It’s only been a few days since I started my internship in Porter Novelli’s DC office, and I’ve already participated in an initial new business meeting with an embassy here in town, attended a talk on food and agriculture hosted by The Washington Post, and participated in multiple office traditions like Thirsty Thursdays. However, my action-packed summer doesn’t stop there.
Last Friday, I had the opportunity to participate in bringing the Global Entrepreneurship Exchange (E3) Conference in Washington, D.C. to life.
The #E3DC conference, hosted by the Global Situation Room, convened U.S. policy, trade, and corporate communication experts and more than 40 embassies from across the globe to engage in meaningful conversations on the changing landscape of global trade and entrepreneurship. Former U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary and EVP of Porter Novelli Sean Smith joined a panel discussion on messaging and branding for a global audience. Sean shared that Americans believe the Trump Administration will truly reshape American trade within a global context.
Sean also shared his expertise when it comes to global branding and reputation management. “Build trust and goodwill with the audience that matters most to you,” he counseled. Other panelists also chimed in, such as Cherylyn Harley LeBon, a lawyer and entrepreneur in the D.C. area, with advice on what to do when you make a mistake: “Apologize and apologize quickly.”
After the morning’s panels were complete, our PN team prepared to host a Facebook Live session with embassy leaders and entrepreneurs, both globally and domestically. Guests during the live interviews included the Embassies of Mexico, Spain, Georgia, Australia, Peru, Chile and the Minnesota Department of Employment. Sean asked questions to the leaders like “What are your key trade sectors in your country and what challenges do you currently face?” and “How can entrepreneurs in your country thrive?”
With another eye opening experience under my belt, I can’t wait to see where my internship takes me next!
Interested in learning more about this event? You can check out the full interview series in the Facebook Live session and find all the live tweets from the event here.