Speaker Series: Lauren Grow Thrives in Leadership Roles

We sat down with Lauren Grow for this week’s speaker series. Lauren is a junior at West Chester University. She majors in communication studies and political science.

Describing Lauren as busy is an understatement. In addition to her role as Garden Media's Intern, she’s served as the president of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) for the last two years and is an member of Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communications Honor Society. She is also an executive board member of her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi, and was elected to the governing body of Greek life on campus.

True to her name “Grow,” Lauren also gardens in her free time.

Continue reading to learn more about Lauren and her experiences in the public relations and marketing industry.

What is your industry strength?

Despite only working in the industry for about a year, I feel my strength is time management.

My experiences have taught me that quality and deadlines are the most important things when it comes to balancing several tasks.

I’d also consider myself to be a social media pro, like so many of my fellow Millennials.

What have been some of the highlights of your college career so far?

I recently traveled to New York City with my school’s PRSSA. We visited DKC Public Relations, Allison + Partners Public Relations and The New York Times.

This semester, I was nominated by a professor and won the Who’s Who Among College Students in American Universities and Colleges award.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I had a feeling this question was coming. Since graduation is only one short year away, I have begun to explore graduate school options. I absolutely love learning and have a feeling I’m not done quite yet. If I do not attend graduate school right away, I plan on entering the PR and communications industry.

Regardless of whether I attend grad school or enter the workforce, I can guarantee that in five years I’ll be happy, talking non-stop and still obsessed with my dogs, politics and gardening.

Who do you look up to?

I don’t know where or who I would be without the mentors and role models in my life. I have countless peers, both younger and older, that always inspire me. My professors, advisors and supervisors constantly guide me through rocky-terrain as an undergraduate. My family and friends are loving and supportive and I owe them a whole lot more than I’ll ever be able to put into words.

In a roundabout way to answering this question, I don’t think I look up to any one person. Everyone I have met and worked with has helped shape the unique individual I am. I aspire to take pieces from everyone along the way. But, I do think Amy Poehler is about the coolest person ever.

Why do you like PR?

I stumbled upon PRSSA my freshman year at West Chester and never looked back. I find public relations thrilling because each day is different. I learn something new every day.

My ideal career would involve writing, speaking and creating new ideas in an endlessly changing landscape – and that's what PR does. This industry is a “people industry” and at the end of the day, what’s better than that? Plus, numbers and I never had a healthy relationship.

What has your internship at Garden Media taught you that you didn’t already know about PR?

Phew! Where to begin? I think above all is the importance of the relationship between an agency and its clients. The Garden Media team values and nurtures all of their relationships. It is a noticeable, key component to their success.

In addition, I’ve learned passion is the only thing that will make the days fly by and that writing is what makes the world go round – especially in public relations. Surrounding yourself with beautiful plants and happy co-workers is simply an added bonus.