Edelman: A Company of Innovators

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When I began college four years ago, I could not fathom the idea of finishing college and starting my career. I was lucky enough that I knew from day one that I wanted to be in public relations. At first, I was drawn to the “glamorous side” of the industry. I just quotation marks because I learned pretty quickly that PR is about 5% glamour and 95% hard work. I may not have fully understood public relations when I began this journey, but I do now.

I recently attended an event called “PR Firms of the Future: The Talent Imperative” where different professionals spoke to students about their experiences in PR. There were high powered executives from GolinHarris, Edelman, O’Malley Hansen Communications, Fleishman-Hillard, etc. Each speaker shared their experience in the PR industry and gave tips and insights to students. The speakers all had different paths in public relations but they all reiterated the importance of being creative, authentic and unique.

Nancy Ruscheinski’s story from Edelman really stuck out to me. Nancy is currently the Vice Chair of Client Engagement at Edelman. In the early 90’s, she created Edelman’s digital practice, which is currently a $100 million business housing over 800 people. Nancy told us that Edelman was the first PR company ever to have a website. Almost every aspect of not only PR, but life as well, is digital so Nancy was clearly ahead of the game. After hearing Nancy’s story, it is clear to me why she works and has worked at Edelman for 26 years. She is an innovator, just like Dan Edelman. In the late 1940’s, Dan Edelman single handedly created the media tour. His creation catapulted modern marketing to where it is now. His fearless attitude and intelligence changed the way the industry. Him and Nancy share those qualities because her fearless attitude and intelligence also completely changed the PR industry.

The more I read and hear about Edelman, the more I understand why it is a company that many people aspire to work. Their creator, Dan Edelman, and his company continue to change and evolve the industry. I may have once thought PR was all about launch parties and celebrities (thanks, Sex and The City) but I know now that the industry is about creativity and innovation. Knowing those things made me realize that this definitely is the career path for me. 

Brittany Worthylake is a senior at DePaul University double majoring in Public Relations/Advertising and Relational Communication. Brittany is currently the Sony Pictures Intern at Allied Integrated Marketing and was the president of DePaul University PRSSA from March 2011-March 2012. Brittany hopes to work in a firm specializing in restaurant, hospitality and lifestyle PR. She can be reached at bworthylake@gmail.com.