it was time for a change. He has done so many great things in his life time and he has seen the good and the bad of communications. As a result, Roby admits that “I have found some things I feel very strongly about.” Mr. Roby asked our class what we thought information was, and more importantly, what we thought its purpose was. He continued to expand upon the notion that how we understand and receive information helps us to communicate.

Most of the time, we focus more on the message we are sending and there is an inherent problem with this. What is important to us and our message may not be important or received the same way by others. Roby encouraged our class to focus “less about what we want to send, and more about what others will receive.” Mr. Roby’s message really hit home with me because it is so relatable, on so many levels. When you think about it, this lesson can be applied to just about every communications scenario. We all understand things differently and if we apply this lesson, our efforts for effective communications can be more thorough and precise.  

Roby credits his communication skills for saving him from sticky situations; “I’ve always relied on my ability to communicate to work my way out of problems.” Roby basically helps people communicate more effectively for a living. Not too shabby if you ask me. There is one other obstacle Roby mentioned about information and communicating the message. Roby insists that “our skills are our bias; our answers are what we tend to be best at.” Consequently, we must strive to find a balance in the spectrum. In order to be a communicator, it means we must make balance without going to either side. If you are able to send a message that someone can receive, the better chances you are that your message will resonate and be acted upon.

Frank Roby has mastered this skill of balance and strives to be the voice of reason. Since his change in career path, Roby has recognized and embraced the special gift he has for communications. When Roby embarked on this new career path, he was just trying to compliment what he has always done with his life; do great things. Roby admits that “My life came together in kind of a backwards way” but now, he has found his passion and his calling, which in the end, is a reward in itself.

Political Experience in Communications: The "It" Factor

Matt Gobush, Manager of corporate communication for Exxon Mobil visited with our class this past Wednesday and brought a whole new perspective of the communications field. Prior to his time at Exxon, Gobush was an avid government official. His communications experience grew during his years in the Clinton administration and for the U.S. Department of Defense.  He told our class the lessons and experience he gained from these years are the reason he is still in communications. In addition, he added that there is a real need for people with political experience in the communications field.

Why?- You may ask. Well, partly because the lessons you will learn working in politics will serve you well the rest of your life, and in addition, there is a transparency that politics bring to communications. For elected officials, communications is a big part of their job and they are constantly under a microscope. This attention pressures communications experts to fine tune their skills in a way that no other field can really say the same for.

Gobush also introduced some very interesting statistics to our class about elected officials and their participation in this new wave of technological communications. Did you know that over 50% of key congressional aides regularly read blogs? This is a drastic change from 5, 10 years ago when “blogs” were almost non-existent. The words we put out in the digital world can be found and read by almost anyone. If you blog about a government official or something related to their cause, chances are, someone working with or for them will find it. Don’t let this scare you, just make sure you are being precise and direct with your words.

Here is a cool statistic: Did you know over 70 members of Congress have Twitter and use it on the floor. This is a direct communication link between our representatives and the general public. This virtually allows the general public to basically be a part of our Congressional experience in a way that has never been available to the public before. A representative in congress could tweet about something going on, and I could be learning about it in real time. Now that’s a digital revolution, I mean, can you imagine what some of our founding fathers would say about that one?

In conclusion, Gobush believes the experience and knowledge he gained working in politics has allowed him to stand out and hold a higher regard in the communications world. Politics not only created a strong foundation for Gobush’s work, but also a sense of reliability, trust, and confidence in those who he works with. The integrity and passion for communications he established during his time working in politics will reign true for the rest of his career and time in the communications field.

Together Everyone Achieves More!

                For the past few years, Maureen Locus has been the Crisis Communication and Non-profit Public Relations representative for the very well known, Brinker International. Locus visited with our CCPA class this past week and shared some of the good, bad, and ugly experiences she has had as a PR rep for Brinker. Now, as straight forward as her job may seem, she shared some stories that I would have never thought a PR rep for a large food chain would have to deal with. Let’s just say, expect the unexpected.

