At SPS, Devin...
- Repositioned her writing skills for business
- Adapted to marketing communications and PR
- Learned how to shape the consumer mindset
- Studied with industry practitioners
- Got a job with help from her SPS professor…
You finished your undergraduate degree in 2009. That had to be challenging.
To say the least. I got my undergraduate degree in journalism from Rider, right on the heels of the 2008 market crash. There was a big decline in journalism jobs, so I needed to find another career path and give my writing skills a bit more legs.
Is that what brought you to SPS?
Yes. My first decision was to go back to school, and I discovered the Strategic Communication program [previously known as the Communications practice program] at SPS. I was in the inaugural full-time cohort, which was exciting. The program helped me take my writing and adapt it to the world of marketing, communications, advertising, and PR.
What did you find most valuable?
It was the intense focus on finding very concise ways to draw the reader in. Advertising uses language to shape the decisions of consumers. It was the most challenging piece of the program for me, and the most rewarding.
How did you get your job at a prestigious agency like RAPP?
One of my professors, Helen Hibbott, was the Chief Talent Officer at RAPP. Each week she invited a guest speaker from a different department of the agency. Our final project was an example pitch for Levi’s. The students broke into two teams and worked with creative talent at RAPP to execute the pitch deck. On the last day of class, we presented to senior executives. Each member of the winning team got a job interview at RAPP; it was a great way to get a foot in the door.
What do you do now?
I started at RAPP as a Project Management and Client Services Associate and worked my way up to Account Supervisor. Today I serve as Global Manager of Corporate Reputation. Instead of telling brand stories, I am doing it for our organization.
