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Panelists included Lisa Seidenberg, BAJ’03, senior vice president and director of media relations at Greentarget; Greta Snell, BAJ’10, vice president at Dittoe Public Relations; Rachel Thexton, BAJ’04, principal at Thexton PR; and Alicia Webb, BAJ’04, PR and communications consultant at Bright Spot Public Relations, LLC.

“Curiosity compounds; PR means learning industries you never expected,” Seidenberg said.

“Writing is the foundation—edit, write, then edit again,” Snell said.

“Relationship building is the currency, so pitch the right story to the right person,” Thexton said.

“Company culture is strategy—ask how success is defined,” Webb said. “Your first boss should be an advocate, not a gatekeeper.”

Students asked questions about what employers look for in young professionals and how to prioritize experience, adaptability, and an informed approach to using AI in the workplace.

Dave Groobert, senior lecturer, was the moderator.

Students could choose which table they wanted to sit at based on their prospective career goals; the options available included game design, strategic communication, news, film/TV production, sports media, marketing and creative advertising.

After 30 minutes of engaging conversation over Qdoba bowls, Luci Rainey, founder of Day One Coaching and Consulting, began a guided discussion panel with panelists Alicia Webb, Sean Smith, and Sia Nyorkor. The 30-minute panel revolved around the importance of networking.

Rainey began the panel by asking what networking means to Webb, Smith, and Nyorkor.

Smith emphasized that networking is all about selling yourself.

“You are in sales. You are selling yourself. You’re selling your experience,” Smith said. “Most importantly, you’re selling what it is that you can bring to the table that will benefit the individual or the entity that you’re expecting to connect with.”

Webb and Nyorkor added that another crucial aspect of networking is about putting yourself out there and meeting new people.

Nyorkor said that she has moved states numerous times over the years.

“I’d find a Hoosier. I’d look for Hoosiers in every state I went to: New Jersey, New York City, Florida, Kansas, Ohio,” she said. “This is a vast network, there are Hoosiers all over the world. Don’t be afraid to find a Hoosier and pick their brains.”

Webb emphasized that IU alumni will most likely be willing to help students out.

“They will always be willing,” Webb said. “If you just say to them, ‘I need 15 minutes,’ they will find a way to give that to you.”

After the networking panel, students and alumni continued their conversations until after 1 p.m.

Sadler is a three-time Emmy award winning journalist and has 30 years of on-air experience. Notably, Sadler has worked for E! Entertainment and interviewed a plethora of A-list celebrities at red carpet events and award shows.

After a brief introduction, Sadler opened the panel to questions from students. Students posed questions regarding career inquiries and sought advice on how to succeed in a competitive job market and how to stand out among other applicants.

Sadler emphasized the importance of staying true to oneself throughout one’s career. She said that while her business monetization matters, she has learned to focus on her values and self, as well.

“No matter what we do for a living, we are human beings first,” Sadler said. “I just really focus on the rawness and realness of just being who I am, and that really has served me from the beginning.”

Sadler said that in her career, she makes sure she is never ‘phoning it in’ and not giving it her all.

“I want to have value, I want to have purpose, I want it to bring meaning both to myself,” Sadler said, “because you do want to love what you do.”

A senior student said she feels her resume and job experience is not ‘enough’ for job applications, and she asked Sadler for advice on how to get her foot in the door in order to secure interviews and job opportunities.

Panelists included Ken Giffin, BA’89, founder of Corporate Path Leadership; Sean Smith, BA’95, president and co-founder of Third Street Attention Agency; and Alexis Woods, BA’19, brand and creative content supervisor at McDonald’s and Ronald McDonald House Global.

“Marketing is messy. Embrace the mess and turn data into insight,” Giffin said.

“The confidence to say, ‘I don’t know’ is a superpower,” Smith said.

“Don’t take culture at face value—do your research,” Woods said.

“Offer to do more. Bring skills they didn’t even ask for,” Wright said.

Willnat is continuing his long-running research with David Weaver, distinguished and Roy W. Howard Professor Emeritus of Journalism, and Cleve Wilhoit, Professor Emeritus of Journalism.

“The media are under stress, you know, and journalists feel bad. So we talk to them — we ask them about how they feel, their attitudes, their work and also their role in democracy,” Willnat said. “Our study is the only one that is actually representative of American journalists.”

Willnat shared findings on trust in the media, shifting demographics, political polarization and rising threats and harassment against journalists. He concluded that while journalism faces significant challenges, there remains a mix of caution and curiosity as technology continues to reshape the profession.

Panelists included Lee Ann Daly, BA’85, an award-winning global brand strategist and Fortune 500 CMO, Elise Jaffe, BA’99, CEO and executive producer of Big Teeth Productions, and Brian Talbot, BA’85, a fractional CMO, and CMO of The Value. The panel was moderated by Luci Rainey, BA’90, the founder of Day One Executive Coaching.