What A Strategic Communications Chief At California High-Speed Rail Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Government Communications Industry
Melissa, Chief of Strategic Communications at California High-Speed Rail Authority, revealed that the role demands "no nine-to-five days," requiring strong self-management to set boundaries and prioritize personal life amidst a demanding 24/7 news cycle; success depends on having supportive staff and managers who respect these boundaries.
Executive/Leadership, Communication, Stress Management, Workplace Challenges, Industry Realities
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Melissa Figueroa
Chief of Strategic Communications
California High-Speed Rail Authority
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
none
Creative Writing, Journalism
Government & Public Sector
Communication and Marketing
Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. The Chief of Strategic Communications role demands long hours, often exceeding a typical nine-to-five workday.
2. There is a 24/7 news cycle that requires constant attention and can easily lead to overwork, therefore it's crucial to set boundaries and prioritize personal time.
3. Building a supportive team that respects work-life balance is crucial for managing the demands of the job and avoiding burnout
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
The hours are really long. In this particular world, in government, at the level that I'm at, there are no nine to five days. You're sort of on all the time, and that's okay. It is what it is.
You sort of get used to it and have to set your own areas for downtime. You also need staff and managers who are respectful of that. It's very easy to get sucked in and just keep going because the news cycle is 24 hours a day.
Depending on what areas you're covering, if you're working with folks on the East Coast, your days can start a little earlier. If you're working with international folks, even earlier or later than that. It has the ability to suck you in for really long periods of time.
So you have to be strong enough to set those benchmarks for when you need to stop. You need to remember that your family comes first. And you have a team around you that helps with that and is respectful of that.