                Beyond all the great stories Ms. Locus told us, there was something really special I learned from her visit. Brinker has adopted a “team” mentality and promotes a very open, accepting and friendly work atmosphere. Maureen Locus is a “team-member” at Brinker and works at a “support center.” This mentality that Brinker adopted assures that all of the team members really do feel like part of a team. When you go to work every day with the feeling that you are truly a vital part in the company, you feel more inclined to do your best and have a positive attitude.

                The Brinker team works by the saying “Life is short, Work Happy!” This is both inspiring and optimistic for the future of the Brinker team. The leadership at Brinker wants the entire team to share in the success and happiness of the company. Ms. Locus has been with Brinker long enough to believe in their mission and is evidence of how well their system works. She shared with us that in the end, “It’s the people you go to work with, that make it so fun.” Brinker has changed Locus’ life in a way that will make any other place she may work at, hard to measure up.  After hearing about Ms. Locus’ experiences with Brinker, I think it would be hard for her to work anywhere else especially because it would be hard to duplicate the positive and rewarding experiences she has had with Brinker.

                 Every time I hear the notorious jingle “I want my baby-back-baby-back-baby-back… Chili’s….,” I will have a new image that pops into my head. Now, I see that the support-centers and all the restaurant under the Brinker name, are a vital part of an unbeatable team. That, and well, a funny story Ms. Locus shared with us about baby-back ribs & the wacky things she deals with in PR. And a little piece of advice, if you ever get the chance to hear Ms. Locus or any other member of the Brinker team speak, don’t go hungry; after an hour of hearing about Brinker and their restaurants, you will be craving Chili’s or Maggiano’s like never before!

Old School in a New Era of Technology

Think about this as it pertains to tweeting, posting, and blogging. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you.” (Now save it for the end of this post)

Think back 5, 10, 15 years ago… about how much has changed in the technology and social media worlds. Rob Martin, principal and managing director at MM2 Public relations has witnessed these changes first-hand.  The experience for public relations and marketing has shifted to where the experience is the primary goal. “As a marketer, I think it’s neat, but personally, I think the privacy invasion is weird,” Martin revealed to my CCPA class this past Wednesday.

Social media has become the go-to method of marketers and public relations experts because it is easy and effective. Unlike many other public relations directors, Mr. Martin believes the new use of many social media outlets are over the top and at times, an invasion of privacy. I applaud Mr. Martin’s honesty because I feel the same way. I feel it is inappropriate when people Tweet or Blog about things that are irrelevant to anything that should be public knowledge. So many people feel the need to share details about their lives that completely take away the significance of privacy and personal space and knowledge.

Mr. Martin admitted that “I’m old school; I don’t see how it applies to me on a personal level- I just want to see what everyone else is saying.” I agree. My generation has taken the bull by the horns with this whole social media epidemic. I use the word epidemic because I think the new outbreak of social media usage has eliminated the barrier between our private and public lives. The whole concept of “nothing personal, it’s only business,” has been wiped away by the urgency to tweet, post, and blog about everything in our lives. Our personal lives are no longer personal, they have become a public form of entertainment and we have invited hundreds and thousands of people to know the who, what, when why, and where pertaining to almost everything we do.

“It’s a shift for the generation of how people consume media,” Mr. Martin noted when he discussed the outbreak of social media and how our generation uses it as a never-ending need to consume media. If it’s out there, our generation wants it, quick, easy, and now. We watch our favorite TV shows online, we learn about the devastation in Japan through apps on our iPads, and we stay connected to all of this while we are sitting in our finance classes learning about stocks and bonds. As the times change, social media will continue to grow and I am sure people will continue to blog, tweet and post about what they eat for breakfast. Mr. Martin and I will probably never tweet saying we are “Team Emily” on The Bachelor or that we are “Rock Chalk All the Way!” But that’s ok. We don’t all have to be social media addicts. As long as some of you are to entertain us, that’s just fine with me.

