Where to begin! The experience of leaving Madrid and working abroad as a Global Scholar within Ketchum’s Washington D.C. and New York offices was incredible, to say the least.
As part of the Healthcare Practice, my colleagues in both cities exposed me to every facet of their roles right from the start! I conducted research, pitched journalists (even landed a few placements), and contributed to client calls and live-events. Though they only just met me upon arrival, they had confidence in my ability to execute and deliver results, and I was given a genuine opportunity to be a part of the team. A global Ketchum family, indeed!
What stood out about the Ketchum teams in both D.C. and New York was their willingness to educate me on work and life in their respective cities. I learned so much in such a short period of time about the range of services Ketchum offers clients both in the U.S. and globally, and the dynamic individuals behind all the great Ketchum work.
It was a thrill to observe the strategies employed and tactics used and how they differed, in some cases, from our methods in Madrid because the client needs and audience preferences are not always the same in the US as they are in Spain. We all face many of the same communications opportunities and challenges for our clients, but the unique ways colleagues from around the globe utilize different resources and develop different solutions was inspiring! I can’t wait to begin sharing what I’ve learned with my peers in Madrid, and I couldn’t be more excited about exposing my team to these fresh ideas and problem solving techniques.
Of particular note, was a brilliant session I sat in on in New York about how to be an effective brainstorm facilitator. I’ve already started sharing what I’ve learned in New York with my colleagues in Madrid. Here are a few insights gained that you can use to elevate your brainstorm session game:
- Get everyone involved
- Be careful not to give more support to any one idea over another
- Don’t get caught in the weeds
- Leave budget out of a brainstorm – it’s about all ideas, not cost at this stage
- Shut down all negatively
Being a Global Scholar broadens your horizons as a PR professional. It allows you to sharpen your skill set, expand your depth of knowledge and serves as a reminder that you have a smart, generous and global team of rock stars backing you up!
Get a first-hand look of what it’s like to be a Ketchum Global Scholar with the hashtag: #KetchumScholar.
