Life always seems to find a way of taking you back home. This was exactly the case for me recently when I, along with fellow Vehr teammate, Suzanne Buzek, had an opportunity to meet a group of remarkable young women at Mercy McAuley High School, our alma mater.
Suzanne and I met with students engaged in the school’s Women Lead Technology program, an extra-curricular for young women interested in marketing and technology. We shared our respective career paths and experiences, talked about the different ways we use technology in our jobs, and even dished a little on how we think the disciplines of marketing, communications and public relations may continue to evolve as these young women eventually enter the workforce.
Sarah Cook and Suzanne Buzek, Vehr team members and alums of the school.
This group of young women share career aspirations ranging from marketing and graphic design to government and cybersecurity. Suzanne talked about her history in corporate marketing and her time with Vehr Communications. I shared my background in TV news, public relations and communications.
In our line of work, we are accustomed to asking the questions. This time around, we had to be the ones with the answers. Students, who ranged from freshman still getting used to the routine of high school to seniors already thinking about graduation, asked us how we decided what to major to pursue, what we enjoyed most about our jobs, or why we’ve chosen to stay in Cincinnati.
Our visit to Mercy McAuley really forced us to reflect on our days as students, and the time spent imagining and planning our futures. As we left the school after our discussion, I was left wondering what our ever-changing industry will look like as these young women launch their own professional careers.
My time in that school shaped me into the woman and professional that I am today, just as much as I was influenced by the examples set by my mom and grandma, who attended Mercy and were influential parts of my career journey. Life can sometimes feel like a puzzle. And, when the pieces come together over time, they always seem to have a way of taking you back home.