Just remember, it is ok to have some things in your life that remain private. Personal social media accounts and professional/job related social media accounts should be separate. Someday, (hopefully!) we will all work for companies that spend thousands of dollars to maintain reputations that they do not want blemished by the new kids post or tweet about private company matters. So, for those of you that get the urge to tweet, post, or blog anytime soon, just remember, you DO have the right to remain silent!

A Statistic: A PR experts best friends!

Which of the following is an effective statistic?

1)      Some of my friends are 21 and like to gamble.

2)      7 out of 10 of my friends that are 21 like to gamble.

Number 2 is correct!

A statistic is a single measure of some attribute of a sample that many experts in the PR field use when presenting to a client to prove credibility and knowledge. “Clients love data,” head of Burson-Marstellar Southwest operations, Mike Lake told my CCPA class this past Wednesday. Mr. Lake, a frequent guest speaker in the CCPA department, visited our class to explore strategies of a project he has been working on with a high-profile client that I will refer to as “A Poker & Gambling Company” or “PGC” for short. He presented an Online Poker Legalization Strategy that dealt with the PGC’s plan to legalize online poker in the US. Mr. Lake’s presentation took us step-by-step through the process of making a PR strategy that is not only effective, but credible.  

Credibility is essential when creating and presenting public relations strategies. Mr. Lake introduced his messaging approach with a three step process. First step, change the current conversation. Step two, define a current status and bring it into the narrative. Step three, create a framework for changes. Amidst these three steps, you must identify targets and create an understanding of the role each plays in the strategy and why. Then comes the fun part… using statistics! Mr. Lake’s presentation was perfectly sprinkled with statistics that dealt with credible voices for online poker. “Clients are willing to spend extra $money$ up front if they know it is proven to work,” Mr. Lake noted, which is a correlation for the appropriate use of statistics. Statistics can be surprisingly persuading, especially when you use them to your advantage.

You must be careful though; the use of statistics must be done appropriately to be effective. You can’t just throw out random numbers and data… you need to make sure they are pertinent and supportive to proving and persuading your audience. In the strategy Mr. Lake presented, he honed in on the key statistical evidence that not only supported the message but created a foundation of reliability, confidence and excitement for his client.

Mr. Lake and his team at Burson-Marstellar believe that the evidence based approach is the way to go because it is more cost effective- “hard data is the most beneficial when we are putting this (strategy) together.” Now remember this, Mr. Lakes client is PGC… poker and gambling… these people are all about numbers and statistics- it’s basically how they make money. Winning over a company like PGC through the use of statistics is like being able to sell a car to a car salesman... in other words, if you can impress and persuade them at their own game, you are golden!

More Than Just An Edelman Face

Experience, Check, Personality, Check, Motivation, Check, Interest & Enthusiasm, Check, and Positive Attitude, Check. So, you’ve proven that you have what it takes to work at Edelman, but what do you have to offer that makes you stand out among the rest? Edelman encourages every employee to utilize their experiences, skills and expertise to ensure clients are getting the best service and to allow employees to showcase their strengths and gifts.

Just ask Jennifer Little, Senior Vice President for Consumer Brands and Ashley Maddocks, Account Executive, at Edelman and they will tell you how Edelman is a great place to work; it allows you to utilize your strengths and past experiences and apply them to your work.  Edelman promises to “undertake our mission through convergence by integrating specialist knowledge of practices and industries, local market understanding, proprietary methodology and breakthrough creativity.” Ding, Ding, Ding! “Integrating specialist knowledge” is one of Edelman’s greatest offerings because it utilizes the strengths of the employees to offer the most thorough and apposite services to their clients.

