Kristen Kelley, 2006 Illinois State alum, combines her passion for travel with her background in public relations to serve dozens of diverse clients across the country. Kelley has been working as a Senior Account Executive at GolinHarris for the past four years. GolinHarris, located on Wacker Drive in Chicago, is one of the top ten public relations firms in the country, and even received an award for the best place to work this year. Whether it’s the Monday morning bagels, or the late nights she spends at the office, she enjoys her job because of the people she works with and the opportunities she receives for a new challenge each day.
HC:What were you involved in while at ISU?
Kelley: I was involved in PRSSA and Epsilon Sigma Alpha, a service sorority.
HC:What internship position did you hold while in college? Also, how important do you think internships are?
Kelley: I had several internships in college and I think they are essential to getting a job out of school. In fact, we take many interns at GolinHarris that are post-grad and have 4-5 internships under their belt. My internships in college include: Special Events for the School of Communication, Legislative internship for Senator Bill Brady, Promotions internship for WGN Radio (Chicago), and Guest Relations internship at Walt Disney World.
HC:What is your favorite college memory?
Kelley: My favorite college memories involve fall in Normal – the trees in the quad, football games, and the excitement of starting a new school year.
HC:How did you get your position at GolinHarris?
Kelley: I was working post-graduation in Orlando for Disney Parks Worldwide and wanted to come back home to Chicago. I did a lot of networking and was able to open the door to an interview at GolinHarris. My advice for those looking for a job is to build relationships with whoever you can! You never know who can help you get your foot in the door.
HC:What has been your proudest accomplishment at this company so far?
Kelley: This year I helped to execute a successful backstage lounge at the Emmy Awards on behalf of the client. There were definitely challenges along the way but media results ended up far surpassing expectations.
HC: Can you see yourself doing what you are doing for the next 20 years?
Kelley: Yes – the greatest thing about work at a PR agency is you can dabble in so many different fields. My two biggest passions are food and travel and I hope to continue supporting clients that fall under those categories.
HC:What is your biggest piece of advice for college students about to go into the “real world”?
Kelley: I have two pieces of advice. The first is to be extra diligent about your writing skills. You’d be surprised how many people are overlooked for internships or entry-level positions due to typos or failure to follow AP Style. My second piece of advice is to continue learning however/wherever you can. Find as many internships as possible. Volunteer for a cause that interests you and support that organization’s PR outreach. Pick up industry magazines and read them cover-to-cover. Stay on top of trends.
Kristen can be seen as a role model for many of us in the communication field. Seeing what determination, networking, and most of all, hard work she put into where she is today, along with the pieces of advice she offered, can be taken into consideration for any Illinois State student rearing towards graduation and beyond. We commend Kristen for her achievements thus far with GolinHarris and wish her luck in her future endeavors.