380: How to Break Into Strategic Communications at GMMB w/ Susan Feeney, GMMB [Espresso Shots]

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Susan Feeney co-leads GMMB’s Seattle office, overseeing an innovative team that supports a diverse roster of national, Bay Area and global clients. Her primary focus is on strategic communications and advocacy around education here and abroad, edtech, public policy, public health and enhancing the quality of life in the Intermountain West. clients include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, LOR Foundation, Omidyar Network, National Academy Foundation (NAF), IIE (Institute of International Education), the startup Handshake, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Susan is a storyteller, writer and expert in public positioning, advocacy, leveraging digital content, media relations and public speaking training. She joined GMMB in 2009 after an award-winning career in journalism that included nearly a decade as senior editor of NPR’s All Things Considered and Morning Edition, and many years covering the White House and national politics. In this T4C Espresso Shots episode Susan talks about how java junkies can break into this interesting and meaningful field.  

*Photo by Adam Crowley

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT IN THIS EPISODE:

• What entry level jobs are available to young people who want to break into this field (3:47)
• What to do if you know you want to do strategic communications when you graduate (4:53)
• What hard and soft skills does Susan look for in the young people she hires (5:16)
• How having a high emotional intelligence level is beneficial (6:13)
• What real-life experiences outside the classroom are most useful for someone starting out in strategic communications (6:44)
• Whether it’s a deal breaker if you majored in something other than public relations or digital media (8:31)
• Whether having a grad school degree will help if you want to advance your career in strategic communications and public relations (10:53) 
• What is the best part of her job at GMMB (11:50)
• What part of Susan’s job sucks the most (13:27)
• Why Susan and her GMMB colleagues have to log their hours (14:07)
• What’s the best career advice she’s ever gotten (14:46)
• What would java junkies be surprised to learn about her profession (17:11)