When you start working at Edelman, they allow their employees to feel around and really get a sense of where they can utilize their strengths most appropriately within the firm. “You get a lot of experience really quickly,” Ashley Maddocks, assured us having been at Edelman for only two years herself.  Maddocks is currently an account executive on the Dickies Team. She has used her networking skills and personable attitude to establish relationships with national and local fashion publications and dailies. She has also served as a representative for Dickies at editor events which shows Edelman’s ability and dedication to provide their clients with the most appropriate Edelman representatives. 

Over the past seventeen years, Jennifer Little has developed an expertise for public relations and communications involving consumer brands, crisis management, community relations, cause marketing, media relations, sports marketing, and event planning. “You should always be working hard to maintain a good reputation in this field,” Little advised our class. Little manages consumer brands that allow her to focus on areas at which she excels, but still challenge her to be creative in her efforts to provide strategic counsel and support to her clients. During her time at Edelman, Little has been able to apply her past work experience to current clients that pertain to similar industries she had previously excelled in. Edelman encourages this because it is the perfect catalyst for creativity and success.

So, If you have a personal contact that will help a colleague, let them know and If you have a personal expertise of a certain area pertaining to a client, utilize it. Edelman works with clients in a variety of industries which opens up an array of specialties for Edelman employees to dabble in. Integrating specialist knowledge is one of Edelman’s greatest promises which pays homage to the well-rounded team of employees which make up the Edelman family.

Finding The Perfect Fit

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again;” How many times have we all heard this proverb growing up? All the time, because it applies to almost every stage of life. Think back to when you were learning to tie your shoes, or taking the SAT or ACT, or interviewing for jobs; it takes practice and time to do these things to the best of our ability.

Gail Chandler, APR, can pay tribute this proverb. Even though she has her dream job now, the head of Public Affairs and Communications at Texas Instruments, it was not an easy or quick road getting there. There is something really special about how Gail Chandler regards her current position. Not only does she say it is the best communications job ever, but more importantly, that it is the best job for her.

When Mrs. Chandler graduated from SMU, she was entering into a terrible job market and knew experience-building was the best route she could take in order to start her career in communications. She didn’t know exactly what she wanted to do in the communications field but she did know one thing; “I always knew I wanted to do something that made a difference in the world.” By 1995, Mrs. Chandler had built a résumé rich in experience, accreditation, non-profit, education and professional development. She has worked with people that were not all that excepting at first, with superiors that she didn’t always approve of, and for companies she didn’t feel were the right “fit for her.”

Reflecting on her own journey, Mrs. Chandler acknowledges that “life is too short to work somewhere or do something you don’t like.” I find what Mrs. Chandler said to be so important. Finding the perfect job is not as easy as we may have thought. We all have something special to contribute to the communications field, and the ultimate goal is to find where the best fit is for you which will take time and practice to achieve.  

This takes me back to the good ol’ proverb, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” We are all going to have internships and jobs we love and some we would rather not mention, but it is all part of a bigger picture that will reveal where we belong. We have to discover what we don’t like in order to find what we do like and we have to experience different terrain in order to find the path that best suits us. Another way to compare this is like finding the perfect pair of jeans. We may try on 20 pairs of jeans and it may seem like an eternity before we find the perfect pair… but when you do find that perfect pair of jeans, you never want to let them go because you feel like a million bucks in them. And when you find a pair that fits you like they were made for you… every other pair you tried on and all the time it took to find them was so worth it because in the end the reward was worth the wait.

The reward of finding the perfect job for you will be worth every step it took to get there. Since 1995, Mrs. Chandler has been with Texas Instruments and has found the best job for her there. Even though she claims that it is “hard to measure what I do,” alluding to her successful involvement in the company, she has found a place where she feels she is making a difference in the world and has made memories she will cherish the rest of her life. This is the true meaning of success, which Gail Chandler has without a doubt achieved.

