What Type of Person Thrives in the Communications Industry According to a Communications Director at Lumina Alliance
Success in communications, according to Clementine, Director of Communications and Outreach at Lumina Alliance, requires proactive individuals who are not afraid to be a "nuisance," "email[ing], call[ing], and email[ing] again" to initiate conversations and build relationships. This self-described "severe" approach demonstrates the importance of initiative and persistence in securing media coverage and advancing an organization's interests.
Communication, Initiative, Proactive, Persistence, Networking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Clementine Ellis
Director of Communications and Outreach
Lumina Alliance
Agnes Scott College
University of Florida, MA, Sociology
Anthropology, Sociology
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Communication and Marketing
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Proactive and Self-Motivated: Success in communications requires initiative. Don't wait for opportunities; create them by actively reaching out to leadership and news organizations.
2. Persistent and Tenacious: Don't be afraid to follow up repeatedly. Clementine emphasizes the importance of persistence in getting your message across and securing coverage.
3. Strong Communication and Interpersonal Skills: The ability to start conversations, build relationships, and effectively communicate your organization's message is crucial for success in this field.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
They're active, not passive. I have to take initiative at my job.
If I see a news story that's relevant and I want us to talk about it or do something, I have to email leadership. I have to reach out and say, "I think we should say something about this."
Or I have to reach out to news organizations and say, "I want you to do a story on this. This is why you should do a story on this, and this is why you should include us in that story."
It's not a job where you can sit back and wait for someone to email you. Those emails aren't coming. You have to be the nuisance to other people.
I pride myself on my ability to bother people. I will email them, I will call them, and I'm going to email them again and call them again and leave a voicemail. Then I'm coming to their office. I'm going to see you, and you're going to talk to me, and you're going to learn about our services and what we do.
You can't be successful in a communications role if you're not willing to start those conversations. No one's going to start that conversation for you. You have to be there.