Speaker Series: Courtney Kates Adapts to the PR World

For this week’s speaker series, we sat down with intern, Courtney Kates.

Currently a senior at the University of Delaware, Courtney will be graduating in just a few months. She majors in mass communication and double minors in organizational &community leadership and advertising.

Courtney has definitely found her place in the PR world. Not only is this her second semester interning for Garden Media, she is also on the PR team for UDress Magazine, a student run fashion publication at UD, and worked on the PR committee for Gamma Sigma Sigma, a service organization.

All these experiences have made her realize her love for public relations.

Continue reading to learn more about Courtney and the role she plays at Garden Media.

What do you like most about PR?

It’s so hard to choose just one thing! My favorite thing about working in PR is definitely the opportunity to build relationships with so many different people – whether it’s clients, coworkers or even the media. My first job working in a restaurant made me realize I love interacting with so many different people and I want to have a career where I could do the same.

I also love writing, which is something I never thought I would say! Writing is a skill that has always come naturally to me, but working in PR made me realize that writing can (and should) be fun, too. I love writing my weekly Grow! Blog posts where I take an idea and turn it into something that is relevant for PR professionals, but also interesting and fun to read.

What is your biggest strength when it comes to working in PR?

Adaptability. I have always been very easygoing and flexible, which allows to me to feel comfortable working in a variety of different environments and cultures. This is important in the PR field because you have to always be willing to do a number of different things at any time.

Planning ahead and being organized is important, but a lot of times, plans change. Being able to adjust and get your work done in a quick and efficient way is an essential skill. Besides, being flexible leads to less stress, which makes work more fun!

Where do you see yourself after graduation?

This is a great question, but one that I don’t really have a definitive answer to. I’ve loved working at Garden Media, so I definitely want to stay in the PR field. To speak to my adaptability, I can really see myself working in a number of different industries and ideally, I’d love to try them all!

I’m interested in the fashion, hospitality and tourism industries, but I’d also be interested in working for a nonprofit. Also, ever since I came back from my trip to Barcelona, I’ve been dying to travel again, so going abroad after graduation is not out of the question!

What are the best things you have learned while working at Garden Media Group?

#1 is the importance of building strong relationships. The relationships between my coworkers and their clients have always impressed me. I’ve had the opportunity to see, or hear, everyone interact with their clients and I can tell they are not only concerned with their clients’ success, but they also want to get to know them as people.

I also love the relationships I have with my coworkers. Everyone treats each other with respect and has a genuine interest in what’s going on in their lives. Everyone is very supportive and willing to help each other out, regardless of the task.

No matter where you work, a good relationship with your coworkers can make all the difference.

Who is your favorite person Instagrammer?

I love following Sophia Bush. I started following her because she was one of the main characters on One Tree Hill, one of my favorite shows, but I became a huge fan of hers after seeing her Instagram.

She uses her following of 2.3 million people to spread awareness of issues such as equality, empowerment of women and animal rights.

Between posts of behind the scenes shots of her show and inspirational quotes, she shares pictures of her adopted shelter dogs and her trips to impoverished communities in Africa. She uses her celebrity status to help others and inspires her followers to do the same. If I could go to a music festival with any celebrity, it would definitely be her.