Ken Fairchild: The Godfather of Communications

For the past few decades, Ken Fairchild’s name and reputation in the communications industry have basically been synonymous with one another. You can ask any of the high-profile clients he has worked with including two elected presidents (+two more presidential candidates) six+ governors, or any of the congressman, federal judges, supreme court justices, or 30+ “60 Minute” guests, and they will tell you,  Ken Fairchild knows what he is doing.  

*Ken Fairchild Tip 1: Don’t be a Lemming!

            This past week, Mr. Fairchild visited with my communications class and mentored us on what it takes to be a good communicator. He wasted no time in telling us that he had one main message he hoped we would take away from our time together. “I want to leave you with confidence,” Mr. Fairchild assured us as we quickly learned how dedicated he is to the communications field and our future success in the field.

*Ken Fairchild Tip 2: Be confident and don’t be narrow minded in communications!

Mr. Fairchild has worked in each of the four communication areas he expanded upon during his visit. First, there are general public relations that he sees as “the easy stuff.” He advertised it as the positive PR, which is essential to all communication strategies. Then, there is media relations and crisis communications; the “dangerous but fun part.” Lastly, the group is rounded out with political and public affairs which has been the focus of a major part of his work with “political” clients.  Now, you may think that you are more prepared for one more than the other, but Fairchild revealed that we are “preparing for all of them, whether you realize it or not.” How? You may ask. Well, simply because there is a thread that runs through all of them and in the end “all communications is two-way”. The common thread: someone has a message. This message is so important and it is up to you to make it interesting quickly.

*Ken Fairchild Tip 3: Don’t Dumb It Down!

                What should the message say? The massage needs to make you “love me, and trust me!” What? In other words, the message needs to deliver content that is easily understood and absorbed by its audience. Mr. Fairchild knows it is important to for all communications to keep a glass half-full mentality. Therefore, if you don’t have anything positive to say, “Shut up and don’t say it!” We have to know what battles to fight, and how to do it.

*Ken Fairchild Tip 4: Focus, Focus, Focus on what your message is!

                Mr. Fairchild’s visit was not only informative and entertaining, but also reassuring. Having had a daughter of his own graduate from SMU, he has full confidence in SMU to provide and allow its students to learn and grow to be ready for the communications field. “If you graduate from SMU with a communications degree, you will be ready and have all the tools you need for corporate America, I have no doubt about it!” He truly was invested in our success and futures in the communications field. Professionals like Ken Fairchild are the reason why students like me will set goals and strive to be a part of the communications world after graduation.

*Ken Fairchild Tip 5: Nothing matters if you are communicating the wrong thing!

There is one thing you can’t deny about Ken Fairchild, his dedication and love for his family and his career is unparalleled. When he uncovered his passion for communications, he turned it into a lifelong career that has not only led to him to be one of the most successful communication leaders, but also, one of the happiest.

*Ken Fairchild Tip 6: Don’t be cocky or arrogant, but don’t sell yourself short.



Be Bold & Do You

Deanna McKinley: (Proper Noun) - one of the most talented & young Accredited Public Relations (APR) females in the public relations field today. A combination of Eddie Murphy’s humor and Beyoncé Knowles confidence with a splash of sass and savoir-faire. Related Adjectives: Talented, Experienced, Efficient, Intelligent, Creative, Trustworthy & Respectable. See Also: Frito-Lay, Public Relations.

This past Wednesday, Deanna McKinley enlightened my Dallas Communication Leaders class with information and stories about her experience in the Public Relations field. Her strait forward and down-to-earth presentation revealed a side of PR “that your Public Relations teacher never told you,” as she so eloquently put it. Ms. McKinley is currently a Public Relations expert at the Frito-Lay Company here in Dallas, TX. She is approaching her 5-year anniversary with Frito-Lay and let me tell you, she knows her stuff.

Among many other topics, Ms. McKinley addressed the essentials for being successful in Public Relations. There was a common theme she touched on that has really resonated with me. While in college at Florida A&M, she was originally an English major because she wanted to be a teacher. During her internship as a student teacher, she concluded that teaching was not the direction for her. This decision lead her to a Public Relation major; she credits her silly-side and the Nutty Professor for this decision.

