It all started on the last week of May. I packed my bags, laptop and walking shoes, and moved to Seattle for an entire month. It was the first time since I can remember that I was leaving home for such a long period of time, but I was excited to challenge myself for a good cause: GROWTH. Professional, personal and even spiritual growth.
The move was an opportunity I had been looking forward to since I applied for Porter Novelli’s Discovery & Development program the prior year. In fact, this was something I had been interested in since I heard about it from one of my colleagues who participated in it some time back. I knew it was going to be exciting, but also somewhat difficult as it implied leaving behind my husband, my mom, my scrumptious nieces and nephews (yes, I said scrumptious), all of my extended family… and perhaps the hardest, my comfort zone.
Now that I think about it, time flew by. In between business meetings, my regularly packed agenda, long walks to-and-from the office, beautiful sunsets, daily visits (or semi-visits as I passed by daily) to Pike Place, lots of tea and amazing ice-cream, the experience was over before I knew it. It’s been a couple weeks now since returning home to Miami, and after what originally seemed like it would be a long period of time – it ended up feeling like not enough. I’m certainly readjusted to life in Miami, but I’m not entirely the same after discovering a new perspective and developing new ways of thinking. Here are some of the highlights from my time in Porter Novelli Seattle.
You won’t know, until you try!
The last three years at Porter Novelli Florida have given me countless opportunities and provided me with tremendous learnings. I’ve had the opportunity to work with amazing colleagues from different areas and different professional backgrounds: journalists, writers, PR gurus, you name it; that’s what’s made my work here so nurturing and special. As part of my growth, it was important for me to step into the unknown (professionally, as well as personally) and spend some time outside my box; learning, further growing as a professional and cultivating myself with the different things that are being done by my colleges from other offices. Through this experience, and with the amazing support of my Porter Novelli Seattle family, I can certainly say I’ve learned: the importance of community, the profound impact behind a career in purposeful communications and the meaning of working smart and living hard. I’m grateful for all the of the little things and will cherish every moment and memory.
The more you know, the better!
I once heard that communications professionals need to know a little bit about a lot. After broadening my horizons through my Seattle experience, I have to say I agree. I’ve learned a little bit about a lot of different subjects, and they’ve all made me a more strategic and considerate thinker. From a consumer and business standpoint, an innovations and technology perspective, as well as from a social good angle, I’ve gathered a breadth of learnings and have experienced an outstanding culture guided toward working hard with clients,and celebrating hard work once it’s been done. In a culture where community and collaboration are key, and where sharing (best practices, personal experiences, etc.) is caring, we’re able to deliver our best work for our clients.
Once an east-coaster, now a mix-coaster
I’ve been in Miami for about two decades now; I was born in Caracas, but I spent part of my youth living in Orlando before heading to South Florida. I had been to the West Coast multiple times, for both work and personal reasons, but experiencing it as a local was rather different. Don’t get me wrong, I love my beautiful Florida. There’s nothing better than heading to the beach on a regular weekend (or weekday), but the West Coast is intriguing. Filled with jaw-dropping landscapes, earthy foods and lovely people (among many other things), the West Coast truly captivated my heart and will forever be an important part of my being. So, I am officially a mix-coaster!
Thank you Porter Novelli for giving me this amazing opportunity, but most importantly, THANK YOU Porter Novelli Seattle! To Erin and everyone in the office, you will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you for making me a part of your very special family!