Weber Shandwick inspires ambassadors to explore agency life
By Austin Atkinson
On the Media School Ambassadors Chicago trip, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit Weber Shandwick. The experience impressed me. Employees were welcoming and friendly, and it was exciting to get a chance to talk to them in person.
In the presentations, seeing the firm surpassed anything I could’ve expected. The tour began in the office lobby, where we were surrounded by modern interior and refreshments that they had waiting for us. When we entered a large conference room, the magnificent lakefront view shocked us. The setting and warm atmosphere seemed to contribute to the employees’ upbeat attitudes.
I previously interned in-house in the public relations department at a technology firm, so it was exciting to see some of the differences between that and a full-service agency. Before the trip, I wasn’t aware that these agencies handled a variety of services, ranging from account management and event planning to creative direction and design.
Employees in different divisions, from areas that handle unique disciplines pertaining to brand awareness, publicity and large-scale promotional events, delivered presentations to us. Their dedication to the industry and excitement about their work was infectious.
One specific presentation that left a particularly important impression on me was an account manager’s talk on an event prepared for a beverage company. The event he told us about was decked out in elements from the parent company’s brand and gained it huge attraction. Big name artists appeared at a concert, which garnered various types of press coverage.
Strategic initiatives like that make me excited to explore agency life more in the future. At Weber Shandwick, employees have a large sense of autonomy and work collaboratively to execute powerful campaigns. After only a few hours, my classmates and I felt immediately at home. Shandwick is compelling and friendly, and I recommend that any student apply for their internship opportunities listed under their careers page.