Anielka Lacayo

My overall experience at Porter Novelli has been one of the best experiences I have gone through. This agency has a  passion for new companies and  represent some of today's most innovative organizations, companies like South by  Southwest and Bluetooth, as well as such leading global brands as PepsiCo, HP, Procter & Gamble, Walmart,  McDonald's, Procredit, Teneria La Fuente, Ambil, Centrolac, Autocar, etc. My job duties within this internship at Porter Novelli?

Developing and updating media lists, media monitoring and conducting media outreach, writing media pitch letters and press materials, assisting with special events and press conferences, attending brainstorm and professional development sessions, participating in an Internship Group Project, and providing account team support as needed are some of the everyday assignments.

Moreover, I have assisted many customers during press conferences by giving them guidance including "Claves de Prensa" which is tips for the speaker (our customer) to follow. These tips make the speaker more comfortable with their speech thus improving the overall quality of the press conference. I have learned more than I expected!
During my employment at Porter Novelli, employees there were the friendliest and kindest people I have ever worked with. If I ever had any questions they always answered me with a smile. If I needed more challenges, they always had interesting options for me and not just "busy work." I appreciated this experience knowing that it would help me understand PR, marketing services, and my future career. Also, this enhanced my employment opportunities after graduation.

All the relationships within the agency were casual and very personal. Everyone who works within PN had a very good relationship with one another both at a personal and professional level. As you were doing your job, you could have the best time possible at work! Whether it was singing, listening to music, or just laughing with one another, this environment translated into a series of productive activities.

During my internship, I helped the agency achieve their mission by delivering results, identifying clients, and challenging those inspired by our work. In PN, we used Intelligent Influence to find the optimal mix of communication tools and techniques to get people to change their attitudes, beliefs and behaviors. I learned that it is all about having the right conversation with the right people at the right time!

I've enhanced and achieved my overall career goals while working at Porter Novelli! I applied marketing knowledge to communications aimed at public health and social issues; I was involved in writing letters and press releases by developing media lists, pitching the media, assisting in coordinating special events, and providing account team support. All these activities developed my PR and marketing skills. Finally, this training and practical PR experience helped transfer my academic coursework into a potential career path.