This summer, I joined the Kite Hill PR team as an intern. It was my first experience with agency life, and with working in B2B public relations. I was excited to gain new knowledge about the industry. I knew I wanted to be a part of a collaborative team, where everyone was supportive of one another, fun to be around, and knew how to work together effectively in a fast-paced environment; that is exactly what I got.
The internship program was just the beginning of my journey with Kite Hill, and it was an impactful one. I’d like to reflect on my experience and share some of my key takeaways. My hope is that reading this blog post might encourage future interns to take full advantage of our program, and all it has to offer!
The onboarding process
I began working at Kite Hill during Cannes Lions. It was an exciting, and interesting, time to join the agency. Our CEO, Tiffany Guarnaccia, was on the ground in France at the time. She was soaking up all the insights that advertisers and marketers attending the festival had to offer, and sharing those insights back with her team, who were hard at work supporting clients in attendance.
It was a great way to immediately immerse myself in one of our agency’s key industries. I began every morning reading industry newsletters, excited to feel like I was on the pulse of the latest breaking developments unfolding at the festival. Everyone on this team encouraged me to ask as many questions as possible. Communication felt so easy, which felt particularly special, given our hybrid work environment.
As I started to receive tasks, team members always provided clear instructions. It was their direct and open communication style that made me feel comfortable to share my work — no matter how rough it might have been in those early days — and start to receive their feedback.
Key takeaway: The onboarding process will feel scary, but don’t let that deter you. Immerse yourself in the materials you are given to review. Ask questions of your colleagues. They’re here to help, and want to see you succeed!
Work and collaboration within the team
I studied public relations in college; however, nothing compares to the lessons learned while working in an agency. I learned how to build targeted media lists, pitch the media, create award submissions, draft media briefing documents, among many other exciting tasks. The more time I spent in my internship, the more I felt like a true contributor. I also gained a newfound love for research and news monitoring.
Key takeaway: Beyond completing the assignments on your task list, take the time to research your clients and their industries. The more you read, the more you learn!
Mentorship and support
Kite Hill assigned me a mentor at the beginning of the program. This was a team member who also started her journey at Kite Hill as an intern and was now a Senior Account Executive. She checked in with me daily, and always encouraged me to push myself further.
She even set up an internal meeting for me with other previous company interns, who had since been promoted to full-time positions, where I got to ask questions and build relationships early on.
Key takeaway: Consider your new colleagues to be your best mentors. Lean on them for advice, and listen to their experiences. It helps to know we’ve all been through similar challenges at one point or another!
My internship program with Kite Hill was the perfect introduction to the world of PR. I know that I will carry these skills and insights with me as I move forward in my career, and I am excited for what’s ahead!
– Andrea Martinez, Assistant Account Associate