Weber Shandwick Execs Share Knowledge and Mentor Next Generation of Comms Talent

Advertising and Public Relations students at The City College of New York

received insider intel during a Spring 2021 Lecture Series featuring Weber Shandwick strategists and creative who shared sweet spots on how to forge lasting connections between clients and consumers.

Executives spoke to Corporate Communications, Advertising Management and Ad/PR Workshop classes, relaying vital information that gives students a market advantage as they interview for internships and entry-level positions. Topics included case studies in crisis management & brand safety, leveraging cultural moments to earn brand relevance and how to partner with influencers in a 24/7 digitally connected world.

Importantly, students obtained a window into the world of possibilities as they embark on communications careers. Executives shared how their route from college to agency life was often circuitous, as they dabbled in a range of professions before landing on an Ad/PR career as the perfect fit for their skills, interests, talent and academic training.

Weber Shandwick execs also served as coaches for the Ad/PR Workshop, capstone course where students work for a real world client. This term the client was CCNY Student Health Services, which operates on an austere budget with a lone clinician (RN) for 16,000 students. Students shed light on this issue with the goal of increased funding for an important unit that provides physical and emotional support to students as they navigate a post-pandemic world.

With surgical care, Anisha Ahluwalia, Executive Vice President Client Experience, sourced Weber Shandwick agency talent with specific background in the public health and pharma spaces, enhancing students’ ability to develop stellar campaigns in preparation for the May 19 Client Pitch; execs also graciously served as Workshop judges.

“Weber Shandwick went above and beyond as a valued partner,” according to Professor Lynne Scott Jackson, internships & industry lead for CCNY Ad/PR. “Their enthusiastic engagement with the students throughout the semester and willingness to embrace the partnership as an educational adventure for students—and professionals—is unmatched.”

“We believe this meaningful relationship is an industry model and are excited to expand our relationship with Weber Shandwick in the months ahead,” Scott Jackson continued. The team is exploring unique seminar opportunities for undergraduate students and those pursuing a Masters in Professional Studies - Branding + Integrated Communications (BIC Program).

The CCNY - WS partnership continues Ad/PR’s rich tradition of collaboration between industry pioneers; this lecture series is an outgrowth of visionary discussions between Judith Harrison, WS Executive Vice President, Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Ad/PR Professor Emerita Lynn Appelbaum. Students in Professors Yury Vargas, Javier Garcia, Ed Keller, John Totaro and Gerardo Blumenkrantz’s classes received the Weber Shandwick value add this semester.

In addition to Harrison and Ahluwalia, the Ad/PR Program would like to sincerely thank the following guest lecturers and coaches:

Michael Bruno, Executive Vice President

How to Mine for Data-Driven Insights and Develop a Strategic Brief

Stephanie Kim, Director

How to Identify and Partner with Influencers

Veena Raj, Executive Vice President

Integrated Media Relations 101

Nicole Taylor, Creative Director

Best-in-class Digital, Social and Out-of-Home Creative

Michael Wehman, General Manager

Abbey Fortney, Vice President

Aisha Hudson, Senior Manager

Mapping an Agency Career Path

Danny Gaynor, Senior Vice President

Building and Activating a Corporate Comms Narrative

Allison Ranshous, Senior Manager

Daniella Sirochinsky, Senior Manager

How to Develop Purpose Driven Campaigns

Stacey Goodman, Senior Vice President

Crisis Management and Brand Safety

Chris Kooluris, Executive Creative Director

Leveraging Cultural Moments to Earn Brand Relevance

EJ Kim, Senior Vice President

Campaign Measurement and Optimization

Michael Bruno, Executive Vice President

Archana Iyer, Vice President

Abby Oaks, Senior Associate

Colleen McGinn, Creative Director

Jackie Dowling, Senior Associate

Katherine Stein, Senior Vice President

Jenna Sterling, Senior Manager

Student Health Services Workshop Coaches and Judges