“Being Silly- The best decision I have ever made in my Life”

Amidst the laughter of my fellow classmates, I realized she was onto something. Ms. McKinley’s larger-than-life personality was evident that she made the right decision to be in Public Relations. “Be bold and do you,” she told us. It is important to do what is best for you because you can’t fail when you are “doing you” and doing what you love.

I really admire Ms. McKinley’s passion for her profession. Ms. McKinley is a Frito-Lay advocate like no other. “We’ve had so much fun- I have no regrets,” and Frito-Lay is lucky to have her on their team. If I learned anything from Ms. McKinley, it was to not lose sight of who you are… keep life fun and be smart about it- do what is best for you. No matter how tough life get’s, keep your head held high and know there is a light at the end of the tunnel- Life is too short to not laugh and have fun.

How to immediately get on Deanna’s good side:

Give her Salt & Vinegar chips

Set her up with Matt Lauer

Give her MAC lip glass

Acknowledge her APR

** Look for her at the Prince Concert in NYC in February!

The Bug Must Grow Up!

I’d like to tell you about a little girl known to most as “the Bug”. Let me just say, the Bug was not your average towheaded youngster; she had more energy and sass than anyone you would ever know. The Bug saw the world as her oyster and the glass was always half-full. She lived with a thumbs-up mentality and having cold feet was never an option. She was a social butterfly, and yes, the Bug was quite the talker. She could talk to anyone about almost anything. School was never really her thing- she saw it as a means to pass the time while she waited to grow up.

Growing up, the Bug went from wanting to be a Disney princess, to a nurse, to a teacher- Don’t most young girls want to at some point? In middle school, she wanted to be a fashion designer or a retail buyer like her mom (a “professional shopper” as her dad would joke).

When it came time to look at colleges, she was faced to address what she wanted to do when she grew up. Grow up? Already? It’s already time to grow up? She had never really found her niche in this thing called school, but she did know a few things. 1) She wanted to do something that made her happy, 2) something that made others happy, 3) and she wanted to make a difference.

It was her spring 2010 semester at SMU when she finally discovered what she wanted to do with her life. She was taking Corporate Communication and Public Affairs (CCPA) classes, one focusing on research, the other on strategic communication. These classes actually excited her and lead her to be passionate about school for the first time ever. Before this, she was just going to school because she had to and now she was going to school because she wanted to. She enjoyed them so much, they didn’t seem like classes- to her, they were the first steps in starting the rest of her life. These classes required constructive and strategic communication, planning, research and creativity- this was more her style.

There was one particular assignment that required her to contact a communications-related expert in the Dallas area and conduct an interview to learn about their profession. The Bug set up an interview with Sandy Marple, the Vice President for Special Events at Neiman Marcus. Among other information about Special Events, Mrs. Marple told her that: it requires enthusiasm, patience, creativity and excitement- Check! It should be fun and you should feel good about it- Check! To make friends and get along with everyone- Check! You have to be able to communicate well with all types of people- Check!

After meeting with Mrs. Marple, the Bug had an epiphany.  She knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life, there was no doubt in her mind; the Bug wanted to be a Special Events Coordinator. She had discovered a career that embodied everything she has ever wanted in a profession and more.

So, if you haven’t figured it out by now, I am the Bug- Katie Bug that is! Since my meeting with Mrs. Marple, I have continued with my CCPA classes and grown more enthusiastic and driven to be a Special Events Coordinator. Mrs. Marple and my CCPA teachers have helped me to find my passion and now, it is my turn to act upon it. As a Special Events Coordinator, I will be able to utilize the experience and knowledge I have gained in my CCPA classes. My communications knowledge will be the foundation in transforming ideas into reality.  I want to bring visions to life and transform a something into an everything. Making others happy will make me happy and if I am able to do this, then I know I will make a difference!