Favorite Parts of Being a Marketing and Publicity Coordinator at Hay House
Rylie's favorite aspect of their role as Book Marketing & Publicity Coordinator at Penguin Random House is the annual "I Can Do It Conference," where Rylie gets to see the impact of their work firsthand, noting that "it was sold out. There was like hundreds and hundreds of people there," and also enjoys connecting with authors on a personal level as their "personal assistant for the weekend."
Communication, Networking, Event Planning, Project Management, Teamwork
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Rylie Walsh
Book Marketing & Publicity Coordinator
Penguin Random House
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola University Chicago, MBA
Communications
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Communication and Marketing
Honors Student, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Rylie enjoys the in-person annual conferences where they get to meet authors and attendees, and she acts as an author concierge, assisting authors with logistics and schedules.
2. The conferences are a chance to see the impact of the company's work and connect with colleagues in person, which is a refreshing change from remote work.
3. Rylie's role involves a variety of tasks including event planning and coordination, showcasing the diverse aspects of a career in book marketing and publicity.
Transcript
What do you enjoy most about being in your current role?
One of my favorite things is our in-person annual conferences. We're still figuring out their flow post-COVID, as they had to stop during the pandemic.
Hay House held its first conference since the pandemic when I started. It's called the "I Can Do It Conference" and typically happens every year. As the publisher, we host them and invite several authors to speak and lead breakout sessions.
I didn't know what to expect the first year I attended in 2022. We held it in Tampa, Florida, and it was very hot because it was summer, but still really fun. We rented out part of the convention center.
There was a main stage for the day's big talks with our prominent authors. There were also breakout sessions where attendees could learn specific tools or teachings from them. I was unsure about who would attend and the demographic.
When I arrived, it was sold out with hundreds of people. When you work from home most of the time, you forget that this kind of event can be cool, fun, and exciting. It's great to see so many people who appreciate Hay House, its products, and its authors.
It's also cool to see the internal team, as everyone flies in for the conference. For the past two years, I've been the author concierge. I set up in the lobby or at the front of the convention center.
Authors often lead multiple sessions, which can be stressful. My role is to help them know where they need to be. I manage their schedules, badges, hotel check-ins, and transportation to and from the airport.
It's like being everyone's personal assistant for the weekend. I really enjoy it because I get to meet people and connect with them on a personal level.