Her Story
About India
I'll be going into my fourth year in communications and public relations in July. I'm an account executive at a PR firm, and I work on the financial side of communications where a lot of what we do is watching the market - did the stock drop, do we need to talk to our clients about negotiating, what does it mean for their industry. I originally started on the traditional side of PR with press releases, media lists, and talking to reporters. About 2 years ago, I transitioned over to the more digital side of things where we're working on what's happening on social media, launching press releases and shareholder letters online, and amplifying them with paid social media content. I saw where the industry was going to a more digital age, and very early in my career, I noticed a pivot and went after it. The head of our digital practice saw me as a talent and wanted me on his team. I was on the brink of getting promoted at the time, so it was a very hard part in my career because I had these people I looked up to as my current managers, and someone was trying to coach me. It was a little awkward and required a lot of communication, but also a lot of trust on both sides. I saw some of my managers at the time as family, and their support meant everything in my transition. So far, it's been really exciting and a lot more rewarding. I love that we get to take the assets and amplify them on a different, larger scale across social media.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with India
01What do you attribute your success to?
I give all glory to God and my parents. My parents put a good head on my shoulders, and God just keeps it on there. He's been an anchor for me for a very long time since I was young. I grew up in the church, so I'm always seeking Him through the good days and the bad days, the days where it's really, really hard, or the days where I'm really, really confused, and the days I feel super, super confident. I understand that there's a bigger purpose attached to everything. A lot of my core values come from home, so shout out to them as well.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't take it personal. I work in a very male-dominated field on the financial side of communications, and it gets emotional a lot. Some meetings get heated, some conversations get heated, and my current manager lets me know all the time to not take it personal. Also, good work begets good work - the more good work you do, the more good work you get, but that also means the more work you have. Understanding that with wearing multiple hats, boundaries and work boundaries are very important.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
As a young professional, watch the market yourself. Always look for opportunities to grow, to pivot, and don't stay stagnant. I think that's when we get so lost really early in our career because we see the people we look up to who have been in their roles for 15 plus years, but we're in that earlier half. Give yourself permission to ebb and flow and grow, and it doesn't have to happen just within your career. A lot of the skills that I gain outside of my career, I bring inside of work. Just always find opportunities for growth. That whole mindset of always watching the market - I take that as a personal omen now. Always watch what's going on because those are the best times to grow.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My faith is a big part of my values. If anything goes against my moral compass, if it just doesn't feel right, I won't take it, I won't do it. Being in such a sensitive field and industry, we face a lot of crises and hear a lot of things on the negative end, like suicides happening for corporations or a shooting happening. Some days are fun and exciting when you're announcing a deal, and other days it's the sad news on the crisis end. You never really know what you're going to get, but it's really just about understanding your own moral compass. My company's very supportive - if it doesn't align, you can ask to not be put on that team. If you don't support big tobacco, big health, or big pharma, you have jurisdiction to say that's something you don't support and you'd love to be transitioned off that team. I have agency and autonomy to say I just don't prefer to be on that client. That's one of my values - honoring my moral compass, no matter the workplace.
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